Chapter 18: The Final Showdown – Aera vs. Goku
The stadium trembled with anticipation. The final match of the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai was about to begin. On one side stood the wide-eyed, monkey-tailed warrior—Son Goku. On the other, the beautiful and carefree Saiyan girl—Aera.
The announcer's voice rang with excitement.
"Here it is, folks! The moment you've been waiting for! Two mysterious martial artists who've stolen the hearts of the crowd! Son Goku versus Aera! Who will emerge as the strongest under the heavens?!"
Goku and Aera stood at the center of the ring, facing each other. The wind danced through their hair as silence fell over the arena.
Aera tilted her head. "If I win, can I have a giant strawberry cake?"
Goku grinned. "Sure! I'll eat it with you. But only if I don't win first."
She giggled. "Okay! Let's punch now!"
The bell rang.
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Match: Aera vs. Goku
In a flash, they collided.
Shockwaves burst from the center of the ring as fists clashed. Their speed was unmatched—even faster than their previous matches. To the crowd, they were barely visible blurs. But the other fighters watched in awe.
Krillin gawked. "They're both stronger than before!"
Tien clenched his fists. "They were holding back… this is their true power."
Goku ducked under a spinning kick and countered with a knee to Aera's stomach. She flipped midair and landed gracefully.
"Oooof! That tickled!"
She dashed forward, her foot skimming the tiles as she unleashed a chain of strikes that Goku barely blocked. His tail wrapped around her ankle, yanking her forward. She stumbled—then turned her fall into a mid-air backflip.
"Nice tail trick! I wanna try that!"
She playfully reached for his tail. Goku yelped and jumped back. "No way! That's cheating!"
They clashed again. Punches, kicks, dodges—no wasted movement. Their power was raw, but instinctive. Each time they met, the air cracked like thunder.
Aera powered up, her energy flaring green and gold. For a brief moment, her hair flickered with light.
Yamcha's eyes widened. "Wait… what was that?"
Master Roshi narrowed his eyes. "That energy... it's not normal power. It's something more ancient."
Goku grinned. "You're amazing! I gotta go all out now!"
He leapt high into the air.
"Kamehameha… HAAA!"
The blue beam surged toward her. Aera clapped her hands—and the energy blast split around her harmlessly.
She blinked. "Oh wow! It worked!"
"How'd you do that?!" Goku shouted, landing hard.
She shrugged. "I dunno. It just felt right."
He laughed. "You're the weirdest fighter I've ever met!"
"Thank you!"
They rushed each other again. This time, Aera ducked low, spun, and knocked Goku off his feet with a sweeping kick. He hit the ground but bounced back instantly.
They grinned.
Back and forth they went—neither letting up. Time passed in blinks. Minutes felt like seconds.
Eventually, both were panting.
Goku wiped sweat from his brow. "You're really strong. Stronger than anyone I've fought."
Aera smiled. "You too. My heart's doing the boom-boom!"
"Same here!"
They charged—one final clash.
Their fists met.
A shockwave burst outward, throwing both backward across the ring. They hit the tiles and rolled, skidding near opposite edges.
The arena fell silent.
Then—Aera groaned and sat up.
Goku lay flat, eyes spinning.
The announcer dashed forward.
"Incredible! Son Goku is down! The winner—and new Tenkaichi Budokai champion—is Aera!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
Aera stood and waved both arms. "Yay! I did it! Do I get my cake now?!"
Bulma rushed over. "Yes! I'll bake you the biggest cake ever!"
Goku sat up and laughed. "You earned it. That was the best fight ever."
Aera reached out and helped him up. "Let's fight again! And again and again!"
Master Roshi chuckled. "That girl might just change the world."
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Later That Day
The sun dipped low over the sea as the tournament came to a close. Aera, Goku, and the others gathered at a beachside restaurant to celebrate. Laughter and food filled the air.
Goku shoved noodles into his mouth. "Next time, I'll win for sure!"
Aera smiled with cake all over her face. "Then I'll beat you again!"
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End of Chapter 18