Chapter 21: Chapter 21: A Slice Through Dimensions
The air was thick with the tension of the ongoing battle. In the midst of a war-torn world, where alliances were forged and broken like fragile glass, one figure stood apart from the chaos. Patrick Bateman—known in this world as the masked, silent force of destruction—had lived a life full of bloodshed, power, and deception. But in that moment, it wasn't the bloodlust or the hunger for control that motivated him. It was something far more profound.
Bateman had already slain countless foes, leaving nothing but carnage in his wake. But today, something inside him demanded more. He had seen the possibilities of the multiverse—the way the threads of reality intertwined, each one more tempting than the last. His sword, a shimmering weapon forged from his unyielding will, was the key.
With a motion of his hand, Bateman unsheathed the sword—a blade that thrummed with an ethereal energy. It wasn't just metal; it was a weapon tied to the very fabric of reality, honed through the countless battles he had faced across countless universes. His eyes glinted with determination, his mind fixated on the one thing that would offer the ultimate challenge: the Tournament of Power.
Bateman's senses flared as he focused all his energy on the task before him. His grip tightened around the hilt, and with a surge of force, he swung the blade.
The sword sliced through the air, its edge glowing with a brilliant, almost celestial light. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and a rift in space-time began to tear open. The skies above darkened as energy swirled violently around him, converging into a vortex of cosmic power. A rift had been opened—a portal to a universe where gods clashed, and the fate of existence itself hung in the balance.
The portal swirled with energy, and within moments, Bateman stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the opening and stepping into the Tournament of Power.
The Tournament of Power
The scene before Bateman was a spectacle of unimaginable scale. The vast, endless arena of the Tournament of Power stretched out before him, the platforms suspended in the void, surrounded by nothing but the infinite expanse of space. Below him, the intense battle between universes raged on. Fighters from all corners of existence clashed in an all-out struggle for survival, each combatant bringing their unique abilities and power to the fight.
But Bateman's focus narrowed on the center of the arena, where two figures stood at the apex of their strength—two warriors who embodied the pinnacle of combat. Goku, with his body glowing like a star, radiating an aura of divine energy as he transformed into Ultra Instinct. And beside him, Vegeta, his own energy crackling with intensity as he unleashed the raw power of Ultra Ego.
Goku's Ultra Instinct
Goku's transformation into Ultra Instinct had been a spectacle that shook the very foundations of the tournament. His movements were now fluid, instinctual, untouchable. He darted across the arena with lightning speed, dodging attacks without even thinking, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. His aura blazed like a supernova, the very air trembling with the force of his power.
In this state, Goku was a force of nature, able to counter his opponents' every move with a level of precision that defied belief. His punches landed with the force of a thousand storms, and his opponents were helpless against his godlike reflexes.
Vegeta's Ultra Ego
Beside him, Vegeta had transcended his limits as well. The prince of all Saiyans had tapped into the devastating power of Ultra Ego, a form that embraced destruction rather than evasion. His aura was an inferno of purple and black energy, crackling with raw, untamed power. In this state, Vegeta thrived on combat, relishing every blow as he powered up with each strike.
His body surged with confidence as he fought, each punch and kick resonating with an intensity that could shatter mountains. Ultra Ego was a form that demanded respect, a power that was fueled by the Saiyan's pride and will to crush his enemies.
Bateman's Entrance
As Bateman's portal stabilized, the fighters took notice of the new arrival. The energy that radiated from him was unlike anything they had ever felt before—familiar, yet foreign. The sword in Bateman's hand shimmered with a dark light, and his expression was unreadable beneath the mask he wore.
Without hesitation, Bateman advanced into the arena, his presence undeniable. He was not a part of this tournament. He had no stake in the outcome. Yet his very presence seemed to disrupt the flow of the battle around him, like a shadow in the midst of a storm.
Goku, noticing the newcomer, turned his head, his silver hair still glowing from the energy of Ultra Instinct. "Who's that?" he muttered under his breath.
Vegeta, standing beside him, cracked a grin. "Doesn't matter. No one gets in the way of this fight."
But Bateman was no ordinary fighter. He stepped onto the arena, his gaze locked onto the two Saiyans with an intensity that seemed to draw them in. The energy that surged from him wasn't just power—it was chaos, the kind of chaos that only came when universes collided.
Without warning, Bateman raised his sword once again, his eyes narrowing with determination. The blade hummed, and in an instant, a shockwave of energy erupted from it, blasting across the arena.
"Come, Saiyans," Bateman's voice was cold, his tone mocking. "Let's see if you can truly survive this."
Ultra Instinct vs. Ultra Ego: The Battle of Gods
Goku's eyes narrowed as he felt the surge of energy coming from Bateman. Without a word, he activated his Ultra Instinct, his body moving with a speed that seemed to defy the laws of physics. His form blurred as he raced toward Bateman, delivering a flurry of rapid strikes.
But Bateman, ever the tactician, was ready. He parried each blow effortlessly, his movements calculated and precise. Each clash of their energies sent ripples through the arena, shaking the very fabric of the tournament.
Vegeta, not one to be left behind, stepped forward with a sneer. "I don't need to wait. I'll crush you both."
With a roar, Vegeta unleashed the full force of his Ultra Ego, his body swelling with power. The arena trembled as his energy soared to new heights. His aura exploded, and he charged at Bateman, fists blazing with raw destruction.
Bateman's eyes glinted beneath his mask. With a swift motion, he raised his sword and slashed through the air, creating a violent gust of energy that slammed into Vegeta's chest. Vegeta staggered back, the force of the attack leaving him momentarily stunned.
Goku and Vegeta stood side by side, their auras burning with intensity. Bateman was not like the other fighters—they had faced gods, and they had faced monsters, but this... This was something new.
In that moment, Bateman grinned, his voice cold and calculating. "The real battle starts now."