Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Unstoppable Army
Bateman stood in the midst of the Tournament of Power arena, his sword still crackling with residual energy from the dimensional rift. His presence had already disrupted the flow of the battle, but now, it seemed that the very fabric of reality was about to tear apart from the power gathering around him.
The air grew thick with tension as an overwhelming surge of energy flooded the arena. Bateman's mask glinted under the harsh light of the tournament's stage, his eyes narrowing as a new group of fighters descended into the arena. The ground trembled as they touched down—each one an iconic figure from the Dragon Ball universe.
Broly's Roar
Broly, the legendary Super Saiyan, landed with a thunderous crash, his massive form towering over the others. His hair was wild, his aura fluctuating wildly with uncontrollable power. Bateman's senses flared as he locked eyes with Broly, recognizing the immense raw strength of the Saiyan.
"Another one," Bateman muttered under his breath, shifting his stance.
Broly let out a primal roar, shaking the very air around him, his energy flaring like a volatile volcano on the verge of eruption.
Goku Black's SSJ4 Rose
From the sky above, a dark figure descended—Goku Black, his aura burning with a twisted, divine energy. His pink hair flowed like a golden flame, crackling with dark Ki as he transformed into his SSJ4 Rose form. The air around him shimmered with the power of divinity mixed with the fury of the Super Saiyan form.
"You don't belong here, mortal," Goku Black's voice echoed with a cold, menacing tone. His presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere, bending reality with his god-like power.
Gohan's Beast Mode
From another direction, Gohan appeared, his eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. The power of Beast Mode coursed through him, his form brimming with raw, untamed strength. His hair was wild, his aura a golden blur of energy as he surveyed Bateman with a look of determination.
"You won't get away with this," Gohan growled, his fists crackling with energy. "I've been through hell and back, and I'll make sure you don't do any more damage to this universe."
Piccolo's Orange Form
In a burst of energy, Piccolo appeared in his new Orange Form, his body now enhanced to heights that even the strongest warriors would find daunting. His skin glowed with a powerful orange hue, and his energy felt like a hurricane about to break loose.
"Enough playing around," Piccolo said, his voice thick with confidence. "Time to end this."
Cell Max's Arrival
A massive shadow loomed over them all as Cell Max appeared, his enormous form dwarfing the other fighters. His body pulsed with malignant energy, his eyes glowing with a brutal thirst for destruction. The ground beneath his feet cracked, and his very presence filled the arena with dread.
"You will regret coming here, Bateman," Cell Max growled, his voice a deep rumble that resonated in every corner of the arena.
Frieza in His Black Form
A streak of black light shot through the sky, and from the chaos emerged Frieza, his form now in his Black transformation. His skin was darker, and his golden aura had taken on a more malevolent shade. He floated effortlessly above the ground, his eyes narrowed with disdain.
"I've grown tired of these games," Frieza said with a smirk. "Let's finish this quickly, shall we?"
Granola, Super 17, Baby, and Cumber
Granola landed with a determined look in his eyes, his energy resonating with the hunger for vengeance. Next to him, Super 17 appeared, his cybernetic form pulsing with an unholy energy, his fusion of human and android power making him a terrifying force. Baby, the parasite who had once controlled the Saiyans, materialized beside Super 17, his energy crackling with an insidious, calculating aura. And finally, Cumber, the warrior of destruction from another universe, materialized with an unhinged fury in his eyes, his energy seething and uncontrolled.
"You're out of your depth, Bateman," Granola said coldly. "It's over."
The Battle Against Bateman
Bateman's expression remained emotionless as he surveyed the oncoming assault. These warriors, each possessing god-like powers and devastating abilities, were the very definition of an unstoppable force.
Goku Black, with his SSJ4 Rose form, was the first to strike, hurling an energy blast towards Bateman, which cracked the very atmosphere upon impact. The blast collided with Bateman's sword, and for a moment, it seemed as though time itself had slowed. Bateman raised his blade, deflecting the blast with a shockwave of energy that sent ripples through the arena.
But before he could react, Broly's massive fist came crashing down from above, an explosion of power erupting as it connected with Bateman's defenses. The force was enough to send him sprawling back, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
Without a moment's hesitation, Gohan dashed forward, his Beast Mode increasing his speed and power to overwhelming levels. He landed a powerful punch to Bateman's side, sending the masked figure tumbling across the arena. Bateman struggled to maintain his footing, his energy flaring as he adjusted to the onslaught.
Piccolo followed close behind, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts, each one more powerful than the last. Cell Max's massive body barrelled forward, slamming into Bateman with enough force to leave a crater in his wake.
Frieza, in his Black form, hovered above the battlefield, his hands charged with purple energy. With a flick of his wrist, he released a devastating energy wave aimed straight at Bateman's chest. The blast connected, sending Bateman flying through the air.
Granola, Super 17, Baby, and Cumber all joined the attack, bombarding Bateman with a variety of strikes, energy blasts, and attacks. The combined power of these warriors was unlike anything Bateman had ever encountered. His body was battered and bruised, his mask beginning to crack under the pressure.
The Forced Retreat
Bateman knew he could not survive much longer under the relentless assault. His strength, though formidable, was being overwhelmed by the sheer number of powerful enemies before him. The thought of retreat was not one he usually entertained, but in this moment, it was the only option.
With a strained motion, Bateman raised his sword one last time, his energy surging as he focused on cutting a rift back to his own world. The portal crackled to life, a swirling vortex opening behind him, but not without a cost. His body was bruised, his mask shattered, and his energy drained.
"You haven't won," Bateman hissed, his voice cold and defiant, even as the portal grew larger. "I'll return."
With those final words, Bateman stepped through the portal, his form vanishing into the swirling vortex, the rift closing behind him.