Chapter 49: Goku, Why Don't You Transform into Super Saiyan 5?
"Stand up and kneel at my feet, you pathetic lower-class warrior!" Rigor pointed his hand at Son Goku.
"Go to hell!"
A powerful energy beam shot toward Son Goku. Watching from a distance, Piccolo clenched his teeth, his eyes wide with rage. "Damn it..."
"What the hell is this guy trying to do? Planet Vegeta is gone, so now he's here to wreak havoc on Earth?"
"Haaaaah!"
Son Goku stood up, resisting the energy blast with both hands, letting out an unrelenting roar. His power rose rapidly.
"Tenfold Kaio-ken..."
As Son Goku roared, his trembling hands pushed back against Rigor's energy blast with incredible difficulty, finally redirecting it into the sky.
"Boom!"
The energy blast exploded high above, lighting up the sky like a brilliant firework. Billowing smoke descended but was quickly dispersed by the howling northern winds.
"Strange... His combat power was clearly declining, so why is it rising again now?"
Separi, who was watching closely, was startled. The numbers on her scouter were climbing steadily.
"Excellent..." Piccolo clenched his fist in excitement and shouted, "I knew Goku could protect Earth!"
As the explosion echoed in the sky, Son Goku charged at Rigor. The two collided, exchanging a flurry of punches and kicks.
Son Goku launched a fierce counterattack, his figure flashing around Rigor. With a quick jab, he aimed a straight punch at Rigor's face.
"Goku... won't last long!" Lin Qi noticed Vegeta clenching his fists in frustration and calmly commented.
Piccolo's joyful expression froze on his face. "Why?"
"Kaio-ken..." Lin Qi stared at the battlefield where Son Goku was going all out. "Have I never mentioned the side effects of Kaio-ken to you all?"
Vegeta also looked at Lin Qi, puzzled. "Isn't it just the strain it puts on the body?"
"No. To be precise, Kaio-ken doubles one's attributes," Piccolo corrected Vegeta.
Lin Qi didn't bother explaining further and instead asked coldly, "What do you think the strain is on the body when Goku, in his Super Saiyan 4 state, increases his power tenfold with Kaio-ken?"
Lin Qi didn't refute but instead posed a chilling question to Piccolo. "Aside from the physical strain of Kaio-ken, have you noticed how much Goku's combat power has increased?"
Piccolo pressed his lips together, unable to answer. In his Super Saiyan 4 state, Goku's strength was far beyond Piccolo's perception.
"It hasn't fully doubled—at most, his combat power has increased by a third," Vegeta said coldly, shocking Piccolo once again.
"Only a third? That little?" Piccolo found it hard to believe. Had Vegeta miscalculated?
"Kaio-ken doesn't just consume a lot of stamina; the time it can be used is very short. If the enemy lands a heavy blow, it'll knock Goku out of the Kaio-ken state," Lin Qi said indifferently.
"Heh... It's like a cat playing with a mouse! If Goku doesn't transform into Super Saiyan 5, he won't last much longer," Lin Qi said while glancing coldly at Piccolo.
"It looks like he'll soon be at a disadvantage and might even be slaughtered..."
As Lin Qi spoke, Son Goku's breathing on the battlefield became labored, clearly indicating his stamina was rapidly depleting.
Vegeta pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes as he observed the battle.
Rigor's fist struck Son Goku's jaw, causing his head to snap back. Rigor's expression grew even more disdainful.
"I thought you'd last longer... Is this all you've got?"
Son Goku gritted his teeth against the pain, lifting his leg for a desperate knee strike to Rigor's abdomen.
Goku was still fighting, but it seemed he couldn't hold out for much longer...
Watching the scene unfold through a crystal ball, Kaioshin Kibito Kai spoke anxiously, "What should we do? Even Goku can't win..."
"The gap is too big! Why doesn't Goku transform into Super Saiyan 5 like Lin Qi?" the Elder Kai said, his hands behind his back, staring at the crystal ball in confusion.
"Yes... Why not?"
"Damn it... Who would've thought Rigor could find his way to Earth!" Kibito clenched his fists in anger, glaring at the crystal ball.
The Elder Kai sighed as he gazed into the distance, his hands still clasped behind his back. "Sigh... It seems Earth is in big trouble now!"
"Speaking of which, even if Goku can't reach Super Saiyan 5, isn't Lord Lin Qi still here? Maybe he'll step in!" Kibito placed his hopes on Lin Qi.
"If he doesn't act, then Goku and Vegeta should fuse. Gogeta could definitely defeat Rigor!"
In the crystal ball, Son Goku was once again sent flying by Rigor, crashing into a thick snowbank. He lay there, gasping for breath.
"Huff... Huff... Who would've thought someone could be as strong as Lin Qi!" Though battered, Goku's fighting spirit was unshaken.
Vegeta stood in the distance, having recovered somewhat. "That damn bastard... He's been toying with us this whole time!"
"Rigor still has a third of his power left. Once he goes all out, Goku won't be able to endure!"
Lin Qi narrowed his eyes, scanning the battlefield. Son Goku struggled to stand, and Lin Qi instantly teleported in front of him.
"Why haven't you transformed into your Super Saiyan 5 form?" Lin Qi asked, his tone indifferent.
Goku gave a helpless smile. "That time, it was Kakarot who controlled Super Saiyan 5. I can't just transform at will yet..."
"Hmm, let me end this," Lin Qi replied calmly.
"I'm not giving up yet!" Goku ignored the searing pain in his chest and forced himself to stand, shouting.
"That's enough..." Lin Qi glanced back at Goku out of the corner of his eye, his tone emotionless.
"Bulma's waiting for us to come home for dinner."
"...Now that you mention it, I think I'm getting hungry too!" Goku touched his stomach, and right on cue, it growled loudly.
"Hmph. Are you really going to take turns fighting me?" Rigor sneered at Lin Qi, who now stood protectively in front of Goku. "Low-class Saiyans..."
"I'll send you both to Hell together. It doesn't matter who comes at me first..." Rigor clenched his fists tightly.
As his fists tightened, veins bulged on his body, and his frame trembled slightly. "Let me show you the depths of despair!"
"It's time to reveal my true power..."
"What... true power?" Vegeta ground his teeth in anger, staring at Rigor on the battlefield.
"Damn it..." Piccolo cursed, turning to Lin Qi, who remained calm. "Can Lin Qi defeat that guy?"
"Haaaah!"
With Rigor's low roar, fiery energy erupted around his feet. His muscles swelled, and his veins bulged like tangled tree roots.