Under the intensity of Goten's Ki, the once-calm sea transformed into a raging torrent. Waves rose and crashed violently, as if responding to the energy emanating from the young Saiyan.
"Ah!!!" Goten roared, his voice echoing across the endless expanse of water.
In a blinding surge of energy, Goten's hair underwent a remarkable transformation. It turned stark white and extended to his waist, with the tips of the strands adopting a striking pink hue. His pupils shimmered with a radiant pink light, and two angular patterns resembling bookends etched themselves onto his forehead. Red, upward-slanting marks appeared on either side of his face, emphasizing the sheer intensity of his transformation. His entire body was enveloped in a brilliant golden aura interspersed with crackling golden lightning.
This was the ascension to Super Saiyan Seven.
The moment his transformation was complete, Goten released a burst of power that rippled outward in a destructive wave. The energy lashed against the ocean, creating towering waves that roared like wild beasts. Winds howled as his aura expanded, making the atmosphere itself tremble under its weight.
Watching this, Salama smiled—a knowing grin of a warrior relishing the challenge. Without hesitation, the Dragon God charged forward, his form blurring with speed. Goten clenched his fists, his muscles taut with anticipation, and met the charge head-on.
"Whoosh—"
Their collision unleashed a deafening BANG, shaking the heavens and the earth. The sky above and the sea below bore witness to a furious exchange of blows as the two titans clashed. Their movements were so swift that to any observer, they appeared as streaking flashes of golden light cutting through the firmament.
Far away, on Earth, Goku and his companions stood frozen as they sensed the powerful Ki reverberating from Goten's battle.
"Merus, who is Goten fighting now?" Gohan asked, his expression a mixture of awe and concern.
Merus, the Galactic Patrol agent turned observer, kept his gaze steady. "Lord Goten is currently fighting Dragon God Salama."
Gohan's eyes widened. "Dragon God Salama?"
"I never thought the Dragon God himself would come to Earth to face Goten!" Trunks exclaimed, his voice carrying both surprise and admiration.
"What are you talking about, Trunks?" Krillin interjected, curiosity evident in his tone.
Trunks explained, "A week ago, Salama's daughter, Sava, came to Earth. She claimed to apologize on behalf of her father for their past actions. But Goten wasn't interested. He told her that forgiveness could only be earned if the Dragon God himself faced him in battle."
Krillin blinked in understanding. "I see…"
"Yeah," Trunks nodded solemnly.
In the sacred realm of the Kais, the Old Kai and Supreme Kai Shin observed the unfolding battle through their divine vision. The Old Kai sighed heavily.
"Why does Goten insist on fighting everyone he encounters?" he grumbled.
Shin shrugged helplessly. "I couldn't tell you."
Back on Earth, the clash between Goten and Salama intensified. After a series of rapid strikes, Salama clasped his hands together and brought them down on Goten's back with tremendous force, sending him hurtling into the ocean below.
BOOM! The impact created an explosion on the water's surface, sending waves hundreds of feet into the air.
Goten plunged into the depths, swallowing mouthfuls of seawater as he descended. Salama wasted no time and followed, his figure a streak of motion as he dove in pursuit. The ocean roared and churned, the sheer energy of their battle disrupting the marine ecosystem.
At the ocean floor, Goten recovered, shaking off the disorientation. He clenched his fists, and in a blur of movement, appeared before Salama, launching a powerful punch. The water offered resistance, but Goten's strength created whirlpools as his fists moved.
Salama met the attack head-on, trading blows with Goten. The seabed shook, dislodging sand, rocks, and schools of fish, which scattered in all directions. The water turned into a chaotic battlefield as the two warriors exchanged strikes, their power manifesting as swirling vortices.
With a thunderous crash, Goten was sent flying into a massive rock formation. The rock shattered under the impact, crumbling into a cloud of debris.
Salama took the opportunity to unleash an energy wave from his right hand, its glow illuminating the murky depths. Sensing the danger, Goten quickly regained his footing and dodged, the energy wave erupting behind him with a deafening explosion. The resulting shockwave displaced water outward, creating a void momentarily.
Goten surged upward, bursting from the surface of the ocean and taking in deep breaths.
"Goten!" Trunks shouted from afar, his voice filled with urgency.
Before he could say more, Salama emerged from the water in a streak of motion. A colossal wave followed, cascading like a liquid wall of destruction.
Goten countered with a shout, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Ha!!"
In an instant, he reappeared before Salama, his fists moving faster than the speed of light. Each strike came with precision, targeting Salama's defenses. Salama raised his arms to block, deflecting the onslaught but barely keeping pace.
The sky above them turned into a tempest of storms and golden lightning, the aftermath of their clashes rippling through the atmosphere. Thunder roared as bolts of energy danced around them.
From a distance, Sava watched in disbelief. "Goten…" she murmured, her voice trembling. She had always revered her father's strength, yet the sight of him matching blows with Goten left her shaken. She couldn't deny the power and skill of this young Saiyan.
As the battle continued, both warriors prepared their ultimate attacks. Goten and Salama simultaneously charged their energy, their hands glowing with brilliant golden light.
With a synchronized roar, they unleashed their energy waves. The attacks collided midair, creating a massive explosion that illuminated the entire sky. The shockwave hurled both fighters backward.
Salama gasped for breath, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He looked at Goten, whose expression remained calm despite the exertion.
"I know you're capable of using Ultra Instinct," Salama said, his voice laced with both challenge and curiosity. "Why not use it right away?"
Goten exhaled softly and allowed his body to relax. His hair and eyebrows turned silver, his pupils became a shimmering silver-gray, and his aura transformed into a radiant silver-white glow. This was the mark of achieving Ultra Instinct—a state of complete harmony between mind and body.
In the Grand Zeno Palace, the Grand Priest observed the battle through his staff, his expression unreadable.
"Goten has grown stronger," he remarked. "He can stand toe-to-toe with Salama even without using Ultra Instinct."
Salama's eyes narrowed as he watched Goten in his heightened state. Memories of his battle with the Grand Priest resurfaced. He clenched his fists, determination etched into his features.
With a loud cry, Salama surged forward, attacking with a speed surpassing light itself. Yet Goten, now in Ultra Instinct, moved effortlessly, his body reacting instinctively to each strike. Salama's punches and kicks met only empty space as Goten weaved through the assault with fluid grace.
Frustrated, Salama let out a roar and launched a knee strike aimed at Goten's midsection. Goten stepped back with perfect timing, evading the attack. Salama's figure blurred as he appeared behind Goten, throwing a powerful punch toward his head.
Goten raised his hand, catching the fist with ease. Salama's eyes widened in shock.
Before Salama could recover, Goten drove his elbow into Salama's chest, sending him staggering backward with a pained cry. Without giving him a moment to breathe, Goten followed up with a relentless barrage of punches and kicks. Each strike landed with precision, the sound of impact echoing like thunderclaps.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Salama cried out as Goten's fists struck him relentlessly, driving him back further and further.