CHAPTER 8: TURLES vs GOKU

Atop the massive root, Goku and Turles stand face to face, the air crackling with anticipation. Goku shifts into his fighting stance, his energy surging as he weighs his first move. Turles, by contrast, remains calm and confident, arms folded, his piercing gaze unyielding.

The king's composed demeanor unsettles Goku, who struggles to get a read on him. Taking a deep breath, Goku decides to act first. Turles smirks, almost as if daring him.

In an instant, Goku closes the gap and throws the first punch. The impact echoes as both saiyans leap into the sky, clashing mid-air. Their flurry of punches and kicks creates shockwaves, the force of their blows shaking the branches of the massive tree below.

Turles moves deftly, blocking Goku's attacks with precision. But Goku’s relentless assault finds its mark—a solid punch connects, sending Turles flying back.

Landing on a rocky ledge, Turles wipes his jaw, smirking. "A cheap shot. It won’t happen again."

"We’ll see about that!" Goku retorts, the thrill of battle evident in his grin.

Turles dives to the ground, sprinting toward a nearby canyon. Goku pursues him, determined not to lose sight. Turles vanishes into the rocky terrain, leaving Goku scanning his surroundings.

Perched atop the canyon, Turles fires a barrage of ki blasts. Goku blocks them with ease, but the explosions create a thick smokescreen, obscuring his view.

"Where did he go?" Goku mutters, brushing the smoke aside.

Suddenly, he feels an iron grip around his neck. Turles is behind him, locking him into a chokehold. The king’s strength is immense, his grip tightening as Goku struggles to break free.

"You're strong, I’ll give you that," Turles remarks, his voice calm despite the exertion.

Goku grits his teeth, feeling his power rise. I have no choice. With a burst of golden energy, he transforms into a Super Saiyan, the sheer force breaking Turles's hold.

Turles steps back, eyes narrowing as he takes in Goku’s glowing yellow hair and aura. "Super Saiyan..."

"You don’t seem fazed," Goku says, his voice steady.

Turles smirks, his tone measured. "I know the legend well. Believe me, I’m not impressed." He drops into a stance, his energy spiking. "You’ll find I’m more powerful than a mere transformation."

"Trust me," Goku replies with a grin, his aura flaring brighter. "There’s more where this came from."

With a shout, his energy surges, and he transforms into Super Saiyan 2, electricity sparking around him. Without hesitation, Goku charges, launching the next phase of their battle.

The two saiyans exchange blows, knuckle meeting knuckle with deafening force. Each strike is calculated, precise—neither daring to make a mistake that could send them crashing into the jagged canyon walls. Turles feints, landing a crushing blow to Goku’s side, forcing him backward.

As Goku regains his footing, he feels the shift in Turles’s energy. The air grows heavy.
This guy’s energy... it’s insane, Goku thinks, bracing himself.

Turles smirks, his confidence unwavering. "You're about to feel only a fraction of my power."

The king’s aura surges, his body pulsing with immense energy. In the blink of an eye, Turles is gone—reappearing directly in front of Goku. With a thunderous strike, he sends Goku hurtling into a pile of rubble.

Goku shakes off the impact and narrowly evades Turles’s knee as it smashes into the rock. But Turles is relentless, firing a barrage of blasts that forces Goku back on the defensive. They clash again, exchanging powerful blows, their smiles betraying the joy they find in testing each other’s limits.

Flipping backward, Goku gains some distance. His energy begins to build, his aura glowing brighter as he prepares to ascend further. Turles watches, intrigued. His arms remain at his sides, no urgency in his stance.

"HAAAAAAAAA!!!" Goku roars as his energy explodes. His hair grows long, his eyebrows vanish, and his golden aura flares with untamed power. Goku stands transformed into Super Saiyan 3.

Turles raises an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

In an instant, Goku vanishes, using Instant Transmission to land a devastating blow to Turles’s side. Turles recoils but has no time to recover as Goku teleports again, striking from a different angle. Blow after blow rains down, Goku playing with his newfound speed.

Before Goku can land another strike, Turles anticipates his movement and catches his punch mid-air.

"So," Turles says, their fists locked. "What’s this transformation called?"

"This," Goku replies with a grin, "is Super Saiyan 3."

"Interesting," Turles muses, releasing Goku’s fist. "So, there’s even more to the legend than I imagined. But you’re still holding back."

Goku steps back, smirking. "Maybe. Let’s find out."

He channels his energy, his aura shifting from golden to fiery red. His hair returns to its normal length, and his eyebrows reappear. Standing before Turles now is Goku in his Super Saiyan God form.

Turles’s eyes narrow, his intrigue turning to recognition. "Now, this brings back memories," he mutters, his voice carrying a strange mix of nostalgia and resolve.

Without hesitation, Turles launches forward, his punch aimed squarely at Goku. But Goku moves with fluid grace, guiding Turles’s strike away effortlessly. Each of Turles’s follow-up blows is dodged, Goku’s movements precise and instinctive.

Maybe I should try what Whis taught me, Goku thinks, dodging another strike. For a fleeting moment, he feels himself slipping into the calm flow of Ultra Instinct. Turles, meanwhile, grows more impressed as Goku’s technique becomes almost otherworldly.

Just as Goku begins to lose focus, Turles’s fist finally connects—but Goku catches it, holding it firm.

"I yield," Turles says suddenly, stepping back.

Goku blinks, releasing Turles’s fist. "Already? Things were just getting good."

Turles brushes rubble from his armor, taking a deep breath. "Your power is astonishing, Goku. To see these transformations firsthand... it’s an honor."

"I know you were holding back too," Goku replies with a knowing smile.

Turles laughs softly, his voice tinged with familiarity. "You remind me of someone I knew long ago. He was noble... and had great power, just like you."

Placing a hand on Goku’s shoulder, Turles smirks. "We’ll fight again, and next time, I won’t hold back. But for now, I think you’ve earned a proper meal."

"Now you’re talking!" Goku exclaims, his stomach already growling.

Turles retrieves his royal gear, and the two saiyans take to the sky, flying back toward the palace. As they soar, Turles watches Goku closely, a determined glint in his eye.

He’s everything I hoped for... the perfect piece I need to make this work.

________

Writer's Note:

Well that fight just happened. It might not be an all out brawl just yet, this was more like an appetizer as the two test each other's strengths. There's a few callbacks to their original fight from the movie, but what I didn't want to do is throw everything into this when there's so much left to go. It's typical that you see Goku go through his transformations once again, but this is a sparring match to which Turles wanted to see his capabilities for something that will happen later on in our story. 

I did promise Goku wouldn't be sitting out this story being kidnapped. He's more of our gateway into learning about Turles and this mysterious saiyan clan first hand. What is Turles cooking up? Stay tuned next time on Dragonball Super: The Might of King Turles.