Dragon Ball Z: The Beast Within

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[Escarot POV.]

True to his word, the next day, Paragus took me for training.

He didn't offer much in the way of explanation, just barked for me to follow him after we'd finished eating. Saiyan food, by the way, was surprisingly bland for a race known for eating ten times their body weight for each meal. It was mostly meat, tough and charred. Functional. Like everything else about them.

On that note, that was… quite the experience for me, eating enough food to feed an entire rugby team, in one sitting, as a kid… no idea where all that food went, and honestly, it felt like it was one of those things it was best not to question.

Anyways, Paragus house, my house, I guess, matched that same utilitarian vibe I had seen all around. It was small and bare-bones, with nothing to suggest any kind of personal touch. The walls were plain, the furniture was limited to bare essentials, and the whole place felt more like a soldier's barracks than a family home.

Not that I expected much else. Still, it was hard to ignore the sheer emptiness of the place.

Beyond that, I hadn't met my mother yet. That was another thing. Thanks to the programming—or whatever it was they had done to me—I knew I had one. Her name was Tomat. But she hadn't been there yesterday or today, which probably meant she was off on a mission. Saiyans weren't big on family bonding unless you counted bloodlines as a form of loyalty.

Not that I really cared. The whole concept of having parents again was strange enough, and that was without adding the alien/reincarnated layer to the formula.

When we reached the training arena, I immediately understood why he'd been so eager to bring me here. The building loomed ahead, a massive structure of dark stone and steel. "Battle arena" seemed like an appropriate name, and judging by the constant hum of energy blasts and distant shouting and screams of pain coming from inside, it was already in full swing.

To be entirely honest, I expected Paragus to stick around, maybe show me the ropes or give me some pointers. After all, wasn't that what training was supposed to be? The image of a martial arts master teaching their student flashed through my head, the kind of one-on-one guidance I'd half-imagined when he said we'd train.

I was wrong.

As soon as we stepped inside, Paragus waved me off like a stray cat. "Find the instructor," he said curtly, barely glancing back at me. "They'll tell you what to do."

And with that, he was gone.

I stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. Was that it? Was this the Saiyan version of parenting? Just dump your kid in a combat zone and hope they survive?

Sounds about right.

I let out a breath, glancing around the arena. It was huge, an open expanse surrounded by towering walls, with multiple levels of platforms and observation decks. Groups of Saiyan kids were scattered throughout, most if not all, older than me.

Some were sparring in pairs. Others were training solo, practicing energy blasts or punching at reinforced dummies. But the main event seemed to be happening in the center of the arena, where a crowd of kids had gathered around an instructor.

The instructor was an older Saiyan with graying hair and a permanent scowl, like most Saiyans. He held a small green orb… seed? He held something in his hand, which he planted into the ground before stepping back.

The seed sprouted immediately, a spindly, humanoid creature clawing its way out of the dirt.

A Saibaman.

Yamcha's nemesis.

They looked even creepier in real life… than they ever did in the anime.

Wait a moment, if these things are as strong as Raditz… who had a power level of 1200 or something, and I am stronger than Raditz, does that mean I can wipe the floor with them?

As I mused about the idea, the Saibaman screeched as it fully emerged, its hunched body covered in green, leathery shiny skin. It cracked its knuckles, sharp claws flexing as it scanned the crowd of kids.

The first Saiyan kid stepped forward, cracking his neck like he was about to show everyone how it was done. And hey, maybe he was, he looked older than me. He didn't look nervous. If anything, he looked cocky.

Besides, even if he can't beat the mutant piece of lettuce, I'm sure there are some safety measures in place to avoid accidents.

The instructor grunted, his arms crossed. "Don't hold back. If it kills you, that's your fault for being weak."

Well… that didn't seem too reassuring. But I still had faith in the kid.

The kid smirked and powered up, a faint aura flickering around him. He lunged at the Saibaman without hesitation, throwing a punch that landed squarely on its chest.

For a moment, I thought he had it handled.

Then the Saibaman moved.

It twisted its body with unnatural speed, its claws slashing upward. The kid barely managed to jump back, but the creature was on him instantly, closing the gap and landing a knee to his gut. The sound of the impact echoed through the arena, and the kid hit the ground hard, coughing blood and clutching his stomach.

The Saibaman didn't let up. It pounced, pinning the kid down and slamming its fists into him over and over again. The strikes were brutal, precise, and completely unrelenting.

I stared, frozen, as blood sprayed from the kid's mouth. He tried to fight back, but every time he moved, the Saibaman hit him harder.

Finally, the instructor barked, "Enough!"

The Saibaman stopped, its claws raised for another strike. The kid lay limp beneath it, his breathing shallow but steady. He wasn't dead, but he wasn't getting back up anytime soon.

Two older Saiyans dragged him off to the side, where a small pile of beaten, bruised kids was already forming.

"Next!" the instructor shouted.

Another kid stepped forward, this one smaller and less confident. He didn't charge in like the first kid—he hesitated, his fists trembling as he squared off against the Saibaman.

The creature didn't wait for him to make the first move. It lunged, swiping at him with its claws. The kid was too slow to dodge, and the claws of the Saibamen raked across his chest, shredding his armor, and flesh, sending him sprawling to the ground.

The Saibaman didn't even give him a chance to get up. It stomped on his back, pinning him down before slamming its elbow into his head, all while laughing.

The instructor let it go on for longer this time, only calling the creature off when it looked like the kid was seconds away from dying.

He was dragged off like the first one, leaving behind a trail of blood as the line moved forward.

One by one, the kids took their turns. And one by one, the Saibaman dismantled them, with extreme ease. These fights weren't even close. It was a one sided beating.

The line kept moving, and the pile of injured kids grew steadily larger. None of them were dead, at least not yet, I think, but it was clear the instructor didn't care much either way. The weak were weeded out. That was the point.

I clenched my fists, my tail flicking behind me as I watched another kid get knocked unconscious with a single blow. The Saibaman's screech echoing in my ears.

The pile of injured kids had grown alarmingly large by the time the line finally ran out. Bloodied bodies lay sprawled out, some groaning in pain, others eerily still.

I kept my distance, hoping no one would notice I wasn't part of the lineup and was nothing more than a spectator. Maybe they'd just move on, call it a day, and I wouldn't have to—

"You," the instructor barked, snapping his head in my direction. His scowl deepened, and he pointed a finger at me. "You're up."

For a second, I froze.

"I wasn't even in line," I blurted before I could stop myself.

The instructor snorted. "Doesn't matter. Everyone fights. Or are you too much of a coward to step up?"

The other kids, even the ones barely conscious, turned their eyes to me. Some of them looked curious, others annoyed. A few looked relieved that it wasn't their turn again.

My tail flicked behind me. What was the point? I knew I was stronger than the Saibaman. Hell, I was stronger than all of the kids here. But stepping into that circle... it made my stomach twist.

And yet... There was another part of me, buried deep, that felt different. That part wasn't nervous. That part was excited. My heart started pounding faster, my muscles tensed, and I felt a faint buzz under my skin, like an itch I needed to scratch.

Saiyan instincts.

I sighed, steeling myself, and stepped forward.

The instructor grunted in approval and gestured for me to take my place in the middle of the arena. The Saibaman was already waiting, its beady red eyes locked onto me. It let out a high-pitched screech, baring its sharp claws as it crouched into a predatory stance.

Up close, the thing looked even uglier. Its green skin glistened under the harsh lights, and its oversized hands twitched like it couldn't wait to tear into me.

"Try not to die," the instructor said flatly.

The Saibaman launched itself at me with a shriek, claws outstretched.

I braced myself, expecting some blinding speed, something that would require every ounce of focus to dodge.

But... it was slow.

Painfully slow.

I stepped to the side without even thinking about it, the Saibaman's claws swiping harmlessly through empty air. Its body blurred past me, and I turned to watch as it skidded to a halt, kicking up dirt.

Is that it?

The Saibaman growled, whipping around to face me again. It charged, swinging wildly, but every movement felt sluggish, like it was wading through water. I dodged again, stepping back, then to the side, then ducking under another swipe.

The thing couldn't touch me.

My apprehension started to melt away, replaced by something else. Confidence. Maybe even amusement.

It screeched again, clearly frustrated, and lunged at me with both arms extended. I didn't even think about what I was doing—my body moved on its own. My fist shot forward, slamming into its stomach with a force that made the air ripple.

The Saibaman's screech cut off abruptly. Its body tensed, its eyes bulging, and for a moment it just stood there, frozen. Then it crumpled to the ground, motionless.

Dead.

I stared down at it, my fist still clenched, my breathing steady.

That... was it?

A single punch… that's all that it took to kill that green demon?

The instructor walked over, his scouter beeping faintly as he checked the Saibaman's vitals. After a moment, he nodded and turned to me with a smirk.

"And that's how you do it, maggots," he said. "Good job kid, I expected nothing else from a high class warrior."

The other kids were staring at me, their expressions ranging from shock to... fear? I wasn't sure. I tried to ignore them, focusing instead on the faint buzzing sensation still thrumming through my body.

It wasn't just relief. It wasn't even pride.

It was... satisfaction.

I glanced down at the Saibaman's lifeless form. The part of me that was still human felt sick, uneasy at how easily I'd killed it. But the Saiyan part of me?

The Saiyan part of me was smiling.

"But you didn't come here for this weakling, didn't you?" The instructor said, his smirk growing. "Get ready for round two." The instructor moved toward the center of the arena, pulling another seed from a pouch at his side. This one was different, rounder, with a faint pink hue to it.

I frowned, my tail flicking behind me as he crouched and pressed it into the dirt. The moment his hand moved away, the ground trembled slightly, and the seed began to sprout.

Within seconds, something clawed its way out—a creature similar to the Saibaman, but with pink and blue tones streaking across its leathery skin. It stood taller, its limbs slightly bulkier, and its eyes yellow, staring at me.

It screeched as it straightened up, flexing its claws.

There… were different flavors of Saibamen?

What the hell was this thing? The anime never showed anything like it. Were there variations of these creatures? My mind raced, but there wasn't much time to process.

"This one's called a Tennenman," the instructor said casually. He stepped back, arms crossed, and looked at me expectantly. "Twice as strong as the average Saibamen, and twice as smart."

That would make this a balanced fight, I think.

"Begin."

The moment the instructor finished speaking, the Tennenman lunged at me with frightening speed. Thankfully, I was already braced in a defensive stance, which gave me just enough time to block its first blow with my left forearm. It struck hard—hard enough to rattle my bones—but despite that, I managed to deflect the next two blows as well.

I saw an opening and countered with an uppercut, but the creature dodged with an almost unnatural leap backward.

I exhaled sharply, resetting my stance as quickly as I could. This thing wasn't just fast—it was precise. Its movements were fluid, yet calculated, and I couldn't afford to lose focus for even a moment.

The Tennenman wasted no time continuing its attack. It closed the gap in a blink, its clawed foot swinging toward me in a wide arc. I raised my elbow, catching the kick mid-swing. To my surprise, the block threw the creature off balance, and for a brief second, I thought I could turn the tide in my favor.

I advanced, pressing the attack, but my confidence wavered as the Tennenman recovered its footing faster than I thought possible. Before I could even react, it was on me again, its fists slamming toward me in a relentless barrage. Each strike was faster, harder, and more precise than the last, and I could feel myself being driven back under the sheer force of its blows.

The little monster let out a sharp, high-pitched giggle, its claws slashing dangerously close to my face. It wasn't just fighting, it was enjoying this. Every screech and chittering laugh felt like it was taunting me, feeding off my growing frustration.

It didn't help that I didn't really know how to fight, I was acting and reacting based on instinct alone, and the only reason I hadn't lost thus far was because our power was similar.

I clenched my jaw, trying to block out the sound of his giggles and screeches.

Instead, I kept my focus on parrying, deflecting its strikes as best I could.

The Tennenman shrieked again, its movements becoming more erratic. It pressed harder, its attacks growing faster and wilder, and I felt my arms trembling under the force of its relentless strikes.

The arena around us was buzzing with energy. I could hear the faint cheers of the crowd in the stands, though it was hard to tell who they were rooting for. Most seemed to cheer for the fight itself, reveling in the brutal spectacle.

I heard someone shout, "That cub is holding up better than expected!" but I couldn't tell if it was meant as encouragement or sarcasm.

The Tennenman struck again, this time with a brutal combination of punches that landed hard against my defenses. My arms were starting to ache from the impact, and I knew I couldn't keep this up forever.

"This thing is stronger than I thought," I muttered to myself, dodging a swipe aimed at my head. Its speed and power weren't the only problem, it was smart, too. Every attack seemed designed to wear me down, to break my guard little by little.

I saw an opening—its guard had dropped slightly after one of its swings. My body moved on instinct, aiming a powerful strike at its exposed side.

But the Tennenman had set me up.

It dodged my blow with almost mocking ease, letting out a screeching laugh that grated against my ears. Its claws drove into my stomach before I even realized what was happening. I doubled over, gasping for air as pain radiated through my body.

For a moment, our eyes met. The creature's gaze was cold and calculating, its twisted grin a mockery of victory. Before I could recover, it delivered a devastating kick that sent me flying across the arena.

I hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop several meters away. My body felt like it had been hit by a train, every muscle screaming in protest as I tried to push myself up.

The pink and blue bastard stood a few feet away, watching me with a predatory gleam in its eyes. It let out another screech, crouching low as if preparing for another attack.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to my feet as the creature let out another piercing giggle, its claws flexing, ready to strike again.

"Bring it on!" I challenged.

The creature screeched again, darting toward me with claws outstretched. This time, it wasn't just fast, it was unpredictable, its movements erratic as it zigzagged toward me. My muscles tensed as I braced myself, barely ducking under a wild swipe aimed at my neck.

It spun on its heel, slashing again, and I had no choice but to step back, deflecting its claws with my forearm. The impact stung, the sharp edges scraping against my armor. My instincts screamed at me to fight back, but every time I saw an opening, the creature would twist or leap out of reach.

This thing was playing with me.

"Focus," I muttered under my breath, sidestepping another clawed strike. My tail lashed behind me as I tried to find an opening, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

The Tennenman suddenly lunged, closing the gap in an instant. I barely had time to react, raising my arms to block as its claws slammed down on me. The force of the blow sent me skidding back, my boots grinding against the dirt.

It giggled again, the high-pitched sound grating against my nerves. My chest heaved as I steadied myself, my fists clenching tighter. Despite the pain, despite the chaos of the fight, that buzzing feeling was still there, humming in the back of my mind, urging me to hit harder, move faster.

The Tennenman charged again, but this time, I didn't retreat. I stepped forward, meeting its attack head-on. Its claws slashed at me, but I ducked low, my body twisting as I dodged and countered with a quick punch to its side.

The creature screeched in pain, stumbling slightly, but recovered almost immediately. It swiped at me again, and I dodged, ducked, parried—until finally, we both lunged at the same time, our hands locking together in a clash of raw strength.

Our fingers interlocked, and the Tennenman pushed with all its might, its claws digging into my skin, drawing blood as it screeched in fury. I could feel its raw power pressing against me, but I wasn't backing down. My muscles burned as I dug my heels into the ground, pushing back with everything I had.

We were locked together, neither of us giving an inch. The creature's face was inches from mine, its beady yellow eyes gleaming. Its breath was hot and foul, like rotten lettuce, and its screeches grew louder as it tried to overpower me.

Then it hit me.

I can shoot ki, why haven't I tried that?

As that realization came, my body moved on instinct, my lips parting as I opened my mouth wide. A surge of energy rose in my chest, hot and raw, and before I even realized what I was doing, I released it.

A massive blast of ki erupted from my mouth, slamming into the Tennenman point-blank.

The creature let out one final, ear-piercing screech before the energy consumed it, its body disintegrating in the blinding light of the blast. The force of the attack sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, kicking up dust and dirt as the remains of the Tennenman scattered into nothingness.

When the dust settled, I was left standing alone, the arms of the little bastard still in my hands, being the only remnants of the beast, my chest heaving as I stared at the empty space where the creature had been. My hands still tingled from the clash, and my mouth felt strangely numb, but I'd done it.

I had won.

The arena was silent for a moment, the air heavy with the aftermath of the fight. Then, faint murmurs started to ripple through the crowd, growing louder as the realization sank in.

I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth, glancing down at my still-clenched fists, before dropping the remains of the Tennenman. That buzzing feeling was still there, stronger than ever, and for a brief moment, I couldn't help but feel... exhilarated.

I think… I like fighting now…