Dave suddenly appeared behind him, whispering coldly, "Yes, you are."
He landed a clean blow to Gohan's back, sending him skidding across the dirt. Gohan groaned, but pushed himself back up, wiping blood from his lip.
"That the best you've got?" he growled.
Dave's eyes flashed with faint violet. "Not even close. But this isn't about me—it's about waking up you."
Gohan screamed, his aura bursting to life in a brilliant white flame, surging higher, hotter. His muscles tensed, and his power surged.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "He's accessing it… his Super Saiyan form."
Goku clenched a fist. "Go on, Gohan—show him who you really are!"
With a defiant roar, Gohan charged again, fists blazing with raw energy. He and Dave met mid-air in a furious exchange of blows—shockwaves rocking the Earth beneath them. The sky overhead split with thunder, responding to the clash of their energies.
"Nice power-up, but is it enough?" Dave asked, circling Gohan, his eyes analyzing every movement.
"Shouldn't you stop him?" Piccolo asked as he approached Goku and Vegeta.
Vegeta crossed his arms and replied, "If he can't handle this much, then Broly is right—he's a waste."
Goku shook his head slightly. "It's okay. I can sense that Broly isn't trying to seriously hurt him. He's just trying to see what Gohan's made of—and honestly, so am I."
Gohan shot forward again, gritting his teeth, channeling his energy into one concentrated strike aimed at Dave's chest. But Dave moved like a phantom—sidestepping with effortless grace before slamming a heavy palm into Gohan's ribs, sending him crashing into the ground with a thunderous boom.
Dust and debris scattered as Gohan lay in a shallow crater, groaning. Still, he pushed himself up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Hah… not done yet…" Gohan muttered, wiping the blood away.
Dave hovered above, arms crossed. "You've got heart, I'll give you that."
With a roar, Gohan ascended once more, this time crackling with more refined energy. He dashed toward Dave, fists flying—each blow faster, more desperate.
But Dave was relentless.
He caught a punch and kneed Gohan in the stomach, flipping him mid-air before sending him flying with a backhand that carved a shockwave across the field. Gohan tumbled, bounced, and skidded—but again, he stood.
Vegeta scoffed. "He's pushing himself, but it's still not enough."
Piccolo clenched his fists as he watched. "He's trying. You can't say he's not trying."
Dave descended slowly, his expression unreadable. "You've got the power, Gohan. But where's the edge? Where's the fire that made you stronger than us all back then?"
Gohan took a shaky breath and stood tall, though clearly winded. "You want fire? Then keep pushing me… I'll find it."
Dave gave a small grin. "I hope so. Because right now, you're not even making me sweat."
Then, with a blur of movement, he disappeared again—ready for another round.
Dave reappeared behind Gohan in a blink, slamming his elbow into Gohan's back before spinning and kicking him high into the air. Gohan flipped mid-flight, regaining control just in time—but Dave was already there.
BAM!
A brutal clash of fists echoed across the sky as Dave's punch collided with Gohan's block. Gohan grunted under the pressure, his arms trembling as he tried to hold off the overwhelming force. Then—
CRACK!
Dave's knee met Gohan's side, sending him careening through a nearby cliffside. The rock face exploded from the impact, dust billowing out in thick clouds.
From below, Piccolo winced. "He's getting pummeled…"
Vegeta crossed his arms. "He keeps standing back up though. Maybe he does remember what it means to be a Saiyan."
Goku smiled faintly. "He's learning. That's how we grow."
Back in the dust cloud, Gohan stood again—bruised, battered, but eyes burning with defiance. "You're right, Dave… I've been too soft. Too comfortable. But I remember now."
He launched himself out of the rubble, golden aura erupting around him—Super Saiyan 2 flaring brightly. He drove his fist forward in a last-ditch effort, screaming with fury.
But Dave didn't flinch.
He blocked the punch with one hand and then delivered a spinning hook kick to Gohan's jaw that sent him spiraling to the ground again. Gohan landed hard, groaning.
This time, he didn't get up right away.
Dave floated down slowly, walking toward him. "You've got potential, Gohan. Maybe more than anyone else here. But you're still holding back. Still afraid of what you might become if you let it out."
Gohan looked up from the ground, panting heavily. "I… I don't want to lose control again…"
Dave knelt down, his expression calm. "Then learn to control it. You'll need it—for what's coming."
The wind was silent for a moment as Gohan stared up at him. And then—he nodded.
Piccolo stepped forward to help him up while Goku walked to Dave. "You made your point. He needed this."
Dave cracked his neck. "So did I. Now I know who's worth fighting beside."
Vegeta glanced at Broly (Dave), his expression unreadable. Then, he said firmly, "I'm going to train. The Tournament is just a month away."
His voice held a sharper edge than usual—focused and intense.
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Where are you guys even training?"
Goku grinned, scratching the back of his head. "We've got a special place. It's called the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. One day outside is a year inside."
Dave blinked, visibly intrigued. "A year… in a day?"
"Yup," Goku nodded. "We used it before, back during the Cell Games. It pushes your body and mind to the limit. If you can survive it, you come out a whole lot stronger."
Vegeta crossed his arms. "But it's not easy. Gravity's higher, the air's denser, and the temperature shifts like crazy. It breaks most warriors… unless you're ready."
Dave grinned slightly, the thought clearly exciting him. "That sounds like exactly what I need."
Whis appeared beside them, his hands clasped behind his back. "Might I suggest you rotate shifts? The Time Chamber has… limits on how many can be inside for long durations. But it would serve you well to temper raw power with refined control."
Gohan, now sitting up and nursing a sore jaw, looked toward Dave. "You planning to train with us?"
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