Dragon Ball Rykon (The 2nd Brother of Son Goku!)

The battlefield was scorched and littered with the aftermath of chaos. Dust clouds rose from the craters gouged into the earth, and the air trembled with lingering Ki energy. Rykon stood, panting softly, his fists clenched. Across from him, his brother—Kakarot, now known as Goku—was engulfed in a burning red aura.

Goku's shout echoed through the wasteland. "Kaio-Ken!"

What is that power...?!

Rykon barely had time to react. Goku closed the gap between them in a flash, his fist swinging with blinding speed. Rykon crossed his arms just in time to block the strike, but the force sent shockwaves through his entire body. A blur moved in from the side—Vegeta.

The Saiyan prince struck Goku midair, stunning him with a brutal punch to the jaw.

"What's the matter, clown? Can't keep up?" Vegeta's voice was venomous, his strikes even more so. He pounded Goku with a flurry of blows, each more vicious than the last.

Now's my chance!

Rykon summoned his Ki, molding it into a luminous chain. With a grunt, he hurled it skyward, the chain snapping around Goku like a lasso. One hard yank and Goku slammed into the earth, leaving a crater in his wake.

"Kakarot! I told you I'm not your enemy! Damn it, listen to me!"

But Goku rose, seething.

"You... You invaded my home! Killed my friends! You think words will make this right?!"

"KAIO-KEN TIMES THREE!!"

The red aura flared again, more intense than before. Goku's body surged with raw power, his muscles expanding, his eyes glowing.

Rykon grimaced. "What is this Kaio-Ken...?"

They clashed again, fist to fist, neither backing down. Goku's rage drove him, but Rykon held firm, refusing to raise his power further. He didn't want to hurt his little brother.

"Why aren't you fighting back?!" Goku demanded, panting.

"Because I'm not your enemy, Kakarot... I'm your brother."

Confusion flickered in Goku's eyes—until a scream pierced the sky.

"MR. PICCOLO, NOOOOO!!!"

They both turned. Vegeta stood above Piccolo, his hand buried in the Namekian's chest. Blood gushed as Piccolo's body went limp.

"Awww, poor green man," Vegeta sneered. "Don't worry, runt. You'll see him again soon."

Vegeta lifted a hand, charging a blast aimed at Gohan. Time slowed.

No! Rykon's body moved on instinct.

He soared between Vegeta and Gohan just as the blast launched. With a defiant roar, he deflected it skyward, the explosion carving a chunk out of a nearby cliff.

"P-Piccolo too..." Goku whispered, staggering back. "Now we can't wish anyone back..."

His glare turned toward Rykon, Ki flaring.

But Gohan rushed to him, clutching his waist. "Daddy, wait! Please, stop attacking him! I think he's my un—"

Another blast came. Rykon deflected it again.

He turned to Goku, his voice low and firm. "I know you met Raditz. I get it now—he probably said I was dead. But I'm here to help."

Goku froze. Rykon's sincerity... it was real.

Rykon darted off before Goku could speak, intercepting Vegeta. Their fists collided in a violent crescendo. Goku watched, torn.

"Dad, please," Gohan said again. "He saved me. You have to trust him."

Goku looked to the battlefield, to Krillin's fallen form. Could I really have been wrong... this whole time?

He nodded. "Alright. I believe you, Gohan."

The next moment, Vegeta hurled Rykon to the ground. But before the impact, Goku appeared, catching his brother.

"So you believe me now, huh? Took you long enough," Rykon said, smiling through the pain.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's just finish this guy off first."

The brothers flew side by side, launching a combined assault. Left, right, above—they battered Vegeta with synchronized attacks. But Vegeta caught them both by the arms, slamming their bodies together before tossing them aside like toys.

They landed hard.

"Man," Goku winced. "This guy is tough."

"He always was," Rykon muttered. "But we're tougher. Got a plan?"

Goku nodded. "You distract him head-on. I'll look for an opening."

Rykon grinned. "Try not to die. I didn't wait 20 years to lose you now."

The battle resumed, more vicious than ever. Vegeta began to falter under their rhythm, and finally, Rykon charged his signature attack.

"PRIME BLAST!"

The explosion rocked the area.

Goku hovered beside him. "That was stronger than anything I've done."

"Heh. You've got your Kaio-Ken, and I've got this."

Vegeta rose slowly from the crater, bruised but grinning.

"Cute tricks," he spat. "But you're still nothing compared to me."

High above, he ascended, Ki flaring violently.

Rykon narrowed his eyes. "He's charging something big..."

The clouds split. Vegeta hovered in the stratosphere, a sphere of crackling energy forming between his hands.

"RUN OR DIE, LOW-CLASS SCUM! THIS PLANET'S GOING WITH YOU!!"

Rykon started to move, but Goku caught his wrist.

"Wait. If we charge now, he'll blow it early."

"Then what?!"

"You go around. I'll distract him."

Rykon hesitated... then nodded.

Goku spread his feet, cupping his hands.

"KA... ME... HA... ME..."

Rykon vanished into the sky, circling behind Vegeta.

"...HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"