Omnitrix Tyrant: The Strategist of Universe 7

Chapter 14: Trial by Combat

The air inside the Saiyan stronghold was thick with tension. Ben stood in the center of a massive stone arena, surrounded by warriors eager to see him broken. The elders had agreed to let him stay—but only if he proved himself in combat.

Scar-Face, now formally introduced as Taro, cracked his knuckles from the other side of the battlefield. "You talk a lot, outsider. Let's see if you can back it up."

Ben rolled his shoulders. The Omnitrix was still on cooldown, which meant no transformations. This would be a straight-up fight. Perfect.

The old Saiyan woman, Matriarch Juno, raised her hand. "Begin."

Taro shot forward.

Ben barely had time to sidestep before a fist came crashing down, cracking the stone beneath him. A shockwave blasted outward, sending dust and debris into the air.

Ben spun, aiming a kick at Taro's ribs, but the Saiyan blocked with ease. Before Ben could react, an elbow struck his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

Pain exploded through his ribs as he was sent flying into the canyon wall. Rocks crumbled around him.

Alright. That was a bad start.

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A New Way to Fight

Ben coughed, shaking off the impact. Saiyans weren't just strong—they were monsters in close combat. If he fought like them, he'd lose.

But he didn't need to fight like them.

He needed to fight smart.

Taro smirked. "That all you got?"

Ben pushed himself up, wiping blood from his mouth. "You Saiyans love a good fight, right?"

Taro narrowed his eyes. "So?"

Ben grinned. "Then let's make this fun."

Taro rushed in again. This time, instead of blocking, Ben dodged. He weaved through Taro's punches, using minimal movement to avoid direct contact. Every time Taro threw a blow, Ben was already a step ahead, analyzing patterns, waiting for an opening.

The Saiyans watching grew quieter.

Ben smirked. "What's wrong? Getting tired?"

Taro growled and unleashed a powerful right hook. That was the moment Ben was waiting for.

Instead of dodging, he sidestepped just enough to let the punch graze him—then grabbed Taro's wrist and twisted.

With a sharp crack, Taro's arm was wrenched at an awkward angle, forcing him to stagger.

Ben didn't waste time. He spun behind the larger warrior and delivered a brutal kick to the back of his knee, forcing him to collapse. Before Taro could recover, Ben slammed an elbow into his spine, sending him face-first into the ground.

Dust settled.

Ben exhaled. His arms ached, and his body was sore, but he was still standing.

Taro, groaning, pushed himself up—then grinned. "Not bad."

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Earning Their Respect

The crowd murmured among themselves. A few seemed impressed. Others looked annoyed that an outsider had held his own.

Matriarch Juno watched Ben carefully. "You don't fight like a Saiyan."

Ben shook his head. "Nope. And that's why I won."

Taro, still rubbing his arm, chuckled. "You got lucky."

Ben smirked. "Yeah? Let's go again."

Taro blinked, then laughed. "I like this guy."

The Matriarch finally spoke. "You've proven you're not weak. But surviving one fight isn't enough. If you wish to train with us, you will undergo the Saiyan Trials."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "And that means…?"

Taro grinned. "Survive a full week against us. No rest. No mercy."

Ben sighed. "Of course it does."

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Frieza's Fleet Arrives

Far above the planet, Frieza's command ship entered orbit.

Inside, the tyrant stood with his arms crossed, staring at the surface below.

His scouter beeped, detecting several power levels. Some weak, some decent, but none that concerned him.

A soldier knelt behind him. "Shall we begin, Lord Frieza?"

Frieza smiled coldly. "Yes. Burn everything."

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