Climbs his way out of hell

Using context clues, Pikkon was able to figure the situation out sooner than the others. "Only you and I are free to leave this realm, Goku. Given my understanding of Vegeta's temporary sentencing, the fact that he came down here now makes him a permanent resident of Hell."

"Oh, that must be it then," Goku said, lifting his eyes as he thought. "Now that I think about it, didn't King Yemma warn you not to come down here, Vegeta?"

Silently fuming, the Saiyan prince could only grunt in anger. He'd definitely acted without thinking, but the last thing he wanted was for Goku to rub it in his face.

"Yeah, I guess you should have left me and Pikkon to handle Cell and the others," Goku said, unintentionally rubbing salt in the wound. "Oh well, I suppose it's too late now."

"Of course it's too damn late, Kakarott! Now I'm stuck down here until I'm revived, you idiot!"

"I suppose your battle must take place down here, then," Pikkon said in conclusion. "Unfortunate."

"Maybe..." Goku looked puzzled, as if trying to recall something he couldn't quite remember. Scratching his head, it finally came to him. "Oh hey, there may actually be a way out, Vegeta. I nearly forgot, but during my first trip to Otherworld I fell off of Snake Way and got stuck here myself. But there's actually a secret way out, the same path that King Yemma takes when he comes down here—it leads straight back to his office."

Dropping his frown, Vegeta spun. "Ah! That must be what Cell and the others were trying to find. Perfect, you actually proved helpful for once, Kakarott! Take me to this secret passage immediately!"

"I'm familiar with that route, Goku," Pikkon interrupted. "I'm afraid your friend probably won't be able to get out that way either."

"Why the hell not?" Vegeta snapped.

"Woah, Vegeta, just relax. He said 'probably', so there's still a chance." Goku turned to back to Pikkon, silently awaiting an explanation. The lengthy green fighter shut his eyes, almost in annoyance, but after a second he began his story.

"Long ago, when this realm was created, certain measures were taken to ensure that evil souls had no possible escape from Hell. Likewise, methods were devised in order to allow good souls, mainly employees such as the ogres, to come and go as they please. My master, West Kai, explained all this to me once."

"Sure, that makes sense. Hell's no good if the bad guys can get out," Goku repeated.

"That's correct. But if you and I could become permanently stuck by coming down here to put down riots and such, it would also be quite inefficient as well. As you've already observed, there are many powerful magicks binding this place, and one of those is the one preventing your friend from leaving. Only those with an Otherworld body granted by King Yemma are allowed to leave this place with transportation techniques."

"Yeah, so that's why Instant Transmission failed."

"I assume you mean whatever technique you attempted to leave with," Pikkon said with a nod. "The answer is yes. The secret entrance has similar protective magicks, since any resident of Hell who found it could simply climb the stairs up. I'm not sure what exactly the spell is, but there is one clue. Carved into the bottom of the staircase are the words: 'The chains which bind the doors of hell are closed within thy soul.'

"Oh, so it's...what exactly?" Goku fumbled.

"Clearly, Kakarott, it's referring to the binding magick. It's connected to the evil within one's heart so only innocent fools like yourself may pass."

"Your interpretation is likely correct," Pikkon continued. "I've traveled that way more than once and have never encountered any difficulties, though, so I have no knowledge of its nature. Regardless, just as the magick of this realm has weakened you and these other villains, it's doubtful you'll be immune."

"Wait, what do you mean weakened me—there's even more to this damn curse? I know I haven't felt any different since arriving, how can you be sure?"

"The ones we fought before were unaware of it also, that is, until they attempted to reach their full strength. Some failed to realize it even then. No matter how great the power of someone, without an Otherworld body they can't escape the ancient magicks from reducing their abilities. It's yet another preventative measure that keeps extraordinarily powerful foes from being too much to handle. At least that's my understanding. You are free to try, of course."

"You'd better believe I'm going to try," Vegeta announced angrily.

"But, Vegeta, everything Pikkon is saying makes sense—why Cell was so much weaker, why even Frieza's max power was so much lower than before. What if you can't leave?"

"There's only one sure fire way to test it out, Kakarott, so let's get it over with. Just know that if I am stuck and I find out I'm being weakened by this place, our rematch will be postponed until I find a solution!"

"Of course, Vegeta. I want to fight you at your best, and in a much nicer place than this. But it'll all work out eventually, I'm sure."

Pikkon led the way to Yemma's secret passageway. Just as Goku remembered, it was hidden in a narrow crevice cut into what seemed like the side of a mountain...but as they walked through, the entire mountain melted away and they saw a glittering staircase stretching beyond & up. The silvery stairs seemed to glow, it was a wonder something so elegant could be considered a secret. Just as Pikkon had said, the words The chains which bind the doors of hell are closed within thy soul were carved into the very base of the passage. However it worked, whether it was some sort of mental trial, a magical scanner for the soul, or a simple spell that read the ki signature of the person, Vegeta knew this wouldn't be easy.

Goku casually started up the stairs as if it was no big deal, followed by Pikkon. "Seems fine to me, Vegeta."

The prince, almost like testing the temperature of pool water with his toes, stretched out and gingerly set his foot down. He'd half expected an electric shock to come coursing up through his body, but he felt nothing at all. More confidently, he stepped fully onto the first step, then up onto the second and third.

"Well?" Goku asked.

"Damn it, Kakarott, I'm trying to concentrate here! Would you just shut up!"

"Hey, watch it now, Vegeta. You don't want to go using language like that," the other Saiyan said slyly, almost as if he were enjoying himself far too much. "You might fail the test unless you think only really nice thoughts—like sushi and ramen..." Goku's thoughts immediately trailed off as his mind lost the will to do anything but eat.

"Don't you think I know that, Kakarott! And really, is food all you can think about? You're dead, you don't even need to eat anymore!" Vegeta took a few more steps carefully, still not feeling anything. Nevertheless, he continued mumbling to himself. "...like I need to listen to an idiot like you tell me how to—"

He paused, a slight tingle in his foot, as if gravity were just a fraction greater. A few more steps and he was certain of it. The gravity seemed to be increasing with each step up he took, and though he could handle forces thousands of times stronger than Earth's, this new effect was quickly wearing on him. Step by step, his own body weight seemed to increase...or was it something pulling at him, like a chain tied around his feet? Pikkon and Goku, now three fourths of the way up, seemed unphased.

"Hey, what's the matter, Vegeta?" Goku said, noticing the beads of sweat on the other Saiyan's forehead. "Is something happening?"

Vegeta almost lashed out angrily, but felt a surge of increased weight just before he did. Catching himself, he shut his eyes and forced himself to remain calm. To his surprise, the weight decreased ever so slightly. He shut his eyes, focusing on ignoring his instincts.

"Whatever magic there is here, I'm definitely feeling its effects. Each step I take seems more difficult than the last, as if I'm being pulled back down."

"Well, I guess it could be the millions of people you've killed trying to drag you back to hell," Goku said jokingly. The words, however, were not taken as such.

"You are NOT helping, Kakarott!" Vegeta yelled, powering up into his Super Saiyan form. But the miniscule surge of anger accompanying his transformation was immediately felt; the weight instantly pulled him to his knees. It was as if he wasn't a Super Saiyan at all...this clearly wasn't a test of physical strength.

'Okay,' Vegeta thought, shutting his eyes carefully. 'I can overcome this, I just need to find my focus. Bulma, Trunks...my family...'

Right away he felt lighter, freer, though still not unshackled. Could it be that they weren't enough? At the very least they would allow him to keep pushing forward, so long as he maintained his focus on his loved ones.

'I'm nearly there, just a bit further,' he thought, straining to keep his anger in check. He'd just passed the level of the clouds, but now saw there was still quite a ways to go up to the top.

"He's not going to make it, Goku," Pikkon said, hesitating and turning his eyes down below. "You can't deny the small remaining darkness within his Ki."

"Just give him a little more time, he's almost there. One thing I know about Vegeta, he never gives up on anything."

Vegeta fell forward onto the stairs, catching himself on hands and knees. Drops of sweat fell from his brow onto the steps below him, trickling toward the bottom in a slow trail. He felt exasperated, his breathing heavy and shallow—and yet, nothing about this added up. The inner tests seemed to be manifested in a physical way, yet also on a plane separate from his actual strength. Might alone couldn't help him, but neither could some purely emotional state. Something deeper was required, more than just love for his family. But what? How could he prove himself, how could he overcome ancient spells he knew nothing about? He was almost surprised that the fact he wanted to prove himself at all wasn't enough—it was certainly a big step for him.

Was there still anger, bitterness, darkness binding his heart? He was Vegeta, Emperor of the Planet Trade Organization after all—even if it had begun to diminish over time, he was certain some still remained. This hardly felt like the time for inner reflection, though. He had to try harder, to push more, to…

In a flash, an image rose unbidden to his mind from only minutes earlier: Frieza's face, contorted with strain as he powered up to his maximum. The Arcosian prince had stubbornly exerted his every effort, bravely and boldly facing an adversary he knew he couldn't defeat. In that moment, Vegeta remembered feeling a twinge of something akin to admiration...not just derision and scorn for a weaker creature, but actual empathy. It had stung too, nearly causing the Saiyan to gag at the mere thought. And yet, in that moment, he had truly felt some connection, some similarity to his former lord.

'Frieza...I hated you for so long. You represented everything I loathed, everything that ever held me back. You robbed me of my crown and destroyed my entire race. For decades, I lived on my hatred for you. It was all that sustained me, all that kept me alive, all that kept me fighting.'

The thoughts were flowing more clearly now, and his feet felt lighter.

'But now, seeing you do your worst against me—not driven by your hatred, but out of determination and refusal to surrender...I can't find it in myself to hate you any longer. You may never see it, Frieza, but we might not be so different.' The painful admission, which Vegeta expected to sting like fire, was a surprising relief to admit. He suddenly knew he needed to continue down this train of thought, that there was something freeing about such a revelation—despite all his revulsion about such things. 'Your hatred isn't all that drove you to fight with me today. There was perhaps something more noble behind it, a commitment to fight like a true warrior. The main difference between us now, it seems, isn't a measure of pride or honor...it's the simple truth that over time I've learned to fight for something beside myself. I realize it doesn't atone for all that I've done in my past, but even if it changes nothing I will defend my family—and if I must, the other weaklings on my planet...'

The prince began climbing each step again. It was still maddeningly difficult...but his legs were no longer growing heavier and heavier with each step. If he could only keep on going, keep up the pace until he reached the top…

"Hey, Vegeta! Don't look now, but you're almost to the end!" Goku cheered.

Goku and Pikkon both stood on the final step, an open doorway standing in empty space. Looking back, Vegeta saw the staircase stretching out behind him. The bottom was too far away to make out. He'd covered a lot more distance than he'd realized while reflecting. The climb had been torturously difficult, but it hadn't felt that long. His progress gave him courage, and he took the last few steps more quickly.

But just as he reached the end, he prince felt a crushing weight grip him...it happened so quickly that it yanked him to his hands and knees. As he stared at the silver steps, his head barely inches above them, something strange started to happen. Faintly, an inscription began to appear, either written or carved into the stairs themselves.

ONE MORE THING YOU LACK. THE WAY OUT IS IN; THE WAY UP IS DOWN.

'One more thing...' Was it addressed to him? He blinked, but the words remained. What could it mean? Were the magical stairs telling him to give up—testing his resolve perhaps? It couldn't be, not when he had come this far. He'd made it all the way to the end! After all the breakthroughs he'd had, there was no way he'd let it end like this.

"Come on, Vegeta, just one more step. Here," Goku said with a smile.

Vegeta looked higher. Goku had one hand outstretched, offering to pull him up. But pride rose, dark and heavy, filling him with unbidden anger. He could do this on his own, he needed no one's help, least of all Kakarott's! In his prime he'd never have even considered such unbecoming and idiotic behavior...

...but as the thoughts rose, he felt the weight increase exponentially. He was losing it, regressing back to his old ways, to his former self. Wasn't he supposed to do this on his own, though—a test of his own character? Surely it was a trick to get him to admit weakness, to take the easy way out instead of enduring the struggle himself.

But deep down he already knew the truth—it was in the back of his mind, only he had ignored it. Accepting help from Kakarott was the only way, there could be no other possible interpretation. But the act, and especially the symbolic humility behind it, was not so easy.

As if in answer, the inscription stared back at him. The way up is down.Should he accept Goku's help? Could he accept Goku's help? Was it worth it to lay down his pride, even for an instant?

"Give me that, Kakarott," he finally said, reaching out and catching the other Saiyan's hand.

He felt instant release as the shackles on his body fell away—he wasn't even tired; it had all seemingly been in his mind. He found himself standing with Pikkon and Goku on the final step.

- Bringer of Death Chapter 80