Universe 6, Earth.
Deep inside a volcano.
The left and right guards were soaking in lava like it was a hot spring, looking completely relaxed.
"An occasional soak really takes the fatigue off," the left guard said with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah." The right guard stretched lazily, then asked, "Hey, old left. What level do you think that angel Ken is now?"
"An angel's purity of angel power is directly tied to their level," the left guard said thoughtfully. "That's how the levels were defined in the first place—by purity."
"Don't explain the basics. I know all that," the right guard said impatiently. "I'm asking what level he is."
"No idea. Angels can hide their level with their angel attire," the left guard said, shaking his head.
"But did you hear him when we split up?" the right guard said, grinning. "He was asking about our levels."
"I heard." The left guard looked unconcerned. "He's young. Competitive. It's normal. Old right, why bother taking it personally?"
"Didn't you see how disrespectful he was to Zeno-sama?" the right guard snapped, brows furrowing.
"Zeno-sama didn't care. So why are you making a thing out of it?" the left guard said, calm as ever. "Besides, Ken was a human who trained his way into becoming an angel. The Grand Priest has always kept a close eye on him."
"I just want to teach him a quick lesson," the right guard said, slapping the lava with irritation. "Make him understand the rules of the divine realm. That's all."
"I'd drop it," the left guard said, disapproving. Then he lowered his voice. "Unless… Zeno-sama approves. If you challenge him on your own, that's not appropriate."
"How do I get Zeno-sama to approve?" the right guard asked.
"Isn't that guy Cell hosting some kind of martial arts tournament?" the left guard said with a smile. "If you really want to challenge Ken, wait until the tournament's well underway, then make a request to Zeno-sama."
"Oh?" The right guard's eyes lit up with anticipation. "That's not a bad idea."
"Honestly, with your strength, you'll win easily," the left guard said, unimpressed. "Ken's an angel and he's growing fast, but compared to us, he's still far behind."
"Hahaha—old left, if I can't win easily, how am I supposed to 'teach him a lesson'?" the right guard laughed.
…
After Goku finished sparring with Bardock, Bardock prepared to leave with Gine.
"Dad, we finally get to see each other again—come eat with us," Goku suggested. "It's been ages since I've seen Chi-Chi too. Let her get ready and we can go on a family picnic."
"Gine, what do you think?" Bardock asked.
"Sure," Gine said after a moment, not objecting.
Goku took Gohan and brought his parents back to his home on Mount Paozu.
"Goku! You idiot! You still remember you have a home—" Chi-Chi stood with her hands on her hips, glaring.
But then she immediately shoved Goku aside and stared at Gohan, surprised.
"You're Gohan, right?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Yes, Mom…" Gohan nodded.
"Who told you to dye your hair? Why is it yellow? You've turned into a little delinquent, Gohan! You're not learning anything good!" Chi-Chi scolded, furious.
"Mom… it's Super Saiyan," Gohan explained, not sure whether to laugh or cry.
"I don't care if it's Super Saiyan. You can't have yellow hair!" Chi-Chi shouted.
Goku: "..."
Bardock: "..."
After yelling a few more times, Chi-Chi finally noticed there were guests—and one of them looked almost exactly like Goku.
"Huh? And who are you?" Chi-Chi asked, studying Bardock. "Goku's brother?"
"Chi-Chi, let me introduce him. He's my dad—Bardock," Goku said.
Chi-Chi: "..."
Goku's dad?
"F-father-in-law, hello," Chi-Chi said quickly, bowing in a rush.
"Father-in-law?" Bardock blinked.
"That's what a daughter-in-law calls you," Gine whispered to him.
"And this is my mom's reincarnation. Her name's Gine," Goku added.
"Reincarnation?" Chi-Chi froze, looking lost.
"Yeah. After my mom died, she was reborn as an Earthling," Goku said.
"O-oh… I see… mother-in-law, hello…" Chi-Chi bowed again.
"Just call me by my name," Gine said hurriedly. "I'm only twenty."
"Gine?" Chi-Chi scratched her head. "Je—Gine, you're so beautiful?"
"What?" Gine blinked.
Gine: "..."
Still, the family had more or less reunited.
Goku asked Chi-Chi to prepare a picnic.
Chi-Chi thumped her chest and agreed without hesitation.
Gine stepped in to help as well, preparing the food.
"By the way, Dad…" Goku looked up at the sky with a sigh. "I wonder how Raditz is doing."
"He's locked up in a prison on Planet Sadala," Bardock said grimly.
"Sadala?" Goku turned toward him.
"In Universe 7, Planet Sadala used to be where Saiyans lived," Bardock explained briefly. "After a civil war, we moved to Planet Vegeta. But over here in Universe 6, Planet Sadala never had that civil war, so Saiyans stayed there."
"So that's how it is," Goku said, understanding.
"I want to bring Raditz back," Bardock admitted with a quiet sigh. "But Universe 6's God of Destruction, Champa, said I only get that right if I can defeat him."
"Is Champa that strong?" Goku asked.
"He's a God of Destruction," Bardock said honestly. "He's stronger than me."
"Even Dad can't beat him…" Goku clenched his fist. "Then I need to train harder. I want to surpass a God of Destruction as soon as I can. I don't like Raditz, but I still want to bring him back… and hopefully he won't go back to doing bad things."
"I'll teach him properly," Bardock said, nodding.
After more than an hour of preparation, Chi-Chi and Gine finally had everything ready and loaded into the car.
They drove out into the countryside.
Eventually, the car stopped beside a lake.
Chi-Chi and Gine bustled around, laying the food out on a mat.
Goku, Bardock, and Gohan stood near the water, looking out over the lake.
"Gohan, look at the size of the fish in there!" Goku laughed.
"Dad, Grandpa… are you two entering the Cell Games?" Gohan asked.
"Ken told me I'm not allowed to participate," Bardock answered.
"Gohan, I believe in you," Goku said, patting his shoulder. "With your current strength, you should be able to beat Cell."
"Huh? Neither you nor Grandpa is entering, and you want me to challenge Cell?" Gohan wiped sweat from his forehead.
"You'll be fine," Goku said, trying to reassure him. "Piccolo's training method wasn't wrong. If you keep going down that path, you'll reach an even higher level."
"I…" Gohan didn't know what to say.
"Don't dwell on it," Goku said. "Just enjoy yourself today."
"Your father's right," Bardock said with a rare smile. "Our family's third generation will produce a powerful warrior too."
Gohan went silent.
You're already expecting the third generation?
I'm kind of panicking here.
"The food's ready! Come eat!" Chi-Chi called out.
"It's a feast—get over here!" Gine called as well.
"Gohan, stop being Super Saiyan while you're eating," Chi-Chi said.
"I can't, Mom. I have to keep this form up all the time," Gohan replied.
The family enjoyed a proper meal together.
Afterward, Goku drove them down an empty road.
"All the stores are closed," Goku said with a sigh.
"Everyone thinks they're going to die in a few days. Who's going to work?" Chi-Chi sighed back.
"Breaking news—this station has just received an update."
A voice suddenly came through the radio.
"Someone's still working?" Goku blinked.
"The Royal Forces have approached Cell's area and are about to launch a full-scale assault," the broadcaster said excitedly.
"What?!" Goku's face changed instantly. "Idiots—get out of there! This is insane! You're just throwing your lives away!"
He slammed the brakes, ready to rush out and save them.
But Bardock grabbed him and shook his head.
"Dad, I can't just watch them die," Goku insisted. "In Future Trunks' era, there are fewer than ten thousand humans left."
"That's their choice," Bardock said, trying to reason with him. "You can save them once. Can you protect this planet forever?"
"Yes," Goku said heavily, nodding. "I'll protect my beloved Earth forever."
"And what if one day you aren't on Earth?" Bardock's expression turned stern. "Who protects it then?"
"I still can't watch them die," Goku said, voice low.
"Aren't there Dragon Balls?" Bardock said. "You can bring them back after. That's better than running in and trying to save everyone in the moment. And do you really think they'll stop attacking Cell?"
Goku fell silent.
Then, after a brief pause—
"I still don't want to watch them die right in front of me," Goku said, and vanished with Instant Transmission.
Bardock: "..."
"Huh? Bardock, why didn't you let Goku go save them?" Gine asked curiously.
"I wasn't stopping Kakarot," Bardock said with a small smile. "I wanted to see what was truly in his heart. He really does have the potential to become a Supreme Kai."
"What do you mean?" Gine asked, not understanding.
…
All across the world, Earth's most advanced fighter jets, missiles, tanks, and everything else rolled out and converged on Cell's location.
"Look at that—what a foolish army," Cell said with a soft laugh. He rose into the air, left the ring, and flew to a distant mountaintop.
"He's trying to run!"
Someone shouted.
"Moron. I just don't feel like destroying the ring I just had built," Cell said with a disdainful smirk.
"Don't let him escape! Full assault!" the old general barked.
A storm of advanced weapons bombarded Cell's position.
Smoke filled the air. Explosions never stopped.
The mountaintop vanished behind the haze.
The attack continued for a full ten minutes.
By the end, the entire mountain had been blasted into rubble.
"Good! Cease fire! Cease fire!" the general shouted, waving his hand for the troops to stop.
"Hahaha! Serves him right!"
"Think you can fight the army? We couldn't catch you before, but you exposed your position—where are you going to run now?"
The soldiers' laughter grew louder.
As the smoke gradually cleared, Cell's silhouette appeared.
Every smile froze.
"You fools… it's time for punishment," Cell said coldly, raising his hand to wipe them all out.
The soldiers panicked, dropping their gear and fleeing in terror.
Just as Cell was about to fire a ki blast and finish them off—
Flash!
Goku used Instant Transmission and appeared directly behind him.
"Hm?" Cell sensed something off behind him.
But before he could turn around, Goku entered Super Saiyan God.
Bang!
Goku drove a palm strike into the back of Cell's neck.
Cell collapsed instantly, limp, and passed out cold.
"Close one… good thing I made it," Goku grinned. He used Instant Transmission again, vanished, and returned to Bardock and the others.
"Nice work," Bardock said, nodding in approval.
Goku blinked.
Weren't you the one telling me not to save them?
Why are you praising me now?
I don't get it.
But Goku wasn't the type to overthink things. He let it go.
"Dad, Gohan, Chi-Chi, Mom—you go back first," Goku said, scratching his head. "I've got something to talk to Piccolo about."
"What is it?" Chi-Chi asked.
"I heard that in this timeline, Cell killed at least a hundred thousand people…" Goku said. "So I want to bring back a new Kami so we can restore the Dragon Balls and revive them. In Trunks' timeline, I found a new Kami and brought the Dragon Balls back. I want that for this timeline too."
"Go, Kakarot," Bardock said, nodding. "Do what you want to do."
"Yeah." Goku nodded, then vanished with Instant Transmission.
In an instant, he arrived at the Lookout and saw Piccolo, Trunks, and Mr. Popo.
"Goku?" Piccolo blinked.
"Piccolo, can you go back to how you were before you fused with Kami?" Goku asked immediately.
Back in the future, after the old Kami returned, Goku had felt awkward about it.
So he came here first to ask.
"What are you talking about?" Piccolo asked, confused.
"After Kami fused with you, the Dragon Balls disappeared," Goku explained. "If we want to revive the people Cell killed, we need the Dragon Balls back. In Trunks' future, I found the planet where the Namekians lived and brought back a new Kami."
"Oh, that's what you mean." Piccolo nodded. "Unfortunately, I can't separate from Kami. If we could, Kami wouldn't have hesitated so much back then."
"Alright. Then we'll have to find a new Kami on Namek. I can handle that," Goku said with a laugh.
"Can you?" Piccolo smiled. "Don't forget, this is Universe 6. The Namekians' Namek is in Universe 7, isn't it?"
Goku: "..."
"Yeah… I forgot that part," Goku admitted, scratching his head. "Looks like I have to go to Universe 7, or I won't be able to find Namek."
"There are Namekians in Universe 6 too," Piccolo suggested. "You could bring one back from Universe 6's Namek."
"That… might actually work," Goku said thoughtfully.
"Wherever you find a new Kami, Mr. Popo will be thrilled," Mr. Popo said, tearing up with emotion.
"Still, go with Universe 7," Piccolo said after thinking it through.
"Piccolo, I was just about to sense out Universe 6 Namekians, and now you're telling me Universe 7…" Goku groaned. "Why does it have to be Universe 7 when Universe 6 has Namekians too?"
"Because you used a Universe 7 Namekian in Trunks' timeline," Piccolo said. "It's better to use the same source in this timeline."
"I don't totally get your logic, but it sounds reasonable," Goku said, nodding. "I'll go find Ken first."
Flash!
Goku vanished with Instant Transmission.
In an instant, he appeared inside Bulma's home.
The next moment, he spotted Merus and the others there.
"Huh? Merus? Long time no see! How've you been?" Goku greeted warmly.
"Hello, Goku. It really has been a long time," Merus said, smiling kindly.
Off to the side, Jiren watched, slightly moved.
So this is Goku?
This is the Supreme Kai candidate I'm supposed to measure myself against?
He looks… ordinary.
"Goku, sir!" Kale stepped forward, excited. "Where's Gohan?"
"Huh? And you are…?" Goku blinked.
Kale: "..."
"It's me, Kale!" she said quickly.
"Kale? Wow, you got tall. I almost didn't recognize you," Goku laughed. "You're looking for Gohan? He's at home. Want me to take you to him later?"
"Yes, yes!" Kale nodded eagerly.
Merus: "..."
"Kale, you're still training with me for the next few days," Merus said, stepping in.
"Still training…?" Kale's excitement vanished.
"Train a few more days," Merus said sternly. "After that, if you want to go play with Gohan, you can whenever you want."
Kale pouted but reluctantly agreed.
"Hahaha, Kale, stay and train hard," Goku said with a laugh.
Just then, Bulma walked out of a room. When she saw Goku, her eyes lit up.
"Goku? You're back?" Bulma looked surprised and pleased. "When did you get back?"
"Yesterday," Goku said with a smile.
"Unbelievable. You come back and don't even tell us," Bulma huffed. "You know what's been happening here, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm here to find Ken," Goku said, scratching his head.
"Ken already left Earth," Bulma replied. "I don't know when he's coming back."
"That's a headache… what do I do now?" Goku said, looking torn.
"If you tell me what you're trying to do, maybe I can help," Merus offered, stepping forward.
So Goku explained everything—about wanting to restore the Dragon Balls and bringing back a new Kami.
"Easy enough," Merus said after thinking. "I'll take you to Universe 7."
And on the way, I can test what Goku's really capable of now.
It's been years. Let's see how he's trained.
"Really? Thank you, Merus!" Goku said, beaming.
"When do you want to leave?" Merus asked.
"Right now!" Goku said.
"Alright. We'll leave now," Merus agreed.
"How long would it take to fly to Namek in Universe 7?" Goku asked quickly.
"At least seven hours," Merus said thoughtfully.
"So a round trip would be fourteen hours?" Goku asked.
"Yes," Merus confirmed.
Goku: "..."
"Alright, then let's go," Goku said. "It's far, but it can't be helped. Bulma, if Ken comes back, tell him for me."
"Yeah, yeah, go," Bulma said, waving him off.
"Then we're leaving," Merus said.
Tap.
Merus lightly struck the ground with his staff and became a brilliant streak of light, shooting into the sky and vanishing into the stars.
As he left, Goku glanced toward Jiren, wary.
"Merus, who's that?" Goku asked. "He feels really strong."
"You mean Jiren?" Merus said with a smile.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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