"I know it's hard for all of you to accept, but everything I've said is true!"
Bulma clenched her fists.
"If you don't believe me, then when Gran comes to Earth, you can ask him yourselves. He was there when I traveled to the future timeline."
Thud!
It felt as if a giant hammer had struck everyone's hearts.
If they had still harbored even the slightest doubt about Bulma's story before...
The moment she mentioned Gran, the Candidate God of Destruction, every trace of skepticism vanished.
That meant everything that had happened in the future timeline was real.
And there was a very real possibility that their own timeline would follow the exact same path.
"Goku!"
Bulma stared straight at him, her voice beginning to tremble with emotion.
"In the future timeline, you'll die from heart disease. Without you, no one else is a match for those two Androids!"
"If Gran and I had arrived even a little later... Future Gohan would have died too!"
The moment those words fell—
Goku's body trembled.
Chi-Chi, who had only just regained consciousness, didn't faint again, but all the color drained from her face.
"How... how could this happen...?"
Breaking free from Goku's embrace, she grabbed Bulma tightly by the shoulders.
"Brother Gran and Mr. Whis both said Gohan's potential is incredible! And I even let Goku teach him how to fight! So how could Gohan possibly be killed by those Androids?"
"Chi-Chi... the future version of you was different."
"The other you wanted nothing more than for Gohan to become a scholar."
Bulma closed her eyes.
Every time she recalled the future timeline, it felt like reliving a nightmare.
"Because of that decision, Future Gohan neglected his training from childhood."
"So when the Android Crisis arrived... he simply wasn't strong enough to stop them."
BOOM!
Bulma's words struck Chi-Chi like a bolt of lightning.
It was because of me...?
Thinking back, Chi-Chi remembered that after Gohan was born, she really had wanted him to grow up to become a scholar.
In her eyes, after King Piccolo had been defeated, Earth had entered an era of peace.
During peaceful times, studying seemed far more valuable than martial arts.
(Author's Note: This was also mentioned in the Dragon Ball Z anime, when Goku first took Gohan to Master Roshi's island to meet everyone. He explained that it was Chi-Chi's wish.)
"Chi-Chi, do you remember what Gran said when he and I first visited your home?"
"W-What was it...?"
"He asked you this..."
'If Gohan were to lose his life one day because of his dream of becoming a scholar... could you accept that?'
"So... so it really was because of me...!"
Chi-Chi remembered that conversation at last.
Tears instantly streamed down her face.
No wonder Brother Gran had asked that question back then...
He already knew Gohan's fate!
"It's all my fault!!"
Thinking that her decision had nearly cost her son his life in another timeline...
It felt as though an enormous hand had seized her heart and was squeezing it mercilessly.
The pain was unbearable.
"Goku... Gohan... I-I'm sorry..."
Chi-Chi collapsed to her knees, covering her face as tears of regret poured endlessly from her eyes.
"Chi-Chi..."
"Mom..."
Goku and Gohan hurried over and helped her up, father and son doing their best to comfort her.
Meanwhile, Piccolo, Vegeta, and the others wore grim expressions.
From Bulma's account, it was obvious that the Android Crisis was no trivial matter.
"Bulma, then what should we do?"
Raditz asked anxiously.
Everyone turned toward Bulma.
Even the grief-stricken Chi-Chi looked to her.
"From a scientific point of view, what's happened in the future timeline is very likely to happen in ours as well."
Bulma held up the small pouch containing the seven Dragon Balls.
"But history isn't set in stone."
"I've already gathered all seven Dragon Balls."
"As long as Shenron cures Goku's heart disease, then with Goku still alive... Earth will definitely survive this crisis!"
"History isn't set in stone."
Those words lit up everyone's eyes.
If history could be changed...
Then what was there to fear?
"Bulma's right."
"Goku is the key to everything."
"As long as he doesn't die, the tragedy of the future timeline won't happen!"
The one who spoke was Piccolo.
His expression was complicated.
Despite always calling Goku his mortal enemy...
Despite constantly claiming he would one day kill Goku with his own hands...
He knew deep down that it was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Moments ago, Goku had crushed his energy blast with one hand.
That alone proved Goku had reached yet another unimaginable level.
Just how strong was Goku now?
No one knew anymore.
And beyond his strength...
Goku's convictions, talent, and personal charisma...
Even Piccolo couldn't help but admire them.
Though he hated to admit it...
Facts were facts.
"Hmph. Let's have Shenron cure Kakarot's heart disease first."
Vegeta crossed his arms.
This time, he didn't argue with Piccolo's claim that Goku was the most important person among them.
It was almost as though...
He had silently accepted it.
"My goodness..."
Nappa nudged Raditz and whispered cautiously,
"Vegeta actually said something like that!"
"It's only natural."
Raditz chuckled.
"After everything we've been through, if he still hadn't learned to grow, there'd really be no saving him."
Just then, Vegeta turned around and shot the two of them a cold glare.
Raditz and Nappa immediately shivered.
"Then I'll summon Shenron."
Bulma walked forward until she reached the center of the clearing.
Everyone watched her.
The surroundings were deathly quiet.
The atmosphere was tense.
Bulma was just about to place the Dragon Balls onto the ground.
Suddenly...
A powerful aura erupted from another direction.
It lasted only an instant before disappearing completely.
"Who was that?!"
Everyone immediately tensed.
"Bulma, wait!"
Even Goku's expression darkened.
Although the aura had appeared for only a split second...
He knew it didn't belong to anyone he recognized.
"Goku... this aura..."
Bulma put the Dragon Balls away again.
Unlike everyone else, she had a strange feeling.
She was certain she had sensed this aura somewhere before.
"This presence didn't come from outer space..."
Goku frowned.
"Could there be another powerful fighter hiding somewhere on Earth?"
"Impossible."
Piccolo stared intently toward the direction where the aura had appeared.
"According to the memories passed down by my father, over the last few hundred years, only Mutaito and Master Roshi were considered truly powerful."
"But we've already surpassed both of them."
"So how could there possibly be another hidden expert on Earth?!"
"Goku, why don't we ignore that aura for now?"
Bulma spoke anxiously.
"Let's summon Shenron and cure your heart disease first."
Silence filled the air once again.
Everyone waited to see what Goku would decide.
After a brief pause...
Goku nodded.
"Alright."
His answer surprised everyone.
According to Bulma's account, Goku's heart disease wouldn't actually strike until three years later.
In other words...
He wasn't in any immediate danger.
Given his usual reckless personality, everyone expected him to set everything aside and immediately chase after that mysterious aura.
Instead...
He chose to stay.
"Why are all of you looking at me like that?"
Goku seemed to understand what everyone was thinking and smiled helplessly.
"Normally, I probably would've rushed off to investigate first."
"But after hearing Bulma talk about the future timeline... I realized something."
"They were too reckless."
"And that's exactly what led to the tragedy in that future."
...
END OF CHAPTER
Disciple of Beerus - MrBehringer's Secret
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