Zamasu and Black Broly bowed in quick succession, their attitudes exceptionally respectful, not daring to show even a hint of negligence.
"Enter," the Grand Minister said flatly. He turned and led the two of them into the Zen-Oh's Palace.
With hearts thumping in their chests, they followed closely behind the Grand Minister until they finally laid eyes on Zen-Oh, who was seated upon his throne. At that moment, Zen-Oh was occupied with a toy.
"Who are you two? Do you have business with me?" Zen-Oh asked as he looked up, his beady eyes wide with a hint of curiosity.
"Grand Zen-Oh, we were originally the North Kais of Universe 10. We have many ideas of our own... we wish to properly manage a planet called Earth in Universe 7, as well as the galaxy it resides in. We humbly request your approval!" Black Broly prostrated himself as he spoke, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"North Kais of Universe 10? If you're from Universe 10, why aren't you managing planets there? Why did you run over to Universe 7? Are you trying to steal someone else's job?" Zen-Oh's brow furrowed slightly as he asked in a cold, displeased tone.
"Because... Earth in Universe 7 is quite special. It is better suited for our management, and we are confident we can make it a better place," Black Broly answered quickly, striving to make his voice sound sincere and trustworthy.
"Hey, Grand Minister, is it really special? That planet called Earth?" Zen-Oh turned to ask the Grand Minister, his gaze flickering with curiosity.
"Yes, Grand Zen-Oh. That planet is indeed quite unique," the Grand Minister replied with a slight nod, answering truthfully.
"So, is that your excuse for killing Gowasu, the Supreme Kai of Universe 10?" Zen-Oh's face suddenly hardened, his expression turning cold and his voice carrying an immense, crushing authority.
Black Broly and Zamasu felt the pressure on them intensify instantly.
"Grand Zen-Oh, our ideals clashed with Lord Gowasu's. He was far too merciful and was no longer fit to manage the universe... we were indeed in the wrong for that. We have come today to offer a humble apology, hoping to earn your forgiveness." Black Broly prostrated himself once more, his attitude seemingly genuine.
Zamasu followed suit, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead began to bleed, yet he didn't dare stop for a second. Both of them played the part of repentant sinners to perfection.
At the same time, they were secretly relieved. It was a good thing they had anticipated this and hadn't tried to hide the fact that they'd killed Gowasu. After all, the four of them had discussed every detail thoroughly; they knew there was no way to avoid the subject of Gowasu's death. You couldn't hide it. Therefore, the best solution was a sincere apology to beg for Grand Zen-Oh's mercy.
"Once we have properly managed Earth, we will certainly find a way to resurrect Lord Gowasu. We'll show him the planets under our care to prove that our ideals were correct all along!" Black Broly continued firmly, trying to convince Zen-Oh of their sincerity.
Zen-Oh didn't say a word. He simply stared at them expressionlessly, his deep gaze making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. The two of them were trembling with fear, their bodies shaking. Aside from their continuous kowtowing, they had no other way out.
After all, taking the initiative to see Grand Zen-Oh was an incredibly risky move. If things went south, they could easily be erased by Zen-Oh's own hand without even a chance to regret it.
Zen-Oh stared at them for a full minute. To Black Broly and Zamasu, that minute felt as long as a century. They were nearly paralyzed with terror, feeling as if the strength had been drained from their bodies, leaving them to mechanically repeat their kowtows.
"Fine. Go ahead," Zen-Oh finally spoke, breaking the silence of the palace.
Zamasu and Black Broly felt as if a miracle had occurred. They could hardly believe their ears. Grand Zen-Oh actually agreed? They stole a glance at each other, seeing the shock and disbelief mirrored in each other's eyes.
"Manage the planet according to your ideas. I hope you don't disappoint me, or I'll be very angry," Zen-Oh said with a stern face and a warning tone.
"Since we are the ones managing the planet, we humbly request that you do not interfere with anything we do, so that we may have a free hand to carry out our work," Black Broly said, summoning every ounce of his courage.
This was their final condition. If Zen-Oh agreed to this, they would truly have no more worries.
"Alright," Zen-Oh nodded in agreement. He waved them off impatiently. "You can go now! Don't stay here and bother me while I'm playing games."
The two of them felt as if they'd been granted a grand pardon. They bowed once more and retreated from the palace, feeling a massive weight lift from their shoulders. It wasn't until they were far from the palace that they dared to breathe deeply, their backs drenched in cold sweat.
Soon, Zamasu and Black Broly returned to Earth in Universe 7 and couldn't wait to share the good news with their two companions. The four of them were so excited they began to dance and high-five, their faces breaking into long-absent smiles. With Grand Zen-Oh promising not to interfere, they could finally proceed with their plan without any reservations.
Zen-Oh's Palace.
As he watched the two figures depart, Zen-Oh's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Hey, Grand Minister, are we really just going to forgive their crimes like that?" Zen-Oh asked, not understanding why their request had been granted.
"You may rest easy, Grand Zen-Oh. Someone will punish them; there is no need for you to take action yourself," the Grand Minister said with a small smile, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.
"Then I'm relieved. Let's get back to hide-and-seek!" Zen-Oh grinned, instantly putting the matter out of his mind as a pure, childlike smile returned to his face.
"Very well," the Grand Minister nodded. He glanced at the two guards with a subtle hint in his eyes. The two guards' mouths twitched as they shared a helpless look, knowing they were about to be subjected to another round of this tedious game.
"It's your turn! Go hide, and I'll come find you!" Zen-Oh pointed at the guard on the left, his voice full of excitement.
"Yes, Grand Zen-Oh," the guard replied respectfully, his face falling as he went to find a place to hide.
Main Timeline.
Universe 7, Earth.
Capsule Corp Headquarters.
Whoosh!
Trunks' Time Machine appeared in the courtyard of Capsule Corp with a sharp whistle. It touched down slowly, its frame still vibrating slightly. The hull was covered in deep scratches, clearly having endured a grueling journey.
Young Trunks and Goten, who were playing nearby, were the first to discover the strange machine. They had been chasing each other around, but they stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the Time Machine. They shared a look of pure curiosity before flying over to investigate.
"Trunks, that guy looks exactly like you! He's like a carbon copy, just a lot taller," Goten muttered, scratching his head. He looked at the unconscious Trunks inside the machine, then back at the young Trunks beside him.
"He's passed out. He looks like he's been through hell. And there's a woman next to him... Who are they? Why did they come here in such a weird thing?" Young Trunks was completely baffled. He circled the Time Machine, eyeing the occupants with curiosity.
"No idea. Never seen them before," Goten shook his head.
"I'm going to go get my mom. She'll definitely know what this is," young Trunks said, immediately taking off to find Bulma at top speed.
Before long, Bulma arrived on a pink electric scooter. She slammed on the brakes and hopped off the moment she saw the Time Machine. Her eyes lit up with excitement the second she laid eyes on it.
"Trunks, does the person inside have blue hair just like yours?" Bulma asked urgently, a hint of anticipation in her voice.
"Yeah, Mom... Who is he? There's a woman with him, too. They look like they're in bad shape," young Trunks answered, pointing at Trunks and Mai.
"Aunt Bulma, they're unconscious. It looks like they're seriously injured," Goten added, his tone full of worry.
"Quick, get them to the courtyard over there. It's quieter," Bulma instructed urgently.
The two boys nodded and worked together to pry open the Time Machine's hatch. Goten took the initiative to carry Trunks on his back, while young Trunks carefully lifted Mai. They moved with gentle precision, afraid of causing them any more pain. They landed in the courtyard and carefully placed Trunks and Mai on a bench, then stood back to watch them with curiosity.
"Goten, Trunks, which one of you can go grab some Senzu Beans? They look like they're in rough shape; ordinary medicine might not cut it," Bulma asked, looking at their pale faces with concern.
"I'll go! I'm the fastest. I'll be back before you know it," Goten volunteered confidently.
"What are you talking about, Goten? You make it sound like I'm slower than you! I'll go!" Young Trunks snapped, clearly unwilling to be outdone.
"How about a race, then? Let's see who can get back with the Senzu Beans first," Goten chuckled, throwing a provocative look at young Trunks.
"You're on! I'm not afraid of you!" Young Trunks shot back, immediately dropping into a starting stance.
"Trunks, stop fooling around. Your father and Uncle Goku aren't on Earth; they're training on another planet... I need you to do something very important," Bulma said, cutting them off with a serious tone. "Call Gohan immediately. Tell him that Trunks has arrived from the future and that it's an emergency."
"Eh? I've arrived from the future? Mom, that sounds so weird. Haven't I been here the whole time?" Young Trunks asked with a blank look, scratching his head. He had no idea what Bulma was talking about.
"Don't ask questions, just do it! This is important!" Bulma urged, her tone brook no argument.
"Yes, ma'am." Though he was confused, young Trunks nodded obediently and turned to make the call.
Immediately after, Goten took off toward Korin Tower to fetch the Senzu Beans. Bulma walked over to Trunks and Mai to check their injuries. Her brow was furrowed in thought, her mind racing with questions about what could have happened in the future.
Goten pushed his speed to the limit, turning into a streak of golden lightning. He arrived at Korin Tower in record time and bowed respectfully to Korin. "Master Korin, I need two Senzu Beans."
Korin patted Goten on the head, his expression grave. "Take more than that, little one. I fear something terrible is about to happen; you might need them." With that, Korin generously handed Goten an entire bag of Senzu Beans.
"Uh, alright. Thank you, Master Korin!" Goten didn't refuse. He carefully took the bag, said goodbye to Korin and Yajirobe—who was busy munching on some grilled meat—and turned into a blur of light as he raced back to Capsule Corp.
Gohan received the call while he was at school. At this point in time, Gohan, Videl, and Gine were all students at Orange Star High School. None of them had graduated yet. Being classmates with his eighteen-year-old grandmother was a surreal experience for Gohan; every time he saw Gine hunched over her desk taking notes, he couldn't help but feel a sense of jarring absurdity.
"Hello? Trunks... what is it?" Gohan answered in a low voice. Upon hearing that Trunks had arrived from the future, he bolted upright in his seat. "I'm on my way!"
Videl leaned in and whispered, "I want to go see, too! A Trunks from the future? That sounds fascinating."
Gine's interest was also piqued. She grabbed Videl's arm and said, "Take me with you! I've never met anyone from the future before!"
Gohan let out a helpless sigh and led the two of them out of the classroom. He then opened his arms, scooping up Videl with one and his eighteen-year-old grandmother with the other. With a light kick off the ground, he soared into the air toward Capsule Corp. He didn't dare fly too fast, as Gine still had the body of an ordinary Earthling.
By the time Gohan and the others arrived, Trunks and Mai had already eaten the Senzu Beans and regained consciousness. They were sitting on the courtyard bench, recounting the events of the future to Bulma. Trunks' voice still carried a lingering tremor.
Young Trunks and Goten crouched nearby, their eyes wide with confusion.
"Trunks," Goten whispered, nudging young Trunks' arm. "That big brother... he looks like you from the future."
"You can drop the 'looks like.' That is me from the future," young Trunks replied, crossing his arms with an air of mock maturity.
"Is that pretty sister your future girlfriend?" Goten asked, his eyes sparkling as he stared at Mai.
Young Trunks giggled and shook his head smugly. "It looks like my future self has pretty good taste. He found such a beautiful girlfriend, and her age seems just right."
Mai, overhearing this, felt her mouth twitch. Our ages are definitely not 'just right'! I'm older than your mother; I only met Trunks after being restored to a youthful appearance by the Dragon Balls... She decided it was best not to tell the little guy that.
"My future self... is dead?" Bulma muttered after hearing the story. She leaned her head on her hand, caught between a laugh and a cry. She was genuinely speechless—the idea that she could be killed by someone like Zamasu was absurd.
"Trunks!" Gohan called out as he, Videl, and Gine descended from the sky. He waved to them from across the courtyard as they touched down with a light breeze.
"Big Brother Gohan!" young Trunks called back, running toward him.
"Master Gohan!" Trunks' form of address was starkly different from young Trunks', his tone carrying an unmistakable weight of respect.
"My brother is here? And Grandma, too?" Goten hopped and skipped as he went to greet them.
"Trunks, why do you look like you've been through hell?" Gohan asked as he walked up to Future Trunks, his expression grave as his gaze swept over the torn clothes and the scrapes on the other man's face.
Bulma recounted the story she had just heard to Gohan. When she reached the part about Black Vegeta's atrocities, her voice began to tremble slightly.
"Zamasu?" Gohan's eyes widened in shock, a look of suspicion and uncertainty crossing his face. "Wasn't that guy sealed away? Could he have been released?"
"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics," Trunks said, lowering his head, his voice heavy. "But I suspect that this Zamasu might very well be from your world, and that he swapped bodies with my father."
"Now that you mention it, that actually seems like a possibility," Gohan nodded thoughtfully. "In our world, Uncle Vegeta defeated every single contestant from Universe 6 by himself. It's possible that's what drew Zamasu's attention."
"Big Brother Gohan!" young Trunks suddenly piped up in dissatisfaction. "What are you talking about? I participated in the tournament, too! I even defeated one of the contestants!"
Gohan: "..."
Can you please stop nitpicking the details right now? Gohan massaged his temples helplessly.
Bulma continued her account of the tragedy in Trunks' world. When she mentioned that everyone except for Trunks and Mai had been killed, Gohan's expression instantly turned exceptionally grim.
"What? Everyone is dead except for you?" Gohan clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his aura began to grow unstable.
"Y-yes, Master Gohan." Trunks could no longer hold it back. Tears burst from his eyes, and his shoulders shook violently.
"That bastard Zamasu! I'll never forgive him!" Gohan was shaking with pure rage, the veins at his temples throbbing. "We're leaving right now. I'm going to go and destroy him with my own hands!"
"Gohan, calm down for a second," Bulma said, quickly stepping forward to place a hand on his arm. "The Time Machine needs to charge. Looking at the situation, it'll take at least a day to reach full capacity... Before that, we need to contact your father and Vegeta to tell them what's happening."
"But how do we even get in touch with Dad and the others?" Gohan asked, feeling a bit of a headache coming on.
"I have a plan," Bulma's eyes lit up. "I'll contact Jaco. He's a Galactic Patrolman, right? He should be able to get in touch with Merus, and maybe Merus can reach Whis." With that, Bulma turned and ran inside to make the call.
"Trunks, have you been training hard all these years?" Gohan took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. He turned to Future Trunks, his expression earnest.
"Master Gohan, I definitely have!" Trunks nodded firmly, his tone resolute. "My strength has improved tremendously, but I still couldn't defeat that Zamasu who took over my father's body!"
"Let me see what you've got," Gohan proposed, his gaze full of expectation.
"Alright, Master Gohan!" Trunks agreed. The two of them walked out onto the nearby lawn and stood facing each other.
VROOOM!
A brilliant red light suddenly erupted from Trunks. His golden hair instantly turned a deep crimson, his muscles bulged, and a furry tail sprouted from his lower back out of thin air.
It was the Super Saiyan 4 transformation!
Seeing this, Gohan was struck dumb. He instinctively rubbed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the tail behind Trunks—Trunks had never had a tail before! Didn't Dad say that a tail is a prerequisite for the Super Saiyan 4 transformation? How is it possible to transform without one?
Furthermore, Trunks' Super Saiyan 4 was different from Goku's; his hair and body fur were both red.
"Trunks, did you just go straight into Full Power Super Saiyan 4?" Gohan asked in shock, his tone full of disbelief.
"No, this isn't quite Full Power yet. This is just an ordinary Super Saiyan 4," Trunks said with a slight shake of his head, his tail flicking casually behind him.
"But... you don't have a tail. How did you transform?" Gohan asked again.
"Before this, my father, Mr. Goku, and the others took a trip to the Grand Demon Realm. I learned this transformation there," Trunks answered truthfully, a flash of complexity in his eyes.
"The Grand Demon Realm?" Gohan froze for a moment. The name sounded familiar.
"It's said that the First Demon King of the Grand Demon Realm ordered Lord Lamus to create the universe..." Trunks said, trying to recall the legends he had heard.
"I remember now!" Gohan said as it suddenly clicked. "Dabura became so powerful because he used the Third Eye of the Demon Realm!"
"Dabura?" Trunks blinked, the name sounding a bit foreign to him.
"Never mind that," Gohan said, waving it off as his gaze sharpened. "Let me see the true power of your Super Saiyan 4."
With that, a violet-blue aura erupted from Gohan. His muscle lines became more defined, and his hair turned a brilliant silver.
It was his Beast form.
"Then I won't hold back, Master Gohan!" Trunks let out a low shout and kicked off the ground. The earth instantly splintered into several cracks as he shot toward Gohan like a cannonball, his fists and feet moving in a blur of sharp, whistling wind.
Gohan remained unfazed. He crossed his arms in a block, easily parrying all of Trunks' attacks. Occasionally, he would counter-attack, his strikes landing precisely on Trunks' openings every single time.
A minute passed.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Trunks was panting heavily, cold sweat drenching his brow. His deep red fur was soaked with perspiration; the effort had clearly taken a toll on him. Gohan, however, wore a smile, looking at his star pupil with a hint of admiration. In a sense, this Trunks from the future was the only student Gohan had truly taught personally, hand-in-hand.
But when he thought about what had happened to his father, mother, and friends in Trunks' timeline, Gohan felt as if something was blocking his chest. A sudden, nameless fire of rage began to rise within him.
BOOM!
A massive wave of energy exploded outward with Gohan at its center, the surrounding air distorting. The tables and chairs in the courtyard were sent flying by the shockwave, scaring Gine so much she immediately dove behind Videl.
Trunks took the brunt of it, sent tumbling backward through the air. He did several mid-air flips before finally managing to steady himself, his heart filled with shock. Master Gohan has gotten even stronger! He's way more powerful than the last time we met!
Mai's beautiful eyes were also wide with shock. Trunks isn't even a match for this young man in his prime? Who exactly is this guy? No wonder Trunks calls him 'Master.'
"Sorry, Trunks," Gohan said, taking a deep breath and doing his best to rein in his aura. His voice was low. "I just can't help but get angry when I think about what happened to Dad and the others in the future. I let my energy explode uncontrollably."
To be continued…
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