"If Goku were to become a Super Saiyan God, he'd immediately become just like me—untraceable."
Yamiru's words hung in the air, met with a mix of reactions.
Piccolo, having heard his mentor speak of this path centuries ago, remained unfazed.
Raditz, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Yamcha were surprised but baffled. They knew of Super Saiyans, but "Super Saiyan God"? This was the first they'd heard of it. Vegeta, especially, was completely lost—what the hell was this "Super Saiyan God" that had suddenly popped up?
But the word "god" left no room for misinterpretation.
Everyone understood.
Bardock and Master Roshi, however, immediately grasped Yamiru's implication: his current strength was comparable to the Super Saiyan God they'd heard of from Shenron. Was Yamiru a god now?
The group exchanged glances, momentarily speechless. Yet, this seemed the only explanation for why Yamiru's ki was imperceptible. If gods couldn't be sensed, it made a twisted kind of sense. And if Yamiru's power rivaled a Super Saiyan God's, then his victory over Goku—a mere Super Saiyan—was understandable.
As for which was stronger, Super Saiyan or Super Saiyan God? The answer was obvious.
Which left only one burning question: How the hell had Yamiru become a god? What had happened during those six missing years? Did Earthlings, like Saiyans, possess some ancient bloodline that could awaken divine power under the right conditions?
"I don't think that's it."
A voice cut through the stunned silence.
Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Raditz, and Vegeta turned in surprise toward Goku, who sat beside Bardock and Gine at the table.
Goku looked directly at Yamiru. "After I lost the tournament, I asked why I couldn't sense your ki. You said you could teach me if I wanted to learn..."
The others hadn't been present when Yamiru revived Bardock and Gine with the Dragon Balls, and the only other witness, Son Gohan, had since passed away.
But Bardock's eyes widened in realization.
Sure enough, Goku continued, "But we already know how to become a Super Saiyan God. If that's all it was, there'd be no need to 'teach' me anything."
Meeting Yamiru's faintly amused gaze, Goku grinned. "What you offered to teach me wasn't the Super Saiyan God transformation."
Yamiru glanced at the starry sky. "It's the same in the end. Whether you learn my method or simply become a Super Saiyan God, the result is identical."
Pausing, he swept his eyes over the group and added lightly, "If you don't believe me, we can test it right now."
At his prompting, Bardock quickly counted: himself, Gine, Goku, Raditz, and the newly arrived Vegeta—only five. But the Super Saiyan God ritual required six righteous Saiyans!
Gine nudged him, nodding toward Bulma, who was watching the proceedings with gleeful interest.
Bardock blinked, then focused—sensing a faint ki emanating from Bulma's slightly rounded belly.
"Uh…" Bardock faltered, suddenly realizing. "Bulma's pregnant?" He whipped his head toward Goku.
'Well, she's not just putting on weight,' Krillin thought dryly, though he still didn't get the significance.
Goku then explained the Super Saiyan God ritual to the group. As the details unfolded, the others finally understood: Saiyans could artificially create a god by pooling the energy of five plus one righteous Saiyans.
"That's just cheating," Yamcha muttered, unable to hide his envy.
"But… a fetus counts?" Krillin eyed Bulma's stomach skeptically.
Yamiru nodded. "A fetus has no alignment. The ritual only requires 'non-evil' Saiyan energy."
The key was the "plus one"—the recipient. The other five merely needed untarnished Saiyan spirits to catalyze the transformation.
Non-evil...
All eyes slid to Vegeta, who stiffened before scowling.
"He doesn't exactly scream 'non-evil,'" Tien Shinhan said flatly.
"Then we're short one," Yamcha sighed. "Guess Raditz needs to step up and have a kid—"
A icy glare from Raditz shut him up.
"Actually, it's not that difficult," Yamiru suddenly said with a smile. "Look, even an unconscious infant can provide energy. That proves the most crucial part of this ritual is the Saiyan receiving the power infusion. As for the other five... well, there are shortcuts we can take."
"Like this."
With a flash of his golden eyes, Yamiru's gaze locked onto Vegeta. The prince stiffened as the dark pupils of his eyes slowly tinged with gold.
At first, the others were confused—but soon, their expressions shifted to shock.
Vegeta's eyes now mirrored Yamiru's own. He flexed his fingers, rolled his shoulders, and scoffed. "This height is... unfamiliar."
"Yamiru?" Bulma circled the possessed Vegeta, clicking her tongue in amazement.
What kind of technique was this? Soul possession? Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Krillin nearly lost their eyeballs from staring too hard.
"See?" "Vegeta" smirked. "Can you still sense any 'malice' in his energy now?"
"..." Yamiru blinked, turning to look at the person beside her in bewilderment.
Yamiru was still Yamiru—his original body hadn't collapsed into unconsciousness after "possessing" Vegeta.
"Incredible!" Gine gasped. "Even after possession, your main body remains fully conscious!"
"That's because I didn't fully transfer my consciousness into him. I'm still using Vegeta's own power," the original Yamiru explained. "And besides... he's too weak."
The golden-eyed Vegeta across from him met his gaze, both speaking in unison:
"This way, it only slightly affects my main body... like multitasking."
Krillin muttered, "Yamiru's gotten ridiculous..."
Master Roshi adjusted his sunglasses, lost in thought.
"Alright then!" Bulma clapped her hands, snapping everyone back to the task. "So we're set now? What do I need to do?"
---
Bardock, Gine, Raditz, Bulma, and "Vegeta" formed a circle around Goku.
One by one, white light erupted from the four Saiyans, connecting to the faint glow emanating from Bulma's slightly rounded belly. The energy swirled and condensed, guided effortlessly by "Vegeta". who seemed oddly familiar with the process. Together, they channeled their power into Goku at the center.
BOOM!
Goku's eyes snapped open—his dark pupils now burning with a solar flare of gold and crimson.
---
Before long, a golden-red figure rose from the garden lawn, illuminating the night sky.
The Briefs family, Krillin, and the others watched in silent awe.
Bardock and the others, having contributed their energy, stepped back, observing as Goku bathed in the divine light, his transformation unfolding. Raditz's eyes gleamed with anticipation, while Vegeta—now freed from Yamiru's control—gasped for breath, his face pale. The memory of being puppeteered sent chills down his spine.
Master Roshi approached Yamiru, sighing. "Becoming a god is this easy, huh... Yamiru, your path couldn't have been this simple, could it?"
Yamiru quietly watched Goku's mortal energy fade, his form refining under the divine radiance.
How much had he suffered to reach the same height? How many times had he doubted himself, nearly given up? Even after glimpsing hope, he'd had to temper his cells, purify his power—forty thousand years of grinding patience...
"It's all the same in the end," Yamiru replied with a smile.