The green light of the Time Ring faded, taking Zamasu with it. Though the corrupted Kai had escaped half-dead, Raditz knew with absolute certainty that Goku Black represented only part of the threat.
There's another Zamasu helping him, Raditz thought grimly. Two versions from different timelines, united by the same twisted ideology.
"Mr. Raditz..." Trunks approached, his voice heavy with gratitude and exhaustion. "Thank you. If you hadn't arrived when you did..."
"I was delayed at the Supreme Kai Realm for a while," Raditz interrupted, placing a reassuring hand on the younger warrior's shoulder. "But I discovered some crucial information while I was there. Come on—let's get somewhere safe, and I'll explain everything."
They returned to the basement laboratory, where Bulma waited with barely controlled anxiety. The underground structure had survived the battle's seismic shocks remarkably well—a testament to Capsule Corporation engineering even in this devastated timeline.
Once gathered in the relative safety of the research facility, Raditz laid out everything he'd learned: Zamasu's true identity as a Supreme Kai apprentice from Universe 10, the theft of Goku's body through the Super Dragon Balls, the massacre in the Supreme Kai Realm, the complex web of parallel timelines that had enabled this crisis, and most chillingly—the scope of Zamasu's genocidal ambitions.
Bulma sat in stunned silence throughout the explanation, her brilliant mind struggling to process the cosmic scale of what she was hearing. Gods, parallel universes, timeline manipulation, body theft through wish-granting dragons... each revelation built upon the last until the picture became almost incomprehensible.
But Trunks understood immediately, his Time Patrol experience having prepared him for exactly this kind of temporal nightmare. "The Time Ring allows Zamasu to travel between parallel worlds," he said, piecing it together. "And because he stole Mr. Goku's body, he has access to Saiyan potential and combat instincts. That's why he's so terrifyingly powerful."
"Exactly," Raditz confirmed. "Goku Black—that's what we should call him—is a product of your timeline's original past. He took Goku's body in that era, then used the Time Ring to travel to your future. But here's the critical part: this timeline also has its own Zamasu. Which means you're actually facing two enemies working in tandem."
Trunks's face went pale. "Two of them? But I only fought one. If they'd attacked together..."
"The Zamasu native to this timeline can't acquire Goku's body—that opportunity only existed in the past Goku Black came from. So this world's Zamasu must be hiding, supporting from the shadows while Goku Black handles direct combat." Raditz's expression hardened. "Which means he's still out there somewhere, planning, waiting for the right moment to strike."
"Then what do we do?" Trunks asked, helplessness creeping into his voice.
Raditz fell silent for a moment, his mind racing through implications and calculations. His own timeline was just one of many parallel universes now. Zamasu's stated goal was eliminating all mortals across every reality—which meant no universe would be spared. The threat extended beyond just Trunks's devastated future.
From that perspective, they needed to act quickly and decisively. Especially regarding the Zamasu who hadn't yet fully committed to his dark path.
"We're going back," Raditz decided. "First to the Time Realm to report to Lady Chronoa, then to my universe's Supreme Kai Realm. I need to use the Time Rings to examine the future of every parallel world."
Because the temporal loophole connecting Trunks's world to Raditz's had been sealed, using a conventional time machine wouldn't work. Instead, they contacted Chronoa through Trunks's communication crystal and requested direct extraction. The Supreme Kai of Time's power enveloped them moments later, pulling both warriors back through the dimensional barriers to the Time Realm.
After a brief report to Chronoa—who looked genuinely shaken by the scope of the Zamasu threat—Raditz immediately transferred to his own Universe 7's Supreme Kai Realm.
The Time Ring vault stood exactly as he'd left it, the ornate box containing those precious artifacts that controlled temporal navigation. Raditz carefully removed each ring and activated their future-viewing function, peering into the potential timelines branching from his present.
What he witnessed made his blood run cold.
Beyond the two timelines where Zamasu had already gone rogue—Trunks's devastated future and Goku Black's origin point—two more showed dangerous warning signs. The timeline that had produced Cell showed a Zamasu growing increasingly radical in his philosophy. And most alarmingly, Raditz's own timeline displayed a hidden cancer: Zamasu harbored deep resentment after being humiliated at the Supreme Kai Conference.
The visions showed a terrible future: Zamasu would eventually murder Supreme Kai Gowasu, then summon Super Shenron to steal Raditz's body. With that power, he would travel to Universe 6 and brutally slaughter Doren—the warrior who'd defeated him during the conference, the loss that had planted seeds of murderous rage.
I knew Zamasu was dangerous, Raditz thought with grim determination. I'd been planning to test him, to verify my suspicions through careful observation. But seeing this future directly... there's no room for doubt. He's irredeemable in every timeline. The ideology is too deeply rooted.
Raditz returned the Time Rings to their vault and turned to face Shin and Kibito, who'd been waiting anxiously. His expression carried the weight of terrible knowledge. "Lord Shin, we need to travel to Universe 10. Immediately."
"Universe 10?" Shin blinked in surprise. "What's wrong? Has something happened there?"
"Something that threatens all parallel worlds," Raditz said gravely.
He explained everything—the discovery in the Time Realm, Trunks's ravaged timeline, Zamasu's genocidal Zero Mortals Plan, and most damningly, what the Time Rings had revealed about their own universe's future.
Shin and Kibito listened with mounting horror. When Raditz finished, Kibito immediately contacted the omniscient Zuno to verify certain details. The sage's response confirmed their worst fears: Zamasu had indeed visited him recently, asking detailed questions about the Super Dragon Balls and—most tellingly—requesting specific information about Raditz himself.
The evidence was irrefutable. Zamasu was already planning his betrayal.
The Old Kai sighed heavily, his ancient face creasing with disappointment. "Choosing a Supreme Kai candidate requires looking beyond mere strength. Character and wisdom matter far more than combat power." He glanced at Shin with approval. "Our Seventh Universe has done well in that regard. You possess the right temperament for divinity, Shin."
"Ancestor..." Shin's cheeks colored slightly at the unexpected praise.
"Go quickly," the Old Kai urged. "Stop Zamasu before his plans advance further. And give my regards to Gowasu—he's a good man who doesn't deserve the betrayal his student is planning."
Shin nodded solemnly. He, Kibito, and Raditz joined hands, and their combined divine power carried them across the cosmic expanse to Universe 10's Supreme Kai Realm.
The landscape of Universe 10's sacred world differed subtly from Universe 7's—the trees grew in different patterns, the grass held a slightly different hue, the sky's light carried unique qualities. But the fundamental atmosphere of divine tranquility remained universal.
Supreme Kai Gowasu emerged from his dwelling the moment they materialized, his weathered face lighting up with genuine pleasure. "Ah! Guests from Universe Seven! What a delightful surprise!"
The Seventh Universe's performance at the recent Supreme Kai Conference had impressed all the other universes. Gowasu in particular had been grateful for the lesson Raditz delivered to Zamasu—he'd hoped it would temper his student's increasingly extreme views on mortals.
But the grim expressions on his visitors' faces immediately dampened Gowasu's enthusiasm. Still, courtesy demanded proper hospitality. "Please, come in! I'll prepare tea. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
"The Old Kai sends his warmest greetings, Lord Gowasu," Shin said formally, opening the conversation with diplomatic niceties.
"How kind of him to remember me!" Gowasu's smile widened as he ushered them toward his home. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."
At that moment, Zamasu emerged from the dwelling carrying a tea service on a wheeled cart. He moved with measured grace, his expression serene and humble, showing no hint of hostile intent. Every gesture radiated perfect propriety.
"Zamasu, we have honored guests—the Supreme Kai of Universe Seven and his companions."
"Welcome, my lords." Zamasu bowed with textbook precision, first to Shin and Raditz as fellow Supreme Kais, then to Kibito as attendant. His voice carried exactly the right blend of respect and warmth. "It's a pleasure to receive you."
How can someone who looks so humble and decent harbor such monstrous philosophies? Shin wondered, struggling to reconcile appearance with reality. But he trusted Raditz's evidence implicitly, so he maintained a carefully neutral expression despite Zamasu's convincing performance.
Gowasu poured tea with practiced elegance. "Now then, what brings you all the way to Universe 10? Surely this isn't merely a social call?"
"You're right—it's not," Raditz said, abandoning diplomatic niceties in favor of direct confrontation. His eyes locked onto Zamasu with laser intensity. "I have questions for your apprentice. Zamasu—have you visited the omniscient Zuno recently? Did you inquire about the Super Dragon Balls? And most importantly..." His voice dropped to something cold and deadly. "Did you ask for information about my body?"
The effect was instantaneous and devastating.
"I—what are you—I don't understand what you're talking about!" Zamasu's careful composure cracked like thin ice. His face went pale, blood draining away as panic flooded his features. That last question in particular had struck like a lightning bolt, exposing fears he'd tried desperately to hide.
Gowasu stared at his student in confusion. "Zamasu? What is Lord Raditz referring to? Have you done something inappropriate?"
"He's done far worse than 'inappropriate,'" Raditz said, his voice cutting like a blade. "He's planning to exterminate all mortals across every universe. And to achieve that goal, he intends to murder every supreme kai who might oppose him—starting with you, Lord Gowasu."
Crushing pressure erupted from Raditz's position, his divine aura manifesting as almost physical force. The weight of it bore down on Zamasu, making the younger Kai stagger backward. His carefully constructed mask of humility began dissolving under that terrible scrutiny, revealing what lurked beneath.
Finally, something snapped. Zamasu's expression twisted into something ugly and hateful, all pretense abandoned. "You've seen the future, haven't you?!" He laughed—a harsh, bitter sound devoid of joy. "You've witnessed what I accomplish! But you don't understand—you CAN'T understand! Being a god means upholding absolute justice! Mortals are a plague upon creation—selfish, violent, destructive! They don't deserve to exist! Everything I plan to do is RIGHTEOUS!"
"Then you can die righteous," Raditz said coldly.
His hand extended, palm open. Golden-white energy began gathering there, condensing into a sphere of devastating power. The killing intent was unmistakable—this wasn't a threat or a warning. This was execution.
"Wait!" Gowasu surged forward, barely comprehending what was happening. His student was confessing to planned genocide? Raditz was about to kill him? The situation had spiraled from pleasant tea to potential murder in seconds! "Lord Raditz, please, there must be some misunderstanding—"
Shin and Kibito gently but firmly restrained Gowasu, preventing him from interfering. "I'm sorry, Lord Gowasu," Shin said quietly. "But Raditz is right. We've seen the future. We know what Zamasu becomes. This has to happen."
Raditz's energy sphere reached critical mass, blazing like a miniature sun—
And then reality screamed.
A pillar of malevolent light erupted in the courtyard, tearing through the dimensional fabric. The familiar signature of temporal displacement washed over everyone present, and when the light faded, a figure stood beside Zamasu.
He wore black gi that seemed to absorb light. His face was Goku's face—but twisted, wrong, filled with divine arrogance that the original had never possessed. A Potara earring gleamed on one ear. And the aura radiating from him carried power that made even Raditz pause.
Goku Black had arrived.
"Well, well," the dark Saiyan said, his voice a cruel mockery of Goku's usual warmth. "It seems I arrived just in time to save my past self. How... fortunate." His smile widened into something predatory. "Hello, Raditz. We have unfinished business, you and I."