To be honest, this wasn't Zamasu.
No.
The moment the figure revealed himself, Trunks's entire body trembled with disbelief.
It was Black Vegito.
Suddenly, all the unanswered mysteries began to fall into place.
First was Babidi's arrival in this world.
Logically, Shin, the Supreme Kai, should have intervened immediately. Babidi had lingered on Earth far too long without drawing his attention.
Now, Trunks finally understood why.
This world had also given birth to a deranged Zamasu.
The conclusion was clear: This timeline's Supreme Kai, Shin, had already been killed.
That overwhelming aura and impossible battle power made sense now.
This wasn't Zamasu. This wasn't Goku Black.
This was Black Vegito.
But one puzzle still gnawed at him: How?
How could such an abomination exist? The Super Dragon Balls had to be involved. But that wasn't the question that truly burned in his mind.
What he needed to know was how Zamasu had managed to seize the bodies of both Vegeta and Son Goku at once.
Worse yet, Trunks couldn't shake the fear that this monstrosity's existence might be connected to their Goku and Vegeta.
Because until now... neither of them had arrived.
Nervous, Trunks's eyes flicked toward Black Vegito's waist and tail.
When he saw none, his heart eased just a fraction. At least this monster hadn't stolen the bodies of their Goku and Vegeta.
But that only brought the riddle back to the beginning.
What in the world had happened in his own timeline?
There was no time to dwell on it. One calamity at a time. The problem right now was the nightmare standing before them: Black Vegito.
Fortunately, he hadn't yet mastered this body. His strength wasn't fully awakened yet.
This meant that Trunks had only one option: to strike now. Defeat him before he awakes.
However, another dreadful thought haunted him: What if this creature shared Zamasu's immortality?
If he had an immortal body, then this battle would descend into despair once more.
Yet, as Trunks studied that grotesque, bloody face, something didn't add up.
If he were truly immortal, why would he wear a mask of ruin? Why hide beneath a black cloak?
Perhaps that was the very reason. But speculation wouldn't save them.
As his mind raced, a shadow flashed before his eyes.
Black Vegito appeared suddenly, face-to-face, with a wicked smile curving like a knife.
A fist rocketed toward Trunks's chest.
"Trunks, look out!" Gohan shouted, instinctively rushing to his side.
The monstrous visage loomed closer; the blood-red face was mere inches away.
"This world's Trunks will die all the same."
At the instant the fist nearly connected, Trunks's instincts kicked in. His body snapped into motion, slipping past the strike in a blur.
His hand shot out and clamped down on Black Vegito's shoulder.
In that heartbeat, a mysterious, radiant, otherworldly light surged from Trunks' palm, the very essence of Spirit Fission itself.
Gohan's eyes widened as he saw the technique Trunks was unleashing.
That stance...that light...he knew it well:
'Spirit Fission.'
It was Trunks's ultimate technique, the natural enemy of absorption, fusion, and forced merging.
Gohan had already noticed the two earrings dangling from their foe's ears:
The Potara.
If Trunks's attack succeeded, Black Vegito would be torn apart and split back into his components.
"Trunks! You can do it!" Gohan shouted, his voice laced with hope.
But the next instant shattered that hope.
Yes, Trunks's hand had plunged into Black Vegito's body.
But nothing happened. He didn't split. He didn't even budge.
Instead, Trunks sensed a strange, overwhelming divine force coursing through Black Vegito, shielding the two Zamasus fused within.
No matter how hard he tried to pull them apart, it was useless.
Spirit Fission had failed.
"What...?! Trunks' eyes widened, and the expression on his face froze in disbelief. It wasn't working. It was impossible.
Yet, Black Vegito only smiled, his lips curling into a wicked grin as if savoring every moment of Trunks' despair.
He lunged forward at impossible speed, energy surging in his palm and flaring with annihilating power.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
The air cracked under the onslaught.
Trunks tried to brace himself, but the pressure was crushing and suffocating. His power wasn't even close.
Black Vegito's blows rained down like a storm of blades: relentless and merciless. Trunks's body twisted helplessly through the sky, flung around like a rag doll seized by an invisible giant's hand.
Each impact sent agony lancing through him, his bones screaming as if they would shatter into dust.
"Arghhh!" Trunks cried out. His face drained of color, and sweat streamed down in heavy drops.
At last, his body crashed into the ruins below, broken and battered.
Black Vegito, savoring his triumph, appeared instantly at his side.
"Trunks!" Gohan roared and rushed forward but stopped when Trunks shot him a fleeting glance.
That look was sharp and deliberate, saying, 'Stay back'.
Gohan's heart clenched, but he obeyed, freezing in place.
Black Vegito loomed above Trunks, chuckling darkly. "Heh... Trunks. How fitting. Now, face the judgment of a god."
Trunks struggled to his feet. He swayed, barely standing, his eyes filled with calculated terror as he stared at the advancing monster.
"Wait!" Trunks shouted hoarsely.
Black Vegito stopped and tilted his head, amused.
"What is it? Your last words, perhaps?"
Trunks clutched his wounded arm and rasped, "If I'm going to die, then at least let me die knowing. How did you become this?"
His gaze locked onto the half-bloodied face, unyielding. He was gambling that this warped fusion shared the same flaw as Zamasu and Goku Black before him: Arrogance.
And his gamble paid off.
Black Vegito sneered, chin raised high, radiating disdain.
"You want to know?" His tone was mocking, drawn out, savoring. "Very well. Since you've begged so earnestly, this god shall be merciful and indulge you."
"I… am the greatest god this world has ever known!"
With booming conviction, Black Vegito's voice thundered as he began to recount his creation, his rise, and his birth into existence, each word dripping with divine pride and madness.
(End Of This Chapter)
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