"By the way, in this era you can turn Super Saiyan, right? Trunks can do it, and Gohan can too," Goku said with a grin as he looked at Vegeta.
That line hit Vegeta right in the chest.
Because in this era, Vegeta genuinely couldn't become a Super Saiyan.
In this timeline, Vegeta still met Emily. Life was comfortable enough, and he even had a son. He'd meant to train properly and surpass Kakarot as soon as possible.
Then, not long after he met Emily, Kakarot got sick and died.
Vegeta lost the fire he'd always had. He drifted through his days, eating and sleeping, because to him, getting stronger suddenly didn't mean much anymore.
My lifelong rival… died from a heart virus.
He shut down over it, barely eating or drinking for days.
Later, Android 17 and Android 18 appeared and killed one fighter after another. Vegeta still didn't break through. No one's death pushed him into Super Saiyan, and he was killed by Android 18 in battle.
Even so, when Vegeta died, there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
I'll see Kakarot in the Other World… right?
The thought was sweet. Reality was not.
Vegeta didn't meet the Kakarot he'd been longing for in the Other World.
He'd killed plenty of innocents while he was alive. This time, fighting the androids counted for something, but it didn't wipe the slate clean. He was still judged and sent to Hell.
In Hell, Vegeta often stared up toward Heaven, waiting for the day he'd finally meet Kakarot.
And then… there was nothing after that.
So now, hearing Goku say it out loud, Vegeta's mood crashed.
So I'm the only Saiyan here who can't go Super Saiyan.
Even my son can. Even Kakarot's son can.
Vegeta gave a sharp snort, unwilling to stay another second. He shot into the sky and vanished.
"Goku, you idiot… I missed you so much!" Krillin rushed up and hugged him, crying so hard he was a mess. "The day you died, I even burned you a ton of paper!"
Goku paused.
"I didn't die. Future me did," Goku corrected.
"I don't care. I'm just happy I can see you again," Krillin said, voice breaking.
Goku scratched his head, stuck for a response.
"Gohan, Krillin… ever since we split up on Earth, we haven't seen each other again," Dende said, his voice full of emotion.
"Dende…" Gohan's throat tightened.
"So it really is you," Krillin said, grabbing Dende's hand. "I thought you looked familiar. I can't believe you're this tall now."
"Hahaha, Dende's taller than Krillin-san now," Gohan said, laughing.
"Gohan's taller than Krillin too," Dende said with a smile.
Krillin sagged.
Can you two stop making this about height?
"Since Earth already has a new Kami, I've decided to fuse with Piccolo and give him my power and wisdom," Kami suddenly announced.
"Huh? You don't have to… I'm only here to help. I can go back to Planet Namek," Dende said, embarrassed.
"Since you're already here, there's no reason to return to Planet Namek. You're the best choice to become Earth's new Kami," Kami said, smiling.
"I… I don't know what to say," Dende murmured.
"Then it's decided," Kami said, patting Dende's shoulder.
Dende didn't argue further. He accepted it in silence.
"Everyone… farewell," Kami said, walking toward Piccolo.
Piccolo didn't respond.
"I never said I'd fuse with you," Piccolo said with a snort.
"This world needs strong warriors. Don't you want to become stronger?" Kami asked.
Piccolo's body trembled. He hesitated—then made his choice.
"Fine. Do it," Piccolo said through clenched teeth.
"Place your hand on my chest," Kami said.
Piccolo did as told, his hand shaking slightly.
"Hah!"
Kami shouted, his body turning into a streak of light that flowed through Piccolo's hand and into him.
The fusion finished in an instant.
Piccolo's ki surged, rising sharply, pushing higher and higher until it settled at a frightening level.
Gohan and Trunks froze the moment they sensed it.
Right now, they were only ordinary Super Saiyans, and the gap was obvious.
"That's incredible… I'm pretty sure that's beyond my Super Saiyan," Trunks said, stunned.
"Piccolo-san… I'm really happy for you," Gohan said, voice thick with excitement.
Piccolo patted Gohan's shoulder.
Vegeta hadn't flown far before Piccolo's ki slammed into his senses. He stopped in midair.
Is that Kakarot's ki? Has Kakarot from the past gotten this strong already?
His teeth ground together.
No. I'm going back.
Vegeta turned around and returned to the Lookout.
When he realized that overwhelming ki belonged to Piccolo, he went rigid.
You've got to be kidding me.
A Namekian… this strong?
"Hey. Are you really Piccolo?" Vegeta demanded, unable to hold it in.
At this point, he didn't care that he'd just stormed off.
"Yes," Piccolo answered.
"This is a joke. Why did your ki jump this much?" Vegeta stared at him.
"He fused with Kami," Krillin explained.
"You… what? That's it?" Vegeta said, taking the hit like a punch.
So now everyone's stronger than me, is that it?
"Piccolo, that's impressive," Goku said with a sigh. "In our timeline, you even fused with Elder Guru, and you still weren't as strong as you are now."
"Elder Guru?" Piccolo blinked. "That happened?"
Goku nodded, then quickly summarized what had happened in his own timeline.
Everyone fell quiet after hearing it.
Trunks, especially, was hearing those things from Goku for the first time.
Vegeta bared his teeth, the taste in his mouth turning bitter.
Why is my life such a disaster?
"Ken? The Saiyan you mentioned is named Ken?" Vegeta frowned, then something clicked. "Hmph. I remember now—long ago there really was a Saiyan named Ken… I only remember because the name assignment glitched!"
"Dad, in our era there was someone named Ken too?" Trunks asked.
"There was," Vegeta said, shaking his head. "But he died not long after he was born."
"Huh? Died? How?" Goku asked.
"It's been too long. I don't remember clearly," Vegeta said after a moment. "I think his power level was too low. He died from being weak."
Goku didn't know what to say.
"Still… I never imagined he'd become that strong in your era," Vegeta said.
"Yeah," Goku said, nodding.
"Kakarot, don't get smug. Before you go back to the past, I'm beating you," Vegeta snapped.
"Sure—after you manage Super Saiyan first," Goku said, laughing.
Vegeta shot off the Lookout in a flash, looking for somewhere to train.
In this future timeline, aside from the Goku who belonged to this era, almost everyone had been brought back. It was as close to a perfect ending as it could get.
The survivors and the revived began rebuilding Earth.
...
Two days later.
Mount Paozu, Goku's home.
Inside, Chi-Chi was laughing with Bulma and Emily.
Goku sat by the door, patiently waiting for Fuwa.
Gohan and Trunks had gone out to help rebuild the city.
In a flash, Fuwa appeared beside Goku, eyes bright.
"Did you settle it?" Fuwa asked.
"Well… she said no," Goku said, scratching his head. "Sorry… I'm not going with you."
Fuwa laughed. "It's fine. Do I look like a god who's short on women? Besides, the women you found me are almost sixty. They've taken care of themselves, sure, but they're not my type."
"I don't totally get the details… but I get what you mean," Goku said, nodding. "Yeah, they're kind of old. I wasn't used to it when I first saw them either."
Bulma and Emily walked out with hard looks, staring straight at Goku.
"Are you still coming with me to train?" Fuwa asked.
"I can?" Goku said, startled—and thrilled.
"Then let's go," Fuwa said, offering his hand.
Goku immediately took it.
"Bulma, Emily—tell Chi-Chi I'm going out to train… wait, no—anyway, I'm not your era's me. I'm leaving," Goku said, waving.
"Kai Kai!"
Fuwa vanished with him.
...
Main timeline.
Outside Zeno-sama's Palace.
"Since there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now, Grand Priest," Ken said, bowing.
"Go," the Grand Priest replied.
"One more thing—when does Zeno-sama usually come back? Should I wait for him before I go?" Ken asked.
"Usually, Zeno-sama returns in as little as three to five months… or as long as three to five years," the Grand Priest said after a brief pause.
Ken went still.
"Then I won't wait," Ken said, shaking his head.
The Grand Priest didn't add anything.
Ken tapped his staff lightly against the ground and turned into a star-bright streak of light, shooting into the World of Void.
Where next?
He'd already decided. He was heading to Universe 11 to spar with Marcarita.
Marcarita was a level 66 angel.
Ken was only one level below.
He wanted to know what that single level really meant.
Marcarita would be the perfect opponent.
And she'd said it herself—if he could beat her, she'd marry him.
Ken didn't plan on holding back. He'd already reached level 65—why not test himself against an angel?
And he was confident he could win.
Who said I'm only level 65?
That's a bad assumption.
I've still got a trump card.
Ken accelerated toward Universe 11.
It took a long time to reach the God of Destruction's world.
When he entered Universe 11's space, he suddenly sensed a familiar trace of angel power nearby.
Ken veered off and appeared right beside it.
"Ken?" Bier rubbed her eyes, then lit up.
"What are you doing out here?" Ken asked.
"I should be asking you that. Why are you running around in our Universe 12?" Bier huffed.
Ken stared at her.
"You're calling this Universe 12?"
"The more I think about it, the less it adds up," Bier said, lips pursed as she stared at him. "How could you jump from level 60 to level 65 in just one year? I don't believe it. You lied to me, didn't you?"
"So you noticed," Ken said with a smile.
"You really did lie!" Bier said, sulking. "You're so boring."
"Angels shouldn't lie to each other," Bier added, still huffy.
"I'm leaving. You can keep wandering around your 'Universe 12,'" Ken said, turning into a star-bright streak and shooting away.
"Wait! Take me with you! At least send me back to the God of Destruction's world first!" Bier shouted, flaring with light as she chased him.
She couldn't catch him, but she could track his angel power.
Bier's mood lifted.
If I follow you, I won't get lost, right?
Wherever you go, I'll just stick to you.
She stayed behind him.
Ken sensed her following and slowed down.
Bier slammed into him.
Ken didn't move.
"Ow…" Bier rubbed her chest. "Why did you suddenly stop?"
"Why are you following me?" Ken asked.
"I'm going back to Universe 12's God of Destruction's world. We're just going the same way," Bier said, still rubbing her chest.
Ken looked at her and went quiet.
Anyone watching would think I did something to you.
"You're sure this is Universe 12?" Ken asked with a faint smile.
"If it's not Universe 12, what is it—Universe 1?" Bier huffed. "I might be bad with directions, but if I can't even tell which universe I'm in, how would I still count as an angel?"
Ken didn't answer.
"Bier, I really like people who don't back down—especially women," Ken said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bier asked, still sulking.
"Funny enough, I also want to go to the God of Destruction's world. I've got something to handle with the angel there. Come with me," Ken said.
"Why are you looking for Martinu-nee-san?" Bier's guard went up.
"Let's go," Ken said, not explaining.
Ken shot forward again.
Bier hurried after him.
I need to stick to him and get back to the God of Destruction's world.
Otherwise, who knows how long I'll drift out here.
They flew on.
If Ken hadn't deliberately waited for her, Bier would've been left far behind.
At last, Bier spotted the inverted-pyramid planet in the distance—the unmistakable shape of the God of Destruction's world.
Her eyes watered.
I finally found home.
"Home… thank goodness," Bier said, exhaling.
Ken brought her down, landing on solid ground.
"It's been a year… did the God of Destruction's world get renovated while I was gone?" Bier said, looking around. "It feels different from what I remember."
"Well, well—aren't these Ken and Bier?" Marcarita walked over from afar, smiling.
"Huh? Marcarita?" Bier blinked. "Are you here visiting?"
Marcarita paused.
"Where's Martinu-nee-san? She's not with you?" Bier asked.
Marcarita stared.
"Martinu-nee-san! I'm back!" Bier shouted, flying off to search around.
Ken didn't move.
"She doesn't seriously think this is Universe 12, does she?" Marcarita asked, wiping at her brow.
Ken nodded once.
Marcarita pressed a hand to her forehead, speechless.
"Is she really an angel?" Ken asked. "When she condensed cosmic essence, did she fuse a pig into it?"
"Every angel has their own quirks," Marcarita said after a moment. "Maybe hers is… being particularly slow."
"What type are you, then?" Ken asked, watching her.
Marcarita smiled like she knew exactly what she was doing.
Compared to Vados, she had a sharper edge to her teasing, and she leaned into it without hesitation.
"What type am I?" Marcarita said, pausing. "What do you think?"
"You're my type," Ken said with a grin.
"Oh my… the little brat from back then grew up and started teasing onee-san?" Marcarita said, still smiling.
"I already had Whis make my intentions clear," Ken said seriously.
"And what intentions are those?" Marcarita asked.
"Marry me," Ken said.
Marcarita didn't answer right away.
"You're not saying no, so you agree," Ken said, keeping a straight face.
"Oh my… I remember now," Marcarita said. "Whis really did come to propose on your behalf. What did I say back then?"
"You don't remember your own words?" Ken said.
"I said, if you can beat me, I'll marry you," Marcarita replied.
"Then that's why I'm here," Ken said. "To spar with you."
"Sure," Marcarita said, rolling her shoulders. "It's been a long time since I've had a proper workout."
Ken immediately took a stance.
Angel power flared around him, sharp and clean.
The pale-yellow halo floating around his neck began to shift, its color inching toward gold.
Marcarita's eyes widened as she stared at it.
"Hey… why is your halo changing color?" she asked.
Ken glanced down. The color really was changing.
"Doesn't matter," Ken said. "Ready? I'm coming."
"Level 65?" Marcarita finally noticed his level, her mouth parting. "You really climbed that far."
Her smile faded, and her angel power rose in earnest.
"Come," Marcarita said.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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