The sky cracked open with a single roar.
Buu stood unmoving, his aura swelling like a living storm. The air thickened — electric, heavy — and for a moment, even Bardock hesitated. The clouds above Capsule Corp twisted into a spiral of pink and gold, light pulsing from within like a second sun being born.
Bulma shielded her eyes, breathless. "What is he—?"
Mai couldn't answer. No one could.
Buu's body began to glow — first with that soft pink hue of his usual ki, then with threads of gold weaving through it, burning brighter, sharper, until his entire form was wrapped in golden flame. His eyes flashed emerald.
The ground beneath him disintegrated.
His hair lifted and reshaped itself into wild, golden strands, arcs of energy dancing around him. The mark on his chest pulsed once, like a heartbeat made of light.
Bulma gasped. "What's happening to Buu..."
Mai's voice came out hoarse. " He said 'A… a form that you Saiyans can only hope to achieve' but isn't him a maj—"
Buu smiled "You know Bardock, I really like you. So please don't die." he said, his voice deep and calm beneath the thunder.
Bardock lunged — furious, reckless — but Buu didn't move. He simply vanished.
In the blink of an eye, Bardock was thrown back through a dozen walls, his mask cracking under the impact. A shockwave followed, bending trees and shattering what remained of Capsule Corp's courtyard.
Tora, Fasha, Borgos, and Shugesh attacked all at once — four crimson auras converging on the golden blaze.
Buu laughed.
Every punch they threw, he countered with lazy grace — catching fists, twisting energy blasts back on them, tapping a shoulder or chest and sending them flying with the smallest motion. It wasn't arrogance; it was precision.
Bardock reappeared behind him, roaring, and swung a fist. Buu caught it with one finger.
The mask on Bardock's face flickered, the crimson veins pulsing wildly. Buu leaned forward, eyes glowing gold. "Let's see how much that mask can take it."
With a flick of his wrist, golden ki flared from his palm, shattering the mask like glass. Bardock staggered back, clutching his face as the shards dissolved into nothing.
The others froze. For a heartbeat, even the air stopped moving.
Then one by one, Buu blurred through the field — breaking each mask in turn, each movement too fast for the eye to follow. Every time he touched them, a surge of light burst outward, and the red corruption began to fade.
When it was over, the five Saiyans stood there — breathing hard, eyes wild, but free.
Their armor was cracked, their auras trembling. The red had vanished, replaced by raw, untamed Saiyan energy — real, alive.
Fasha was the first to speak. "What… what did you do to us?"
Buu floated down lightly, the golden aura dimming to a soft glow. "Freed you," he said simply. "Fu had his strings deep in you. I cut them."
Bardock's gaze was sharp, suspicious. "Why? What's in it for you?"
Buu tilted his head. "Someone you know, give me something so I just repaid a debt."
For the first time since the fight began, silence filled the air — not tense, but thoughtful.
Bardock spat to the side, still catching his breath. "And what now? You think we'll just—"
Buu raised a hand, interrupting him gently. "You don't have to follow me. But if you stay lost in anger, you'll end up back under someone else's control. I've seen it too many times."
His tone softened — almost kind.
"Listen, this is not your timeline, every saiyan is dead. The only three alive will come to this planet some time from now. You can choose to stay and train with us, I can even make you one of my own and boost your power like no one." he stopped for a moment and then started again "But that only if you choose to pledge loyalty to me."
Tora crossed his arms, frowning. "You want to train us?"
"I want you to choose for yourselves," Buu replied. "Power without freedom is just another cage."
Bardock stared at him — really stared — as if trying to find the lie. But there was none.
Only that strange, serene certainty in Buu's eyes.
Behind him, Bulma stepped forward. "He means it," she said quietly.
That earned her a few skeptical looks, but no one argued.
The wind had gone still now. The storm above them faded, leaving only streaks of light cutting through the clouds.
Buu lowered his gaze, extending a hand toward Bardock. "Well?"
Bardock hesitated — then, slowly, reached out. Their hands met, a pulse of pink light rippling through the air.
In that moment, the mark of the Majin appeared faintly over Bardock's brow.
The others followed. Fasha smirked. "Guess we've had worse teachers. At least he is handsome."
Borgos grunted in agreement. "As long as there's fighting, I don't care who leads."
Tora nodded silently, while Shugesh just laughed. "Heh. I like this guy already."
Bulma watched them all, her chest tight. The war, the chaos, the destruction — and somehow, out of all that, this.
Mai stood beside her, eyes narrowed but thoughtful. "You realize what you've just done?"
Bulma smiled faintly. "Yeah. We will have some competition. You need to take a step if you don't want to be surpassed by her." looking at Fasha.
Overhead, Buu floated higher, his golden aura flickering back to soft pink. He looked down at them — at Bardock, at Bulma, at everyone watching.
"Training starts tomorrow."