High above, a small figure blazed with brilliant golden light. Countless bolts of lightning coiled around his body as his aura roared through the sky, the loose bangs over his forehead fluttering violently.
It was Son Gohan.
After spending two full years inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, the childishness had vanished from his face. He had grown noticeably more mature, his features sharper and more defined.
Most striking of all were his eyes.
They were as sharp and fierce as an eagle's, sending chills down anyone's spine.
Measured in battle power, Gohan had now reached 5 billion.
"Are you alright?"
Son Goku walked over slowly, took a Senzu Bean from his pocket, and tossed it over.
"I-I'm fine."
Trunks caught the bean but didn't eat it. Instead, he tucked it into his clothes.
He knew they were about to leave the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and his injuries weren't particularly serious. Throughout the sparring session, Gohan had been holding back.
Rather than wasting such a precious Senzu Bean, it would be better to bring it back to the future. There was no telling when he might need it.
"You should eat it."
Goku smiled knowingly.
"Earth isn't short on Senzu Beans anymore. When you go back, I'll give you plenty to take with you."
He had already seen through Trunks' thoughts.
Korin had once told him that many years ago, a mysterious person had stolen nearly all the Senzu Beans, leaving only one hundred behind as seeds.
But after more than twenty years of cultivation, Earth's supply had finally recovered.
Of course, Korin guarded them like priceless treasures. Aside from Goku's family, almost nobody had access to them.
As for the other Z Fighters...
They'd probably have to beg on their knees just to get a single bean.
"R-Really? Thank you, Uncle Goku!"
Trunks scratched his head awkwardly before excitement quickly replaced the embarrassment.
During these two years inside the Time Chamber, he had eaten quite a few Senzu Beans and fully understood just how miraculous they were.
Without hesitation, he took the bean back out and swallowed it.
The instant it went down, every injury on his body disappeared.
"Uncle Goku... Gohan's current form..."
Trunks looked up at Gohan with unconcealed admiration.
"That's right."
Goku nodded with satisfaction.
"That's Super Saiyan 2—the form that surpasses Super Saiyan."
Even he hadn't expected his son to break through to Super Saiyan 2 in only two years.
In the original timeline, Gohan wouldn't have awakened Super Saiyan 2 until Age 767.
But everything had changed now.
"So... he's surpassed Super Saiyan..."
Trunks' pupils contracted.
In his own timeline, Gohan had never been anywhere near this powerful.
Why was the Gohan of this world so terrifying?
And don't forget...
This version of Gohan was only seven years old.
(Not counting the time spent inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.)
"Uncle Goku... how did Gohan become this strong?"
Trunks recounted everything about the Gohan from his own future.
"..."
Hearing about that tragic future version of his son once again, Goku silently clenched his fists.
After a long sigh, he said,
"Gohan has always possessed incredible talent. Unfortunately, the Gohan from your timeline never received proper guidance from truly powerful martial artists. His potential was never fully brought out."
"..."
Trunks fell silent.
If the Gohan from his timeline had also been taught by Uncle Goku...
Perhaps his world would never have fallen into such despair.
"Actually, there's another reason why my Gohan became this strong."
"What reason?"
"He received guidance from my big brother, Gran."
Goku was referring to the two months Gran had personally trained Piccolo and Gohan while the two were together.
That was also the reason Gohan had managed to achieve Super Saiyan 2 as early as Age 764.
"Lord Gran..."
Understanding finally dawned on Trunks.
No wonder this Gohan was such a monster.
He had actually been personally taught by someone on the level of a god.
At that moment...
Gohan slowly descended from the sky and returned to his normal form.
"Trunks, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Gohan. You don't need to worry."
"That's good."
At first, Gohan had found it awkward hearing Trunks call him "Big Brother."
But after hearing it so many times, he had gotten used to it.
"Dad..."
Gohan walked up to Goku.
One looked up, while the other looked down, their eyes meeting.
Nearby, Trunks also watched with obvious curiosity.
During these two years inside the Time Chamber, he had witnessed Gohan grow step by step—from his normal state to Super Saiyan, then from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 2.
Yet even after reaching Super Saiyan 2...
Gohan still couldn't defeat Uncle Goku.
Because when Goku first entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber...
He was already capable of transforming into Super Saiyan 2!
"How strong am I?"
Goku thought for a moment before gently rubbing Gohan's head.
"I'm not really sure."
"But one thing's certain..."
"I'm definitely stronger than I was two years ago."
"..."
Well, obviously!
Both Gohan and Trunks rolled their eyes.
"Trunks."
Goku turned toward him again.
"With your current strength, you should be able to deal with the Androids now, right?"
Unlike Gohan, Trunks hadn't managed to break through to Super Saiyan 2.
Just like in the original story, even after two years of training inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he remained at the Super Saiyan level.
However...
The one guiding him this time hadn't been Vegeta.
It had been Son Goku.
Under Goku's instruction, Trunks' martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds over these two years.
His power had increased several times over as well.
Measured by battle power, he had reached 1.8 billion.
Combined with his greatly improved combat skills, he could probably even fight Perfect Cell, whose battle power was around 2.5 billion.
"I can."
Trunks' eyes burned with endless determination.
"That's good."
To Trunks' surprise, Goku actually sounded... disappointed.
He had always imagined the Androids were incredibly powerful.
Yet now, even Trunks possessed enough strength to defeat them.
His interest in the Androids instantly vanished.
"Looks like the Universal Martial Arts Tournament will be held in another two years..."
Goku quietly mused to himself.
Ever since mastering Instant Transmission, he had occasionally traveled throughout the universe.
During those journeys, he had heard countless rumors about the upcoming tournament.
Now that he knew the Android Crisis no longer posed any real threat...
His thoughts had already shifted away from the Androids.
Instead...
They were fixed on the upcoming Universal Martial Arts Tournament.
"Trunks."
Goku came back to his senses.
"It's about time. We should head out."
"Alright."
"Thank you, Uncle Goku, for guiding me these past two years."
"No need to thank me."
Goku smiled warmly.
"You're Bulma's son. There's no way I'd just stand by and do nothing."
Leading the two younger Saiyans, Goku headed toward the exit of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
He pushed open the great door, and after walking through the long corridor, they finally emerged before the entrance of Kami's Lookout, where the Z Fighters had been waiting.
Suddenly...
A golden figure streaked across the plaza like a bolt of lightning.
Without warning, it threw a punch straight at Goku's face.
Yet—
Goku merely tilted his head slightly.
The fist missed completely.
The movement was clean, effortless, and natural.
He hadn't even transformed into a Super Saiyan.
"T-That's impossible!"
The attacker was none other than Vegeta.
Staring at the fist that had struck nothing but empty air, his pupils shrank dramatically.
Before entering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Goku had been able to crush Vegeta's strongest attack with one hand...
But only after transforming into a Super Saiyan.
Now, after only two days had passed outside—
Goku didn't even need to transform.
He had casually dodged the attack as if it were nothing.
The feeling reminded Vegeta of his childhood...
Of being utterly overwhelmed by Gran.
Back then, Gran's movements had been just as graceful...
Just as impossible to predict.
Could it be...
"Kakarot..."
Vegeta slowly withdrew his fist, his eyes locked onto Goku.
"Just how strong have you become?"
The other Z Fighters were also staring at him.
Dressed in his familiar orange gi, Goku's expression remained perfectly calm.
Even if the heavens collapsed before him, it seemed nothing could disturb his composure.
His aura was completely restrained.
The only impression he gave people was one word—
Mysterious.
Only two days had passed outside...
Yet Goku seemed to have become even stronger.
Then again...
Those two days outside were equivalent to two full years inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
After two additional years of training, it would have been stranger if he hadn't become stronger.
The Z Fighters silently pondered.
"Vegeta, don't..."
Goku had just started to stop him.
He still intended to keep certain things secret.
However...
Gohan suddenly moved.
With a single twist of his feet, his figure blurred like a phantom before instantly appearing behind Vegeta.
"Vegeta."
"Do you remember what I told you back then?"
The voice came from directly behind him.
Vegeta's scalp went numb.
Too fast!
He hadn't sensed Gohan's movement at all.
"How... how is Gohan that fast?"
Yamcha exclaimed from beside one of the stone pillars.
"Wait!"
Krillin shouted excitedly.
"Look at Gohan's hair! It's golden!"
"My God!"
Nappa grabbed Raditz and shook him wildly.
"Your nephew became a Super Saiyan too!"
Raditz was nearly shaken dizzy, but his attention remained fixed on Gohan.
His heart pounded violently.
A Super Saiyan...
After Gran, Broly, Son Goku, and Vegeta...
Another Saiyan had finally achieved the legendary transformation.
"Father..."
"Did you see that?"
"Kakarot's son became a Super Saiyan too!"
Looking up at the sky, Raditz couldn't hide his excitement.
Elsewhere.
Piccolo had also been waiting at Kami's Lookout for his godson to emerge.
Seeing Gohan's transformation...
No one was happier than he was.
"So..."
"You've finally surpassed Vegeta."
Piccolo clenched his fists tightly.
As expected...
Gohan was about to avenge him.
Sure enough—
"Vegeta."
"I told you long ago."
"Once I became stronger..."
"I would avenge Uncle Piccolo."
Gohan's eyes were icy cold.
His expression was almost identical to the one he wore in the anime after Android 16's death.
Even with his back turned, Vegeta could clearly feel the terrifying pressure radiating from Gohan's gaze.
"This brat..."
Vegeta nearly ground his teeth into powder.
Of course he remembered those words.
Gohan had said them on Planet Namek.
Back then, Vegeta's reply had been:
"You? Even if I gave you another hundred years, the son of a low-class warrior could never surpass me."
And yet...
Only four years had passed in total.
Two years in the outside world.
Two years inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
That was all.
Now Gohan had become a Super Saiyan.
And judging from his aura...
He had already surpassed the Prince of Saiyans himself.
Vegeta wasn't mistaken.
Gohan was only using Super Saiyan 1, yet his battle power had already reached 2.5 billion.
Vegeta, in his own Super Saiyan state...
Possessed only 600 million.
The gap was more than fourfold.
"I misjudged you."
Vegeta spoke through clenched teeth.
"If you've got the guts, let me enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber first."
"Fine."
Gohan sneered.
"I'll give you two years."
"When you come back out..."
"If I don't beat the crap out of you, I'll write my name backwards."
Ignoring the Time Chamber's passage of time, Gohan was now seven years old.
In the original anime, seven-year-old Gohan was timid and bookish, largely due to Chi-Chi's upbringing.
But this Gohan was different.
The scholarly air was gone.
In its place was overwhelming confidence and dominance.
Or perhaps...
This was simply the temperament a Saiyan was always meant to possess.
Hearing Gohan's challenge, Vegeta reverted to his base form and headed toward the entrance of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Nappa and Raditz immediately followed.
As for the other Z Fighters...
None of them dared to stay inside the chamber alongside those Saiyans.
However...
After walking a short distance, Vegeta suddenly stopped.
Without turning around, he spoke to Trunks.
"I can tell you've become much stronger as well."
"When you return..."
"Take your revenge."
"And don't disgrace the Saiyan race."
Before Trunks could respond, Vegeta resumed walking.
Soon, the three Saiyans disappeared through the entrance.
"I won't!"
Only then did Trunks react.
A warm feeling welled up inside him.
"Alright."
Goku patted Trunks on the shoulder.
"Your mother must be worried sick back in your timeline."
"You should head home."
As for the conflict between Vegeta and Gohan, Goku made no attempt to interfere.
He trusted that Gohan knew where to draw the line.
"Okay."
Trunks walked to the center of the plaza, turned around, and bowed deeply to everyone.
Then he tossed out a Capsule.
With a puff, the Time Machine appeared in the middle of the square.
He climbed into the cockpit and was just about to close the canopy—
"Wait, Trunks!"
"You almost forgot this!"
Goku tossed over a cloth bag.
Inside were roughly fifty Senzu Beans.
Back when Gran had stolen the Senzu Beans, he had intentionally left only one hundred behind as seeds.
Now, after twenty years of cultivation, the supply had finally recovered.
Even so...
For Goku to give Trunks fifty Senzu Beans in one go...
It was more than enough to show just how much he cared about him.
END OF CHAPTER
Disciple of Beerus - MrBehringer's Secret
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