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"Do what Cell said! Hurry up and give Mr. Goku the senzu bean! If we all jump in together, we can definitely take him down for good!"
Trunks' proposal was immediately backed by Tien and Yamcha. They all urged Krillin to act—right now.
But Krillin knew Goku better than almost anyone.
He understood something the others didn't: at this moment, Goku would rather die on the battlefield than save himself with a senzu bean just to scrape out a win. Not like this.
So Krillin stood there, face stiff and pale, ignoring Trunks' frantic pleas.
"Mr. Krillin! Please! Give the senzu bean to Mr. Goku! We don't have much time!"
And then—
"Shut your mouth, Trunks!!"
The roar exploded from behind him like a volcanic eruption.
It was his father.
Vegeta.
Vegeta turned his head slightly. His sharp features were twisted with fury and bitter disappointment.
"You pathetic child! You don't even understand what Saiyan pride means! In a fair fight, you'd resort to a cheap trick just to win?!"
He stepped forward, voice like steel scraping stone.
"Listen carefully, Trunks. Kakarot and I—we would rather die gloriously on this battlefield than beg for victory in such a humiliating way!"
"And get this through your thick skull—Kakarot doesn't fight for your precious Earth! Etch that into your brain!"
The words hit Trunks like lightning. He hadn't expected that. All he'd done was voice concern—and his father lashed out like this?
"But… Father… if this keeps dragging on…"
Even though Trunks knew Vegeta's logic was airtight, fear still crept into his voice.
Vegeta turned sharply, eyes locked on the destructive figure hovering in the sky—Cell.
"In my opinion," he said quietly, almost too calmly, "Kakarot may very well die here."
"I've clawed my way through hell to get stronger. But I know one thing—I still can't completely crush him."
"That bastard grew up on this worthless planet, but in his veins flows the purest battle instinct of the Saiyan race."
His eyes flickered with something complicated—jealousy, frustration… and a trace of expectation.
"Even so, no matter how much stronger he's become, Cell is still above him."
"But…" Vegeta's lips curled slightly. "Kakarot is definitely planning something."
"We'll just wait and see how this show ends."
The humiliation burned inside him. Always one step behind Kakarot—it was like a thorn lodged in his spine. He needed to know.
What trump card was that idiot hiding?
Across different timelines, everyone watching the footage fell into stunned silence.
Far away in deep space, another Vegeta stared at the glowing screen, disbelief twisting his proud face.
The future him… went to Earth?
And worse—he stood alongside those weaklings?
That was unthinkable. An insult to the Saiyan Prince.
How could he have fallen so low?
And even more unbearable—
Kakarot.
After training this hard, he still couldn't surpass that low-class warrior?
Vegeta's fury exploded. With a savage punch, he obliterated the heavy training bag before him into shredded debris.
Meanwhile, at Bulma's house on Earth, the atmosphere was just as tense.
"Kakarot? What kind of weird name is that? Wait… that bad guy in the video—is he talking about you, Goku?"
Bulma blinked at him in confusion.
Goku scratched his head, equally baffled.
Kakarot? Saiyan race?
Wasn't he a pure-blooded Earthling? Grandpa Gohan found him and raised him. His memories weren't wrong!
So why was that grim-looking guy in the video calling him a Saiyan?
The question hit him like a wave.
Krillin and Yamcha exchanged looks, then turned to Goku, their expressions probing.
Is that future real?
Have you been hiding something from us?
"Why are you all staring at me?" Goku waved his hands awkwardly. "I grew up with Grandpa! I'm totally an Earthling, okay?"
They slowly looked away, though doubt lingered.
Goku's strength had never been normal. Deep down, they all knew that.
Still… since their future selves hadn't panicked in the video, there had to be an explanation.
Goku puffed out his cheeks, slightly annoyed that a simple video had somehow turned his own identity into a mystery. But soon, his focus returned to the screen.
What he really wanted to know was—
Would the future him really make a choice no one expected?
Back in the footage—
Cell tilted his head, clearly growing impatient.
"What's wrong, Son Goku? Is your fragile pride keeping you from eating that lifesaving senzu bean?"
Below him, Goku was breathing hard—more ragged than during the fight itself. His body radiated exhaustion.
Cell sneered at Krillin and the others.
"I'll admit, I've used up some stamina. But even if you throw everything you have at me, your chances of victory are still microscopic."
"If you don't believe me, come at me again!"
His aura surged violently, breaking through yet another level.
"I offered you the senzu bean out of kindness. I just wanted one more satisfying fight."
Goku panted, staring up at him.
And then—
Something changed.
The agony and strain on his face vanished.
Replaced by… a smile.
Yes.
In the middle of a life-or-death battle, Goku smiled.
Krillin and the others froze.
What the hell?!
How could he smile now?
Then it happened—
The blazing aura around Goku disappeared.
No—
He dismissed it himself.
Cell's eyes narrowed instantly. His guard shot up.
He had already nearly fallen once to Goku's tricks. He wasn't going to be fooled again.
Even with regeneration, each revival drained enormous energy. If he had to regenerate three or four times in one fight, his reserves would be pushed to their limit.
He couldn't afford that.
Every movement Goku made now was treated as a potential trap.
Goku's smile widened.
He looked up at Cell and spoke in a tone so casual it felt unreal.
"I lost."
Cell froze.
Krillin. Yamcha. Everyone watching.
Frozen.
Across countless worlds, beings staring at the glowing screen felt a massive question mark appear over their heads.
What?!
The video wasn't even a third finished.
Why would Goku say that?
Was he surrendering?
No way. That couldn't be real.
They held their breath.
Then came the bombshell.
"I… surrender!"
The declaration detonated across the multiverse.
"What?!"
Chi-Chi's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She whipped around to stare at the very real Goku beside her.
"Goku! What are you thinking?! How could you say something like that?!"
She lunged at him, grabbing his collar and shaking him furiously.
Goku flailed helplessly. Hey! That's future me, not present me! Why am I the one getting yelled at?!
On the screen, Goku continued calmly:
"Cell. I've figured out your strength completely."
Sweat soaked his body. Blood stained the corner of his mouth.
But his gaze was steady.
"And because I understand it… I'm choosing to give up."
Shock rippled through the spectators again.
Krillin's voice trembled in the video.
"Surrender? Goku, you would never say that! That's never happened before!"
The present-day Krillin turned to Goku desperately.
"If that's the future you, then you must know why! Tell us—why would you do this?! You've never talked like that!"
Dizzy from being shaken by both Chi-Chi and Krillin, Goku finally snapped:
"Okay, okay! Stop shaking me!!"
Everyone jolted back.
Chi-Chi stared at him with tearful eyes.
Goku hugged her awkwardly, scratched the back of his head, and smiled.
"If I'm right… the reason I surrendered is probably because my goal was already achieved."
"And honestly… at that time, I really wasn't stronger than Cell."
"Huh?"
That only confused them more.
Goku glanced toward the couch—where Gohan lay fast asleep.
"Don't worry. The video will explain. Let's just keep watching."
Back on the battlefield—
"You're surrendering?"
Cell's face twisted with disbelief.
"Son Goku. Are you saying you're ending our fight right now?"
Goku nodded without hesitation.
"Yep. I lost."
Rage surged through Cell, nearly matching his confusion.
"Son Goku! You understand the consequences of what you just said, don't you?"
"I do."
Goku was still smiling.
"If no one else steps up in the Cell Games… I wipe out every human on Earth."
"You didn't forget that promise, did you?"
"....."