The central plaza of the underground shelter had been completely cleared.
The survivors stood in a wide circle around it, holding their breath as they stared at the center.
Most of them had no idea what was happening.
But the solemn atmosphere alone filled them with instinctive reverence.
Dende sat cross-legged on the ground.
Before him rested seven perfectly polished spheres.
Each Dragon Ball gleamed like a flawless mirror, reflecting a mysterious amber glow beneath the dim lights.
"Haa..."
Dende slowly closed his eyes.
His hands hovered over the Dragon Balls.
Then he began to chant.
It was an ancient, mysterious language.
The language of the Namekians.
Every syllable resonated from the depths of his soul, causing the surrounding air to vibrate.
"By the hands of a god, let form be shaped."
"By the breath of a god, let spirit be bestowed."
As the chant continued, a gentle white light began radiating from Dende's body.
The light flowed like streams of water into the seven Dragon Balls.
Bzzzzz!
The first Dragon Ball lit up.
A single crimson star appeared within it.
Then the second.
The third.
The fourth...
Until all seven Dragon Balls shone brilliantly.
Golden light flooded the shelter, turning the gloomy underground refuge as bright as midday.
"What... what incredible ki!"
Goku's eyes widened in amazement.
"Dende's energy is even purer than the old Grand Elder's!"
"Naturally."
A proud smile appeared on Piccolo's face.
"He is the most gifted Namekian genius in our entire history."
"Perfect."
Krillin glanced at the progress bar on his system panel.
[Dragon Creation Progress: 100%]
[Energy Infusion: 120% | Overclocked]
[Dragon Attributes: Power Type / Miracle Type]
Dende suddenly opened his eyes.
Raising both hands high, he shouted,
"Come forth, Shenron!"
"Grant our wishes!"
RUMBLE...!!!
The entire shelter shook violently.
But it wasn't an earthquake.
It felt as though space itself was being torn apart.
The seven Dragon Balls transformed into seven golden streaks of light.
They shot straight through the thick concrete ceiling and soared into the sky above.
"Outside!"
Krillin shouted.
In an instant, he used Instant Transmission to bring everyone onto the surface.
The sky had completely changed.
Gone was the lifeless gray.
Gone was the pitch-black sky that accompanied the old Shenron's summoning.
Instead...
The heavens shimmered with dazzling auroras.
Purple.
Gold.
Crimson.
The three colors swirled together while thunder roared through the clouds.
"ROOOAAARRR!!"
A dragon's roar echoed across the world.
It shook everyone's very soul.
The clouds exploded apart.
Then...
An unimaginably massive figure slowly descended.
"..."
"...Is that really Shenron?"
Everyone stood frozen.
This Shenron looked nothing like the old one.
Gone was the long, slender serpentine body.
Its muscular frame stretched across the heavens like an endless mountain range.
Dark golden scales covered its body.
Ancient runes glowed across every single scale.
Its four limbs were thick with powerful muscles.
Its claws looked capable of tearing apart the heavens.
Even its once somewhat comical dragon face had become majestic beyond words.
Its eyes burned like twin suns.
An overwhelming divine aura poured from its body.
This...
Was a dragon built entirely around raw power.
"Ahem..."
Krillin's mouth twitched.
"Dende..."
"Did you use my physique as a reference?"
Dende scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh..."
"I guess..."
"Uncle Krillin just looks... really dependable."
"So..."
"I kind of copied it without realizing."
High above, the muscular Shenron lowered its enormous head.
Its voice rolled across the earth like thunder.
"You who have gathered the Dragon Balls..."
"State your wishes."
"I shall grant three wishes."
"Any wish."
Unlike before, its voice no longer sounded cold and mechanical.
Instead, it carried the confidence of an unrivaled powerhouse.
"Three wishes!"
Bulma trembled with excitement.
"It really works!"
"Trunks."
Krillin gently patted his shoulder.
"You make the wishes."
"This is your world."
"You've earned this honor."
Trunks took a deep breath.
He stepped forward and looked up at Shenron.
"My first wish!"
"Please restore every city and every part of Earth's natural environment destroyed by the Androids!"
Shenron's eyes flashed crimson.
"A simple request."
The moment the words fell...
A miracle unfolded.
The ruins beneath everyone's feet trembled.
Broken chunks of concrete floated into the air.
Invisible forces pieced them back together.
Collapsed bridges reconnected themselves.
Skyscrapers rose proudly once again.
Fresh green shoots burst through the scorched earth.
Within seconds they grew into towering forests.
The lifeless gray wasteland transformed before everyone's eyes.
Green life returned.
Civilization returned.
Only one minute later...
The beautiful, thriving Earth had been completely restored.
"...It's..."
"...a miracle..."
The survivors poured out from the shelter.
Looking upon the reborn cities, many immediately dropped to their knees.
They cried without restraint.
"My second wish."
Trunks wiped away his tears.
His voice rang out louder than before.
"Please revive everyone who was killed by the Androids!"
Shenron's eyes glowed once more.
"That wish is even easier."
Countless golden lights descended from the heavens like rain.
They spread across every corner of the planet.
The lights merged into the earth.
Into the wind.
Into the sky.
Then...
People began appearing everywhere.
Young couples laughing in amusement parks.
Students sitting inside classrooms.
Street vendors behind their stalls.
Each looked around in confusion.
As though they had simply awakened from a terrible nightmare.
Life...
Returned to Earth.
"Awesome!"
Goku jumped into the air.
"Everyone's back!"
"Only one wish remains."
Trunks slowly turned toward Goku.
Reluctance filled his eyes.
"Mr. Goku..."
According to their original plan...
The final wish was meant to revive the Goku of this timeline.
But...
"Shenron!"
Trunks shouted.
"My final wish..."
"Please revive the Son Goku of this timeline, who died from the heart virus!"
Shenron fell silent.
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy.
According to the old rules...
Those who died naturally could not be revived.
"Well..."
Shenron's enormous eyes shifted awkwardly.
For the first time, it actually looked embarrassed.
"Ordinarily..."
"I cannot interfere with natural death."
Everyone's hearts tightened.
"But..."
Shenron suddenly changed its tone.
It glanced toward Dende.
Then toward Krillin, whose body radiated divine energy.
"Since this is the new Guardian's first official task..."
"And we have such distinguished guests present..."
"I shall make a single exception."
"Only this once."
Sometimes...
Having powerful connections really did make all the difference.
Shenron's eyes erupted with brilliant golden light.
"HAAAH!"
A massive pillar of light shot directly into the Other World.
Moments later...
The light faded.
A familiar figure appeared.
He still wore the same worn martial arts gi.
A halo still floated above his head.
Then...
The halo slowly disappeared.
Future Goku blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Wasn't I training with King Kai?"
"How did I end up back here?"
He scratched his head.
Then noticed everyone standing before him.
"Huh?!"
"Another me?"
"Vegeta?"
"Piccolo?"
"And..."
"Why is Krillin so buff?!"
Future Goku's mind completely short-circuited.
Before anyone else could speak...
Trunks rushed forward.
"Mr. Goku!!"
He threw himself into Future Goku's arms.
Crying like a child.
At long last...
Every regret had finally been erased.
Krillin watched the heartwarming reunion with a satisfied smile.
He quietly opened his system panel.
[Ding!]
[Epic Mission Completed: Redeeming the Future of Despair]
[Mission Rating: Perfect (SSS Rank)]
[Calculating Rewards...]
[Reward Obtained: Divine Wish ×1 (Stored in Inventory)]
[Special Title Obtained: Time-Space Restorer]
[Effect: Reduces the energy cost of time travel by 50%.]
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
Krillin clenched his fist.
He could feel immense power surging through his body.
This trip to the future had paid off beyond all expectations.
He had gained priceless memories.
Countless rewards.
And an incredible haul of system benefits.
High above...
Having fulfilled its duty...
Shenron dissolved into seven Dragon Balls.
They scattered across the world in seven streaks of golden light.
"Goodbye, Shenron."
Dende collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.
Yet a satisfied smile remained on his face.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds.
Its warm rays bathed the reborn world.
Vegeta snorted.
A faint smile quietly tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Hmph."
"What a ridiculously sentimental happy ending."
Even so...
He didn't turn away.
He simply stood there in silence.
Enjoying a peace he hadn't felt in a very long time.
Krillin walked over and bumped him lightly with his shoulder.
"So..."
"What do you think, Vegeta?"
"Not bad, right?"
"Quit talking, Baldy."
"Hahahahaha!"
Their laughter echoed across the wind.
At long last...
This future of despair...
Had finally been saved.
--------------------------------
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