Zamasu flinched at Super Shenron's reaction, but quickly steadied himself and repeated his wish.
"You revived Goku, waited an entire year, and then came back to exchange bodies with him." Super Shenron's enormous eyes curved with amusement. "You're remarkably patient."
Then the dragon paused.
"No. You used a Time Ring. From your perspective, only a few hours have passed."
"Can you grant the wish or not?" Zamasu asked, unable to hide his unease.
"I can. But tampering with time so recklessly will eventually bring about the destruction of the timeline. Remember that."
Both Zamasus stiffened.
"The destruction of the timeline?"
"Your wish has been granted. Farewell."
Golden light flashed through Super Shenron's eyes. His colossal body dissolved into seven streams of radiance, which scattered across the cosmos.
The moment the dragon vanished, Zamasu looked around in confusion.
"Where am I? Am I floating in space?" He glanced down at himself. "Wait. What happened to my body?"
The immortal Zamasu smiled. Even the other man's voice had changed.
"Are you Goku?"
The figure in Zamasu's body blinked.
"Yeah, I'm Goku. You know me?"
"So the exchange worked."
A purple energy blade formed around the immortal Zamasu's hand.
He thrust it forward without warning.
Goku tried to dodge, but Zamasu's body felt completely foreign to him. His movements came a fraction too late, and the blade pierced straight through his chest.
The immortal Zamasu finished him moments later.
Once Goku was dead, he began searching for the other version of himself.
"Goku should have been on Earth. I'll start there."
With a cruel smile, he vanished.
In Universe 7, Goku had been sparring with Piccolo on the Lookout when his body suddenly began to convulse.
Piccolo stopped his attack and frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Goku did not answer.
The person standing before Piccolo was no longer Goku.
"A year ago, you suddenly came back to life," Piccolo said. "You've improved quickly since then. I thought you would've adjusted by now."
Zamasu slowly straightened and examined his new body.
Power surged through every muscle. The reserves inside him felt vast, far beyond anything his old body had possessed.
Then his gaze settled on Piccolo.
He would make the Namekian his first victim.
An energy blade formed around his hand, and he lunged.
Piccolo leaned aside, watching the attack pass by his chest.
Something was wrong.
Goku had never fought like this, and the coldness in his eyes belonged to someone else entirely.
Zamasu attacked again and again, but Piccolo avoided every clumsy thrust. After several exchanges, Piccolo slipped behind him and drove a palm into his back.
Zamasu stumbled forward, nearly falling.
"You're not Goku," Piccolo said, his voice turning hard. "Who are you?"
"Not bad, Namekian."
"What did you do to him?"
Piccolo jumped back, then snapped one arm forward. It stretched across the Lookout and slammed a fist into Zamasu's face.
Zamasu hit the ground hard.
"Answer me!" Piccolo roared.
He closed the distance before Zamasu could recover and launched him into the air with an uppercut. A flying kick followed, smashing him back into the floor.
Zamasu coughed up blood.
"Makankosappo!"
Piccolo brought two fingers to his forehead. A spiraling beam tore toward Zamasu before he could regain his footing.
Zamasu tried to evade, but he still lacked control over Goku's body. The attack punched through his thigh and continued into the tiles beneath him.
He screamed as blood poured from the wound.
The noise drew Dende and Mr. Popo from the temple.
"Piccolo, Goku, what happened?" Dende stared at the ruined Lookout. "I thought you were only sparring."
"That isn't Goku," Piccolo warned.
Dende studied him more carefully. The face was Goku's, but the presence behind it felt completely different.
Piccolo approached the wounded impostor.
"Last chance. Who are you?"
A second Zamasu appeared behind him with Kai Kai.
"Piccolo, behind you!" Dende shouted.
Too late.
The immortal Zamasu drove his energy blade through Piccolo's back and out through his chest.
Piccolo's body jerked.
A blast erupted from Zamasu's hand and destroyed him completely.
"You had that much trouble with one Namekian?" the immortal Zamasu asked.
"I'm still getting used to this body," his counterpart growled.
The immortal Zamasu knelt beside him and healed the wound in his leg. Within moments, his injuries had disappeared.
"Piccolo!" Dende cried.
"Run, Kami!" Mr. Popo shouted. "Find Trunks!"
He threw himself at the immortal Zamasu and locked both arms around him.
"That isn't Goku anymore!"
The immortal Zamasu released a burst of energy and blew Mr. Popo apart.
Goku's stolen body appeared in front of Dende and kicked him to the ground.
"So this child is Earth's god." Zamasu raised his blade. "Killing you is hardly worth celebrating."
He struck Dende down.
The immortal Zamasu glanced at his counterpart and smiled.
"That attendant said Goku had become corrupted. Goku Black has a certain ring to it."
"I like it," Zamasu replied. "From now on, call me Goku Black."
"How long will it take you to master that body?"
"There's no need to rush. Earth still has plenty of fighters." Goku Black flexed one hand. "Once I've killed them all, I should have complete control."
"Who comes first?"
"We'll start with the weaker ones."
The immortal Zamasu looked toward the edge of the Lookout.
"There's no need to search. Someone's already coming. The fighting must have drawn his attention."
Goku Black glanced down.
"Who is it?"
"A bald Earthling."
Goku's memories supplied the answer.
"Krillin. Goku's closest friend." Goku Black smiled. "Stay out of this one. If I can't defeat him on my own, then taking this body was pointless."
"As you wish."
Krillin landed on the Lookout and found Goku standing beside an unfamiliar green-skinned man. Piccolo, Dende, and Mr. Popo were nowhere in sight.
"Goku, what happened up here? I was nearby when I heard the explosions." He nodded toward Zamasu. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"Krillin, let's spar."
"Spar?" Krillin waved both hands. "Don't be ridiculous. I can't fight you."
"I'll take it easy."
Goku Black settled into a fighting stance.
Krillin scratched his head.
"Goku, you're acting really strange today."
"Enough talking."
Goku Black rushed him and punched him in the head.
Krillin staggered back, nearly losing his balance.
"Hey! I wasn't ready!"
"Then fight back."
Goku Black attacked again.
Krillin had no desire to fight, but with Goku pressing him so aggressively, he had little choice. As their exchange continued, Goku Black's movements grew smoother. The unfamiliar body began responding to him naturally, and the advantage steadily shifted in his favor.
"That's enough!" Krillin feinted, then jumped back. "I'm done. There's no way I can beat you. Go bother Vegeta instead of picking on me."
"If you're finished fighting, then you're no longer useful."
An energy blade formed around Goku Black's hand.
One minute later, Krillin was dead.
Goku Black continued hunting the warriors who had been revived in that timeline. Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and the others fell one after another.
Each fight drew more power from his stolen body. By the time the last of them died, he had adjusted to it completely.
Vegeta, Trunks, and Gohan eventually confronted him together.
All three transformed into Super Saiyans, but even their combined assault failed to overwhelm him. Goku Black's power continued rising as the battle dragged on.
The immortal Zamasu had already concealed himself nearby, leaving them unaware that Goku Black had an ally.
"Dad, what happened to you?" Gohan shouted. "Why are you doing this?"
"Gohan, that isn't your father!" Trunks warned.
"He's right," Vegeta said. "That thing may have Kakarot's face, but Kakarot would never do this."
Goku Black laughed.
"Is this all you can manage? Three against one, and the best you can do is hold me to a draw."
Vegeta trembled with rage.
"I think I'll stop holding back now," Goku Black said as an energy blade formed around his hand. "Try not to die too quickly."
He vanished and appeared behind Gohan.
"Gohan, look out!" Trunks shouted.
Gohan twisted aside, but the blade still punched through his shoulder.
He screamed.
Goku Black fired a blast directly into the wound.
The explosion engulfed Gohan and shook the battlefield. When the smoke cleared, nothing remained.
"Gohan!"
Trunks charged in fury, bringing his sword down with both hands.
Goku Black fixed him with a sharp glare. An invisible surge of divine power struck Trunks head-on and sent him flying.
Vegeta caught him before he hit the ground.
"Dad…"
"This enemy is dangerous," Vegeta said grimly.
"He killed Gohan!"
"Trunks, take care of your mother."
Trunks stared at him.
Before he could respond, Vegeta struck the back of his neck. Trunks's body went limp.
Vegeta carried him to a safer position and lowered him to the ground.
Goku Black watched with a mocking smile.
Vegeta turned back toward him.
"Come on, you Kakarot impostor! I'm killing you here and now!"
Golden power erupted around him. Lightning crackled across his body as he transformed into Super Saiyan Two.
Goku Black smiled and transformed as well.
His hair turned gold, then arcs of electricity began dancing around him.
Vegeta's expression grew even more severe.
He attacked.
The two exchanged a furious series of blows, but the fight quickly turned against Vegeta. Goku Black broke through his guard and battered him with a relentless combination, leaving his face swollen and bloodied.
A final kick knocked Vegeta to the ground.
Goku Black approached him with a smile.
"Prepare to die, Vegeta. Once you're gone, I'll kill Trunks too. Then this world will finally be quiet."
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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