"So you really have learned how to sense ki," Trunks said grimly.
Goku Black answered with a contemptuous smile and fired several blasts through the broken ceiling.
Trunks grabbed Mai and threw them both clear. The blasts ripped through the building behind them, showering the floor with burning debris as they hit the ground.
"Mai, go!" Trunks whispered urgently. "The time machine is inside."
"What are you talking about?" she demanded.
"I'll keep him busy."
Before she could stop him, Trunks drew his sword and launched himself into the air in a streak of gold.
"Trunks!"
Goku Black met his charge with a kick to the face.
The blow sent Trunks crashing back to the ground hard enough to crack the pavement beneath him. Pain tore through every part of his body, leaving him feeling as though his bones had come loose.
Months of living on scraps had taken their toll. He had never recovered his full strength, and in his current condition, he stood no chance against Goku Black.
Still, Trunks planted his sword against the ground and forced himself upright, coughing blood onto the blade.
"You've survived much longer than I expected," Goku Black said as he descended. "But there won't be another miracle today."
He landed several paces away and began walking toward him.
Gunfire burst from an elevated platform.
Mai emptied her rifle into Goku Black, every bullet striking his body and flattening uselessly against his skin.
"Mai, stop!" Trunks shouted.
"You're the one who has to survive!" she yelled back, refusing to lower the weapon. "Get to the time machine while I hold him here!"
Dust churned around Goku Black under the barrage.
With an irritated flick of his wrist, he sent an energy blast streaking toward the platform.
The explosion tore the structure apart.
Mai's scream vanished beneath the roar as she was thrown into the rubble below.
"Mai!"
Trunks scrambled toward her, tearing broken concrete aside until he found her beneath the wreckage.
He felt no energy from her.
Grief hollowed out his chest as he pulled her into his arms. His entire body shook, yet he never noticed the faint healing light spilling from his hands and seeping into Mai's body.
"Mai… no…"
Goku Black approached at an unhurried pace.
"You're next, Trunks."
Something inside Trunks snapped.
His father was gone. Gohan was gone. His mother, Emily, and every warrior who had tried to protect this world had been taken from him.
Now Mai had died in his arms.
He could not accept it.
Goku Black appeared behind him, smiling down at his trembling back.
"I'll finish you myself."
Trunks carefully lowered Mai to the ground and rose.
"You killed everyone I cared about." Gold burst around him, wrapped around a blazing core of blue. "I'll never forgive you!"
His scream shook the ruins.
Trunks thrust both hands forward, unleashing a torrent of energy that tore through the street toward Goku Black.
The blast struck his crossed arms and drove him backward, his boots carving two deep trenches through the pavement.
Trunks poured every scrap of power he had into the attack, forcing the beam onward with a desperate roar.
Goku Black finally swept his arms apart and scattered the energy into the sky.
Trunks was already above him.
He dropped with his sword raised over his head, bringing the blade down with all his strength. Goku Black shifted half a step aside, letting the edge cut through empty air.
Trunks bounced off the ground and drove a flying kick into his chest. He followed with a furious barrage of punches and kicks, refusing to give Goku Black room to recover.
His opponent endured the assault with an amused smile, still fighting in his base form.
After several exchanges, Goku Black caught one of Trunks's fists and fired an energy blast into his stomach.
The impact hurled Trunks across the street. He stabbed his sword into the pavement and dragged it behind him, slowing himself in a shower of sparks.
With a twist of the blade, Trunks ripped up a slab of asphalt and flung it at Goku Black.
The filthy mass of stone and tar had barely crossed half the distance when Goku Black vanished. He reappeared behind Trunks and smashed an elbow into the back of his skull.
Trunks's vision flashed white. His sword slipped from his fingers as his legs gave way beneath him.
"Did you honestly think that was enough to defeat me?"
Goku Black picked up the fallen sword and raised it overhead.
Trunks lay facedown, his limbs numb and unresponsive.
"How fitting," Goku Black said. "Your precious sword will be the weapon that kills you."
Trunks's body trembled with helpless rage.
"This is the end. Once you're gone, humanity's last hope disappears with you."
Voices surfaced through the haze clouding Trunks's mind.
"No matter what happens, you have to survive, Trunks."
Emily.
"Go back and find Ken. Isn't he supposed to be capable of anything?"
Bulma.
"You're the one who has to survive!"
Mai.
Trunks clenched his teeth.
If he surrendered now, every sacrifice they had made would mean nothing.
Goku Black laughed and drove the sword toward his back.
Trunks ripped the empty sheath from his belt and swung it over his shoulder. It struck Goku Black's wrist, knocking the blade from his hand before it could reach him.
Trunks immediately hammered the ground with a barrage of energy blasts. Smoke, shattered stone, and dust exploded across the street, swallowing them both.
He launched himself upward through the cover, caught his spinning sword in midair, and raced toward Capsule Corporation.
Goku Black dispersed the smoke with a surge of power, only to find Trunks already gone.
A puzzled frown crossed his face.
"Where do you think you can run? I can sense you anywhere on this planet. Hiding will only delay your death."
A violent crash answered him.
A strange machine burst through the wall of Capsule Corporation and climbed into the air.
Goku Black stared at it.
"What is that? A spacecraft?" His surprise gave way to mockery. "You do realize I can follow you into space."
Inside the cockpit, Trunks pulled the time machine higher.
"I told you I wouldn't let you escape!"
Energy gathered in Goku Black's palm as he prepared to shoot it down.
Trunks slammed his hand onto the activation control.
The time machine vanished before the attack could leave Goku Black's hand.
His eyes widened.
That had not looked like any spacecraft he knew.
"A time machine…"
The realization left him cold.
Zamasu appeared beside him through Kai Kai and immediately noticed his expression.
"What happened?"
"That machine may have been capable of traveling through time."
Zamasu shook his head. "This planet's technology is primitive. How could its people build something like that?"
"I hope you're right." Goku Black stared at the empty sky. "Because if Trunks reaches the timeline where Ken exists—the timeline I came from—we may have to abandon this world."
Zamasu's expression darkened.
They had murdered gods, gathered the Super Dragon Balls, and crossed through time itself to seize this timeline. Walking away now was unthinkable.
"We've invested far too much to abandon everything so easily."
"I agree. Let's hope I was mistaken."
The mention of a time machine sparked another idea in Zamasu's mind.
"We should prepare for the worst. We have Time Rings. We could visit other timelines and recruit more versions of ourselves. With enough allies, even Ken would eventually be overwhelmed."
"That won't work," Goku Black said. "Time Rings can only travel into the future, not the past. Any future we reach would grow from this timeline, and neither of us would already exist there. Worse, we wouldn't be able to return."
Zamasu fell silent.
A moment later, Goku Black's eyes lit up.
"But a time machine could take us anywhere."
"A time machine?"
"Gowasu once told me that a civilization in Universe 12 had already created one. If we take it, we can move between timelines as we please."
Zamasu smiled.
"Then I'll go to Universe 12. You stay here and watch for Trunks."
He vanished through Kai Kai, leaving Goku Black alone among the ruins.
In the main timeline, Ken was enjoying the sun beside the artificial lake at Capsule Corporation's headquarters on Universe 6's Earth.
Life had been unusually peaceful.
After the tournament between Universes 6 and 7, Amarella had remained in Universe 18 to continue rebuilding and developing it. Ken had seen no reason to object.
The Grand Priestess and the little demoness were still sealed inside his body, while Broly had taken Ai and Majin Buu on a journey through space. With no immediate threat demanding Ken's attention, Broly was free to travel—but if trouble arose, he would return at once and become the sharpest weapon in Ken's hand.
Bardock had also chosen not to return to his own universe. He stood respectfully near Ken while Goku and Vegeta sparred in the distance.
Goten and young Trunks chased each other across the grounds, laughing as they played. Zarek remained inside a circle nearby, serving out his punishment without daring to place one foot beyond the line.
Goku and Vegeta's fists continued cracking against each other until Goku suddenly faltered.
"Keep your eyes on the fight!" Vegeta barked.
His fist caught Goku across the face and sent him tumbling backward. Goku caught himself on one hand moments before hitting the ground, flipped over, and landed on his feet.
Vegeta dived after him.
"Wait, Vegeta!"
The urgency in Goku's voice brought Vegeta to an abrupt stop in midair.
"What now? Don't tell me you need the bathroom again."
"No. Something's wrong." Goku's usual lighthearted expression had disappeared.
Vegeta lowered himself slightly.
"What happened?"
"Trunks just contacted me."
"Trunks?"
Young Trunks happened to be running past with Goten. Hearing his name, he stopped and looked over in confusion.
"Why are you talking about me, Goku?"
"Not you. The other Trunks."
That only confused him further.
There was another person with his name?
"He's on Universe 7's Earth," Goku said. "I'm going to check."
He locked onto the distant ki and disappeared right away.
Vegeta remained silent, an uneasy feeling tightening in his chest.
Goku returned moments later, bringing a battered time machine with him from Universe 7.
The sight of it confirmed Vegeta's worst suspicion.
Young Trunks flew up to the cockpit and peered through the glass.
"Someone's inside! He's unconscious!"
Goten floated beside him, looking from the injured man inside the machine to his friend. Their faces and hair were far too similar to be a coincidence.
Zarek craned his neck from inside the punishment circle but did not dare step out for a closer look.
"Trunks," Vegeta said, "does that man have the same hair color as you?"
"Yeah, Dad."
"I knew it," Goku murmured. "Whatever happened, we should treat him first."
Vegeta opened the cockpit and carefully lifted Future Trunks into his arms.
Goku placed a hand over him and began channeling healing energy into his battered body.
Bardock turned toward Ken, unable to hide his concern.
"Ken, what happened?"
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]