The night sky over Pyongyang cracked open like broken glass.
Goku dropped fast, golden aura roaring around him. His black gi flapped wildly in the wind he created. Below him, three shadows shot upward—each one deadly in its own way.
Beru came first. The giant ant shadow moved like lightning, wings buzzing so fast they blurred. His claws glowed purple as he aimed straight for Goku's chest.
Goku twisted mid-air. He caught Beru's wrist with one hand and punched with the other. The hit landed clean on Beru's jaw. A shockwave exploded outward, shattering windows in every building for miles. Beru flew back, crashing through a row of empty skyscrapers. Steel and concrete rained down like confetti.
Before Goku could follow, Igris arrived. The Blood-Red Knight swung his massive longsword in a perfect arc. The blade sang through the air, leaving a trail of red energy that could cut mountains.
Goku leaned back just enough. The sword missed his throat by an inch. He grabbed the flat of the blade with both hands, stopped it cold, then yanked Igris forward. Their faces were close enough to feel each other's breath.
"Not bad," Goku said with a grin.
He headbutted Igris so hard the knight's helmet cracked. Igris spun away, blood-red cape tearing as he slammed into the ground below. The street exploded into a crater fifty meters wide.
Then came Bellion.
The Grand Marshal was different—bigger, heavier, slower-looking but unstoppable. His wings spread wide, black and gold. In his hands he held twin greatswords that burned with shadow fire. He didn't speak. He simply charged, bringing both blades down in a cross slash that could split a city block.
Goku met him head-on. Fists against swords. Every clash rang like church bells made of thunder. Sparks flew—golden ki against black shadow. The force pushed both of them backward through the sky, carving long scars across the clouds.
Goku laughed. "You're strong! All three of you!"
Bellion said nothing. He spun his blades faster. Goku ducked, weaved, countered with sharp jabs to the ribs, the stomach, the face. Each hit made Bellion stagger, but the shadow never fell. His body reformed instantly from any damage.
Down on the street, Sung Jinwoo watched with calm red eyes. Shadows swirled at his feet like living smoke. Thousands—maybe millions—of shadow soldiers waited behind him, silent and patient.
"He's holding back," Jinwoo said quietly. "He wants to enjoy this."
Beru crawled out of the rubble first, wings torn but already healing. Igris rose next, helmet gone, face scarred but fierce. Bellion landed beside them, swords lowered for a moment.
Jinwoo raised one hand. "Enough playing. All of you—together."
The three shadows moved as one.
Beru dove low, claws slashing at Goku's legs. Igris came from the right, sword thrusting for the heart. Bellion attacked from above, blades crashing down like guillotines.
Goku's eyes narrowed. His golden hair stood taller. Lightning crackled in his aura.
Super Saiyan.
He exploded forward.
He caught Beru's claws in one hand, snapped them like twigs. With the same motion he kicked Igris in the chest—hard enough to send the knight flying through three buildings. Then he spun upward, grabbed Bellion by the throat mid-swing, and slammed him face-first into the pavement. The impact made a new crater that swallowed half a district.
Jinwoo sighed. "Persistent."
He stepped forward. The ground under him cracked. Black-purple energy rose around him like a cloak. His eyes glowed brighter. "Arise."
Hundreds of shadow soldiers poured from the darkness—knights, giants, beasts, dragons. They charged Goku in a black tide.
Goku grinned wider. "Now we're talking!"
He powered up more. His aura turned blazing white-gold. Super Saiyan 2.
Lightning danced across his body. He moved so fast the shadows couldn't touch him. Fists blurred. Kicks flashed. Every punch sent dozens of soldiers flying apart into black mist. Every kick crushed giants into paste. He laughed the whole time—pure joy in the fight.
But Jinwoo was already moving.
He vanished in shadow and reappeared behind Goku. A black dagger formed in his hand—Arise's curse blade. He stabbed straight for Goku's back.
Goku sensed it. He spun, caught Jinwoo's wrist, twisted. The dagger dropped. Jinwoo didn't flinch. He headbutted Goku instead—hard enough to draw blood from the Saiyan's nose.
Goku staggered back one step. His grin grew feral. "That actually hurt!"
Jinwoo stepped back. His coat billowed. "Good. I was starting to think you couldn't bleed."
They charged each other.
Fist met fist. Ki clashed with shadow. The sky lit up with explosions—golden blasts against black-purple waves. Buildings collapsed in slow motion around them. The ground split open. Rivers of lava bubbled up from deep cracks.
Goku threw a punch. Jinwoo dodged, countered with a shadow claw to the ribs. Goku blocked, kicked high. Jinwoo leaned under it, swept low. Goku jumped, flipped, landed with a hammer fist that cracked the street in half.
Jinwoo summoned more power. "Kamish's Wrath!"
A dragon skull formed above him—massive, roaring. Black flames poured from its mouth toward Goku.
Goku crossed his arms. "Ka... me... ha... me... HA!"
The blue beam met the black fire. They pushed against each other. The collision lit the whole country like daylight. Shockwaves rolled outward, flattening forests far beyond the city.
When the light faded, both stood in a smoking crater.
Goku panted lightly. Blood trickled from his mouth, but his eyes burned bright. "You're really something, Jinwoo. That army... that power... I like it!"
Jinwoo wiped blood from his lip. His shadows reformed around him—Beru, Igris, Bellion, all healed and ready again. "You're holding back too. Why?"
Goku laughed. "Because if I go all out right now... this whole planet might break. And I promised someone I'd be careful."
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed. "Then stop holding back. I won't."
Goku's aura shifted. The gold darkened at the edges. His hair grew longer, wilder. Eyes turned teal.
Super Saiyan God.
Red energy replaced the gold. The air grew hot. The ground trembled just from him standing there.
Jinwoo felt it—the raw, divine power. His shadows hissed in fear for the first time.
"Now," Goku said softly, "let's see what happens when we both stop playing."
Jinwoo smiled—small, dangerous. "Come."
They rushed each other again.
This time, the world truly shook.
Fists collided with enough force to make earthquakes ripple across continents. Energy blasts tore holes in the sky. Shadow dragons clashed with red ki waves. Cities in the distance trembled even though they were empty.
High above, Zeno watched from his little ball form, floating unseen.
"Interesting," he whispered. "Very interesting."
Down below, two kings—one of Saiyans, one of shadows—fought with everything they had.
Neither backed down.
Neither asked for mercy.
And the night stretched on, filled with fire, shadow, and the promise of more destruction to come.
The battle was far from over.
It had only just become real.