"Understood, Mr. Goku." Dende gave a firm nod.
"Come forth, Shenron — grant our wish." Goku called out to the seven Dragon Balls.
Crack!
In an instant, the seven Dragon Balls erupted with blinding golden light. The radiance surged together like a current, converging into a single pillar of gold that shot into the sky.
The pillar rose and transformed — a great azure dragon coiled through the heavens, its scales shimmering, its body so vast it blotted out the sun and plunged the world into sudden night.
The dragon stretched its serpentine length across the darkened sky, each azure scale catching the light and scattering it like aurora across the heavens.
As the great head slowly descended, the moonlight shattered between its horns like stardust, and its eyes — deep and still as jade pools — shone with an ancient, unfathomable light.
"You who have gathered the Dragon Balls — speak your wish. I will grant any one wish within my power."
Shenron's voice rang out through the night sky with solemn authority.
"Shenron — can you revive everyone who was killed by the Androids?" Goku made his wish.
"I can. However... those who have already reincarnated after too much time has passed cannot be brought back." Shenron answered.
"And people who died of natural causes — they can't be revived either?" Goku asked again.
"Correct. There is nothing to be done about that." Shenron gave a slow nod.
"Alright then... revive everyone killed by the Androids — except for the evildoers." Goku stated his wish.
"Very well." Shenron agreed.
Flash!
The next instant, Shenron's eyes blazed with crimson light.
An invisible divine force reached out across the Earth.
In that moment, the entire planet underwent a profound change.
All those who had died — provided their souls still remained — were successfully revived through Shenron's power.
Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, Korin, Mr. Popo, Yajirobe, Chi-Chi, Master Roshi, Oolong, Puar, Ox-King...
However — Goku and Gohan were not revived.
Goku's death had been from natural causes.
And Gohan's soul had crossed to the past, fusing with the Gohan of that era.
"Your wish has been granted. Farewell." Shenron spoke, and transformed into a beam of golden light.
The light shot upward into the sky, then split into seven streams that scattered to every corner of the world.
The sky returned to brightness.
Whoosh!
Two figures suddenly appeared on the Lookout.
It was the deceased Guardian and Mr. Popo.
"Goku!" The Guardian spotted Goku the moment he arrived, his face lighting up with stunned delight.
"Goku!" Mr. Popo was beside himself with excitement as well.
"Hm? Guardian — you came back too..." Goku scratched the back of his head, then glanced over at Dende, feeling a little sheepish.
I just brought the new Guardian here, and now the old one's back.
What do I do now?
Do I send Dende back to Namek?
"Goku — it's really you? How are you alive? You weren't revived, were you?" The Guardian stepped forward eagerly, looking Goku up and down.
"Ah... well, the thing is..." Goku had no idea where to begin.
"Can't people who died naturally not be revived?" The Guardian asked, puzzled.
"I'm the Goku from the past — I don't belong to this timeline." Goku told the truth, scratching his head with a smile. "Trunks used a Time Machine to come back to the past and brought me, Gohan, and Vegeta here."
"Ah, that explains it." The Guardian understood at once and turned his gaze toward Dende, stepping forward with a polite bow. "Thank you for coming. Are you a Namekian? What's your name?"
"Hello — I'm Dende." Dende quickly returned the bow.
"Dende... I've heard of you. Back on Namek, you helped Gohan and Krillin greatly." The Guardian smiled warmly.
"Not at all — it was Gohan who saved me. If not for him, Frieza's men would have killed me on the spot." Dende replied with gratitude.
"So it seems... with the exception of Goku, everyone else has been revived." The Guardian looked down from the Lookout and soon made out familiar faces reappearing across the world below.
Goku scratched his head, a little awkward.
"Hold on — where's Gohan?" The Guardian suddenly felt something was off. He couldn't find Gohan among any of the familiar faces. "Where is he?"
"Mr. Goku — since the Guardian has returned, perhaps I should go back to Namek after all." Dende suggested.
Goku blinked.
"Dende — stay and become Earth's new Guardian." The Guardian spoke with a smile, addressing Goku, Dende, and Mr. Popo together. "To be honest, my entire existence has always been tied to the Dragon Balls... but the Androids' rampage made one thing very clear to me — without real power, nothing is ever enough. So I've made my decision. I want to merge with Piccolo and become a true Namekian warrior."
South City. A small island.
Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and the others all blinked open their eyes and looked around in bewilderment.
Weren't we killed by the Androids?
We're... alive again?
"Piccolo — was it you who brought us back?" Krillin scratched his head and looked over at him.
"No — I was killed by the Androids too. It's not like we haven't seen each other in Other World." Piccolo gave Krillin a flat look.
"I know that — but how are we back?" Krillin asked, genuinely curious.
"Something must have happened while we were gone." Piccolo guessed. "Something we don't know about."
"What about the Androids? Are they still out there?" Tien asked offhand.
"Probably still around. Maybe we were revived so we could all team up and beat them." Yamcha clenched his fists.
"Speaking of which, Vegeta... we never saw you in Other World. Does that mean they sent you to Hell?" Krillin asked with a laugh.
Vegeta's expression darkened instantly. He shot Krillin a withering glare.
Just then —
The group suddenly looked up as one, scanning a distant part of the sky.
A cluster of powerful ki signatures had abruptly appeared in that direction.
"Whose ki is that strong?" Krillin called out in surprise.
Snap!
Future Vegeta did not hesitate for a single moment. He launched straight into the air, blazing with energy, and flew at full speed toward where Gohan and the others were.
Piccolo paused briefly, then shot after him.
Krillin and the others exchanged glances and followed.
As Piccolo flew, a voice suddenly resonated inside his mind.
"It's me, Piccolo."
The voice was aged, a little rough around the edges.
Piccolo identified it immediately.
"Old Guardian — is that you?" Piccolo gave a grunt.
"Come to the Lookout. I've decided to merge with you — using your body as the foundation, I'll give you my strength and wisdom." The Guardian's voice was grave and deliberate.
"You... you're serious?" Piccolo blinked, caught completely off guard.
"A god does not lie." The Guardian answered with a quiet smile.
"What's going on in the direction I'm flying? Can you see from up there?" Piccolo thought for a moment and asked.
"It's Vegeta and Gohan from the past." The Guardian replied. "They're not enemies... and there's someone else — who is that? Could that be... the Grand Kai?"
"Guardian — it's not the Grand Kai. It should be Supreme Kai." Goku, who had also looked in that direction, answered with a smile.
"What — you said Supreme Kai? Supreme Kai is on Earth?!" The Guardian was so startled he nearly leapt off the ground, cold sweat sliding down his face.
"Who was that just now? Whose voice was that?" Piccolo blinked, catching a familiar voice.
"It's the Goku who came from the past to this era — hurry and come." The Guardian said warmly. "It's because of the past Goku that all of us were able to come back."
Piccolo's eyes sharpened. Without another word, he changed course and turned sharply upward, flying straight toward the Lookout.
Everyone watching Piccolo's sudden manoeuvre was thoroughly baffled.
"Hey, Piccolo — you're going the wrong way!" Krillin shouted after him.
Piccolo: "..."
"The Goku who came from the past is at the Lookout — he's the reason we're all alive." Piccolo tossed out the short explanation, then picked up his speed and headed for the Lookout.
"Goku?" Krillin's face broke into instant excitement.
"A Goku from the past? What does that mean?" Yamcha was a little lost.
"Gohan mentioned it to me once — that Bulma had been trying for years to build a Time Machine. The plan was to go back to before the Androids were ever activated and give Goku the heart medicine, so history could be changed and create a world where Goku was still alive." Krillin gave a quick summary.
Everyone present understood at once.
Word that Goku was at the Lookout spread, and Krillin and the others immediately changed course and flew for it.
Because Future Vegeta had been flying so fast, he had no idea any of this was happening. Partway through his flight, he sensed something off and glanced back.
Where did Piccolo and the others go?
Already left me in the dust?
No — they turned and went in a completely different direction.
Where are they headed?
Forget them.
Vegeta pushed harder, his energy blazing.
Shortly after, Vegeta hovered high in the sky and looked down.
When he spotted a figure below who looked exactly like him, Future Vegeta was instantly floored — his expression locked in pure disbelief.
Who is that person who looks exactly like me?
And that young man — there's something about him that reminds me of myself.
And that small child — who is that? He kind of looks like a young Gohan.
Who are the other two?
Snap!
Future Vegeta let his blazing aura fade and dropped down, landing beside Vegeta.
Supreme Kai was still staring vacantly at the sky above.
The sky went completely dark just now, and then it came back just as quickly.
Does this planet just... do that?
Then Supreme Kai noticed another Vegeta had appeared on the scene — and his expression went rigid again.
"Supreme Kai — why is there another Vegeta?" Kibito was flabbergasted.
"Hmph — don't make such a fuss. The me of this timeline was revived by the Dragon Balls." Vegeta snorted, giving Kibito a dismissive look.
"Revived? Something like that is possible?" Kibito's mouth twitched.
"Dragon Balls? What are those?" Supreme Kai was lost.
"What... what is going on? And who are you?" Future Vegeta squared his jaw and stared at his other self with open hostility.
"Dad!" Trunks, on the other hand, was both startled and overjoyed.
After all, Future Vegeta was Trunks' real father.
"Hmph — get away from me. Who are you calling 'Dad'?" Future Vegeta gave a cold snort and shot Trunks a look of flat contempt.
Trunks: "..."
Funny — I suddenly feel like the past version of Dad is actually easier to get along with than my own father.
Also — didn't Dad die going out together with Buu? How is he alive?
"Hmph. What an idiot — and a completely unnecessary death at that." Vegeta rolled his eyes at his future self.
"What did you just say?! Say that again — I dare you!" Future Vegeta went red with rage, veins bulging at his temples.
Gohan: "..."
Are the two Uncle Vegetas actually going to fight each other?
"Supreme Kai — perhaps we should head back?" Kibito leaned in and murmured to him.
"You're right." Supreme Kai nodded. "But let's say goodbye to Gohan first — he was the one who defeated Majin Buu after all."
"Of course." Kibito smiled.
The two stepped forward to take their leave of Gohan.
"Of course, Supreme Kai, Mr. Kibito." Gohan responded with polite composure.
Without further ceremony, Supreme Kai and Kibito used Instant Transmission and returned to the Sacred World of the Kais.
Back in the Divine Realm, both of them let out a long, deep sigh of relief.
The weight that had been pressing on their chests could finally be lifted.
Majin Buu had died in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Frankly — it was better than they could ever have hoped.
They had spent so long bracing for the day that creature would detonate like a time bomb. And instead, the whole thing had been settled by Gohan in a matter of moves.
"So you're the me from the past?" Future Vegeta had calmed down after listening to Trunks' account, and fixed his gaze on his other self. "You're really from my era."
"That's right." Vegeta nodded.
"In other words, you're the version of me from around the time Frieza and Cooler came to Earth." Future Vegeta's mouth curved upward, his expression growing sharper with amusement.
"What are you getting at?" Vegeta gave a cold snort.
"Were you the one who killed those two Androids?" Future Vegeta asked.
"It was your son Trunks who killed the Androids." Vegeta pointed at Trunks.
Future Vegeta looked at Trunks for a long moment, something quietly bitter stirring inside him.
My son suddenly grown up like this... it's a lot to take in.
I remember when he was born — and then the Androids killed me.
"Trunks — don't tell me you can already transform into a Super Saiyan?" Future Vegeta had a bad feeling about where this was going.
"Yes... Dad." Trunks nodded quietly.
Future Vegeta: "..."
"Wait — so the me of this timeline... don't tell me you haven't even figured out Super Saiyan yet?" Vegeta looked slightly taken aback — a small but genuine surprise.
Future Vegeta felt the sting of it the moment the words landed.
It was true. The Vegeta of this era had not yet achieved Super Saiyan — and had been killed by the Androids before he ever got there.
Vegeta's expression took on the particular look of someone who cannot believe the version of themselves they are looking at.
How can the me of this world be this far behind?
"You... what exactly are you implying? Are you saying... you've already achieved Super Saiyan?" Future Vegeta's pupils contracted. He stared hard at his past self.
"Hmph — Super Saiyan?" Vegeta smiled with quiet indifference. "Super Saiyan 2 — have you heard of that?"
"Super Saiyan... 2?" Future Vegeta stared, thrown completely off balance.
Super Saiyan 2?
What on earth are you talking about?
"Trunks — show him what it looks like. And don't tell me you've already forgotten how to do it." Vegeta said to Trunks.
"Yes, Dad!" Trunks responded immediately.
He drew in a long breath, and his eyes turned sharp.
Crackle... crackle...
Arcs of lightning coiled around Trunks' body, snapping and popping.
His hair stood on end, golden light surged across his body, and powerful energy rolled outward in every direction.
Super Saiyan 2 — achieved.
The moment Future Vegeta felt the power erupting from Trunks, he began to tremble. His face went as white as a blank page.
That energy is incredible.
It reminds me of what I felt standing in front of Frieza on Namek.
Yes — that exact same sense of a gap so vast it defies belief.
Is this what the past version of me calls Super Saiyan 2?
"I understand now, Dad." Trunks turned and looked at his past father with deep gratitude.
Vegeta blinked, not sure what Trunks was about to say.
"You could have beaten Majin Buu all along, couldn't you? The fake self-destruction — it was a trick to ignite my fury and push me into Super Saiyan 2." Trunks had worked it out completely, and his voice was full of moved admiration.
Vegeta's mouth curved upward. He smiled.
"I knew it — thank you, Dad!" Trunks was overwhelmed with gratitude.
I didn't expect past-Dad to go this far for me.
He used that kind of method just to get me to transform into Super Saiyan 2.
"You... you... what kind of transformation is THAT?!" Future Vegeta was completely thunderstruck, jabbing a finger at Trunks, his expression cycling through shock after shock.
"Dad — this is Super Saiyan 2." Trunks answered.
"Super... Super Saiyan 2..." Future Vegeta murmured to himself, genuinely shaken to his core.
So even a regular Super Saiyan doesn't cut it anymore?
It looks like the past version of me can achieve this form too.
Don't make me laugh.
If the past me can do it, why can't I?
No — I need to get stronger.
"What about Kakarot? Was he revived too?" Future Vegeta asked abruptly.
The Lookout.
Piccolo and the others flew up and landed on the Lookout, and the first thing they saw was Goku.
Krillin was first — he flew straight at Goku and threw his arms around him in a tight embrace.
"Goku — I've missed you so much." Krillin was in tears before he could stop himself.
"Krillin." Goku laughed and ruffled Krillin's bald head, then waved over at Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu.
The three of them rushed forward with equal excitement to greet him.
A brief, warm conversation followed.
"So — the Goku of this timeline wasn't revived?" Krillin asked.
"No. Shenron said that since Goku of this world died from his heart condition, he can't be revived — natural deaths are still beyond the Dragon's power." Goku replied, scratching his head with a look of genuine frustration.
"That's such a shame..." Krillin said, then his eye caught Dende standing to the side, and he paused. "Wait a second—"
"Krillin — long time no see." Dende said with a warm smile.
"Is... is that Dende?!" Krillin's face broke open with shock and joy.
Dende gave an enthusiastic nod.
The two immediately pulled each other into a long hug.
"I can't believe it, Dende — you've gotten so tall..." Krillin craned his neck upward to look at him.
"Well... ha ha." Dende laughed, a little embarrassed.
"Dende — was it you who restored the Dragon Balls and brought us all back?" Krillin asked.
"Mr. Goku went to Namek to find me and brought me here." Dende answered honestly.
"Goku... you saved me again." Krillin turned to Goku with heartfelt gratitude.
Goku laughed and gave Krillin a clap on the shoulder.
"What about Gohan? Why isn't Gohan here?" Piccolo suddenly asked.
"Gohan didn't die in the same place as the rest of us — he probably came back somewhere else." Krillin guessed.
"I've already scanned for his ki. He's not here." Piccolo's voice was flat and heavy.
Goku: "..."
How am I supposed to explain this?
"Piccolo." The Guardian's voice suddenly cut in, calling out to him.
Piccolo turned and looked at the Guardian, his expression shifting slightly.
"Let's merge." The Guardian said, smiling.
"Alright." Piccolo agreed without hesitation, clean and direct.
"Place your hand on my chest." The Guardian gestured.
Piccolo stepped forward as instructed, stood across from him, and held out his hand.
"Guardian..." Mr. Popo lowered his head, clearly reluctant to let go.
"Popo — from today onward, Dende is Earth's new Guardian." The Guardian said, not looking back.
Then, without another moment's hesitation, brilliant light blazed from the Guardian's body.
Flash!
In an instant, the Guardian dissolved into a point of radiance and flowed through Piccolo's hand into his body.
The merge was complete.
Looking at Piccolo now, a sheen of brilliant golden light shimmered across his body, luminous in the sunlight.
Piccolo took a moment to gauge his own power — and felt a surge of stunned elation.
"Piccolo, you're incredible!" Krillin stared in disbelief.
"I'd say Piccolo's ki right now is about as strong as Goku's was when he beat Frieza!" Yamcha exclaimed, shaking his head in wonder.
"No — you said that wrong. His ki has already surpassed Goku's when he was a regular Super Saiyan." Tien gave a quiet correction.
Piccolo was quietly taking stock of his new power, the feeling of it building something electric inside him.
At this level, I could take on those two Androids without breaking a sweat.
The sudden eruption of such powerful ki on the Lookout caught Future Vegeta's attention immediately.
He lifted his gaze skyward, his face etched with astonishment.
Another massive ki signature appeared out of nowhere.
Whose is that?
Why is it this strong?
"Who is that?" Trunks was caught off guard too.
"The revived Piccolo and the Guardian finally merged into one?" Vegeta's mouth curved upward with a quiet smile.
To be continued…
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