Turles frowned as he looked at Gohan, who stood there in his suit and glasses, looking every bit the refined scholar.
"Gohan, your body has gone dull. How long has it been since you last trained?"
Gohan looked awkward. Back in the day, he had been the strongest unfused warrior in the universe. But training? It had been years since he had taken it seriously.
Seeing Gohan's reaction, Turles understood exactly what had happened. He let out a long sigh.
"I honestly don't know what to say to you. You've all been protected far too well by Kakarot and Vegeta. If Earth lost them and another enemy appeared, could any of you handle it? You'd probably be wiped out in a single wave."
Turles pointed toward Android 17, who was currently clashing with Future Bulma.
"Forget about the big threats—can you even handle this 17? If Kakarot wasn't here, how would you deal with this? Just wait for death? Gohan, your potential is beyond your imagination. Does it really take losing everything before you're willing to fight? Do you have to wait until things are irreparable before you risk your life? Did the incident with Majin Buu teach you nothing?"
Gohan fell silent. The years of peace on Earth had indeed eroded his warrior spirit. He had kept up with his training for the first few years, but as the peace stretched on, he had abandoned it entirely. Now, his strength had regressed so much he couldn't even tap into his Ultimate Form.
Suddenly, a small figure wearing a blue gi appeared on the scene. It was the young Kid Goku. He scratched his head as he watched Future Bulma overwhelming Android 17.
"What in the world...? Is Bulma a Saiyan too? And since when was she this strong?"
Just then, a Ki Blast shot out from an unexpected direction, targeting Bulma. She reacted instantly, kicking 17 away before swatting the blast aside with the back of her hand.
She looked toward the source and saw another Android 17 standing there. Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What's going on? Why is there another 17?"
The two Android 17s stepped toward each other, speaking in eerie unison.
"You are me, and I am you. We shall become one."
"You are me, and I am you. We shall become one."
The two figures began to circle each other, spinning faster and faster until they generated a massive atmospheric cyclone.
BOOM!
As the two silhouettes merged, a tall man with long black hair and a wicked smirk appeared. This was the fusion of the two 17s: Super 17.
"Hehehe... what incredible power. Son Goku, and you, woman—witness the Ultimate Android. I am Super 17!"
Super 17 laughed arrogantly, looking down at everyone as if they were insects.
Vegeta, who had just arrived, couldn't stand the sight of the Android's posturing. He lunged forward without a second thought. "Hmph! 'Super 17'? I'll be the one to dismantle you!"
Vegeta flared his Ki, transforming into a Super Saiyan 2 as he rocketed toward the enemy.
"Wait, Vegeta!" Goku tried to stop him, but the Prince of all Failures had already made his move.
Vegeta buried a fist into Super 17's face.
"What?!"
Vegeta's eyes widened in shock. He had taken the hit directly, yet Super 17's head hadn't even budged. He remained completely unscathed.
"Impossible!!"
"Atatatatata!"
Vegeta pulled back his hand and unleashed a flurry of blows. Super 17 blocked and parried every single one with effortless grace.
"Heh. Is that all you've got, Vegeta?" Super 17 sneered. He had simply been testing his new power and durability. As he expected, Vegeta was no longer on his level.
CRACK!
Super 17 threw a single punch. Vegeta felt as if his world had been turned upside down. The blow landed in his gut, making him feel like his internal organs had been forcibly rearranged.
BOOM!
Super 17 followed up with a kick that sent Vegeta tumbling into the distance. He had no further interest in the Prince; his focus was entirely on Son Goku and the woman who had thrashed his other half.
Goku rushed over and pulled Vegeta from the rubble. "Vegeta! Are you okay?"
"Cough... Kakarot... you have to take that bastard down. If it's you... I know you can do it..."
Vegeta managed to wheeze out those last words before his injuries forced him into unconsciousness.
Goku handed Vegeta over to Trunks and turned toward Super 17. His eyes were cold, and a terrifying pressure began to radiate from his small body.
Spark! Crackle!
"HA—!!!"
Rumble!
As Goku let out a furious roar toward the heavens, the ground beneath him shattered into a web of deep cracks. A pillar of golden light pierced the sky, and terrifying energy erupted like an active volcano. A wave of searing heat washed over the battlefield.
The young boy's body began to undergo a radical transformation. His stature grew, his Ki skyrocketed, and a coat of red fur began to cover his body, leaving his massive pectoral and abdominal muscles exposed. His long, black hair draped over his shoulders in a wild mane. His pupils turned a piercing gold, and a crimson tail lashed out behind him.
This was Son Goku's Super Saiyan 4 form!
Swish!
Without a word of dialogue, SSJ4 Goku blurred. He appeared in front of Super 17 instantly and threw a punch.
BOOM!
Super 17 was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through several skyscrapers before becoming embedded in a reinforced wall.
Goku was so fast that the shockwave from his movement carved a deep trench into the earth. Like a red flash of lightning, Goku appeared before Super 17 again. He hammered a fist into the Android's stomach, followed by a kick that sent him spiraling into the sky. What followed was a brutal, high-speed pummeling.
From the perspective of the spectators below, all they could see was a black blur being knocked back and forth across the sky, accompanied by a non-stop sequence of thunderous impacts and shockwaves.
Future Bulma landed beside Turles, her eyes wide with shock. "Is that another Super Saiyan transformation? Turles, can you do that too?"
Turles remained silent for a moment before nodding.
Bulma frowned. "Then why didn't you teach it to me?"
Turles grew awkward. He gestured vaguely toward Goku—specifically his thick red fur and bare, muscular chest.
Future Bulma fell silent. The transformation was undeniably cool and powerful, but if she were to look like that... yeah, no.
Still, she felt a pang of envy. The power of that form clearly dwarfed Super Saiyan 3.
Seeing her frustration, Turles offered a bit of comfort. "Don't worry. The Saiyan race doesn't have just one path of evolution..."