"Master Roshi should still know how to use the Mafuba," Goku said. "Once I learn it, I can seal Zamasu away."
"Sealing him sounds promising." Trunks glanced across the empty Sacred World of the Kai. "Do we need to return to your timeline?"
"We should. I'm guessing the Master Roshi from this timeline is already dead."
Trunks confirmed it with a grim nod.
The thought of Zamasu and Goku Black murdering even Master Roshi tightened Goku's fists.
"They really killed everyone…"
Back on Earth in Future Trunks's timeline, Goku Black and Zamasu hovered over the ruined cities, searching for any trace of their enemies.
"Can you sense them?" Zamasu asked.
"Nothing." Goku Black extended his awareness farther, but the result remained the same. "They can suppress their energy completely."
"Then they may have returned to Ken's timeline."
"And next time, they may bring Ken with them."
Zamasu welcomed the possibility with a cruel smile.
"Even better. We can eliminate him along with the others and save ourselves the trouble of hunting him down later."
Goku Black nodded, though Ken's name still left an uncomfortable weight in his chest.
In the main timeline, Goku used the Time Ring to bring Vegeta, Future Trunks, and Mai back to Capsule Corporation on Universe 6's Earth.
Young Trunks had been playing with Goten and Zarek when they appeared. The sight of the battered group sent him running inside.
"Mom! Goku's back!"
Emily and Bulma hurried into the courtyard. Their tension eased once they saw that everyone had returned alive.
Bardock approached his son first.
"Did you eliminate Zamasu?"
"No." Goku explained the two Zamasus, the body swap, Goku Black's rapidly growing power, and the immortal partner who healed him after every injury.
Bardock's attention settled on the immortality wish.
"Destruction energy should still work. It can damage the soul itself and prevent an immortal body from reforming."
His eyes shifted toward Vegeta, silently asking why he had not already tried it.
Vegeta had no intention of admitting that he had never gotten the chance. He had been too busy losing to Goku Black, while Kakarot had handled the immortal Zamasu.
"I'm thinking of sealing him instead," Goku said. Only then did he notice that Ken was still absent. "Ken hasn't returned?"
"Not yet," Bardock replied.
"Then I'll go learn the Mafuba."
"You don't need it," Bardock insisted. "Use destruction energy properly, and immortality won't save him. Damage his soul badly enough, and there'll be nothing left to regenerate."
"The problem is that I'm fighting Zamasu while Vegeta handles Goku Black." Goku laughed awkwardly. "I'll leave destruction energy to Vegeta. He can manage."
Vegeta said nothing, but the vein rising at his temple gave away exactly how much he appreciated being volunteered.
"You can handle Goku Black, right?" Goku asked.
Vegeta rose from his seat, every muscle in his body tightening with renewed fury.
"Of course I can. Next time, I'll beat that impostor until he can't stand."
He launched into the sky before anyone could question him further.
The humiliation of losing to a thief wearing Kakarot's face burned hotter with every passing second.
Super Saiyan Rosé meant nothing.
He would crush Goku Black himself.
Vegeta became a streak of light and raced toward the Lookout.
He landed hard enough to crack the tiles, then marched straight toward the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Piccolo watched him pass with mild curiosity.
"What happened?"
"I'm training."
Vegeta disappeared through the chamber doors without offering another word.
Piccolo followed him with his eyes. The Saiyan had the look of someone who had suffered a particularly painful defeat and intended to punish the universe for witnessing it.
Dende approached from the temple.
"Piccolo."
"Do you know what happened down on Earth?"
"Not all of it. Future Trunks returned badly injured, then came back again with a girlfriend."
Piccolo's brow rose.
"Everyone is at Bulma's house, and Goku is there too. Something must have gone wrong in Trunks's timeline."
"I'll go find out."
Piccolo lifted from the Lookout and flew toward Capsule Corporation.
Late that night, Goku used Kai Kai to enter Krillin's bedroom.
A strange scent hung in the room, mixed with something faintly mechanical.
Goku leaned closer, trying to understand what he was seeing.
"Hey, Krillin. Are you eating something?"
Krillin and Android 21 sprang apart in horror.
Neither had expected Goku to appear in the middle of the night, and the fact that he greeted them as though nothing unusual were happening only made it worse.
Krillin hurriedly pulled the blanket over Android 21.
"Goku! What is wrong with you?"
"Whatever you're eating smells strange." Goku scratched his cheek. "Never mind. I'm looking for Master Roshi, so I'll leave you to it."
He vanished before either of them could answer.
Krillin and Android 21 remained beneath the blanket, too stunned to speak.
Goku reappeared in Master Roshi's room.
The old martial artist was absorbed in a particularly revealing video and failed to notice his visitor until Goku leaned over his shoulder.
"Master Roshi, wouldn't it be easier to watch Krillin in person?"
Master Roshi nearly launched through the ceiling.
He twisted around, clutching his chest.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"A while. You looked busy, so I didn't want to interrupt."
Master Roshi shut off the screen and glared at him.
"What do you want?"
"I need you to teach me the Mafuba."
The request wiped the embarrassment from Master Roshi's face.
"The Mafuba? Why?"
Goku explained what had happened in Future Trunks's timeline, including the immortal Zamasu and Goku Black's stolen Saiyan body.
Master Roshi listened without interruption.
"I see. Against an immortal enemy, sealing him may be your safest choice. I can teach you."
Then his curiosity returned.
"What did you mean when you said I should watch Krillin?"
"He and Android 21 were doing something that looked a lot like your video."
Master Roshi absorbed that answer with surprising calm.
"I've seen them before. Krillin puts on a decent performance."
Goku stared at him.
"Krillin doesn't have a nose, so I suppose the smell of machine oil doesn't bother him. I couldn't tolerate it myself."
"Machine oil?" Goku's confusion deepened. "Isn't Android 21 a modified human?"
"She is, but some of her original biology was replaced. Apparently, Dr. Gero used machine oil in places where no sensible engineer ever would."
"Maybe because Dr. Gero turned himself into an android too?"
Master Roshi's eyes lit up as if Goku had solved one of life's great mysteries. He gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"You may be onto something."
Then he sighed.
"You really chose the middle of the night to drag me into teaching you an ancient sealing technique."
"You weren't asleep."
"My body wasn't. My spirit was resting." Master Roshi gave him a knowing look. "You're still young. Spend more time around Ken and you'll understand."
"I'm not sure I understand any of that, but I think I got the general idea."
Master Roshi rose and straightened his clothes.
"I can demonstrate the principle, but I can't use the full technique. A serious attempt would drain so much life from me that I'd probably die."
"That's fine. Just show me how it works."
They went outside, where Master Roshi began teaching him the Mafuba.
Goku practiced with a small jar, trying to guide the spiraling current into its opening. His first attempt struck the rim and knocked the container onto its side, carving a shallow crater into the ground.
"Missed again."
"You'll never seal anyone if you can't guide the current into the container," Master Roshi said, watching with his hands behind his back.
"This is harder than it looks."
"That's because you solve everything by hitting it harder. Didn't you spend years training under Universe 6's Supreme Kai? What happened to all that control?"
"This is completely different."
Goku set the jar upright and considered another solution.
"Why don't you come with me and seal Zamasu yourself?"
"Because using the Mafuba on someone that powerful would probably kill me before I completed it. I might die without even sealing him."
"So it really is that dangerous."
Goku adjusted the jar again.
"Once he's inside, I only need to close the lid, cover it with paper, and tie it down, right?"
"You also need a sealing talisman. I'll draw one for you."
Master Roshi headed back toward the house, then stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"Goku, you spend too much time training. Take me somewhere with better nightlife."
Goku could only stare.
"I want to experience a little international culture," Master Roshi added with a shameless grin.
Rather than answer, Goku returned to practicing the Mafuba.
By sunrise, he could direct the spiraling current into the container without missing.
Master Roshi had long since fallen asleep inside.
"Yes!" Goku raised one fist in celebration. "I finally got it!"
Krillin emerged from the house with bloodshot eyes and fixed him with a murderous glare.
"Morning, Krillin." Goku waved cheerfully. "What were you eating last night?"
Krillin's face twisted as though he had just been struck.
"I've got something important to do, so I'm leaving."
Then Goku vanished, leaving Krillin alone in the sea breeze with no chance to defend himself.
At the Lookout, the doors to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber opened.
Vegeta stepped out through a cloud of steam. His armor hung in pieces, but his posture had changed completely. The confidence in his eyes was sharper than when he entered.
Dende stared at the wrecked armor, while Mr. Popo's round eyes widened.
"Just wait, Goku Black." Vegeta bared his teeth in anticipation. "I'm coming back for you."
He launched from the Lookout and raced toward Capsule Corporation.
When Vegeta reached the courtyard, Goku was no longer alone with Future Trunks and Mai. Piccolo, Gohan, and Kale had joined them.
"You're coming too?" Goku asked.
"After hearing what happened, there was no way I could stay behind," Piccolo replied.
"Kale and I want to help too," Gohan said. "It'll be good training for us."
Future Trunks looked toward him with open relief.
"I'm glad you're coming, Gohan-nii."
"Then we'll all go." Goku glanced around. "We were only waiting for Vegeta."
Piccolo looked toward the sky.
"He's here."
Vegeta descended into the courtyard and landed beside them.
Goku gestured toward the enlarged group.
"We're ready to leave."
"So we're taking an entire crowd now." Vegeta looked over Piccolo, Gohan, and Kale. "Fine. But Goku Black is mine. No one interferes."
The warning was aimed mainly at Kale. If the Legendary Super Saiyan joined the fight, Vegeta might not get the rematch he wanted.
"That's fine," Gohan agreed.
Kale nodded beside him.
"We're mostly going to see what's happening," Piccolo said with a faint smile.
Goku looked around for Ken once more.
"He still hasn't returned?"
"No," Bardock answered.
"Then we won't wait. We'll go ahead."
Bardock remained behind, watching as Goku gathered everyone for the journey back to Future Trunks's timeline.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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