"Is... is that Monaito?" Vegeta blinked, a look of surprise crossing his face.
"Mr. Vegeta, the chant to summon the dragon is: Takaraputo, Teteronbo, Pupirito Paro. You must recite the chant for the dragon to appear," Monaito's voice echoed again, explaining patiently.
"I understand," Vegeta said, offering his thanks.
"Thank you for giving the only Senzu bean to Granolah. You are a kind person. Good luck, and I hope you successfully return to your own time and to your family," Monaito remarked, his voice filled with sincere blessings.
"You already knew I was from another time?" Vegeta asked, a bit surprised that Monaito had figured it out.
"I could tell," Monaito answered calmly.
"Once I've increased my strength, I'll be back..." Vegeta mused, then corrected himself. "No, to be more accurate, in my time, we will meet again. When that happens, I will appear with even greater power."
"I hope that in your timeline, you can tell Granolah the truth as soon as possible. Don't let him be blinded by hatred any longer; help him move past his pain," Monaito said solemnly, a hint of hope in his voice.
"I will. I'll definitely tell him the truth," Vegeta nodded slightly, his tone firm.
"Goodbye, and keep it up, Mr. Vegeta. I wish you a safe journey." After Monaito finished speaking, his voice vanished completely from Vegeta's mind.
Vegeta's expression immediately grew serious. He took a deep breath, gripped the two Dragon Balls in his hands, and recited the chant: "Takaraputo, Teteronbo, Pupirito Paro."
Flash!
The two Dragon Balls suddenly erupted with a pale blue light. The glow grew brighter and brighter, lighting up the surrounding sky as a powerful aura radiated from the orbs.
The sky suddenly turned black, as if covered by a massive dark cloth. The wind howled, the clouds shifted, and lightning crackled through the air.
The light soared into the sky and gathered together, transforming into a strange-looking dragon. It was massive, with a blue body, long antennae on its head, and eyes that sparkled like blue sapphires.
"You who have gathered the Dragon Balls, speak your wish. As long as it is within my power, I will do my best to grant any one wish," the dragon said, looking down at Vegeta. Its voice boomed like a great bell, making the very air tremble.
"I want to return to my own timeline, back to my original world. Do you have a way?" Vegeta asked, looking up at the dragon with a gaze full of hope and tension.
"I apologize, but my power is limited. The power of time and space is too profound for me to send you back directly," the dragon said, shaking its head with a hint of apology.
Vegeta: "..."
Vegeta fell silent. Although he felt a bit let down, it was within his expectations.
I knew a dragon like this might not have that kind of power. After all, traveling through time and space is no easy feat.
Does this mean I can only go back using the Super Dragon Balls?
Or... maybe I can use the Supreme Kai's Time Ring.
But isn't that ring only for Supreme Kais?
For a moment, Vegeta didn't know what to say. He furrowed his brow, lost in thought.
"However, you're in luck. The time rift that opened earlier is still somewhat unstable, and the energy fluctuations haven't completely vanished. I can reopen it for you once more. But it will only stay open for 0.1 seconds—a very brief moment before it closes again. You must enter during that short window. If you're too late, you might be trapped in the rift, torn apart by the turbulence, and never find your way home! Are you sure you want to try?" the dragon added, giving a long explanation in a serious tone.
"Only 0.1 seconds?" Vegeta's brow furrowed slightly, but then a confident smirk appeared on his face. "0.1 seconds is enough. For me, that's plenty of time. Go ahead and open it."
"Very well. Are you ready? I'm opening it now," the dragon said. Its blue eyes flashed with a brilliant light as a massive amount of energy began to gather.
Snap!
A time rift suddenly appeared high in the sky, shimmering with multicolored light and radiating powerful temporal turbulence. It looked incredibly dangerous.
Vegeta: "..."
Don't just open it without warning!
I wasn't even ready yet! At least let me catch my breath!
But Vegeta didn't dare to delay for even a second. Knowing time was tight, he moved instantly, his body turning into a blur as he roared toward the rift and dove straight in, his movements clean and decisive.
Snap!
The time rift was only open for a brief 0.1 seconds before it vanished as if it had never existed, leaving the sky as if everything had been an illusion.
Vegeta had vanished along with the rift, his figure completely gone from this timeline.
"Your wish has been granted. Farewell," the dragon said to the spot where the rift had vanished. Then, it soared upward, its body turning into countless specks of light that reformed into the two Dragon Balls. They scattered to different corners of the planet and disappeared.
The sky turned bright again, and sunlight once more bathed the land. Everything returned to peace, as if nothing had happened.
Granolah and Gas, who were still fighting, both paused for a moment. They had felt the powerful aura when the dragon appeared and saw the change in the sky.
Someone summoned the dragon again?
Did another 'strongest in the universe' just appear?
But that didn't stop the two from continuing their battle. They were only distracted for a moment before immediately focusing back on each other, their fight growing even more intense.
"I get it now! That Vegeta was from another timeline?" Son Goku finally snapped back to reality. He slapped his forehead with a look of realization, looking toward the spot where Vegeta had vanished and muttering to himself.
"Hmph. It took you this long to figure it out?" Ultra Ego Vegeta chuckled, his voice tinged with mockery.
"I always thought he was your clone, just like how Granolah was at first," Son Goku said, scratching his head helplessly. He then asked curiously, "But speaking of which, where did that other Vegeta come from? I saw him turn into Super Saiyan Blue Evolved. Is he from after the Tournament of Power? He should have mastered that form by then."
"No, it was a bit earlier than that," Vegeta said, shaking his head with a flat tone.
"Was it after the Moro arc?" Son Goku asked again, his eyes full of curiosity.
"No," Vegeta replied, still not saying much.
"Then when could it be?" Son Goku was a bit lost.
The conversation came to an abrupt halt as Vegeta turned his face toward a distant nebula, deliberately changing the subject.
"That Granolah kid is doing pretty well," Vegeta said, his arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow raised. "That guy is evenly matched with him... in fact, he might even have a slight edge."
"Really?" Son Goku's eyes lit up, and a wide grin spread across his face, showing off his white teeth. "That's great! As expected of him!"
Son Goku didn't press the issue further. His clear eyes were full of admiration for Granolah, seemingly uninterested in whatever Vegeta had left unsaid.
...
Whoosh!
A sharp whistling sound cut through the void as Vegeta, enveloped in a bright aura, successfully passed through the twisted time rift.
The next second, Vegeta appeared high in the sky above the Sacred World of the Kai.
A cold wind brushed past his hair. Vegeta quickly turned his head, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
Soon, four familiar figures in the Sacred World of the Kai came into view—the Supreme Kai in his purple robes, the wrinkled Old Kai, Kibito standing to the side, and Broly sitting on a picnic mat, devouring food.
I'm back!
I, Vegeta, am finally back!
An indescribable wave of excitement surged through him. Vegeta even felt his eyes grow warm, with hot tears threatening to spill over.
Vegeta took a deep breath and plummeted from the sky like an arrow from a bow, landing steadily beside Old Kai.
"Vegeta, you're back?" Old Kai blinked in surprise, a joyful smile spreading across his face as his white eyebrows shot up. "I thought it would take you a lot longer to return."
"Hmph," Vegeta let out a cold snort. His face still wore its usual pride, and he didn't offer much of an explanation, instead asking directly: "How long have I been gone?"
"Not long," Old Kai said, counting on his fingers. "Only a few hours."
Hearing this, Vegeta fell silent.
In other words, the time here and the time in that future timeline were synchronized.
Indeed, only a few hours had passed over there as well.
"Where did you go?" the Supreme Kai asked curiously, stepping forward as his purple cloak swayed with his movements.
"Supreme Kai, send me back," Vegeta didn't answer the question, instead looking at the Supreme Kai with a tone of unquestionable determination.
"You're going back already?" The Supreme Kai clearly hadn't expected this and was momentarily stunned.
"By the way," Vegeta changed the subject, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes. "How did the fight between Kakarot and Merus go?"
"The two of them are finished," Kibito stepped forward and answered. "Merus was taken away by Whis, and Goku has already gone back."
"Who won?" Vegeta took a deep breath, his fists tightening slightly.
"It was a draw, I suppose?" the Supreme Kai said, scratching his head and answering with some uncertainty.
Vegeta: "..."
The expression on Vegeta's face instantly froze, and his heart sank a bit.
That Kakarot fellow... he really is strong!
To actually fight to a draw with an Angel-in-training like Merus.
It looks like I'll have to work even harder on my training!
"Vegeta, are you still going to participate in the match against Universe 6?" the Supreme Kai asked, seeing his serious expression.
"Of course," Vegeta nodded without hesitation, his eyes sparkling with an intense will to fight.
There were only five days left.
I must master Ultra Ego within this time!
When the time comes for the match against Universe 6, I'll give that Kakarot fellow a real surprise.
"Old Kai," Vegeta turned to the elder, his tone softening slightly. "Tell Whis that I'm in for the match."
"Alright," Old Kai nodded readily.
Not far away, Broly was sitting on the picnic mat with a large piece of roasted meat in his hand. He was focused entirely on eating and hadn't looked up at Vegeta once, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
Flash!
A pale green light erupted around the Supreme Kai as he used Instant Transmission, taking Vegeta and vanishing from the spot instantly.
The next second, the two appeared in the courtyard of the Capsule Corporation headquarters.
"Mr. Vegeta, do your best," the Supreme Kai said to Vegeta in a serious tone before leaving.
Vegeta nodded silently in response.
"Then I'll take my leave," the Supreme Kai waved his hand.
Flash!
Another flash of green light, and the Supreme Kai vanished, returning to the Sacred World of the Kai.
However, as soon as the Supreme Kai returned, he saw a man who looked almost exactly like Son Goku standing there, lost in thought and gazing into the distance with a deep look in his eyes.
Old Kai and Kibito were surrounding him, studying him from head to toe with looks of pure curiosity.
The Supreme Kai rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. He then stepped forward to get a closer look at the man who bore such a striking resemblance to Son Goku.
"And this is..." the Supreme Kai asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"You... you're the Supreme Kais, right?" The man raised an eyebrow, pulling his gaze back from the distance and looking at the two gods with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"That's right," the Supreme Kai nodded, his curiosity growing even more.
"You look so much like Goku..." Old Kai couldn't help but speak up, studying him from top to bottom. "What's your name?"
"Bardock," the man said his name calmly.
"Bardock?" the Supreme Kai mused over the name, then asked, "You're a Saiyan too, aren't you?"
Bardock gave a slight nod, his gaze still deep and distant.
After a pause, Bardock seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "Goku? Who is he?"
"He's a Saiyan who grew up on Earth," the Supreme Kai explained. "His Saiyan name is Kakarot."
"Kakarot?"
Bardock's eyes instantly lit up, and his face was suddenly filled with surprise and excitement. He took a sudden step forward and grabbed the Supreme Kai's arm, his voice trembling slightly. "Did you just say there's a Saiyan who grew up on Earth named Kakarot?"
"That's right," the Supreme Kai said, startled by the sudden movement. He asked curiously, "You know him? Could it be that you're a relative of his?"
"Does this mean... I'm back?" Bardock was beyond excited. His body trembled slightly from the sheer thrill, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on the Kai's arm.
"Ah... you're hurting me..." the Supreme Kai winced, unable to help but cry out in pain.
"Sorry, I got a bit carried away." Bardock snapped back to reality and quickly let go of the Supreme Kai's arm, a look of apology on his face, though the excitement in his eyes hadn't faded at all. He hurriedly asked, "What year is it now?"
"In Saiyan terms," the Supreme Kai said, rubbing his sore arm, "it is currently the 34th year after the destruction of Planet Vegeta!"
"The 34th year after Planet Vegeta's destruction!" Bardock muttered to himself, falling into thought. A moment later, he looked up and asked, "So that means Kakarot is 37 years old now?"
"How old is Goku again?" The Supreme Kai scratched his head and gave an embarrassed laugh. "Now that you mention it, I really don't know exactly how old Goku is."
"Is he on Earth right now?" Bardock asked, forcing down his excitement as he followed up quickly, his eyes full of expectation.
"Yes," the Supreme Kai nodded. He then looked up at Bardock with a face full of curiosity. "You still haven't said what your relationship is to him."
"I am his biological father," Bardock answered truthfully, taking a deep breath.
The Supreme Kai, Old Kai, and Kibito were all instantly stunned, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
This man... was actually Goku's biological father?
No wonder they looked so much alike!
"Wait a minute," the Supreme Kai said, furrowing his brow and scratching his head. "I remember Goku's father died while fighting Frieza. Were you brought back to life?"
"I didn't die," Bardock mused, his gaze drifting toward the distance as if he were lost in memory. "Back then, while fighting Frieza, I fell into a time rift and was sent 1,000 years into the past..."
"1,000 years ago?" The Supreme Kai's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Old Kai simply stroked his beard and said nothing, seemingly deep in thought.
"I also spent over 30 years in that era 1,000 years ago!" Bardock added, his voice tinged with the weight of time. "Just a moment ago, I was on the ancient Planet Cereal, flying above the planet, when I was suddenly sucked into a strange time rift and ended up here."
"So that's it..." Old Kai realized, nodding his head. "You returned to this era because of Vegeta."
"Vegeta?" Bardock blinked, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Prince Vegeta? Is he on Earth too?"
"Yes," the Supreme Kai confirmed.
"Can you take me to Earth to find Kakarot?" Bardock's eyes were full of expectation, and his tone carried a hint of a plea.
"Of course, no problem at all," the Supreme Kai said without hesitation. "Just put your hand on me, and I'll take you to Goku right now."
Bardock immediately did as he was told, resting his hand lightly on the Supreme Kai's shoulder.
"Well then, Ancestor," the Supreme Kai said to Old Kai, "I'll take Mr. Bardock to find Goku now."
"Go on, go on," Old Kai said, waving a hand.
"Kai Kai!"
The Supreme Kai recited the incantation, and a pale green light erupted around them once more. He used Instant Transmission to take Bardock and vanished from the spot in an instant.
...
Mount Paozu.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled spots of light on the ground.
Son Goku had been back for over an hour.
His fight with Merus had been incredibly rewarding, giving him not only new insights but also a clear goal for his future training.
It's also worth mentioning that before leaving, Whis had explained the finer points of Ultra Instinct training to Goku in great detail.
At this moment, Son Goku was sitting cross-legged on the open ground in front of his house. His eyes were closed tight, and his brow was slightly furrowed as he silently contemplated the key points Whis had mentioned, as well as every detail of his sparring match with Merus.
Son Gohan and Son Goten stood to the side, watching him quietly.
"It looks like Dad has gained some new insights again," Son Gohan said, a gratified smile appearing on his face as he looked at his father's profile.
"Big brother, do you think Dad can turn into a Super Saiyan 7?" Son Goten clenched his fists and rubbed his hands together excitedly, his small face full of expectation.
"Maybe he can," Son Gohan laughed, patting his brother's head.
"Then can your Beast form be improved even further, big brother?" Son Goten looked up and asked curiously.
"It's too hard..." Son Gohan sighed, a hint of frustration on his face. "I feel like I've been standing still for years."
"But hasn't your base strength increased?" Son Goten turned and grinned, showing off his white teeth. "So your strength after transforming must have reached an even higher level too."
"That's true enough," Son Gohan said with a smile, patting Goten's head as a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes. "But without a new transformation... in the end, I still can't compare to Dad."
As the two were talking...
Flash!
A green light flashed, and the Supreme Kai appeared by the woods of Mount Paozu with Bardock.
"Bardock, look," the Supreme Kai said, pointing toward Son Goku. "That one over there is Goku..."
"I see him. Thank you, Lord Supreme Kai," Bardock nodded, his gaze locked onto Son Goku, his eyes full of complex emotions.
"Then I'll head back now," the Supreme Kai said, and he vanished instantly.
Bardock took a deep breath. The air was filled with the fresh scent unique to Mount Paozu. He suppressed the excitement in his heart and immediately flew toward Son Goten and Son Gohan, landing steadily beside them.
Son Goten and Son Gohan were both stunned. They turned around, and when they saw this man who looked so much like their father, their faces were filled with confusion and bewilderment.
"Kakarot!" Bardock looked at the child before him, who looked so much like his son had as a boy. He stepped forward excitedly and reached out to gently pat Son Goten's head.
Son Goten: "????"
Son Goten blinked his large eyes, having no idea what was happening.
"I recognized you at a glance, Kakarot!" Bardock was both surprised and delighted. But as he looked at Son Goten's height and face, he felt something wasn't quite right. He furrowed his brow and muttered in confusion, "Aren't you 37 years old? Why are you only this tall? You still look... like you have the face of a child."
"Eh? Mister... who are you?" Son Goten felt a bit uncomfortable being patted like that. He scratched his head and asked with a look of utter confusion.
"I'm your father," Bardock said, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he looked at him.
Son Goten: "..."
Son Gohan: "..."
Both of them stood there as if a freezing spell had been cast on them. Then, they both felt a sudden shiver run down their spines.
You're our father?
This... this is a bit much!
Who just walks up and claims to be someone's dad?
"What are you talking about!" Son Gohan was the first to react. He furrowed his brow and said irritably, "Even though you look a lot like my dad... how could you possibly be my father?"
"Mister... my dad is over there!" Son Goten also quickly reached out a small hand and pointed toward the meditating Son Goku, speaking with a serious face. "Don't think that just because you look like my dad, you actually are him!"
"Your dad?" Bardock blinked. He looked in the direction Son Goten was pointing, and when he saw the familiar figure sitting cross-legged, a drop of cold sweat immediately rolled down his face.
Oh... so he's Kakarot!
I was so excited just now that I didn't even see him.
Bardock let out a silent sigh. Now that he thought about it, Kakarot was 37 years old; wasn't it perfectly normal for him to have sons?
Looking at the two children before him, Bardock's eyes were immediately filled with affection. He didn't go over to disturb the meditating Son Goku, but instead studied his two grandsons with a doting gaze, asking softly, "So, are you both Kakarot's sons?"
To be continued…
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