Bardock's Astonishing Story.

(Everyone, remember this well... Bardock is a big plot hole I've dug!! He'll come in handy time and again later...)

Bardock...

In Dragon Ball, he could be called a "background character"... In the early days, he stood alone against Frieza and his men... but was still easily killed by Frieza. However, his personal strength was ultimately top-tier...

Because he was also a Saiyan with a power level over ten thousand... Even if it was just a brief flash in the pan, there's no denying he was a hardworking guy.

Bardock himself also had an identity that everyone had to take seriously... He was Son Goku's biological father...

If it were just that, it might be fine...

But the most shocking thing was that Bardock had actually transformed into a Super Saiyan... and even killed Frieza's Ancestor, leaving behind the famous line, "Beware the Saiyan with the golden aura"... though it was never taken seriously...

And all of this was just the beginning... Maybe Bardock wasn't the legendary Super Saiyan, but he was definitely the first to transform into one.

"You seem to know something..."

Bardock looked at the shock on Betkas's face, speaking calmly as he slowly stood up. His gaunt frame didn't seem aged at all; instead, it radiated a sense of power.

"Didn't you die from Frieza's attack? And what's with this state of yours?!"

Betkas snapped back to reality, then put on a serious face as he questioned Bardock... Actually, his question was pointless, because he already knew the answer.

The moment Bardock was destroyed by Frieza's energy sphere, he had traveled through time... Traveled to an era long, long ago, when Frieza's Ancestor was acting as the "police" of the universe... And it was in that era that Bardock transformed into a Super Saiyan!

Bardock's current appearance was clearly a sign of aging...

But what shocked Betkas even more was how chaotic this was... There was a strange feeling to it all. After all, Bardock had been "killed" by Frieza about ten years ago, and now he was meeting an elderly Bardock... one who could even transform into a Super Saiyan... What kind of feeling was that...

"It's a long story..."

Hearing Bardock's words, filled with the weight of time, Betkas suddenly noticed that Bardock's personality seemed to have changed. In the original story, Bardock, like other Saiyans, was proud, battle-hungry, but also kind at heart—as seen in the Bardock Chapter with that little alien.

But now, Bardock had none of that pride or the cruel traits of a Saiyan... Still, thinking about it, maybe it made sense... Because, after being tempered by time, even the strongest personality would be worn down, let alone a "mere" Saiyan.

"Though I don't know what you, Third Prince, are aware of, don't be too surprised... In truth, by age, I should have long turned to dust."

Bardock murmured, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

Betkas listened silently, knowing that Bardock likely had more to his story, given his life starting from the era of Frieza's Ancestor.

"Perhaps it was fate that sent me back to the distant past... No, even further... There, I met many powerful fighters... Among them..."

Betkas grew more and more shocked as he listened, because this Bardock had even more experience than the original one.

Not only had he traveled back in time, transformed into a Super Saiyan, and killed Frieza's Ancestor, but during his aimless journey through the universe, he had even encountered Majin Buu, who was wreaking havoc, and the Four Supreme Kais... There were constant battles, but he still survived.

What shocked Betkas the most was that Bardock had once run into the strongest final boss of Dragon Ball GT, the Shadow Dragons.

In that battle, Bardock had suffered even worse than Son Goku in the original story... His body was on the verge of death. At that moment, Bardock found this planet and accidentally fell into its lake, where he recovered.

But even after recovery, Bardock's strength had plummeted, barely a fraction of what it once was. And what made Betkas's body tremble was that this guy had actually broken through to Super Saiyan 4... and even reached the Fifth Form... It was only by reaching that level that he could fight the Shadow Dragons and survive.

What the hell is this?! Betkas wanted to scream.

"Wait... What's going on here... Son Goku going from a low-class warrior all the way to Super Saiyan 4 is one thing... But this dad seems even more terrifying... He actually reached the Fifth Form? And I've never even seen what the Fifth Form looks like..."

Betkas's mind was in chaos. The impact Bardock had on him was too great, something nothing could change. Especially when Bardock told him he had once broken through to Super Saiyan 5, Betkas was almost losing his mind.

Because... the Fifth Form... was a transformation he had never seen. He was really looking forward to it. Though there had been pictures online back then, most were photoshopped and not trustworthy.

"Looks like this Dragon Ball world might have beings beyond the Shadow Dragons' storyline... Lucky me!! My blood is boiling now!!"

Betkas's whole body trembled involuntarily. He clenched his fists so tightly that sweat formed, his face full of excitement as he murmured to himself.

"It's this lake that allowed my life to continue until now... Otherwise, I'd have been a pile of bones long ago."

Bardock said somewhat optimistically, a faint smile appearing on his face. But Betkas could clearly catch a hint of gloom in his eyes, likely from his helplessness at his current situation... Losing his former combat power and becoming so weak was something no strong fighter could tolerate.

Especially for a battle-loving Saiyan... This was probably the biggest reason for Bardock's personality change.

"By the way... I don't even know what to call you now."

Betkas showed a relaxed smile for the first time, speaking to Bardock with a hint of respect. Because he truly admired Bardock now. He was a miracle man who created an unsung legend in the darkness—the strongest Saiyan unknown to the world!! No exceptions!

Of course, if that freak Son Goku broke through Earth's limits, then the title would change hands.