Call Me Dad

Inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Jiang Ling and Trunks gazed out over the vast expanse of white.

The environment here was harsh, and the gravity was ten times that of the outside world.

The temperature fluctuated wildly.

"Trunks, we're going to train here for the next two years. Can you stand being cooped up in here?" Jiang Ling asked.

Trunks thought for a moment, then said, "If I were by myself, I definitely couldn't stand it. But with you here, it doesn't seem so bad."

"..."

Jiang Ling looked at him, fell silent for a long while, then said, "I like women..."

"So do I!! What are you thinking?!!"

Trunks said loudly, afraid Jiang Ling might get the wrong idea.

"You'd be fine on your own, too." Jiang Ling looked slyly at him and bumped his shoulder. "You've also got the flash drive I gave you. There's no way you could get through both of them..."

"Ahem..."

Trunks cleared his throat, putting on a righteous expression.

"Indeed. It's all knowledge in there. Exploring the ocean of knowledge is our bounden duty!"

Jiang Ling patted him on the shoulder, eyes shining. "The future of Earth is in your hands!"

"Absolutely!! Let's do this!"

"Let's do this!"

The two began sparring inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

By tacit agreement, they didn't use their Super Saiyan forms, practicing only in their base forms.

Why?

Think about it.

Once they improved their base power, transforming into Super Saiyans would boost their strength by even more!

It was an incredibly efficient way to train!

The sounds of their sparring grew louder. Both were covered in injuries, and they had already used up a great deal of energy.

They stopped at the same time and rested where they stood.

Training should be gradual, not a fight to the death.

Unless you had a Senzu Bean.

Jiang Ling had some, but didn't want to waste them like that.

After resting for a while and recovering some energy, Jiang Ling spoke.

"Let's transform into Super Saiyans and have a match."

"Sure."

Trunks agreed.

Two powerful auras burst forth.

Jiang Ling and Trunks transformed into Super Saiyans at the same time.

Then Jiang Ling drew in his aura, entering the Super Saiyan Full Power state!

Trunks' eyes widened. "You-you-you... what is that?"

Jiang Ling smiled. "This is Super Saiyan Full Power, the most perfected stage of the first Super Saiyan form. The next level is Super Saiyan 2."

"Holy crap, that's so cool! Teach me, teach me!"

Trunks' eyes shone with excitement.

"Sure. Call me Dad."

"Get lost!"

The two energies collided in an instant.

A deafening roar shook the air.

Waves of fierce energy clashed violently.

Well, the result was that Jiang Ling wasted two Senzu Beans.

And so, the two grown men trained in there for three years!

That's right, three years!!

Even Jiang Ling hadn't expected it!

Wasn't there supposed to be a time limit?

Each person was only allowed to enter for two years!!

Wait, only allowed?

Was that a rule Kami had set to stop people from becoming too reliant on the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?

Could you actually stay in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for much longer?

As his thoughts turned, Jiang Ling decided that was the most likely explanation.

Trunks walked over and said,

"We've run out of food. Let's get out of here!"

Both of them had already changed clothes several times during their battles.

There was no helping it. Their pants didn't have the miraculous quality from the original story of never getting torn, no matter how much they fought.

Trunks' hair had grown a lot, while Jiang Ling's hairstyle hadn't changed at all.

Because of that, Trunks had even asked him,

"How come your hairstyle never changes?"

Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Pure-blooded Saiyans' hairstyles are set at birth and never change for their whole lives. Goku's like that, and so is your cheap old man."

"Of course, my hairstyle doesn't change either."

"I see."

They left the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

The two men stood in the courtyard of the Temple of the Gods and took a deep breath.

"Much better!"

"It's great to be outside!"

Trunks wholeheartedly agreed.

He carried a bag of used tissues, looking for somewhere to throw them away.

Don't ask. The answer was snot!

The two returned to the Underground Base.

As soon as Trunks saw Bulma, he gave her a big hug.

The sudden embrace left Bulma stunned.

Then she gently rubbed Trunks' back and asked tenderly,

"What's wrong, dear?"

Trunks mumbled, "I missed you."

"Silly boy, it's only been three days. Oh, why has your hair grown so much? And you've gotten a little taller..."

Only then did Bulma notice the changes.

Jiang Ling stood to the side and explained with a smile.

After hearing him out, Bulma lovingly stroked Trunks' hair. "You've worked so hard. Don't be in such a hurry to get stronger next time, okay?"

Trunks shook his head, looking resolute.

"No. I have to defeat the androids as soon as possible, so you, everyone, and all of humanity can stand on the ground without fear and breathe in the fresh air to your hearts' content!"

"Instead of living in fear every day like we do now, hiding in the basement as each day drags on!"

Bulma smiled warmly. "That's my son!"

Jiang Ling said goodbye and went out first, leaving the mother and son some time together...

Flying through the open sky,

Jiang Ling headed straight for Mount Paozu!

He'd learned from Trunks that Chi-Chi was still alive, living alone on Mount Paozu.

When Jiang Ling heard the news, his heart ached.

In this timeline, Chi-Chi had lost her husband in her youth and her son in her later years. She lived alone on Mount Paozu, without anyone to rely on.

Jiang Ling decided he had to do something.

He arrived at Mount Paozu.

A lone house stood on the mountain.

The plants around the house were neatly trimmed, as if someone pruned them every day.

Jiang Ling took a look, walked up to the front door, and knocked.

Tap, tap, tap...

"Coming."

A woman's voice came from inside.

The door opened.

A woman appeared before Jiang Ling.

Her beautiful face was lined with a few wrinkles. White strands showed amid her neatly coiled black hair.

She wore a fitted qipao, and her whole appearance was elegant and refined.

She didn't look at all despondent.

"Who are you?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Hello, Chi-Chi. I'm a friend of Trunks'," Jiang Ling said with a smile.

"Oh, hello. It's nice to meet you."

Chi-Chi greeted him politely.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Ling's tail, and tears instantly spilled from her eyes.

She hurriedly covered her mouth, silently weeping.

Her expression was utterly grief-stricken.

Jiang Ling was at a loss, not knowing what to do...

"Y-you don't have to cry..."