"200,000!" Son Goku wore a strained smile as he said, "I worked hard to increase my strength over the past two days, and Soro still managed to improve even faster!"
He scratched his head, his smile tinged with bitterness.
"Whoosh!"
Piccolo didn't hesitate for a moment. He shot into the sky, his body becoming a green blur.
He flew rapidly toward Soro, disappearing into the distant sky in the blink of an eye.
Son Goku and Son Gohan exchanged glances, then took off after him.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The three of them streaked through the sky like three brilliant flames.
Their figures tore through the clouds, trailing long streams behind them as they sped toward Soro.
When they reached the sky above Soro, Son Goku, Son Gohan, and Piccolo stopped at the same time.
They hung in midair, looked down, and froze in stunned silence.
On the desolate plain below stood a gigantic black Great Ape.
His body blotted out the sky, and his black fur rippled in the wind. His two thick arms hung at his sides, his fists larger than millstones.
His chest was as broad as a mountain wall. Every breath stirred up a gale, sending broken stones skittering across the ground.
His eyes were golden, with narrow, vertical pupils. He was looking up at them.
"A Great Ape..." Son Goku stared in disbelief, his mouth slightly open. "Isn't that the monster Great Ape?"
His eyes widened, and he instinctively leaned back.
"I remember my grandpa was trampled to death by one of these monsters. How is one here again?"
Son Goku furrowed his brow and looked the Great Ape over twice.
Piccolo: "..."
Piccolo glanced at Son Goku in silence, the corner of his mouth twitching. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
You still don't know you can transform into one of these?
Even your son can transform!
It seemed seeing the full moon and having a tail were enough to trigger the transformation.
The problem was... hadn't I destroyed the moon?
Piccolo abruptly looked up, fixing his gaze on the bright golden orb in the sky. His pupils narrowed slightly.
"Th-that's the moon!" Piccolo said in a low voice, his fists clenching involuntarily.
"What do you mean, the moon?" Son Goku asked quickly, tilting his head toward Piccolo. "What are you talking about?"
"You still don't know?" Piccolo said gravely, shifting his gaze from the Artificial Full Moon. "It's a unique transformation of the Saiyans! It seems they can transform into this by seeing a full moon and having a tail!"
"The moon? A tail?" A puzzled look crossed Son Goku's face.
His gaze fell to his waist. His tail had been gone for a long time.
Then he looked back up at the Great Ape.
After a moment of blank staring, his expression suddenly stiffened.
It was as if lightning had struck his brain.
"Could it be..." Son Goku's voice turned hoarse, and his Adam's apple bobbed. "Was I the one who trampled Grandpa to death back then... and the one who went on a rampage at the World Martial Arts Tournament?"
His fists clenched, cracking loudly.
"This is awful... I should've apologized to Grandpa properly the last time I died!"
"Dad..." Son Gohan murmured, concern on his little face. He didn't want his father to be too sad.
"So..." Son Goku took a deep breath and looked up, his gaze settling on the Great Ape again. "Is that Soro?"
"That's right." Piccolo nodded solemnly, folding his arms across his chest. "It should be him."
He paused, his gaze turning pensive.
"What an incredible energy!"
Son Goku's eyes lit up, the Great Ape's image reflected in his pupils.
"Let's go say hello." Son Goku started down at once to greet Soro.
But Piccolo grabbed Son Goku by the clothes and pulled him back.
Son Goku blinked, swaying in midair. He looked back at Piccolo, unsure what he meant.
"Son Goku." Piccolo's voice grew even lower, his eyes fixed on the Great Ape below. "Think carefully. When you transformed into a Great Ape back then, were you still in control of yourself?"
"Huh?" Son Goku rubbed his chin, his expression growing serious. "That's right! I think I lost control. I don't remember anything about transforming into a Great Ape."
"Gohan, too," Piccolo added, shifting his gaze to Son Gohan. "After transforming into a Great Ape, he also completely lost control."
"Uncle Piccolo..." Son Gohan scratched his head, confused. "When did I ever transform into a Great Ape?"
"See?" Piccolo said gravely, turning his gaze back to the Great Ape. "Gohan doesn't even remember! If we go down there now, Soro might kill us on the spot."
"Then what do we do?" Son Goku asked, spreading his hands before him. "His energy is too powerful. Even with Kaio-ken x3, I might not be able to beat him."
"There's only one way." Piccolo pointed two fingers toward the sky. "We have to destroy the moon up there!"
"So that's it!" Son Goku said in sudden realization, his eyes lighting up.
"Let's attack the moon together!" Piccolo decided at once, clenching his fist in front of him.
The three of them looked up together, fixing their eyes on the golden Artificial Full Moon in the sky.
Their ki began to surge within them.
Just as the three of them were about to unleash their energy and destroy the Artificial Full Moon—
"Hey."
A deep voice came from below, rumbling across the ground like thunder.
"Don't destroy my moon. Get down here, all three of you!"
The three of them froze in midair, startled, then immediately looked down at the Great Ape.
The black Great Ape was looking up at them, a hint of amusement in his golden eyes.
"Don't worry. I haven't lost control," Soro said with a smile, baring a mouthful of pointed fangs. His gleaming white teeth flashed in the sunlight. "There's no need to be afraid."
Hearing Soro say that, Son Goku finally relaxed.
His shoulders loosened, and a grin spread across his face.
Without another moment's hesitation, he shot down from the sky.
But Son Goku didn't land. He hovered beside Soro's head, meeting those enormous eyes at their level.
After all, Soro was simply too huge now.
Piccolo hesitated briefly, then furrowed his brow and joined Son Goku.
With his arms folded across his chest, he studied Soro's face for two seconds. Only after confirming that Soro had no intention of attacking did he relax slightly.
Son Gohan followed close behind, hovering beside Piccolo.
He suddenly said, "I remember now, Uncle Piccolo!"
He clapped his hands together.
"I was wondering why my clothes had suddenly changed back then. So I must've transformed into a Great Ape?"
"That's right." Piccolo nodded slightly, without taking his eyes off Soro.
"Soro!" Son Goku exclaimed in amazement, his eyes shining. "That transformation of yours is incredible! Your energy has gone up by more than just a little!"
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