Goku Wakes Up

Future Timeline.

After Cell defeated the Androids, everyone left on Earth gathered together and celebrated for three days and three nights.

There were now fewer than a hundred million people left on Earth.

The population was small, but with Bulma, a genius scientist, around, humanity was rebuilding its home at an impressive speed.

As the hero who had saved Earth—Cell—

He was honored with a gigantic statue in the center of Earth's new capital, Cell City.

Everywhere Cell went, people wanted to take pictures with him and get his autograph.

He was practically a superstar.

But Cell didn't have time to indulge them. All he wanted was to return to that other timeline and absorb the Androids there.

Cell hurried to Bulma's lab and asked her, who was busy conducting an experiment:

"Bulma, how much longer until the Time Machine is ready?"

"At least another half a month. Extracting the energy needed to travel through time is incredibly difficult."

"It's a good thing you defeated the Androids. Otherwise, just gathering these materials would have taken several months."

Hearing Bulma say that, Cell realized there was nothing he could do.

Half a month it was, then.

Cell didn't stay in the lab. He turned and left.

He still had to spend half a month in this Future Timeline. Just thinking about it made Cell feel bored.

There were no strong opponents here, and nothing that could make him stronger.

He'd already lost interest in absorbing humans.

At his current level of power, even absorbing every one of the fewer than a hundred million people left on Earth wouldn't increase his strength by much.

Wait!

Cell suddenly realized that around this time, he himself would be emerging from the Underground Laboratory.

If he absorbed the version of himself in this timeline, his strength should increase at least a little, right?

I'll take care of the last threat to Earth for you!

Don't get too emotional!

Hahahahaha!!!

Main Timeline.

To improve their fighting skills as quickly as possible,

Mo Yuan and Lapis decided to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

With Mr. Popo's dedicated instruction, Mo Yuan and Lapis made astonishing progress.

As their skills improved, they became increasingly amazed by Mr. Popo's fighting techniques.

Mo Yuan even suspected that if Mr. Popo had enough power, he might directly master Ultra Instinct.

Their improved skills also gave Mo Yuan and Lapis a substantial increase in their strength.

Even Lazuli, who had never been particularly interested in fighting, was brought by Mo Yuan into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for some painstaking one-on-one training.

Mo Yuan: 600 million

Lapis: 1.7 billion

Lazuli: Android energy: 500 million; ki: 800 million

Kame House.

Boom!

A deafening crash rang out, and the whole island shook violently.

Chi-Chi was carrying water upstairs to wipe Son Goku down when the sudden tremor knocked her to the floor.

"W-what was that?"

"Are the Androids attacking?"

At the thought of the Androids, Chi-Chi's heart leaped into her throat.

"Goku!"

Chi-Chi hurried upstairs.

She opened the door and saw that the bedroll was empty.

"Goku?"

Son Goku was nowhere to be seen in the room.

Chi-Chi leaned out the window.

The figure she had longed for so desperately appeared before her eyes.

Goku had completely recovered from his illness!

Overcome with excitement, Chi-Chi jumped straight out of the second-floor window.

Then she and Goku exchanged kisses and embraces, showering each other with affection.

In the end, Goku decided to take Gohan to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Chi-Chi didn't want him to go, but she knew that refusing wouldn't change anything, so she agreed in the end.

Cell had suddenly disappeared recently.

Trunks said Cell might have stolen his Time Machine.

He might have gone to the Future Timeline.

But no one dared to let their guard down.

They patrolled everywhere whenever they could, in case Cell suddenly showed up and caused trouble.

Besides, the Androids hadn't appeared again since their last visit to Kame House.

So they were patrolling for the Androids as well as Cell.

Goku quickly found Gohan with Instant Transmission, then took him to find Vegeta.

Trunks had come back and was training with Vegeta again.

Bulma was making very slow progress on the Time Machine. It wouldn't be finished anytime soon.

Trunks didn't want to waste time, so he was making the most of every moment to get stronger.

If he couldn't defeat Cell, returning to the Future Timeline wouldn't help at all.

"Vegeta." Son Goku flew over to him.

"Quit getting in my way, Kakarot! Get lost!" Vegeta wasn't exactly polite to Son Goku.

"Come on, don't be like that! I know a great place to train. One year there is only a day out here."

At that, Vegeta's expression changed.

"That place is a room inside the Lookout."

"Is that true?"

Vegeta was tempted.

If such a place really existed, he was sure he could defeat those damn puppets and that ugly green freak.

From Vegeta's expression, Son Goku could tell he was interested.

So he pressed his advantage.

"It's true. Come with me! I'm not suggesting we train together. That room just happens to be huge, so I thought you and Trunks could go in too."

Goku knew what Vegeta was like. Unless he gave him a way to save face, Vegeta would never agree to go.

Vegeta said, "Fine! But on one condition: I go in first."

Son Goku nodded. "All right!"

As long as Vegeta agreed, it didn't matter who went in first. Having one more strong fighter would increase their chances of beating the enemy.

Then the two fathers and their sons flew toward the Lookout.

At the Lookout.

Mo Yuan and Lapis were sparring without using ki, focusing purely on technique.

After Mr. Popo's intensive training, the two of them had changed beyond recognition.

Compared with how they were now, they'd once been like a couple of kids who'd learned a little martial arts: they knew a few moves, but used them in a complete jumble.

Mr. Popo watched them spar and nodded in satisfaction.

He was also amazed by their progress.

They were every bit as good as Son Goku.

Mo Yuan was even improving faster than Son Goku had.

Gradually, the two were nearing the end of their spar.

Lapis was defeated by Mo Yuan once again, without a hint of suspense.

Mo Yuan couldn't beat Lapis as overwhelmingly as Mr. Popo could, but he'd been on top from start to finish, keeping Lapis firmly under control.

"Damn it, I lost again." Lapis was a little frustrated. He hadn't won a single time, even though he'd trained with Mr. Popo for the same amount of time.

"Hahahaha! Lapis, there's no shame in losing to your brother-in-law!" Mo Yuan laughed proudly and slapped Lapis on the back.

Lapis (-＂-怒)

Damn it! It was bad enough that he was weaker, but even in the family hierarchy...

Lapis shook off Mo Yuan's hand and appeared beside Mr. Popo in a flash.

He hooked an arm around Mr. Popo's neck and demanded, "Mr. Popo, have you been giving him extra lessons behind my back? Why is he so much stronger than me?"

Lazuli glanced at him and said coolly, "Could it be that you're just too stupid?"

Lapis stared at her with dead fish eyes (ㅍ_ㅍ). "Could it be that I'm actually your biological younger brother?"

Just then, Mo Yuan appeared beside Lazuli and slipped an arm around her waist. "Which makes you nothing but her little brother."

Lapis: So I really was the odd one out.