Eliminating Androids

Early in the morning, Vegeta slowly woke up to find Bulma already gone. Stepping outside, he saw Bulma and Trunks eating in the dining room.

Future Trunks ate exactly like Vegeta, wolfing down his food. The dishes on the table vanished like a whirlwind, all disappearing into his stomach.

In the future, he hadn't eaten anything this delicious in a long time: steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted flower duck, roasted spring chicken, roasted young goose, braised pork, braised duck, soy-sauce chicken, cured meat, pine-nut stuffed tripe, air-dried meat, sausages, assorted vegetable platters, smoked chicken with white tripe, steamed eight-treasure pig, glutinous rice stuffed duck, canned pheasant... (The author is just messing around... padding the word count).

Watching Future Trunks eat with the same mannerisms as Vegeta, Bulma wore a motherly smile on her face.

Vegeta spoke up then: "Hmph, you didn't even call me for breakfast. I'm joining in to see who can eat more! I am the Saiyan King, after all."

Seeing the food, Vegeta's stomach let out a loud rumble. He immediately joined the battle to annihilate the meal, competing with Trunks as they snatched pork knuckles and chickens from each other.

"Why are you competing with a child? Honestly, how long has it been since Trunks had a meal this good? And you're still stealing from him—you have no fatherly decorum!" Bulma scolded.

"Mmmph (We) sh-sh-shall (are) sh-sh-sh..." Vegeta mumbled with his mouth full.

"Swallow before you speak!" Bulma shouted.

"We Saiyans... must decide a winner in everything, including eating!" Vegeta said after swallowing.

The table full of food was polished off by the father and son in less than ten minutes. Both leaned back in their chairs, looking satisfied and letting out occasional burps.

"Father, let's head out! The Time Machine only has enough energy for the return trip. If you want to come back here, you'll have to wait a year," Future Trunks said.

"Hmph, let's go! I've already figured out a way to return. Just go, don't worry about it," Vegeta replied.

Once the mission was complete, his space-time technique would advance, allowing him to cast the Greater Space-Time Technique to traverse parallel dimensions and return on his own. He wasn't worried at all.

In the future world, the already dilapidated world had become even more ruined.

Three thousand kilometers away from West City, on a small island, the Time Machine carrying Vegeta and Future Trunks appeared.

"Alright, I've sensed your mother's location. Let's go see her first!" Vegeta said.

He immediately used Instant Transmission to teleport to the small island where Bulma was.

Vegeta's Instant Transmission was stronger than that of the Supreme Kai or the inhabitants of Yardrat Planet; as long as he was in this world, he could move anywhere at will! The rules of space laid the entire world he was in out in his mind. Although he couldn't sense Bulma's faint ki, he could see exactly where she was—the wonders of the rules were truly remarkable.

Thinking of how Zeno was the embodiment of these rules, possessing the power to erase everything forever, it was even more terrifying.

For now, Vegeta could only master the basics. He could teleport, but he couldn't yet create or destroy space at will. After advancing to the Greater Space-Time Technique, he believed his spatial power would improve alongside his enhanced time-traveling abilities. After all, the system hadn't explained everything; he would just have to discover it himself later.

Future Trunks led Vegeta directly into a cave on the west side of the island. Inside the small cavern, Trunks slowly pried up a metal plate on the floor, revealing a man-made staircase leading straight down.

The two walked down step by step, and as they neared the end, a voice rang out.

"Who's there?"

Click-clack.

A warning was accompanied by the sound of a gun being cocked.

"Mai, it's me. I'm back," Future Trunks said gently. (The author knows Mai hasn't appeared yet, but to make it easier for Vegeta to take Bulma away and avoid Future Trunks being too reluctant, Mai is introduced early. No harm done!)

A beautiful figure immediately flew into Future Trunks' arms.

"Waaaah, Trunks, I missed you so much. You're finally back!" Mai sobbed.

"I missed you too. Is my mother okay? Don't cry, you won't look pretty anymore!" Future Trunks comforted her gently.

"Aunt Bulma doesn't say it, but I can tell she's been incredibly worried about you. She didn't know if you'd arrived safely or if you'd make it back. She's often cried in secret," Mai said, calming down and choking back tears.

When she looked up, she finally noticed Vegeta's presence.

She asked, "Trunks, who is this???"

"This is my father from that other timeline, Vegeta! Mai, call him Uncle," Future Trunks hurriedly introduced.

"Hello, Uncle Vegeta. My name is Mai, I'm Trunks' girlfriend!" Mai said respectfully.

Seeing her future father-in-law for the first time, she was extremely nervous.

"Hmm, not bad. From now on, call me Father just like Trunks does! Once we wipe out the Androids, I'll host your wedding," Vegeta said, providing a wave of support.

Mai's face turned bright red in an instant. She was too embarrassed to speak, though she was secretly overjoyed to have received the elder's approval.

"Dad... what are you saying... you're making Mai shy!" Future Trunks said, covering his forehead.

He didn't dare to chime in, fearing he might offend the lady, so he could only respond vaguely.

"What's wrong? My son, is she not qualified? Not good enough for you?" Vegeta continued to push.

"I, I'm willing... Uncle Vegeta..." Mai hurriedly replied, fearing Vegeta might misunderstand.

"Mai... thank you for staying by my side all this time. I'll take good care of you from now on!" Future Trunks finally showed some emotional intelligence, following up on Vegeta's words.

After they finished speaking, the two embraced again, shedding tears of happiness.

"Hmph, enough of this. Take me to see Bulma!" Vegeta, unable to stomach the display of affection, snorted coldly.

Hearing this, the two pulled apart and led Vegeta deeper into the bunker.

As Mai and Future Trunks led the way, Mai whispered, "Trunks, why is Uncle Vegeta so cold? Does he not like me?"

"At first, I thought Father was just as Mother described—cold, heartless, and indifferent to everything! But after spending this time with him, I realized that's not the case. He's the type who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Otherwise, he wouldn't have complimented you. You don't know this, but Father hasn't complimented me once this whole time; he either calls me an idiot or a good-for-nothing!" Future Trunks whispered into Mai's ear.

In truth, Future Trunks had no idea that the Vegeta standing before him had already been possessed by another soul.

"Stop whispering in front of me. Get moving, you're wasting time!" Vegeta barked.

The two were so startled they jumped, their pace quickening significantly.

Hmph, do they really think I can't hear them just because they're trying to hide it? Daring to gossip about me... Vegeta thought to himself.

A moment later, they reached the lowest level.

In a dark, gloomy corridor, a group of humans huddled together for warmth. They were ragged, filthy, and barely clothed—old men, children, and women. Among them was a familiar, short, stout figure. Looking closely, it was Yajirobe. He was still shaped like a ball, but his face was aged and covered in stubble.

The sight was so pathetic that even Vegeta couldn't bear to watch. He pulled out a box of Hoi-Poi Capsules, tossed them to Mai, and said, "There is plenty of food in here, along with the necessities and supplies you'll need to rebuild your home once you return to the surface. Keep them safe. For now, give these people something to eat."

"Trunks, take me to see your mother," Vegeta commanded.

Trunks led Vegeta into Bulma's laboratory.

The door opened to reveal Bulma, who was frantically typing away at a keyboard, controlling robots outside to scavenge for supplies. She was so busy she didn't even turn to look at them.

"Who is it? Is that you, Mai? Come in and wait a moment, I'm almost done!" Bulma called out.

Trunks was about to answer, but Vegeta raised a hand to stop him. He walked slowly behind Bulma and said softly, "It's me. I've come to see you..."

Bulma's busy movements came to an abrupt halt. She stood there like a statue, not daring to turn around.

Vegeta didn't rush her; he simply waited for her to turn.

A full minute passed before Bulma slowly rotated her chair to face him. Her expression shifted rapidly, from disbelief to a face streaming with tears.

She stood up, lunged at Vegeta, wrapped her arms around him tightly, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Watching the two of them, Trunks quietly backed out and closed the door.

Inside, Bulma's sobbing gradually faded into the sound of deep, rhythmic breathing. Exhausted by long-term labor and the weight of her grief, she had fallen into a deep sleep. It seemed that Vegeta's arrival had allowed her to finally let go of everything.

Bulma hadn't even had the chance to speak a word to him.

Vegeta cradled Bulma and laid her on the nearby bed. He tried to gently pull away, but Bulma gripped his arm with a death-like hold, terrified that if she let go, he would vanish again. Vegeta could only whisper a soft reassurance.

"Don't worry. This time, I'm taking you with me. I won't leave you behind."

Only after he said this did Bulma's hands slowly loosen. Vegeta quietly opened the door and stepped out, moving with deliberate care so as not to wake the woman who had suffered for so long.

Outside, seeing the others gorging themselves on food, his anger flared again.

"Trunks," he said sternly, "go and destroy the Androids immediately. It would be best to finish them off before your mother wakes up—consider it a gift for her. If you can't do it, I'll do it myself!"

Trunks replied with solemn resolve, "Don't worry, Father. I have absolute confidence that I can defeat them. I won't let your training and guidance go to waste."

Mai looked at Trunks, her eyes filled with worry.

"By the way, Father, why didn't you stay with Mother longer? Why come out so soon?" Future Trunks asked, puzzled.

"You fool, didn't you hear me say your mother is asleep? How have you been protecting her, letting her suffer like this? As a man, aren't you ashamed? Do you even have the ability to take care of Mai in the future?" Vegeta snapped.

Future Trunks flushed bright red under the scolding, unable to utter a word.

"Uncle Vegeta, I believe in him. Please don't blame him," Mai said, stepping in to defend Trunks.

"Call me Father. If Trunks fails you, I'll kill him myself. Hmph, useless," Vegeta said, his tone reflecting his frustration.

As Vegeta looked at the youthful and beautiful Mai, he suddenly recalled the tropes from the novels of his past life regarding fathers-in-law and daughters-in-law.

That's twisted, that's twisted... She's my daughter-in-law. How could I think like that? Vegeta felt a sudden chill.

Mai, blushing furiously, stammered, "Yes, Fa... Father..."

She was so terrified by Vegeta that she couldn't even speak properly.

"Father, rest assured. I will never run away again. I will kill them with my own hands, and I won't show any mercy," Future Trunks said, his voice brimming with killing intent.

With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

Mai watched Trunks depart in silence, her heart heavy with worry.

Vegeta offered a word of comfort: "Don't worry. With that brat's current strength, he'll be fine."

He then turned and headed back into Bulma's room, sitting by her side to wait for her to wake.

Outside.

Trunks transformed into a Super Saiyan and flew toward the Androids. Although the Androids could not be sensed through their energy, the massive explosions caused by their wanton destruction served as a clear beacon.

In moments, Trunks arrived at their location.

Android 18 looked at the approaching Trunks and sneered, "Oh? You finally decided to come out? What, here to die? I really can't bear to kill you yet; it would be so boring without you."

"You... all of you must die!" Trunks declared.

As he spoke, his aura surged, and he shifted into his second-stage form. He drew his sword and lunged at Android 18.

Trunks now possessed a base combat power of 30 million. By transforming into the second stage of Super Saiyan, he gained a 70-fold increase, bringing his power to 2.1 billion. The Androids of this timeline were not as strong as those in the main timeline, possessing power levels of roughly 1.5 to 1.6 billion. Through his training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Trunks had reached 20 million in the first six months. While he didn't specifically train his base power in the latter half, mastering the second-stage form had boosted his power by another 10 million, totaling 30 million.

Future Trunks had immense potential, and after Vegeta's brutal training and systematic guidance, his strength had increased drastically, allowing him to crush the Androids.

The sheer intensity of his power shocked Android 18. Before she could react, she was sliced in two. Blood and thick, oily smoke poured from her half-human, half-machine body.

Not one to waste time, Trunks held his sword in one hand and gathered a Great Bombardment Attack in the other, firing it directly at the Android before she could pull herself back together. A blast of energy later, Android 18 was completely obliterated.

He then charged at Android 17, swinging his blade. 17, still reeling from the sight of 18's death, was forced to catch the incoming sword with his bare hands.

"Hmph, you only killed Android 18 because of that sword, didn't you!" Android 17 said, trying to comfort himself with a stiff upper lip.

Future Trunks didn't say a word, only offering a contemptuous smirk. With a single kick, he sent Android 17 flying into the air. He immediately sheathed his sword, raised both hands toward the sky, and unleashed a blast of energy. Android 17, unable to stabilize himself in time to dodge, had no choice but to hastily deploy his signature technique: an Energy Shield, a spherical barrier of ki enveloping his entire body.

Trunks's attack was temporarily blocked.

Future Trunks immediately surged his energy, and the Energy Shield shattered with a sharp crack! Android 17 was utterly obliterated into dust!!!

Trunks powered down, returning to his base form, and flew back to the small island. In a mere moment, he had wiped out two Androids. His clean, efficient methods truly earned him the title of the most reliable Saiyan—he didn't waste a single second.

However, he failed to notice that behind a ruin not far away, a faint, complex aura was lingering—a mixture of Frieza's energy and that of the Earthlings...

Inside the island's bunker, "Ding! Host's second mission complete. Reward: Bulma's factory reset!" (The setting here is simply to restore her youth and wipe away the physical history of her union with the Vegeta of this timeline, refreshing her body so that neither the protagonist nor I have to feel disgusted!)

Watching Bulma gradually grow younger and regain her beautiful youth, Vegeta was instantly overcome with excitement.

Due to the system's repair and refresh, Bulma slowly woke up, feeling as though her body had shed over a decade of age. Her sagging areas had become firm once more, and her drooping hips had slowly lifted, recovering the tautness of her youth.

Opening her eyes to see Vegeta, she was struck by his appearance and couldn't stop her tears from falling.

"Don't cry, Bulma. I've come to take you away this time!!" Vegeta hurriedly comforted her.

"You aren't him. Although you look like him, he wouldn't comfort me like this. Even though I'm happy," Bulma said once she caught her breath.

"I am, and yet I am not. Trunks found me and told me everything that happened in this world. I came back with him specifically to lead you out of this misery!" Vegeta explained.

"But you aren't him after all. By your own admission, you are just a version of him from a parallel world. I won't go with you. There is a version of me in that world, isn't there? I won't go and destroy your happiness!" Bulma said sadly.

Before Vegeta could say anything more, Trunks returned. He told the people outside everything that had happened, and the deafening cheers and joyful screams of surprise instantly cut Vegeta's words short.

"What's happening outside? Where is Trunks? Didn't he come back with you?" Bulma asked anxiously.

"Don't worry. Come, let me take you out to see," Vegeta said, slowly helping Bulma to her feet.

Having not been touched by anyone for so many years, Bulma was moved to the point of trembling by Vegeta's gentle actions, and a flicker of thought stirred within her...

Unwilling to refuse this kindness, she leaned on Vegeta's support and walked outside!!!

"Mom, how did you get so young? You've become so beautiful??" Trunks exclaimed in surprise.

"Is that so? I do feel a bit different, like I'm eighteen again, full of strength!..." Only then did Bulma recall the changes in her body as she replied.

"Never mind me. Tell me, what happened? Why is everyone so happy?" Bulma asked, looking at the excited crowd.

"Aunt Bulma, it's Trunks! He defeated the Androids and wiped them out completely. We don't have to hide anymore!"

"What??? As far as I know, Trunks couldn't beat them yet. You aren't just lying to me to make me happy, are you?" Bulma said, filled with doubt.

"Mother, I went back to the past..."

Trunks slowly explained everything that had transpired over this period.

Vegeta didn't interrupt, and the group listened quietly as Trunks recounted his tale.