"Sorry to keep you waiting, Uncle Goku."
Trunks said, his blue hair falling to his shoulders.
Unlike Vegeta, the change in Trunks's appearance wasn't that obvious.
"Kakarot, you're no match for me anymore."
Vegeta was in high spirits after emerging from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, his bright eyes brimming with the pride of a Saiyan Prince.
His golden hair remained unchanged, gleaming brightly.
Super Saiyan Full Power!
He, too, had reached Karotis's form!
At least, that was what Vegeta believed.
"Go on in, Kakarot."
"Once I've eliminated the androids, I'll defeat you too when you come out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
Son Goku didn't answer Vegeta. Instead, he watched him closely, his expression serious.
The once-ferocious Vegeta now seemed unusually calm and composed, as if an ordinary Earthling with no interest in fighting were standing before him.
His martial arts instincts told him—
Vegeta's current state was the direction he, too, would strive toward in the future.
After thinking it through, Son Goku said sincerely:
"Congratulations, Vegeta. You've reached a whole new level of Super Saiyan."
At those words, Vegeta's smug smile vanished in an instant, replaced by an irritated scowl.
But he was too proud to quietly accept praise he hadn't earned.
Even if it came from Kakarot.
"I'm not the first Saiyan to reach this level."
Vegeta crossed his arms, snorted, and turned away.
"Karotis is."
Son Goku froze, then suddenly understood, his face lighting up with delight.
So someone had already gone far ahead of them on the path of Super Saiyan evolution.
That was great!
Son Goku asked bluntly:
"You mean that unfamiliar Saiyan who beat you, right?"
"Could you take me to meet him?"
Vegeta's brow twitched as he stood with his back turned. He gritted his teeth and roared:
"Bakayarō, Kakarot!"
Vegeta leaned right into Son Goku's face and shouted at him, spittle spraying all over him.
"Dream on! There's no way I'll—"
"No need. I'm here, Son Goku."
Before Vegeta could finish, an unexpected voice spoke up, answering Son Goku.
Son Goku and Vegeta both turned to look.
There, standing on the Heavenly Temple, were Wang Shen, Lazuli, Android 17, and Android 16.
Piccolo, Krillin, and Tien Shinhan were there too.
They had all arrived without anyone noticing.
Wang Shen had also heard the entire conversation between Vegeta and Son Goku.
"Huh? How did you all get up here?"
Son Goku was startled to see so many people.
"Son Goku, I've heard a lot about you. I actually watched you fight on Namek back then."
Wang Shen walked up to Son Goku and Vegeta with a smile.
Since the story had already changed, he couldn't afford to worry about the effect he might have on Son Goku anymore.
Three Saiyans stood side by side!
Only—
Looking at Wang Shen and Vegeta, both with golden hair, Son Goku couldn't help wondering if he'd somehow fallen behind and no longer fit in.
Wang Shen saw Vegeta's golden hair and sensed his unusual aura, so different from that of an ordinary Saiyan. He was genuinely happy for him.
"Congratulations, Vegeta. You've also mastered Super Saiyan Full Power!"
Son Goku cut in. "You're Karotis, right?"
"That's right."
Wang Shen nodded.
"You can also call me by my Earth name, Wang Shen!"
"So you have an Earth name too. That's great."
"Vegeta keeps calling me by my Saiyan name. I can't get him to stop."
"Kakarot, we Saiyans are a powerful warrior race in the universe. You should be proud of that."
"And you too, Karotis. In any case, I'm not giving myself some Earth name!"
Vegeta reprimanded Son Goku and Wang Shen, his expression deadly serious.
He truly regarded his Saiyan heritage as the greatest pride of his life.
Vegeta glanced at the three androids behind Wang Shen and said gravely:
"Karotis, you're with those androids again."
At that, Wang Shen's cheerful expression turned serious.
"Actually, I came up here to tell you all about the androids."
Hearing that the Earth was in danger, Son Goku dropped his carefree grin as well.
Trunks glanced at Lazuli and the others, then asked anxiously:
"Has the android crisis already begun?"
Everyone's attention was now fixed on him, and Wang Shen finally spoke:
"I've said it many times: the Android 17 and Android 18 from the future are evil, but the androids in our world are kind by nature."
"At least, they haven't killed anyone so far."
Seeing Wang Shen still standing up for her, Lazuli felt a warm current flow through her heart, lingering there.
She gazed at the spirited Wang Shen with tender eyes.
Wang Shen continued:
"What I'm saying is that the real android crisis in our world is Cell."
Piccolo and Krillin nodded firmly.
Wang Shen looked at Vegeta, who had just mastered Super Saiyan Full Power, and couldn't help grinning.
"Unlike Android 17 and the others, Cell can grow stronger."
"If he absorbs Android 17 and Android 18, he'll develop into his Perfect Form. At that point, even Super Saiyan Full Power won't be a match for him!"
Of course, he meant ordinary Full Power, not Wang Shen's overpowered version.
"What!?"
Vegeta cried out in shock.
Wang Shen fought back a smile and said:
"I thought Cell would show up while Android 17 and Piccolo were both badly hurt, then ambush Android 17. But he never appeared, and I couldn't sense even the slightest trace of his ki."
"So Cell has disappeared for now."
Son Goku furrowed his brow, a sense of unease rising in his heart as well.
He had also been keeping an eye out for Cell, but had never sensed his ki or discovered where he had gone.
Krillin asked in confusion:
"If Cell's disappeared, isn't that even better? Then he won't come out and cause trouble."
"No."
Piccolo objected:
"I've fought Cell. His ambitions are great. He wouldn't just disappear without a word. He must be plotting something bigger."
"Maybe he saw that Android 17 and Android 18 were always with Wang Shen, leaving him no chance to get to them, so he went looking for another way to achieve his Perfect Form."
Piccolo looked at Wang Shen and speculated.
He had experienced Wang Shen's strength firsthand.
His strongest attack hadn't made the slightest ripple against him.
And Cell was weaker than he was.
At that, Wang Shen suddenly remembered something and asked Trunks:
"Trunks, did you go inside Dr. Gero's lab and destroy Cell's embryo?"
Trunks paused, then nodded.
"Krillin and I destroyed it together."
"Then there's nothing we can do."
Wang Shen pursed his lips, still unable to make sense of it.
"Then we'll just have to meet whatever comes our way."
Wang Shen wasn't afraid of Cell reaching his Perfect Form. He was just unsettled by how the story had suddenly slipped out of his control.
It seemed he couldn't rely too much on the story he knew.
This was a real world.
Even the smallest change could bring countless others in its wake.
In the end, he would still have to rely on his own strength to solve everything.
"Exactly!"
Son Goku agreed:
"Since we can't keep track of Cell, we'll do everything we can to grow stronger and prepare for whatever dangers might come."
"Cell will show himself sooner or later."
Son Goku was full of energy. Sensing the strange yet powerful auras of Wang Shen and Vegeta filled him with longing.
"Next, I'm going into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to break through too!"
"Gohan!"
"Yes, Dad!"
Son Gohan had been staying with Son Goku at the Heavenly Temple the whole time.
As if infected by Son Goku's fighting spirit, Wang Shen smiled in satisfaction.
That was Son Goku for you!
But don't worry. Whatever changes may come, I'll be there to cover for you.
I promise!
Cell, you'd better get stronger. Otherwise, I won't be able to fight without holding back.
Before you continue