Go Find the Fat Black Guy

Over the past week, they had constantly pestered Adult Gohan about the method to transform into a Super Saiyan 4.

Consequently, Adult Gohan gave them the most vivid lesson possible.

"The Super Saiyan transformation, at its core, is merely a multiplier of your base combat power," Adult Gohan said, holding up a finger. His tone was calm yet carried an unquestionable certainty. "Super Saiyan 1 is fifty times, Super Saiyan 2 is twice that of Super Saiyan 1, and Super Saiyan 3 is four times that of Super Saiyan 2. You are always obsessed with breaking through to higher forms, yet you neglect the most fundamental thing—training your base state."

Adult Gohan pointed toward Trunks in the distance. "If your base state is only ten million, the four-hundred-fold increase of Super Saiyan 3 is only four billion. But what if you pushed your base state to one hundred million, or even ten billion? As long as your foundation is sufficiently vast, even if you only maintain the highly efficient Super Saiyan 1 Full Power state, you could easily crush an opponent who is forced to transform into a Super Saiyan 2 or 3."

Vegeta gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached, his fists clenching until they cracked, but he did not refute the point. Even when he and Kakarot joined forces, they couldn't overcome Trunks' sheer brute strength, not even after transforming.

How could he not understand this logic? It was just that the stimulation of seeing Kakarot transform into a Super Saiyan 2 left him feeling truly unwilling to accept it. Ever since hearing Adult Gohan's theory, Vegeta had been acting like a madman these past few days, spending every spare moment in the Gravity Chamber, pushing his base limits to the brink under hundreds of times the normal gravity.

He swore that he would absolutely surpass Kakarot in his base state, and then use that base state to beat him until he couldn't lift his head!

"Gohan is right," Goku said with a grin, golden ki slowly burning around his body.

His hair instantly spiked upward, and fine blue sparks began to dance around him.

Crackle!

An aura, far more violent than the Super Saiyan 1 Full Power state, erupted into the air.

Super Saiyan 2!

Goku had not only broken through the bottleneck of Super Saiyan 1 Full Power, but in this short week, with Adult Gohan's guidance, he had completely mastered the Super Saiyan 2 transformation.

"This feeling is truly amazing," Goku said, clenching his fists and feeling the power within him, which was far greater than before. He turned to look at Adult Gohan. "However, I'm still a long way off from that base threshold you mentioned."

Seeing this, Vegeta gnashed his teeth even harder. This guy clearly had enough power with Super Saiyan 1, yet he insisted on transforming into Super Saiyan 2 just to show off—he was clearly doing it to provoke him!

Adult Gohan nodded. "Father, Super Saiyan 2 is merely a transition. Polishing your base state to the absolute limit is the true key to reaching Super Saiyan 4 and beyond."

Vegeta looked at Goku, who was wreathed in lightning, his eyes red with jealousy.

"Kakarot!" Vegeta roared. "Don't think that just because you're a step ahead, you can get cocky! I will trample you all under my feet sooner or later!"

With that, Vegeta erupted in a blinding golden light, entering his Super Saiyan 1 Full Power state, and flew off toward the distant wilderness without looking back, clearly searching for a place to continue his self-torturous training.

"Vegeta is still as energetic as ever," Goku laughed heartily, then deactivated his Super Saiyan 2 state, returning to his black hair.

Watching this scene, Adult Gohan felt a sense of relief.

The crisis of Cell had been resolved, and everyone now had a clear direction for their training. Without that sense of despair from being on the defensive, everyone was now in an atmosphere of extremely healthy competition.

Everything seemed to be moving in the best possible direction.

"Gohan," Goku suddenly stopped smiling and turned to look at him. "What do you plan to do next? Why not stay here and live with us?"

Piccolo also turned his gaze toward him.

Adult Gohan was silent for a moment, his eyes drifting toward Trunks in the azure sky.

"I need to find a way to restore the timeline I came from," Adult Gohan said, taking a deep breath. "But before that, I want to pay a visit to Kami's Palace."

"Kami's Palace? To see Dende?" Piccolo couldn't help but interject.

"No," Adult Gohan narrowed his eyes slightly. "To see Mr. Popo."

Ever since the day Cell was destroyed, Adult Gohan had felt that something was off. Back then, in space, he had vaguely sensed a gaze from Earth—one that was extremely profound, yet deliberately hidden—watching him.

It wasn't an illusion.

And the source of that gaze was the direction of the ruins of Kami's Palace.

"Mr. Popo?" Goku asked, puzzled. "What about him?"

"I don't know," Adult Gohan shook his head. "But my intuition tells me that perhaps Mr. Popo knows a way to save my timeline."

This was the result of his careful deliberation. If he were to seek out the Super Dragon Balls, he would inevitably have to face the God of Destruction and the Angels, and his current strength was far from enough to handle that. If there was a safer alternative, that would be best; if not, he would have no choice but to take the risk.

Goku was stunned. "Even things that Shenron can't do..."

"Just because Earth's Shenron can't do it doesn't mean other existences can't." In Adult Gohan's mind, the image of those massive Super Dragon Balls flashed, along with that black, stout figure who had always remained hidden in the depths of Kami's Palace.

Popo, this servant of the gods who had lived for who knew how many years, was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

But compared to the Angels and the God of Destruction, Adult Gohan subconsciously felt that the path involving Popo would be easier to navigate.

Adult Gohan patted Goku on the shoulder. "Father, keep training. Trunks and I will head out first."

Whoosh!

Adult Gohan called Trunks over, then placed two fingers to his forehead. Using Instant Transmission, the two vanished from the spot.

He had already spoken to Trunks about the matter of restoring the future timeline.

Goku watched the direction where the two had disappeared, scratching his head thoughtfully, before turning to shout at Piccolo:

"Hey, Piccolo! Come and spar with me!"

Kami's Palace.

At the edge of the empty plaza, Dende and Popo stood quietly at the edge of the sanctuary, overlooking the sea of clouds below.

Whoosh.

The figures of Adult Gohan and Trunks appeared out of thin air behind Popo.

"Master Popo," Son Gohan began.

Popo did not turn around, his voice as calm and ethereal as ever, devoid of the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"You have come, Son Gohan and Trunks from another timeline."

Son Gohan and Trunks walked to Popo's side, following his gaze toward the world below.

Beneath them lay a vast, rolling expanse of clouds, spreading softly into the distance, accompanied by the gentle breeze that occasionally swept across the Lookout.

Having endured a series of fierce battles, the Earth appeared so peaceful and tranquil at this moment.

Son Gohan got straight to the point, "The main reason we came this time is to ask for your guidance on a matter, Master Popo."

Popo slowly turned his head, his round, rippleless eyes fixed directly on Son Gohan.

"Regarding that destroyed timeline, is it not?"

Son Gohan's gaze sharpened. He had said nothing, yet Popo already knew his intent, which sent a faint chill down his spine.

"That's right. The Earth's Shenron cannot restore the timeline. Master Popo, you must know of other ways, don't you? Please, tell us quickly." Trunks stared into Popo's eyes, desperate to hear an answer from him.

Popo remained silent for a long time.

Just as Son Gohan began to think he would not answer, Popo suddenly turned and walked toward the inner passage deep within the Lookout.

"Follow me," Popo's voice echoed faintly in their ears.