For the past week, they had kept pestering Son Gohan to teach them how to transform into a Super Saiyan 4.
So Son Gohan had given them the most vivid lesson of all.
"Transforming into a Super Saiyan is, at its core, just a multiplier of your base power." Son Gohan raised one finger, his tone calm but utterly certain. "Super Saiyan 1 is fifty times your base power. Super Saiyan 2 is twice as strong as Super Saiyan 1, and Super Saiyan 3 is four times stronger than Super Saiyan 2. You're always fixated on breaking through to higher forms, but you're overlooking what matters most—the training of your base form."
Son Gohan pointed toward Trunks in the distance. "If your base power is only ten million, Super Saiyan 3 multiplies it by just four hundred, giving you four billion. But what if you raised your base power to a hundred million, or even ten billion? As long as your base power is high enough, you can easily crush an opponent who forces himself into Super Saiyan 2 or 3, even while staying in the low-drain Super Saiyan Full Power state."
Vegeta gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked, but he didn't argue. He and Kakarot couldn't even beat Trunks through sheer force, and transforming hadn't helped.
How could he not understand the principle? It was just that seeing Kakarot reach Super Saiyan 2 had left him seething with frustration. Ever since hearing Son Gohan's theory, Vegeta had been practically insane with training, spending every spare moment in the Gravity Chamber and pushing his base form to the limit under hundreds or thousands of times normal gravity.
He swore he would surpass Kakarot in his base form once and for all, then beat him so badly he wouldn't be able to lift his head!
"Gohan's right." Goku grinned, golden flames slowly flickering around him.
His hair shot straight up, and fine blue lightning began to crackle around his body.
Crackle!
An aura far more violent than Super Saiyan Full Power erupted.
Super Saiyan 2!
Goku had not only broken through the bottleneck of Super Saiyan Full Power, but had also completely mastered the Super Saiyan 2 transformation with Son Gohan's guidance in just one week.
"This feels incredible." Goku clenched and unclenched his fists, savoring the power surging through him. Then he turned to Son Gohan. "But I'm still a long way from that base-power threshold you mentioned."
Vegeta gritted his teeth even harder. The idiot could have stopped at Super Saiyan 1, but he just had to transform into Super Saiyan 2 to show off. He was obviously trying to provoke him!
Son Gohan nodded. "Father, Super Saiyan 2 is only a stepping stone. Perfecting your base form is the true key to reaching Super Saiyan 4 and beyond."
Vegeta stared at Goku, lightning coiling around his body, and grew so jealous his eyes reddened.
"Kakarot!" Vegeta roared. "Don't think you can get cocky just because you're one step ahead! I'll put all of you beneath my feet sooner or later!"
With that, Vegeta burst into a dazzling golden glow and went straight into Super Saiyan Full Power. Without looking back, he flew toward the distant wilderness, clearly off to find somewhere to continue his punishing training.
"Vegeta's still got plenty of spirit," Goku laughed. Then he dropped out of Super Saiyan 2 and returned to his black-haired state.
Watching them, Son Gohan felt a wave of relief.
Cell's threat had been eliminated, and everyone now had a clear direction for their training. They no longer felt the despair of being helplessly beaten. Instead, they were caught up in an extremely healthy spirit of competition.
Everything seemed to be moving in the best possible direction.
"Gohan." Goku suddenly stopped smiling and turned to him. "What are you going to do now? Why not stay here and live with us?"
Piccolo also turned his gaze toward him.
Son Gohan fell silent for a moment, then looked toward Trunks in the blue sky.
"I'm going to find a way to restore the timeline I came from." Son Gohan took a deep breath. "But before that, I want to visit Kami's Palace."
"Kami's Palace? To see Dende?" Piccolo couldn't help asking.
"No." Son Gohan narrowed his eyes slightly. "I want to see Mr. Popo."
Ever since the day Cell was defeated, Son Gohan had felt that something was off. Back then, in outer space, he had faintly sensed an incredibly deep gaze watching him from Earth, deliberately concealed.
It hadn't been his imagination.
And that gaze had come from the direction of the ruins of Kami's Palace.
"Mr. Popo?" Goku asked, puzzled. "What about him?"
"I don't know." Son Gohan shook his head. "My instincts just tell me that Mr. Popo might know a way to save the timeline."
He had thought it through carefully. If he went looking for the Super Dragon Balls, he would inevitably have to face the God of Destruction and the Angel. He was still nowhere near strong enough to contend with them, so if there was an alternative, that would be best. If not, he would have no choice but to take the risk.
Goku blinked. "Even Shenron couldn't do it..."
"Just because Earth's Shenron can't do it doesn't mean no one else can." Adult Gohan pictured the enormous Super Dragon Balls, as well as the black fatso hidden deep within Kami's Palace, who had always kept his true abilities concealed.
Popo, that immortal servant who had lived for who knew how many years, was definitely not as simple as he seemed.
Still, compared to the Angel and the God of Destruction, Son Gohan instinctively felt that Popo's path would be easier.
Son Gohan patted Goku on the shoulder. "Father, you keep training. Trunks and I will head out first."
Whoosh!
Son Gohan called Trunks over, then pressed two fingers to his forehead. Instant Transmission activated, and the two vanished from the spot.
He had already told Trunks about restoring the Future Timeline.
Goku stared thoughtfully at the spot where Son Gohan and Trunks had disappeared, scratched his head, then turned to shout at Piccolo:
"Hey, Piccolo! Come spar with me!"
Kami's Palace.
At the edge of the vast courtyard, Dende and Popo stood quietly at the edge of the palace, gazing down at the sea of clouds below.
Whoosh.
Son Gohan and Trunks appeared out of nowhere behind Popo.
"Mr. Popo," Son Gohan said.
Popo didn't turn around. His voice was as calm and ethereal as ever, without the slightest hint of emotion.
"You're here, Son Gohan and Trunks from another timeline."
Son Gohan and Trunks walked up beside Popo and followed his gaze down toward the world below.
A vast stretch of clouds rolled beneath them, flowing softly into the distance, while a gentle breeze occasionally swept past the palace.
After a series of fierce battles, Earth was now so peaceful and serene.
Son Gohan got straight to the point. "We came here to ask you about something, Mr. Popo."
Popo slowly turned. His round, expressionless eyes fixed on Son Gohan.
"It's about the timeline that was destroyed, isn't it?"
Son Gohan's gaze sharpened. He hadn't said a word, yet Popo already knew why he had come. A chill crept over him.
"That's right. Earth's Shenron can't restore a timeline. Mr. Popo, you must know another way, don't you? Please, tell us quickly." Trunks stared into Popo's eyes, desperate to get an answer from him.
Popo was silent for a long time.
So long that Son Gohan thought he wouldn't answer. Then Popo suddenly turned and walked toward the passage leading deeper into the palace.
"Come with me." Popo's voice drifted eerily in their ears.
Before you continue