Beast Awakening

Deep beneath West City, in the underground base's gravity chamber, Son Gohan sat cross-legged at its center, bare-chested. Three hundred times Earth's gravity pressed down on him. The air felt as solid as iron, and every breath took all his strength. His muscles trembled under the immense pressure. Sweat ran down his forehead and dripped onto the floor, evaporating instantly.

He had been sitting here for three days and nights. No food, no water, no sleep. His body was hovering at its limit, but his mind had entered a state unlike any he had experienced before. Ever since Majin Buu was defeated, Gohan had been searching for a way to break through his Mystic Form. The "Beast Form" Kashu had taught him in the parallel world was only a prototype; he still had a long way to go before he could truly complete it. "The essence of Beast Form isn't transformation," Kashu had once told him. "It's a return—to your most primal, purest self. In that state, there are no restraints of reason, no interference from emotion. Only the instinct to fight."

Gohan had tried many times, but each time he failed just as he was about to reach that state. His reason was too strong, his emotions too rich. He couldn't fight with the same purity as a beast.

But this time was different. Videl was pregnant. The news had been announced three weeks ago. The moment Gohan heard it, his mind went blank. Then a feeling unlike any he had known before welled up inside him—not joy, not fear, but something deeper, something rising from the very depths of his bloodline. Protection.

He would protect his child. At any cost. The thought was a key, opening a door deep within him that had never been opened before.

The first signs of Beast Form began to appear. But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. He needed to fully master the form and raise his power to the divine realm, because he knew there were beings in the universe stronger than Majin Buu. Kashu had warned him, and the Supreme Kai had hinted at it too. The real threat had yet to arrive.

The gravity chamber door opened, and Piccolo walked in. Even the Namekian's body struggled under three hundred times gravity, but he persevered, walking over to Gohan and sitting cross-legged in front of him. "Your ki is fluctuating," Piccolo said. "It's very unstable." Gohan opened his eyes, bloodshot. "I can't control it. Every time I get close to that state, my consciousness starts to blur, as if I'm going to lose myself." "Then lose yourself," Piccolo said. Gohan stared at him. "What?" "You're too focused on control," Piccolo said. "A true beast doesn't control itself. It just... exists. The more you try to control yourself, the farther you get from that state. Let go of control and let your instincts guide you." "But what if I lose my reason and hurt someone?" "You won't," Piccolo said. "Because your instinct is to protect, not destroy. Saiyan battle instincts flow through your blood, but so does an Earthling's gentleness. Those two things aren't contradictory. They can coexist."

Gohan fell silent. He closed his eyes and tried again. This time, he didn't try to control anything. He let his thoughts drift, his body relax, and his instincts take over.

The gravity in the chamber began to change—not because Gohan adjusted it, but because his body was adapting on its own. Three hundred times, four hundred, five hundred... The number kept climbing, but Gohan's body remained perfectly still. Piccolo stood and backed away a few steps. He could feel Gohan's ki changing rapidly. It was no longer a frenzied burst, but a calm, profound expansion, like a star slowly igniting within him. Gohan's body began to glow. It wasn't the gold of Super Saiyan or the silver of Mystic Form, but a deep, primal golden light tinged with dark red. His hair began to grow, changing from short to shoulder-length. Its color shifted from black to deep gold, with red glowing at the tips. His eyes became slit-pupiled, their irises a deep crimson like burning coals. His muscles didn't swell; instead, his frame grew leaner, his lines more fluid. No aura flared around him, only a faint glow like moonlight on water. Beast Form. Complete.

Gohan opened his eyes, and Piccolo's reflection appeared in those slit pupils. He could see the flow of energy inside Piccolo, the rhythm of every cell. He could even see the worry and pride in Piccolo's heart. "Piccolo," Gohan said, his voice low and calm. "I can see it." "See what?" "Everything."

Gohan raised his right hand, palm up. A small energy sphere gathered in his palm. It wasn't gold or red, but a deep purple, like a miniature black hole. The sphere spun, warping the air around it as light was drawn inside. "Is that... divine energy?" Piccolo's voice trembled slightly.

"Not exactly," Gohan said. "It's something between divine energy and mortal power. Kashu's God Form is pure sacred energy, while my Beast Form is primal life energy. They share the same source, but manifest differently." He clenched his fist, and the energy sphere vanished. "I've reached the threshold of the divine realm. I just need to take one more step to truly enter it." Piccolo drew a deep breath. "How long will it take?" "I don't know. Maybe a day, maybe a year, maybe I'll never cross that threshold. But I won't give up." Gohan stood, and Beast Form gradually faded, returning him to normal. His hair turned back to short black, his eyes to deep brown, and the gentle scholar returned. "Piccolo, thank you." "For what?" "For always reminding me who I am." Piccolo turned away so Gohan wouldn't see his expression. "Enough nonsense. Go eat. Chi-Chi's been yelling at you for days." Gohan smiled and left the gravity chamber. The base's main training hall.

Kashu stood at the center of the training hall, waiting for Gohan. He had already heard about Gohan's breakthrough and wanted to see the true power of Beast Form for himself.

Android 18 sat in the stands with a cup of tea in her hand. Her belly had begun to swell slightly—she was four months pregnant. Kashu's child was growing inside her and was expected to be born in another five months. This was Kashu's first time becoming a father. He still seemed calm, but Android 18 could feel how nervous he was. Every night, he placed a hand on her belly and used divine energy to sense the baby's vital signs. He would sit there for a long time, saying nothing, simply feeling.

"Ready?" Kashu asked Gohan. Gohan nodded and transformed into Beast Form. Kashu's brow creased slightly. "That ki... it isn't divine energy, but it's very close."

"Piccolo said it's primal life energy," Gohan said. "He's right," Kashu replied. "Divine energy is the energy of the universe, the energy of order and rules. Yours is the energy of life, the energy of chaos and evolution. They're yin and yang." He took a fighting stance. "Come on. Show me your limits." Gohan moved.

He was so fast that even Kashu could barely follow his afterimage. A fist shot in from the side. Kashu raised his hand to block, and fist met palm. The impact sent a shock wave through the training hall, cracking the walls. Kashu took a step back. It was the first time he had ever retreated in a fight. Gohan gave him no time to catch his breath. He attacked relentlessly, using both fists and feet, every strike carrying the primal power of Beast Form. His fighting style had changed completely. Gone was his old, academic approach; now he fought with a more direct, more ferocious style—biting like a beast, pouncing like a tiger. Kashu blocked most of the attacks, but a few punches slipped through his guard and struck his shoulder and stomach. The protective barrier of God Form cracked under the power of Beast Form. "Not bad," Kashu said, approval flashing in his eyes. "You can hurt me now." He stopped defending and counterattacked. The full power of God Form 2 burst forth, white light illuminating the entire training hall.

The two clashed fiercely in the training hall, moving so fast that Android 18 could see only afterimages from the stands. The air tore apart, the ground shattered, and waves of energy continued to spread as the training hall's protective barrier flickered at its limit. "That's enough," Kashu said, suddenly stopping. Gohan stopped too, panting. Beast Form drained his stamina heavily; he could maintain it for only ten minutes or so. "Your Beast Form is powerful," Kashu said, "but it has two problems. First, it lacks endurance. Second, you lose some of your reason in that state, and your fighting technique suffers." "I know," Gohan said. "I'm trying to figure out how to solve that." "I suggest you not use reason to fight your instincts," Kashu said. "Instead, fuse instinct and technique. You aren't a beast; you're a beast with reason. Your advantage is that you can still think tactically in Beast Form." Gohan pondered this. "Let me help you," Kashu said. "I'll use divine energy to simulate different enemies' fighting styles, and you can practice against them in Beast Form over and over, until your body remembers how to stay calm in the middle of a frenzy." "All right." They began another round of training. Android 18 sipped her tea, watching her husband and his student work up a sweat in the training hall. She touched her belly, feeling the heartbeat of the little life within. "Your daddy's a workaholic," she whispered, "but he's a good man." The baby kicked, as if in reply. Android 18 smiled. A month later.

Kashu and Android 18's home stood on a hillside outside West City. It wasn't large, but it was cozy, with white walls, a red roof, and flowers growing all around it. A large tree stood in front, shading a stone table and a few stone stools. Android 18 sat in its shade with a parenting book in her hands. She didn't much like reading, but Bulma had said she should read more during pregnancy for the baby's sake. She forced herself through a few pages, then tossed the book aside. "Boring," she muttered. Kashu came out of the house carrying a bowl of soup. "Chi-Chi made it. She said it's good for pregnant women." Android 18 took the bowl and sipped it. "It's too bland." "Chi-Chi said not to add too much salt." "Then add some chili peppers." "Chili peppers aren't good for the baby." Android 18 rolled her eyes. "When did you get so fussy?" Kashu smiled faintly and sat beside her. He reached out and touched her belly, feeling the baby move. "He's kicking," Kashu said. "Of course he's kicking. He inherited your combative genes." "Maybe he inherited yours too." Android 18 snorted. "I'm not combative." "You wanted to fight me the first time we met." "That was because you were so arrogant." They looked at each other, then both laughed. The sun sank in the west, golden light falling over them. Android 18 leaned against Kashu's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Kashu, what do you think our child will be like?" "I don't know," Kashu said, "but he'll definitely be strong." "I don't want him to be too strong," Android 18 said. "I just want him to be safe and happy." Kashu fell silent for a moment. "I'll protect him." "I know." They sat there together, watching the sun slowly set and the stars appear one by one. In the distance, West City blazed with lights, shining beneath the night sky. That was the place they protected. That was their home.