The Final Chapter of the Legend

The moment the words "final strike" fell, the entire world went silent.

Frieza's energy surged to its limit.

Black energy burned like the flames of hell beneath the collapsing firmament of Namek. There was no fear on his face, only pure madness and a desire for destruction.

"Kakarot."

"Today, either you die, or this planet goes down with you!"

He held his hands high.

"Destroy!" Black energy condensed into a massive sphere of light in his palms. It was not a normal energy attack; it was a terrifying power capable of obliterating an entire planet!

"Destruction Ball!" A purple-black pillar of light shot into the sky, piercing the heavens!

The sky of Namek tore open completely. What shone through the cracks was no longer starlight, but the scorching red glow of magma; the entire planet was screaming in agony.

I stood in the distance, watching that pillar of black light.

So this is... the full-power strike of the Emperor of the Universe...

In the original story, Frieza used this move to nearly kill my old man...

But that was the original story.

I clenched my fists.

The ending of this world, I will write it.

"Gohan," Goku's voice reached me.

I looked up.

That golden figure was hovering in the air, his golden aura burning to an unprecedented height. His back looked incredibly imposing amidst the light.

"Watch closely."

He did not turn his head.

But I knew he was smiling at me.

"This is the power of your father."

The next instant, he moved.

"Ka-me-ha-me-ha!"

Blue light erupted from his palms!

But this time, it was no longer ordinary blue!

The golden aura and the blue light intertwined and fused, transforming into a brilliant pillar of light—a Super Kamehameha of gold and blue.

The beam shot out!

It met Frieza's Destruction Ball head-on!

"Boom!"

Two world-shattering energies collided in the air!

The sky of Namek exploded.

That is not a metaphor.

It truly shattered.

The golden pillar of light and the black pillar of light clashed violently against the firmament of Namek!

The shockwave swept out in all directions like a physical tsunami!

"Urgh!" My body was blown away, my back slamming hard against a giant boulder. "Cough, cough..." Blood spilled from the corner of my mouth.

But I did not close my eyes.

I stared fixedly at that golden light.

Please... old man...

On the battlefield, the clash between the two energies reached a fever pitch!

The golden Kamehameha and the black Destruction Ball remained deadlocked in the air!

"Hahahaha!" Frieza laughed wildly. "Is this it?! Kakarot! You thought this level—"

"Shut up."

Goku's voice cut him off.

The golden aura surged once more!

"I haven't..."

His energy broke through a certain threshold!

"...finished yet!"

That was not a normal burst.

That was a resolve that transcended limits!

In that moment, the golden light overwhelmed the black!

"Wh-what?!" For the first time, Frieza's expression wavered!

"Impossible! How could my full power be surpassed!"

Goku did not answer.

His figure turned into a golden meteor, charging straight toward Frieza!

"Final strike!"

Golden energy enveloped his entire body!

"Ka-me-ha-me-ha!"

This time, he did not fire an energy wave.

He was the energy wave itself!

"No—impossible!"

Frieza's eyes widened in terror.

He tried to defend.

But it was already too late!

"Boom!"

The golden light pierced through the black!

Frieza's body was swallowed by the golden radiance!

The black Destruction Ball collapsed under the impact of the golden light!

"Aaaaaaaaah—"

Frieza's screams echoed beneath the sky of Namek.

His body plummeted continuously within the golden light.

One strike.

Two strikes.

Three strikes.

Golden energy blasts rained down like a meteor shower, crazily pounding his body!

"First strike!"

"For this planet!"

"Second strike!"

"For everyone you killed!"

"Third strike!"

"For my son!"

The final strike.

Goku's figure appeared directly above Frieza!

His fist condensed with golden energy.

"Su-per-Ka-me-ha-me-ha!"

A massive golden pillar of light descended from the heavens!

"No—!"

Frieza's scream was cut short.

"BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The firmament of Namek.

Shattered completely.

Golden light swallowed everything.

When the light dissipated.

Frieza's figure appeared before my eyes.

He was kneeling on the ground.

Charred all over.

On the verge of death.

The once-arrogant Emperor of the Universe now looked as pathetic as a stray dog.

"Heh... hehe..."

He raised his head, his lips pulling into a twisted smile.

"Kakarot... you won..."

"But..."

A flash of madness crossed his eyes.

"This planet... should be destroyed as well."

No sooner had he spoken.

"Crack."

The entire ground shook violently!

"Crack, crack, crack—!!!"

Larger fissures appeared!

Magma surged out from the cracks!

"Namek is going to explode!" I screamed!

Goku's expression changed as well.

"Gohan! Come here quickly!"

"I know!"

I sprinted toward him!

Just then.

"Crack."

Frieza stood up.

He stood up shakily, his energy nearly depleted. But the crazed smile on his face was more hideous than ever.

"Kakarot..."

His voice was hoarse and twisted.

"Did you think... I would let you and your son... escape alive?"

He raised his hand.

The last sliver of black energy was condensing in his palm.

"Even if I die, I'm taking you with me!"

"Old man!"

My voice was sharp and desperate!

But Goku did not dodge.

He stood where he was.

Then he smiled.

"Frieza."

His voice was calm.

"Thank you."

"...What?" Frieza froze.

"Thank you... for letting me surpass myself."

Goku raised his head, his golden aura burning once more.

"And thank you for letting me realize one thing."

"What... what thing...?"

"I have a wonderful son."

The next instant, Goku's figure vanished.

Not Instant Transmission.

He was just too fast to see!

"Bang!"

A fist slammed hard into Frieza's abdomen!

Frieza's eyes widened as he looked down at that golden fist.

"You..."

"This punch is for Gohan."

Goku's voice came from behind him.

"Because you... made him worry."

"Bang!!"

Another punch landed.

"This punch is for Namek."

"Because you... destroyed their home."

"The last punch."

Goku stood before Frieza.

"Is for yourself."

"Because you... are a worthy opponent."

"Bang!!!"

Frieza's body collapsed once more.

This time, he would never stand again.

"Gohan!!"

Goku reached out his hand toward me.

"Let's go home!"

I did not hesitate.

I rushed forward and gripped his hand tightly.

"Yeah!!"

The next instant.

"Instant Transmission!!"

Golden light enveloped us.

When the light faded, we had appeared in the space outside Namek.

And within our view, that azure planet was slowly collapsing.

"Boom."

A massive fissure spread across the planet's surface.

"Boom."

Another one followed.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!!!"

The entire planet exploded.

Namek, in the dark of space, transformed into a brilliant firework.

Goku and I hovered in the void, watching that "firework."

We remained silent for a long time.

"Dad..."

My voice was a bit hoarse.

"We... survived."

"Yeah."

Goku's voice was very soft.

"We survived."

He turned his head to look at me.

That face, usually filled with a silly grin, was now covered in blood and scars.

But his eyes were gentler than ever before.

"Gohan."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"...Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for... believing in me."

He reached out and gently ruffled my hair.

"And..."

"For letting me know I have such a great son."

At that moment, my eyes suddenly grew hot.

(Damn it, being reincarnated as a four-year-old makes it so easy to cry.)

(It's definitely not that I want to cry.)

(Definitely not.)

I rubbed my eyes hard.

"Dad, that... Super Kamehameha..."

"Oh, that." Goku scratched his head. "I wanted to come up with a cooler name, but then I realized..."

"Realized what?"

"Kamehameha is still the best."

"..."

I looked at him, speechless.

He really was that natural-born airhead of a dad.

"However..."

Goku's smile faded slightly.

"That move... I can probably only use it once."

"What do you mean?"

"Power that transcends limits... comes at a high price."

He raised his hand and looked at his fist.

"For a while now... I might not be able to turn into a Super Saiyan again."

My expression changed.

"Then—"

"Don't worry." Goku waved his hand. "Krillin and the others should have already returned. Once we get back to Earth... a good rest will be enough."

"Besides," he ruffled my hair again.

"Now, I have a Super Saiyan son."

"Even if I can't transform... I still have you."

"..."

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something.

But in the end, nothing came out.

I just silently clenched my fists.

(Don't worry, Dad.)

(I will help you protect the ending of this world.)

(I won't let anyone... take anyone away from you ever again.)

In the distance, the explosion of Namek continued.

But within that sea of light, I saw something slowly rising.

"What is that?" I pointed toward the glow.

Goku followed my finger.

"...Dragon Balls?"

Indeed.

The seven Dragon Balls of Namek had survived the explosion.

They were slowly drifting into the depths of space.

"When Krillin and the others get back..." Goku mused, "we can make our wishes, right?"

"What wishes?"

"A lot, I guess." Goku smiled. "Bring Piccolo back to life... let everyone return to Earth..."

"And," he looked at me.

"Thank you, Gohan."

"For finishing this battle with me."

I was stunned for a moment.

Then, I smiled too.

"Dad."

"Yeah?"

"We're father and son."

"Isn't it only natural for a father and son to fight together?"

Goku's smile became incredibly radiant at that moment.

"You're right."

He reached out his hand.

"Let's go, Gohan."

"Let's go home."

I gripped his hand.

Golden light enveloped us once more.

Amidst the firelight of Namek's destruction, two figures slowly vanished.

Namek was destroyed.

Frieza was defeated.

But this was not the end.

This was only the beginning of the legend.

When the name of the Super Saiyan resounds throughout the universe, when the Prince of the Saiyans trains bitterly on Earth, and when enemies from afar sense this energy, a new storm will be brewing.

But that is a story for another time.

(Namek Saga: Complete)

(The tyrant wasn't blown to bits; he was left with a breath of life. Protagonist's internal monologue: You better remember this, Frieza. I'll beat you to a pulp next time we meet!)