Tien Shinhan's Despair

In the depths of space, a purple expanse stretched out. A palace shaped like an inverted pyramid floated at its center, connected to an enormous tree.

Inside the palace, a slender, athletic figure who resembled a hairless purple cat lounged lazily on a sofa, deep in thought.

"I've been dreaming nonstop these past few years. It's kept me from sleeping properly, which is why I woke up so early."

"Lord Beerus, what was the name of the person in your dream?" Whis scooped up a spoonful of dessert and savored it.

"Something like... Super Saiyan God."

Near Mount Paozu, in a beautiful spot, Son Gohan and Son Goku sparred as usual.

"Ah-da-da-da-da-da!"

In an instant, their bodies collided hundreds of times. They fought from the ground into the sky, waves of energy surging like a raging tide and frightening away all the birds and beasts nearby.

"Dad, it's getting late. We should go home for dinner." Son Gohan stopped attacking.

"Yeah, we shouldn't keep Chi-Chi waiting." The two of them flew toward home together.

Son Gohan spread his arms and enjoyed the free wind. Two years had already passed since Cell's defeat.

The Z Fighters had not neglected their training either. From time to time, they would go to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to spar. Dende had remodeled the place, removing its time and usage limits.

However, without a life-or-death crisis driving them, no one could stay inside for too long. It was simply too dull.

Chi-Chi had prepared a huge table full of food. Humming a tune as she arranged the dishes, she seemed to have lost much of her temper now that the family had plenty of money.

"Mom, we're back!"

The moment Son Gohan reached the door, a tiny figure darted out of the house and wrapped itself around his leg.

"Big Brother!"

A little child craned his neck up with all his might and called out in a crisp voice. He looked exactly like Son Goku had as a child.

"Goten, you snuck food from the kitchen again, didn't you?" Son Gohan bent down, picked the child up, and wiped the grease from his mouth with a doting smile.

This child was Son Goku and Chi-Chi's second son, Son Goten. He was now one year old.

"Goten, did you miss Dad?" Son Goku pinched his plump, collagen-filled little cheeks.

"You came back at just the right time. Hurry and try my new lizard-and-toad stew," Chi-Chi called from inside.

"Mmm, it's delicious!" Son Goku's eyes lit up as he ate, praising it without reservation.

As Son Gohan watched the heartwarming scene, he could not shake the feeling that the past two years had been too peaceful. Not a single enemy had appeared, and that instead made him uneasy.

Although Majin Buu should have appeared seven years later, time and space were in chaos now. No one could say for sure when exactly it would happen.

He had also remained on guard against Babidi and the others, informing the other Z Fighters about it as well. Yet so far, they had not even seen a trace of an enemy.

Then there were Frieza and Cooler. Those two had not died either. With their vengeful personalities, they should have come for revenge long ago.

Four years had passed since the battle on Namek, yet there had not been the slightest movement. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Gohan, your little brother is one year old now. You should teach him some basic lessons when you can, so he doesn't fall behind children his age..." Chi-Chi's words interrupted his thoughts.

"Ah, no problem."

Son Gohan readily agreed, looking at Son Goten with a little sympathy. Big Brother can't save you. Good luck.

Night fell, and the family of four lived happily on Mount Paozu, enjoying a life like immortals.

On a planet near Earth, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu had traveled there to experience its exotic customs and scenery.

Ever since Bulma had transformed them into androids, their strength had leaped several levels beyond what it once was, making them incredibly powerful.

The two traveled together through space for more than a year, visiting several planets.

Tien Shinhan still pursued martial arts with utmost devotion. Whenever he arrived somewhere new, he would seek out the local strongest fighter for a spar, then find a quiet place to reflect in silence.

Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu were floating above the area with their eyes closed as they trained.

"Hm? Someone's coming."

They opened their eyes at the same time and looked down at the ground.

A heavily muscled man with dyed yellow hair stood there, a vicious look on his face.

He stared straight at Tien Shinhan as though he were looking at prey. Most strangely, his eyes were red.

Tien Shinhan frowned. The natives of this planet looked bizarre, but they definitely did not look like this.

Why was there an Earthling on this planet?

And though the other man was clearly an ordinary human, Tien Shinhan could sense an evil aura from him.

Still, Tien Shinhan was not afraid. He descended to the ground and asked, "What do you want?"

"I want information about those Saiyans who live on Earth with you," the muscular man said slowly, his voice unusually hoarse.

"Who are you? How do you know so much?" Tien Shinhan was startled and immediately became wary.

"There's no use refusing. I'll take your power and read the memories in your mind."

As soon as the muscular man finished speaking, he charged forward. He moved so fast he became a blur, at a speed no human should have been capable of.

"Chiaotzu, get back!" Tien Shinhan said quickly.

Fearless, he rushed toward the muscular man at an even greater speed. With a bang, their fists collided.

Tien Shinhan reacted swiftly, raising his right leg and lashing it at the man's waist like a dragon whipping its tail.

Smack!

The sound of breaking bones rang out. The muscular man was sent flying by the kick, his body bent into a grotesque one-hundred-and-eighty-degree angle before collapsing limply onto the ground.

"That's it?"

Tien Shinhan felt that his opponent was far too weak. Someone at this level dared to come looking for trouble?

"T-Tien!" Chiaotzu suddenly cried out in terror, as if he had seen something unbelievable.

"Not bad. Your strength has improved rather quickly."

"Unfortunately, you're still no match for us."

Frieza and Cooler approached from the distance at an unhurried pace, wicked smiles on their faces, like cats toying with mice.

"Why are you two here?" Feeling immense pressure, Tien Shinhan did not dare let his guard down as he assumed a fighting stance.

Chiaotzu flew over as well, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

Frieza and Cooler each extended one hand. Dozens of purple beams shot forth like peerless swords, carrying an indestructible cold gleam.

Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu shifted positions and kept dodging, but several beams still pierced their skin, drawing specks of blood.

"Their strength is terrifying. Compared to when they were on Namek, they're on an entirely different level." Tien Shinhan's three eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for an escape route.

From their tone, they were plotting something enormous. Their target was Son Goku and the others, and even Earth might suffer as well, since humans had already been controlled.

"Chiaotzu, run! Go back to Earth and tell Gohan! I'll cover you!"

Tien Shinhan unleashed his ultimate technique. He thrust both arms forward, compressing the Tri-Beam to the limit before it exploded into a fan-shaped shockwave that swept wildly across the ground.

He wanted to suppress Frieza and Cooler with firepower.