The Path of the Strong Has No End

Android 18 spoke. "Son Goku, your strength is so formidable, why didn't you kill us?"

Son Goku said, "Why would I kill you? Compared to mine, your strength isn't even worth that of ants. Do you think I'd bother lifting a finger? Have you ever seen anyone brawling with ants?"

Hearing this, Android 18 nodded. "Son Goku, your words are quite blunt, but you're right. Tiny bugs don't deserve the attention of the strong. So, what do you plan to do with me, Android 17, and Android 16?"

Son Goku said, "Naturally, I'll let you go, but I need to give you a shockwave of intimidation beforehand, lest you disturb the world and run amok."

Android 18 replied, "We aren't that bored, you know."

Hearing this, Son Goku nodded. That statement was true; the original Android 16 loved peace, and Android 17 later became a park ranger, showing they both had their own pursuits and no ambitions to conquer the world.

So he spoke up, "Good then. Once Vegeta finishes sparring with Android 17, I'll let you guys go."

Android 18 nodded, then continued, "Then let's head back."

Son Goku said, "Don't rush, we haven't started our match yet."

Furious, Android 18 snapped, "Son Goku, are you messing with me? With strength as vast as yours, is there any need for us to spar? I'm not a fool, nor am I a masochist."

Son Goku smiled. "Well then, we won't spar. Just chatting will do, right?"

Android 18 stared at Son Goku for a moment, had a sudden epiphany, and then beamed with a radiant smile. "Son Goku, could it be that you've taken a fancy to me?"

Son Goku chuckled. "Alright, Android 18, I admit it. I've taken a liking to you."

Android 18 let out a silver-bell-like laugh. "Hahaha, Son Goku, you're certainly straightforward. Fine, I'll consider it."

Sensing a chance, Son Goku said, "Great, I'll wait for your reply."

Android 18 nodded, then said, "Let's head back then. Who knows how Android 17 and Vegeta's battle is going."

Son Goku said, "Don't worry, I had Piccolo keep an eye on them before I came. Android 17 won't come to any harm, at most he'll take a thorough beating."

Android 18 laughed. "Hahaha, I'm sure once Android 17 finds out, he'll be sure to thank you properly."

Son Goku smiled. "By the way, Android 18, what is your real name?"

Android 18 said, "My real name is Lazuli, and Android 17 is my younger brother, Lapis."

Son Goku nodded. "Got it. Let's head back then."

Lazuli nodded, and the two of them flew back.

Meanwhile, things were going quite miserably for Lapis.

Beaten black and blue by Vegeta, he was thrashed thoroughly, though fortunately Vegeta wanted to play a bit longer and hadn't dealt a fatal blow.

By the time Son Goku and Lazuli returned, Lapis was currently being used as a soccer ball by Vegeta.

Lazuli knew her brother was no match for Vegeta, but she hadn't expected him to be utterly tormented in a one-sided beatdown.

Everyone was surprised to see Son Goku and Android 18 return so quickly.

With his sharp eyes, Krillin spotted the lipstick mark on Son Goku's face, flashing him a meaningful and knowing smile.

Son Goshin said to Son Goku, "Father, when dealing with an Android 18, why did you even transform into a Super Saiyan 4? Isn't that like using an anti-aircraft gun to shoot a mosquito? Also, what's with the lipstick mark on your face?"

Hearing this, Son Goku replied, "Lazuli wanted to experience my true strength, so I transformed into Super Saiyan 4 to let her know the gap between us. As for the lipstick mark, our fighting got a bit wild and we accidentally bumped into each other."

Son Goshin nodded upon hearing this.

Krillin and Yamcha exchanged knowing, lewd grins.

Just at that moment, an immensely powerful aura came hurtling from afar, reaching the group in the blink of an eye.

Straining their eyes to look, everyone saw that it was Trunks.

Son Goku called out in greeting, "You've arrived, Trunks. Long time no see, your strength has improved quite a bit! It looks like you haven't been lazy these past few years."

Trunks looked at Son Goku and said, "Uncle Goku, have you developed a new form again?"

Son Goku said, "That's right. This form of mine is called Super Saiyan 4, and it's the transformation that comes after Super Saiyan 3."

Trunks said, "That's wonderful, Uncle Goku! It seems I've come at just the right time."

Son Goku asked, "How so?"

Trunks said, "Uncle Goku, a year ago I brought Super Saiyan 3 to full power. Over this past year, I've had no leads on how to proceed with the next step of training. Now that I see your Super Saiyan 4, I've finally found the direction for my next stage of cultivation."

Shocked, Son Goku said, "Your talent is truly remarkable, Trunks! In just two years, you pushed Super Saiyan 3 to full power-it's truly astonishing. Moreover, I sensed your prior aura and noticed that your base combat power isn't weak either. Tell me how you've been training these past three years."

Trunks smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Uncle Goku's good teaching, which showed me the direction for my training. Not long after you left, I successfully mastered Super Saiyan 3. Then, following the full-power training method of Super Saiyan 2, I trained in Super Saiyan 3. On top of that, Mother helped me build a Thousandfold Gravity Room, and I wished upon Porunga to obtain a piece of Weighted Clothing that can adjust gravity multiples, reaching up to ten thousand times Earth's gravity. It was only through the combination of these two that I achieved the strength I have today."

Son Goku nodded upon hearing this. "No wonder your base strength is so formidable now-it's even considerably stronger than Raditz's Super Saiyan 2."

Everyone was taken aback. Raditz blurted out, "Kakarot, you aren't kidding, are you? My Super Saiyan 2 combat power is at least thirty billion, and the little prince's base combat power is even stronger than that?"

Son Goku said, "I'm not joking. Trunks's strength is indeed at that level."

Stunned into speechlessness, everyone listened as Son Goshin remarked, "Father, calculated that way, Trunks's strength in Super Saiyan 3 must be at least one trillion two hundred billion-that's 1.2 trillion."

Son Goku nodded, then shook his head. "Trunks's strength goes far beyond that. I also taught him the Kaioken."

He then turned to Trunks. "Trunks, how many times the Kaioken can you manifest right now?"

Trunks replied, "I can currently deploy a three-thousand-fold Kaioken."

Son Goku nodded and told the group, "Now you all know Trunks's true strength. His combat power under a three-thousand-fold Kaioken must be around ten trillion, right?"

Everyone sucked in a cold breath of air.

Son Goku said, "So keep working hard, everyone. If someone with Trunks's strength is still training diligently, what excuse do you have to slack off? Don't be like Vegeta, getting a little strong and letting it go to your heads."

Nodding in succession, everyone realized that if Trunks-who was far stronger than them-was still working hard, what reason did they have to let down their guard?