It was just as she had suspected.
Aliens had invaded Earth, and Son Gohan and Trunks had successfully stopped them.
Earth had really dodged another bullet.
Thank goodness Gohan and Trunks were on Earth. Otherwise, there was no telling what horrors might have unfolded.
Remembering the devastation the Androids had caused in the past sent a wave of fear through Bulma.
Then Bulma asked about Trunks's tail.
To Bulma, a human having a tail wasn't remotely attractive, and it was extremely dangerous.
She had personally witnessed Son Goku turn into a mindless, black-furred ape.
Naturally, she was somewhat opposed to it.
Even so, she couldn't withstand Trunks's persistent pleading and finally had to accept the fact that her son now had a tail.
After putting away the dishes.
Bulma trimmed Son Gohan's and Trunks's hair.
And just like that, the morning passed.
That afternoon, Videl flew her Jet Plane to the Capsule Corporation.
Trunks, who opened the door for her, froze when he saw her.
"Who are you looking for?" Trunks asked.
Today, Videl wore a loose tracksuit that looked simple yet stylish. She had only a light touch of makeup on her face, and her eyelashes fluttered. She looked like an older girl from next door.
But Trunks was certain he had never met this pretty girl before.
Videl looked Trunks over and said politely, "Hello, I'm looking for Gohan."
"Gohan? You're his friend? I'll take you to him," Trunks said.
"Sorry for the trouble," Videl said.
"No trouble at all. Follow me," Trunks said, leading the way for Videl.
"Okay." Videl followed behind him, watching his tail sway.
She couldn't help asking, "Are you Gohan's little brother?"
Trunks smiled. "Yes, we're Brothers with Different Fathers and Mothers."
"Huh?" Videl was taken aback.
Brothers with Different Fathers and Mothers? What did that mean?
Trunks continued, "Hehe, Gohan and I grew up together. He's my big brother and my teacher. He's done so much for me."
Understanding dawned on Videl's face. "I see. You're the young heir to the Capsule Corporation, aren't you? I know your mother. She's an incredible woman."
"Huh? 'Young heir' really sounds awful. My name is Trunks. Just call me Trunks," he said.
"Okay, Trunks."
"What's your name?"
"My name is Videl."
Chatting along the way, Trunks brought Videl to Son Gohan's room.
Son Gohan was looking through some of Bulma's notes.
He discovered that he had a little talent for becoming a scientist.
He could actually understand some of the simpler material.
Was I really better suited to becoming a scholar after all?
Exploring the boundless realm of science was pretty cool, too.
Ah, no, no.
Son Gohan hurriedly shook off that terrifying thought.
Forget becoming a scholar. That idea was downright terrifying.
Studying couldn't save the Dragon Ball world.
Huh?
Someone was coming.
Son Gohan raised his head just as Trunks entered his room with Videl.
"Gohan, this girl is here to see you," Trunks said.
"Okay." Son Gohan nodded.
Trunks gave Son Gohan a meaningful look, then glanced at Videl, wearing an expression that said he understood everything.
Then he hurried away.
"Gohan," Videl said with a smile, "it's so good to see you again."
Standing before you was Son Gohan, the low-key hero who saved Earth.
Even now, Videl firmly believed that no more than five people knew what had actually happened yesterday.
What did that amount to?
Was it worth it?
He really kept too low a profile.
As far as she knew, the man before her had already saved Earth several times.
It really proved that old saying true.
There was no such thing as a peaceful life; there were only people shouldering the burden for the rest of them.
The words struck a chord, and they fit perfectly.
Son Gohan smiled. "Hehe, come with me. I'll explain the Flight Technique to you in more detail."
They left the room and found a quiet spot.
Son Gohan continued explaining the Flight Technique to Videl.
Videl listened attentively and asked Son Gohan whenever she didn't understand something.
Two and a half hours later, Videl said goodbye and left.
Before she left, Son Gohan told her she could practice on her own from now on. There was no need to come all the way to West City every time.
After all, he had already taught her everything he could. All she needed now was time to practice.
But Son Gohan hadn't expected Videl to return at the same time the next day.
On the third day...
Until, on the fourth day,
Videl finally sensed the existence of ki.
A gentle breeze stirred around her, lifting the hem of her clothes and making her long hair drift softly.
Then Videl floated twenty centimeters off the ground, but before long, she returned to the ground, panting.
Her ki was simply too weak to sustain her for very long.
Videl wasn't discouraged. On the contrary, she was thrilled.
She saw a magical door slowly opening before her, revealing a wondrous world full of color.
That night.
A full moon hung high in the sky.
Today was the day of the full moon.
Mount Paozu.
Son Gohan left his room and walked onto an open patch of grass.
He studied the silvery moonlight on the ground, made up his mind about something, then raised his head to look at the moon.
The instant he saw the full moon, Son Gohan's pupils rapidly dilated, and his entire body froze.
Thump!
Thump, thump!
His heart began pounding wildly, as though it had been shocked by electricity.
The sound was dull and heavy, growing louder and louder.
Thump, thump-thump!
Within seconds, his heartbeat was as loud as a drum.
Son Gohan clenched his fists tightly, feeling as though an ancient savage beast had awakened inside him.
That beast was bloodthirsty, frenzied, irritable, and furious.
All kinds of negative emotions washed relentlessly through his body.
At that moment, Son Gohan felt that what flowed through his veins was no longer blood, but his anger and savage animal instincts.
"Aaaaaah!"
A powerful roar erupted from his mouth.
Every wild animal on Mount Paozu that heard him flattened itself against the ground, trembling.
The birds in the forest scattered into the air all at once.
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
Thump-thump-thump, thump-thump-thump!
His heartbeat grew faster and faster, the beats coming closer and closer together.
Son Gohan's face began to twist into a ferocious expression, then distort.
Veins bulged along his arms, and his clothes burst apart.
Son Gohan's entire body rapidly expanded. In an instant, thick black fur covered him from head to toe.
Soon, Son Gohan had become a black Great Ape.
He stood twenty-five meters tall, his entire body covered in black fur. His two lantern-sized, blood-red eyes continually gleamed with terrifying ferocity, and an overwhelmingly powerful ki radiated from him.
The Great Ape lowered his head, looked at his enormous palms, then walked toward the nearby river.
He looked at his reflection in the river, then spoke in a human voice. "This thing is fucking hideous."
His voice rumbled, sounding a little like Shenron's, but with far more anger in it.
Still, the fact that he could speak meant Son Gohan had retained his reason after his Great Ape Transformation, rather than becoming a crazed giant ape.
In truth, Son Gohan himself hadn't expected to remain so clearheaded.
He was vastly different from the frenzied giant ape he had imagined.
But he soon understood why.
It was the result of the perfect fusion of the two souls within him.
One native soul, plus one soul from another world.
After the two souls fused perfectly, not only had Son Gohan's comprehension improved tremendously, but his mental and soul power had also undergone earth-shattering changes.
They were even dozens of times stronger than before.
That was why Son Gohan could remain sufficiently lucid and rational after his Great Ape Transformation.
Before you continue