Raditz lay on the grass, his chest heaving as if he had just run a marathon across the galaxy. His entire body felt hollow, drained to the last drop. Every gentle breeze that brushed his skin felt strong enough to blow his exhausted soul away.
Whis approached, his staff glowing with a gentle, healing light. As the divine energy flowed into Raditz to knit his bones and soothe his burns, Whis paused, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. Then, he smiled.
"Oh my. It seems Lord Raditz has finally broken through that layer. Congratulations. My sincere congratulations."
"What layer?" Beerus, Goku, and Vegeta all leaned forward, their curiosity piqued.
"The final barrier to the Realm of Gods, of course," Whis said with a twinkle in his eye. "Raditz has crossed over. He is now a True God."
Everyone froze.
Raditz had finally transitioned from merely borrowing god ki to possessing the essence of divinity itself. He had taken this step years earlier than Whis had anticipated. Not only were Goku and Vegeta shocked, but even Whis was secretly amazed by the Saiyan's rapid evolution.
"Brother, did you really succeed?!" Goku's eyes sparkled with envy and delight. "You did it!"
"Well... let's just say I stumbled into it by mistake," Raditz murmured, his voice hoarse.
Goku was so excited he practically vibrated. "That's amazing! Come on, fight me! I want to see how strong you are now!"
"Let me rest for a few days first, Goku. I'm running on fumes." Raditz smiled wryly and waved a weak hand. The successive high-stakes battles had exhausted his mind and spirit. The last thing he wanted was to spar with a battle maniac like his brother.
Goku pouted but scratched his head, accepting the refusal.
Beerus and Vegeta both snorted, though for different reasons. They stared at Raditz with intense scrutiny.
"Explain," Beerus commanded, his tone serious. "What happened?"
On one hand, the Destroyer was thrilled to see Raditz's growth; the stronger Raditz became, the closer Beerus was to finding his prophesied rival. On the other hand, he found it hard to believe a mortal could bridge such a massive gap in such a short time.
Raditz didn't hide anything. He recounted his journey in detail: the summons to the Time Nest, the chaotic battles across timelines, the confrontation with the fused Zamasu, and the terrifying revelations within the Ancient Ruins.
When he finished, silence fell over the Realm of the Destroyer.
After a long pause, Whis spoke, his usual playfulness replaced by grave seriousness. "Are you absolutely certain about what you saw in the Ruins?"
"I'm certain," Raditz said firmly.
"It seems their operation has been in motion for a long time. They are hiding in the spaces between reality where we cannot directly intervene." Whis tapped his chin with his staff. "The Grand Minister has placed the Ruins under strict surveillance. If any Angels were to manifest physically, they would be detected instantly."
"They were smart enough not to show up in person," Raditz added. "They used Zamasu and Android 21 as proxies."
"That is the problem," Whis mused. "Very well. I will report this to the Grand Minister. I believe that after suffering such a defeat at your hands, they will not dare to surface again for some time."
Whis spoke with confidence, but deep in his heart, a faint, ominous premonition began to take root.
Raditz felt it too. The higher he climbed, the smaller he felt. He now possessed power rivaling a God of Destruction, and with Mastered Ultra Instinct, he could likely defeat most Destroyers in combat. Yet, the shadows looming over the multiverse—the Grand Minister, the Fallen Angels, Zeno—were entities capable of erasing him with a thought.
Shaking his head, Raditz decided to push those dark thoughts aside. He had earned a rest.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Raditz placed two fingers to his forehead.
Pop.
He teleported back to his home on Earth.
The familiar warmth of his house washed over him instantly, like stepping into sunlight after a long winter.
In the living room, Zangya and their son, Rukon, were playing a video game. When they saw Raditz materialize, they dropped their controllers and jumped up.
"Papa!"
"You're back!"
Fortunately, Trunks hadn't told Zangya about Raditz's disappearance across timelines, sparing them unnecessary worry. They simply assumed he had been training in Beerus's realm.
Although the separation hadn't been long in their time, for Raditz, it felt like an eternity.
He hugged Zangya and scooped up Rukon, burying his face in their embrace. It felt so good to be home. Raditz wasn't typically a sentimental man, but for a moment, the emotions he had suppressed during his harrowing journey rushed out like a river breaking a dam.
Here, and only here, could he truly relax his tired body and soul.
Delicious smells wafted from the kitchen. Android 16 and Android 18 walked out, wearing aprons. Behind them, remarkably, was Broly. The Legendary Super Saiyan was holding a basket of vegetables, studying them with intense concentration.
"Hahaha! Broly can cook?" Raditz laughed, wiping a discreet tear from his eye.
"I am learning," Broly grunted with a shy smile. "I want to make food for Rukon."
Zangya stroked Rukon's hair, beaming. "Uncle Broly has also taught him a lot of moves. Go on, show your dad!"
Rukon excitedly dragged Raditz to the backyard. The boy was extremely talented; despite his young age, he could already control explosive energy spheres with surprising finesse. With his hybrid potential and Broly's tutelage, he might grow up to be even more terrifying than the Legendary Super Saiyan himself.
Zangya watched her husband and son with a look of pure contentment.
Inside, the kitchen was chaotic.
"Hey, Broly! Not that much salt! Just a pinch!" 18 shouted.
"Broly, gentle with the knife. You'll cut the cutting board in half," 16 advised calmly.
"Who told you to put the whole bundle of onions in?!"
"Control your strength! The pot is going to crack!"
Listening to the bickering, Raditz, Zangya, and Rukon burst into laughter under the evening sky.
Late that night.
The house was quiet. Raditz lay in his comfortable bed, hugging Zangya, watching the moonlight filter through the branches outside the window. A half-moon hung in the sky, casting silver shadows across the room.
"What's on your mind?" Zangya whispered. She was wearing a silk nightgown, her soft cheek rubbing against Raditz's chest like a kitten. Her slender hands rested on his waist, radiating warmth.
"It's nothing," Raditz said softly, stroking her hair. "Just... a lot has happened recently. I feel like I can't see the future anymore."
Zangya chuckled. "Who can ever truly see the future?"
I used to be able to, Raditz thought.
When he first arrived in this timeline, he knew the direction of every plot thread. But he had changed too many things. Now, unknowns were popping up everywhere—the Time Realm, the Demon Realm, Fallen Angels. He was no longer a prophet; he was just a man caught in the current of history.
"Don't overthink it," Zangya suddenly shifted, straddling Raditz in a playful ambush. Her hands pinned him to the mattress, her eyes gleaming in the dark. "Rukon said he wants a little sister."
"He wants a..." Raditz blinked, stunned for a moment before a knowing smile spread across his face. "Ah. I see."
Zangya leaned down, her silk gown slipping off her shoulders. The sight made Raditz's heart race, banishing all thoughts of gods and demons. He sat up, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close.
"Well then," he whispered against her lips. "That requires cooperation."
Under the moonlight, the silver glow washed over the room like a tide as the two figures moved together into the night.