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The golden Great Ape only staggered back a few steps before charging straight at Baby again.
Baby teleported into the air, his hands crackling with energy as a terrifying aura burst from his body.
The sky lit up with thunder and lightning. Blasts of ki rained down like a storm, slamming into the golden ape.
Explosions swallowed the beast in fire and smoke. Baby kept hurling attack after attack, shaking the entire planet Tsufuru to its core.
He finally stopped, sneering at the burning battlefield."You really think raw brute strength alone—" he spat, "—is enough to stop me, you filthy monkey?"
The smoke thinned. The Great Ape lay buried under rubble… until the stones shifted.
Baby's grin froze on his face.
The golden monster rose without a scratch, bellowing a roar that shook the heavens. Flames erupted from its jaws, chasing Baby through the air like heat-seeking missiles.
No matter where he dodged, the fire stayed on his tail. Desperate, Baby dove underground to escape—only to be met by a massive golden hand smashing him out of the dirt and sending him crashing through a crumbling building.
Whether he was alive or dead, no one could tell.
The Great Ape roared wildly toward where Baby had fallen.
Pan arrived on the battlefield, her face pale. "That power… it just keeps getting stronger!"
Beside her, Mr. Satan stammered nervously, "I–is that Goku's ki?"
Pan nodded firmly. "Yes. He's fighting Baby right now. But… Grandpa—why did he suddenly turn into that giant ape?"
Baby crawled from the rubble just in time for the ape's massive foot to come down where he stood. He barely managed to teleport away before the impact engulfed the ruins in smoke.
Kaioshin Realm
"What in the world is going on, Elder?" Kaioshin demanded.
The Old Kai's expression was grave. "Exactly what I feared. We pulled Goku's tail back without proper training. He can't control that power. Without his mind, he's nothing but a raging ape causing chaos."
Back on Tsufuru, Baby hid himself in the shadows while the golden ape rampaged freely, tearing down buildings and scattering debris like confetti in a storm.
Pan flew forward, landing on a cliff. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Grandpa, stop! You'll hurt people! Please!"
From a safer distance, Mr. Satan screamed, "Pan, get back! That's not your grandpa anymore—it's just a mindless beast!"
Pan shook her head stubbornly. "No! He's still my grandpa!"
The Great Ape trembled, his jaws clenched, golden eyes fixed on her. Then, with a roar, he unleashed a stream of fire straight at her.
Pan darted through the air with Bukūjutsu, narrowly dodging as the flames set the landscape ablaze.
The ape continued rampaging, pounding the ground, leaping with terrifying force—heading straight in Earth's direction.
Baby glared from the shadows, hatred twisting his face. "So that's the Great Ape's true power… If Goku can transform, then Vegeta should be able to as well. Just wait, Goku—I'll make you regret this!" He blasted off into the distance.
The Great Ape scaled the tallest mountain, reaching out toward Earth itself as if he could claw the planet from the sky.
Pan caught up, hovering in front of him."Grandpa, do you remember me? It's Pan!" she pleaded."You beat Baby, and then we can go home together. Back to Earth. With everyone. Isn't that right?"
The giant trembled in agony. His massive hand rose… then struck her, swatting her from the air.
Pan hit the ground hard. Her backpack spilled open—and out slid a familiar piece of clothing.
It was the outfit Goku had sewn for her when she entered the World Martial Arts Tournament for the very first time.
Clutching it to her chest, Pan remembered his smile, his warmth. Her eyes grew fierce with determination. She shot back into the air.
Holding the outfit out toward the beast, she cried,"This is the uniform you made for me, Grandpa! For my very first tournament! I kept it safe all this time—because you gave it to me!"Her voice cracked. "Please! Remember who you are!"
The ape exhaled a violent gust that sent her tumbling again. The wind ripped a photo from her pocket, spinning it through the air.
A massive golden finger caught it.
Pan scrambled up and gasped. Goku—the beast—was staring at the photo.
It was of him, his family, and his friends at the beach. He held baby Pan in his arms, laughing with pure joy.
Pan flew closer, tears spilling down her face. "That's me, Grandpa. That day at the beach… you remember, don't you? Please—wake up!"
The Great Ape's expression softened. One clumsy finger brushed away her tears and carried the drop of water to his mouth. His golden eyes flickered as memories surged: laughter at the seaside, the warmth of family, the Earth he longed for.
Then, with a roar, his body erupted in blinding golden energy. Lightning split the heavens. The ground shook beneath Tsufuru.
The Great Ape's body shifted, compressed, transformed.
Meanwhile, in the "real" Dragon Ball world
In the afterlife, Vegeta's eyes bulged. "That golden ape… Kakarot?! He's already surpassed me that much? Damn it!"
On Namek, Goku froze, stunned. "That little girl… she called me Grandpa? Could she be… Gohan's daughter?"
He turned to Gohan, who shook his head furiously.
Goku clenched his fists. "Still… to think I'd one day have that kind of power. Incredible!"
Piccolo could only stare. "So we didn't die to Frieza after all… In the future, Goku grows even stronger."
Frieza snarled, teeth grinding. "Impossible! I'm the Emperor of the Universe! How could I ever lose to that filthy Saiyan monkey?! No—I won't let it happen! I'll kill him now and rewrite the future!"
He lunged at Goku, who immediately powered up with Kaio-ken to meet him head-on.
Back on the screen
The smoke cleared from the mountaintop.
The beast was gone. In its place stood a man, wreathed in terrifying golden energy. Black hair streaked with crimson highlights. Red fur across his chest and arms. A tail swaying behind him. Eyes ringed with crimson glow.
His upper body clad in red, his lower half in a tight yellow gi.
Son Goku—transformed at last.
Super Saiyan 4.
Pan landed in front of him, trembling in awe. "W–what just happened? You look… amazing!" Her cheeks flushed. "You're really my grandpa?"
Goku gave her that same familiar smile.
Pan's face lit up in relief.
"..."
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