In the Sacred World of the Kais—
A warm glow faded from Shin's hand as he withdrew it from Trunks' chest.
Trunks stirred. His eyes fluttered open.
(Where... am I?)
He sat up suddenly, scanning the unfamiliar sky and floating islands. The gravity, the strange atmosphere, it definitely wasn't Earth.
Then a voice pulled him back.
"Great! You're awake," Shin's attendant, Kibito, said, looking visibly relieved.
Trunks looked at him, then down at his own body, healed. His surroundings clicked into place.
(Wait... this is the Sacred World of the Kais? That means... Gohan and Kibito must've saved me. Heh. They really showed up when it counted.)
But before he could process more, a deafening roar echoed through the air. Trunks turned instinctively, his eyes landing on Gohan, who had transformed into a Super Saiyan. His golden aura flared wildly, wind swirling around him.
Next to him, Shin stared in astonishment.
"What?! He... He's actually managing to pull out the Z Sword?!" Kibito's voice cracked, wind blowing back his robes from the pressure of Gohan's energy.
With a sharp whoosh, the Z Sword dislodged from its pedestal.
Kibito bolted toward the scene.
SHING!
The legendary blade left its resting place, fully drawn. Both Shin and Kibito froze, mouths agape, stunned beyond words.
"I knew I wasn't mistaken," Shin murmured in awe. "Gohan really can wield the Z Sword..."
Gohan turned, holding the massive blade across his back like it was nothing.
He looked genuinely confused.
"Wait... is this sword supposed to be hard to pull out?" Shin's expression twitched.
As the Supreme Kai, he himself had never been able to lift the blade, and now Gohan had done it effortlessly.
"Ahem... Of course, the Kai could've lifted it, given time," Kibito coughed, attempting damage control.
Gohan glanced around and spotted Kibito with a smile.
"Ah! Kibito! That means Trunks must be awake too, right?"
Then, without hesitation, he turned to Shin and casually handed the massive sword to him. "Here, mind holding this for a second?"
"Wha, wait, what?!" Shin's eyes darted in panic as the enormous Z Sword tumbled toward him.
THUD!
Rather than catch it, Shin dove out of the way at the last second. The blade crashed into the ground with an earth-shaking boom, embedding itself deep into the stone and leaving a small crater in its wake.
The three of them stared at it in silence.
Then, to everyone's surprise, a small hand reached down and lifted the Z Sword with ease.
"Trunks! You're up!" Gohan beamed.
Trunks nodded, gripping the blade as he rose to his feet.
"Yeah, Gohan. I'm good."
And then, in a flash of golden light, Trunks transformed into a Super Saiyan. His aura exploded outward, sending a shockwave across the sacred grounds. Shin and Kibito staggered backward.
But the next instant, something changed.
Crackling lightning began to swirl around Trunks' body, mixing with his golden aura.
It was the telltale sign of a breakthrough.
(This... This must be what that close brush with death triggered. I get it now, this power needs anger to awaken.)
Trunks closed his eyes. He conjured images of Broly's rampage, his monstrous expression, the agony of watching Gohan get struck down, again and again.
His rage boiled to the surface.
"AAAHHHHHH!!!"
His hair spiked even further. His aura surged. Golden light engulfed him, and with it came the storm of lightning that only meant one thing.
Trunks had ascended to Super Saiyan 2. Breathing heavily, he looked down at the Z Sword in his hand.
(If Gohan can unlock his potential, then maybe he really can beat Broly. Come on, old Supreme Kai... you've gotta be sealed in this thing, right? Time to come out.)
Gohan was still smiling from Trunks' transformation, until something completely unexpected happened. With a casual grunt, Trunks tightened his grip, and with a sharp snap, the Z Sword broke in half.
The air went silent.
CRACK.
The blade split cleanly, the two pieces clanging to the ground.
A pause.
And then—
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
"TRUNKS!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!"
Both Kibito and Shin clutched their heads in horror, practically foaming at the mouth.
"That sword was the last sacred relic of the Supreme Kais! Do you have any idea what you just destroyed?! That blade could cut through all evil! How are we supposed to fight that brute now?!"
Despite the barrage of complaints, Trunks stood firm.
His expression was calm, but serious. He turned to the two deities.
"Shin. Kibito. Even Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 couldn't take down Broly. My Super Saiyan 2, honestly, is probably still weaker than his."
He held up the broken sword.
"If I could snap this in half, how could it really be the key to defeating someone like that?"
His words hung in the air. Shin and Kibito were stunned.
They didn't have an answer. What Trunks said made sense, and for a moment, the two Kais were left speechless.
But then, Trunks suddenly sensed something strange.
A small, knowing smile crept onto his face.
(There it is... finally.)
Turning around, he called out with mock curiosity, "Hey, old man... who exactly are you?"
The aged figure who had just appeared stepped forward, brushing the dust off his robe.
"I am the Supreme Kai of the Fifteenth Generation," He said grandly. "So, who was the junior who set me free?"
The sight of the Old Kai left everyone stunned, except for Trunks. Both Shin and Kibito looked like they'd seen a ghost. Despite living in the Sacred World of the Kais, neither had ever encountered this elderly Supreme Kai before.
"O-Old... Ancestor?" Shin asked uncertainly.
The Old Kai glanced over at him, squinting. "Was it you who released me?"
But almost immediately, his gaze shifted. He noticed Trunks holding the shattered remains of the Z Sword and instantly understood.
"Ha! It was you?" He chuckled. "A human child broke the seal? Tch... the Supreme Kais really are getting worse with every generation."
('Still the same old attitude', Trunks thought, amused.)
Without skipping a beat, he addressed the elder. "Old Kai, the universe is in danger. Things are spiraling out of control, and even Supreme Kai Shin can't stop what's coming."
Shin and Kibito lowered their heads in shame. For the sake of the universe, Shin quickly explained the situation on Earth, about Broly, Babidi, and the looming catastrophe.
"Hmph. So even a so-called proper Supreme Kai has fallen into panic," the Old Kai scolded.
With a grunt, he pulled out a crystal orb, peering into its swirling energy to observe Earth. The first thing that came into view was Broly, unleashing a wild, guttural roar that shook the battlefield.
But before anyone could say a word, the vision shifted to Babidi and... Majin Buu.
Shin's face went pale. His voice cracked. "T-That's... Majin Buu! No... Did we fall right into their plan?!"
Trunks' eyelid twitched.
(Just as I thought. Majin Buu's already been revived.)
Shin gasped. "Damn it! Ancestor, Majin Buu is back!"
He hurriedly recounted Majin Buu's terrifying history to the Old Kai, his voice trembling.
The Old Kai gave them both a sidelong glance, his expression utterly unimpressed. It was clear he didn't have much faith in either Shin or Kibito. Two Kais who couldn't even pull the Z Sword out of a stone were hardly inspiring.
Instead, he turned his focus to Trunks.
After all, it was Trunks who had freed him. And Trunks' power and potential was unmistakable. From Shin, he learned that both Trunks and Gohan had recently been defeated on Earth. The Old Kai stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I can unlock this kid's potential," He said. "Make him stronger."
Trunks smirked slightly. "That'd be great, Old Kai, but actually, Gohan's stronger than me. Can you do both of us?"
That was Trunks' true intention. With his knowledge of this universe, he knew exactly what the Old Kai was capable of, and just how powerful Gohan could become with his hidden strength fully drawn out.
The Old Kai stared at him, unamused.
"You trying to kill me with exhaustion?" He grumbled, rolling his eyes.
"C'mon, Great Elder Kai," Trunks said with mock reverence. "If you help both of us power up, we'll be able to stop Babidi and Broly. And hey, if we pull it off, won't the credit go to you?"
Trunks piled on the flattery like whipped cream on a sundae, and it worked.
The Old Kai stood a little straighter, his expression brightening. "Well... when you put it like that... I suppose I could manage it."
A mystic circle appeared beneath Gohan and Trunks, glowing with divine energy. The Old Kai took his position and began the long, spiritual process of unlocking their latent potential.
Time passed. The crystal ball hovered nearby, showing the evolving crisis on Earth. Kibito and Shin sat close, eyes glued to the orb, their expressions tense.
Then, suddenly,
"Look!" Shin shouted. "That monster, he's working with Babidi after all!"
"And who's that emerging from the smoke?!" Kibito added, shocked. "What kind of energy is that?!"
"Wait... Who is that person? He's resisting Babidi's magic, and he just knocked Broly flying!"
The two of them practically screamed in unison.
"QUIET!!" The Old Kai barked, glaring at them. "You'll ruin the ritual!"
Trunks, however, narrowed his eyes.
(Resisting Babidi's control… No way. Could it be... Dad? Did he finally emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?!)
"Focus, Trunks," the Old Kai reminded him sharply.
Trunks smiled faintly. "Right. Sorry, Old Kai."
The ritual continued. The glow intensified as their hidden potential surged upward. As time went on, the images in the crystal ball grew increasingly chaotic. The two Kais couldn't hold back any longer.
"Something's wrong! Ancestor, this is worse than we imagined!" Supreme Kai shouted in alarm.
"What now?" The Old Kai grumbled, clearly irritated. "It's just two minor threats. Once I'm done unlocking their potential, it'll all be over."
But Shin was panicking. He dropped to his knees and urgently slid the crystal ball closer to the Old Kai, Trunks, and Gohan.
"See for yourselves!"
Trunks and Gohan opened their eyes at the same time and turned toward the crystal ball.
The images they saw hit Trunks like a shockwave. Above Earth, a massive horde of Frieza's old army had somehow escaped from Hell... and they were attacking Majin Buu.
Then the image shifted again, Babidi was rallying his forces, and behind him loomed the monstrous shadow of Hildegarn.
Whoosh!
The crystal ball trembled again, now showing the Lookout. There, hovering mid-air, a strange, purple-colored Cell was locked in a furious beam clash with Goku and Vegeta.
And both of them were in Super Saiyan 3.
But they weren't winning. Trunks and Gohan immediately sprang to their feet.
"Old Kai! Aren't we done yet?!" Gohan asked anxiously.
The Old Kai opened his eyes and gave a sly smile. "Actually... you've been ready for a while."
Trunks stood there stunned. So much had happened in just one day. Even with their power now unlocked, it felt like the scale of the chaos might still overwhelm them.
Suddenly, the crystal ball flashed again, flooded with light.
Goku and Vegeta were about to be swallowed by Cell's devastating Kamehameha.
Trunks shouted, "Kibito! Please, get our dads out of there, now!"
Seeing the sheer desperation on Trunks' face, Kibito finally grasped the urgency of the situation.
He vanished in an instant. And one heartbeat later, he returned, Goku and Vegeta in tow.
Goku blinked, looking around. "Huh? Weird. I was aiming for King Kai's planet with Instant Transmission... where are we?"
"You're in the Sacred World of the Kais," Kibito Kai explained solemnly.
"Trunks?!" Vegeta's voice cracked as he spotted his son. "You're alive?!"
Without thinking, he grabbed Trunks by the shoulders and shook him hard, almost lifting him off the ground.
Trunks felt the world spin.
(Wait, Dad thought I was dead? Is that why he went berserk on Broly? So he really has changed... Ugh, I'm getting dizzy.)
Trunks' thoughts echoed inside Vegeta's mind and Vegeta suddenly stopped shaking him. He looked Trunks up and down more carefully, then narrowed his eyes.
[This power... he's stronger.]
Then he looked at Gohan.
[Even Gohan's energy has skyrocketed...!]
"Whoa! Gohan! You've grown so much!" Goku said warmly as he approached his son, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder.
Seeing his father after so many years, Gohan's eyes welled up. He pulled Goku into a tight embrace. No words were needed in that moment. After a long pause, Goku smiled and said, "I can feel it, Gohan. You're way stronger now."
Gohan nodded, glancing at the Old Kai. "It's thanks to him. He unlocked our full potential, both mine and Trunks'. We're much stronger now."
Goku and Vegeta both turned to look at the old man in disbelief. That this frail-looking elder could awaken such power?
The Old Kai simply waved a hand and chuckled dismissively. Trunks glanced at him and thought to himself:
(What if the Old Kai unlocked Dad and Goku's potential too...?)
That thought rang loud and clear in Vegeta's head. His eyes darted to the Old Kai, suddenly considering the possibility. At that moment, Goku turned toward Trunks, realizing something.
"Wait... you're Trunks, right? Vegeta and Bulma's boy!"
Trunks smiled politely. "Yes. Hello, Goku Ojisan."
Goku ruffled his hair with a laugh. "Haha! You know, Chi-Chi always wanted a second kid. If I hadn't died back then... my boy would probably be around your age now."
Before Goku could say more, Vegeta smacked his hand away from Trunks' head with a scowl.
"Kakarot! We don't have time for this. We need to focus on the real problem!"
Vegeta grits his teeth, muttering in frustration: [Damn it, Kakarot... You pat Trunks on the head like he's yours. I've never even done that...]
Goku's expression turned serious. "Vegeta, listen, what I said earlier, about fusing, it's something we really need to consider."
Vegeta growled. "Forget it! Don't even say that word again!"
Seeing how firmly Vegeta rejected the idea, Goku sighed and turned his attention back to Gohan.
Meanwhile, Vegeta walked silently over to the Old Kai.
His eyes narrowed.
(If this old man can make them that strong... maybe...)
[End of Chapter]