The battlefield didn't stay silent for long.
Once the shock wore off, form Trunks's fight with Cell, everyone started moving at once.
Krillin was the first to stir, groaning as he rolled onto his back. "Ugh… okay, either I'm alive, or King Yemma finally upgraded Hell."
Tien pushed himself up on one elbow. "You're alive. Unfortunately."
"Hey!"
Yamcha coughed, sitting upright with a wince. "Did… did we win?"
I landed and looked around at the empty crater where Cell used to exist and nodded. "Very thoroughly."
Piccolo stood fully now, flexing his regenerated fingers.
Krillin blinked. "Gone… already.....how.?"
Trunks exhaled slowly, tension finally leaving his shoulders. "Yeah. He won't be coming back."
That's when Vegeta stood up.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
Everyone felt it.
He didn't scream. Didn't explode. Didn't power up.
He simply walked toward Trunks.
Each step was deliberate.
Each step was angry.
Vegeta stopped an inch from Trunks' face, arms crossed, jaw tight enough to crack diamonds.
"That power," Vegeta said, voice low and sharp. "What was it."
Trunks stiffened.
He tried to open his mouth...
But I stepped between them instantly.
"Oh that?" I said cheerfully. "That's Super Duper Saiyan."
Silence.
Vegeta stared at me.
I smiled wider.
"It's like Super Saiyan," I continued, gesturing with my hands, "but duper."
A vein popped on Vegeta's forehead.
"Move," he growled.
"Nah."
Vegeta turned his head slightly, glaring at Trunks past me. "I asked you, now answer me, BOY."
Trunks scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh… sorry, Father. I… can't say."
Vegeta's eye twitched. "You...Can't… say."
"It's one of the conditions of Ben training me," Trunks added quickly. "I promised."
Vegeta clenched his fists.
The air trembled.
"You expect me," Vegeta said through his teeth, "to accept that my own son possesses a power beyond mine, and I am not allowed to know what it is?"
I leaned back, hands behind my head. "Yeah."
Vegeta finally snapped his gaze to me. "You tought him to get back on Me, didn't you."
"Me, Noooooo, i'd never."
Piccolo crossed his arms. "Vegeta, he wants a reaction form you, don't give it to him."
Vegeta growled, then abruptly turned away, kicking a chunk of rubble so hard it disintegrated. "You think, i don't know that."
Krillin whispered to Yamcha, "I give it five minutes before he explodes."
"I give it three," Yamcha whispered back.
"God, i love rage-baiting" i said with a goofy smile on my face.
....
Later, once everyone was healed and mostly back to normal, the mood shifted.
We were standing near the Lookout.
Kami.
His expression was troubled.
"Ben," he said quietly, "a moment."
I sighed. "Knew this was coming."
We stepped aside, out of earshot.
Kami studied me carefully. "That power Trunks used. It does not belong to mortals, and we both know that."
I leaned against the railing. "Correct."
"…You know, It belongs to the gods."
"Also correct."
Kami's voice dropped. "Do you have any idea what would happen if the higher gods became aware of this?"
"Yep," I said easily. "Earth erased. You erased. Me erased."
Kami blinked. "Erased?"
"Not killed," I clarified. "No afterlife. No Other World. Just… gone."
Kami went pale.
"And yet," he said slowly, "you still taught Him."
I nodded. "Because Trunks is leaving."
Kami frowned. "Leaving does not s-"
"He's going back to the future," I said. "A future where no gods are watching HIS timeline, at least no Good Gods. THAT future that needs him, to be Stronger."
Kami was silent for a long moment.
"…You're gambling with our existence."
I shrugged. "I've gambled with worse odds."
Kami sighed deeply. "You are reckless."
"Yep."
"And yet," Kami admitted, "I thank you for saving Earth."
...
Bulma insisted on a party.
"No arguments," she said, hands on hips, as she looked at a Pissed off Vegeta. "We almost died. Again. We're celebrating."
So later that evening, Capsule Corp was alive with laughter, food, and chaos.
Vegeta sat stiffly on a couch, arms crossed, pretending not to enjoy himself.
Trunks sat beside him, smiling softly, looking around like he was memorizing every detail.
Krillin was already on his third plate. "Future or not, this food is timeless."
Yamcha raised a glass. "To Trunks! The guy who saved our butts!"
"CHEERS", Everyone cheered.
Vegeta scoffed. "…Hmph."
Bulma elbowed him. "Say something nice."
Vegeta grumbled. "…You did well."
Trunks beamed. "Thanks, Dad."
I leaned over. "Wow. Emotional growth. I should write this down."
Vegeta glared at me.
"HEY," Bulma yelled, as she glared at me. "Shut it, or i'm kicking you out."
"...sorry"
As the night went on, laughter softened into quiet conversations.
Trunks eventually found me standing on the balcony, looking up at the stars.
"…Thank you," he said.
"For the training?" I asked.
"For everything," he said. "My future… it finally has a bit of hope."
I nodded. "Make sure to train, don't slack off."
He smiled. "I will."
....
Later that night, under a quiet sky, Trunks stood beside his time machine.
Everyone was there.
Bulma hugged him tightly. "Stay Safe."
"I will mom."
Vegeta turned away. "…Don't disgrace the Saiyan name."
Trunks smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
He looked at me last.
"I won't tell anyone," he promised.
I grinned. "That doesn't matter in the future, as i'm already dead."
The machine powered up.
Light flared.
And just like that...
Trunks was gone.
The wind settled.
Bulma wiped her eyes.
Vegeta stared at the empty space, fists clenched.
I stretched. "Well. That was emotional, but i getting tired, Bulma, can i crash at you place."
Vegeta glanced at me. "No."
Ben's power level: 6,045,000 x [god ki x175,010,000]