"Who said I'm not here?" a blond figure landed beside them, speaking coldly. "If that little monster hadn't been clinging to me, I would've arrived ages ago."
"Chi-chi!"
Cell Jr. Number One followed Android 18 in, chest puffed out like it was claiming credit, even winking at Bulma.
The moment it appeared, everyone's spirits lifted.
Android 18, however, looked annoyed to death. "I keep feeling like this little freak has something to do with me. Does any of you know why?"
No one answered.
Bulma's eye twitched. "This is absolutely not the time to dig into that! We'll talk later!"
"It's over! Gohan's about to transform into a Great Ape and lose his mind!" Chiaotzu screamed in despair.
"Gohan! Hold on!"
"Number One, we're counting on you! Go. Beat the lunatics tearing up Earth!" Bulma ordered.
Cell Jr. shot straight toward Turles.
Sensing the terrifying aura erupting from that tiny body, both Turles and the mysterious man shifted their attention.
Beep-beep-beep!
The scouter shrieked with a piercing alarm power level beyond measurable range!
"That energy… there's another expert?"
"Doesn't matter. Kill it first!"
Before the words even finished, the mysterious man stepped in to block Cell Jr., and the two collided in a flash.
Cell Jr. didn't give an inch. In terms of raw power, it even completely suppressed its opponent.
But the mysterious man was seasoned his combat experience was old and vicious. He slipped through attacks with uncanny footwork, countering whenever there was the smallest opening, dragging the fight out by himself.
Watching from the side, Android 18's mind wasn't fully on the battlefield.
They clearly know the connection between me and that little monster… and yet they won't tell me…
Then she heard a sudden wave of shouts.
"Not good! Gohan !"
"Dad… Mr. Piccolo… this time, I'm going to protect Earth no matter what!"
Gohan's red pupils burned as he let out a low, savage roar.
He refused to repeat the past refused to stand there again and watch the people he loved disappear one by one.
"Super Saiyan 4… it's my last hope!"
He forcibly drove the last remnants of his ki, transforming before his reason could fully snap.
"Damn it! What did you do to my Gohan?!" Chi-Chi had just arrived and the instant she saw his body changing, her face went white.
In the blink of an eye, Gohan became a massive golden ape.
Mr. Satan, who'd arrived with her in a flyer, rubbed his eyes like his life depended on it. Then he turned toward the live broadcast camera and began explaining wildly:
"An illusion! It's all an illusion! Everyone's seen magic tricks, right? The principle is "
Beside him, Videl covered her face, too embarrassed to watch.
"A golden Great Ape?" Turles' eyes flashed with confusion. But when he felt that familiar, feral killing intent, he immediately threw his head back and laughed.
"Yes! Come on! Kill! Destroy everything!"
As he spoke, he spun Gohan's body like a hammer and hurled him toward the Earth fighters.
With a sky-shaking roar, Golden Great Ape Gohan spewed a blazing beam of energy that swept toward his allies.
Bulma and the others scrambled to block.
"Gohan! Calm down! I know you can find your way back!"
The golden ape stared with blood-red eyes, deaf to every voice. His state only grew more violent.
"Kakarot's son is adorable in how naïve he is," Turles sneered, arms crossed. "And you still dare claim you're not a Saiyan?"
The Earth fighters barely endured the first blast
Only for the next wave to come crashing down, leaving them reeling and desperate.
In Great Ape form, Gohan's power was horrifying. Even Android 18 and Bulma, both in their Mystic forms, couldn't stand against him.
At the critical moment, Tien thought of something.
"I'll hold him. You find a chance to cut off Gohan's tail!"
"No!" Bulma snapped. "Levos asked Elder Kai to bring Goku and Gohan's tails back for a reason so they could break through to a higher form! I believe Gohan can do it!"
"Exactly!" someone echoed. "Otherwise he wouldn't be forcing out the last of his sanity to transform. We need to help him break through!"
"Then…" Tien clenched his jaw. "I'll only hold him back. You figure out the method!"
He focused, palms forward, and fired his new Neo Tri-Beam at Gohan.
Boom!
The blast struck and made Gohan's movements stall just for an instant.
"Gohan, can you hear me? It's me, Chiaotzu!" Chiaotzu flew beside his ear and screamed. "Think about your family! Your friends! We're all here supporting you!"
For a moment, something flickered in Gohan's eyes
Then the wildness swallowed it again.
He pounded his chest like a beast and kept firing wave after wave at them.
"Gohan! It's Mom!" Chi-Chi cried through the flyer's glass.
Zzzzt!
A beam pierced straight through the golden ape's left ear.
Gohan's head snapped toward the source and he caught a glimpse of the flyer streaking past.
Rage exploded.
He swung one massive palm.
Clang!
The flyer spiraled down trailing black smoke.
"Chi-Chi!"
The Earth fighters whipped their heads toward Turles furious.
Turles smiled coldly. "A child killing their parents. That's what a Saiyan is."
Golden Great Ape Gohan froze just for a heartbeat.
The next second, Turles fired another energy blast straight into him.
ROOOAR !
The ape's frenzy intensified, swelling even more uncontrollable.
At the same time, people watching the worldwide broadcast those who'd been praying Mr. Satan would save the planet fell into despair as the signal cut out into a black screen.
The host cut in urgently. "We've received tragic news from the front. Mr. Satan's flyer has crashed. Earth's last hope has disappeared…"
But even then, many people staring at their TVs still refused to give up. In their hearts, hope remained, and they tried to do something anything to help the last warriors.
"Yajirobe, stop digging!" Korin wailed, face crumpling. "There isn't a single Senzu Bean left!"
"No way!" Yajirobe insisted, rummaging like a madman. "I definitely dropped some on the ground by accident back when I was eating them. There has to be at least one!"
"Even if there is… it's too late to deliver it now…"
At Capsule Corp, Dr. Brief and his wife, the Pilaf Gang, and a whole bunch of kids sat glued to the screen.
"Mr. Satan isn't the real savior," a child said softly. "Gohan and the others will save Earth, right, Lord Pilaf?"
"O-Of course…" Pilaf answered, his voice uncertain.
Mai's expression was serious. "Lord Pilaf, Earth will be saved. We have to believe in every warrior protecting this planet."
"That's right, Mai."
On the battlefield
"Gohan! You idiot wake up!" Tien finally snapped.
He stopped conserving energy, stopped holding back, and fired Neo Tri-Beam after Neo Tri-Beam, trying to blast Gohan back to his senses.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Rivers evaporated. Mountains were flattened.
Tien stood dead center before the Golden Great Ape, refusing to give an inch.
"T-Tien!" Chiaotzu cried. "Don't! If you keep going you'll burn up your life!"
A hand suddenly landed on Tien's shoulder.
"Just keep firing," a voice said. "I'll handle the stamina."
"…Kibito?"
Kibito's stern face forced out a smile. "Right. And our ancestor also told me to deliver Potara earrings…"
Hope ignited again in everyone's eyes.
"Do you see it, Gohan?" someone shouted. "This time, you're not fighting alone! We'll help you find your real self!"
Bulma gritted her teeth. "Android 18… we… fuse!"
Android 18 answered instantly. "Fine."
Android 16 had his own thoughts, murmuring under his breath. "Goku broke through back then because he suffered a massive shock. Looks like… we can only try that method."
He inhaled slowly, preparing to sacrifice himself.
"This is the last thing I can do for Earth…"
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