Vegeta from the main timeline scoffed with disdain.
"Rayden, you don't need to come over here! There's no way guys like them could sneak attack me!"
Rayden chuckled and shook his head. Vegeta was still as arrogant as ever.
"So that guy is Rayden… No wonder he's so powerful," murmured one of the Black Gokus.
They had searched through countless timelines and universes but had never encountered a warrior named Rayden. According to Zamasu from the main timeline, Rayden was even stronger than Broly. At first, they doubted it—but now, standing in front of him, they knew it was true.
What a pity... If only they could use the Super Dragon Balls to exchange bodies with him.
"Don't worry," one of the Black Brolys said with a wicked grin. "We'll deal with him soon enough."
The smoke from the earlier battle finally began to clear.
Black Goku No. 1 lay crumpled in a massive crater, his clothes in tatters and his body covered in bruises and wounds.
"You damned mortals!" he growled, struggling to his feet. His eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Vegeta.
"You're still not dead?" Rayden muttered in surprise. He didn't expect Black Goku No. 1 to have such resilience.
"Snort."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes and raised his right hand. A bright, circular disc of energy formed in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it toward Black Goku No. 1.
"Let's see if you survive this!"
As the spinning disc neared him, Black Goku No. 1 smirked and placed two fingers on his forehead. In an instant, he vanished using Instant Transmission, reappearing beside Black Goku No. 2.
"We can't drag this out," said No. 1 with a grim expression. "There are still too many of them we haven't dealt with. It's time for our ultimate move."
Black Goku No. 2 nodded in agreement.
Without hesitation, Black Goku No. 1 removed a Potara earring and handed it to his counterpart.
Black Goku No. 2 took off one of his own earrings and replaced it with the one from No. 1. The moment both earrings were worn—
Zzzzt!
Their bodies began to move toward each other, pulled by an invisible force. As they collided, a radiant, blinding light burst out, illuminating the sky.
Everyone instinctively shielded their eyes from the glow.
When the light finally faded, the two Black Gokus were gone—replaced by a single, much more powerful fusion warrior.
"Rayden, what just happened?" Vegeta from the main timeline frowned, clearly confused. This was unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
Rayden's expression darkened as he explained, "Vegeta, they used the Potara Earrings to fuse into one being. It's similar to the Fusion Dance, but more stable—and more dangerous. The resulting warrior has both of their powers combined."
Upon hearing that, Vegeta's face twisted with frustration.
He clenched his fists.
Damn it! If only I hadn't let Black Goku No. 1 escape earlier… This fusion wouldn't have happened.
The newly fused Black Goku smirked arrogantly. Without even powering up, he used Instant Transmission and appeared directly in front of Vegeta.
"This is your end, mortal. Die for the glory of God!"
Vegeta didn't hesitate. He met the attack head-on, throwing a punch to block the incoming strike.
Bang!
Their fists collided with an earth-shaking shockwave.
Vegeta was sent flying backward, skidding across the ground for dozens of meters. The fused Black Goku hadn't even budged.
Wearing a cruel smile, Black Goku pursued him immediately.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A furious exchange of blows followed. Their battle climbed from the shattered ground to the skies above.
Black Goku took every hit head-on. With each strike he received, his strength continued to grow, thanks to his unique ability—Pain Growth.
Vegeta stared at him in disbelief.
"You can actually increase your power through pain and battle?" he exclaimed.
So the thief who stole Kakarot's body had gained such an overwhelming advantage?
"It's too late for regrets," Black Goku sneered. He raised his hands and positioned them near his waist, gathering swirling dark energy tinged with purple.
"Kamehameha… of Despair!"
The deadly wave of energy surged toward Vegeta.
Unwilling to be outdone, Vegeta roared and gathered all his power into his palms, forming a massive golden orb.
"FINAL FLASH!!"
BOOOOM!
The two energy waves clashed in mid-air, creating a blinding explosion. The battlefield trembled, and for a moment, it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.
"You're finished!" Black Goku howled. His aura flared even more violently, and the destructive energy of his Kamehameha began to overpower Vegeta's Final Flash.
"Damn it!" Vegeta gritted his teeth. Realizing he couldn't hold on any longer, he made a snap decision.
He gave up resisting and placed two fingers on his forehead.
Instant Transmission!
He vanished from the battlefield just as the wave passed through where he had stood.
The Kamehameha surged into the skies and vanished into the void of space, leaving behind a scar of destruction.
Black Goku blinked in surprise.
"What…? He escaped? How does Vegeta know Instant Transmission?!"
He scanned the area with his energy senses. In all the timelines he had explored, only Son Goku had mastered that technique.
This was unexpected.
Swish!
Vegeta reappeared beside the group.
"Vegeta?!" Son Goku from the main timeline looked puzzled. "Why'd you come back? You're not the type to flee a battle."
Vegeta clenched his fists, veins bulging from his temples.
"That fusion bastard is too powerful! He gets stronger the longer he fights! We have no choice, Kakarot… We have to fuse!"
Everyone's jaw dropped.
Did Vegeta—the Vegeta—just ask for fusion?
Main timeline Goku scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"Vegeta, you missed a lot. Future Trunks told us about the Dark Man. He's no joke—"
"Enough!" Vegeta interrupted. "No more wasting time. Transform into Super Saiyan 4—NOW!"
He was done with games. That counterfeit Goku needed to be punished.
"Alright!" Goku grinned and powered up, his aura flaring wildly as he transformed into Super Saiyan 4.
Together, the two stood side by side. Then they moved into position, their bodies mirroring each other perfectly.
They began the Fusion Dance, executing each movement with precision and synchronicity.
As their fingertips touched—
FLASH!
A radiant light enveloped them.
When it faded, a new warrior stood tall—Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta.
He was muscular, wearing the signature Metamoran vest. His wild red hair fell over his shoulders, his chest and arms covered in reddish-brown fur. Behind him swayed a long, matching tail.
(Though Super Saiyan 4 usually has black hair, Gogeta's hair in this form is bright red.)
Without hesitation, Gogeta used Instant Transmission and appeared directly in front of Black Goku.
Black Goku blinked.
"Who the hell are you?"
He hadn't seen the fusion. This guy came out of nowhere.
Gogeta smirked.
"I'm not Son Goku. I'm not Vegeta. I'm the one who's going to defeat you."
"Hahahahaha!"
Black Goku burst into laughter, then powered up, transforming into Super Saiyan Red.
The air crackled with energy.
With no more words, Gogeta launched his assault.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Their fists collided at speeds barely visible to the eye. Each strike shook the heavens. Shockwaves rippled outward, tearing through the landscape.
The planet itself began to suffer.
Massive cracks split the ground, cities crumbled, volcanoes erupted, and magma spilled across the surface.
Swish!
Rayden suddenly reappeared beside the group using Instant Transmission.
"Uncle Rayden!" Future Trunks rushed up, face pale. "The Earth is about to be destroyed! My mom… she's still there!"
Future Son Goku's expression was heavy.
He was the only one among them who could use Instant Transmission.
"I can get Chichi and Bulma out," he said quietly. "But what about Krillin? Master Roshi? Everyone else…?"
The battle raged on above, shaking the very planet to its core.
Time was running out.
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