The skies above West City were steel-gray, thunder murmuring on the horizon.
Inside Capsule Corp, the silence was tense.
Goten and Trunks lay resting in recovery pods, their bodies stable but their Ki still fragile. Bulma monitored them, eyes weary but focused, her fingers dancing across the control panels. Chi-Chi sat silently beside Goten, her eyes red, one hand clinging tightly to the glass.
In the courtyard, the others gathered, warriors of legend, standing at the edge of war once again.
Supreme Kai stood tall at the head of the group, his expression grave. Beside him, Kibito radiated calm intensity, arms folded behind his back.
"We don't have much time," Supreme Kai said. "Babidi is close. The energy stolen from the boys will likely be enough to awaken the sealed Majin Buu."
"Then let's not waste time talking," Vegeta said flatly. His arms were crossed but his eyes flicked toward the house, toward Trunks.
Goku adjusted his wristbands, stepping forward. "Lead the way, Kai."
Gohan stood at the edge of the group. He was silent.
No books. No glasses.
He tore the white cloth from around his head and unfastened the cape from his back, letting it drop to the ground. His glasses followed, gently folded and left on a nearby bench.
What stood now wasn't Great Saiyanman. It wasn't a symbol.
It was a warrior.
Gohan's aura shimmered around him, barely visible but heavy in the air like static before lightning.
Videl stood nearby, watching him.
"You're really going?" she asked softly.
Gohan nodded.
"You don't have to," she said. "You've done more than enough. You could stay with Goten. With your mom."
Gohan looked at her, the fire in his eyes barely restrained. "If I don't go, there won't be anything left to protect."
She hesitated, then smiled sadly. "Then I guess I'll wait. Just… try not to die."
Gohan managed the ghost of a smile. "You too."
Then, without warning, he stepped forward and hugged her.
It wasn't long. But it was real.
Videl blinked rapidly, caught off guard, then gave him a small punch on the chest as he pulled away. "That's for scaring me."
He chuckled faintly.
Goku raised his hand to his forehead. "Alright. Everyone ready?"
Vegeta grunted. "Let's get this over with."
Supreme Kai opened a portal of light with a wave of his hand. The divine energy rippled like water, casting strange, shifting reflections across the grass.
Goku vanished first, teleporting to the edge of Babidi's hidden base.
Then Supreme Kai stepped through the portal, Kibito following.
Vegeta cracked his neck and entered with a smirk.
Gohan paused. Looked back one last time.
Piccolo and Krillin stepped through aswell.
Videl stood with her arms crossed, a forced smile on her face, but her eyes betrayed the storm inside.
"You come back, Gohan," she said. "Or I'll find you and kick your ass."
Gohan raised an eyebrow."Then I will definitely comeback."
Then he turned, stepped through the portal.
And vanished.
A Wasteland, Somewhere in the Desert
The group reappeared in a barren, red-sand canyon, miles from civilization. Jagged rock spires loomed overhead like the teeth of ancient monsters.
Far ahead, a black crater opened in the ground, Babidi's ship.
Goku's eyes narrowed. "That's where they went."
Vegeta crossed his arms. "The sooner we destroy this worm, the better."
Supreme Kai raised a hand. "Not yet. Babidi is cunning. He'll test us before we reach him. His ship is layered in traps, each level guarded by a warrior stronger than the last. He'll try to draw out our energy… to feed Majin Buu."
"Let him try," Gohan muttered.
Piccolo stepped forward, eyes scanning the strange structure. "Something is coming."
But before anyone could move...
"Heads up!" Goku shouted.
A flash of red, Dabura appeared above them, descending like a comet. In a blur, he launched a thick glob of spit from his mouth, straight toward Krillin and Piccolo.
Too fast.
It struck them both before they could react.
And instantly…
Stone.
Krillin and Piccolo stood frozen in time, expressions locked in shock and confusion.
"Krillin! Piccolo!" Gohan stepped forward, rage flaring in his chest.
Dabura smirked. "Worry not. Kill me, and they return to normal… assuming you survive."
He vanished in a swirl of shadows, back into the ship.
Gohan's jaw tightened. "I'm going to make him pay."
Kibito pointed ahead. "They're already inside. I can feel Dabura's presence."
Goku grinned. "It's been a while since I had a real fight."
Inside Babidi's Ship - Stage 1
The door hissed open.
The group entered a vast circular chamber, glowing with dark Ki. Strange symbols pulsed on the walls.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, Pui Pui.
"You dare enter Lord Babidi's domain?" he snarled. "I'll tear you apart before you reach the second floor!"
Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan stepped forward in sync.
All three paused.
Then they looked at each other.
Without a word, all three raised their fists.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
Vegeta: rock.
Goku: scissors.
Gohan: scissors.
Vegeta smirked. "Looks like it's mine."
Goku shrugged. "Aw, man. I haven't won in a while."
Gohan folded his arms. "Don't take too long."
Vegeta cracked his knuckles and strode forward with a cocky grin.
"I'll make this quick."
Pui Pui sneered. "You think this is a game?!"
Vegeta stopped. Smiled coldly.
"No. But I'm still going to enjoy it."
The chamber lit up with battle.
Pui Pui lunged, faster than the average warrior but to Vegeta, it was laughably slow.
A blur of movement, and Vegeta vanished. Pui Pui's punch struck only air.
A brutal elbow came crashing down on his back, and Pui Pui hit the floor hard, coughing.
Vegeta stood above him, arms crossed. "This is the best Babidi can offer?"
Pui Pui snarled, leaping to his feet. "I was trained on Planet Zoon, where the gravity is ten times that of Earth! I'll crush you!"
Babidi, observing from his chamber deeper inside the ship, grinned. "Let's see how you like it now, Saiyan."
A surge of magic pulsed through the walls. The floor shifted. The chamber transformed, swirling into a jagged, purple rock field with dark skies. Vegeta didn't move.
The gravity increased. The air became heavy.
Pui Pui grinned. "Welcome to ten times gravity!"
But Vegeta only yawned. "Is that it?"
He stepped forward easily, no sign of strain. "Try five hundred times gravity. That's my morning routine."
Pui Pui's grin cracked.
Vegeta vanished.
Then he was in front of him, fist buried in Pui Pui's gut.
Bones crunched.
Pui Pui flew across the chamber, crashing into a pillar of rock, coughing blood.
Vegeta didn't wait. He appeared above him and fired a precision blast, vaporizing Pui Pui mid-scream.
When the smoke cleared, nothing remained.
Inside Babidi's Control Room
Babidi's eyes widened. "What?! He... he was eliminated that easily?"
Dabura stood behind him, arms folded. "They are far stronger than anticipated."
Babidi's lips twisted. "No matter. The next one will take care of them. And if not… you will."
Dabura said nothing. But his eyes locked on Gohan through the monitor.
Back Inside the Ship - Stage 2
The floor shifted again as the group descended. A new door opened, revealing a large circular chamber, pitch black.
From the shadows, a massive beast emerged. Glowing green skin. Long fangs. Razor claws. Two sickly yellow eyes.
Yakon.
He hissed, saliva dripping. "More food… more light…"
Supreme Kai tensed. "Be careful. That creature feeds on light energy… especially energy like yours, Goku."
Yakon lunged without warning.
But Goku was already gone.
A sharp kick cracked against Yakon's jaw from behind, sending him stumbling. Goku flipped mid-air and landed easily.
Yakon growled and opened his mouth wide.
The chamber was instantly swallowed in darkness.
"I can't see anything!" Kibito shouted.
"Neither can he," Goku's voice replied. "He's just guessing."
A green glow swirled into Goku's palm, his energy illuminating the chamber for a brief moment.
Yakon's eyes locked onto it, and he leapt again.
This time, Goku dodged easily and kicked him aside.
"Interesting trick," Goku said. "But I've got a better one."
With a sharp exhale, he powered up, his Super Saiyan aura lighting the room like a small sun.
Yakon roared and lunged toward him, mouth wide open.
"Wait!" Supreme Kai shouted. "He's feeding on your light!"
Yakon did just that. Goku's glow dimmed slightly.
But Goku smirked. "Good. I was just testing something."
He powered up again.
Brighter.
Hotter.
Yakon fed and kept feeding.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes, arms crossed. "So that's his plan…"
Yakon was overjoyed, gulping the radiant energy like a starving beast.
But then he stopped.
He gagged.
His stomach swelled unnaturally.
Goku powered up even more, until his golden aura engulfed the entire chamber.
And Yakon exploded.
A burst of green mist sprayed the walls, and the monstrous beast was no more.
Goku landed gently, his Super Saiyan form fading as he dusted off his Gi.
Kibito stared in awe. "He… he overfed it."
Vegeta scoffed. "Hmph. Sloppy, but effective."
There was no jealousy. No bitterness. Only cold analysis.
Goku looked at Vegeta. "Still think I'm rusty?"
Vegeta didn't smile. "I think you're finally catching up."
Gohan didn't comment. His eyes were focused on the chamber ahead.
Supreme Kai's face was pale. "The next floor… That's where he is."
Gohan's fists clenched.
"Dabura."