Boom! Boom!
The two giant apes wielding sky-scraping great blades swung their swords down.
Fire and ice, two completely opposite energies, erupted violently, engulfing the entire city.
The surrounding buildings were instantly churned into fine powder.
Rampant sword energy triggered soaring tsunamis, continuously spreading outwards.
Because of Jin and Vegeta's rampage at the 24th World Martial Arts Tournament before, people in this world already knew about the existence of supernatural powers.
There wouldn't be idiots like Mr. Satan jumping out to say things like 'it's just a trick' or the like.
But even so, the citizens living in South City, seeing this seemingly apocalyptic scene, were still so scared, watching the shockwaves approach them.
But they didn't even have the courage to run away.
Or rather, they were already paralyzed with fear.
And at that final moment, one of the sword-wielding ape demons descended from the sky, shielding these civilians.
It slashed out another sword energy blast, forming a barrier to protect them.
No one knew how long it took for the aftershocks to gradually dissipate.
By the time one could see clearly, the landscape had been completely altered.
Within sight, there were no longer any buildings or roads.
Only the upturned and riddled with holes earth remained.
The mountain peaks on the islands in the surrounding sea were all uniformly lowered, as if something had sliced them.
"They ran away, but that was expected."
The giant ape standing in front, holding the flaming great blade, rapidly shrank in size.
Having returned to his original form, Jin stepped on the head of Android 19, which was all that remained on the ground.
He kicked it like a ball into the distant sea.
The giant ape behind, holding the bone-chilling great blade, also slowly returned to its original form.
The Hyorinmaru in Trunks' hand dispersed into Reishi and turned back into the star medal pinned on his chest. He said to Jin:
"This is troublesome, Dad. Androids have no Ki, so tracking them will be very difficult for us."
"Dr. Gero's goal from beginning to end has been to take revenge on Goku. As long as Goku is here, they will eventually come to us on their own."
Jin stretched lazily, in a great mood:
"Today is such a happy day. Let's head back, head back. Next, we'll just wait to catch them in a trap."
The older Trunks blinked twice.
He really couldn't figure out why his dad was so happy.
...
In the barren mountains of a large island north of South City.
Dr. Gero, missing an arm, wasn't using Flight Technique to fly but was relying on his modified body to run quickly along the mountain paths. His expression changed slightly as he thought to himself:
'They're not pursuing? They left in the opposite direction? What's going on?'
Precisely to avoid Jin and the other using ki to track him, he didn't dare use Flight Technique.
Instead, he was returning to the laboratory on foot, preparing to release #17 and #18.
But what he never expected was that Jin and that mysterious silver-haired youth showed no intention of pursuing at all.
Instead, they withdrew in the opposite direction.
'Could it be they think I no longer pose a threat, so they don't intend to chase? Damn it, I'm really being looked down upon.'
Dr. Gero secretly gritted his teeth, speeding back to the laboratory. He said through gritted teeth:
"Just wait and see, Uchiha Jin, Son Goku. Once I release #17 and #18, I'll make you know how terrifying androids are!"
...
Meanwhile, at the Lookout.
Seeing Jin and Trunks return, Piccolo and the others, who were guarding the Hyperbolic Time Chamber's door, waiting for Goku and Gohan to come out, had their expressions change slightly. They turned and asked:
"How was it? The Androids' strength?"
"It's complicated. It might be because I used Mom's time machine to go back to the past last time, causing history to change. The Androids Dad and I encountered are different from the ones I encountered in my timeline."
The older Trunks explained.
"Different... Whatever, it doesn't matter. The key is whether we can win. Goku and the others will be out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber soon."
Piccolo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said to the older Trunks:
"Next will be you and your dad. Then I'll go in, followed by Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu..."
Krillin, holding his daughter, stiffened, "Ah, this... D-do I have to go in too?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of a door opening echoed in everyone's ears.
They turned to look.
They saw two blonds, one tall and one short, walking side by side out of the room.
It was Goku and Gohan in their Super Saiyan Forms.
Piccolo's eyes changed, "Is that Gohan? He's grown quite a bit..."
"Oh ho, everyone, long time no see~"
Goku in Super Saiyan Form waved to everyone.
"You've only been in for a day. What 'long time no see'? Although the time inside was a year."
Jin walked past Goku's shoulder.
"Have you already seen the Androids? How are they? Strong?"
Goku glanced sideways at Jin and asked.
"Piece of cake. You don't need to deliberately seek them out, they'll come to us on their own. But remember to leave #18 for me."
Jin waved behind him without turning around and strode into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Seeing this, the older Trunks quickly followed him in.
"Dad, the form Uncle Goku and Gohan-nii were in just now..."
The older Trunks asked as he walked behind Jin.
"Ah~ That's probably because they try to keep themselves in the Super Saiyan Form even during daily life. This way, their bodies can become more accustomed to the Super Saiyan. I have to say, as expected of Goku, he actually thought of this method."
Jin's tone held a bit of praise.
Although his emotional intelligence was lacking, in terms of battle and training, throughout the entire 2D World, Goku's level in this aspect were second to none.
The Super Saiyan, especially the Super Saiyan 2 Form, had a flaw: It consumed too much energy.
Maintaining the Super Saiyan form daily was to make the body more accustomed to the Super Saiyan.
Older Trunks: "Then should we also..."
Before his good son could finish, Jin rejected his idea, refuting him:
"Goku has his methods; we have ours."
"Moreover, we have different advantages compared to them."
As he said this, the 'belt' tied around Jin's waist swayed.
The older Trunks was taken aback upon seeing this, "The tail?"
"Both Goku and Gohan had their tails removed in advance because they had experiences of losing their minds after transforming into Great Apes. But its importance to Saiyans goes far beyond just turning into giant apes."
Jin gave a mysterious smile, facing the boundless interior of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
"Alright, let's begin."
...
In a secret laboratory within a cave in the barren mountains north of South City.
"#17! What is the meaning of this!?"
Seeing #17, who had just awakened, snatch the controller from his hand, Dr. Gero's expression changed drastically as he asked tremblingly.
"This is the controller that can shut down our energy source, isn't it? I don't want to fall into a long sleep again, you stinking old man."
#17 showed wicked smile, pressing his five fingers together and crushing the controller into fragments.
#18 behind him also showed an unruly smile.
The next instant, under Dr. Gero's shocked and horrified gaze, #17 abruptly raised his hand, his hand directly piercing through his heart.
"You... betrayed me..."
At the end of his life, Dr. Gero widened his eyes in disbelief.
Thud!
After Dr. Gero fell to the ground, #17 kicked him aside like garbage.
"Now there's no one to restrain us. #17, what do you want to do?"
#18, standing behind, asked with one hand on her hip.
"Mmm... This dead old man set the initial command 'kill Son Goku' in our brains. Although very reluctantly, it seems our bodies cannot disobey this command."
#17 twisted his wrist, a flash of displeasure in his eyes:
"And I also want to test the power of this modified body. Let's kill Son Goku first."
#18 had no objections to this either, nodding as she said:
"According to the data Dr. Gero transmitted to our brains, Son Goku's residence is Mount Paozu. Other places he frequently stays are Kame House and the Lookout."
"We don't need to rush to kill him. Taking our time to find him could also be a kind of fun, don't you think?"
Before leaving, #17 noticed another nutrient tank in the corner of the laboratory, similar to the ones he and #18 were in.
It had another number on it… #16.
...
At the Lookout.
Piccolo's expression changed slightly as he shouted at the Son Family's father and son, who were eating heartily: "They're coming!"
Krillin, holding his daughter, trembled violently, "S-such strong ki... Huh? Wait, three?"
Tien: "Why are there three ki? According to Trunks, aren't there only two Androids named #17 and #18?"
"Gulp!"
Goku swallowed a large piece of barbecued pork, and Gohan beside him also drank the last bit of soup from a large bowl of ramen.
After sensing briefly, Goku blinked twice and said:
"They are indeed very strong, but there shouldn't be anything to worry about now."
If he had sensed this ki before entering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he would have felt some pressure.
But now it was different.
No need to fear at all.
"Huh? Wait? The Ki disappeared?"
Krillin, who had been in a state of panic moments before, had his expression change again.
He had just sensed three enormous Ki, thinking they would quickly come towards the Lookout.
But unexpectedly, those three Ki vanished without a trace very quickly.
It proved they weren't using Flight Technique.
"What are these guys trying to do? Didn't they come to kill Goku?"
Piccolo frowned.
Earlier, Dr. Gero didn't use Flight Technique but simply ran to escape, to avoid Jin and the older Trunks tracking him with Ki Sensing.
But wasn't that unnecessary now?
Could it be they want to come to the Lookout on foot?
Because the androids' ki disappeared, Goku and the others couldn't sense the location of #18's group either.
They could only wait idly at the Lookout.
And the android trio wasn't in a hurry to kill Goku either.
They just took their time, strolling leisurely.
Both sides were at a stalemate for the time being.
Unconsciously, 24 hours passed like this.
By the time Jin and the older Trunks came out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, after hearing Piccolo describe the current situation, they were utterly speechless.
The reason he didn't choose to pursue Dr. Gero earlier was that he thought since Goku was here, the androids would naturally come to them.
However, after transmigrating for so long, he had forgotten many details.
That was, #17 and #18 weren't in a hurry to kill Goku.
So they weren't in a hurry to come either.
Both sides were momentarily stuck in a stalemate.
"What should we do? If they don't make a move, we can't lock onto their position either. Should we wait here slowly?"
Piccolo asked.
Piccolo felt quietly waiting wasn't a bad method.
Having everyone here enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber once to level up would increase their chances of winning.
"This book is about to finish. Why all the fancy tricks?"
Jin stood up and walked out, "Don't worry, I can make them come to us proactively immediately."
"Dad, wait for me!"
The older Trunks quickly chased after him like a follower.
Several hours later.
The Android trio, after robbing a group of small-time thugs and successfully getting some money, arrived at a clothing store in South City and changed into new clothes.
It was completely consistent with Jin's prediction.
They weren't in a hurry to complete the main quest of killing Goku at all, but were instead wandering around looking for fun.
They were exactly like a certain Hero who ran off everywhere but just doesn't save the princess.
"Ugh!?"
Suddenly, #17 and #18's expressions changed drastically.
As if suffering a sudden heart attack, they fell to one knee.
"What's wrong with you?"
#16, who had been silently standing by the side, was also startled upon seeing this and stepped forward to ask the two.
"The bomb in the heart... is active?"
#17 covered his left chest, filled with disbelief.
When he and #18 were modified, a bomb was implanted in their hearts by Dr. Gero.
It was precisely to prevent them from disobeying orders.
"What's going on, #17? Wasn't Dr. Gero already killed by you? The controller was also destroyed by you, wasn't it? Why is the bomb operating again?"
#18 also completely lost her previous ice queen demeanor, shouting at #17 in distraught.
"Could it be that old thing isn't dead?"
#17 also wore an expression of disbelief.
'But, but that's impossible.'
'After piercing his heart, I even added a Ki Blast to blow him into pieces.'
'He still didn't die after that?'
'But then, how to explain the fact that the bomb was reactivated?'
"Damn it! Let's go back!"
With the bomb in their hearts reactivated, the Android trio, although they didn't know what was happening, couldn't care about anything else. They rushed out of the store, used Flight Technique, and flew back to the secret laboratory north of South City.
What on earth happened?!
...
Boom!
In less than half an hour, at the entrance of Dr. Gero's laboratory.
Faced with the tightly shut door, the anxious #17 raised his hand and released a Ki Blast, blowing the iron door to smithereens.
When the dust settled, they saw Dr. Gero standing quietly on the other side of the doorway.
The three Androids were stunned as if struck by lightning.
'H-how is this possible?'
'I had witnessed him being blown to pieces by #17 hours ago with my own eyes!'
"Wait! There's something wrong with him!"
#16 was the first to react, shouting to alert them.
#17 and #18, their pupils contracted sharply, also noticed Dr. Gero's abnormality upon hearing this.
At this moment, Dr. Gero faced #17, who had killed him, with unbelievable calmness.
He just stared at the three with his unfocused, lifeless eyes.
And the skin on his body showed cracks like old porcelain, with dirt and ash vaguely visible covering the flesh underneath.
"You've finally arrived."
At that moment, a lazy voice came from behind Dr. Gero.
The three were startled upon hearing this and looked up.
They saw Jin sitting on the research console full of buttons, legs crossed, playing with a remote control in his hand.
Beside him stood the older Trunks and another gloomy man with an androgynous, cold aura.
"That is!?"
Seeing the remote control in Jin's hand, the Android trio lost their composure again, completely unable to maintain their inner calm.
Because that was precisely the one manufactured by Dr. Gero.
The one that could pause their energy source, turn them into ordinary people, and detonate the bombs in their hearts.