The underground lab buzzed with low mechanical hums as Bulma tightened the last set of bolts on a strange, rectangular device sitting atop a reinforced table. Blueprints lay scattered around, holographic screens flickered with numbers, and a heavy silence filled the room. Everyone present knew—this was the moment everything had been building toward.
Trunks leaned against the cold steel wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the machine. Rudra stood with calm composure, his breath steady, eyes half-closed as though meditating even while standing. His aura was faintly flickering, as if his very body was preparing itself for what was to come.
Finally, Bulma pulled her goggles up and exhaled. "It's done." Her voice carried both pride and worry. "This device will give you a fighting chance. The androids' ki signatures are masked by their mechanical cores, but once you're close enough, this sensor will pick up their unique energy pulses. Think of it as a radar tuned just for them."
She slid the compact machine across the table. "It's portable. You strap it to your arm, and it'll display distance and direction. But remember—this only tells you where they are. It won't protect you from what they'll do once you find them."
Trunks stepped forward immediately and lifted the device. "Mom, you really did it." His tone carried both relief and determination.
Bulma smiled faintly, though exhaustion showed in her eyes. "I've been waiting years for this, Trunks. Years of watching you go out there alone, fighting those monsters, always coming back wounded. This time…" She glanced at Rudra. "…this time, you're not alone."
Rudra opened his eyes fully and gave a small nod. "Don't worry, Bulma. We'll bring this nightmare to an end." His tone wasn't boastful—it was steady, filled with an unshakable conviction.
Bulma folded her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. "You better. You're not just fighting for yourselves. You're fighting for everyone who's still alive down here."
A silence followed. Everyone in the room understood the weight of those words.
Trunks finally strapped the device to his forearm, the screen blinking to life with a faint blue glow. He looked at Rudra. "Ready?"
Rudra adjusted the strap of his sword on his back, its metallic gleam catching the lab lights. "I've been ready since the day I stepped into this timeline."
Bulma suddenly reached out, placing a hand on her son's arm. "Trunks… remember, no matter what happens out there, don't let anger drive you. I know how much you want revenge for everyone we lost. But don't throw away your life for it. Survive. Both of you."
Trunks looked into his mother's eyes, then gave a firm nod. "I promise."
Rudra gave a soft smirk. "Bulma, you don't need to worry. I'm not letting him fall—not when we've come this far."
The faintest hint of relief touched her expression, though her heart still carried the weight of fear.
---
The two warriors walked together toward the heavy underground door. The metallic clang of their boots echoed through the chamber as each step carried them closer to destiny. Trunks input the codes, and the reinforced gate slowly ground open with a deep rumble.
As the cold outside air rushed in, carrying with it the scent of ash and rust from the ruined West City above, Bulma called out one last time.
"Rudra! Trunks! Come back alive!"
Neither turned back, but both raised their hands in acknowledgment as they stepped into the lightless ruins of the surface.
---
Above Ground – West City Ruins
The world above was nothing more than a graveyard. Collapsed skyscrapers loomed like broken monuments, streets were littered with abandoned cars entangled with weeds, and the silence was heavy—only broken by the occasional whistle of the wind through empty windows.
Rudra and Trunks emerged, their figures framed against the apocalyptic horizon. The ruined Capsule Corporation dome stood behind them, now nothing more than fractured walls and twisted metal.
Trunks checked the device on his arm. The screen pulsed faintly, a small arrow pointing southeast. "They're close. About twenty kilometers from here."
Rudra cracked his knuckles and adjusted his sword. "Then that's where destiny waits."
Trunks clenched his fists, golden sparks flickering around his body for an instant as his anger stirred. But Rudra's calm voice cut through it.
"Control your fire, Trunks. Don't let rage blind you. Remember—Shakti Sanchalan. Flow your energy where you need it most. Don't burn it all at once."
Trunks inhaled sharply, then nodded. "…Right. I'll keep my head."
The two took to the sky, blasting upward from the shattered city. The ground cracked under their sudden force as they streaked across the horizon—two blazing lights cutting through the ashen clouds, racing toward the androids who had terrorized Earth for decades.
---
The journey was silent, save for the rush of wind. Trunks' jaw was tight, his eyes focused ahead. Rudra's presence beside him radiated calm assurance, a balance to his storm.
Finally, Trunks broke the silence. "Rudra… thank you. If I'm being honest, part of me never believed I'd have help in this fight. For so long, it was just me against them. But now…"
Rudra's smirk returned. "Now it's us. And trust me, Trunks… those androids won't know what hit them."
As they flew onward, the radar's glow intensified. The androids were near.
Far below, smoke rose from a once-thriving town, reduced to rubble. And at the heart of the destruction… two silhouettes waited, their figures sharp against the fires burning behind them.
The decisive battle was about to begin.
————————————
✨ Wanna Read More?
Join patreon.com/RJ_Multiverse
and unlock 50+ exclusive chapters before anyone else!