It became clear to her—this future had fallen into ruin for one simple reason: Son Goku had died from a heart disease.
Now that she knew the cause, once she returned, she would do everything in her power to gather the Dragon Balls and cure Goku's illness.
Even if Earth's Shenron couldn't grant such a wish, she would find a way to get Whis involved.
In her own timeline, there were countless ways to fix things.
But in this one…
"Gran…"
Bulma's voice trembled as she looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Can my parents… and Goku… still be brought back to life in this timeline?"
Gran opened his mouth to answer—
But Gohan shook his head, his expression filled with despair.
"Aunt Bulma… it's impossible. Ever since Piccolo died, Kami-sama died along with him. The Dragon Balls on Earth are gone… they can't be used anymore."
"That's right," Gran continued calmly. "Even if the Dragon Balls still existed, your parents likely couldn't be revived. Too much time has passed—more than a year. They've most likely already been reincarnated."
He paused briefly, then added:
"…Though Kakarot might be an exception. Given his connection with King Kai, he's probably still in the Other World. But his death was natural. Even with the Dragon Balls, he still couldn't be revived."
Bulma staggered slightly.
That meant… this world's fate was already sealed.
"No… there has to be another way!" she insisted, her voice rising with desperation.
Her eyes lit up as if she had grasped at a final thread of hope.
"Gran! If Goku hasn't reincarnated yet, then let's revive him first! If the Dragon Balls won't work, we can find Whis in this timeline! With his power, surely—"
"Bulma. Calm down."
Gran frowned slightly.
"This isn't our timeline. We don't have any connection with Whis here. Why would he help you?"
"I… I can use food to persuade him—"
Before she could finish, Gran shook his head.
"That only worked because you built a relationship with him. You think a being like an angel would help a complete stranger just for a bit of food?"
Back when he first arrived in the Dragon Ball world, he had also tried to entice Whis with food.
And Whis's response back then was simple—
What makes you think an angel would help a mortal he doesn't even know… for something so trivial?
"…."
Bulma fell silent.
She didn't doubt Gran's words—he understood beings like angels far better than she did.
"The past of this timeline can no longer be changed," Gran said gently. "The only thing that can be changed… is the present. Do you understand?"
Bulma lowered her head.
"…I understand."
Now that her emotions had settled, she realized how unrealistic her earlier thoughts had been.
They didn't belong to this timeline. Just their presence here was already a violation of temporal order. The fact that the Gods of Destruction and angels hadn't interfered was already fortunate—why would they ever help them?
A heavy silence fell over the ruined land.
Gohan and Trunks had also listened to everything.
They had briefly hoped Gran could change the past—
But now they understood.
Even that was impossible.
Still… they had long since grown used to despair.
They didn't break down like Bulma had.
The wind swept softly across the desolate ruins.
Then—
"Do you two want to kill those androids?"
Gran's voice broke the silence as he looked at Gohan and Trunks.
Before they could answer, Bulma spoke first.
"Gran… if Goku can't be revived, then please… help them."
"Don't worry," Gran replied.
By all rights, someone in his position shouldn't interfere like this.
But this timeline was drowning in despair.
And he—
He simply chose to change it.
After all, what was the point of gaining such power… if not to act freely?
"Yes!" Gohan's eyes turned red as he bowed deeply at a full ninety degrees.
"I want to kill them more than anything. Gran-sama, please help us!"
"Please help us!" Trunks followed, bowing just as deeply.
They had survived only because of this mysterious god-like figure.
They had no doubt in his power.
"I'll help you," Gran said. "But I won't fight for you. Your revenge is yours to claim."
He paused, then added:
"I'll train you for a while."
"Thank you, Gran-sama!"
"Now, training can wait," Gran continued. "Let's return to your base first. I'm sure the Bulma of this timeline has been waiting for you."
At his reminder, Trunks quickly nodded.
"Right! Gohan and I have been gone for three days. If we don't go back soon, Mom will definitely be worried!"
"Gran-sama, please follow us."
Gohan and Trunks shot up into the sky.
Gran and Bulma followed close behind.
Seeing that even this younger Bulma could fly, Gohan and Trunks were stunned—
Then, a spark of excitement ignited in their hearts.
If even Bulma could change this much just by staying beside Gran…
Then once they received his guidance—
They could definitely kill those androids.
For the first time in a long while—
Hope bloomed in their hearts.
High above, the wind roared past as Gran gazed down upon West City.
Its former prosperity was gone.
All that remained… were endless ruins.
Bulma's expression wavered again, but this time, she held back her tears.
They continued flying eastward.
Far away.
In a vast mountain range tens of thousands of kilometers from West City…
Two massive tunnels pierced through the mountains, as if something had been blasted straight through them.
At the end of those tunnels, across more than a hundred shattered peaks—
A man and a woman lay buried beneath rubble.
"Cough…!"
Android 17 struggled to crawl out, spitting out a mouthful of dark fluid.
"T-that guy… who the hell was he?!"
"I… don't know…" Android 18 clutched her chest, coughing as well. "The scanners Dr. Gero implanted in us couldn't even detect his power. Just a shockwave… and he sent us flying this far. What kind of strength is that?!"
"Everything today is too strange," 17 muttered, his expression grim. "Bulma suddenly looking younger… and that mysterious powerhouse…"
He clenched his teeth.
"For now… we stay away from Trunks and the others. Until we figure this out."
"…Agreed."
Southern Earth.
On a remote island stood a mountain, within it a ruined cave—the very place where Androids 17 and 18 had once awakened.
Though the surface had been destroyed, deep beneath it lay a hidden underground laboratory.
Inside.
A massive computer hummed quietly.
Beside it stood a cultivation chamber… containing an insect-like embryo.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, alarms blared.
Cracks spread across the chamber.
The next moment—
Shatter!
The glass container burst open, and the embryo dropped to the ground.
A moment later…
Its eyes snapped open.