Trunks snapped out of his daze after hearing Turles's explanation. He spoke in disbelief, "How could someone like that become an Apprentice Supreme Kai? When I was fighting Majin Buu, the Supreme Kai did everything he could to help me—he even nearly lost his life! What right does this Zamasu have to decide that mortals don't deserve to exist?"
Just then, Son Goku arrived via Instant Transmission, accompanied by Whis, Beerus, and Vegeta.
As soon as they appeared, Beerus shouted, "Turles! Out with it, what's the emergency? Once we're done, I have a gourmet meal waiting for me."
Turles gestured toward Trunks. "This is a Trunks from another timeline who arrived here by accident. He brought some very bad news. I figured this was better handled by you, since it involves the gods of another universe."
"The gods of another universe?"
Beerus frowned. He didn't bother asking about Trunks's origins. Why would he? The God of Destruction of Time was standing right there. Dealing with temporal anomalies was Turles's job; Beerus had no reason to meddle in that department.
"Yes," Turles continued. "An Apprentice Supreme Kai from Universe 10 named Zamasu used the Super Dragon Balls to swap bodies with the Kakarot of his timeline. He has initiated something called the 'Zero Mortals Plan.'"
Goku's brow furrowed. "He stole my body?"
"Exactly. Zamasu himself isn't particularly powerful, but he is incredibly evil and extreme. He believes mortals shouldn't live in a world created by the gods. Lacking the power to act on his own, he was shocked by Kakarot's strength during the tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7. He used the Super Dragon Balls to swap bodies, then immediately began his Zero Mortals Plan."
Beerus's expression soured. "The other gods would never agree to such a plan. Besides, even if he has Son Goku's body, he's no match for me."
Turles nodded, giving Beerus a look of mock sympathy. "True, the gods wouldn't agree. But what if all the Supreme Kais were dead?"
Trunks's expression darkened with despair. "He's right. The Supreme Kai was killed by him in a single blow..."
Beerus froze. "He did what?!"
"Is the Supreme Kai of that universe an idiot?" Beerus snarled. "What about the Z Sword?"
"The Z Sword? It was shattered during the battle with Dabura..." Trunks replied weakly.
Beerus went silent. He realized with a sinking feeling that his counterpart in that timeline must have died a rather pathetic, indirect death.
"So, you came to our timeline for help? If that's the case, leave that guy to us!" Goku said, his fighting spirit surging.
"No... I was actually trying to reach a different timeline. Ending up here was an accident," Trunks admitted. "And the Time Machine only had enough fuel for a one-way trip. I... I can't go back."
"Besides, in that timeline... almost everyone except me is already dead."
"So you chose to run away?"
Vegeta looked at Trunks with cold eyes, his voice dripping with disappointment and frustration.
"Mother said that only if I stayed alive would there be hope. In the end, I could only flee here..." Trunks lowered his head, tears involuntarily hitting the ground.
"Flee? Weren't you coming to ask for help?"
The veins on Vegeta's forehead throbbed. He was deeply insulted by Trunks's behavior.
Bulma also frowned. "Trunks, have you lost your fighting spirit? He's just an Apprentice Supreme Kai. Even if he has Son-kun's body, how much of that power can he actually use? You've really disappointed me!"
Bulma was equally annoyed. How could there be such a massive gap between the Trunks she knew and this one?
Trunks bowed his head further in shame.
"Can't go back?" Goku's voice rang out, cold and sharp. "We'll just go there ourselves. Using my body to commit such atrocities... it's unforgivable!"
Vegeta agreed. "Hey, Trunks. What kind of fuel does that machine need?"
Bulma waved her hand dismissively. "We can just go there directly. Traveling through time is a simple matter for us."
Trunks blinked, stunned. "Wait... what?"
Time travel doesn't require a machine anymore? Does that mean when Mr. Turles visited my father's timeline before, he didn't use a Time Machine either?
Beerus wasn't surprised. As the wife of the God of Destruction of Time, Bulma was naturally part of the Realm of Time. Temporal travel was trivial for them. Of course, if it were anyone else, Beerus would have used Hakai on them instantly—manipulating time was normally a supreme taboo.
Suddenly, a disturbance rippled through the air. A black vortex tore open in the sky, and a figure identical to Son Goku descended.
He wore dark clothing, a single green Potara earring on his left ear, and a silver ring on his finger.
"I found you, Trunks..."
The intruder glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he realized something was very wrong.
"Hmm? The Destroyer Beerus... the Angel Whis... Son Goku... Vegeta... But who is this other one?"
"It's Goku Black!" Trunks cried out in disbelief. "He... he actually followed me here?!"
Goku didn't hesitate. He launched himself into the air. "Using my body for something like this... you bastard, I'm never going to let you get away with it!"
Goku Black's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Son Goku, is it? Your body is truly magnificent. Tell me, do you have any idea how much despair your family felt when I used your own hands to kill them?"
Goku's face darkened, his eyes turning cold as ice. "I am definitely going to kill you!!"
"Haa!"
With a roar, Goku surged into his Super Saiyan form and charged at Goku Black.
BOOM!
Their fists collided in mid-air, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that rippled through the atmosphere.
"ATATATATATA—!"
Goku rained a frantic barrage of punches upon Goku Black. Suddenly, Black let out a shout of his own, his aura erupting as he also transformed into a Super Saiyan. "Heh, I should thank you, Son Goku. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have adapted to this body so quickly."
Goku didn't waste words, continuing his relentless assault. But then, the vortex in the sky began to pulse violently, creating a powerful suction.
Goku Black's expression shifted. "Tch. Is my time up?"
He gave the group one last, lingering look before being pulled back into the black hole, vanishing instantly.
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