Kapitel 15: The past.

"What? Already arrived? That was kind of boring," I muttered, slightly disappointed. I had imagined the Time Machine journey being something like traveling through a wormhole, full of flashing lights and swirling colors, but in reality, it was instantaneous and uneventful.

The Time Machine landed in a rocky area, approximately the same spot where Dad was supposed to land when he returned from space. I stepped out and took a deep breath, the air of the past feeling strange yet familiar. "I really am in the past... this is mind-blowing," I said to myself, astonished. I could sense familiar ki signatures all around. And then, in the distance, I felt it, a dark, malicious energy rapidly approaching Earth. I recognized it immediately: Frieza.

'Maybe it's not necessary for me to deal with him… but then again, a little revenge wouldn't be too much,' I thought with a smirk, remembering everything Frieza had done.

I put away the Time Machine into a capsule and was about to plan my next move when I sensed the Z-Fighters' energy signatures, they were coming my way. As expected, they had noticed Frieza's arrival.

After a few minutes, I could already see King Cold's ship descending through the atmosphere. The ship landed a few meters away from us, and soon enough, Frieza and his father emerged, accompanied by a small squadron of their soldiers.

From a distance, we watched as the figures came into view. The one in front was unmistakably Frieza, his semi-mechanical body gleaming as he stepped off the ship. His evil grin only made the scene more sinister.

"Earth, was it?" Frieza said, his tone dripping with disdain as he looked around. "Not a bad little planet."

Just behind him stood King Cold, taller and even more imposing. He glanced at Frieza, his eyes narrowing. "Three more hours until the 'Super Saiyan' arrives. Are we going to wait for him to land, Frieza?" King Cold asked.

"Of course we are, Papa." Frieza's grin widened as he continued, "I want to see the terrified expression on his face when he arrives and realizes that, in his absence, I've slaughtered every last one of the Earthlings! Fuhahaha!" He laughed maniacally, his voice echoing across the rocky terrain.

"I couldn't care less about the Earthlings... I am going to make certain that we choke the life out of this Super Saiyan, no matter what it takes," King Cold added, his voice cold and deliberate. "Our clan must remain the strongest in the universe."

Frieza smirked, his mechanical eye glinting in the sunlight. "If the two of us work together, we're sure to defeat him, Papa... But now that I've powered up, I could likely take care of him myself."

Frieza turned back to his soldiers, his expression hardening. "Alright, men! Fan out and kill every last Earthling you can find!" he commanded.

"YES, SIR!!" his men responded, readying themselves to carry out his orders.

With a thud, I landed in front of Frieza and his soldiers. Frieza's gaze shifted to us. When he looked at me, his expression changed. His grin turned sinister, clearly recognizing who I was.

"You… you're Son Goku's son, aren't you?" Frieza asked, a malicious smile spreading across his face. "I didn't know Earthlings grew that quickly. Hohoho! Why have you come here, child?"

'Look at this fool, thinking he's got me figured out,' I thought, my own lips curving into a smirk. I didn't reply and just kept smiling.

King Cold eyed me suspiciously, then glanced at Trunks. "Son, this is the Super Saiyan's offspring?" he asked, clearly trying to piece everything together.

"Yes, it seems he came to us himself. I already fought with him, he poses no threat," Frieza replied dismissively, before turning back to his soldiers. "Scan his power level!"

One of Frieza's soldiers brought up a scouter, looking at us with a mocking grin. "Sir, the readings are ridiculously low. The kid reads… just 1."

Frieza frowned slightly, his mechanical components whirring as he processed the information. 'Strange… The Earthling's power level is low, but that monkey's offspring is even lower? He must be hiding his true power,' Frieza thought.

"Papa, let's remain cautious of the boy. He's probably concealing his true strength," Frieza warned.

"Understood, son," King Cold replied, his eyes narrowing. "Shall we dispose of them now?"

Frieza smiled wickedly. "Let me do the honors, Papa. I want the pleasure of erasing this monkey from existence myself." He turned back to his soldiers. "As for the Earthling, you all can take care of him."

Before Frieza's soldiers could even react, I moved like lightning, my aura leaving afterimages as I cut down every one of Frieza's soldiers in an instant. One after another, they fell.

"Hohoho, just because you took care of some trash doesn't mean you're strong," Frieza said to me.

"We'll see!" I clenched my fists, feeling a rush of adrenaline course through me. Frieza's arrogance was disgusting, but it was just what I needed. My smirk grew as I looked at him.

"You've walked right into your own doom, Frieza," I said, my voice echoing with confidence.

"Hohoho, overconfident, aren't we?" Frieza laughed. "You think you can take me on?"

I returned his laugh, my golden aura starting to flicker to life around me. "You'll see soon enough why coming here was the worst mistake you could have made," I said, the intensity of my voice matching the golden light swirling around me.

The wind picked up as I began to power up, and the smirks on Frieza and King Cold's faces began to waver as they felt the ki emanating from me.

"Don't tell me...!?" Frieza hissed, his expression darkening. He clenched his fists, his ki beginning to rise, but I was ready.

And then it happened—I transformed into Super Saiyan, standing before Frieza and his father, my golden aura blazing, illuminating the rocky landscape.

Frieza's eyes widened in terror. He was completely frozen, his face paling as if all the color had drained from it. The sight of another Super Saiyan seemed to shatter whatever composure he still had.

King Cold looked on, stunned, though he tried to keep his demeanor calm. "So, this is a Super Saiyan...?" he murmured, but I could sense the nervousness underlying his voice.

"Now," I said, my eyes locking onto Frieza, "it's your turn, Frieza. I haven't forgotten what you did to me on Namek." My voice was cold, but inside, I was eager to finally exact my revenge.

Before Frieza could respond, I surged forward at full speed, the ground cracking beneath my feet as I launched myself into the air. Frieza barely had time to react before my fist connected with his chest, sending him hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. The force of my punch reverberated across the landscape, the shockwave flattening nearby rocky formations.

"Masenko!" I shouted, gathering energy in my hands and firing it at Frieza as he tumbled through the sky. The yellow beam of energy tore through the air, engulfing Frieza in a blinding explosion. He concentrated all his attention on trying to block the blast, his face twisted in desperation as he struggled to hold back the attack.

But he never saw what was coming next.

I erupted into the air, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. As the smoke from the explosion cleared, I was already there. A ki blade formed around my hand—a fierce, concentrated energy shaped like a sword. Without hesitation, I swung the blade down.

Frieza's eyes went wide, panic filling them, but it was already too late. My blade cut through his body, slicing him in half with a single stroke. I didn't stop there. I continued, cutting him into multiple pieces, each strike filled with all the hatred and determination I'd held onto since that fateful battle on Namek.

Frieza's parts floated momentarily in the air, his expression frozen in shock and horror. And then, without giving him a chance to regenerate or plead for mercy, I charged up one final attack.

"Take this!" I yelled, my voice filled with raw emotion. I released the energy in my palms, a bright blue blast that surged forward, enveloping Frieza's remains. The blast grew brighter until it finally detonated, erasing every trace of Frieza from existence.

Silence followed as the dust settled, the echoes of the explosion slowly fading into the distance. I floated there, breathing heavily, my golden aura flickering around me. The battle had ended almost as quickly as it had begun. Frieza, the monster who had terrorized countless planets, who had tormented so many innocent lives, was gone.

'Had to keep some canon things, right?'

I then turned and glared at King Cold.

King Cold, who had been watching the entire time, stared at me, his composure finally shattering. The confident, regal demeanor that had defined him began to crumble as he took a step back, his eyes widening with fear.

"No... No, this can't be happening!" he muttered, his voice trembling as he struggled to maintain his arrogance.

King Cold's eyes flicked from me to the bodies of his fallen soldiers, and finally to the smoking remains of his son. He raised his hands in a desperate attempt to negotiate. "Wait! No! I can make a deal!" King Cold stammered. "I will give you anything you want—power, planets, riches—just spare me!"

My expression remained cold, unyielding. Without a word, I moved like a blur of light, my form barely visible as I closed the gap between him and King Cold.

"NO! WAIT—!" King Cold's voice was cut short as I struck, my ki blade slicing cleanly through the tyrant's chest, ending his desperate pleas for survival.

With precision, I took down King Cold.

King Cold's body collapsed, his eyes widening in shock for the last time before his massive frame crumpled to the ground.

From not far away, I could see a group of people standing atop a ridge, their eyes wide as they watched what had just transpired. There was no mistaking them—it was the Z Fighters: Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha (who held Bulma), my past self, Chiaotzu, Puar, and even Vegeta. They had all witnessed what had happened—the destruction of the Cold family, the avengers of Planet Vegeta, taken down by a mysterious Super Saiyan.

Their expressions were a mix of disbelief, awe, and relief. The terror of Frieza had ended without a single casualty on Earth. For them, it was as if a miracle had occurred.

Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he looked at me, his gaze focusing on the golden glow that still surrounded me. His pride seemed to be simmering beneath his stoic demeanor. 'There should only be me, Kakarot, and his son—only we are the last remaining Saiyans. Who is this kid that easily defeated Frieza?' he thought.

They all looked at me with questions, but the questions grew even more when I detransformed, revealing my appearance—an orange gi, black hair, and a face like the kid Gohan they had near them.

Krillin was the first to speak. "G-Gohan?" he stammered, his eyes wide. "Why are there two Gohans?"

Piccolo crossed his arms, his gaze sharp and assessing. "What...is this?" he murmured under his breath, his eyes fixed on me.

Looking at the gathered group. I smiled slightly. "It's me, Krillin," I said. "And this is... well, it's complicated, but I think we have a lot to talk about."

"I hope so!" Vegeta said sharply.

"First of all, I'm here to meet my dad, Son Goku. Join me," I said, and everyone followed us.

We arrived where Goku's space capsule was supposed to land in three hours.

Everyone looked at us with questions. "Thank you for trusting me. I will tell you all when Goku arrives. We need everyone here so I can explain what is happening."

My past self seemed to want to speak up. "Uhmm, are you really... me?"

"Yes. I am Gohan," I replied without hesitation.

'So that means I will be able to transform into a Super Saiyan too!' past Gohan thought.

Vegeta was too confused to speak, and everyone else also stayed quiet, wanting answers but deciding to wait for Goku, except Bulma. She thought we were all too silent.

"Hey, all of you, relax! And you, hmm...Gohan I guess, would you like a drink?" Bulma asked.

"Well, why not?" I accepted. Time passed until the three hours had gone by, and finally, Goku landed.

He got out of the space pod, looking surprised. "Huh?"

"Yahoo!" "Goku!" "Father!" They all greeted him.

Goku, who was taken aback, asked, "What are you guys doing here? How did you all know that I'd be landing here?"

Vegeta thought, 'So he did escape alive...'

"It was him, it seems he is Gohan!" Bulma replied to Goku.

"But not me!" past Gohan said.

Goku looked at me, shocked, wondering what had happened.

"He knew where you'd land, so you must know what's happening, right?" Bulma asked.

"No, I have no idea!" Goku said jokingly.

"Huh?" Everyone was still in shock.

"Okay, it seems everyone is here. I will tell you. But first, Dad, I want to test something!" I looked at Dad, smiling warmly.

"Well, what is it?" Goku asked, genuinely curious.

"I want to test your strength. I want a little spar with you."

Goku grinned at my challenge, an unmistakable glint of excitement in his eyes. "A spar, huh? Well, I could use a good warm-up after that long journey back!" He got into his fighting stance, his cheerful demeanor masking the power he was ready to unleash.

I nodded, taking my own stance. The air around us grew tense as everyone watched, sensing the clash about to begin.

"Alright, Dad. Let's not hold anything back!" I said, my gaze locked on him.

Goku's smile widened. "You got it, Gohan."

Then, without any further hesitation, our auras flared to life—both of us transforming into Super Saiyan. A surge of golden energy surrounded us, and the rocky landscape trembled beneath our power. Our hair flashed to a bright golden hue, our eyes now an intense teal.

Krillin's jaw dropped as he took in the sight of not one, but two Super Saiyans. "Whoa… they look exactly the same! Like twins!"

Yamcha nodded in awe. "Yeah, this is crazy! Even their energy feels so similar. It's like there are two Gokus standing there!"

Vegeta stood off to the side, his face a mask of disbelief. His eyes narrowed, anger simmering beneath the surface as he watched. 'Kakarot, and now even his son can transform into a Super Saiyan… How is it that these two low-class warriors have achieved this power, yet I, the Prince of Saiyans, have not?!'

Piccolo, who was watching with his arms crossed, turned his attention to Vegeta, sensing the tension. "I guess it's not about bloodlines or status. It's something else entirely," he muttered.

"Here I come, Dad!" I called out, my feet leaving the ground as I dashed toward Goku.

In an instant, our fists collided. The shockwave from the impact sent a powerful gust of wind rushing past everyone. Goku was grinning, his eyes alight with thrill. He threw a quick punch aimed at my face, but I ducked beneath it, countering with a punch to his side. Goku twisted mid-air to dodge, his agility impressive as always.

"Not bad, Gohan!" Goku said, charging forward with a series of rapid strikes.

I parried each of his attacks, my hands moving almost instinctively. I could feel his power, and as we exchanged blows, it became clear, I was stronger. Even though Dad was holding nothing back, I could read his movements. My base power and my control as a Super Saiyan had surpassed his expectations.

After a particularly strong clash, we separated, landing a few feet apart. Goku looked at me with a mix of pride and surprise. "You've gotten a lot stronger, Gohan. I wasn't expecting this!"

"Thanks, Dad. But I'm not done yet!" I said, vanishing from his sight and reappearing behind him. Before he could react, I delivered a quick blow to his back, sending him skidding across the ground. The onlookers gasped, the golden aura still flickering around me as I floated in the air.

Goku picked himself up, chuckling as he wiped some dirt off his face. "Whoa, you really have been training hard."

Vegeta gritted his teeth, the tension visible in his body. 'He's surpassing Kakarot…? That brat's power is outstripping even his father's! I can't accept this!'

Goku rushed toward me again, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, but I blocked and dodged each one. I could tell he was giving his all, but my reflexes and raw strength were beyond his in this form. Finally, I saw my opening, I caught one of his punches mid-strike, twisting his arm just enough to throw him off-balance. With a quick movement, I sent a knee strike to his gut, forcing him to stumble back.

Krillin's eyes widened in shock. "He's… he's actually beating Goku!"

Tien nodded, his eyes fixed on the battle. "It's unbelievable. Gohan's power… he's more than just a kid now."

Vegeta, unable to contain his frustration, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. 'Why?! How are they achieving this legendary transformation, and why am I still left behind?! I'm the Prince of all Saiyans, I should be the one surpassing them both!'

I powered up even further, golden energy swirling around me like a storm. Goku looked at me, breathing heavily, his smile never faltering. "You've really grown, Gohan. You're even stronger than I was expecting. I don't even have to ask who defeated Frieza, I figured it was you."

I took a deep breath, powering down, my golden hair returning to its natural black. "Thanks, Dad. But I still have a lot to learn," I said humbly, floating down to the ground.

Goku landed as well, transforming back into his base form. He placed a hand on my shoulder, his eyes filled with pride. "You're amazing, son. You're ready for whatever comes next."

Everyone gathered around, still in awe from what they had witnessed. Bulma looked between us, her eyes wide. "You both looked exactly alike, even in the way you fought. It was like seeing double!"

"Yeah," Yamcha added. "But Gohan here might be even stronger than Goku!"

Vegeta glared at us, his pride taking a serious hit. He crossed his arms and turned away, a scowl on his face. 'No matter what it takes, I'll become a Super Saiyan too. I won't be left behind…'

As the spar ended and I powered down, my past self, the younger Gohan, looked at me hesitantly. His eyes were wide, filled with awe and a hint of disbelief.

"Haha, you're really strong, Gohan. Now, can you explain to us what's going on?" Goku asked, still smiling despite the intensity of our spar.