Bulma sat before a massive bank of monitors, her fingers tapping rapidly over a sleek holographic interface. The spaceship gleaming with the Capsule Corp was currently speeding through space, just days from reaching the planet holding the Dragon Balls.
A countdown clock blinked:
"Time to arrival: 1 week."
Bulma: (focused)"Almost there… This ship is performing perfectly. No energy leaks, no anomalies. Just like I designed."
Her eyes flicked to a live feed showing the ship's approach through distant stars. The faint blue glow of the unknown planet slowly grew larger.
Bulma: (quiet, determined)"Whatever's waiting there, they will be ready."
The hum of the spaceship filled the air as the Z Fighters trained, pushing their limits during the last week of their journey.
Vegeta and Trunks sparred fiercely, but the frustration was clear on Trunks' face. Despite his efforts, Super Saiyan 3 still eluded him.
Vegeta: (gritting his teeth)"Keep pushing, Trunks."
Trunks: (breathing heavily)"I know…"
Goku watches the spar as he thinks to himself
Goku: (shaking his head)"SSJ3… it's tougher than I thought. Maybe it's not something you just learn — maybe it's something only certain talents can truly master."
Gohan, calm and focused, was practicing meditation, working to keep his Ultimate form sharp. Unlike Goku and Trunks, he didn't try getting Super Saiyan 3.
Piccolo: "Your Ultimate Form is your true strength Gohan. Don't waste your energy chasing forms that might not be meant for you."
A week later...
The ship settled on the planet's surface, the landing gear releasing with a soft hiss. Outside, an alien landscape stretched wide — glowing plants with translucent leaves, gentle streams of light flowing like rivers, and a sky that shifted between violet and deep indigo. The air was thick with unfamiliar energy, but eerily still.
The Z Fighters advanced cautiously, the Dragon Radar vibrating wildly as they neared the planet's central valley the place where Draxar's ship had deposited the Dragon Balls, all gathered within a crystalline vault carved into the rocky terrain.
But before they could even glimpse the vault, the atmosphere shifted.
The ground shook beneath their feet, and a thunderous roar echoed across the valley.
From the jagged shadows of the alien spires, a formidable army emerged — warriors clad in dark armor, their ki crackling with lethal energy. They spread quickly, cutting off the Z Fighters' path in every direction.
Vegeta's eyes sharpened. "It seems they're here to stop us."
Goku stepped forward, his voice steady. "We have to get past them. The Dragon Balls can't fall into their hands."
Gohan gripped the Dragon Radar tighter, sweat beading on his brow. "We'll have to fight."
Trunks takes out his sword, ready for battle.
Piccolo's green aura flared as he readied his arms. "Stay sharp. They're well-coordinated."
Suddenly, a massive shadow blotted out the sun.
Above, the ominous mothership of Lord Xenthus descended slowly, its dark hull bristling with weapons.
A chilling voice boomed from the ship's speakers: "Yield now and abandon your quest. The Dragon Balls belong to Lord Xenthus."
Vegeta's lips curled into a snarl. "Not a chance."
The enemy army surged forward in a synchronized attack.
Below, the Z Fighters stood shoulder to shoulder, facing a seemingly endless wave of alien soldiers loyal to Lord Xenthus. The sky roared with distant thunder as the first volley of energy blasts streaked across the battlefield.
Goku scanned the battlefield with sharp eyes. Their numbers were staggering—hundreds of alien warriors spread across the rocky plains. Their power was formidable, but what struck Goku most was their unwavering discipline and coordination. They were ready for a fight unlike any the Z Fighters had seen before.
Vegeta's glare burned with barely contained fury. "There's too many of them. We can't just take this on as one group."
Goku nodded. "Agreed. We need to split up. I'll take the fight to Xenthus himself in the mothership. Vegeta, follow me. Trunks, you take one-third of their forces. Gohan, Piccolo, you handle the other half. Krillin, Tien, you're with the last group."
Trunks clenched his fists, stepping forward. "Got it. I'll carve through them."
Piccolo's antennae twitched as he nodded solemnly. "Let's finish this quickly."
Krillin cracked his neck. "We'll hold our own."
Tien adjusted his scarf and stretched his fingers, readying his focus. "They won't break through us."
The Z Fighters spread out immediately, each group vanishing in blurs of motion.
Goku blasted upward, slicing through the air toward the colossal mothership above. Its hull shimmered with an ominous dark energy, the cockpit glowing with a crimson light—Lord Xenthus himself, commanding the battle from inside.
Vegeta followed close behind, their flight disturbing the clouds. "No, I want to battle Xenthus."
Goku nodded calmly. "Be careful. I can't guarantee how strong Xenthus is."
As the ship's airlock opened, Goku was met by a towering warrior clad in black armor etched with glowing red lines—the second strongest in Xenthus' army. The warrior radiated raw power, his aura flaring wildly as he stepped forward.
Vegeta closed the distance instantly, his ki flaring into a shimmering gold as he transformed into Super Saiyan 2, lightning crackling across his skin. "You picked the wrong Saiyan to face."
The battle erupted with earth-shattering force. Vegeta's speed was relentless, his strikes a blur as he clashed with the armored warrior. Blasts exploded, lighting the sky as they traded devastating blows.
Far below, Trunks soared into the fray. His sword gleamed in the harsh sunlight as he cut through ranks of alien soldiers. His ki pulsed steadily but he held back from transforming to save ki.
The alien troops attacked in waves, coordinated and fierce, but Trunks moved like a whirlwind. Each swing of his sword, each blast of his ki disrupted their formations.
Meanwhile, Gohan and Piccolo stood side by side, facing a relentless surge of enemy warriors—nearly half the army sent against them. They moved in perfect sync, Piccolo's rapid-fire energy blasts creating openings for Gohan's devastating melee strikes.
Gohan fought calmly in his Ultimate form, his ki controlled and precise. He never once felt the need to escalate into Super Saiyan transformations; his power was steady and overwhelming.
Piccolo's strategic mind was the perfect complement. He anticipated enemy tactics, countered ambushes, and kept their flank protected.
Suddenly, a ripple of powerful ki caught Gohan's attention a massive warrior approaching, his aura flaring with intensity.
Gohan shifted into lightning sparking around him, and readied himself. The third strongest warrior in Xenthus' army stepped forward, towering and fierce, matching Gohan blow for blow.
The battle was brutal, energy colliding and shaking the very ground beneath them. Neither fighter gave an inch, their blows echoing across the battlefield.
Krillin and Tien faced the final group, roughly half the size of the others but no less dangerous. Their teamwork was tested as enemy forces surged aggressively, looking to break through.
Tien's precise tri-beam attacks blasted enemy ranks apart, his stamina incredible even without his highest Kaioken multiplier. Krillin's agility and sharp instincts allowed him to dodge and strike with deadly efficiency.
Together, they formed a wall of resistance, buying time for the others.
Vegeta's fight against the second-in-command was fierce. The warrior's power pushed Vegeta harder than any opponent in recent memory. Lightning crackled violently around Vegeta's aura as he pushed to maintain Super Saiyan 2, barely holding ground.
"Not bad," Vegeta growled through gritted teeth, dodging a crushing energy blast.
The alien warrior sneered. "You Saiyan's are stronger than I expected. But you'll fall before my master comes outside to claim the dragon balls."
Vegeta charged, their clashing blows sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The fight was brutal, neither side yielding.
Gohan's duel was no less intense. His opponent's brute force was terrifying, but Gohan's controlled power and sharp mind kept him in the fight. He dodged devastating blows and retaliated with focused ki blasts and precise strikes.
Piccolo stayed close, fending off any reinforcements trying to flank Gohan, their synergy impeccable.
Krillin and Tien fought with determination, their stamina being tested. The enemy's persistence was brutal but the pair refused to give ground.
Tien's tri-beam blasted apart several soldiers, energy crackling in the air, while Krillin moved with deadly speed, taking down enemy after enemy with sharp ki strikes.
As the fights dragged on, energy blasts illuminated the darkening skies. The ground shook beneath furious blows exchanged in every corner.
From above, the mothership's engines thrummed, a constant reminder that Lord Xenthus himself was still waiting.
Goku, meanwhile, had entered the ship's command deck, facing the towering Lord Xenthus.
Xenthus' presence was overwhelming, his ki far surpassing anything Goku had encountered before.
Goku steadied himself. "You've underestimated us Saiyan's and our friends."
Xenthus laughed, dark and cold. "I don't think I have."
As the clashes on the battlefield raged, the ground beneath Trunks trembled violently. The relentless waves of enemy troops he had been cutting through began to falter—not because Trunks was losing—but because a new, overwhelming presence emerged. From the shadows of the towering rock formations stepped the strongest warrior of Lord Xenthus's army: a colossal figure radiating a terrifying ki that blanketed the entire battlefield like a storm.
His armor gleamed black with pulsating crimson veins, his eyes burning with cold, merciless intent. The warrior's aura surged so powerfully it sent shockwaves rippling through the air, scattering the alien soldiers near him as if they were mere ants.
Trunks slowed his assault, senses sharpening instantly.
"This ends here," the warrior's voice thundered, deep and resonant, filled with icy menace.
Trunks clenched his fists. His muscles tensed and adrenaline surged through his veins. He knew this was the true test—this was the opponent he had to defeat if they were to have any chance of claiming the Dragon Balls.
He charged forward, energy crackling around him, and transformed without hesitation—his golden hair spiked wildly, the familiar aura flaring as he ascended beyond limits. The air thickened with electricity. Super Saiyan 3.
The transformation exploded around him in a dazzling display—his hair lengthened to flowing golden locks, his brow ridged and intense, eyes blazing emerald green. The power surge was immense; the battlefield trembled under the weight of his energy.
His voice rang out fierce and determined, "I won't lose! Not here, not now!"
The strongest warrior smirked, unfazed by the burst of power. But as Trunks launched himself at him with blistering speed, the smirk faded.
Their collision was like two tectonic plates smashing into each other—shockwaves exploded outward, sending clouds of dust and debris soaring. Trunks swung his energy sword with ferocity, forcing the warrior to block with his armored forearm, sparks flying at the impact.
The warrior countered with a devastating punch, but Trunks dodged nimbly, retaliating with a barrage of rapid energy blasts and strikes, his speed and power amplified tenfold.
Despite his formidable strength, the enemy was forced onto the defensive.
Trunks pressed harder, pushing his Super Saiyan 3 form to its limits. His every strike carried the weight of his training, his pride, and his will to protect Earth and his loved ones.
"Is that all you've got?" Trunks taunted breathlessly, dodging a powerful swipe.
The warrior roared in frustration and unleashed a massive energy wave, blasting the ground behind Trunks and sending him tumbling back.
But Trunks was far from beaten. His aura flared brighter than ever as he roared, "I'm just getting started!"
Gathering his energy, he charged up a massive ki blast, throwing everything he had into it. The blast collided with the warrior's own energy attack, the collision lighting the sky and shaking the planet's surface.
When the dust settled, Trunks stood firm—his Super Saiyan 3 form burning brighter than before. The strongest warrior, for the first time, showed a flicker of hesitation.
The battle was far from over, but the tides were shifting.
Trunks had proven why he was one of the fiercest warriors alive.