World of Void.

  Whis understood. That timeline's Beerus wants Super Saiyan God. So he summoned Perilla—who just broke through.

  "Let's check the replay."

  He rewound the projection. Several hours back.

  Gohan and Trunks watched Beerus wake up. Lazy. Stretching.

  "Lord Beerus looks like... a house cat."

  "Yeah. Didn't expect this side of him."

  They glanced at the Beerus fighting Grand Supreme Kai Buu. Hard to connect the two.

  The replay continued. That timeline's Beerus also sought Super Saiyan God.

  "Up to this point, both timelines are identical. But then they diverge. That timeline's Grand Supreme Kai didn't awaken. So Beerus didn't change targets."

  Gohan nodded. Then froze. "Wait. Why is Dad alive there? And King Kai's... dead?"

  "Want to rewind further?"

  "No. Too time-consuming. Keep going."

  They watched. Super Saiyan 3 Goku—defeated by Beerus' single finger. No surprise. They'd trained under Grand Supreme Kai Buu. They knew Beerus' power.

  Beerus headed to Earth. Asked Vegeta about Super Saiyan God.

  The scene shifted. Bulma's birthday party.

  Trunks gasped. "Mom looks so young!"

  "That timeline's earlier than ours. It's like our past—but a parallel branch."

  Familiar faces filled the screen. Then—

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Eighteen?! Gohan-bro, tell me I'm seeing things!"

  "You're not. That's definitely her."

  We killed Seventeen and Eighteen easily. But I'd never forget their faces. Even as ash.

  "But she seems... different? Not evil. Wait—she's close with Uncle Krillin?!"

  They learned more. Eighteen married Krillin. Had a daughter.

  Trunks' brain short-circuited. This timeline's insane. It's not just a mouse being the cat's bridesmaid—it's the mouse being the cat's BRIDE.

  Whis scanned the party. Spotted Fat Buu. "That timeline's Grand Supreme Kai didn't awaken. Just ordinary Majin Buu."

  Trunks rubbed his eyes. "Gohan-bro, look! That's you! Younger. No scar."

  Gohan stared. Glasses. No scars. Happier.

  A girl hugged that timeline's Gohan. Affectionate.

  "That Gohan's married?! Wait—isn't she the girl you saved at the World Tournament? From Spopovich?"

  Gohan studied her. "Videl. She found me afterward. Wanted to train. I gave her pointers. But in that timeline, we got married?"

  He's so happy. Dad's alive. He's married. Still studying.

  Gohan felt a pang. Envy.

  "Gohan-bro, do you like Videl?"

  "No. Another timeline's choice isn't mine. I inherited Dad's will. I protect Earth. I'm not interested in... other things."

  Liar. Trunks knew better. You're not uninterested. There's another reason.

  They kept watching. Young Trunks appeared. A child.

  "That's past me! Still a kid!"

  "Yeah. Nostalgic."

  Then—a boy identical to Goku. Same age as young Trunks.

  Young Trunks called him Goten.

  "Goten? Your brother in that timeline?"

  "Seems so. If Dad lived, he'd have a second son."

  Shame. But this timeline's Trunks is like my brother anyway.

  Beerus arrived at the party. Vegeta—terrified. Walked on eggshells. Even danced to please Beerus.

  Trunks' jaw dropped. Dad... dancing?! His pride—gone! Just to appease Beerus?!

  My image of him... shattered.

  Then—Beerus slapped Bulma.

  Vegeta snapped. Attacked Beerus. The same Beerus he'd groveled before.

  "Dad... for Mom... he actually..."

  Gohan patted Trunks' shoulder. "Uncle Vegeta loves Aunt Bulma. He's just bad at showing it."

  The Vegeta who first came to Earth vs. this Vegeta—night and day.

  Whis observed. "Impressive. That timeline's Vegeta pushed Beerus to 10% power."

  Without divine training, that's rare.

  Vegeta lost. Beerus prepared to destroy Earth.

  Goku intervened. "Lord Beerus, give me a chance. Maybe I can help you find Super Saiyan God."

  Beerus agreed.

  Goku summoned Shenron. The Dragon appeared—then saw Beerus. Panicked. His arrogant tone vanished. Became meek.

  "Even Shenron's terrified of Lord Beerus!"

  Goku made his wish. "Shenron, can you bring the Super Saiyan God here?"

  Trunks nodded. "So that's how Perilla-nee got transferred!"

  But Shenron's answer—

  "I'm sorry. I cannot. The Super Saiyan God is not in this timeline."

  Everyone froze. That timeline's group. Gohan and Trunks.

  But Perilla WAS transferred there. How can Shenron say he can't do it?

  What just happened?!

  ~~~~??~~~~~~~~??~~~~

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