Hot, dry, and sandy. Those three words encapsulated his current environment, though its discomfort was the least of his worries. Pain pulsated throughout his body. Blood streamed down the front of his face and stained the scorching sand. A stabbing sensation in his sides indicated that most of his ribs had been broken. Under the rays of the artificial sun, his lungs ached for a drop of water.

In only an hour, his spirit had been crushed several times. However, his father's teachings accompanied the throb in his head.

You were born with royal Saiyan blood. If you can still breath, you can still fight.

It would've felt much better to roll over and die, but too many people depended on him. He could never face his family again if he quit. With his eyes slivered open, Trunks hobbled to a hunched posture.

"I don't think I could even look at a beach after this." He spat sand out of his mouth. "Dammit. If there's any god out there listening, we could really use divine intervention right about now."

"Poor Mr. Briefs." A man teleported in front of Trunks and startled him. Trunks lifted his eyes to the person responsible for all of his agony. With a sadistic grin spread across his lips, the man held Trunks up by his tattered shirt. He spoke in a soft and collected manner. "After all this time, you still don't get it? I am your god. Now bow."

He released Trunks, but before he hit the ground, a sharp fist smashed into his midsection. Trunks dropped to his knees. While he clutched himself, he hacked spit onto the ground.

Somebody. Anybody, please. Help us!

Seven Months Earlier

"Vegeta, can you at least pretend to be happy right now?" Bulma asked.

Sporting his signature "Badman" shirt and khakis, Vegeta reclined in a lawn chair with his arms crossed. "Hmph, these things aren't my cup of tea. I'd much rather be training right now."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, and you can train with Goku all you want after. But can you not be... you for a couple of hours?"

"And here I thought this was my birthday party."

Bulma sighed and waved him off. "Whatever. Just don't complain if you don't get any food." She walked towards the rest of her guests and glanced at her watch. "Trunks, please don't be late."

For the first time since they had been together, Bulma had convinced Vegeta to let her throw him a birthday party at Capsule Corporation. All of their friends and allies helped him celebrate his fifty-third birthday, save for Beerus and Whis. However, Vegeta stared into the clouds, reflecting on five mundane years of peace.

Since the Tournament of Power and their conflict with Broly, no challenger appeared to fill his veins with adrenaline. Sparring with Kakarot or Whis couldn't recreate the sense of danger he longed for. Though he had more time to spend with his family, his fighting prowess dulled each day.

He let out a hefty sigh, but stood to his feet. His wife went through the trouble of planning this event, and for the sake of his young daughter, he might as well attempt to enjoy himself.

Vegeta approached the food table, where Goku and Majin Buu sat. The two chowed down on everything they could lay their eyes on. "Well Kakarot, I see that you and Buu have taken all the food for yourselves, like always."

"Oh hey, Vegeta," Goku replied with half of a pork bun in his mouth. "You came just in time. I've been saving you this plate of food, but Buu over here's been trying to steal it from me."

Vegeta sat next to him and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. "Hmph, how nice of you."

"By the way, have you seen Goten anywhere? Chi Chi's been looking for him since we got here."

"I haven't. I think he's been out with Trunks all day. They're probably goofing off, as usual."

The streets of West City bustled with life. With a blue sky and the summer sun above them, Goten and Trunks strolled along the sidewalk, neither with a care in the world. In two weeks, classes at Satan City University would begin, and with Goten enrolled for the fall semester, the two of them would start their college experience together. Trunks held a rather large box in both of his hands, while his friend talked through a common dilemma amongst young men.

"So what do you think I should do, bro?" Goten asked. "Should I text her again, or should I leave it alone?"

"Wait a day," Trunks said. "And if she doesn't reply tomorrow, maybe it's best if you move on."

"Yeah, you're right. It makes me so anxious, you know? I hate not knowing what somebody else is feeling."

"Been there, done that. You just gotta let it go. I was the same way, but I figured that it's better to grind now in school and focus on a relationship later. I mean, you're about to start your freshman year. You've got your whole life ahead of you."

"That's true, but how was freshman year, anyway? Are the classes easy?"

"Eh, I think they're pretty easy. Some professors are hard asses, though. Other than that, it's pretty great. You meet chill people, and the parties can get pretty wild- " His foot tripped over a crack and caused him to juggle the box.

Goten laughed at his friend's clumsy efforts. "Woah, Trunks. Take a break from your monologue before your mom gives you a one-way ticket to Other World."

Trunks controlled the box and let out a sigh. "Thanks for the help. I really appreciate you laughing while my life flashed before my eyes."

"Seriously though, be careful with that cake. If your mom sends you to Other World, then my mom is booking me an express ticket straight to King Kai."

"Or worse, they'll make us train with our dads."

"Well, I know you hate training with your dad. I think it's nice sometimes, but other times, I would rather be doing other things."

"That's easy for you to say. Goku doesn't shove you into four hundred G's and use you as a punching- "

Out of nowhere, a rushing pressure overwhelmed everyone in the area. Neither Goten nor Trunks knew its origin, but the sensation crushed down on them from above. Their knees buckled as they struggled to stand, let alone breathe.

Without Ki to protect themselves, the civilians felt crushed under the massive weight of this strange power. Cars crashed into each other while the window glass on buildings shattered.

Though it felt like an eternity to them, the pressure lasted for four seconds. Once it disappeared, both of them sweat and gasped for air. Citizens around them screamed in terror and ran for their lives.

"Holy shit," Goten said. "That was… unreal."

Trunks trembled and gave Goten a wide-eyed stare. "No way, that couldn't be from one person. That had to come from multiple people. Goten, we have to get back!"

Once Goten got a hold of himself, they both raced back to Capsule Corporation as fast as possible. Once they arrived, Trunks dropped the cake down on the nearest table before he met up with the other Z Fighters. They stood as perplexed and terrified as he and Goten were.

"Kakarot," Vegeta said with clenched fists. "How many did you count? It must've been at least ten of them."

"Yeah, I got around that same number," Goku responded. "But... it felt like there were more."

Gohan stepped in and tried to compose himself. "Dad, if you're saying there are over ten people with that projected that amount of power, we're in big trouble."

"But where did they go? There's no way energy like that could disappear that fast. I should've been able to track them." Without warning, Goku shot two fingers to his forehead and blurted out, "I gotta go," before he used Instant Transmission to teleport away.

"Um... Can someone tell me if I'm hallucinating?" Krillin asked. "I didn't see Goku scared, did I?"

"You did," Tien Shinhan said. "If that's the case, this might be a threat we're not prepared to handle."

Vegeta's grin crept back onto his face. "Well, I should consider myself lucky. I finally have worthy adversaries to destroy."

"It wouldn't be wise to underestimate them, Vegeta," Piccolo said. "For all we know, we might've just sensed the surface of much greater power."

"Even better. I'll ascend to a new height of strength and crush them all."

Though Trunks sided with Piccolo, his father's confidence instilled a sense of hope in him. The warriors ended the gathering, but agreed to take up their training and prepare for an upcoming battle.

Meanwhile, Goku headed to the Lookout Tower to find any assistance. "Dende! Please tell me you got any sort of reading on those guys."

At the edge of the tower, the Guardian of Earth lowered his head. "No, I couldn't. They caught me off guard, just like they did for you guys."

"Damn, they've gotta be somewhere." Once more, the Saiyan placed his fingers on his forehead. "Alright, guess I gotta look a little further. Thanks for the help."

He waved his hand goodbye to Dende and his attendant, Mr. Popo, before he departed. Goku teleported to King Kai's planet in Other World, only to be told more of the same answer. Goku figured he would try one more person and journeyed to Sacred World of the Kais. Once there, the Supreme Kai met him with the same disappointment.

"Dammit!" Goku crossed his arms. "Whoever they are, these guys are good. I guess we got ourselves a real doozy on our hands."

"So what are you going to do?" asked the Supreme Kai. "Surely Vegeta and you are strong, but even you two can't handle that many enemies at once."

"You're right. I guess all of us are gonna have to train harder to beat these guys."

"Actually, Goku," said an older voice. "I think I might have come up with a 'secret weapon', if you may."

"Grand Elder," the Supreme Kai said. "Do you mean the-"

"Hush, you whippersnapper! I'm leaving it as a surprise."

"But..." The Supreme Kai sighed. "Yes, Grand Elder."

"Now Goku, I've come across a useful fighting method that I picked up from Universe Six."

"A new fighting method?" Goku questioned. "Are you talking about Hit's time skip?"

"Even better. If perfected, this will increase the user's power tenfold."

"Woah, get outta here!"

"Yes, yes, it's quite powerful. However, it would be best to recommend this to the younger generation. I'll ask that you bring me Goten and Trunks so that they can begin training in Universe Six to unlock this power."

"No problem, they're gonna love this!" With that, Goku left to deliver the news to Vegeta.

"Increase their power by tenfold?!" Vegeta asked. "What techniques are they going to teach him?"

"Beats me. The Old Kai wouldn't let me in on it. He says it's a surprise for them."

"Fine by me. He needs to get off his ass and start his training immediately." He yelled to his nearby son. "Trunks, get ready! You're going to Universe Six to train!"

"What?!" Trunks asked. "Why Universe Six?!"

"Because I said so! Now get your things together and move out!"

"Well, do I get a say in this?"

"Meet Kakarot at his house in an hour or I'll work you to the bone in that Gravity Chamber!"

"Okay, just checking." Trunks turned and walked towards his room. He grumbled to himself, "Well, at least he only threw away the last two weeks of my summer."

"Looks like we're gonna have a good fight on our hands," Goku said.

"Hopefully," Vegeta smirked. "We'll head to Whis in the morning and resume our training."

Goku agreed and left for his home at Mount Paozu, where he tried to convince Chi-Chi to let Goten leave Earth for two weeks. He proposed the idea in a reserved manner, but Chi-Chi, as she had been with Gohan, remained adamant that he stayed and prepare to move into his college dorm.

However, when Goku's face turned from his usual cheeky smile to a stern gaze, Chi-Chi knew her husband couldn't yield. "Chi-Chi, if Goten doesn't get stronger somehow, then there won't be an Earth for him to study on."

"Are these guys really too much for you and Vegeta to handle?" she asked. Goku nodded, and Goten walked out into the kitchen with a duffle bag in his hand, wearing his father's Planet Namek gi.

"Don't worry, Mom," Goten said. "I'll only be there for two weeks, and I'm bringing my books there so I can study in my free time."

His mother exhaled, but smiled. "Make sure you make the most of your trip and don't cause any problems. You'll be in trouble if you don't come back stronger than your father."

Though Goten giggled at his mother's comment, a sense of dread hovered over him. He had to leave and learn from aliens in another universe. Fantastic. Who knew what kind of weird food they would eat there? He wouldn't even be able to use his phone. His dad didn't know how long it would he would stay, and if he was still there before school started, his mom would kill him. At the very least, Trunks would be with him.

As the sun set at Capsule Corporation, Trunks left his room with his luggage in hand. As he walked down the hallway to the front door, he heard his mother call his name. She ran toward him with something in her hands. Trunks' eyes lit up once he recognized what his mother held. She handed him a blue denim jacket with a Capsule Corp logo, a pair of cargo pants, a black sleeveless shirt, and a belt. He had only seen it in pictures, but the outfit belonged to his future counterpart from the battle with the Androids.

"I was digging through some old things when I saw these," she said. I thought you'd like them."

"Woah," Trunks awed. "Thanks, Mom. I think I'll wear these to Goku's house."

His mother smiled. "Well, hurry and put them on before your father yells at you." She then handed him a small walkie-talkie. "Pack this in your bag, too. I made it so that we can still talk, even when you're in Universe Six."

Trunks nodded, grabbed the walkie, and raced back to his room to try the clothes on. He slipped them on and looked in the mirror. It scared him how well they fit, but it must've been fate that he took them as his own. He liked the Saiyan armor that was already packed in his suitcase, but this outfit had a stylish and nostalgic feeling. After he stuffed the rest of his belongings and the walkie-talkie in his bag, he exited his room.

Outside of his home, his family waited to see him off. He gave his mother a hug and promised to call her when he arrived at his destination. He hugged his little sister and promised her he would take her to a water park once he returned. Afterward, Trunks faced his father, who grinned at his outfit and told him not to slack off. Trunks rolled his eyes and delivered a last goodbye. He released his aura and took to the sky.

In all honesty, he would rather play video games or lie on the couch than go to an unknown place to train for an unknown enemy. However, with the support of his family and his best friend by side, he felt more optimistic about exploring that unknown. After a few minutes of flight, he arrived at Mount Paozu and knocked on the door.

Goku answered, and his mouth widened into a smile. "Woah! Talk about a blast from the past... or future."

"Hey, Goku. Sorry I'm late," Trunks said.

"It's no problem. We're in no rush at all."

Trunks walked in, greeted Chi-Chi, and fist-bumped up his friend. "Well, look at that. I'm not the only one who went through a costume change."

"Well, I think you both look great," said Chi Chi.

Goku smiled. "You guys ready?"

They both nodded and said their last goodbyes to Chi-Chi before Goku transported them to the Sacred World of the Kais. They arrived behind the Elder Kai.

"Hey, Old Kai! We're here!" Goku proclaimed.

Elder Kai yelped out and issued a fiery glare. "You young people have some nerve! First, you don't even get here at a decent hour, and then you try to scare me?!"

"Hehehe. Sorry, Old Kai. I'm just so excited to see what they're gonna learn."

"Well, don't do it again." He dusted himself off and addressed the other two. "Ah, so you're Goten and Trunks. It's nice to meet you two."

They both bowed in unison and blurted, "It's nice to meet you too, Supreme Kai."

"Actually, that would be me," said the younger Kai as he and his attendant, Kibito, approached them. They both hung their heads in embarrassment and apologized. "It's of little concern. Now, Grand Elder, would you care to explain to them the nature of their training?"

"Yes, yes," said Elder Kai. "I suggest you all take a seat. This will be a fairly complicated matter to explain." They did as he said and waited in anticipation for Elder Kai's details.

On Earth, Bulma and Vegeta laid in bed, but Vegeta's eyes fixed onto the ceiling above. That energy must have meant something. Did they forget to mask their presence before they came? No, those power levels didn't belong to amateurs. They meant to send them a warning, or they flexed their power to intimidate. Are they after the Dragon Balls, or something else?

A faint but nearby energy signal shot Vegeta's eyes open. He leaped out of bed and threw on his battle suit.

Bulma sat up, frightened. "Vegeta, what's the matter?"

"Stay here. I'll take care of this."

Vegeta ran outside to confront the foe. He reached his front lawn, looked left and right, but saw no one there. However, a voice called out from above.

"A palace fit for the prince. Not bad. I would say that you've grown, but I'd be lying."

Vegeta's eyes met the man that spoke, but he ogled in utter disbelief. "I-Impossible!"

The man floated to the grass and smirked. "From galactic conqueror to doting father. Well, at least you're not under Frieza's tail anymore."

"If I remember correctly, we were both under his tail." Vegeta stood straight, but clenched his fist. "Now I think you better explain how you're still alive, Grimmjow."

A/N: I beg of you, read this.

Power scaling-wise, the Bleach Universe is buffed to make the story more compelling. As the story progresses, you'll see where several characters fall in the hierarchy of strength. In terms of actual canon, BLEACH CHARACTERS ARE NOT STRONGER THAN DRAGON BALL CHARACTERS. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Now that you've read this, do not leave a comment about power scaling in regards to the canon of both series. I'm already aware of most, if not all of their feats.

However, feel free critique me on the actual contents of my story, details I got wrong, even power scaling within the narrative.

I've had this concept living in my head for a couple years, and I'm finally glad to be sharing it. It's gonna be a long one, but I'll do my best to keep you guys engaged. One small thing is the DBS part of the story will not involve the events after the Broly movie, e.g., Moro and the Bleach part of the story will take place post-TLA.

I put a lot of work into this, so I hope you enjoy it. Sometimes I'm slow with updates, but I won't quit until it's done.