Chapter 16
Age 768
Scene: Intergalactic Tenkaichi Budokai
Goku Jr comes flying out of a time rift, darting his head left and right until he finds Mira, hovering a few yards away from him. Goku braces himself for another round of battle with the android, but to his surprise, his hostility goes completely unnoticed, Mira fixated on the battle below him.
Goku: H-hey! Stop ignoring me! You're the guy who's after the Dragon Balls, aren't you?
Mira: Of course I am. That was the directive given to me by Towa, and it has not changed.
Goku: Then why-
Mira: You do not have any Dragon Balls on your small person. Engaging you in combat does not further my given directive at the moment.
Goku: Who's small?!
Mira; If I were you, I'd be more worried about that space pirate than my comments about your height.
Goku turns his head to see Bojack, Five-Star Dark Dragon Ball already lodged in his chest, throwing two massive energy blasts at Gohan, who responds with a Kamehameha. As the beams clash, so too do the warriors, but this time, Gohan is unable to finish Bojack off, instead being sent flying across the ground and into a wall, coughing up a spatter of blood on impact.
Mira: That Saiyan isn't going to last much longer. You're going to save him, right?
Goku: Damn it…you're using us! Using us to get that Dragon Ball so you don't have to fight him! Is that it?
Mira: And what if it is? Does that really change your choice?
Goku: …
Wordlessly, Goku descends upon the battlefield, landing in front of Gohan before bursting into Super Saiyan 2. The Time Patroller blocks an incoming punch from the space pirate, holding him back long enough for Gohan to get back on his feet. The son of Goku is briefly confused upon seeing his distant descendant, but one glance at Goku Jr's serious expression restores his own. Just as Bojack finally overpowers Goku, Gohan intercepts his attack with a punch to the face. Goku follows with his own punch, aimed at Bojack's stomach, but is met with a kick in return. Wasting no time, Gohan grabs Bojack's leg and takes flight, intending to slam him into a wall, but Bojack frees himself with a well-aimed ki blast. No sooner are his feet back on the ground, however, does Goku come flying in with a kick to his face, which Bojack does not take kindly to. He grabs Goku by the arm and slams him against the ground until Gohan approaches, at which point he throws one Saiyan at the other, causing the both of them to fall over. Of the two, Gohan picks himself up first, rushing Bojack with a flurry of strikes. The space pirate keeps up with Gohan's assault until Gohan delivers a surprise headbutt to his stomach, followed by an uppercut that sends Bojack to the sky. Goku takes to the air, attempting to knock Bojack back down, but Bojack regains control and vanishes behind him, trapping him in a bear hug. A frustrated Gohan continues charging up a Kamehameha, unable to fire it with Goku in the way, until Bojack comes flying back down, driving Goku's head into the ground. Gohan jumps out of the way and fires his attack, but to his horror, Bojack blocks it with one arm, using the other to grab Gohan and choke him out.
Goku: S…stop…
Bojack is "interrupted" by a feeble punch to his leg from a still-downed Goku, to which he responds with another kick. Two steps from death's door, seeing his ancestor one step ahead of him, Goku is filled with a sense of self-loathing.
Goku:D-dammit! I'm…supposed to be like them! I'm part of Goku's lineage! But here I am on the ground! I can't even save his son! What…what kind of a hero am I? I can't protect Gohan…I can't protect Vegeta…I can't protect anyone!
As Goku's tears and blood splatter the ground in front of him, reminding him of his own weakness, he comes to a realization.
Goku: Damn it…grow up, Goku! Tears won't solve anything! You need power…I need…more power…!
By some miracle, Goku finds the strength to stand, the effort he exerts in doing so drawing Bojack's attention away from the now-unconscious, barely alive Gohan.
Bojack: Feheheh. What's this? I'd heard you Saiyans were monkeys, but you seem more like cockroaches!
Goku: Goku…Gohan…Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten…for all of your sakes…I can't be weak…I'll protect everyone! HRAAAAAAGH!
In response to Goku's immense power and resolve, the very Earth begins to shake, the air echoing with the young Saiyan's scream. With his rage higher than ever before, Goku once again shatters his own limits, finally ascending to Super Saiyan 3. Bojack, too, is furious at this sight, but much like his power, said rage dwindles in comparison to Goku's.
Bojack: Shut up! You think this changes anything?! You're nothing! A mere child could never defeat the mighty Bojack!
Blinded by his arrogance, Bojack dashes toward Goku, attempting to crush him with a single punch. Goku jumps out of the way, punching Bojack across the face before using the other first to punch him straight in the nose, then finally kicking his chin before landing. Bojack puts his hand to his face, becoming further enraged when he sees the blood now coating it, charging Goku again with a large ki blast in each hand. Bojack attempts to crush the Saiyan between his palms, but Goku's own hands easily block the attempt. A stunned Bojack looks down at Goku's face, revealing a scowl with teeth grit in anger despite the minimal effort required to nullify the attack. Goku takes advantage of Bojack's split-second of fair, grabbing his hands and pulling him in for a headbutt. Stumbling, Bojack darts his head around looking for Goku, only to be hit with a massive shockwave when he does see him, thrusting him backwards until a roundhouse kick to the back from Goku takes him airborne. Bojack spins out of control until he charges a Galactic Buster in each hand, stopping him in place to see Goku staring coldly back at him.
Bojack: Damn it! You think this is funny, you damn brat?! I'll show you to let your guard down around me!
Bojack hurls the twin spheres of energy at Goku, who leaps into the air to meet them. Sticking both fists out, Goku is able to break through both attacks, his fists still extended until they make contact with Bojack's chin. As Bojack falls back, Goku throws one fist back, charging his own ball of energy around it.
Goku: My turn!
The blow makes contact with Bojack's torso before the ball of energy launches itself off of Goku's fist, sending Bojack plummeting to the ground one final time. Bojack hits the ground with a huge explosion, and in the aftermath, only the Dark Dragon Ball remains. Goku heads down to collect it, but to his surprise, Mira has removed himself from the sidelines to beat him to the punch. Wordlessly, Goku walks towards him, his steps continuing to shake the Earth itself.
Mira: I see. You want this Dragon Ball as badly as I do, don't you? Fascinating…well then, come and take it!
Mira suddenly takes to the air, Goku in hot pursuit. The Saiyan tries to blast the android apart, but Mira simply extends his hand to absorb the energy wave. Mira laughs as a new rift in spacetime appears above the two.
Mira: Perfect, just in time! Come, boy! Let's settle this elsewhere!
The two warriors disappear into the rift at lightning speed, leaving a bruised and battered Gohan to slowly regain consciousness, left wondering if either Goku's intervention had happened at all.
Narrator: Little by little, Goku continues to raise his power, hoping to ascend past the shadow cast by his remarkable heritage. But will his story be cut short by the technological prowess of the Demon Realm, or will someone arrive to help him pick up his pen? Whatever the outcome, it all starts next time on Neo Dragon Ball Heroes!