Zamasu saw the two half-Saiyans walk onto the Lookout and his grin grew wider, if that was possible. "The two biggest sinners I have ever laid eyes on have arrived to receive their judgement; for mocking the gods with your blasphemous actions, I sentence you both to death!"
"You guys have got it worked out?" Lazuli called out to the pair.
Trunks nodded. "Yeah, I'd say we've got it down pat. We're ready when you are."
He took up a position, Gohan doing the exact same a few steps away from him, their energy levels impeccably synchronised with the other, just like how they practiced for the several days they'd spent inside the Time Chamber, making sure they got the Dance perfect: the entire world, and the universe at large, depended on their flawless delivery.
"Azure, on me now," Lazuli called to her daughter and together, they flew into the sky, catching Zamasu's attention. "Like we've practiced."
"You are like flies; irritating and in need of a swat," Zamasu growled as he watched mother and daughter fly at him.
Lazuli banked to her left; Azure veered to her right, taking up position above Zamasu as they both charged energy into their hands – and unleashed a Dual Dead End Rain, bombarding the Supreme Kai with a barrage of energy blasts. As Zamasu protected himself from the salvo, Gohan and Trunks thrust their arms outwards and began sliding towards each other as they moved their arms in an arc towards their opposite, moving in a perfectly symmetrical pattern.
"Fuuuu –" they called together.
"Vile insects," Zamasu snarled as he rushed through the Dead End Rain, knocking Azure away with a punch and struck Lazuli with a Kiai. Pan hit him with a Kamehameha Wave, but he pushed it back towards her and she was forced to avoid her own attack.
"– Shun–" Gohan and Trunks called, cocking a leg each as they pulled their arms away from each other again.
Zamasu prepared to fire an energy blast at Pan, but a sword sliced through the air and he winced as his severed right arm collapsed to the Lookout – he glared at Tapion, who returned it with a burning gaze of his own, vengeance gleaming in his eyes. "You'll pay for that, mortal!"
"–Ha!" Gohan and Trunks cried as they leaned towards each other, their index fingers connecting at the exact same point, their energy flowing into each other like two rivers meeting in the middle, uniting together, as a brilliant flash of light engulfed the pair.
Everyone stared in wonder at the light that covered the Lookout; Zamasu's right arm regenerated, but like his face, it was formed mostly of purple goo. The light began to fade, revealing a singular person in place of Gohan and Trunks.
He was as tall as Gohan, with his muscular frame and facial shape, although he had Trunks' facial features, like his lavender eyebrows; his eyes were black and he possessed Gohan's facial scar. His hair was a wilder version of Gohan's hairstyle, black, save for two bangs which were lavender; he also possessed a Saiyan tail. However, he didn't wear any clothing from either Saiyan – instead, he wore a tight-fitting, sleeveless maroon T-shirt, a black and yellow vest, loose black pants, black shoes with teal ankle wraps, a teal belt and maroon forearm sleeves; the clothing of the Metamoran; he also wore Trunks' sword across his back. A white aura surrounded him, flared with potential power as he fixed Zamasu with a steely glare.
"Wow," Lazuli murmured, impressed with the latent power this fusion seemed to possess.
"What is this?" Zamasu demanded, gesturing at the fused half-Saiyan. "A pitiful attempt at delaying your inevitable end?"
"I am neither Gohan nor Trunks. They are me, I am them, we are one," he spoke with a combination of Gohan and Trunks' voices. "I am Gohanks and I will be your downfall, Zamasu."
Zamasu bellowed with laughter. "You cannot hope to think that your pathetic dance will grant you enough power to face me; I have more power in my pinkie finger than you do right now."
Gohanks smirked and with a shout, he flared his power, bringing his base strength out to its fullest, which made Zamasu mentally retract that previous statement. Regardless, even the combined version of the two half-Saiyans wouldn't be enough to fight him – he didn't consider this Gohanks to be any kind of a challenge…and Black's soul craved a challenge.
"Don't get too cocky," Gohanks stated. "I do have the power of a Saiyan God…not to mention that idea that ironically you gave me…or at least, one half of you did."
Zamasu frowned. "And that is?"
"See, Black gained extra power by combining his Super Saiyan energy with his god energy…it's not too much of a stretch to think that I can do that as well…imagine…a Super Saiyan God."
The fused Supreme Kai hissed when Gohanks began powering up, trying to fuse his Super Saiyan energy with his god ki…it had taken Trunks one whole day to learn the Fusion Dance immaculately and since the first successful fusion, Gohanks had been training as intensely as he could within the Time Chamber, even going deeper into the dimension than Trunks had ever gone, trying to find the power he needed to match or exceed Zamasu…and both Gohan Black's Super Saiyan Rose form and Wu-kon's ultimate form were the catalysts for his training. Training that he followed up with calm meditation in order to further boost his strength and obtain his goal of the Super Saiyan God.
As Gohanks began to glow once more, Zamasu quickly gathered energy together for a small Holy Wrath, intent on destroying his opponent before the fight could even begin – cyan energy covered Gohanks and when it slowly broke away in particles, it revealed his new transformation. He had taken on the Saiyan God form (his shirt was gone, but his vest remained), only his fur was now cyan, his eyes primal gold and his hair had become wilder and longer, almost resembling the Super Saiyan 3 style, now silvery-blue blades with two long thin bangs. His tail had doubled in length, while a calm gold-tinged cyan aura surrounded him, a sharp contrast to the blazing aura of the Saiyan God. Gohanks smirked at the power that flooded his body; immense power that put him far beyond Gohan and Trunks in their Saiyan God forms.
The intense pressure that radiated from his body was unbelievable and Lazuli's jaw dropped in astonishment: she never imagined she'd ever see the day Gohan and Trunks would combine their bodies and souls into one…if they had been capable of doing that back in the day, her and 17 wouldn't have stood a chance. As it was, she hoped it was enough against Zamasu.
"Don't think a transformation like that can stop me!" Zamasu snarled as he launched the Holy Wrath.
Drawing his sword, Gohanks slashed and a blade of energy sliced through the air – and bisected the Holy Wrath, reducing it to nothing in an instant. Tapion, Lazuli, Azure and Pan looked on in amazement, as Gohanks slowly sheathed his sword, his power all too clear for everyone to see.
Zamasu chuckled. "The arrogance of mortals truly astounds me. You honestly think the power of the divine is yours for the taking and you keep taking, believing it belongs to you. There is no limit to your arrogance, but then again, what are mortals without their evil. To be a mortal is nothing but sin–"
He was suddenly driven face-first into the Lookout – the sheer force of the attack created a split that ran right through the centre of the Lookout, Gohanks holding Zamasu down by his head and the Supreme Kai was stunned – he hadn't even seen Gohanks move.
"You preach way too much about sin," Gohanks growled. "The way I see it, you're the only sinner around here."
With a shout, he delivered a punch to Zamasu and the power of a Super Saiyan God shattered the Lookout into several chunks – everyone else quickly took to the air as the Lookout crumbled around them, while Zamasu was rocketed straight towards the earth. He impacted the ground with enormous force in North City, a crater forming around his body, while tremors rocked deep underground as buildings collapsed like they'd been struck by an earthquake. The Halo shattered and Zamasu groaned as he sat up and shook his dazed head clear.
What power.
He didn't have much time to contemplate it, as Gohanks was suddenly upon him, dragging him through the air while pummelling him with a barrage of punches, utilising every inch of his new Super Saiyan God power – and Zamasu actually felt the pain from every blow that landed.
Gohanks kicked him away, drew his sword and lunged – a pink and purple energy blade caught his weapon and Zamasu snarled as he pushed back against Gohanks. "I am a god. You are but a mortal who has stolen the power of divinity and I will not be pushed by-"
A series of rapid kicks cut Zamasu off and had him reeling. "Stop talking and actually fight if you are a god," Gohanks retorted. "Or you can die; I don't care, I'm destroying you regardless."
With a growl, the Supreme Kai brought out his power, his body growing larger as his gooey right arm doubled in size and when Gohanks lunged, Zamasu caught him with a right hook that punched the half-Saiyan fusion through several skyscrapers. A Kiai from the same arm chased after Gohanks, but he leapt over the shockwave and shot at Zamasu, slashing and slicing with his sword. Zamasu defended against the blows, trying to use brute strength to crush his opponent; Gohanks deflected each strike with grace and style, spinning this way and flipping that way as he countered the blade of the monstrous Supreme Kai – Zamasu tried an overhead slash, but Gohanks' tail wrapped around his wrist and yanked him off-balance, allowing Gohanks to strike Zamasu with a kick to the head.
Zamasu swept wide with his blade, hurling an energy wave – Gohanks neatly dodged, but it had been a distraction – the Supreme Kai barrelled into the half-Saiyan with his bulky frame, roaring as he turned the tides against his foe – he clobbered Gohanks with a right hook and with his blade-coated left hand, he slashed at Gohanks' face – the Super Saiyan God dropped and pinned Zamasu with a kick to the stomach that shot him through the air like he'd been fired from a cannon.
Zamasu was desperate and incensed: how could a mortal obtain this much power and absolutely dominate him. He was a god, a creation of divinity and yet he was being manhandled by a sinful mortal. It was maddening, the mental torment driving his mind to the brink of insanity; he wanted nothing more than to completely destroy Gohanks and make him suffer for daring to challenge him. He was a god and gods do not bow to the evil of mortals. No matter what it would cost him, Zamasu would have the victory and mortals would cease to exist.
Using his telekinesis, Zamasu tore the surrounding building to pieces and began hurling the chunks at Gohanks. He darted and weaved around the debris, closing in on his opponent and Zamasu pelted a series of energy beams, trying to strike his foe with the distraction. Gohanks suddenly vanished and Zamasu froze, feeling a presence behind him. He turned around – and got slapped by Gohanks' tail; his eyes nearly popped out of his skull from the blow. The fused half-Saiyan grabbed Zamasu by the face, ignoring the goo that squished between his fingers, and drove the Supreme Kai into the ground. When the dust settled, Gohanks had one foot on Zamasu's head as he held the Supreme Kai's mutated arm, threatening to dislocate it.
"What happened to all your preaching?" Gohanks sneered. "Two minutes ago, you were so full of yourself; now look at you, a monster who can't stand up to a mere mortal like me."
"Do not mock me, mortal!" Zamasu snarled, as his discoloured right eye glowed red.
Gohanks grimaced as the energy discharged and he was sent reeling back. Zamasu moved and clobbered the half-Saiyan, intent on putting the hurt upon him – with a vicious right punch, he smashed Gohanks across the city and a huge section was destroyed by his landing, chunks of road and building flying everywhere.
They flew at each other, exchanging rapid blows as they vanished across the sky, the power of their strikes laying waste to the surrounding area – Gohanks punched Zamasu with his tail, but the Supreme Kai grabbed the tail and spun around in a circle several times and hurled the Saiyan hybrid towards the ground. Gohanks bounced onto his feet and performed a rapid series of movements with his hands, holding them out with the index finger and thumb touching each other as Zamasu approached.
"Burning Masenko!"
A blue beam of energy shot straight through Zamasu's torso like a bullet, leaving a neat hole and the Supreme Kai's eyes widened from the blast, as he fell to one knee with a grimace.
"Did that hurt?" Gohanks sneered. "So much for your immortality. Guess that mortal side of you isn't really helping you out right now…what a shame. All your grandeur and posturing about the sins of mortals and yet you wore the body of one; now it's a part of you."
"You insolent mortal, you don't understand," Zamasu growled as he straightened, the wound healed. "As a righteous god of judgement, I had to do what was necessary and if that means taking on the body of a mortal, taking on the sins of the mortals and the gods, then I will. I will wear the sins of all for the good of the universe as a constant reminder-"
"Blah, blah, blah. Tell it to someone who cares," Gohanks retorted. "Like King Yemma."
"I will purge the sins of the mortals, purify the universe and bring forth a new era of paradise, free of corruption!" Zamasu bellowed as he began to increase his power even more, his body growing in response until he was at least twice the size of Gohanks; his gooey right fist was the size of the Saiyan's head.
"Not if I have anything to say about that!" Gohanks responded with fierce determination.
He dropped Zamasu with a blow to the head and followed up with a spin kick; Zamasu bounced along the ground, but he quickly got to his feet, his Rose aura flaring up around him as he drove his fist at Gohanks – their fist clashed together, their auras burning as they fought to overcome the other with their might, the surrounding area devastated by the strength of their vast power.
-X-
The Earth quaked from the pressure of the two god-like beings waging war on each other, their unbridled power slowly tearing the planet apart as the core itself was fractured by the force of the extreme battle. Earthquakes shook cities to pieces; volcanoes erupted, spewing lava and smoke into the sky, as tsunamis crashed upon the shorelines, leaving nothing behind but desolation. Thunderstorms raged in time to the same fury unleashed by Gohanks and Zamasu as they sought to annihilate the other, with no thought to anything else but the adversary. Mountains groaned as they cracked and shook, plateaus being torn apart like they were paper. Rivers ran wild through broken valleys, causing sudden deluges wherever they rushed. Volcanoes vomited chunks of rock and lava ate through the landscape as the thick magma disgorged from its hell-like origins.
With the cataclysmic shift in weather patterns and natural disasters, Lazuli had a strong idea on how the battle was raging and she feared that if the intensity kept up, there wouldn't be a planet left. And it wasn't like they could fix the damage, not with Ocarin's death and the end of the Dragonballs, but even if Gohanks won the war and destroyed Zamasu, then what? The world was in ruins and she wasn't sure what the human population was like after Zamasu's Global Lightning of Absolution.
What if everyone was gone?
No, there had to be survivors. There had to be someone who wasn't killed in the sudden blitz.
Reaching the fringes of South City, Lazuli flew over the desolation, her heart dropping at the sight of the ruins stretching across the landscape like a cancer. This had once been her ideal life – a city wasn't perfect unless it was barely clinging to survival – now, she felt nothing but abhorrence twist deep in her stomach and she could understand why Trunks and Gohan were so adamant in stopping her and 17 from continuing their 'fun'. She wished she could be helping Gohanks in his fight, but she knew she would simply get in his way – she was still trying to wrap her head around the whole fusion thing, but at least in their case, it might ultimately give them the winning edge against Zamasu.
Lazuli reached the barracks and her heart stopped at seeing them blown apart, debris and bodies scattered everywhere. She dropped to the ground, Pan and Azure landing behind her and the former rushed past the Android, her anxiety peaking in concern for her mother's life.
"Mom! Mom!" Pan shouted as she checked the barracks, trying to ignore the nausea that swelled inside her at the sight of the charred and disintegrated bodies. "Mom, where are you?"
"Pan?" came a reply and the teenager exhaled in relief and she flew at Videl as she stepped outside a shelter, wrapping the woman in an intense hug, although she was careful not to crush her mother.
"Good to see you're alive," Lazuli called out, seeing 16 approach with Minotia in his arms…his chest was covered in a patchwork of duct tape, but she didn't say anything, simply glad that he survived. "Anyone else make it out alive?"
"Yeah, there's a few handfuls of us, not many," Videl replied, hugging Pan just as fiercely. "What happened? Why was there lightning bolts everywhere killing people?"
"It's…complicated," Lazuli replied. "A Supreme Kai is hell-bent on wiping out humanity because he thinks we're a disease on the universe…it hasn't been an easy fight."
"Okay, so did you beat him? And why is there a constant earthquake."
"Mom, you'll never believe this," Pan cried excitedly. "But Dad is alive!"
"Uh, what?" Videl replied in confusion.
"Okay, so there's a bad guy who's pretending to be Dad, but my real dad came back to life and he did some silly dance with Trunks and they become one person and he's beating up Zamasu right now."
Videl looked at Lazuli for clarification, but the Android simply shrugged. "Like I said, it's complicated. But Gohan is alive again and we're just hoping that his fusion with Trunks is enough to stop this guy."
"That would explain why my energy readings are all over the place," 16 stated. "I cannot get a lock on the signatures involved, but I can detect that they are massive. It is like there is a huge pressure system in place on the planet, which is unfortunately shaking it to pieces. If it keeps up, I estimate the Earth's destruction to be imminent…at least within the hour."
"Well…that's pleasant?" Videl commented, trying to cover up her fear. "Where are the others?"
Lazuli hesitated. "Bulma, Ocarin and Zangya are dead." She checked over her shoulder and realised that Tapion wasn't with them and she cursed. "Dammit. Where the hell did Tapion go?"
"With Ocarin's death, that means the Dragonballs are inactive," 16 pointed out. "It means that we cannot heal the planet from this current power struggle nor can we escape the destruction."
Lazuli looked towards the raging skies, trying not to think about the impending obliteration of the planet, but it kept pressing upon her: was the cost to stop Zamasu too high? Even if Gohanks won, what then? The planet was literally shaking to pieces under the weight of the colossal battle, but not even Gohanks' godly power could save the remaining population from extinction.
Light shimmered and everyone stepped back as a portal opened between them – and Chronoa popped her head through, a faux cheery look on her face.
"Looks like I've arrived just in time," the Supreme Kai said as she stepped fully through the portal.
"Chronoa?" Lazuli questioned. "What's this, a deux ex machima?"
"Uh, whatever that means," Chronoa replied. "I'm here to save your lives."
"A little bit late, aren't we? The human race has been reduced to a handful of survivors and only now you decide to intervene? Where was your help when Black first arrived and started killing people?"
Chronoa gave her a dejected look. "I couldn't do anything. I have no power against Black or Zamasu, even with my status…they are both beyond my strength. And…I guess you could say this is somewhat my fault, so least I'm trying to help now. Earth won't last for much longer, so unless you want to be torn apart by the planet's explosion, come with me."
"What about Trunks and Gohan?" Lazuli continued to press. "We can't leave them here."
"Assuming they'll destroy Zamasu, we can still save them, but right now, let's help the survivors."
"Alright," the Android slowly agreed, although she still gave the Supreme Kai a side-eye for her lateness. "Let's round up the survivors and get them to the Time Nest."
-X-
Zamasu roared as he brought his fists down overhead – Gohanks caught his wrists, although he sank a few inches into the ground from the force of the blow.
"All that power you've stolen, all to make yourself a righteous god and a symbol of your judgement…it all counts for nothing against me," Gohanks spat at him, holding him at bay.
"I don't need to hear your words, mortal, I just need you dead at my feet!" Zamasu cried deranged-like as he struggled to push against the fused Saiyan's strength. They were on par with each other, but Gohanks' speed gave him the edge, something that infuriated Zamasu to no end. "You are the epitome of-"
Gohanks' knee crashed into his jaw, cutting him off and then a kick blasted Zamasu away.
The Supreme Kai bellowed his rage and lunged – and got planted into the dirt and kicked in the face.
"You simply got too cocky, with your self-importance and hatred for mortals," Gohanks said as he dodged Zamasu' massive goo-fist and started pulverising his torso. "You underestimated the strength and willpower of mortals."
"Mortals who desecrate the existence of gods!" Zamasu thundered. He swiped and struck only air as Gohanks appeared beside him and nailed him into the ground with a blow to the head.
Zamasu swiped with his sword, forcing the half-Saiyan back, and he swiftly rose, launching a small Holy Wrath. Gohanks dodged it, drew his sword and lunged, but Zamasu blocked the Shining Slash technique, a wide maniacal grin on his face.
"Can you sense it? The death of this planet?" the Supreme Kai brought up. "All your efforts are in vain, mortal, for I will win regardless of the outcome of this battle. Even your thievery of the divine power won't be enough to save those few left. You've lost."
"As long as you're dead and no longer a blight on the universe," Gohanks shot back. "Repent, Zamasu, for your evil ends today!" Using his godly power, he broke the Violent Fierce God Slicer and kicked Zamasu in the chest. "For all the people you mercilessly slaughtered, I will make you pay!" Zamasu roared and lashed out, but Gohanks dodged and punched him in the kidneys. "For Bulma!" He darted around an attempted backhand and kneed Zamasu in the jaw. "For Ocarin!" A roundhouse kick to Zamasu's face sent the Supreme Kai spiralling away into the side of a ruined building. "For Zangya!"
"I will destroy you, mortal, even if it's the last thing I do!" Zamasu cried with insane rage as he powered up a Holy Wrath, however, it rapidly increased in size until it was virtually twice the size of the one that was fended off by the half-Saiyans and their daughters. "Behold, the Divine Purification! There will be nothing left of you or this planet!" He shouted as he released the gargantuan sphere, intent on obliterating any trace of his hated adversary.
"I have two words in reply," Gohanks said as he threw his hands out to his side, fuelling energy into his palms and then he brought his hands together in front of him. "Final-" with a single large orb in his hands, he pulled them to his side. "-Kamehame – HAAAA!"
He launched the massive beam of blue energy, yellow swirls of energy spiralling around it and the combined energy wave stampeded towards the Divine Purification and slammed into it with colossal intensity, the two attacks struggling to overcome the other. Zamasu snarled as he exerted his will, pushing against the Final Kamehameha, but Gohanks roared as he unleashed the full might of his Super Saiyan God power, the Final Kamehameha ramming the Divine Purification straight back into Zamasu. He screamed as the combination of both the Divine Purification and Final Kamehameha tore at his cells, ripping through his body as fast as his regeneration could repair the damage, but with only half immortality due to Black's body, he was left as a completely grotesque creature, purple goo covering every inch of his body as it struggled to deal with the consequence of a mortal half-body heavily damaged by the powerful attacks.
"Now!" Gohanks cried and as he lunged towards Zamasu, he channelled the remainder of his godly power into his sword and he struck with the Shining Slash, cleaving Zamasu in half.
And then, Gohanks split apart into Gohan and Trunks, the Super Saiyan God power too much for the fusion to bear after ten minutes, especially with virtually no power left after the Final Kamehameha, but it had been enough: Zamasu cried out as the two halves of his body glowed and finally separated into the original Zamasu and Gohan Black; the latter was basically a pile of human-shaped goo and he tumbled towards the ground, unconscious, as the Supreme Kai was left seething.
"No, no, no! I had the power. The Zero Mortal Plan had been enacted – it wasn't meant to be stopped! I was meant to purify the universe! I-"
He was cut off when a familiar melody started playing and he froze in horror. Sure enough, there was Tapion, calmly playing his ocarina and Zamasu howled as the magic of the melody entrapped him and he struggled against it, but he was no match for the tune, his body warping. He was sucked towards the Konatsian, fading into the swordsman as he played the last few notes of the melody to complete the spell and then he fell onto one knee; Trunks was swiftly by his side, despite the lack of energy he had due to the drainage of the fusion.
"Hey, Tapion, are you alright?" the half-Saiyan asked as he gently helped the Konatsian up.
"He is strong…but I can hold him," Tapion replied. "You don't have to worry about him any longer; he is safely stored within me and I will torment him for what he's done."
"Good...good."
"Hey, so, I don't want to alarm anyone, but Zamasu was right," Gohan said. "The planet is dying…damn, we really did a number on it with that fight…but now we need to figure out what to do now; I fear that destruction is approaching and approaching fast."
Trunks was about to reply when he sensed a familiar presence; he could never detect her energy, but years after living with her in intimacy meant that he could tell when she was nearby and sure enough, when he looked up with a smile, there was Lazuli.
"Hey, so you guys are alive," the Android commented. "I take it that means we won?"
"Yeah, we did," Gohan replied. "How are the others?"
"They're okay…not a lot of people left and I've been scouring the planet; Chronoa has finally decided to show her face and she's getting us off this planet before it blows up."
"Oh, so that's definitely going to happen?" Trunks questioned. "Damn, I had hoped Zamasu was bluffing."
"With the way we were fighting at absolute full strength, I'm not surprised," Gohan stated. "I wished we'd been more careful, but I guess we knew we couldn't risk Zamasu getting the win. Okay, Eight – Lazuli, lead the way."
The Earth shuddered and quaked in its death throes, thunderstorms ablaze and volcanoes erupting as the planet struggled under the turmoil suffered by the momentous battle; Trunks couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt, for in their desperation to stop Zamasu, he and Gohan had razed the planet in an even more destructive manner than the Supreme Kai or even the Androids. All their efforts to protect the world from evil and in doing so, they had doomed the entire planet.
"Hey," Lazuli said gently as she joined his side, her hand tangling with his. "You okay?"
"I don't know what I'm supposed to feel, Laz," Trunks admitted. "We finally won, but at what cost? The world is dying and that's on me and Gohan for causing the damage."
"It's not your fault. You and Gohan did what you had to do, because if you didn't, Zamasu would've won. Look, we're not trapped here, so it's not the end of us and I'd rather take that, even the end of the world, over some bloated Supreme Kai having his victory."
"Yes, but-"
"Trunks, you're alive. I'm alive, Azure's alive and so are a few others. I'm grateful for that at least. Let's have our small victory, okay? You had to stop Zamasu and you did; that's what mattered. Chronoa is getting us out of here, so we'll be fine. Trust me," she finished with a small squeeze of his hand and he gave her a small smile in return.
"Thanks, but you know I'm still going to feel bad about it."
"I know, but let's escape first."
They reached the portal and Chronoa waved at them as they descended. "I think we've got everyone. It's just you guys left, so let's get going."
Tapion was the first one through the portal, taking hold of his son from 16 and clutched the baby close to his chest, despair coursing through him over the loss of Zangya; inside his head, Zamasu wailed against the onslaught of memories of the Hera, the emotions too much for him. Gohan was the next through and Pan threw herself at him and he grinned as he hugged her, then looked up to see Videl staring at him in wonder.
"Hey, Videl," Gohan tried for a reassuring smile. "You look great."
"I look like crap," she replied as she moved towards him, emotions threatening to overtake her. Thirteen years without him had been far too long and she fell into his arms.
"I think you're always beautiful, no matter what," the half-Saiyan said as she sobbed into his shoulder and he soothingly rubbed her back, the feel of her in his arms again an indescribable feeling. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm here."
Lazuli moved towards the portal, still holding Trunks' hand – but he remained in his spot. She gave him a questioning look, but he returned it with a small smile. "You go. I just…I just need a minute."
"Why?"
"I need to reflect…don't worry, I won't be long."
"You better not be," Chronoa added. "You don't really have a lot of time left…well, you do, but I wouldn't recommend it."
"You sure about this?" Lazuli asked.
"Yeah, just a minute."
The Android nodded, let his hand go and stepped into the portal. Trunks sighed and he looked back towards his home – he thought of his mother and he wished he could see her again; he wondered what she would think of the planet dying at his hands, but he figured she would be logical about the situation and find a solution, because she was brilliant like that. His heart ached heavily with her loss and with a small apology towards her, Trunks decided it was time to leave –
A ki blast shot over his shoulder, slammed into Chronoa and blasted her away; with her unconscious from the blast, the portal closed before the horrified Trunks, leaving him stranded with –
"You really think I'd let you go that easily?" Gohan Black snarled, his body a ghastly amalgamation of Saiyan and mutated goo. "I will kill you, even if it's the last thing I do before this planet dies."
The Aura Slide appeared around his right hand and he lunged at Trunks with a shout.