Chapter 24, part 4 - The God of Power's Revelation

Pan's gaze remained fixed on Vegeta, her black eyes sharp and unwavering. Her hands stayed clasped behind her back as she glanced briefly at Goku before locking eyes with Vegeta again. "We have two years until Vala arrives. Think of it like... the Cell Games. Except, it's not a game."

Vegeta's sharp eyes narrowed, his arms folding across his chest. Two years. The words lingered in his mind, their weight a bitter reminder of looming inevitability. "A countdown," he muttered under his breath. "Just like before." But this wasn't Cell, and Pan wasn't Gohan. She was something else entirely—something even he couldn't fully predict.

Suddenly, Pan's crimson aura shifted, her entire form bathed in radiant gold. The transformation was instantaneous, and Vegeta's sharp eyes widened slightly, absorbing the sight before him. Her hair, metallic gold, flowed down her back like liquid fire, her tail gleaming with the same luminous hue. Her teal eyes blazed with unyielding resolve, their intensity piercing through the chamber's stark void. Super Saiyan Luminary, he thought. The form she accidentally tapped into five years ago—and one I named.

Goku's brow furrowed as his gaze moved to Pan. "That's... incredible, Pan," he said softly, his voice carrying both awe and unease. He remembered the first time she unlocked this form—her nine-year-old frame trembling as she stood tall, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of its power yet refusing to yield. She shouldn't have needed that form at such a young age.

Pan stepped backward, her movements slow and deliberate, her back turning on them as she walked toward the center of the chamber. "When I reached Super Saiyan Luminary, as you've dubbed it," she began, her voice even but edged with a faint bitterness, "I already knew what it was. It's a form that absorbs hits and converts them to energy. But that's not all it does, oh no."

A chuckle escaped her lips, but it lacked humor, her smile fading as her aura flared brighter. Her golden hair lifted slightly with the surge of energy. "Vegeta," she said, her tone sharp, almost taunting, "I know you don't like borrowed strength, but for you to understand... deal with it."

The words struck a nerve, and Vegeta's eyes narrowed further, his pride bristling at the suggestion. Borrowed strength, he thought bitterly. He despised the idea, but even he couldn't deny the overwhelming energy radiating from her. This was no ordinary transformation.

Without warning, both Vegeta and Goku transformed into Super Saiyan God, their auras igniting in brilliant red flames as they instinctively reacted to the intensity of her power. The heat of their combined energy clashed with Pan's golden radiance, filling the chamber with a palpable tension.

Pan's teal eyes opened slowly, her gaze steady and unyielding as she stared at them. "I can share my power," she explained, her voice calm but firm. "Meaning, I can elevate you to Super Saiyan God—because that's what this form is. But it's wholly different."

Goku tilted his head slightly, his curious nature breaking through the tension. "Different how?" he asked, his tone cautious but intrigued.

Pan's aura flared brighter as she continued, her words deliberate. "It's dubbed 'God of Power,' but I'm too young to fully... make it mine. While I share my aura, you'll notice that your ki has been increased. You'll think more clearly, and your combat agility will be enhanced."

Goku's fists clenched, his aura flickering as he processed her explanation. "That's… incredible," he admitted, though his tone carried a hint of concern. This isn't just a transformation—it's a support system. She's elevating us. His eyes flicked toward Vegeta, who remained silent but tense, his gaze locked on Pan.

Pan's expression grew more serious, her voice steady but tinged with an underlying gravity. "For myself, I have near-limitless endurance. And when I start taking hits—or others take hits near me—I can convert that to energy." Her eyes narrowed slightly, her aura pulsing with barely contained power. "I also... become stronger."

Vegeta's jaw tightened, his mind racing as he connected the implications of her words. "A self-sustaining cycle," he muttered, his voice low. She doesn't just grow stronger. She's designed to outlast. His sharp eyes studied her, the golden flames of her aura reflecting in his gaze. "And what happens when you're pushed too far? When that power overwhelms you?"

Pan's teal eyes gleamed with unyielding resolve. "It doesn't," she replied, her voice steady. "Let me show you."

She raised her arms, her elbows bent, her palms facing each other without touching. Her gaze sharpened, and the golden flames of her aura flickered briefly before shifting entirely. In an instant, her aura mirrored the deep red glow of Super Saiyan God, enveloping her form in divine energy. Vegeta's breath hitched imperceptibly, the sight of her seamless transition both impressive and unnerving. Goku tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued.

The moment dissipated when Pan clapped her palms together with a sharp motion. A pulse of energy resonated through the chamber, and as she slowly pulled her hands apart, a tangible sphere began to take form. It glowed with the same vibrant red hue as her aura, its surface shimmering like liquid fire. She held it delicately between two fingers, her movements precise. "This," she began, her voice calm and deliberate, "is a ki orb. It houses everything my aura does."

She held the orb up, the light reflecting in her determined eyes. "However," she continued, "because of my inexperience, this will only last ten minutes. It also heals the consumer—like a senzu bean."

Goku's brows lifted in astonishment, his arms crossing as he leaned slightly forward. "Heals them?" he echoed. "That's… incredible, Pan. You're saying it restores energy too?"

Pan nodded, her expression unwavering. "This ball takes all of the extra energy absorbed passively—all the battle power. But there's a failsafe. If it gets into the wrong hands, it won't work. It only works for people I share an emotional connection with." Her gaze flicked between Goku and Vegeta. "That connection acts as a safeguard."

Vegeta's eyes narrowed, his analytical mind dissecting every word. A failsafe tied to emotions. She's more calculated than I gave her credit for. "And how do you use it?" he asked, his tone sharp, though curiosity edged his words.

Pan smirked faintly. "It has to be consumed through the mouth, like food."

Without another word, she pocketed the orb, her movements deliberate. Then, with a calm exhale, she repeated the process. This time, her aura shifted again, transforming into a soft, radiant green. The chamber seemed to hum with a different kind of energy—calming yet potent. When the orb solidified, she held it aloft, its surface glinting with an otherworldly sheen. "This orb," she explained, "is for protection. It defends against malevolent energy—or dark ki."

Goku's expression darkened slightly at her words, his mind flashing to the times they'd faced beings fueled by dark energy. "That's… useful," he said slowly, his tone tinged with both admiration and concern.

Pan hesitated, her fingers tightening around the orb. Her voice dropped slightly, a note of vulnerability creeping in. "But I can't use this one myself."