NOVEL WEB Chapter 126: Trunks returns
The morning at Capsule Corporation was quiet—too quiet. Bell and Bulma were taking a brief break from their intense training session with Whis when a sharp disturbance in the air snapped Whis to attention. His usually calm demeanor shifted into one of alertness.
"A temporal distortion…" Whis murmured, his staff glowing faintly. "It seems we have an uninvited guest."
Bulma blinked in confusion, her gaze darting to Bell, who already began tightening his gloves in anticipation. The casual exchange of looks between the two was enough to convey the seriousness of the situation. Without a word, they both moved to investigate, leaving Whis to follow at a serene pace.
Near the edge of Capsule Corp's courtyard, the time machine materialized in a flurry of light and distortion. Its arrival created a gust that knocked over nearby tools and left scorch marks on the grass. A hatch on the capsule's side hissed open, revealing a bruised and bloodied figure—Trunks.
The young warrior barely managed to crawl out before collapsing onto the ground. His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes fluttering open just enough to reveal panic and exhaustion. Then, as if retreating into his own mind, his consciousness faded entirely.
In his dream, Trunks was running. The sky above him was painted an ominous blood-red, and a city—what was left of it—lay in ruins. Buildings were reduced to rubble, and the screams of people echoed in the distance. He sprinted alongside Mai, her hand gripping his wrist tightly.
"They're getting closer!" Mai shouted, glancing back over her shoulder.
Ahead, the time machine came into view, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. Trunks hesitated for just a moment before Mai shoved him forward.
"Go! You know where to go!" she commanded, drawing her weapon. "I'll hold him off."
"No! Mai!" Trunks shouted, but she had already turned to face the approaching figure.
A shadow loomed over them—a figure stepping into the light of the flames. Trunks froze as the figure's face became clear: it was Son Goku.
But something was wrong. The familiar, kind visage was twisted with malice, his eyes filled with cold hatred. A black gi covered his frame, and an ominous, dark aura flickered around him. Trunks could only stare in disbelief as the man who once symbolized Earth's hope raised a hand wreathed in destructive energy.
"Run!" Mai screamed one last time.
The dream ended in a flash of light.
Trunks jolted awake with a gasp, his body drenched in sweat. He bolted upright, only to find himself surrounded by familiar faces—Bulma, Bell, and Whis. Goku, standing slightly apart, tilted his head curiously.
"Welcome back, Trunks," Bell said with a smile. "Long time no see."
"Trunks! Are you okay?" Bulma rushed to his side, checking for injuries.
"I'm… I'm fine," Trunks muttered, though his wide eyes remained locked on Goku. A sudden surge of panic took over, and before anyone could stop him, he lunged forward, throwing a punch at Goku with all his might.
Goku didn't move. He raised a single hand and caught Trunks' fist effortlessly. The impact caused a shockwave, but Goku didn't flinch. He held Trunks' fist firmly but gently, his expression calm.
"If I didn't stop that," Goku said, his voice even, "you'd have broken your arm."
Trunks froze, realizing the vast gap in their strength. His fist trembled in Goku's grip before he pulled back, breathing heavily. "I… I thought…"
"Relax," Bell said, stepping between them. "Take a deep breath and tell us what's going on. You're safe here."
After some water and a moment to collect himself, Trunks began explaining. He recounted how a mysterious figure who looked just like Goku had appeared in his timeline. This "Goku Black," as Trunks called him, had unleashed devastation across the Earth, killing without remorse and claiming to rid the world of "mortal filth."
"I tried to stop him, but he's… unstoppable," Trunks admitted, his voice heavy with defeat. "Mai and I were the last ones left."
Hearing this, Whis frowned. "Time travel is forbidden by divine law. Using that machine again could have severe consequences."
Beerus, who had arrived moments earlier, crossed his arms and glared. "I should destroy this planet for meddling with time. It always brings disaster."
"Hold on," Bell interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "I sense something else at work here. Someone's tampering with time, and it's not just Trunks. Let's deal with that first."
The tension eased slightly, though Beerus' scowl didn't fade entirely.
To clear his mind and gauge his strength, Trunks agreed to a spar with Goku. As they squared off, Goku asked, "What about Buu? Did you ever have to fight him?"
"No," Trunks admitted. "I stopped him from ever hatching."
"Wow," Goku said, impressed. "You've been busy."
Their spar began, with Trunks struggling to keep up even against Goku's base form. Goku pointed out that Trunks hadn't pushed beyond Super Saiyan, offering to teach him about the higher transformations.
"Super Saiyan 2? Super Saiyan 3?" Trunks asked, astonished.
"Yeah, I'll show you sometime," Goku replied with a grin.
As their spar ended, the sky above Capsule Corp darkened. A swirling vortex appeared, crackling with dark energy. Out of the portal stepped a figure clad in black, his aura pulsating with malevolent power.
The group watched in shock as the figure emerged fully, his face revealed. It was Goku—but his eyes gleamed with hatred, and his smirk radiated malice.
"I've finally found you, Saiyan," the figure said, his voice eerily calm. "It's time to end this."
"Who are you?" Goku asked, narrowing his eyes.
The figure smiled coldly. "You can call me… Black."
The tension in the air was palpable as Goku Black raised a hand, dark energy swirling in his palm. The battle for the timeline was about to begin.
Comment where you wish for Bell to go to next: Naruto (Shippuden); Bleach; One Piece; Blue Lock; Percy Jackson; Konosuba; and Black Clover.(Comment about the world you want Bell to go to and the timeline (when). The Winner is the one with the most votes/comments of the same world.