Chapter 223: Goten's Refusal To Goku And Vegeta

Goten: "Don't be so surprised, Vegeta. This isn't even my real power! What I'm showing you now is less than one-billionth of my full strength. And my ultimate power isn't just about transforming into a Super Saiyan. It's about mastering the fundamental rules of an entire dimensional universe. That might sound complicated, so let me put it simply. With just a thought, I can erase an entire universe without even lifting a finger. That's the power of rules... and I have complete mastery over it."

(Goten spoke calmly, watching Vegeta's face twist with disbelief.)

(He wasn't boasting-he had no need to-but Vegeta had always been too proud, too convinced of his own strength.)

(This was a necessary wake-up call.)

(Let him see for himself that there are beings far beyond his comprehension.)

Piccolo and Krillin: "What... what? The power of rules? You mean to say you can erase an entire universe... without even fighting?"

(Piccolo and Krillin gasped in shock.)

(They couldn't begin to fathom what Goten was describing.)

(If he truly had that kind of power, then all their battles, all their struggles... what did they even mean in the face of such overwhelming might?)

Goku: "Goten, are you serious?"

(Goku asked, his voice urgent.)

Goku: "You really have that kind of strength? Does that mean in your timeline, you've become completely invincible?"

(It was hard to believe.)

(He had always known Goten was strong, but this was beyond anything he could have imagined.)

(The idea of a power that transcended even the gods was almost impossible to grasp.)

Goten: "You could say that."

(Goten replied with a nod.)

Goten: "In another dimension, I already defeated Zeno and the Grand Priest-the most powerful beings in existence. That should make me the strongest god."

(His words hung in the air, sending another wave of shock through the group.)

(If he wanted to, Goten could do the same here-take down the Grand Priest, eliminate Zeno, and rule this timeline.)

(But he had no interest in such things.)

(His only goal was to return home, to his own timeline, to his mother, to Videl, and to his son.)

(He just hoped that the collapse of the dimensional universe hadn't affected his home.)

(If too much time passed, even his power might not be able to restore it.)

Vegeta: "God? You're saying Saiyans can become gods?"

(Vegeta asked, his voice laced with both curiosity and disbelief.)

Goten: "Of course."

(Goten answered.)

Goten: "You both chose to evolve through the Saiyan bloodline, but in some timelines, you pursued a different path-the path of divine ascension. That transformation is known as Super Saiyan God. Of course, my power far surpasses that."

(As soon as he finished speaking, Goten let his Super Saiyan 5 form fade.)

(He stood still for a moment, then, in the blink of an eye, his hair turned silvery white, his pupils shifting to a piercing silver-gray.)

(A dazzling aura surrounded him, yet his presence seemed to vanish entirely.)

(Goku and Vegeta strained their senses, but they couldn't track him at all.)

Goten: "This is Perfected Ultra Instinct."

(Goten explained.)

Goten: "It's a divine ability of the Angels. In this form, every function of the body operates at its absolute peak. My body moves entirely on its own, predicting and avoiding all danger without the need for conscious thought."

(He continued, introducing the concept of Ultra Ego as well.)

(He knew that the Goku and Vegeta of this dimension were far too weak compared to the opponents he had faced.)

(But if nothing else, he could at least inspire them to reach beyond their limits.)

(If they had the determination to learn, he could guide them.)

(Sure enough, excitement flashed in Goku and Vegeta's eyes.)

Goku: "This is incredible, Goten!"

(Goku exclaimed.)

Goku: "I won't lie, I had my doubts about just how strong you were. But now, I believe it completely!"

(He clenched his fists, the fire of battle rekindled within him.)

(Ultra Instinct... the way Goten described it, it felt like something he was meant to achieve.)

Goten: "These forms are nothing special."

(Goten said nonchalantly.)

Goten: "My strongest form is tens of thousands of times more powerful than this."

(He wasn't exaggerating.)

(The Full Race God transformation was leagues beyond anything they had seen.)

(Compared to that, even Super Saiyan 5 and Ultra Instinct were insignificant.)

(But there was no need to reveal everything just yet-he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention from Zeno or the Grand Priest of this timeline.)

(Goku took a deep breath, then looked at Goten with determination in his eyes.)

Goku: "Goten... could you teach me Ultra Instinct?"

(he asked.)

Goku: "I have a feeling I can learn it."

(For most fathers, asking their son for training would be an embarrassment.)

(But not for Goku.)

(Strength was all that mattered.)

(And if he could get stronger, he didn't care who his teacher was.)

(After hearing Goku's words, Vegeta couldn't stay silent any longer.)

(He had finally reached the form of Super Saiyan 4 and caught up to Goku.)

(If Goten were to train Goku now, it wouldn't be long before he was left behind once again.)

(That was something Vegeta could never accept.)

(Either Goku wouldn't learn from Goten at all, or they would train together.)

(That way, they would at least be on equal footing.)

(He had long accepted that there were stronger beings in the universe, but among them, he refused to let Goku be one of them!)

Vegeta: "Kakarot, if you want to train under Goten, I won't allow it! I refuse to let you surpass me!"

(Vegeta shouted, his face slightly flushed with embarrassment.)

Goku: "Vegeta, what does my training have to do with you? If you want to learn, you can ask Goten yourself."

(Goku countered.)

Goku: "You can't stop me from getting stronger. You've seen for yourself-there are countless warriors out there who outclass us. If we don't improve, what happens if the next enemy is as strong as Lord Beerus? The Earth would be doomed!"

(Vegeta scowled.)

(He wanted to argue, but he couldn't deny that Goku had a point.)

(He wanted to learn from Goten too, but his pride made it difficult to ask.)

(He had looked down on Goten earlier, treating him as nothing more than a child.)

(To now request training from him would be a bitter pill to swallow.)

(But if he didn't learn, Goku would leave him in the dust again.)

Goku: "Come on, Vegeta! Let's train together with Goten."

(Goku urged.)

Goku: "Don't you want to become truly strong? Super Saiyan 4 isn't our limit! You saw Goten's transformations -each of them is on a completely different level. If we could even learn one of them, we'd reach new heights!"

(Vegeta's expression twisted in frustration.)

(His pride told him to reject the idea outright, but his instincts screamed at him to take the opportunity.)

(After a long minute of hesitation, he finally clenched his teeth and turned to Goten.)

Vegeta: "Goten... please train me."

(he muttered, his voice heavy with reluctance.)

Vegeta: "I was too arrogant before, and I apologize."

(To Vegeta, those words were humiliating.)

(Goten was just a child-Goku's son, no less.)

(Acknowledging his strength was one thing, but bowing his head and asking for guidance was almost unbearable. Still, if it meant becoming stronger, he had no choice.)

(But Goten simply shook his head.)

Goten: "Vegeta, why should I train you?"

(he said coldly.)

Goten: "You were so full of yourself before. Do you really think I'd just forget that? To be honest, your arrogance pissed me off."

(His gaze hardened as he continued.)

Goten: "If it weren't for Aunt Bulma, I would've killed you long ago. And now you expect me to guide your training? Don't be ridiculous."

(Vegeta's fists clenched.)

(He had swallowed his pride and asked for help, only to be outright rejected-and mocked on top of it! If he weren't so outmatched, he would've attacked Goten right then and there. But he wasn't a fool.)

(The difference in their power was too great.)

(All he could do was seethe in silence.)

Goku: "Ah, come on, Goten!"

(Goku pleaded.)

Goku: "Vegeta may be stubborn, but he's your elder. He's let go of his pride and asked for your help. Why won't you teach him?"

Goten: "I said no."

(Goten replied firmly.)

Goten: "Both of you were way too arrogant before, and I have no interest in training you. I've already shown you three transformations-if you have any real talent, figure them out on your own."

(He crossed his arms, his expression unwavering.)

Goten: "I won't teach Vegeta, and I won't teach you either, Goku. Whatever you can comprehend is up to you. But don't ever bring this up again."

(Goku was left stunned.)

(He had only meant to convince Goten to teach Vegeta, but now it had backfired-Goten wouldn't even train him either! He stood there, speechless, as Goten turned away.)

(The others, including Gohan and Piccolo, watched in silence.)

(They had to admit, Goten was being harsh, but there was no denying his strength.)

(And this Goten... he wasn't the same one they had known.)

(He was different-stronger, colder, and far less forgiving.)

[To Be Continued...]