Awakening the Ultimate Edge

The wind screamed across Baozi Mountain, a relentless howl that whipped dust into swirling clouds around the jagged peaks. A lone figure stood defiant in the chaos, golden energy crackling around him like a storm made flesh. His fists moved in a blur, each strike unleashing a thunderous boom that shattered stone into fine powder, scattering it across the desolate landscape.

This was Son Goten, or rather, me, James Carter, a stranger from a distant Earth now bound to his Saiyan soul. For five punishing hours, I'd driven myself to the edge, sweat soaking through my torn gi, dripping onto the cracked ground below. My muscles burned, my chest heaved, but I couldn't stop; the stakes were too high, the ghosts of this world too heavy.

Three years ago, a freak twist of fate had torn me from my quiet life on a blue planet far removed from this one. I'd crashed into this broken Dragon Ball universe, fusing with a four-year-old Goten until his essence faded, leaving me to carry his name and legacy. Eight years had passed since the Cell Games, a slaughter that claimed Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, everyone, leaving Cell alive and me as the last flicker of resistance.

I paused, wiping my brow, staring at the horizon where the sky bled green with unnatural scars. "Super Saiyan full power, and it's still not enough," I muttered, my voice rough with exhaustion. Cell had vanished into the cosmos, bored with Earth's weakness, but his shadow loomed larger every day; I could feel it in my bones.

The sun dipped low, casting eerie shadows over the ruins of what might've once been a thriving land. Goku's laughter, Gohan's quiet strength, all gone, replaced by silence and the weight of their unfulfilled hopes. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "He's out there, getting stronger. I need Super Saiyan 2, or I'm dead."

Back on my old Earth, I'd been nobody, just a guy who liked comics and video games, not a warrior. Now, I was all that stood between this planet and annihilation, a role I hadn't chosen but couldn't abandon. Training had honed me, pushed me to Super Saiyan's peak, yet that next step remained a maddening tease, just beyond my grasp.

I replayed the Cell Games in my mind, piecing together fragments from Goten's fading memories and my own knowledge of the saga. Goku's sacrifice, Gohan's final stand, all for nothing; Cell had walked away, unscathed, leaving Earth to rot. My stomach twisted. "Eight years. He could be a god by now."

A sharp cry cut through my thoughts. "Goten, come eat before you keel over out there!" Chichi stood at the clearing's edge, her voice firm but warm, hands planted on her hips.

I turned, managing a tired smile. "Okay, Mom, I'm on my way!" Her presence grounded me, a tether to something human in this relentless grind.

She nodded once, then strode back to the house, her dark hair swaying with each step. Once, she'd hated fighting, dreaming of scholars over warriors; the Cell Games had shattered that delusion. Now, she was my rock, my trainer, my reason to keep going.

I lingered, staring at my hands, the golden aura fading as I powered down. "Super Saiyan 2," I whispered, frustration bubbling up. "Anger's the key, but what triggers it? Losing her?" The thought made my blood run cold.

Chichi was everything now, the only family I had in this wrecked reality. Three years of her fierce love had woven her into my heart; I couldn't let Cell take her too. I kicked a rock, watching it tumble down the slope, my mind a storm of doubt and determination.

The house came into view, a humble shelter dwarfed by the mountain's bulk. The smell of rice and grilled fish drifted out, a promise of comfort amid the chaos. I stepped closer, drawn by the warmth, but my thoughts wouldn't settle.

Inside, Chichi bustled, setting a steaming plate on the table. "Sit, you look like a ghost," she said, her tone softening. "You're doing all you can; don't break yourself before he's even back."

I sank into the chair, the aroma making my stomach growl despite the tension. She'd changed so much, from nagging Goku to sparring with me, her staff cracking against mine in the yard. I shoveled food into my mouth, each bite a fleeting distraction from the gnawing fear.

"Cell's coming," I said between bites, voice low. "I'm not ready, Mom. Not even close." She met my eyes, her own hardening with a resolve I'd come to rely on.

"You're a Saiyan, Goten," she replied, crossing her arms. "You'll find a way; you always do." Her faith was a lifeline, but it couldn't bridge the gap I felt.

I pushed the plate aside, leaning back, staring at the ceiling. Super Saiyan 2 taunted me, a prize locked behind a door I couldn't kick down. "What if it's not enough?" I murmured, dread creeping in.

The room felt smaller, the walls pressing in as I wrestled with the inevitable. Cell wasn't just a fighter; he was a force, a nightmare that had already torn this world apart. I needed more, something beyond blood and sweat, a miracle to tip the scales.

That's when it hit me, a desperate, unspoken plea echoing in my skull. I'd trained, bled, pushed myself to the brink; wasn't that worth something? The universe owed me a break, a spark to ignite the fire I couldn't find alone.

A chime pierced the silence, sharp and clear, like a bell in my mind. "Ding! Host's desire for strength has peaked; God Level Attribute System activating." I jolted upright, fork clattering to the floor, my breath hitching.

"Progress: one percent, ten percent, fifty, one hundred," the voice droned, cool and mechanical. "System activated. Novice gift package available; open it?" My heart slammed against my ribs, disbelief crashing over me.

"A system?" I breathed, barely audible. "After three years, it's here?" Excitement surged, a wild, reckless hope I hadn't felt since waking in this body.

"Yes, open it, now!" I commanded silently, my pulse racing. The voice responded instantly. "Package opened. Congratulations, host; you've received: Ultra Instinct Mega."

A tidal wave of power slammed into me, raw and electric, flooding every nerve. Knowledge burned into my brain, the essence of Ultra Instinct Mega unfolding like a map to godhood. I gripped the table, wood creaking under my fingers, a tremor shaking my frame.

Chichi spun around, eyes wide. "Goten, what's happening?" Her voice cut through the haze, grounding me as I staggered to my feet. I grinned, shaky but fierce. "Nothing's wrong, Mom; it's all about to change."

The air crackled, charged with the weight of what I'd unlocked. Ultra Instinct Mega wasn't just strength; it was perfection, a state beyond anything this world had seen. I flexed my hands, feeling the energy coil, ready to unleash.

"Eat," she said, stepping closer, her smile tentative but proud. "Whatever's got you like this, you'll need fuel." I laughed, a sound that echoed with newfound certainty, and sat back down.

The food tasted sharper now, each bite stoking the fire within. Cell could come whenever he pleased; I'd be waiting, armed with a power he couldn't fathom. The system's chime lingered, a promise of more to come, and I knew this was just the start.

***

Support me on Patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Oskin

Also checkout this page for some crazy Genshin impact Fanfics " patreon.com/Nocturnal_Breeze "