Timeless Forge

The salty breeze of Guixian Island still clung to my skin as the echo of the system's chime faded, leaving a grin I couldn't shake. "Qi Yuan Slash Ten Blades," I murmured, flexing my hands as the skill settled into me, a sharp new tool in my growing arsenal. It wasn't the strongest move out there, but it proved the God Level Attribute System's potential; if I could snag this from Krillin, what else could I claim?

I dropped lightly onto the sand, the golden glow of Super Saiyan fading as I powered down, my gaze flicking to Krillin. "Want to keep going, Mr. Krillin?" I asked, keeping my tone light, though calling him "uncle" felt too weird; he wasn't family like Chichi.

Krillin laughed, a wry edge to it as he waved me off. "No way, kid, you're too much for me; the gap's insane!" His attacks, hundreds of them, hadn't landed once, and even his tricked-out Qi Yuan Slash had crumbled against my power.

I nodded, letting the moment sink in, the thrill of victory mixing with the system's promise. Qi Yuan Slash might've been weak in Krillin's hands, his strength too limited to unleash its full bite, but in mine? With my Saiyan blood and Ultra Instinct Mega waiting in the wings, it could carve through steel, a trump card I'd sharpen with time.

Master Roshi shuffled over, his cane tapping the sand, his voice gruff with admiration. "Chichi, you've done wonders; raising a kid this strong with no help is unreal." Krillin nodded beside him, his eyes still wide from the fight, marveling at what I'd become.

Chichi's chest puffed out, her pride glowing as she soaked in their praise. "Of course he's strong; he's my Goten," she said, her voice ringing with certainty. She'd poured everything into me, a single mother against a broken world, and now her work shone through.

"Train him up, you two," she added, pulling a capsule from her pocket, Bulma's tech glinting in the sun. "I'll check back next week." With a flick, a helicopter materialized, its blades whirring as she climbed in and lifted off, leaving me with Roshi and Krillin.

I turned to Roshi, a spark of mischief in my chest. "Master Roshi, let's spar; I've got my eye on that Kamehameha wave." He chuckled, a glint in his eye, and I knew the next few days would be anything but dull.

Three days flew by, a blur of sweat and sand under Roshi's watchful gaze and Krillin's relentless drills. But Krillin's strength, even improved, was a pebble against my mountain; he couldn't push me, couldn't test the limits I needed to break. I wiped my brow, staring out at the sea, frustration simmering; I needed more, something harsher to forge my body for Ultra Instinct.

"Spiritual Time Room," I said aloud, the idea snapping into focus as I paced the beach. The brutal gravity, the endless white void, it was perfect for grinding my physical core, the key to wielding my new power without collapse. I turned to Roshi and Krillin, my decision set.

"Goten, you sure about the Time Room?" Roshi asked, his tone cautious as he leaned on his cane. "Ten times Earth's gravity, that harsh air, it's a lot for a seven-year-old." Krillin nodded beside him, worry creasing his face, but I saw the hope flickering there too.

"I'm sure," I replied, my voice firm, unshaken. "Cell could show up tomorrow, and I'm not strong enough to crush him yet; I need this." Ultra Instinct Mega could erase him, but without a body to match, I'd burn out, a risk I wouldn't take.

Roshi studied me, then sighed, turning to Krillin. "Take him to the Time Room, Krillin; you're Earth's last warriors, our only shot." His words carried weight, a trust that settled on my shoulders like armor.

Krillin straightened, resolve hardening his features. "Got it, Master Roshi; we'll make it count." He glanced at me, a nod sealing our pact, and I felt the stakes rise, the clock ticking louder in my mind.

We took off from the island, the ocean shrinking below as we soared toward the Temple of Heaven. I veered us toward Karinta first, the tower piercing the clouds like a spear. Yajirobe lounged at the top, a half-eaten fish in hand, and I landed with a thud, startling him.

"Goten? What're you doing here?" he grumbled, eyeing me over his meal. I smirked, snatching the last four senzu beans from their jar. "These are for emergencies, not snacks; quit eating our lifelines," I said, pocketing them as he sputtered.

Krillin chuckled behind me, and we lifted off again, the tower fading as we climbed higher. The Temple of Heaven loomed ahead, its golden dome gleaming against the sky, a beacon of quiet power. I touched down, the tiles cool under my feet, anticipation buzzing through me.

"Goten, Krillin, you made it!" Dende's voice rang out, the young Namekian rushing forward, his green face bright with recognition. As Earth's god, he'd seen me grow, known my every step; his calm certainty steadied me. Krillin blinked, surprised Dende knew me so well, but said nothing.

"We're here for the Time Room, Dende," I said, cutting straight to it. He nodded, no questions, his trust absolute. "Mr. Popo, take them there," he called, and the stout figure emerged, his dark face unreadable as ever.

"Follow me, you two," Mr. Popo said, his voice flat but kind, leading us through the temple's halls. We reached the Time Room's door, its heavy frame looming, and I stepped inside, gravity slamming down tenfold. It pressed against me, heavy but bearable, my Saiyan strength shrugging it off.

Krillin followed, wincing slightly but adjusting fast; ten times gravity was child's play for us now. Inside the small entry house, stacks of food lined the walls, enough for two years in this warped space. I glanced around, the vast white expanse stretching beyond, oppressive and empty.

"This place is bleak," I muttered, the silence swallowing my words, a weight settling in my chest. I'd avoided it before, dreading the isolation, the monotony that could claw at your mind. Now, with Krillin here, it felt less like a prison; his presence was a lifeline against the void.

"Let's get started, Mr. Krillin," I said, turning to him, my gaze locking with his. Two years in here meant days outside, time we couldn't waste; Cell's shadow loomed too close. I cracked my knuckles, the sound sharp in the stillness, ready to forge myself anew.

Krillin nodded, his jaw set, a fire flickering in his eyes. "Yeah, let's do this; I owe it to everyone we lost." His voice carried the guilt of eight years, the memory of Cell's rise, and I knew he'd push as hard as I would.

The white void stretched endless before us, a blank slate for our transformation. I took a step forward, the gravity tugging at my limbs, a challenge I'd bend to my will. This was it: the forge where I'd temper my body, my power, my future.

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