CHAPTER 19: POWERS BEYOND

Goku stood beneath the pale glow of twin moons, their silvery light bathing the rocky expanse in a faint luminescence. His body moved fluidly, dodging and countering strikes from Amond, who lunged at him with relentless determination.

Nearby, the Crusher Corps—Daiz, Rasin, Lakasei, and Cacao—were deep in their own training, working tirelessly to unlock the elusive Super Saiyan transformation. Daiz strained, his aura flaring erratically as golden sparks flickered and faded. Rasin and Lakasei, as always, worked in perfect sync, their sparring a graceful dance of power and precision. Cacao stood slightly apart, his metallic gauntlets shimmering as he unleashed rapid strikes against a jagged outcrop, each punch reverberating with raw power.

“You’re all doing great,” Goku said encouragingly, ducking under one of Amond’s punches and catching his arm mid-strike. “But remember, Super Saiyan isn’t just about raw energy—it’s about channeling it, letting it flow naturally through you.”

“Easy for you to say, Kakarot!” Amond grunted, pulling back and unleashing a wild flurry of punches. “You make it look effortless!”

Goku grinned, sidestepping and countering with a light tap to Amond’s shoulder, spinning him around. “It’s not effortless—it’s practice. Took me years to get where I am. But hey, let me show you something I’ve been working on. It might help you out.”

Floating backward, Goku hovered in the air, his body relaxing as he closed his eyes. Slowly, a shimmering silver aura enveloped him, his hair glowing faintly with a metallic sheen. The Crusher Corps froze, their jaws dropping.

“What… What is that?” Daiz stammered, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

“It’s called Ultra Instinct,” Goku explained, his voice calm as he opened his sharp, silver eyes. “It’s a state where your body moves on its own, without hesitation. I’m still mastering it, but teaching it—even just the idea of it—helps me understand it better.”

He demonstrated a series of controlled, fluid movements, each one precise and effortless. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent a small energy ball into the air, darting through the Crusher Corps’ strikes as they attempted to hit it. They failed every time, their punches and kicks missing by mere inches.

“This is insane,” Rasin said, panting. “How do you even train for something like this?”

Goku chuckled, dropping out of Ultra Instinct and landing lightly on the ground. “It’s not easy. One time, I trained for a whole year in a single day. Used a place called the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It’s tough, but it’s worth it.”

The Crusher Corps stared at him, their disbelief evident. “A year in a day?” Lakasei repeated, shaking his head. “You’ve got to be kidding. How’s that even possible?”

Goku laughed. “It’s possible, trust me. And it’s the kind of training that can push you past your limits.”

As the group took a brief break, Goku’s eyes wandered to a massive tree in the distance, its twisted branches reaching toward the twin moons. It stood alone on a rocky hill, towering over the landscape.

“That tree,” Goku said, gesturing toward it. “What’s the deal with it? It feels… different. Almost alive.”

Amond glanced at the others before responding. “That’s the Eternal Tree. Back on Planet Sadala, it was the key to our survival. Its roots ran deep, drawing energy from the planet itself. The fruit it bore sustained us when resources were scarce.”

“Sadala?” Goku asked, his curiosity piqued. “That was the original saiyan homeworld right? What exactly happened there?”

The Crusher Corps exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions clouding. Daiz spoke up first. “It’s… complicated. Let’s just say we ended up stranded, and the tree was the only reason we survived.”

Before Goku could press further, a familiar voice cut through the night. “You have a lot of questions, Kakarot.”

The group turned to see Turles approaching, Avoca at his side. His presence was commanding, his expression calm but intense. “Perhaps I can provide the answers you’re looking for.”

The Crusher Corps stiffened but didn’t move to challenge their leader. Goku, however, straightened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Turles approach.

Without waiting for an answer, Turles gestured for Goku to follow him. The Crusher Corps exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent, trailing behind as Turles led them deeper into the palace. Their path descended into the dimly lit depths, where the air grew cooler and carried a faint hum of energy.

“This way,” Turles said, his voice steady yet weighted with purpose.

Goku’s eyes wandered as they entered an expansive chamber. The room stretched far, its walls lined with rows of ancient scrolls, relics, and peculiar devices, each emanating a faint aura of history and power. Strange symbols etched into the walls glowed faintly, illuminating unfamiliar artifacts scattered throughout. Each piece seemed to pulse with the weight of the Saiyan legacy, pressing down on Goku as if the very air carried the echoes of a civilization long lost.

“What is this place?” Goku asked, his curiosity bubbling despite a nagging sense of unease.

Turles stepped forward, gesturing around the room. “These are the Saiyan archives—the remnants of our people’s legacy. Artifacts salvaged from Sadala, fragments of our history gathered from other planets. It’s all that remains of who we were before our race fell to ruin.”

Goku paused, his gaze falling on a large stone table at the room’s center. The table was etched with glowing, intricate markings, softly pulsating with energy. Something about the symbols felt oddly familiar to him, though he couldn’t quite place why.

Turles turned to face him, studying him intently. “What do you know about our race, Kakarot? About the history of the Saiyans, beyond what you’ve learned through your battles and experiences?”

Goku scratched the back of his head, trying to recall the fragments of information he had gathered over the years. “Honestly, not much. I’ve learned bits and pieces, but I’ve never had the full picture.”

Turles’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a slight smirk. “Then, you’ve only scratched the surface. What if I told you that I, along with my comrades, were part of the Great Saiyan War? That we lived through it?”

Goku blinked, processing the words. “Wait... you guys were part of that war? But how is that even possible? You all look like you’re my age, maybe older.”

Turles’s expression grew more somber, his voice growing quiet as he spoke. “The divine fruit of the Tree of Might granted us longevity. At first, it was a gift—power, strength beyond our wildest imaginations. But there was a time, a long time ago, when we sought more. We turned to dark alchemy—draining the life force of others to sustain ourselves. It’s a part of our past that I’d rather forget.”

Goku’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You...you actually did that? That’s pretty dark.”

Turles nodded, a bitter edge to his smile. “It was a desperate time. But we’ve moved on. What I seek now is a way to reshape the future of the Saiyan race. The power of the Tree... it can be harnessed to ensure the survival of our people. If we can unlock its true potential, we can rise above the mistakes of our past. To truly awaken the Tree’s potential—to make it bear fruit that transcends what we’ve seen—it must be imbued with divine energy.”

Goku’s curiosity flared, though caution lingered in his voice. “Divine energy?”

Turles’s gaze turned sharp. “You’ve trained with Angels. You’ve accessed power that goes beyond mortal comprehension. With your energy, Kakarot, the Tree could reach its true potential. And through it, the Saiyan race could rise again—stronger than ever.”

Goku narrowed his eyes. “What’s the point, Turles? What are you aiming for with all this?”

Turles’s demeanor shifted, his calm exterior cracking slightly as he leaned forward. “The Saiyan race has been scattered, reduced to mere survivors and footnotes in the universe’s history. I want to unite us. To give us purpose. To rebuild our legacy. But to do that, sacrifices are necessary.”

The word “sacrifices” made Goku’s chest tighten. His mind raced, piecing together what Turles was implying. “Wait a minute... The dying planets—those seeds you’ve been planting. That was you, wasn’t it? You’re the reason those planets are gone!”

Turles straightened, his expression unflinching. “Those planets were necessary sacrifices. Their life forces feed the Tree, strengthening its roots, its fruit. It’s all for the greater good, Kakarot.”

Goku’s fists clenched, his voice rising. “You’re destroying lives—whole worlds—for your idea of a ‘greater good’? That’s not how you bring people together, Turles! That’s the same twisted logic that ruined our race in the first place!”

The tension in the room grew thick as the Crusher Corps looked between the two Saiyans, their unease mounting. None of them dared to intervene, unsure of where their loyalties lay.

Turles’s calm mask finally cracked, a flare of frustration lighting his eyes. “You’ve always had the luxury of standing on a moral high ground, Kakarot. But not everyone has the choices you’ve been given. For those of us who’ve fought to survive, power is the only language the universe respects.”

Goku’s brow furrowed as he processed Turles’s words. “And you think using that power—taking what you’ve learned from the past—is the way to go? What happened to just living and fighting for what’s right?”

Turles stepped closer to Goku, his tone growing more intense. “You of all people should understand, Kakarot. You and Vegeta—both of you wield power to protect what you care about. Why should I be any different? I’m doing this for the Saiyan race!”

Goku took a step back, shaking his head. “No, you don’t get it. Power like that... it won’t solve everything. You can’t just force things to go your way. That’s how we end up destroying everything, just like before.”

Turles’s face twisted with frustration, his calm demeanor cracking. “Then you leave me no choice, Kakarot. I’ll do whatever it takes to secure our future—even if you stand in my way.”

He turned to the Crusher Corps, giving them a sharp nod. The group exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions conflicted. Amond’s fists tightened, Daiz shifted uncomfortably, and even the stoic Cacao hesitated. They had spent time training with Goku, bonding over shared struggles and moments of camaraderie. But under Turles’s command, their loyalty was clear—whether they liked it or not.

The tension in the air was palpable as they stepped forward, their faces hardening into resolute masks. Goku frowned, sensing their reluctance despite their outward determination.

“Sorry, Kakarot,” Amond muttered, glancing at Goku apologetically.

Goku stood firm, his fists clenching, ready to fight. “So am I.”

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with the impending clash. Goku knew this fight was coming, and he could feel the weight of the decision that lay before him. Turles had pushed him too far. Now, Goku would stand his ground, no matter what.

___________

Writer’s Note:

Turles’s true colors are finally coming to light. This is the moment we see why the King kidnapped Goku. At first, Turles tried to appeal to Goku by showing him the heritage he’s missed out on, hoping he would willingly join his cause. But Goku, being true to himself, doesn’t need to know every detail of Turles’s plans to sense that what he’s doing—or planning to do—is wrong.

The Crushers add an interesting layer of tension here. They’ve bonded with Goku in their own way, but their loyalty ultimately lies with Turles. Now, they find themselves caught in a moral conflict: stay loyal to their King or confront the growing realization that Goku might be right. With these conflicting loyalties in play, who knows what will happen next?