The first rays of dawn crept over Capsule Corp, painting the city in a soft, golden haze. Inside the main lab, both Bulmas were already awake, their faces illuminated by the glow of a dozen screens. Future Trunks and Future Gohan stood nearby, silent but tense, their eyes flicking between the windows and the clock.
At exactly 6:00 AM, the air in the lab shimmered. A ripple of energy, subtle but undeniable, swept through the room. Danzai materialized, his presence both serene and overwhelming. His spiked white hair seemed to catch the morning light, and the omega symbol on his robe glowed faintly.
Future Bulma, already clutching her tablet, stepped forward. "Danzai! Wait, before you—"
Danzai raised a hand, his voice calm but final. "I will disappear for now. The god of destruction and his angel will soon come to Earth. The purple one is Beerus, the tall white being is Whis. Do whatever they say, and go to the tournament. Your time is short."
Bulma's mouth opened, a dozen questions on her tongue, but Danzai simply faded from view, leaving behind a faint shimmer and a silence that felt like the calm before a cosmic storm.
Future Trunks exhaled, glancing at Future Gohan. "That's it. It's happening."
Future Gohan nodded, his jaw set. "Let's wake everyone up. We don't have a second to waste."
Within minutes, the entire Capsule Corp compound was alive. The Z-Fighters, their families, and even the youngest children were roused from sleep. Some grumbled, others moved with quiet determination. The gravity of the moment was clear to all.
By 8:00 AM, the group had assembled on a grassy hill just outside the city—a place with a panoramic view of the sky and the distant mountains. The warriors stood in a loose semicircle, their families clustered behind them. The air was crisp, the grass still damp with dew, and the tension was palpable.
Goku stretched, looking up at the sky. "So, we're just waiting for these gods to show up?"
Vegeta, arms crossed, scowled. "If they're as strong as Danzai says, we'd better be ready for anything."
Future Gohan stood beside Future Trunks, both silent, both scanning the horizon. Piccolo meditated a few paces away, his eyes closed but his senses wide open.
Bulma and Future Bulma moved among the group, checking devices, offering words of encouragement, and making sure everyone was accounted for. Videl held Pan close, while Chi-Chi fussed over Goten's hair. Marron clung to Android 18's hand, her eyes wide with excitement and fear.
Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, and the others stood together, trading nervous jokes. Even Mr. Satan, usually the loudest in any crowd, was uncharacteristically quiet, his arm around Videl's shoulders.
The hours passed slowly. The sun climbed higher, the tension mounting with every minute. The warriors sparred lightly, trying to keep their nerves in check. Goten and Trunks practiced fusion poses, while Gotenks boasted about how he'd "totally prank the gods if they showed up late." Uub meditated beside Piccolo, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Future Bulma and Bulma compared notes, running through last-minute checklists. "Do you think they'll let us bring the portable medbay?" Bulma whispered.
Future Bulma shrugged. "If not, I'll sneak it in anyway."
At exactly 11:00 AM, the sky changed.
A ripple of energy swept across the landscape, distorting the air like a heat haze. Then, with a sound like a bell tolling in the distance, two figures appeared atop the hill.
The first was a tall, slender being with lavender skin, pointed ears, and golden eyes that seemed to see through everything. He wore a deep purple robe, but unlike the Beerus of legend, this one's attire was more regal—an intricate, high-collared tunic of midnight blue and gold, with swirling patterns that shimmered in the sunlight. His arms were crossed, his tail flicking lazily behind him, and his expression was one of bored annoyance.
Beside him stood a being even taller, with pale blue skin and a mane of white hair that floated as if underwater. Whis's face was serene, his eyes half-lidded in perpetual amusement. He wore a long, flowing robe of white and teal, with a sash of iridescent silver and a staff topped with a glowing blue orb. His posture was perfect, his every movement graceful and deliberate.
The Z-Fighters tensed. Even the air seemed to grow heavier.
Beerus yawned, glancing around at the assembled group. "So, this is Earth. Hmph. I expected more… fireworks."
Whis smiled, bowing slightly. "Lord Beerus, these are the warriors chosen to represent this timeline in the Tournament of Timelines. They are, as you requested, assembled and ready."
Bulma stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "Welcome to Earth, Lord Beerus, Whis. We've prepared everything as instructed."
Beerus eyed her, then the group behind her. "Good. Because if you hadn't, I'd have destroyed this planet already. And if I don't, well… your timeline will disappear anyway. So, you see, you really have no choice."
He turned to the warriors, his gaze sharp. "You seven—step forward. You're the strongest beings in this universe outside of me and Whis. You will fight for your timeline. If you refuse, I'll erase this planet myself."
There was a moment of silence. Then, one by one, the chosen seven stepped forward, each with their own brand of pride and resolve.
Future Gohan stood tall, his eyes unwavering. Vegeta followed, arms crossed, chin high. Goku grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Future Trunks nodded, his sword at his back. Present Gohan took a deep breath, then stepped up beside his future self. Uub, nervous but determined, joined them. Piccolo, calm and collected, completed the line.
Beerus regarded them with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "Hmph. Not bad. I can see why Danzai chose you. But don't get cocky. You're still ants compared to me."
Goku, ever the optimist, grinned. "We'll do our best, Lord Beerus!"
Vegeta snorted. "We don't need your approval. Just point us at the enemy."
Beerus's eyes narrowed, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I like your spirit. It won't save you, but I like it."
Whis stepped forward, tapping his staff gently on the ground. "If your families wish to watch, they may come as well. The tournament is quite the spectacle."
Bulma and Future Bulma exchanged a glance, then nodded. "We're coming," Bulma said, her voice firm.
Videl, Chi-Chi, Pan, Marron, and the rest of the families stepped forward, joining the group. Even Mr. Satan, after a moment's hesitation, puffed out his chest and declared, "I wouldn't miss this for the world!"
Whis smiled, raising his staff. "Very well. Please, everyone, gather close."
Whis tapped his staff again, and the air shimmered. An invisible force enveloped the group, lifting them gently off the ground. The sensation was strange—weightless, yet secure, as if they were standing on solid ground that moved with them.
The world blurred. The sky stretched and twisted, colors bleeding into one another. In an instant, Earth was gone, replaced by a tunnel of swirling light. Stars, galaxies, entire universes flashed past, each a brief spark in the infinite darkness.
Bulma gasped, clutching Trunks's hand. Pan squealed with delight, while Chi-Chi closed her eyes and muttered a prayer. Even the warriors, hardened by years of battle, were awestruck by the sheer scale of the journey.
Goku laughed, his eyes wide with wonder. "This is amazing! I've never seen anything like it!"
Vegeta grunted, but even he couldn't hide his fascination. "So this is what it's like to travel with gods…"
Whis's voice echoed in their minds, calm and reassuring. "We are crossing the boundaries of space and time. The tournament is held in a realm beyond your universe—a place where all timelines converge."
The families huddled together, some in awe, others in fear. Marron clung to Android 18, her eyes wide. Videl squeezed Gohan's hand, whispering, "Whatever happens, come back to us." Piccolo placed a reassuring hand on Uub's shoulder, while Krillin and Yamcha exchanged nervous grins.
In less than a heartbeat, the journey ended. The swirling light faded, and the group found themselves standing on a vast, invisible platform high above an alien world.
Below them stretched a planet unlike any they had ever seen. The sky was a deep, emerald green, streaked with ribbons of white and gold. The ground was covered in soft, luminescent grass that glowed with a gentle light. Towering white trees, their branches twisting in impossible patterns, dotted the landscape, their leaves shimmering like silver.
At the center of it all stood the arena.
It was colossal—a structure of impossible scale and beauty. The arena floor was a perfect circle, at least a kilometer in diameter, made of polished stone that reflected the sky above. Intricate patterns—some geometric, some organic—were etched into the surface, glowing faintly with energy. The floor itself seemed to pulse with life, as if the planet's heart beat beneath it.
Surrounding the arena were stands that rose in tiered layers, each one higher than the last. The seats were carved from a single piece of white crystal, arranged in sweeping arcs that seemed to defy gravity. The highest tiers soared nearly two kilometers above the ground, offering a view of the entire planet.
The stands were packed—millions upon millions of beings from every corner of the multiverse. Humans, Namekians, Saiyans, Frieza's race, Majins, Tuffles, Yardrats, and countless others. Some were familiar, others utterly alien—creatures of light and shadow, beings with wings, tails, horns, or forms that defied description. The air was alive with the sound of their voices—a roar of anticipation that shook the very ground.
Massive walls of shimmering energy separated the different sections of the arena, blocking the view of the other universes' teams. Only the central stage was visible, bathed in a soft, golden light.
Bulma stared, speechless. "It's… beautiful. And terrifying."
Future Bulma nodded, her eyes wide. "I've never seen anything like it. Not even in my wildest dreams."
Goku grinned, bouncing on his toes. "This is gonna be awesome!"
Vegeta, for once, was silent, his eyes fixed on the arena below.
Whis gestured, and the invisible platform descended, carrying the group gently to the ground. As they landed, the energy walls shimmered, enclosing them in their own section of the arena.
Beerus floated down beside them, arms crossed. "Remember—win, or your timeline is erased. No pressure."
The warriors nodded, their resolve hardening. They stood together, a line of seven, their families behind them, the weight of their universe on their shoulders.
A hush fell over the arena. The millions of voices faded, replaced by a single, booming sound—a drumbeat that echoed through the air.
At the center of the arena, a figure appeared—a being of immense stature, clad in robes of gold and silver, with a voice that seemed to vibrate in the bones of every listener.
"Welcome, warriors of the multiverse!" the announcer intoned, his voice carrying to every corner of the arena. "You stand at the threshold of destiny. This is the Tournament of Timelines—the greatest contest ever conceived, where the fate of entire universes hangs in the balance!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, the sound rolling over the arena like a tidal wave.
The announcer raised his hands, and the energy walls shimmered, pulsing with light. "Each universe has chosen its champions. Each team will fight for survival, for glory, for the right to exist!"
He turned, his gaze sweeping over the assembled warriors. "Prepare yourselves. The Tournament of Timelines… begins now!"