The battle was over. The dust settled around the town's wreckage, illuminated by flickering streetlights and the faint glow of emergency sirens in the distance.
The Guardians of the Globe stood over the unconscious child at the center of the destruction. His tiny frame looked impossibly small compared to the destruction he had caused.
Omni-Man hovered above the ground, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed and unreadable.
His gaze flicked between the child and the deep crater left in his wake.
A child—one who had moments ago been a raging monster capable of leveling a town.
"Are we seriously just going to stand around?" War Woman asked, her grip tightening on her axe. "This kid nearly wiped a town off the map."
"He's… human?" Green Ghost floated down, phasing in and out of sight as she studied the boy. "But that thing he turned into… that wasn't human."
"Obviously," the Immortal muttered, crossing his arms. "The question is—what the hell is he?"
Omni-Man remained silent. He had seen powerful beings before—ones capable of devastation—but this?
Before anyone could answer, a frantic voice called out from the distance.
"GOKU!"
The Guardians turned as an older man sprinted toward them. His tattered robes flapped in the wind, and his wooden staff nearly slipped from his grip as he moved faster than any ordinary human.
Gohan's face filled with worry, and his chest heaved.
The man skidded to a stop, his gaze immediately locking onto the unconscious child. His wrinkled hands trembled.
"Oh, no… no, no, no…" he muttered, falling to his knees beside Goku.
Omni-Man's gaze sharpened. "You know this boy?"
Gohan looked up, only concern etched deep in his eyes. There was no fear.
"Of course I do. He's my grandson."
A moment of silence passed between them.
Then—War Woman scoffed. "Your grandson? That 'grandson' just turned into a giant ape and nearly flattened this town."
Gohan bowed his head. "I… I didn't know this would happen. He's never done anything like this before."
The Immortal stepped forward, his towering figure casting a shadow over Gohan. "Start explaining. Now."
Gohan took a deep breath.
"His name is Goku. I found him when he was just a baby in the forest. He was all alone, in some metal pod."
That caught Omni-Man's attention. "A pod? Like a spacecraft?"
Gohan hesitated. "Maybe. I don't know where he came from, but I know he's not from here. Goku is special."
"You mean alien." War Woman's voice was sharp.
Gohan's fists clenched. "He's not a monster. He's just a boy!"
Omni-Man eyed the unconscious child. "A 'boy' who just annihilated half a city block."
Gohan's jaw tightened. "You don't understand. Goku isn't evil. He doesn't mean to hurt anyone!"
"Then explain what the hell just happened," the Immortal demanded.
Gohan looked down at Goku, his expression filled with sorrow. "It was the moon."
"The moon?" Green Ghost asked, confused.
Gohan nodded. "I don't know why; he looked at the full moon, and something… changed. He lost himself. It's like something took over."
Omni-Man frowned. A biological response to the full moon? That wasn't unheard of. Some alien species had transformations tied to lunar cycles. But this level of destruction?
The thought unsettled him.
"He didn't mean to do this," Gohan pleaded. "Please. He's just a child."
The Guardians exchanged glances.
"Even if what you're saying is true," War Woman said, "that doesn't change the fact that he's dangerous. We can't ignore this."
Green Ghost nodded. "What if it happens again? Next time, there might not be anyone left to stop him."
Gohan's grip on his staff tightened. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" Omni-Man asked.
Gohan exhaled. "I'll make sure he never sees the full moon again."
War Woman frowned. "That's… not exactly a foolproof plan."
"It's all I have," Gohan admitted.
The Guardians stood in silence, weighing the situation. Goku stirred slightly, his body shifting as he groaned in his sleep. His face was peaceful and innocent.
The contrast between the small, harmless boy and the monstrous beast he had become was staggering.
Omni-Man narrowed his eyes. Something about this felt wrong.
Goku transformed into a being with such destructive power. And yet.
A human had raised him.
If he had landed somewhere else…
Would this boy have already been a conqueror?
After a long pause, Omni-Man finally spoke.
"…We let him go."
War Woman spun to face him. "Are you serious?"
Omni-Man's expression remained unreadable. "He's just a kid. A kid who lost control."
The Immortal frowned but didn't object.
War Woman groaned. "Fine. But if this happens again—"
"It won't," Gohan promised.
The Guardians exchanged wary looks, but ultimately, they relented.
Omni-Man looked at Gohan. "Keep him under control if he turns into that thing again. We will stop him."
Gohan nodded solemnly. "Understood."
As the Guardians prepared to leave, Goku's eyes fluttered open. He groaned, sitting up and rubbing his head. His vision was blurry, and his body ached.
"Wha…?"
Then, he saw the strangers.
Big people. Strong people.
People he didn't recognize.
And then—his eyes landed on Omni-Man.
Goku blinked. "Whoa…"
He could feel it.
This man—this mustache man—felt… strong.
Omni-Man stared at the boy. "You're awake."
Goku tilted his head. "Who are you?"
For a moment, Omni-Man hesitated. Then, he said—
"A friend."
Goku grinned. "You're powerful."
Omni-Man smirked. "You don't even know the half of it, kid."
Goku's tail flicked behind him. "I wanna fight you!"
GOKU!" Gohan snapped, nearly jumping out of his sandals.
The Guardians tensed again — but Omni-Man just chuckled.
"Maybe one day."
"Aww…"
Gohan grabbed his hand.
"Come on. We're leaving."
Goku stood, wincing. But as they turned away, something stopped him.
He looked over his shoulder.
At the cracked streets. The burning buildings. The crumbled homes.
His smile faded.
He took it all in — the wreckage, the people hiding behind police barricades, the fear still lingering in the air.
Goku looked down at his hands.
They were shaking.
"I did this?"
Tears slid down his cheek.
Gohan placed a hand on his shoulder but didn't speak.
Goku's voice was small.
"I didn't mean to."
Goku understood the weight of what he could do for the first time.
Gohan spoke gently.
"It's not your fault Goku. That wasn't you."
Goku nodded slowly.
He didn't understand all of it.
But he would.
As they walked away, Gohan glanced at Goku.
"There's someone I want you to meet," he said. "An old friend. He might be able to help."
Goku looked up, confused.
"Help with what?"
Gohan didn't answer right away.
"With your training."
Goku's eyes lit up through the tears.
"More training?"
Gohan nodded.
Goku pumped his fist.
"Yes!"
In the distance, the guardians watched them go.
Omni-Man didn't take his eyes off Goku.