"Shit, he's only been gone for ten seconds and I already miss him," I muttered.
"Same here," Hope admitted quietly. "I just hope time works differently where he is. Maybe for him it'll be months, but for us only days."
"I hope so too." I straightened. "Anyway… we've got work to do. I need everyone together so we can finally discuss this team, especially the name, since we still don't have one."
Hope smirked. "Poor Jack. He's going to miss the chance to argue for 'Jack Warriors.' You know he would've fought like hell for it."
I chuckled. "Yeah, that would've been hilarious."
One Hour Later
Everyone was gathered in the front room, finishing breakfast. Hope had cooked, and judging by how fast everyone cleared their plates, she was just as much of a prodigy in the kitchen as she was in the lab. Seriously, why is everyone in my family an amazing cook except me? At this point, I might just jump into One Piece and beg Sanji to train me, just to even the score. Call it petty, but fair's fair.
"Alright," I said, getting their attention, "since everyone's fed, we're moving on to the important stuff, team rules and a team name."
"Rules?" Soldier Boy leaned back. "What kind of rules?"
"The ones in the contract you signed," I said.
"He didn't read it," Crimson Countess pointed out.
I rubbed my face. "Okay, show of hands, who actually read the contract before signing it?"
Hands went up: Trini, Stormfront, Noir, Julia, Grace, Sam, and Countess. The only ones who didn't? Lyra and Soldier Boy.
"Alright, Lyra gets a pass. But seriously, Ben?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Hey, in my defense, I never read contracts when I worked for Vought either. Just got used to following orders, until I realized they were assholes."
"Language. Kids in the room," I reminded him. "And fine. But read it later. For now, I'll hit the highlights."
I held up a finger. "Rule one: no killing, unless it's absolutely necessary to save innocent lives. No slaughtering random robbers, purse snatchers, jaywalkers—none of that."
"Flexible murder rule. Got it," Soldier Boy grinned.
"Rule two: no hard drugs. No coke, no meth, no angel dust, no acid."
He groaned. "Seriously? Half that stuff barely affects me. Just gives me a nice buzz."
"Doesn't matter," I said. "If the public hears about you using, it'll destroy your reputation before it even starts."
"What about weed? And drinking?"
"Occasional drinking's fine. But nothing while on duty," I said firmly.
"That I can work with."
"Rule three: no unnecessary fights with other superhero teams. That one was mostly aimed at Jack, but it applies to everyone. Don't start dumb turf wars."
I raised another finger. "Final rule: your identity and image. If you want social media, clear it with Hope first. She'll set you up with unhackable accounts. And no controversial crap, no racism, no sexism, no homophobia. You keep it clean, or you're done."
They all nodded.
"Good. Now, team names. Let's hear 'em."
Ruby's hand shot up.
"You don't have to raise your hand, kid. Go ahead."
"What about… the Super Friends?"
Trini blinked. "We'd get sued for that. Pretty sure that's an old TV show."
"Not here," I said. "This world doesn't have it. So legally, we're safe. Putting it on the board."
I scribbled it down.
"How about… Guardians?" Zoe piped up.
"Nice. Adding it."
Ruby crossed her arms. "I'm sixteen, by the way."
"Doesn't help your case," I said with a grin.
"Justice Fighters," Soldier Boy suggested. "We fight for justice."
I shook my head. "Yeah, and about three other teams already got 'Justice' in their name. Blocked."
Trini leaned forward. "What about New Dawn? It's a new start for all of us—and it ties to Hope's company."
The room went quiet. Everyone mulled it over. Then one by one, heads nodded.
"I like it," I said, writing it down.
Thirty minutes and a pile of rejected names later, the board was full, but the choice was clear.
We were the New Dawn.
"Alright," I said, clapping my hands, "team name is settled. Now let's move on to hero names. I'm pretty sure most of you already have something in mind, but if not, now's the time."
Ruby shot her hand up, eyes bright. "I've got the perfect one, Might Girl."
I smiled. "Good name. But sorry, kid, you're not officially on the team until you turn eighteen."
She groaned. "Ugh, seriously?"
"Rules are rules."
Trini leaned forward. "I'll just stick with Ranger. It was already my name back in my world anyway."
Julia hesitated, then spoke softly. "I'll go by Purity. Maybe I can finally do some good under that name… instead of all the bad attached to it before."
Grace crossed her arms, confident. "I'll take Panacea. She's the goddess of universal remedy, the opposite of pestilence. Fits me perfectly."
"Nice one," I said with a grin. "And hey, don't forget, you've still got those powers besides your Kryptonian ones. Might freak out a few enemies when they realize you're more than just super strength."
Sam looked thoughtful, Ruby whispered in her ear, and she smiled. "I'll go with… Might Woman."
Hope practically melted. "That is adorable. Now I want a kid."
"Dibs on being godfather," I said immediately.
"Noted," Hope replied dryly.
My gaze shifted to Lyra. I didn't say anything, just waited.
She frowned. "What?"
"You need a hero name. Everyone does."
"Why?" Lyra asked flatly.
"Because you'll need a secret identity if you ever want a normal life outside of this," I explained.
She crossed her arms. "And why's that?"
Ben, of all people actually chimed in. "Trust me, you don't want people knowing who you are. Living as a hero twenty-four/seven will burn you out fast. You need balance."
Lyra thought for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Call me… Superwoman."
The room went quiet for a beat, then I grinned. "Works for me."
"Alright," I said, clapping the chalk dust off my hands. "Now let's move on to rankings."
"Rankings?" Ben raised a brow.
"Yeah. We're all one team, but we need a system so we can send the right people to the right situations. I mean, do you really want Noir trying to stop a city-wide alien invasion by himself? Or you handling a sinking cruise ship?"
Ben muttered, "Fair point…"
"Exactly. So, we'll use a simple letter system. A-Rank, B-Rank, C-Rank, D-Rank. D is the lowest, A is top tier. Makes deployments easier."
I wiped the board and started writing:
A-Rank: Kai, Jack, Panacea, Purity, Might Woman, Superwoman
B-Rank: Stormfront
C-Rank: Ranger, Soldier Boy, Crimson Countess, Black Noir
D-Rank: (empty… for now)
Ben shot to his feet. "Hold up. Why the hell am I C-Rank, but she's B-Rank?" He jabbed a thumb at Stormfront.
"Because," I said patiently, "Stormfront's lightning is devastating. You've got raw strength, sure, but if you had the same power set as the other Soldier Boy, you know, the one who could blast radiation, you'd be higher."
"…Wait. What?" Ben blinked.
"Not important," I brushed it off. "What is important is that rankings aren't permanent. You can climb by training and getting stronger. And trust me, I'll be working with everyone on that. Except the Kryptonians, you guys are already walking gods."
Grace smirked. Julia rolled her eyes.
"The only upgrade I can think of for you," I continued, "is making you resistant, or even immune, to Kryptonite."
"Kryptonite?" Lyra asked, unfamiliar.
Sam leaned forward, explaining gently. "Fragments of Krypton's core, irradiated after the planet exploded. To us, it's poison. Weakens us, burns us, and if we're exposed long enough, it kills."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "That's… horrifying."
"And exactly why I want to counter it," I said. "We can't have our heavy hitters taken down by a shiny green rock."
Hope finally stood, brushing her hands on her lab coat. "Speaking of upgrades, I'll be designing your suits. If you've got preferences or flair you want worked in, now's the time to tell me. Otherwise, you're getting whatever I think looks best."
Everyone exchanged a look, some excited, some nervous.
"Great," I said. "Ranking settled, suits in the works. Now we can really start shaping this team."
"Alright, I think we covered everything important," I said, clapping my hands. "Training starts tomorrow. Some of you know how to fight, some don't, but either way, we'll work on combat, teamwork, and coordination."
Everyone nodded. Looked like they got the message.
"Good. Meeting adjourned."
Jack POV
The instant I appeared, the sky was black, thunder rolling above a massive green dragon coiled across the horizon. Shenron. Below him stood the whole Z-Fighter crew: Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, even Bulma. And standing right there beside them—the Destroyer himself, Beerus, with Whis at his side.
"…Uh," I scratched the back of my neck. "Did I… come at a bad time?"
Every head snapped toward me.
"Who the hell are you?" Vegeta barked.
"Jack," I said simply.
Bulma frowned. "Well, Jack, whatever you are, you picked the wrong time. We're in the middle of something very important, so scram."
"Sorry, can't do that." I held my ground. "I came here for a reason. I want to be trained… by Goku."
"Me?" Goku tilted his head. "Why me?"
"Because you're the kindest Saiyan, and the strongest. That's the kind of teacher I need. I need to get a better handle on my Saiyan half."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "Saiyan half? Explain yourself."
"Long story. Multiverse stuff. Bottom line: I'm half-Saiyan, and I want training. So… will you do it?"
Goku's face softened, but he shook his head. "Look, I'm sorry, but this isn't the best time. Lord Beerus—" he glanced at the purple cat-like deity "—is threatening to destroy Earth unless we find a Super Saiyan God. We can't focus on training anyone until—"
"What if," I cut in, "I tell you how to become a Super Saiyan God right now? You handle Beerus, and afterward, you train me."
The silence hit like a nuke. Every Z-Fighter stared, stunned. Even Whis arched an eyebrow.
"You… you know how to make a Super Saiyan God?" Goku asked slowly.
"Yes," I said confidently. "And I'll give you that information… if you agree to train me."
"You'll give it up either way." Beerus's golden eyes burned holes through me.
I turned toward him. "Sorry, but this is an A and B conversation. C wasn't invited. So maybe keep your divine whiskers out of it."
The air went dead silent. Gohan's jaw dropped. Krillin nearly fainted. Even Vegeta's scouter-less glare screamed what the hell is this idiot doing.
"You dare," Beerus growled, stepping forward, "to speak that way to a God?"
I smirked. "Actually… yeah. And I think before I hand over any secrets, I'd like to test something. I've always wanted to fight a god."
Gasps all around. Vegeta face went pale.
"Wait, you don't know what you're asking!" Vegeta snapped. "Beerus is on a whole other level, you can't win!"
"Sorry, Prince," I said, rolling my shoulders as my blood started pumping. "But I've got fire in my veins now. And nothing cools me down better… than a fight."
I walked to an empty table on the edge of the courtyard, gently set down the Multiverse gun, no way I was letting that get destroyed, and turned back toward Beerus, cracking my knuckles.
"Alright, God of Destruction." My eyes flared red. "Let's dance."
I slid into my stance, muscles coiled tight, energy humming in my veins. No hesitation, I lunged, my fist cutting the air at lightning speed.
Beerus caught my jab with one hand like it was nothing. His grip was iron, his golden eyes narrowing.
I smirked and pushed harder, forcing my fist forward until, finally, he released. My fist slammed across his cheek, sending him skidding back through the air.
His brows rose, just slightly. "Hmph. You might be a little interesting after all."
I didn't give him time to breathe. I blurred forward, fists flying, my strikes a relentless storm. He blocked most with casual flicks of his wrist, but a few slipped through, my knuckles cracking against his jaw and ribs. Then I caught him clean, an uppercut, and launched him skyward.
I shot after him, the rush of battle setting every nerve on fire.
That's when he stopped toying with me. Both his arms came up, parrying and deflecting with blinding precision. His counters cut through the air like knives, and each blow rattled my bones.
He was holding back. I could feel it. I'd need to push higher.
I broke away, floating back as golden light exploded around me. My hair flared up, aura surging, the ground below trembling under the weight of my power.
Super Saiyan.
I settled into my true stance, right palm extended outward, left fist tucked near my chest, eyes locked on Beerus.
"Destructive Death."
A crystalline snowflake shimmered into existence beneath me, cold energy biting against the heat of my aura.
I blitzed forward, firing off volleys of shockwave blasts with every movement. Each punch carried concussive force, waves of compressed power rippling through the air. Explosions lit up the sky as my strikes hammered into him.
This time, Beerus didn't look amused. He was blocking more seriously now, expression shifting from casual disdain to sharp focus.
And for the first time, I caught a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Third Person POV
Down below, the Z-Fighters stared, their mouths hanging open as Jack and Beerus clashed in the sky.
"How… how is he doing that?" Goku muttered, eyes wide. "I fought Lord Beerus at Super Saiyan 3, and I couldn't last more than three hits!"
Vegeta scowled, his fists clenching. "What the hell is that stance? He's firing shockwaves out of his own body… and that snowflake, was that ki, or something else?"
Gohan adjusted his glasses, equally stunned. "Not to mention, he has Super Saiyan unlocked. Already."
The battlefield above roared with thunder as Jack's shockwaves collided against Beerus's godly strikes, rattling the earth below.
Everyone was glued to the battle raging overhead, eyes wide as Jack traded blows with the God of Destruction. But not everyone was watching the fight.
Bulma's curiosity got the better of her. She slipped over to the table where Jack's strange device rested, the Multiverse Gun. She bent down, inspecting the design.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Trunks hissed, spotting her.
That drew the others' attention.
Bulma held up her hands. "Relax, I'm just looking. he said he's from another Multiverse so this got to be the device that bring him to our world since he put it down before fighting. You can't expect me not to check it out."
Krillin frowned. "Bulma, that's probably his only way home. Don't go pulling it apart."
"I'm not taking it apart! I'm just, observing," she shot back. "But admit it… wouldn't you be curious too?"
Before anyone could argue further, a massive golden aura erupted in the sky. The shockwave rattled the ground, forcing everyone to shield their faces from the gale.
All eyes snapped upward.
Jack hovered there, his hair grown long, aura blazing like a golden inferno. His muscles were bulked, his power leaking out in waves that cracked the air itself.
"No way…" Goku gasped. "That's Super Saiyan 3!"
Jack POV
Yeah, I had to push it. Beerus wasn't holding back anymore, and if I didn't climb higher, he'd wipe the floor with me.
I clenched my fists, ki roaring around me. "You're insane, Beerus. I've been throwing everything at you, shockwaves, vision blasts, every technique I've got. And you're still not even scratched."
The God of Destruction tilted his head, a rare flicker of respect crossing his face. "You're interesting for a half-Saiyan. Stronger than most. To make me work up even this much effort… that's rare."
I chuckled, though my lungs burned. "You're lucky I didn't bring my sword. That would've made things really interesting." I narrowed my eyes. "Tell me something. Why the obsession with this Super Saiyan God?"
Beerus floated closer, expression unreadable. "Because long ago, I had a vision. A Super Saiyan God who would be a worthy opponent. And I live for worthy opponents."
I frowned. "So that's it? All this destruction, threatening an entire world full of women and children… just because what you're bored?"
He didn't get angry. He just smirked faintly. "Being a God has perks. And downsides. But yes… boredom is the greatest curse." He spread his arms, energy crackling. "Now enough talk."
He rocketed at me. I fired a beam of heat vision, he slipped around it, his speed blinding. Then he was on me, uppercutting me high into the sky.
I barely caught myself before slamming into the ground, only to have him drive a fist into my gut. Blood filled my mouth as I cratered into the earth.
Gritting my teeth, I roared and powered up to the absolute limit, fists blurring as I hammered into him again and again. Shockwave after shockwave cracked across the battlefield, the sky flashing with every strike.
One punch landed flush, sending him flying back a few meters. He cracked his neck casually, then smirked. He was enjoying this.
I exhaled sharply, let my aura die, and powered down. "Alright. I give."
Beerus blinked. "What?"
"I thought Super Saiyan 3 would be enough, but it's clear I'm barely scratching you. So I'll just tell the others how to reach Super Saiyan God. No point dragging this out."
The God looked almost disappointed. "Shame. You had potential."
I descended, landing beside the Z-Fighters. my aura dimmed completely, sweat running down his forehead.
"That was incredible," Goku said, awe in his voice. "Why do you even need me to train you? You're already insanely strong."
I shook my head. "I don't need help getting stronger. I need help controlling my bloodlust. My Saiyan side… it's a problem." He glanced at Beerus floating above. "But first things first. Let me help you deal with him."
He quickly explained the ritual, five pure-hearted Saiyans channeling their power into a sixth.
The group formed a circle around Goku, each turning Super Saiyan, their golden auras linking and pouring into him. Videl, quietly, kept her secret about the child within her.
The energy gathered, flowing like a river into Goku's body. His aura flickered, condensed, then erupted in crimson fire. His form slimmed, his power refined, his eyes shining like molten rubies.
"Whoa…" Gohan breathed.
"Super Saiyan… God," Goku said softly, clenching his fist. His power radiated out, shaking the ground.
Beerus smiled. "Finally. Now this will be worth my time."
The true battle began, Goku versus Beerus. And though it echoed the original clash, this time Goku fought with an edge. Beerus had already spent energy fighting me, and it showed.
I was trying to track every movement between Goku and Beerus, but it was insane. Their energy was everywhere, and they were moving so fast it was hard to lock onto them.
"Hey, you!"
I turned to see Trunks staring up at me, curious.
"What's up, little man?" I asked.
"You said you're half-Saiyan… so what's the other half? Does that have anything to do with that weird power you used, the one with the snowflake?"
I smirked. "Not exactly. That wasn't a power, more like a fighting technique I learned from a demon and the other half of me is called a Kryptonian."
Trunks' eyes widened. "You learned from a demon!?"
That caught someone else's attention, Goten came bouncing over, just as hyped.
"Whoa, you learned from a demon? That's awesome! " he said.
"But what's a… Kryton?" trunks asks.
"Kryptonian," I corrected with a small smile. "That's the other half of me. And let's just say it's… complicated. I'll explain it later, when the world isn't on the verge of being destroyed, alright?"
The kids nodded, clearly itching for answers but accepting it for now. We all looked back up just in time to realize the battle had escalated, Beerus and Goku had taken it into space.
Thanks to my eyesight, I could still track them. Goku's aura had faded; he wasn't in Super Saiyan God anymore, just a regular Super Saiyan, and it showed. His movements were slower, his energy draining fast.
Then it happened. Goku faltered. His body went limp, tumbling out of orbit, falling fast back toward Earth.
"Damn it!" I launched into the sky without hesitation. The others shouted behind me; Bulma scrambled into a ship to follow. I caught Goku easily in my arms before he could slam into the ground, his body heavy with exhaustion.
I descended, landing in a rocky desert plain. Dust swirled around us as I gently laid him down, his chest heaving as if every breath was a battle on its own.
The others touched down around us, anxious eyes fixed on Earth's last line of defense.
Beerus and Whis descended from the sky, landing gracefully in front of us. The air grew heavy as the God of Destruction raised his hand.
"You Saiyans were interesting," Beerus said, his tone calm but absolute. "But I will keep my promise… and destroy Earth."
A sphere of dark purple energy formed in his palm, radiating raw destruction. Everyone around me froze in fear, faces pale, breaths shallow. I, on the other hand, wasn't panicking. Deep down, I had a feeling how this would play out… though I prayed I wasn't wrong about which universe I was in.
Beerus turn his hand to the side and let the energy loose. The blast obliterated a nearby rock formation, carving a deep crater into the desert.
I exhaled sharply. "Oh thank God."
Whis tilted his head, smiling. "My Lord, you did keep your word. You destroyed Earth, just… not very much of it."
Everyone released a collective breath of relief. Shoulders dropped. Even Goku chuckled despite his exhaustion.
"Thank you, Lord Beerus," Goku said weakly.
Beerus smirked at him, almost amused.
"You know," Whis mused, turning to Goku, "you'd make an excellent candidate for Destroyer once Lord Beerus passes on."
Goku rubbed the back of his head. "Haha… thanks, but I think I'll pass."
"A shame," Whis sighed.
Then his sharp eyes shifted toward me. "What about you? You're strong, very strong. Plenty of potential."
I shook my head without hesitation. "Sorry, I'll pass too. I came here for training. After that, I've got to return home, to my siblings."
Beerus scowled. "Hey! Stop offering people my job!"
Whis chuckled innocently. "Oh, fine. We'll be taking our leave, then."
Beerus placed a hand on Whis's shoulder, and in an instant, a pillar of light engulfed them both. With a flash, they were gone.
I stretched my arms, feeling the soreness settle into my muscles. "Well… I'm glad that's over. Haven't fought that hard in a long time."
All eyes turned back to me. Vegeta crossed his arms, his gaze sharp.
"So it's true," he muttered. "You really are a Saiyan. And not only that… you can transform all the way up to Super Saiyan Three."
"Yeah," I nodded. "Wasn't lying." I looked toward Goku, who was still catching his breath. "So… since I helped you back there, think you could train me?"
Goku grinned, tired but genuine. "Haha, sure. I don't mind. You're crazy strong yourself. Training together sounds like fun."
A smile tugged at my lips. "Thanks. You don't know how much this means to me."