c20 There is a problem in the Underworld
"Teacher Wu Tian, do you mean the dead have been resurrected?"
Krillin asked, staring at Master Roshi with alarm.
"Yes, that seems to be the case. Something terrible has occurred down in Hell," Roshi answered, his tone uncharacteristically grave.
"That's bad. I don't know where Goku, Vegeta, or Lin Hao are at the moment, and I don't know if we can handle a mass resurrection by ourselves!" Krillin fretted.
"Don't worry. These are all crises Goku has solved before. Still, Krillin, we have to deal with the ghosts on Earth immediately, or the situation will spiral out of control," Roshi said, thinking back to the time Goku and Gohan fought Majin Buu and when Goku traveled the Other World.
"Yes, Teacher Wu Tian!"
Krillin rushed off from Kame House, contacting Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Yajirobe to cordon cities, evacuate civilians, and confront the undead.
As for Hell itself, only those who can traverse the afterlife like Goku or the Kais stand a chance. Ordinary mortals can only pray.
Back in the Daikaiō's domain
"Vegeta, stop!" Goku suddenly called, halting their exchange in mid-flare.
"Kakarot, what are you doing?" Vegeta demanded, puzzled.
"Don't you feel that?" Goku replied, closing his eyes and reaching out with his ki.
"Hmm… there is a very strong, evil presence. What of it?" Vegeta snapped, impatient. He wanted to finish the match and then challenge Lin Hao; family was the last thing on his mind.
"Listen, something huge is happening in Hell," the Great Kaiō announced, his earlier amusement stripped away.
"Old man, trying to interrupt my fight? I'll crush your planet if you keep meddling!" Vegeta barked, glaring up.
But King Yemma's messenger, Daikaiō, ignored the threat. "An immensely powerful entity Evil Thought Wave has arisen in Hell. Its malice has spilled into the living world, reanimating countless souls. If you do not stop it quickly, humanity will be overwhelmed."
"What? Lord Daikaiō, is this for real?" Goku's brow furrowed, stunned by the news that Hell itself had been breached.
Vegeta's face lost color. Bulma and Trunks were on Earth; the thought of them threatened made his blood boil.
"Goku's training here had pushed him to Super Saiyan 3, the same form he once used against Majin Buu; Lin Hao had also reached Super Saiyan 3 but remained blocked, which made the threat from Hell even more worrying for their allies."
"Kakarot, let's move. We need to neutralize that thing first. Our duel can wait," Vegeta snapped, anxiety overtaking pride.
"Huh? Vegeta, why so jumpy all of a sudden? You worried about Bulma?" Goku teased.
"Shut up! Don't joke. Take me to wherever that thing spawned now!" Vegeta growled, already flaring his aura toward the gateway to the afterlife.
Vegeta seemed to have been seen through by Son Goku. A faint blush crept across his face, and he barked angrily to cover his embarrassment.
Seeing Vegeta's usual arrogant expression, Son Goku just grinned.
"Alright then! Grab my shoulder and let's move!"
Goku himself was excited, this enemy radiated an aura darker than Majin Buu's corruption or when Babidi tried to control Vegeta.
"Shoom!"
In the next instant, Goku and Vegeta vanished from the ring with Instant Transmission.
Watching the two Saiyans leave, the Great Kaiō finally exhaled in relief. "I just hope they can suppress that evil entity. If it's left unchecked, even the balance of the afterlife will collapse."
At that same moment, King Yemma's massive office in the Underworld was sealed inside a pulsating yellow barrier.
"What in the world is this…?" Yemma muttered, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
When Goku and Vegeta arrived, they saw the entire check-in station of the afterlife wrapped in the glowing dome, just like when Janemba first warped Hell's structure.
"I don't know, Vegeta… but we've gotta crack this thing and get King Yemma out!" Goku said grimly.
"Fine, then let's blow it apart!"
Without hesitation, the two unleashed their strongest techniques in base form.
"Final Flash!!"
"Kamehameha!!"
Twin shockwaves lit up the sky of the underworld, colliding with the yellow barrier.
"BOOM!!"
The explosion reverberated so violently that even the cliffs of the underworld trembled.
But as the dust settled, the barrier remained spotless—no cracks, no distortion.
"Tch. Impossible. We weren't even holding back in our normal states, and it didn't leave a scratch," Vegeta snarled.
"This thing is insanely tough. Looks like we'll need Super Saiyan power for sure," Goku admitted, studying the dome.
Inside, King Yemma felt the impact and ran to the window, shouting through the barrier. "Goku! Vegeta! Listen carefully! You can't break this wall from outside. The only way to dispel it is to drive away the creature sitting on my roof!"
Startled, both Saiyans glanced upward and spotted a bizarre figure perched above Yemma's office.
Its entire body was a pale yellow, round and bloated, with dozens of holes dotting its skin. Its face was almost comically cute, even silly, like Majin Buu's first form yet the evil aura flowing from it was suffocating.
"So that's the source? Looks ridiculous, but the ki it's giving off is no joke," Goku muttered.
"Perfect. I'll crush him myself, then get back to our fight," Vegeta snarled, his thoughts flashing to Bulma and Trunks on Earth.
With a roar, Vegeta's golden aura erupted as he ascended straight to the peak of Super Saiyan 2. Sparks of lightning danced across his body as he blitzed forward.
"Uncle Vegeta will finish you off!" he shouted, his fist hurtling toward the creature's face.
But the fat, yellow figure didn't flinch. Its round eyes locked onto Vegeta, and in a childlike tone it repeated, "Evil thoughts… evil thoughts…"
At the last instant, it lazily raised its pudgy arm. To Vegeta's shock, it blocked the punch effortlessly, not even budging an inch.
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