Chapter 2: Kakarot? A Transmigrator from Another World!
Franklin sprinted madly toward the source of the loud crash. A fall from the cliff would leave anyone either dead or gravely injured. Even if Goku hadn't lost his memory, in his current wounded state he would stand no chance against Franklin.
In barely a dozen seconds, Franklin reached the site where the sound had originated. He scanned the area, but there was no sign of anyone. The only clue was a massive crater stamped into the dirt.
Upon closer inspection, there seemed to be two deeply embedded footprints at the center of the depression. Looking up at the mountaintop piercing into the clouds, Franklin instinctively swallowed hard. Whatever had made those prints was far beyond anything he could handle.
Remembering that the mission didn't have a time limit, Franklin decided to withdraw for now and plan more carefully. But just as he turned to leave, a sharp gust of wind roared toward him — too fast to dodge.
In the blink of an eye, Franklin was sent flying backward, his internal organs churning as he spat out a mouthful of blood. If he hadn't reached the fifth level of body refinement, that kick would have killed him outright.
"Are you trying to kill me? Why?"
The familiar voice carried with it a chilling intent to kill. Franklin smashed through several trees before crashing to the ground. He propped himself up against a trunk, trembling with fear.
That aura… that tone… there was no way this was the young Kakarot — or Son Goku.
"Who the hell are you?"
The young Goku slowly walked toward him and stopped a few meters away.
"I should be the one asking that question. Who are you? You're not supposed to exist in this world — not at this point in time. How do you know so much?"
Franklin's mind raced as he stared at the furry tail swaying behind the boy. If he wanted to survive, that tail might be his only chance.
Coughing up another mouthful of blood, Franklin didn't bother hiding the truth. "I'm a transmigrator. I originally came here hoping to befriend Son Goku, but it seems I've run into a new companion instead. I'm from Blue Star — I don't know where you're from."
Young Goku narrowed his eyes, his gaze deep and probing. "You're telling the truth that easily? I don't believe you."
Franklin coughed again, his breath growing weaker.
"That kick ruptured my organs. I'm dying. But you — you're completely different from the Dragon Ball world I know. If there's even a chance I can survive, I have to take it.
We're both transmigrators. Have some pity and spare my life. You're the protagonist of this world. I'm just a nobody. My existence won't affect you — I could even be a useful ally."
Goku carefully avoided the spattered blood as he approached. Shaking his head, he said, "The whole reason I'm here is to minimize the butterfly effect.
If I save you and let you tag along, who knows what unpredictable changes might occur. Your existence is a huge liability to me. That's why you have to die."
As his words fell, Franklin coughed up more blood, his face growing paler still.
Lowering his head, his voice turned weak and desperate. "Please… spare me. I don't want to die yet. I finally got a second chance in the Dragon Ball world… I'm not ready to die."
"Goku! Goku! Where are you?"
Son Gohan's distant voice echoed through the forest. Franklin's breathing grew even shallower. Seeing his fading consciousness, young Goku made up his mind. He sidestepped the blood and reached for Franklin's throat.
But in that moment, Franklin's eyes sharpened. Mustering the last of his strength, he lunged for Goku's tail.
Instantly, Goku's eyes flashed, and he leapt backward. Franklin didn't hesitate — he exploded forward, lunging for the tail now just within reach.
"You're good at pretending, but you clearly don't know — I'm not looking at how you look, I'm sensing your ki. You're far too full of energy to be someone on the verge of death.
This is actually pretty fun. Soon, I'll break your arms and legs and stash you away until I've drained every last piece of information out of you."
A chill ran down Franklin's spine. His speed spiked as he pushed himself harder. The tail was almost within reach — he lunged and grabbed for it.
But in the blink of an eye, the furry tail slipped behind Goku's back. Goku looked at him with a mocking smile.
"You really think I'd let you grab it? You're nothing but a power level five weakling."
Franklin froze mid-lunge, then immediately darted backward. If he could just stall until Son Gohan arrived, he might still have a chance.
"Trying to run? You think you—"
Before Goku could finish, a cry of pain escaped his lips. Franklin saw his body suddenly jerk and halt mid-movement.
An instant later, a tremendous force slammed Goku straight toward him. Franklin, who'd been ready to flee, didn't waste the opportunity — he clamped his hand around the tail just as Goku crashed into him.
The two of them were hurled backward. Franklin, now Goku's human cushion, slammed violently into the cliffside. His insides roiled again as blood poured from his mouth, but his grip on Goku's tail didn't loosen for a second.
Seeing Goku lying weakly on the ground, Franklin knew it was kill or be killed. Without hesitation, he raised Goku's head and smashed it down onto a jagged rock — once, twice, three times…
"Let me go…" Goku's frail voice rasped. "There are other enemies here… If you fight me now, we'll both die…"
Franklin ignored him. Four, five, six times.
"With my current body, your pathetic brute strength isn't enough to kill me… Let go now… and help me deal with the incoming enemy… I might even spare your life."
Seven, eight, nine times.
"You're dead… Once my tail breaks off… you'll be the first to die…"
Those words made Franklin freeze mid-swing. He remembered how Son Gohan had once planned to defeat Goku by grabbing his tail during the fortune-teller's fight — only for Goku's tail to tear off, eliminating his weakness entirely.
Watching the weakened boy struggle to rise, Franklin tightened his grip.
"Let me go… I swear I won't kill you…"
Franklin hesitated. He needed to stall. He needed to prevent Goku from getting used to the weakness caused by his tail being grabbed.
"Tell me who you are. Where you're from. What your real name is. Do that, and I'll decide whether or not to release you."
Silence. Absolute, deathly silence.
Franklin raised Kakarot again and slammed him down onto the rock. On the twelfth strike, Goku's defense finally gave way — blood began to trickle slowly from his head.
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