Granolah was shaken to his core. Vegeta's words had struck a nerve, cutting him to the quick. But that shock quickly turned into a blinding rage. He let out a primal roar: "Are you kidding me? This planet used to be a paradise! It was you people who stole everything from us! You destroyed my home! You killed my mother! How could I ever just forgive you? I can't!"
Boom!
Granolah thrust both hands forward, unleashing a massive wave of energy that completely engulfed Ultra Ego Vegeta.
Ultra Ego Vegeta was sent flying backward, smashing straight through the protective barrier and crashing into the ground outside. He landed heavily, creating a massive crater in the earth.
Granolah flew out after him, his hands shaped like a pistol, aiming directly at the fallen Vegeta. "I've finally made up my mind," he said, his voice cold and lethal. "I'll burn my very life force and use every ounce of my power to kill you, even if it means taking you with me!"
As he spoke, a titanic surge of energy erupted from Granolah, focusing entirely on the tips of his two fingers. The sheer intensity of the power distorted the air around him, radiating a suffocating pressure.
"Once I'm in hell, I'll find Frieza and settle the score with him, too! I'll make everyone who ever hurt us Cerealians pay the price!" Granolah roared, his eyes filled with absolute resolve.
Ultra Ego Vegeta lay in the crater, feeling like his entire body was falling to pieces. Every inch of his muscle screamed in agony, and he didn't even have the strength left to lift a finger.
"I guess it's still no use... I still haven't fully mastered the power of a God of Destruction," Ultra Ego Vegeta sighed, his voice barely a whisper. "Forgive me, Lord Beerus. It seems I just can't go back to being that cold and ruthless warrior... I'm still a long way from truly wielding this power."
Trembling, Ultra Ego Vegeta forced himself to stand, a resigned smile on his face as he prepared to face the end.
"Is this just the fate of the Saiyans?" he muttered with a self-deprecating laugh, his eyes full of weariness.
The other Vegeta, watching from the sidelines, felt his expression shift rapidly as his heart tightened.
Is the version of me from this timeline really going to die here?
Am I supposed to just stand by and watch him get killed?
"You and I are both dying here! Let's go to hell together!" Granolah sneered.
"Stop! Granolah!"
Suddenly, a flight craft streaked across the sky, its engines let out a deafening roar. Someone on board was shouting desperately, their voice thick with anxiety.
Vegeta blinked, looking up at the craft. His eyes widened slightly.
Isn't that a Namekian?
Green skin, long antennae—it was a classic Namekian.
There are Namekians living here too?
Hearing the Namekian's voice, Granolah froze. His momentum halted as he looked up, momentarily distracted. He couldn't help but call out the name: "Monaito? What are you doing here? Who told you to come?"
Seizing the opening, Goku lunged forward, using his entire body to slam into Granolah and knock him off balance.
Granolah crashed to the ground, the energy he had gathered instantly dissipating. He looked up in shock at the suddenly appearing Goku.
"Don't do something stupid, Granolah!" Goku shouted. He then turned to berate Ultra Ego Vegeta: "And you, Vegeta! What the hell are you thinking? Giving up isn't your style. Do you really plan on just being a 'clone' for the rest of your life?"
Vegeta's face darkened. This guy still thinks I'm just a clone. He's really starting to piss me off.
Ultra Ego Vegeta just gave a faint, calm smile and said nothing.
"Oatmeel, you're the one meddling in this, aren't you! You called Monaito here!" Granolah fumed, looking around and realizing his AI assistant must be behind it.
The flight craft slowly descended from the sky, and the hatch opened. A Namekian stepped out—it was Monaito.
Goku blinked, his eyes fixed on the Namekian as he climbed out of the craft, his expression full of confusion.
Ultra Ego Vegeta also fell silent, studying the Namekian with a deep frown, clearly puzzled.
Both of them could see it clearly: the green skin, the iconic antennae—he was undeniably a Namekian.
"He's... a Namekian!" Ultra Ego Vegeta muttered, his voice tinged with surprise.
Why would a Namekian be here?
"What's going on? Why is he here? And he seems to be on good terms with Granolah," Goku said, scratching his head in bewilderment.
"Why are you stopping me, Monaito?" Granolah demanded angrily, struggling to get back to his feet. The energy around him flickered unsteadily. "Let me fight to the end! I have to kill these two Saiyans!"
Monaito remained silent, his head lowered. His long antennae twitched slightly as if he were searching for the right words.
"I want to end this! I want to end this forty-year-old grudge!" Granolah screamed hysterically. Hatred burned fiercely in his heart, nearly consuming him, his eyes turning blood-red with rage.
"No, Granolah!" Monaito said, his head still bowed, his voice heavy with guilt. "I lied to you. I'm sorry! Not all Saiyans are our enemies. There was one Saiyan who was our savior."
Granolah froze, not quite understanding. His brow furrowed in confusion.
Savior?
How could a Saiyan ever be a savior?
After a pause, Granolah took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions.
"What do you mean? Make yourself clear, Monaito. What is this all about?" Granolah asked, desperate for the truth.
"The one who saved us forty years ago was a Saiyan named Bardock," Monaito answered solemnly. His voice was firm, and every word reached Granolah's ears with startling clarity.
Both Vegetas were stunned.
The name "Bardock" struck them like a physical blow. It was a name they felt they had heard somewhere before.
Goku also froze for a moment.
"What did you say? A Saiyan saved us? That's impossible!" Granolah asked in disbelief, shaking his head vigorously. "The Saiyans destroyed our home! How could they have saved us? You must be mistaken!"
"Forty years ago, Bardock saved you and your mother..." Monaito replied, looking up with a faraway look in his eyes. "I saw it with my own eyes. I even spoke with him back then. There is no mistake."
With that, Monaito began to recount the events of forty years ago, when Bardock had saved Granolah and his mother. The past played out in his mind like a movie.
...
Forty years ago, Planet Cereal was a picture of peace. Blue skies, white clouds, and lush green trees filled the landscape, and the people lived in harmony.
The Cerealians and the immigrant Namekians lived side-by-side. They were incredibly friendly and harmonious, helping each other like one big family.
However, on a late afternoon under a full moon, that peace was ruthlessly shattered.
Several Frieza Force spaceships, like black ghosts from the depths of space, roared across the sky, piercing the silence.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The spherical spaceships slammed into the earth, letting out deafening roars and leaving massive craters in the ground, sending clouds of dust into the air.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Several Saiyans and Frieza Force soldiers climbed out of the ships.
The moment the Saiyans saw the full moon in the sky, their eyes turned blood-red. Their bodies swelled rapidly, transforming into Great Apes. They immediately began a mindless slaughter of everyone on the planet.
The Cerealians and Namekians were no match for the Saiyans and the Frieza Force. Their resistance was a futile effort, like a bug against a windshield. The casualties were countless, and the cries of the dying echoed across the planet.
The Namekian Elder, just before he died, passed the two Dragon Balls he had created to Monaito, his eyes full of trust.
From that moment on, Monaito became the only surviving Namekian on the planet. He took the Dragon Balls and hid in the shadows, witnessing the entire tragedy.
Bardock had also taken part in the battle. He had already transformed into a Great Ape, his massive frame looming over a high tower. His crimson eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for targets.
Suddenly, Bardock saw someone frantically closing a door in a room in the distance. He immediately made several massive leaps toward it, each step making the earth tremble.
A moment later, Bardock peered through the shattered roof at the two people hiding inside.
They were the young Granolah and his mother, Muesli. They were huddled in a corner, trembling with fear.
Seeing the massive Great Ape that was Bardock, the young Granolah's pupils shrank in terror. His face turned deathly pale, and he fainted right there in his mother's arms.
Muesli was also shivering uncontrollably, clutching her child tight. Her eyes were full of terror, but for her son's sake, she fought the urge to scream.
Boom!
At that moment, a Cerealian, driven by a suicidal resolve, suddenly launched an attack at the full moon in the sky. The energy beam shot through the air like a spear, striking the moon.
The moon exploded in the night sky, its fragments scattering like falling stars.
All the Saiyans instantly reverted from their Great Ape forms to their normal states. Their bodies shrank significantly, but the murderous intent radiating from them didn't fade in the slightest.
However, the Cerealians had been too naive.
They thought that as long as the Saiyans weren't Great Apes, they would have a chance to fight back.
But in the face of overwhelming power, the Cerealians were still no match. They were carved through like a hot knife through butter, their blood staining the earth red.
By now, Bardock had appeared at the door of the small hut where Muesli was hiding. He looked at them with a stoic expression, his eyes deep and unreadable.
After a brief moment of terror, Muesli realized she couldn't escape. A flash of resolve crossed her eyes, and she fired a blast of golden energy from her hand.
Whoosh!
The golden light struck Bardock's shoulder, leaving a long, bloody gash on his arm. Blood immediately began to flow.
Bardock didn't strike back. He just looked down at his wound, then back at the woman and the child in her arms. Suddenly, the image of his wife Gine's smiling face flashed through his mind, and warm memories came flooding back.
"Is the baby already born?"
"You've been gone for months, what do you think? Of course he's born."
"Oh, I see. No wonder your stomach is flat again."
"Saiyan men really have no social cues... He's in the nursing capsule over there. Why don't you give him a name?"
Bardock had looked at the tiny infant in the nursing capsule and fallen silent for a moment.
That child was his son.
"What's wrong? It's not like you haven't seen a baby before," Gine had asked.
"Yeah..." Bardock had nodded slowly.
He had seen babies before. He had seen Raditz.
The thing was, this newborn baby looked exactly like him.
"Let's call him Kakarot," Bardock had said, giving the infant his name.
"Mmhmm, that's a good name!" Gine had said excitedly, leaning over the nursing capsule. "Kakarot, you have to grow up to be big and strong."
Bardock snapped back to the present and saw Muesli glaring at him with fierce eyes. He felt a small pang of empathy.
"Lord Bardock!"
Suddenly, another Saiyan approached to greet him, breaking the silence.
Muesli's face turned pale with fright, and her body shook even harder. She clutched Granolah tight, terrified that this new Saiyan would hurt them.
When there was only one Saiyan, she felt there was at least a 1% chance she could find a way to escape.
Now that he had a companion, all hope seemed lost. She could only leave it to fate.
"So this is where you were. The mission is complete, and the order to withdraw has been given," the companion said to Bardock in a casual tone.
"Is that so? You go on ahead, Leek," Bardock said calmly, his tone brook no argument. "I'll do one last sweep for any stragglers before I head out."
"I understand. Please hurry, though. I heard Frieza will be arriving shortly." With that, Leek turned and left without a hint of suspicion.
"I know," Bardock nodded solemnly. He put his scouter back on and pressed the button, scanning the area for any remaining signs of life.
According to the scouter's data, Bardock realized that only these two Cerealians were left on the planet; all the others had been wiped out.
Bardock made up his mind. He decided to spare the two of them and led Muesli deep into the mountain forests.
Following the scouter's readings, Bardock detected a power level in a house deep in the mountains. It was weak, but it was definitely there.
Bardock stepped into the room.
The moment he entered, Monaito swung his staff, aiming right for Bardock's head.
Bardock raised a hand and caught the falling staff with ease, making sure not to hurt the old Namekian.
"A Namekian?" Bardock blinked, a bit surprised. He hadn't expected any Namekians to have survived here.
Monaito scrambled backward in fear until his back hit the wall. He stared at Bardock with eyes full of terror, but even more so, with intense wariness.
"Your power level was only 5 just now, but now it's jumped to 213," Bardock mused, glancing at his scouter. "It seems you can control your power level at will. No wonder you weren't found; you hid yourself well."
After a brief moment of shock, Monaito suddenly saw the young Granolah in Bardock's arms. He was momentarily stunned, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape.
What is going on here?
Just then, Muesli walked in from outside. Seeing Monaito, she also froze in surprise.
Bardock handed the child to Muesli. His movements were gentle—a far cry from his usual cold and ruthless demeanor.
"A Cerealian..." Monaito gasped, looking at Muesli. "So there are other survivors. That's wonderful."
"My name is Muesli, and this child is Granolah..." Muesli replied. She held Granolah tight, looking at Bardock with eyes full of gratitude.
"Is he your child?" Monaito asked, puzzled. He looked at Granolah, then back at Bardock, feeling like something wasn't quite right.
Muesli: "..."
Muesli covered her face, a look of embarrassment crossing her features.
The question was incredibly awkward.
The Saiyans had only arrived today; how could they possibly have a child together so quickly?
"No," Bardock answered flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Monaito fell silent. He looked at Bardock, then at Muesli, seemingly realizing the situation, but he didn't ask any more questions.
"Can we hide here for a while? It's too dangerous outside," Muesli said, changing the subject and looking at Monaito pleadingly.
"Of course," Monaito nodded with a gentle smile, offering his own name in return. "My name is Monaito."
"Frieza will be here any moment. You must hide well and make sure he doesn't find you, or the consequences will be dire," Bardock warned solemnly, a hint of unspoken concern in his voice.
"You're a Saiyan, aren't you? Why are you doing this? If he isn't your child..." Monaito asked, unable to believe it. He truly didn't understand. Weren't Saiyans supposed to be bloodthirsty by nature?
Why would he help them?
"It was just a passing whim..." Bardock said in a low voice. He turned to leave. "Goodbye. Do your best to stay alive."
"Wait! Can you leave us your name? We want to know who our savior is," Monaito called out hurriedly.
"Bardock." Leaving only his name behind, Bardock walked away without looking back, his silhouette quickly disappearing into the night.
...
Present Day
"How can this be? Are you saying the only reason I'm alive is because of that Saiyan?" Granolah still couldn't bring himself to believe the truth. He muttered to himself, his eyes full of confusion and pain.
Forty years of hatred... could it have been misplaced from the very beginning?
"Yes. I'm sorry I never told you," Monaito said, shaking his head slightly with a series of sighs, his face etched with guilt.
Goku and the two Vegetas all fell silent.
"You..." Monaito suddenly turned to look at Goku. He studied Goku's face intently, his eyes widening in shock. "You look exactly like that Bardock. You're the spitting image of him."
"Huh? Me?" Goku pointed to his own nose, looking completely lost.
"Indeed. Do you have a man named Bardock among your relatives?" Monaito asked.
"Well... I was raised by my grandpa on Earth since I was a kid. I don't remember much about Saiyan stuff. I don't think I've ever heard that name before," Goku said, scratching his head with an embarrassed, honest smile.
"Kakarot," Vegeta spoke up, looking at Goku with a complex expression.
Goku turned to Vegeta and replied, "Oh... it's Vegeta's clone. What's up? Is something wrong?"
Vegeta: "..."
Vegeta's face darkened, a vein bulging on his forehead.
This idiot still thinks I'm a clone. I really want to punch him right in the head!
"Bardock... was your father's name," Vegeta said through gritted teeth, fighting to keep his temper in check as he revealed the truth.
Ultra Ego Vegeta shot the other Vegeta a sidelong glance, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.
Don't go stealing my lines.
Something like this should have been for me to say.
"Huh? My dad?" Goku was stunned. His eyes went wide, his mouth fell open, and he looked completely incredulous.
Granolah was also caught off guard. He looked at Goku with a swirl of complex emotions.
"What? You're actually his son!" Monaito exclaimed, his voice full of surprise.
"He's the son of the man who saved my life?" Granolah's mouth twitched. He felt like his entire world was being turned upside down. The conviction he had held for forty years had become meaningless in an instant.
"But bringing up my dad now... I'm still completely in the dark. I've never even met him, and I have no idea what kind of person he was," Goku said, scratching his head in confusion, though his heart was filled with curiosity.
"Your mercy is something you inherited from your father. Bardock might have seemed cold on the surface, but deep down, he had a soft side. Otherwise, he never would have saved Granolah and his mother," Ultra Ego Vegeta said with a small smile, looking at Goku with a sense of relief.
"Wait... wait a minute!" Granolah roared, suddenly remembering something. His eyes were full of pain and confusion. "If Bardock saved us, then why didn't my mother survive? How did she actually die?"
"That was because..." Monaito fell into a somber silence once again, his eyes filled with sorrow as the memories came rushing back.
...
Forty Years Ago
The night was deep. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Bardock sat on a rock outside, staring at the distant sky with a deep frown, seemingly lost in thought.
Monaito walked up to him and pointed at Bardock's arm. "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Let me look at that wound."
With that, Monaito reached out. A green light glowed in his palm as he used his healing ability on Bardock's arm, the soft light enveloping the gash.
Bardock's brow gradually relaxed.
Muesli had finished putting her child to bed in the room, making sure he was sleeping soundly, and then she stepped outside alone. She stood a short distance away, quietly watching Bardock and Monaito.
"There, Bardock. The wound is healed," Monaito said with a smile, pulling his hand back.
"Incredible. I didn't know Namekians had healing powers," Bardock mused. He moved his arm around, feeling much better.
"A truly elite Namekian can even restore someone's stamina instantly," Monaito said, shaking his head with a humble look. "I can only manage to heal small wounds like this. I still have a long way to go."
Just then, Bardock's scouter suddenly chirped with several incoming messages. The screen flashed with a red light, and he stood up abruptly, his eyes turning sharp and wary.
"Someone's coming! And there's more than one of them. Their power levels aren't low, either!" Bardock said in a low, urgent voice, gesturing for Monaito to hide.
To be continued…
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