Seeing Trunks return safely, Mai's heart finally settled. However, as she looked into his eyes—filled with a mixture of grief and rage—an ominous premonition took hold of her.
"Trunks... is it Bulma? Did something happen?" Mai asked hesitantly.
Creeaaaak!
Trunks's fingers tightened instinctively, crushing the beverage bottle in his hand until it was completely deformed.
He gritted his teeth, his eyes swimming with regret, anger, sorrow, and frustration.
"When Mother went to tune the solar generator... she was discovered..."
"What?! How could that happen?" Mai cried out in horror.
"But it did..." Trunks replied, tears of grief streaming down his face. "Mother... she's truly gone now."
Watching Trunks break down, Mai felt a sharp pang in her heart. She instinctively pulled him into a hug. "Trunks, you still have me. And we have to avenge Bulma, don't we?"
"You're right. Thanks to Mother, I have the fuel for the Time Machine. Though... there's only enough for a one-way trip."
"We leave after dark! We're going... seventeen years into the past!"
"Seventeen years? Why that specific time?"
"This was the setting used back during the Android era. If I change the coordinates now, I might not reach that specific parallel world. I need to go to the world where Father and the others are still alive. If I find them, I know they can defeat that monster!"
"It's such a shame," Mai sighed. "This world was finally at peace for a while after you defeated the Androids. Right up until that man appeared..."
"Hmph. There's definitely something wrong with his identity," Trunks noted coldly. "Just now, he actually managed to sense me while I was masking my ki. That's a skill that belongs to Earth's warriors, but that guy..."
"Wait! You're saying he can sense our ki?"
"Not good. We have to leave, now! We're out of time!"
On the other side of the dimensional divide, Turles was busy applying suntan oil to Lazuli, who was lounging comfortably on a beach chair.
Whirrr!
Suddenly, an egg-shaped machine materialized out of thin air in the sky above.
Turles's brow furrowed. In an instant, he used Instant Transmission to move Lazuli back inside the house. When it came to his women, he was notoriously protective and didn't care for surprises.
"Why would a Time Machine suddenly show up here? The Trunks I know doesn't need one of these anymore. Did someone from another timeline take a wrong turn?"
At that moment, Bulma also noticed the sudden arrival. Her brow tightened in confusion. "What's going on? Didn't Trunks join the Time Patrol? Why is there another Time Machine?"
Bulma walked up to the machine and peered inside. She froze. "Trunks?"
Turles sighed, slightly exasperated. "The guy must have landed in the wrong timeline. Let's wait for him to wake up and ask what happened."
Turles lifted Trunks out of the machine and laid him on the ground, carefully inspecting his condition.
"What could have caused this? These injuries are severe. Don't tell me that event is happening..."
As Turles used his power to heal the wounds, Trunks's eyes fluttered open. The moment he saw Turles's face, all his suppressed frustration, rage, and hatred exploded at once.
"You bastard! Die!"
Trunks swung a desperate, rage-filled punch at Turles.
Turles caught Trunks's fist with ease, his expression darkening. "Hey, calm down, Trunks! This isn't your timeline!"
"Trunks, get a grip! What's wrong with you? Why are you attacking my husband?"
Bulma looked at this version of Trunks with clear dissatisfaction. If he didn't look exactly like her son, she would have slapped him already. Attacking her husband? That was a fast track to an early grave.
Hearing that familiar voice sent a jolt through Trunks. Tears immediately filled his eyes as he stammered, "Mother?"
He finally regained his senses, looking back and forth between Turles and Bulma. He spoke tentatively, "Are you... Mr. Turles and Lady Bulma?"
"And this one..."
Trunks looked at the two versions of Bulma present with total confusion.
Turles raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you recognize us. Are you the Trunks from the Broly incident? How did you end up in my timeline?"
Trunks's face fell. "Did the coordinates fail after all? I was trying to reach my father's timeline. I didn't expect to end up in yours..."
Sensing he was an acquaintance, the older Bulma got straight to the point. "Trunks, what happened? How did you get hurt so badly?"
"Yes, tell us everything," the other Bulma added. "As for me, you can just call me Bulma..."
Trunks's expression became grim. "I encountered an incredibly terrifying enemy. He has the exact same face as Mr. Goku—well, he looks a lot like you too, Mr. Turles."
"He claims that for the sake of 'justice,' he must wipe out all mortals. He says humans shouldn't exist in this world. He's already annihilated everyone on Earth. Even Mother was..."
Hearing this, both Bulmas gasped in shock.
"I was killed too?!" they cried in unison.
Turles frowned, crossing his arms. "A face like mine, or rather, like Kakarot's... It sounds like him."
Bulma looked at her husband, her face pale. "Honey, you know who it is?"
Turles nodded. "Yeah. That guy is an Apprentice Supreme Kai from Universe 10. How should I put this? He's an extremist. He believes the existence of mortals is the greatest blasphemy against the gods. He likely watched the tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7."
"Seeing the power of Kakarot and the others must have pushed him over the edge. He probably used the Super Dragon Balls to swap bodies with Kakarot... and then he began what he calls the 'Zero Mortals Plan.'"
"The Zero Mortals Plan? That's horrific... what a psycho," Bulma muttered. "How did someone like that ever become an Apprentice Supreme Kai?"
"Heh, you'd have to ask the Supreme Kai of Universe 10 about that," Turles remarked dryly.
Suddenly, Bulma turned to him with a worried look. "Husband, the Zamasu in our universe won't try the same thing, will he?"
Turles's brow furrowed. "I can't say for sure. I suppose I should give Whis and Beerus a heads-up..."
Turles pulled out a special communicator. "Hey, Whis? Whis, do you copy?"
"Ah, Lord Turles," Whis's voice drifted through the device. "Are you calling to invite me for more delicious food?"
"Food?! Hey, Whis, are you trying to sneak off again?" Lord Beerus's voice echoed in the background.
Turles listened to the bickering on the other end before speaking up.
"Well, there's that, but you two should probably head down to Earth. There's a situation here that needs your attention."
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