NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 20: CHAPTER 20
c20: Shock!! Other Universes Stir
After the massive explosion, the entire area was a wasteland of scorched rock and sandstorms. The blast from Luya and Goku's final Kamehameha clash had left the once-expansive desert pulverized into an even deeper crater, a barren pit laced with residual lightning sparks, not unlike the aftermath of Goku's clash with Jiren or Zamasu.
Fwoooosh…
Dust and wind howled across the scene. The two warriors remained airborne—still holding the finishing pose of their Turtle School techniques, their bodies radiating intense residual ki, and both panting heavily.
Goku finally relaxed his stance, letting his Super Saiyan Blue aura fade as he slowly descended, sweat dripping from his brow.
Luya, still cloaked in the smoldering remnants of Super Saiyan 3 combined with x10 Kaio-Ken, forced a weary smile before letting his form dissolve. His aura cracked and flickered, vanishing into the air as he staggered slightly.
"You're really strong," Goku said with a wide grin. "Good thing I trained with Whis—without that, I might not've been able to keep up with you."
Luya nodded, smirking despite his exhaustion. "If the fight had gone on any longer, I would've lost for sure."
Goku gave a small shrug. "Your Kaio-Ken has great potential but it still strains your body too much. If you keep working on control and stamina, it'll be unstoppable."
"I understand," Luya replied with resolve.
Just as Goku was about to ask more, a familiar system prompt echoed in Luya's mind:
[Ding! Mission Complete: "Exchange a thousand blows with Son Goku without defeat"!]
[Reward: Kaio-Ken multiplier +2. Current level: x12]
[Combat power increased by 500 million points!]
[New Skill Unlocked: Dragon Fist Explosion (Goku's exclusive move)!]
[Reward: 100 Senzu Beans!]
[Bonus Notes: System rewards are randomized and balanced by internal merit evaluation.]
Luya frowned. He'd hoped to finally gain the Super Saiyan Blue form from the system, but it hadn't come.
"System, why no Super Saiyan Blue?"
System: "Host, rewards are distributed based on randomized probability and progression balance. Special forms like Super Saiyan Blue require independent comprehension or exceptional conditions."
"Tch..." Luya cursed inwardly.
"Luya?" Goku tilted his head curiously at Luya's momentary pause.
Snapping out of it, Luya chuckled. "Ah, nothing! I've just decided that my next goal is to unlock Super Saiyan Blue myself."
Goku beamed. "That's great! It's tough, but not impossible! Once I have time, I'll take you to Whis—he's an angel who trains me and Vegeta. Beerus is there too, he's Universe 7's God of Destruction."
Luya nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
"Fighting you helped me a lot too," Goku admitted. "I hadn't thought of using Kaio-Ken like that again. I'll definitely start training it with Blue when I get back!"
Luya smiled, but there was a twinge of internal conflict. In the original timeline, Goku first used Super Saiyan Blue Kaio-Ken against Hit in the Universe 6 Tournament. But now, it seemed Luya had given him the idea early.
"Did I… change the timeline?" he wondered to himself, uneasy.
"Well, that's that!" Goku stretched his arms with a satisfied grin. "I'll head back now. If you want to train more, swing by Gohan's place. I'd love a rematch someday!"
Luya nodded solemnly. "Count on it."
With a casual gesture, Goku placed his fingers on his forehead. "See you around!"
Zwoop!
He vanished instantly using Instant Transmission.
Luya lingered in the quiet aftermath, scanning the ruined battlefield. He smirked faintly.
"This world... is getting more interesting."
After landing on the ground, Luya slowly opened his clenched palms, a complex light flickering in his eyes.
He had only been in the Dragon Ball world for a short few days, but he had already grown to a level of power that rivaled the strongest fighters in Universe 7. It was exhilarating but also disorienting. This rapid boost through the system felt almost like cheating.
"My current battle power has climbed to nearly 8 billion… That's already beyond Goku during his fight with Golden Frieza," Luya muttered, thinking back to the numbers analyzed during their clash.
But he also understood the harsh truth of this universe.
"Even with this level, the future threats will only get worse. I've merely reached the threshold."
He was well aware of what was coming, the warriors of Universe 6, beginning with Hit, the legendary assassin who could manipulate time. Then there was Goku Black and Zamasu, whose threat grew to multiversal proportions, as well as Copy-Vegeta from Potage's planet, and even Moro, the ancient wizard who would eventually resurface.
"None of them are simple," Luya reflected grimly. "Even if I can contend with Goku now, that doesn't mean I'll survive against the foes to come."
While he could now control his energy to a decent extent, the truth was that his power had increased too rapidly. Even with peak Saiyan talent, it was impossible to digest this much strength without careful training.
"I need to refine my basics. Power without foundation is just a castle built on sand."
Without hesitation, Luya vanished using Instant Transmission. He needed solitude somewhere he could train and consolidate everything.
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Meanwhile… elsewhere
Time passed quietly.
At Capsule Corporation, in Bulma's courtyard...
With a shimmer of light, Goku materialized using Instant Transmission, his face bright with excitement. He spotted Beerus, lounging on a recliner and nibbling away at an extravagant dessert spread.
"Lord Beerus! So you did come! I sensed your energy, so I teleported right over!"
Beerus paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow. "You sensed my ki? I'm a God of Destruction, you shouldn't be able to pick that up casually."
Goku laughed. "Since achieving Super Saiyan Blue, I've grasped the realm of the gods! So sensing divine energy is just natural now."
Beerus grunted. He didn't seem overly impressed. "Hmph. And what do you want this time?"
"I'm hoping Lord Whis can help train me again," Goku replied with a hopeful grin.
At that moment, Whis, polishing off a delicate cherry parfait, tilted his head. "Oh? But you've already reached Super Saiyan Blue. That alone puts you far above mortals. Isn't that enough?"
Goku shook his head. "Nope. I fought two terrifying opponents recently, and I realized how far I still have to go."
"Frieza's return, I assume?" Whis asked casually.
Goku nodded. "Yeah. But it wasn't just him."
Just then, Vegeta emerged from the gravity room, drenched in sweat, towel over his shoulder.
"Who else?!" he demanded.
"Luya," Goku said, a bit more seriously now.
Vegeta froze. "That Saiyan? Kakarot, don't joke around with me."
"I'm not joking," Goku replied. "Even with Super Saiyan Blue, I had to give it my all. His strength is real."
Vegeta clenched his fists. He couldn't believe someone other than Kakarot had reached that level.
Beerus, still lazily lounging, chimed in: "Luya, huh? That's the Saiyan Bulma mentioned? The one who supposedly stopped Frieza? Interesting. I'd like to meet him."
Goku added, "He said he came from another universe."
That caught Beerus and Whis off guard. Their eyes narrowed subtly.
"Another universe, you say?" Beerus echoed, no longer as casual.
Goku scratched his cheek. "Yeah. I thought Universe 7 was the only one, but… maybe there really are others?"
There was a beat of silence.
"Indeed," Whis finally said with a smile. "There are twelve universes in total, each paired. Ours Universe 7 is paired with Universe 6."
"So it's true!" Goku's eyes widened.
Beerus lazily waved a hand. "Don't get too excited. Universe travel is prohibited unless permitted by the Omni-King."
Whis smiled meaningfully. "Still, if Luya truly did come from another realm, this may stir interest at a much higher level…"
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