A Twist in Time

"But brace yourself for defeat!"

Beerus was naturally confident in their victory. After all, Goten now possessed the power to rival some of the Hakaishin from other universes. Defeating a few mortals from the sixth universe would be a piece of cake.

"Hehehe…"

"I thought you'd back down, skinny. I didn't expect you to still have some fight in you. But rest assured, the loser will not be our sixth universe. You should start thinking about how to hand over Earth to us!"

Champa wore a triumphant smile on his face. Although he wasn't entirely sure about the overall combat power of his universe's mortals.

But after observing Beerus' two apprentices, he wasn't worried at all. These two seemed so clumsy, and they appeared so bulky. They didn't even look like fighters. The seventh universe seemed to be just so so.

"Heh!! Just don't cry when you lose!"

Beerus didn't bother to continue engaging with Champa. As long as Goten participated in this competition, the Sixth Universe was bound to lose.

"Hmph! Don't get too cocky, skinny. I'll give you ten days to prepare. After ten days, we will hold a competition on a neutral planet."

"Let's go, Vados."

After Champa finished speaking proudly, he left with Vados. The thought of acquiring the Earth of the seventh universe in ten days was indeed a delightful prospect!

And after Vados and Champa left.

Whis said to Beerus: "Beerus-sama, wasn't that decision a bit reckless? If the sixth universe also has mortals with extraordinary talents, we may not necessarily win."

"And you should have clearly explained all the rules of the game."

Although he did not deny Goten's power. Even in other universes, it's hard to find a warrior as strong as Goten. But in a competition with no set rules, sometimes a single participant can't determine the outcome of all matches!

"Hmph! I can ignore anyone else's provocations, except for Champa's, that fat pig!"

"Goten, you must win this competition!" Beerus snorted coldly, then addressed Goten.

"Beerus-sama, I have no problem winning the match!"

"However, I also have one condition, that is, after winning the game, can the Super Dragon Balls be mine?" Goten asked.

Super Dragon Balls didn't hold much value for Beerus! Now that Earth had so much delicious food for him, Beerus didn't seem to have much to wish for.

But for Goten, they were of great use. They were very important for improving his strength, at least to the level above an Angel! In this world, where the strong are revered, perhaps one could live a peaceful life if they possessed that level of strength.

And for this, Super Shenron should be able to help.

"Okay! As long as you can win the competition, and humiliate that fatty Champa! The Super Dragon Balls will be yours! Anyway, those things aren't very useful to us Hakaishin."

Beerus agreed without a second thought. Because he really couldn't think of what kind of wish to make with the Super Dragon Balls!

"Thanks, Beerus-sama."

Goten quickly expressed his gratitude. With the Super Dragon Balls, his strength would definitely improve significantly!

"You should hurry up and train hard!! Don't embarrass me when the time comes."

"It seems that I didn't get enough sleep just now, I will go catch up on it…"

Beerus yawned and went back to his temple to sleep after he finished speaking!

"Then let's continue training!"

Whis said to the two of them.

"Whis, we've been here for a whole month, and I want to go back to Earth to take a look. So that my mother and the others don't have to worry."

Goten wanted to go back to Earth. It had been a whole month since he left! If there were some crises on the earth, he couldn't predict them at all if he stayed here.

And after being away for so long, Chichi and Videl must have been very worried by now.

"Sure, I'll take you there!"

Whis nodded without hesitation and kindly agreed to send them back.

Of course, Whis naturally had his own plans in mind. During this period of time, the delicacies brought over last time had almost been eaten! After all this time, it was just in time to taste some fresh delicacies and then pack some more along the way.

"Okay, then sorry for the trouble!" Goten knew what Whis was thinking, he clearly didn't mean to escort himself and Krillin back by himself. He was 100% going for food to the earth. It was just a cover. But Goten was still thanked him politely.

In the past month, Whis had been very attentive to their training and the three got along well. For that alone, Whis should be thanked.

"You don't have to be so polite with me, anyway, we are friends now!"

Whis said out of embarrassment. He wasn't thinking of escorting them home out of kindness, he just wanted to go to Earth this time entirely for the food.

…...

Half an hour later, Goten and Krillin found themselves back on Earth. This time, they materialized directly in West City.

"Goten, I've detected a very faint Ki signature," Krillin said, his brow furrowed. "It's not like the Ki of ordinary earthlings."

Upon their arrival in West City, Krillin had sensed a strange Ki. It was a Ki that must have been incredibly powerful at one point, but due to some injury, it had become extremely weak.

"I sense it too," Goten replied, his eyes narrowing. "And it seems to be emanating from Bulma's house."

"Whis, why don't you explore and look for some delicious food?" Goten suggested, turning to their companion. "Krillin and I sensed a strange Ki signature just now. We need to investigate."

"Very well, I'll join you after I've gathered some food," Whis agreed, nodding without hesitation. His interest lay not in the affairs of Earth, but in discovering the finest delicacies he had yet to taste.

With their plan set, Goten used Kai Kai, taking Krillin directly to Bulma's house.

Upon their arrival, they found Bulma pacing anxiously in the yard. "Goten… Krillin!!" she exclaimed, relief washing over her face. "Thank goodness you're here!"

"What's wrong, Bulma? We sensed a very faint Ki coming from your house," Goten asked, concern etched on his face.

"It's Trunks," Bulma blurted out, her voice trembling. "He just returned, covered in bruises!"

Just minutes ago, Trunks had appeared in the yard via a time machine, his body marred with scars. He had passed out immediately after exiting the time machine, leaving Bulma in a state of panic.

"Trunks?" Krillin asked, puzzled. "Didn't he go with Vegeta and Goku to Kaiō-sama's planet?"

But Goten understood immediately. The Trunks Bulma was referring to wasn't their timeline's Trunks. It was Future Trunks, who had traveled from a different timeline in a time machine. This meant that Zamasu from the future timeline had appeared, and Trunks had come to this timeline seeking help.

"I'm talking about the other timeline Trunks," Bulma clarified, her voice filled with urgency. "Goten, please, take a look!"

"Don't worry, Bulma," Goten reassured her, making his way into the room. There, he found Future Trunks lying on the bed, his body covered in scars and stained red with blood. Despite being unconscious, his face was contorted in a grimace of pain and fear.

"Goten, go to Korin and bring back some senzu beans!" Bulma urged, her voice desperate.

"No need, Bulma," Goten replied, shaking his head. He placed his right hand gently on Trunks' chest, and a vibrant-green healing energy began to spread throughout Trunks' body.

In an instant, the grievous wounds on Trunks began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his weak Ki began to recover gradually.

"Hah…"

"Damn… Damn it!!"

As Trunks' wounds healed, his complexion grew increasingly grim. He clenched his fists tightly, murmuring under his breath until all his injuries were fully healed, and his ki was restored.

Suddenly, Trunks' eyes snapped open. He leaped out of bed, and the moment he saw Goten, a flame of anger ignited in his eyes.

"You…!"

With a swift movement, he grabbed his sword, flew up, and slashed fiercely towards Goten. The figure before him was the spitting image of the one who had previously destroyed Earth. Subconsciously, he thought it was the same enemy who had followed him!

"Trunks, stop now!" Bulma, seeing the newly revived Trunks attacking Goten, immediately shouted.

Goten, with a simple flick of his index finger, easily blocked Trunks' sword. "Hey, Trunks, wake up. I am not your enemy," he said calmly.

Hearing the voices of Bulma and Goten, Trunks seemed to regain consciousness. He studied Goten, realizing that he was indeed different from Goku Black. Their attire and their eyes were completely different. Moreover, the person in front of him was slightly smaller than Goku Black.

Quickly, he turned his head and saw Bulma and Krillin. "Mom… Mom!!" Trunks exclaimed in disbelief. He clearly remembered his mother being killed by Goku Black to ensure his successful journey to the past timeline. The mother before him seemed much younger and more beautiful than the one in his timeline. This indicated that he had successfully traveled to the past timeline.

"Mother…" Overwhelmed by a flood of sad memories, Trunks hugged Bulma, venting the sorrow in his heart.

"It's okay, Trunks. There will be no more trouble!" Seeing the deeply distressed Trunks, Bulma immediately comforted him, patting his back. She could feel Trunks' profound sadness and could only imagine the pain he had endured in his own timeline.

After a couple of minutes, Trunks released Bulma and turned his attention to Goten. "Are you… Goku?" Trunks asked uncertainly. The person before him was much younger than Goku, but bore an uncanny resemblance to him. Had something happened to make Goku younger?

Both Goten and Krillin were taken aback. Trunks had mistaken Goten for Goku! But it was understandable. In the timeline that Trunks came from, Goten hadn't been born. So, it was not surprising that he mistook Goten for Goku.

"Trunks, he's not Goku. Goku, Vegeta, and the other fighters were all killed by Cell eight years ago. He is Goten, Goku's son, and Gohan's younger brother," Bulma quickly explained.

"What?? Goku's son? And… you're saying that Goku in this timeline was killed by Cell?" Trunks looked dumbfounded. In the timeline he last travelled to, although Goku was killed by the android Cell, his father, Piccolo, and Gohan were not. Instead, they had teamed up to defeat Cell. Had he traveled to the wrong timeline?

"Yes, eight years ago," both Bulma and Krillin confirmed sadly. They had lost their best friends and the people closest to them.

"Oh no! It seems that I really traveled to the wrong timeline… In this case, it's over!! The energy of the time machine is also used up!" Trunks lamented, lowering his head in remorse.

He had used the only time machine energy to travel to the past timeline for help, hoping that Goku and his father could defeat Goku Black. But now, he had ended up in the wrong timeline, where his father and Goku were killed by Cell. Was his timeline truly hopeless?

"Trunks, the power that Goten currently possesses has already surpassed Goku and Vegeta, even reaching a level unimaginable to Goku and the others. So, you don't have to be so desperate," Krillin reassured him, seeing Trunks' desperate expression.

"What?? Are you saying… Goten is stronger than Goku and Dad?" Trunks looked at Goten in disbelief. He couldn't believe it! Goten was still very young. Even if he had started training from his mother's womb, it was impossible for him to surpass Goku and his father.

"Yes, and it's a world of difference." Krillin confirmed firmly.

Just then, a powerful evil ki suddenly appeared on Earth… At the same time, a massive purple black hole materialized in the sky above West City.

[T/N: So gaiz, Future Trunks is here, I liked the fanfic "I'm Trunks" by Hrblackwater on webnovel. That despair was delicious. Say, if it's a translation work, could someone refer me to that? I could start it if you guys help me find the original after this facfic is over. I really loved that work, but sadly it's only upto 31 chapters on webnovel. Although the author of it says that it's an original work.... well a lot of translators say that, and make it hard to find the original work because they change a lot of stuff in it. My heart is unwilling .·´¯`(>▂<)´¯`·. . Suggest me some works with that heart numbing delicious despair. I am a sucker for such works.]< p>