"Well, Dad, Brother, the battle's over. It's about time I returned to my own timeline," Goten said, brushing grass off his clothes.
"You're leaving already?" AF Timeline Goku asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Goten nodded. "Yeah, but let's fight again the next time I visit, okay?"
"Take care, Goten," AF Gohan added with a smile.
Bidding everyone farewell, Goten soared into the sky. With a flash, he disappeared from the AF timeline and returned to the main timeline.
Main Timeline
Goten's power had now reached the full potential of Super Saiyan 6. Combined with Ultra Instinct, he felt confident enough to challenge Whis. Perhaps defeating Whis would grant him a Super Saiyan 7 Advancement Card. However, he knew Whis rarely fought at full strength, and the idea of convincing him to do so seemed unlikely.
As for the other angels, Goten barely knew them, and they likely wouldn't entertain the idea of a battle. Vados, Whis' sister, was stronger than him. Even if she agreed to fight, Goten doubted his chances against her.
One Month Later
The month passed peacefully, with no disturbances threatening the universe.
At Mount Paozu, Goten sat cross-legged on a grassy hill, meditating under the warm sun. The gentle rustling of leaves and chirping of birds provided a serene backdrop.
Suddenly, a large golden bird descended from the sky, landing in his lap.
"Shishi Bird?" Goten murmured, opening his eyes to find Tokitoki, the bird of time. As a time traveler, he instantly recognized the bird. Tokitoki was well-known in the lore of the Time Kaioshin and featured prominently in the Dragon Ball Heroes promotional anime.
"Interesting," Goten mused, recalling the events of Dragon Ball Heroes. Tokitoki had escaped the Nest of Time in the anime, triggering a chain of events that involved the Gods of Destruction and the emergence of the cosmic tree.
He glanced at Tokitoki, whose golden feathers gleamed in the sunlight. "If I can defeat Tokitoki, I might gain the power to control time," Goten thought, his lips curling into a sly smile.
With a flick of his finger, Goten lightly tapped Tokitoki.
The bird let out an indignant squawk as it was sent flying backward.
"Ding! Congratulations to the master for defeating the Time Bird and gaining the power to control time."
Just as the notification echoed in Goten's mind, Tokitoki turned to glare at him, its eyes blazing with fury. With an ear-piercing cry, the bird launched itself at Goten like a golden arrow.
Startled, Goten leaped into the sky, but before he could react, Tokitoki flapped its wings, rewinding time and returning him to his original position.
"Reverse time?!" Goten exclaimed, astonished.
Tokitoki pecked at him fiercely, but Goten blocked the attack with his arm. The bird's beak collided with his Saiyan-hardened skin, producing a metallic clang. Tokitoki recoiled, shaking its head as though it had struck iron.
"Are you done being angry now?" Goten asked, raising an eyebrow.
Instead of answering, Tokitoki snapped its beak at Goten's nose. With a quick movement, Goten dodged and used healing magic to mend the injuries he had caused earlier.
The bird's anger subsided slightly, though it continued to glare at him.
As the two stared at each other awkwardly, two figures appeared in the distance—one dressed in black and the other in red. They were none other than Time Patrol Trunks and Pan.
Time Patrol Trunks, with his mature demeanor and purple hair, contrasted with the younger, blue-haired Trunks of the main timeline.
"Trunks!" Goten called out.
Time Patrol Trunks nodded. "Goten, are you the one who defeated Mechikabura?"
"Yes," Goten confirmed.
"Pan and I are here on behalf of the Time Patrol. We've come to retrieve the Time Bird," Trunks explained.
"Time Bird?" Goten asked, feigning ignorance.
"Yes, the golden bird in front of you," Trunks clarified.
"So this bird is yours? You're welcome to take it," Goten said casually.
"Thank you," Trunks replied.
Pan stepped forward, reaching for Tokitoki, but the bird flapped its wings and took to the sky.
"Tokitoki!" Pan shouted, flying after it.
Just as Pan managed to catch the bird, twenty-four figures materialized in the sky above them. These were the Gods of Destruction and their accompanying angels from all twelve universes.
"It's them," Goten muttered, recognizing the scene from the Dragon Ball Heroes anime.
"Look!" Champa shouted, pointing at Pan and the golden bird in her arms. "Isn't that the bird of doom the prophetic fish warned us about?"
The Gods of Destruction turned their attention to Tokitoki, their expressions darkening.
"Bird of doom?" Pan echoed, confused by the ominous title.
Sensing the growing tension, Time Patrol Trunks stepped protectively in front of Pan, drawing his sword. "Pan, keep the Time Bird safe!"
Pan nodded and retreated, clutching Tokitoki tightly.
"Beerus, shall we?" Champa asked.
Beerus hesitated for a moment before nodding.
In unison, the twelve Gods of Destruction began channeling their energy, forming massive purple spheres of Hakai aimed directly at Trunks, Pan, and Tokitoki.
"What are you doing, Lord Beerus?" Goten shouted, stepping forward.
"That bird is the prophesied bird of doom," Champa declared. "It must be destroyed to prevent the universe from falling into chaos!"
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