"No, it seems to be working, somehow." Android 18 watched as the golden Great Ape relentlessly attacked Saeko, her voice calm. "At Saeko's speed, there's no way she could dodge the Great Ape's attacks on her own. Yet every time, she manages to avoid a fatal blow at the very last second. That can only mean one thing—Goku still has a shred of consciousness left. He doesn't truly want to hurt her. That momentary hesitation before each attack shows he's fighting an internal battle—fighting against his own inner demon!"
"Looks like we can't let Saeko carry the burden alone. Let's go, everyone! Even if we die, dying at the hands of the man we love... there's something beautiful about that, isn't there?" Yuriko smiled softly at the girls, then flew toward the rampaging golden beast.
"Hey, hey~ Rika, I can't fly! Carry me over, please!"
"Me neither~ Saya, take me with you!"
And so, the girls carried each other—some flying with others on their backs, some in their arms—heading straight toward the Golden Great Ape. Soon, only three women remained: Mikoto, Kushina, and Android 18.
"Umm… Mikoto, I'm not really connected to him in any way, right? Would it even make a difference if I went?" Kushina looked hesitant as she turned to Mikoto.
"That's up to you. As for me... I'm going." Mikoto patted her lightly, then darted off with a few nimble jumps toward the Great Ape. She couldn't fly, but as a trained ninja, her agility more than made up for it.
"Hmph, I was personally hired to protect them... how could I back out now?" Android 18 muttered to herself, giving herself a reason, and took off after Mikoto.
"Tch! Feels like I'm the only one being left out here... this is so frustrating!" Kushina grumbled before leaping forward to join them as well.
"ROAAAARRR!!"
The Golden Great Ape continued its rampage. Seeing the women approach, the red glow in his eyes flared even brighter—his pride provoked. He grabbed a massive boulder from the ground and hurled it toward them.
"Watch out!" The women cried out in panic. The rock was far too large, and with their speed, dodging was nearly impossible!
At that critical moment, Saeko appeared in front of the flying boulder. With a swift motion of her longsword, a gleaming flash of light cut through the air—and the massive stone split in two, saving everyone just in time!
"Whew… That was too close! Thanks, Saeko!"
"Does Goku really want to kill us…?"
The immediate danger passed, and the girls breathed a collective sigh of relief.
But then, with a roar, the Great Ape leapt from the cliff, slamming into the ground below, shaking it violently. He then dropped to all fours and began crawling toward them. Each claw tore the rock beneath him to shreds, every step cracking the earth open. The scene was terrifying beyond words.
"Everyone, scatter! Goku might actually kill us in this state!" Saeko shouted, grabbing Alice and flying out of harm's way.
The others supported each other, retreating quickly. But just as they were moving, a stray chunk of rock smashed into Mikoto. She was flung backward, crashing into a boulder and coughing up a huge mouthful of blood.
"Mikoto!" The girls gasped and rushed toward her. But no matter how fast they were, they couldn't possibly reach her before the Great Ape closed in. It looked like Mikoto would be crushed under his massive foot.
Suddenly, a flash of movement. Just in time, someone snatched Mikoto from under the ape's foot.
"18!" The girls cried out in relief when they saw who it was.
"Hurry up and run! I can't save all of you!" Android 18 shouted, holding Mikoto in her arms. Her voice snapped the others back to reality—they scattered and regrouped at a safer distance.
"Mikoto, are you okay?" Kushina and the others crowded around, concern all over their faces. Mikoto had a gaping wound in her chest—the rock had torn right through her. She was barely clinging to life.
Saeko quickly pulled out a Senzu Bean and pushed it into her mouth. "Eat this—hurry! You'll be okay after you swallow it!"
Mikoto chewed with difficulty and finally swallowed. "Hahh… I'm alive, somehow. You all be careful! That kind of power... it's terrifying. Just one hit, and it's game over."
"Got it—we'll be careful," the others nodded.
"This mission is turning out way harder than we thought…" Yuriko looked at the raging Great Ape in the distance, her brow furrowed.
"Uh-oh! Goku's coming this way!" Saya exclaimed. The Great Ape was closing in, his giant fists pounding against his chest.
"Girls! We can't just keep running. Let's take a chance—what do you say?" Saeko said seriously.
"A chance? What kind of chance?" the others asked, puzzled.
"A gamble—with our lives. Do you dare?"
"…We get what you're saying. Alright, let's see if Goku really would hurt us." Yuriko nodded firmly, and the others followed suit, their expressions resolute.
The Great Ape loomed closer. Upon spotting them, he roared and threw a massive punch straight at them. If it hit, there'd be nothing left but splattered remains.
"Goku! Stop! We're your women! Are you really going to kill us?" the girls screamed, standing their ground and calling out at the top of their lungs.
The ape's fist paused for a moment—his eyes flickered—but then came crashing down again, even more fiercely.
"Looks like our gamble failed… He's really going to crush us," Rika sighed helplessly.
"ROARRRR!"
The fist was nearly upon them when—
"Goku! Please stop!!" a cry pierced the air. It was Haku's voice, trembling and tearful. Somehow, she had run straight to the Great Ape's foot, clinging tightly to his toe. Her large teardrops soaked into the fur on his foot.
Suddenly, the descending fist froze above their heads. In the ape's eyes, a flicker of confusion and struggle appeared. The violent air pressure around them was almost unbearable, whipping painfully against their faces.
Through sobs, Haku shouted, "Goku, you said we were the ones you loved most! That you'd never hurt us! I believed you—because I love you too! More than anything! When I was alone and helpless, it was you who saved me. Being with everyone made me so happy. I love them all. If killing me can bring you back to your senses, then do it—kill me first!"
"Haku…" The other girls were moved to tears by her words, their voices joining hers.
"Goku! It's me—Bulma! You're not really going to kill us, are you?"
"Goku! You promised to protect us—please, wake up!"
"Goku, please wake up! I'm scared!" Alice cried as she ran to the ape's foot, hugging it tightly like Haku.
Karin followed suit, rushing over and clutching the Great Ape's toe. "Goku! If you're going to kill, then start with me too!"
One by one, the girls threw themselves at his feet, holding onto him tightly. "Yes! If killing us will bring you back, then kill us all!"
"ROOOOAAARRRR!!" The Great Ape howled in anguish, his eyes full of torment and inner struggle. Their tears seemed to pierce through the storm in his heart, rippling through his madness.
And then—he looked to the sky and roared again:
"AAAHHHHHH! I—I WILL NEVER HURT THE WOMEN I LOVE! AHHHH!! I DON'T CARE IF I'M A DAMNED APE—YOU WON'T CONTROL MY MIND! AHHHHHH!!"
With each howl, the Great Ape's overwhelming aura began to fade like a receding tide. His massive body started to shrink, the fur disappearing in a brilliant flash of light…
And when it faded—there stood a completely transformed Goku.
He had done it. He had awakened his Super Saiyan 4 form.
"This… this is Super Saiyan 4? It's so… cool!" the girls stared at him in awe.
"Heh… you've all worked so hard. Thanks to you, I made it." Goku smiled, crouching down and spreading his arms wide. The girls rushed into his embrace—everyone except for Kushina and Android 18. But the fleeting sadness in their eyes didn't escape Goku's notice.
Goku's body was now packed with solid muscle, his hair no longer golden but black, and his entire upper body was covered in crimson fur. His eyes had a fierce, beastly glint, and even with his energy completely suppressed, the pressure he exuded was immense.
"So this is Super Saiyan 4… It's unbelievably powerful. I can't believe we were actually fighting against someone like him before…" Android 18 was deeply shaken as she looked at the transformed Goku. "Who could possibly stand against him now?"
"Hey! Spacing out, are you?" Goku grinned and walked over to Android 18. "I heard you saved Mikoto. Thanks a lot! Come on—friendly hug!"
He opened his arms and pulled her into a big, grateful embrace.
_____
T/N:
Hello everyone! Patreon is now back at $3 — a perfect opportunity to access advanced chapters and support the translation. Thank you for your continued support! (10+ chapters)
patreon.com/user?u=79514336
Or just search Translator-Sama on patreon