Chereads / Dragon Ball GB / Chapter 20 - A Blast From the Past

Chapter 20 - A Blast From the Past

"For fuck's sake, she's like an anime character…Anyways, since the fusion was a failure, would you guys like to go to Hell with me to find a Saiyan to help us?" Baezel asked.

"We're LITERALLY going to Hell? Heh. That's kinda funny," Radichio replied. "Alright, everyone hold onto Baezel." Everybody did as asked, and they held onto Baezel. In an instant, they were gone, and reappeared before Enma Daio. He tried to greet them, but Baezel immediately motioned for his friends to jump into Hell.

They landed in the area below the clouds, and walked around. While walking, Baezel decided to weigh his options for who he could bring back.

The first option was Gangal, his own brother. He loved the guy, even with his flaws. However, he betrayed him by kidnapping his son, and he wouldn't be so easy to forgive him for it. But, if things got out of hand, the Saiyans could just use Super Saiyan and crush him like an insect.

The second option was Nori, the main antagonist of Dragon Ball GB: The Movie. Nori was more of a wild card, since even though Baezel was twice as powerful as Nori was, he would have to deal with Nori passively growing stronger the longer he stayed in Berserker Super Saiyan. Reviving him could bring trouble that they didn't want.

The third option was Baezel Yami, but there was no way in Hell - no pun intended that he would revive him. Not after what he did to his family. He was instantly rejected by Baezel as a potential option.

That left Pepkorn, his "father". He was weaker than Gangal in his first fight, if he remembered correctly, but he seemed to have grown to be comparable to Baezel over the course of seventeen years. How strong was Pepkorn after five years in Hell? That was for Baezel to discover.

"Screw it. Gangal's the one option that won't end horribly," Baezel said. "Guys! I'm gonna go find Gangal!"

"Fine by me," Radichio said. Baezel put two fingers on his head and locked onto Gangal's ki signature. He disappeared, and reappeared before Gangal.

Under a gnarled tree in Hell, Baezel stared at a figure with black, spiked-up hair, standing up with a halo and his arms folded. It was Gangal, his brother, whom he hadn't seen or spoken to in fifteen years - and who you, the reader, likely have not seen since chapter 3. His hair was the same, and he had a tad bit more muscle mass. His clothes seemed a bit more dull in color, he no longer wore a scouter, and he had a circular scar on his forehead and the back of his head (which was covered by his hair, but was still there) where Draft's Makankosappo blasted through his head.

Nervous anticipation and a tinge of guilt coursed through Baezel as he approached him. "Gangal," Baezel called out tentatively, his voice carrying a mixture of hope and trepidation. Gangal turned his head, his piercing gaze locking onto Baezel. His eyes, once filled with warmth, camaraderie, and love for his brother, were now filled with contempt and anger. His voice dripped with a passive-aggressive tone as he spoke.

"Well, well, look who decided to show up. The prodigal brother returns," Gangal sneered, his words laced with bitterness. Baezel swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their strained relationship pressing down on him. He knew he deserved Gangal's anger and resentment, given the events that had unfolded. The consistent screw-ups that happened to Gangal, from being brutally murdered by Platinum - as a child, no less, leaving Earth on his own only to be picked up by Parakress and having their potential unlocked, and returning to Earth for revenge, only to die AGAIN and never be revived - he knew that this would've fucked with Gangal's mental state.

"Look, I... I know I don't deserve your forgiveness," Baezel began, his voice trembling with genuine remorse. "I betrayed you, and cast my brotherly love for you aside. I should have been there to protect you, I should've revived you after Draft killed you...but I failed." Gangal's scowl deepened as he listened to Baezel's words. The pain and anger from their shared history still lingered, and forgiveness was not easily granted. Baezel's acknowledgment of his wrongdoing was merely the first step in mending the shattered bond between them.

"You're damn right you failed, brother," Gangal retorted, his voice dripping with disdain. "You left me to die as a child, to be left to rot while you dealt with that slave-handling motherfucker. At least my first death wasn't in vain..." Baezel's heart sank as Gangal's words cut deep into his guilt-ridden soul. He had failed to protect his little brother, and the consequences of his inaction had been devastating. Gangal's second death on Earth at the hands of Draft further intensified the weight of regret that Baezel carried - though, he didn't hold as much sadness towards his second death as he did his first. He kinda had his second death coming. He kidnapped Lemogras, held him hostage and for ransom, and was subsequently killed for it. Baezel couldn't exactly blame himself for Gangal's death to Draft. It was either Gangal died, or Lemogras would be taken from him...until Baezel felt like going Super Saiyan 3 and crushing Gangal like an insect.

"I can't change what happened, Gangal," Baezel said, his voice laced with genuine regret. "But I want to make amends. I want to rebuild what we've lost. I want to earn your forgiveness, even if it takes a lifetime." Gangal's eyes narrowed as he assessed Baezel's sincerity. The fiery anger in his gaze began to flicker, revealing a glimmer of contemplation. Slowly, he unfolded his arms and stood up, facing his estranged brother.

"You want something, don't you?" Gangal responded, his tone softened slightly. "If there's one thing that I've noticed about people, it's that they always start with a sob story whenever they want something." A bit of surprise ignited within Baezel's heart at Gangal's words. He wondered - how did Gangal know that he wanted something from him? He figured that it was likely the five other ki signatures that were now here, one of which he didn't know, (Phoenix) three of which he kind of knew, (Radichio, Draft, Lemogras) and one he fully recognized. (Parakress)

"Damn. Ya got me," Baezel admitted. "I'm trying to defeat someone new by creating a Super Saiyan God, but it requires a ritual. The ritual needs five Saiyans to pour their ki into a sixth. We need you to be the sixth Saiyan. What do you say?" Gangal studied Baezel for a moment, the silence between them pregnant with unspoken emotions. Finally, he smirked, ready to tear into Baezel.

"And here I thought that you were better than this," Gangal said, his tone now harsher. "You come down here into Hell, for the first time since you went to go visit Pepkorn, and try to soften me up with words that tug at the heartstrings, then try to get me to do a ritual for your own self-gain. You must think I'm a fool if you expect me to help you. To Hell with your 'Super Saiyan God' ritual!" Baezel nodded, his heart swelling with a mix of disappointment and sadness. He knew that rebuilding their shattered bond would not be easy, but he would have to be willing to do whatever it took to regain Gangal's trust.

Baezel took a deep breath, his eyes meeting Gangal's unyielding gaze. He couldn't blame Gangal for his anger and skepticism. The weight of their past mistakes was heavy, and trust needed to be earned.

"You're right, Gangal," Baezel said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I can't undo the past, and I can't force you to trust me again. But I want you to know that I genuinely regret what happened. I regret the pain I've caused you, and I understand if you don't want to help me."

Gangal's expression softened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. He had expected Baezel to argue, to plead, or to push harder. But instead, he was met with a genuine acknowledgment of his feelings.

"You regret it, huh?" Gangal scoffed, his voice still laced with bitterness. "Remorse isn't wish-granting magic. Your contrition won't bring me back to life, it won't undo the pain I've died in. And it won't magically fix everything between us."

Baezel nodded, acknowledging the truth in Gangal's words. The wounds of the past ran deep, and mere regret wouldn't be enough to heal them.

"I know. Regret alone isn't enough," Baezel admitted, his voice tinged with humility. "But I want to try. I want to work towards rebuilding our relationship, even if it takes a lifetime. And if you're willing, I'd like to start by having an honest conversation with you, just like we used to."

Gangal regarded Baezel with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. He had spent years in Hell, stewing in his anger and resentment, replaying the painful memories in his mind. But a small part of him longed for the connection they once had, the bond that had been shattered.

"An honest conversation, eh?" Gangal mused, a flicker of contemplation crossing his face. "Fine, brother. I'll hear you out. Know this: I won't make any promises. And I won't forget the pain we - but mostly I - have both endured."

Baezel nodded, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. He knew that repairing their relationship would be a gradual process, one that required patience, understanding, and a willingness to face the truth.

"Thanks, dude," Baezel said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I appreciate your willingness to have this conversation with me. I promise to listen and learn from what you have to say."

Gangal sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He couldn't deny the longing he felt for a connection with his brother, a chance to heal the wounds that had plagued them for far too long.

"Alright, Baezel," Gangal said, his voice less hostile, though still tinged with caution. "But let's make one thing clear. If I decide to help you with this ritual, it's on the condition that you help me, too. I want to be a part of it. I want to feel the power of a Super Saiyan God coursing through my veins as well. And someday, when this is all over, I want a rematch. One final battle between us."

Baezel's eyes widened in surprise at Gangal's conditions, but he quickly composed himself. He understood the weight of Gangal's resentment and the need for closure.

"I agree, brother," Baezel said, his voice steady. "If you help me, I'll make sure we do the ritual on you. And I promise you, someday we'll have our rematch. But for now, let's focus on rebuilding our bond. One step at a time."

Gangal regarded Baezel with a mixture of skepticism and cautious hope. The path to reconciliation would be long and arduous, but perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance for healing and forgiveness.

"Fine, brother," Gangal said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "One step at a time. Let's start by telling me everything that's happened in the past fifteen years. And don't you dare leave out a single detail."

And so, under the gnarled tree in the depths of Hell, Baezel and Gangal began their honest conversation. Baezel spoke of his adventures on Earth and showed off Super Saiyan 2, 3 and 4, along with the scar on his left arm where Zendoria stabbed him. Gangal showed off his own Super Saiyan 2 and spoke of his reunion with his father and how similar they felt towards Baezel. The both of them discussed their joys and their sorrows, laying bare their souls in an effort to rebuild what was broken. It would be a journey of pain, introspection, and vulnerability, but they were determined to face it together.

As they talked, the winds whispered through the desolate landscape, carrying their voices and their shared history. And amidst the darkness of Hell, a glimmer of hope emerged—a chance for redemption, forgiveness, and a renewed bond between two brothers.

Once their conversation was over, Baezel walked over to the rest of the gang, holding their hands and teleporting back to God, who then teleported them back to Earth. While on God's Temple, the septet - that is what you call a group of 7 people - flew towards Baezel's house, landing on his front lawn. The ritual was about to start, and the Saiyans were about to reach a new level of power.