Chapter Text
Fighting Broly sucked.
Really.
Kurai was good friends with him in the Time Nest, but that Broly and this Broly were not the same, heck Time Patroller Goku and Vegeta were in a master-class all their own, having access to so many different facets of power. They unlocked the secret Ikari, refined Kaio-ken, Super Saiyan 4, the demon realm variant, Ultra Instinct and Ultra ego — respectively — and only when Kurai had managed to stop Frieza from becoming The Supreme Kai of Time — and probably ending up somewhere near his Black Freiza form or something in sheer power — did they agree to train him. Whis decided to let Kurai to work with Goku and Vegeta on pure power growth while he trained Kurai’s Ultra Instinct training, honing his understanding and working like a demon to negate the stamina drain that would decrease its effectiveness over time. Kurai flourished with his masters, absorbing all the skills and powers like a sponge as he was still one of The Premier Time Patroller of Conton City due to his achievements.
All that said, Kurai had learned Mastered Ultra Instinct and half-killed himself while training with Vegeta, Whis, and Goku in The Time Nest to learn all the other variations of power they had as well. In order of effectiveness, Kaio-ken was probably the most limited due to the heavy toll on the body, using in short bursts kept it from doing harm, but needed insane precision and control. Ikari — or wrathful — was much more stable and didn’t take so much of a toll on the body to use and fight in for the 10 times increase in abilities and power. After Ikari came the Super Saiyan form from 1 through 3 iand their increases to the power level they had. Then there was the Mystic or Unlocked Potential form that the Supreme Kai had given him once he had passed his tests. Without Gohan’s incredible latent potential though, Beast remained and always would be out of Kurai’s grasp. In terms of energy efficiency was Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan followed by Super Saiyan God; Blue was much more demanding on the body that the regular God form. Those two were surpassed by the efficiency of Super Saiyan 4 that was practically incredible power for no stamina drain whatsover. Kurai even applied some of the demon realm variant’s trait so his tail only appeared when he transformed into Super Saiyan 4. Using the Super Saiyan God Ritual as inspiration, he found he can substitute ‘Saiyan’ power with draw on his divine ki an ascend to Limit Breaker Super Saiyan 4.
Ultra instinct was a little more complex.
As he told Goku, Whis instructed Kurai that Ultra Instinct was not meant to be used as a transformation but more of a technique and usable at all times and in all forms, base or otherwise. Goku had achieved a variant that suited his saiyan nature known as his True Ultra Instinct that took advantage of his saiyan nature and love of battle, though it was still slightly inferior to Mastered Ultra Instinct in overall combat effectiveness. After Goku and Vegeta told him that Ultra Instinct’s perception rose with every subsequent super saiyan form, Kurai abandoned Mastered Ultra Instinct and went entirely in with Ultra Instinct mixing with his Super Saiyan forms to follow his own route. He knew that copying his teachers wasn’t a bad thing, but he wanted to see what he could forge for himself using everything in his arsenal.
So Super Sayian 4 while tapping into Ultra Instinct Omen.
A ‘Primal Instinct’ was the only name that seemed appropriate.
It was actually incredibly compatible because Super Saiyan 4 was stronger than most understood, which helped cover the lack of attack power that was traded for pure defensive reactions speed that Omen suffered from. Plus Omen didn’t require the strict emotional control that Mastered Ultra Instinct did, there was room for the thrill of battle and primal drive that was part of Super Saiyan 4. The only thing was that it wasn’t complete as Kurai wanted to use Limit Breaker Super Saiyan 4 with Ultra Instinct, but he wasn’t quite capable of mixing those yet.
However even in it’s incomplete state, Primal Instinct had been incredibly effective and had allowed him to keep pace with the Saiyan Berserker well enough while his allies handled gathering the Dragon Balls for use. This timeline was unique in that Broly had killed Vegeta, Goku, and Frieza before the two saiyans had managed to fuse into Gogeta. Frieza hadn’t lasted the full hour and Piccolo hadn’t gained access to Orange Piccolo so he was not enough to keep Broly from Goku and Vegeta. With them gone but Broly still raging, the saiyan was going on to wreck havoc across the planet and The Earth couldn’t take much more of his power an dstruction. With no one in this timeline strong enough to stop Broly — unless Gohan suddenly used his Beast Form after realizing what Broly had done — the only thing The Supreme Kai of Time could do was send Kurai — The Hero of Conton City — and a few other patrollers to combat the threat and wish Goku and Vegeta back. Even after defeating Mira, Kurai refused to stagnate and kept training to be stronger and ,ore skilled of a warrior. he pushed to reach Super Saiyan 4 and then delved deep into Ultra Instinct Training, working to refine his understanding.
But right now the only thing that could be done was hold Broly off as he rampaged harder and harder, the remaining Z-fighters had tried to stop Broly, but nothing was close to enough as even with Buu an a Majin patroller healing them back up, Broly kept knocking the other patrollers down. Trunks and Goten’s fusion into Gotenks had not been close and though they itched to avenge their fathers, Kurai told them they would die if they got involved. Gohan’s rage at the death of Piccolo and Goku might be enough but he wasn’t there and it was the news of Piccolo’s demise that spurred his Beast From to just under the surface. Telling him what Broly had done incited Gohan’s rage, but even with his latent potential rising, he still needed a stronger trigger.
And that’s when one of Broly’s stray ki blasts started flying towards Gohan’s city, straight in the direction of his home.
Gohan screamed in horror as he flew as fast as he could to intercept it.
“No! No! NO!” He howled as city was engulfed in a green explosion.
Kurai felt sick as hundreds of small power levels vanished.
Pan and Videl…
Gohan landed in the ruins of his house and fell to his knees as Kurai blitzed over to with a Senzu Essence Capsule, but he couldn’t sense either Videl or Pan and closed his eyes at the realization. Kurai was close enough so he could see how Videl must’ve sensed the danger and had thrown herself over her daughter in a futile attempt to shield her. But as strong as Videl was as a fighter and even moreso as a mother defending her child… there were a reason all of the human members of the Z-fighters got left in the dust.
Saiyans were a different breed.
Broly was a different breed among the saiyans themselves.
“Videl… Pan…” Gohan whispered, he gathered the bodies into his arms and cradled them to his chest as he rocked back and forth, “No… No… Please… God… No…”
His shoulders shook and he slowly turned to stare at Broly who howled in rage as Kurai punched as hard as he could across the face and sent him flying. Broly roared and blitzed Kurai, but the time patroller was already deep in Ultra Instinct and Super Saiyan 4 as he dodged and blocked the Saiyan’s blows. His own rage was mounting and he wanted make Broly hurt for what he had done, even if Broly was crazy at the moment, it didn’t excuse this. He needed to end this now or Broly would destroy this planet and the mission would end in death and not just failure.
“You’ll pay…” Gohan whispered, getting to his feet, his ki rising, “YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!”
The Beast was unleashed as Gohan screamed and his hair turned silver, eye gleaming red as he roared. He blasted forward and punched Broly so hard he almost circled the world from the fury of Gohan’s Beast Form. Broly only screamed and roared louder as his power rose to rush at Gohan who met him in full. There was no care for anything between the two of them as they met, Gohan would kill Broly now, no cost was too much, no person would stop him.
The planet trembled and cracks began forming all across the world from the force of Gohan and Broly crashing into each other.
But it all really went to hell when Gohan deflected a ki blast right at the time machine Kurai had used to get here. Desperate to prevent its destruction, Kurai tried to get in the way to try to protect his fellow patrollers, but the blast pushed him into the time machine just as it jumped.
He was yanked away just the machine jumped, but he wasn’t holding on to anything as it started.
With no protection and flying into the warping time tunnel to somewhere… Kurai had a feeling he wouldn’t be seeing The Time Nest ever again.
Kurai opened his eyes to the sunlight streaming down on his face and making him blink before he sat up. He was back in his base form and he quickly checked himself to see if he was missing any bits of himself. Fingers and toes accounted for, he sighed in relief and looked around, realizing this was where Broly and him had been fighting… but it looked like before Broly and him had fought, undisturbed and pristine. Kurai closed his eyes and sensed Goku…Gohan… Piccolo and the other Z-fighters sans Vegeta… who were disgustingly weak compared to what he was used to.
“Where the hell am I? What timeline is this?”
First things first?
Food.
Kurai was starving.
He flew over to a nearby village and hunkered down into an abandoned and dilapidated house on the edge of the village. Hunting a few deer and skinning them to cook and eat the meat, Kurai groaned in contentment after taking a few bites. It wasn’t a grandly made meal but Goku had taught him how to cook wild animals in the wild and even to salt the meat since before meeting Bulma as a kid, he had to do that himself. He took a few days to fix up the dilapidated house to be an actual home since he figured he was gonna be here for the long haul. Plus doing something helped keep him from freaking out after he bought a newspaper and realized he was at the five years of peace after Goku beat Piccolo at the martial arts tournament and before he met Raditz.
He was of two thoughts.
This was great! He could really help the z-fighters grow as he could help teach them to be stronger!
This was a disaster! He here he was a universe-busting warrior who very literally hiding out on Planet Earth!
Whis had very carefully explained the legalities of time meddling and traveling, and how it was expressively forbidden despite whatever ‘intentions’ it was made for. In fact, the only reason Trunks got off scott free was due to the fact that Zamasu’s actions were beginning to seep over into other timelines and he swore never to need to travel to the past again. To be fair, Trunks had finally grown strong enough to fight god-level opponents by the time the whole Zamasu debacle ended.
Well… Kurai was never one to not jump in when he had an idea in his head… so the one thing he wanted to do was strengthen his once-upon-a-time friends. He had access to many techniques and power ups that would really help the Z-fighters be stronger.
So he watched Piccolo and Goku, clash as once again Piccolo was trying to become the world’s strongest.
Compared to what Kurai was used to though?
It was boring.
Eventually, Goku managed to drive Piccolo off and landed to sit on the ground with a heavy, tired, but with that satisfied smile of a hard fought battle won. Kurai flew down and landed next to Goku who jumped in shock that Kurai had managed to tamp down on his presence so utterly and Goku didn’t notice at all. It wasn’t his fault, Whis had taught him how to raise his ki within himself so that it wouldn’t be sensed despite his massive power level. Goku stumbled away and took a stance, he was not at his best and who knows who would take advantage?
“Nice fight.” Kurai said, completely at ease.
“Thanks..?” Goku replied, a little thrown by the complete lack of shock of this random person in regards to his intense fight with Piccolo.
They had been throwing around ki blasts and flying and this person reacted like it was a normal thing.
Eyeing his battered form, Kurai flicked a capsule at Goku who caught it instinctively, “Here.”
Goku looked at green capsule with confusion, “What’s this?”
“Senzu essence capsule.” Kurai replied with a shrug.
Goku blinked and his gaze swapped from Kurai to the capsule, “Like a Senzu Bean?”
Kurai cocked his head in a so-so manner, “Yeah, exactly like that. I have more, can even make more… you look like you could use it.”
Goku looked at the capsule and clicked the button, and immediately a flash of green lit the air around him and Goku felt his body healing. He clenched a fist and and grinned as he hopped in place, testing his body for kinks or injuries.
“Wow, that’s just like a senzu bean!” Goku exclaimed.
“Then the name fits.” *Kurai huffed with a hint of laughter.
“Who are you?” Goku asked.
“My name is Kurai… I suppose you could call me your newest friend and hopeful candidate for The Earth Special Defense Force.”
Kurai always did appreciate Kami’s Lookout, it was a such a significant place and Kurai definitely planned to come here to train. Goku proposed he come here so he could meet with everyone who he called to the lookout. Kurai wondered if maybe Goku was also using it so everyone there could deter him if he tried something, but Kurai was sure it was just Goku being Goku. As it turned out the Dragon Balls had already gathered and Kurai was elated, he had some plans for the wishes and hopefully no one would object.
Meeting the other Z-fighters comprised of he humans like Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu. They were wary of Kurai and honestly Kurai didn’t blame them at all for that, a random person who comes up heals Goku and can fly?
Deciding to go with as much truth as he can, Kurai explains he is a saiyan, a alien from space who is remarkably like a human. Everyone asks questions about him, but Kurai answers as much as he could, but when they ask what the other saiyans are like, Kurai sighs. He launches into the history of the saiyans and how they are cruel and conquerers who captured planets and then sold them to the highest bidder.
Kurai paused here, lost in thought.
Honestly it was a profitable business for them and did generate a lot of funding for The Freiza Force. But Frieza’s paranoia and casual enjoyment of cruelty still meant that their growing strength triggered Frieza’s fear of the Super Saiyan arriving.
Kurai shook off his musings to see all the earthlings already in their stances and Kurai chuckled.
“I am not here to enslave the planet. I promise. I heard this was a chill planet and was hoping you would be kind enough for me to stay?” Kurai asked hopefully, “I mean if you want me to leave, I’ll respect it. I totally understand.”
Not exactly the truth, but if thy didn’t want him he would have to find another planet to live on. He had options to work with; he could go to Namek, Yardrat, or ask Kami to take him to King Kai who would know a good place for him to live.
Given his offer, the others on the lookout dropped their guard since Kurai seemed perfectly reasonably.
“Why did you come here first?” Tien asked, “Why Earth?”
“Because there is a saiyan here,” Kurai said easily, “Goku is here.”
“I’m an alien?” Goku exclaimed in suprise.
Crap.
Kurai forgot that wasn’t exactly known here.
“You never told him about him turning into a great ape?” Kurai asked incredulously at the earthlings, “You should at least have told him!”
“Great Ape?” Goku asked curiously.
Kurai sighed.
The explanation was relatively simple, and Goku’s face twisted in anguish as he realized that he was the one who killed Grandpa Gohan. Kurai consoles Goku that it wasn’t his fault and then asks if he can use The Dragon Balls for some wishes. They ask what are his wishes, but Kurai shakes his head as he won’t be summoning Shenron for anything that would be harmful, though he will have to stay three years.
“I first want to wish that the time limit for The Hyperbolic Time Chamber is removed, so it isn’t limited to two days per use. The second wish is that no one can switch bodies with me or any of the warriors on Earth, and lets include Piccolo on that one. And the final wish I have is to wish for someone known as the Supreme Kai Shin to be made immortal.” Kurai said as he held up a finger for each wish that he dictated, “I know you don’t know why, but I met some people in my travels who had the ability to switch bodies with people, and it’s best to avoid that.”
Kami mulls over his wishes but eventually nods, seeing no harm in any of them, though he’s less sure about including Piccolo, but it’s not like he is asking Piccolo to be made immortal or anything. That said, Goku calls on Shenron and since Kurai listed Supreme Kai last, Kurai decides to start with that one.
Shenron visibly strains to do it, but finally manages to make Shin immortal, which is something that would be incredibly important going forward. Kurai had planned to use Porunga if Shenron failed, but since he wasn’t trying to kill or destroy Shin, he was reasonably sure Shenron could manage it. He needed to stay alive so that Beerus wouldn’t die and Whis wouldn’t be deactivated, making sure that if Goku Black or whoever did come around, The God of Destruction would be there to step in. Even if they did manage to seal him away, it wouldn’t kill him and therefore Whis and Beerus could handle any balance-breaking maniacs like Zamasu.
It was also why Kurai was planning to make a wish to prevent bodies being switched as that would resist Zamasu’s wish to swap bodies with Goku. Then again it wasn’t like Shenron could prevent Zalama from overriding him, but Kurai had plans to use the two year’s other wishes to strengthen those wishes. Hopefully, repeated use of the same wish wouldn’t piss off Shenron too much.
It was roughshod… but good enough.
In classic Goku fashion, he wanted to spar with Kurai to see how strong the former time patroller was.
Kurai was initially reluctant — not because he would lose but because he did not want to steamroll over Goku — but acquiesced.
He had to tone his power way down, and even then Goku couldn’t get past the unrefined Ultra Instinct Kurai had drilled in himself to use the moment he was in combat. At least he could hide his real power-level thanks to Whis’ training; Kurai had hoped he didn’t have to be the 11th hour hero of the Z-fighters as time went on. If he solved all their problems, there would be no reason for them to grow stronger and learn how to better themselves. For someone like Goku, that wouldn’t be a problem as he always strove to be the strongest and Kurai currently established himself as the mountain to climb.
He absently wondered if Dr. Gero would grab his DNA for Cell, which didn’t worry him too much. He probably wouldn’t be able to due to the fact that if this timeline followed the original cannon, then Kurai hadn’t been around before. The Cell that killed Trunks to hijack his time machine wouldn’t have ever encountered Kurai and stole his DNA. Kurai was from a completely out-of-timeline place which was the Time Nest, and not somewhere Gero could observe him… plus Cell was kinda weak even as Super Perfect Cell compared to the power-level he was at now. Also even if Dr. Gero did grab his DNA, that would only apply to the still gestating Cell in this current timeline. Kurai would personally go to the lab that housed Cell and burn the insect to nothing after Gero was killed by 18 and 17. Maybe he could even befriend Android 16 and see if Bulma could erase the whole ‘Kill Goku’ programming embedded in him.
Chi-Chi was genuinely pleased to meet Kurai after he politely introduced himself and compliment how well-maintained she kept her residence. One thing Kurai always assumed people overlooked was just how hard Chi-chi worked. Oh sure she may have been ‘Goku’s wife’ but she was also an accomplished martial artist, able to wrangle Goku of all people, and fed multiple saiyans. She truly was an unsung heroine of the series as if it wasn’t for her… well Gohan and Goten wouldn’t exist. Goku was more than a bit clueless on pregnancy talk, but Kurai knew enough social cues to praise her work ethic and ability to handle a marriage to Goku. Then again saiyans naturally picked tough women for wives so really it was going to be someone like Chi-Chi.
Did he mention she was a fantastic cook too?
When Kurai offered to teach Goku, there were two paths he could take.
Kaio-ken.
Ikari.
Goku would learn the Kaio-ken from King Kai — Kurai would make sure of that — but he had moments in his childhood where he tapped into the full might of his Great Ape boost. He at least could do it and Kurai was more than strong enough to handle him if he tried to go berserk. Kurai knew that a Saiyan tail stopped growing after said saiyan had achieved a certain point, but if Broly could access Ikari without it, so could Goku. Sure Kurai really only had his Time Nest counterpart to base that off of, but that Goku did do it!
If Goku could learn and master it, the ten times increase was nothing to scoff at.
“Okay Goku. The first step is meditation.” Kurai said with a bright smile.