Three hundred years had passed since Vegeta, Goku, and Piccolo found themselves in the afterlife, a place that transcended time and allowed them to continue their training beyond mortal constraints. Despite the passage of centuries, the thrill of combat never waned, and the lessons never ceased. Today, they stood together, observing a tournament that had drawn warriors from across the multiverse, a spectacle of power and prowess that only the afterlife could sustain.
Suddenly, the sky above the arena darkened ominously, drawing the gaze of every spectator and fighter. A heavy, oppressive sense of power filled the air, sending a shiver down Vegeta's spine. It was a feeling he recognized, one that spoke of immense, ancient power. All eyes turned upward as a brilliant gold light pierced the clouds, revealing the silhouette of a descending creature. A black dragon, reminiscent of Shenron but imbued with a far more sinister aura, its serpentine body casting a vast shadow over the entire arena.
The dragon’s roar reverberated through the air, a sound so powerful it seemed to shake the very foundations of the afterlife. A golden aura pulsed outward from the creature, touching every fighter present, awakening within them a surge of dormant power that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.
As the golden aura swirled and condensed around the dragon, the massive creature began to shrink, its scales dissolving into shimmering light. Within moments, the fearsome dragon had transformed into a striking figure: a woman dressed in a pitch-black gi, with a coat billowing around her.
She landed gracefully in the middle of an ongoing match, causing the combatants to pause and stare in awe and confusion. Her head lifted, molten yellow irises sweeping over the crowd, her black hair framing her face like a dark halo.
“I challenge you, dragon!” a voice shouted from the crowd.
Turning toward the challenger, she regarded him with a calculated gaze, her expression unreadable. With a raised brow and a beckoning finger, she accepted the challenge without a word.
The challenger charged at her with fists ablaze with Ki, his battle cry echoing around the arena. But as he drew close, she merely lifted her hand and flicked his forehead with two fingers. The seemingly effortless gesture sent him flying across the landscape, crashing into the far wall of the arena.
The three of them exchanged glances, each registering a mix of surprise and recognition. They knew power when they saw it, and this woman's strength was off the scales.
As the woman turned to walk away from her downed opponent, something made her pause. She halted, her steps slow and deliberate as her head swiveled toward Vegeta. The moment their eyes met, Vegeta felt a jolt of recognition—there was something familiar in her gaze, something deeply connected to the Saiyan legacy.
Without breaking eye contact, she removed her coat with a swift motion, throwing it across the arena where it landed with a thud, raising a cloud of dust. The jagged black markings on her arms were exposed, rippling with dark energy.
In an instant, she phased from the center of the arena to stand directly in front of Vegeta. Her presence was overwhelming, the air around her crackling with latent power. "You know, I'm fighting all of my will to just..." she motioned with a flick, reminiscent of how she had dispatched the challenger, "But that would be rude."
Vegeta stood his ground, his eyes narrowed, understanding the challenge and the restraint she was showing. The air was thick with unspoken questions and the weight of history that seemed to swirl around this mysterious figure.
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As the mysterious figure took a step back from Vegeta, the tension in the air shifted slightly. Her casual shrug and the way her hands slipped into the pockets of her pants did little to diminish the overwhelming presence she commanded. "I didn't mean to phase so close to you," she said, her voice betraying a hint of the familiar, despite the drastic change in her appearance. "I know it's been a while, and I know I look... different. But has my signature changed that much in three centuries?"
Her gaze then moved past Vegeta, settling on Kakarot and Piccolo. She paused, a thoughtful expression crossing her face as she regarded Piccolo, "Can you not recognize me either? I suppose not." The slight quiver in her voice suggested a mix of resignation and a deep-seated longing for recognition.
She took a few more steps back, her posture relaxed yet still charged with a latent power that seemed almost palpable. "It's not every day, a living person comes into the afterlife as a dragon. Let alone, Gohan's little girl." Her words hung in the air, heavy with implications that sent a jolt through Vegeta. The realization dawned slowly, the pieces of the puzzle aligning to form a picture he hadn’t expected.
Her tail, as black as the void from which she had first appeared, slowly unwound from around her waist, swaying with a life of its own as her head leveled with theirs. She met each of their gazes in turn, her eyes lingering on Vegeta as if seeking something only he could provide. Then, with a soft sigh, she continued, "I'm sorry I couldn't come back sooner. That... Thing. Other Pan, decided to be my 'teacher' for over a hundred years before I was imbued with Shenron's soul."
The weight of her words settled heavily on Vegeta. This Pan, the girl he had mentored, the Saiyan who had once been a beacon of potential and promise, had endured centuries of guidance under the enigmatic and dark presence of her future self, only to emerge as something entirely new, something powerful and perhaps beyond their understanding.
Vegeta's heart clenched at the thought of what she must have endured—transformed by Shenron's soul, tutored by a version of herself that had strayed so far from the path. The Pan he remembered was a fierce warrior with a bright future, not one shadowed by the kind of trials she described. It explained the draconian appearance, the immense surge of power, and the sadness that lingered behind her formidable façade.
He took a step forward, his voice steady yet filled with an uncharacteristic gentleness. "Pan, it’s a lot to take in," he said, his eyes searching hers for the young girl he once knew. "We sensed a power we couldn’t explain, didn’t recognize it as yours. But knowing what you’ve been through, what you've become... It's clear you've faced more than any of us could have predicted."
Her gaze softened at his words, a glimmer of the old Pan flickering momentarily in her eyes. Vegeta continued, "No matter how much you've changed, you're still Gohan's daughter, still one of us. We’ll need time to understand all of this, but know that you’re not alone. We're still here for you."
As the others watched, a silent acknowledgment passed between them. Kakarot’s expression was one of wonder mixed with an eagerness to learn more about her journey, while Piccolo maintained his stoic demeanor, though his eyes betrayed his concern.
The arena, once filled with the sounds of combat and cheers, was now a quiet stage for a reunion centuries in the making. Pan’s return wasn’t just a spectacle—it was a homecoming, and despite the changes, despite the years and the trials, she was still, at heart, the Pan they all remembered. Her journey through time, power, and self-discovery had brought her back to where she began, but now she stood before them transformed, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Saiyans and the mysterious, untamable power of the dragons.
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"First things first," Pan said, turning toward Piccolo, her expression grave, her molten yellow eyes studying his face intently. "Did you feel it? When Shenron… disappeared?"
Piccolo’s eyes darkened, and his voice dropped to a somber tone. "Yes, I felt it. It was as if a powerful energy just… faded. I thought it was only temporary, maybe a consequence of his magic. I didn’t realize… it was permanent."
Pan’s jaw tightened, her gaze drifting skyward, her mouth set in a grim line. "That was me," she admitted, her voice soft but thick with a weight that seemed to settle over the entire arena. "I lost control… and he is no more. I’ll spare you the details."
A tense silence fell over them. Pan lowered her head, glancing back at Piccolo, who watched her with an understanding that needed no words. She drew a deep breath, her shoulders stiffening as if bracing against an unseen burden. "Shenron tried to use his soul to purify me," she explained, her voice steady. "He wanted to cleanse the darkness within me, strip it away. But it didn’t work. It only made the darkness that much stronger. And when it happened—when I lost control—I received these markings."
Pan extended her arms slightly, revealing the jagged black markings etched into her skin. The intricate designs seemed almost alive, pulsing faintly with a mysterious energy. The scars of that fateful moment, they held a strange beauty, dark yet radiant. "These markings," she explained, "show the repair state of my soul. They light up during combat, a visual display of my power for anyone watching—friend or foe."
The solemnity of her words resonated, leaving the others quiet. Pan’s eyes softened as she continued, "And… they change colors if I delve deeper into my power. Right now, I can only access three out of ten extra boosts."
Goku and Piccolo exchanged a confused glance, but Vegeta’s gaze remained locked on her. Three out of ten, he repeated to himself, feeling an unsettling sense of familiarity in the price she had paid. Her power, segmented and tethered to parts of her soul lost in that volatile moment with Shenron—he could understand what it meant to be bound by one’s own strength.
Pan observed their reactions, then added, "These boosts are bound to fragments of my soul I no longer have. Pieces I need to reclaim if I want to reach my full potential."
Piccolo’s face reflected a mixture of sympathy and caution, while Goku looked as though he were absorbing each word like a new puzzle piece. Vegeta, however, felt a tightening in his chest. She had shouldered this journey alone, her existence defined by fragments of her own being that now determined her strength. It was a burden few could understand.
Pan lifted her hand, as if to clarify her point. "Think of them like Super Saiyan levels, I suppose. Every time I reclaim a fragment of my soul, I regain access to one more ‘level’ of power."
Turning away, she cast a sidelong glance over her shoulder, a wry smile touching her lips. "And only then, when my soul is whole again, will I be at my strongest." Her expression darkened, and a bitter laugh escaped her. "But as it stands… well. I can show you."
With a precise motion, she brought her fist to her chest, inhaling sharply as her eyes narrowed in concentration. She reached into herself, and when she drew her hand back, a small gemstone hovered in her palm, glowing with a muted light that cast strange shadows across her face. She turned slowly, presenting the fragment to them like a dangerous artifact.
"This little fella," she said, her voice laced with bitterness, "is the cost of killing an Eternal Dragon. This… is what my soul is right now. I have three levels of power from this teeny-weeny gemstone."
Her gaze was piercing as she glanced back up at them, the gemstone disappearing with a flick of her wrist. "But don’t worry," she added, her voice low and smooth. "I’m still plenty strong."
Then, her eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity, and her lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her narrowed gaze. "So… who wants to test it out?"
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The challenge hung in the air, as sharp and heavy as her power, and Vegeta felt a chill run through him. This wasn’t the young Pan he had once trained. This was a warrior reborn from fire, darkness, and unimaginable sacrifice. And as her gaze moved to each of them, he knew she wasn’t simply asking to test her strength—she was inviting them to see just what she had become.
“Dang, no takers?” Pan smirked, her gaze sweeping over them with a mischievous glint in her molten yellow eyes. Her tail flicked behind her, an unrestrained energy radiating from her as she let out a chuckle. “Do I need to blink for you guys?”
Vegeta’s brow furrowed. Blink? Her smirk only widened at their confusion, clearly relishing the inside joke. The flicker of her aura around her was different from any transformation he’d seen her attempt, the energy more fluid, almost alive.
“Other Pan taught me how to… blink through Super Saiyan transformations,” she explained, the words laced with pride. Her gaze landed on Vegeta, her eyes gleaming with an intensity he’d rarely seen. “I can do the same for my God power as well. No more screaming for me to reach a level I need.”
Vegeta felt a mixture of admiration and wariness rise within him. The Pan he remembered, the one he’d trained tirelessly, had once needed to channel her power with a certain rawness, a fierceness that demanded focus and struggle. But now she stood before them with a godlike control over her transformations—effortless, silent, and without hesitation. He knew better than anyone the taxing process of mastering Super Saiyan God, and here she was, claiming the power as if it were second nature.
“So, no wasted energy,” he muttered, half to himself, his mind already considering the implications. This control was a skill only Whis had hinted at, something Goku and he had barely touched.
“That’s right, Vegeta.” Her voice snapped him back to the present, her eyes sharp with determination. “No wasted energy. Other Pan drilled it into me—my power had to be instant. Efficient. If I need to access it, it’s there, like opening a door.” She paused, her gaze softening ever so slightly as she looked at him. “I learned it because I had to. And now… I’m ready to use it.”
Goku, who had been watching with equal parts awe and intrigue, finally spoke up, a grin breaking across his face. “Whoa, that’s awesome, Pan! You’re saying you can just—” he snapped his fingers “—like that?”
Pan nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. “Exactly like that, Grandpa. No screaming, no charging up. I can be at any level I need in an instant.” She gave a quick demonstration, her eyes shifting as her aura blipped in and out, moving from base form to Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan God and back in the span of seconds. The sheer fluidity of her transitions left even Vegeta momentarily stunned.
Vegeta’s fists clenched reflexively. This kind of control—this instantaneous access to multiple levels of power—was something he’d strived for in his own training with Whis. The potential it unlocked was incredible; in the heat of battle, the difference of even a fraction of a second could decide victory or defeat. And here she was, wielding it with casual ease.
She raised an eyebrow at him, as if sensing his thoughts. “It’s more than just efficiency, though,” she said, her tone growing serious. “It’s about focus. The kind of focus you don’t get from just training in one place or pushing your limits physically. It’s like… it’s like knowing exactly who you are and what you’re capable of, without second-guessing or holding back.”
Vegeta gave a curt nod, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her. “Impressive, Pan. But there’s a difference between knowing your power and mastering it under real pressure. Training and reality are not the same.” His tone was edged with challenge, his pride bristling at the idea that his pupil might surpass him. But beneath it, a flicker of pride remained. She was a Saiyan—his student—and she’d come farther than he’d imagined.
Pan’s gaze held steady, her smirk returning. “Then let’s test it.” She took a step back, planting her feet firmly as her aura began to pulse in slow, rhythmic waves, her energy rising without the roar or flash they were accustomed to. The air grew dense, the sheer pressure of her energy filling the arena, and yet she made no sound. Her transformation was silent, her aura building and shifting with a calm intensity that left the onlookers breathless.
Vegeta felt his own energy spike in response, his instincts flaring. This was the kind of battle that defined a warrior—a clash not of raw power, but of skill, control, and mastery. His own aura blazed around him as he shifted into Super Saiyan Blue, the air around them crackling with energy.
Goku stepped back, a gleam of excitement in his eyes as he watched. “This is gonna be good!”
Pan’s eyes locked onto Vegeta’s, her expression determined. “I’ve waited a long time to prove myself, Vegeta,” she said, her voice low but filled with a fierce resolve. “Let’s see if I’ve learned enough to keep up with you.”
Vegeta smirked, his own confidence surging. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because I trained you, Pan. Show me what you’ve got.”