NOVEL NEXT Chapter 160: Comparison Hurts
"My Goten is finally back! I knew he'd be fine!"
Chi-Chi's voice rang out with uncontained excitement.
After everything she had endured over the years—losing Goku and Gohan—Goten had been her only source of comfort and strength. Without him, she wasn't sure she would have survived. Over the past two months, with no news of Goten, Chi-Chi had fallen into a deep depression, fearing the worst.
Now, hearing that Goten had returned, she was overwhelmed with joy.
Standing nearby, Videl was equally happy. Their last date had been abruptly interrupted, and since then, one problem after another had kept them apart. She hadn't been able to spend any meaningful time with Goten since that day. But now that he was back, she silently vowed to never let him leave her side again.
As the house buzzed with excitement, a faint whooshing sound broke through the commotion.
Whizz! Whizz!
Suddenly, Goten, Vados, and Broly appeared in front of everyone.
The room fell silent for a moment. Goten stood before them, his presence brimming with vitality and confidence. It was clear to everyone that their worries had been for nothing.
"Goten… Goten!!" Chi-Chi cried out as she rushed toward him, tears streaming down her face.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I'm fine, Mom," Goten replied warmly, smiling down at her. "I'm sorry I made you worry. I feel better than ever now."
Without another word, Chi-Chi threw herself into Goten's arms, letting her tears flow freely. All the fear, anxiety, and stress of the past two months came pouring out in that moment. No one else could truly understand the depth of her relief.
Meanwhile, Videl's gaze shifted to the figure standing next to Goten—Vados. Her expression faltered.
As a woman, Videl couldn't help but notice the Angel's flawless beauty and commanding presence. With her perfect figure, unmatched strength, and graceful demeanor, Vados seemed almost untouchable.
In comparison, Videl felt a pang of insecurity.
'Could it be… has Goten found someone else?' she wondered silently, biting her lip.
It wasn't hard to imagine. Goten was incredibly strong, with looks and charm to match. Videl couldn't help but feel that someone like Vados was a far more suitable match for him.
Her mind raced with thoughts of the worst-case scenario.
Vados, noticing Videl's troubled expression, quickly picked up on the dynamic between her and Goten. It didn't take her long to realize that the woman standing before her was someone important to him.
After several minutes, Chi-Chi finally released Goten from her embrace. Goten took a step toward Videl, his expression softening as he addressed her.
"I'm sorry I worried you," he said gently. "I promise I won't leave you again."
Seeing the jealousy flicker across her face, Goten instantly understood what she was thinking. He felt a pang of guilt. Their last date had been ruined by Angel Merno, and since then, he hadn't been able to make it up to her.
"You're back..." Videl said softly, her cheeks flushing with color. Despite her earlier doubts, Goten's words reassured her. No matter what had happened, he still cared about her, and that was enough.
Nearby, Krillin approached Goten with a grin.
"Goten, you brat! You had us worried sick," he said, lightly punching Goten's chest. "Your strength looks like it's improved a ton, hasn't it?"
The mood lightened, and everyone's worries began to dissipate. It was clear to all of them that Goten had grown stronger during his time away.
"Well, I've had some upgrades along the way," Goten admitted, smiling modestly.
At that moment, both versions of Goku and Vegeta rushed over, their expressions filled with astonishment.
From the moment they laid eyes on Goten, they could feel an overwhelming power radiating from him. It wasn't just strength—it was something far beyond their comprehension.
In another part of the room, GT Goten and GT Gohan stood frozen in shock.
During the past two months, they had heard countless stories about how powerful the alternate timeline Goten was. But hearing about it and seeing it with their own eyes were two entirely different things.
Standing before Goten now, they felt as though they were gazing at an infinite force. Without even releasing any energy, Goten exuded an oppressive presence that made them feel as if they were facing the entire universe itself.
Even Omega Shenron, who they had defeated not long ago, had never made them feel like this.
"This is the Goten you've been bragging about?" GT Vegeta asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"He's absurdly strong. Even in his normal form, his presence alone is enough to crush my fighting spirit."
The GT version of Vegeta couldn't believe what he was saying. Against the alternate timeline Goku and Vegeta, he had at least felt the desire to fight. But with Goten, it was different. The sheer pressure emanating from him was enough to make him surrender without even trying.
"That's right! This is the Goten from our timeline," Vegeta said proudly, crossing his arms. "I wasn't exaggerating, was I? Compared to him, the Goten in this timeline is nothing but a joke."
There was an awkward silence.
People are indeed afraid of comparisons, especially if it is between the same people. The Goten of their timeline was so overwhelmingly powerful that any comparison only highlighted how weak his GT counterpart was. The bastard couldn't even transform into Super Saiyan II.
[T/N: Lmao, I have read many Goten fanfics, where they bash him that all his life he couldn't go SSj2 when he managed to SSj1 as a toddler. Poor guy isn't a protagonist, nor does he have his own arc.]
Even GT Vegeta had no choice but to agree. "You're right… there's no comparison," he admitted reluctantly.
His own son, GT Trunks, was in a similar position. The Trunks from the alternate timeline had already reached the peak state of Super Saiyan IV, with power nearly equal to Goku and Vegeta.
But his son? Although they were the same age, the gap in their strength was immeasurable.
Just then, Goku's attention shifted to another figure standing beside Goten. His eyes widened as he focused on Broly.
"Whoa! And it's not just Goten..." Goku said, his voice filled with awe. "That Saiyan with him... I can feel it. He's ridiculously strong too."
Broly's presence was just as shocking. Although Goten's power was undoubtedly greater, Broly stood out as the strongest Saiyan Goku had ever encountered—besides Goten.
"Hmph! That guy is strong," GT Vegeta grumbled, clenching his fists. "It's hard to believe that in just a few months, so many people have surpassed me."
His expression darkened. Not long ago, he had been holding the title of "eternal second." Now, it felt as though he couldn't even make the top five.
...…
[T/N: Guys, IK some readers were rooting for harem or other stuff, although I don't dislike harems, but I do hate the pathetic harem instant buildups. If this fic had a proper harem build up, I wouldn't mind, like how his relationship with Videl progressed. But that "I came, she saw, I conquered in a chapter" vibes, I hate it to the core. Like, this meeting between Videl and Vados, tf?? Angel Wench just met her, and was like a jealous harlot. Bich just met him a few chapters ago, and acted like she owns him. So I have removed such content from this. Maybe in the end chapters he might have 1000 wives and million concubines, but, if there's no buildup to the relationship, I would just skip over it to avoid the cringiness of insta harem buildups.]