Goku's body erupted with a golden aura as he lunged at Baby, unleashing a rapid flurry of punches.
Baby effortlessly evaded and countered with a devastating punch, sending Goku hurtling into the sky.
"What's happening, Old Kai?!" Goku shouted mid-air.
Shin and Old Kai observed through the crystal ball, both puzzled by Goku's lack of increased power.
Before he could react, Baby seized his tail and flung him to the ground, leaving him sprawled in the dirt.
Goku groaned, struggling to stand. "Damn it... I can't match him at all."
As he lay there, gazing at the distant Earth, his tail suddenly twitched. His heartbeat quickened. A surge of power coursed through his body.
His eyes glowed red. His muscles expanded. Golden fur sprouted across his form.
A thunderous roar tore through the battlefield as his colossal body erupted with golden energy.
Baby hovered above, eyes wide in shock. "What…? This is—! No, a full moon is required for this transformation. Could it be… Earth itself?!"
Goku had become a massive Golden Great Ape. Lightning crackled around him as he pounded his chest, shaking the planet.
Snarling, Baby hurled a Ki blast at the beast, but it barely fazed him. Roaring in defiance, the ape ripped a boulder from the ground and launched it, forcing Baby to dodge.
Then, with an earth-shattering punch, the ape struck Baby mid-air, sending him crashing into a mountain.
Baby emerged from the rubble, his smirk unfazed. "Tch. Strong, but strength alone means nothing."
The Golden Ape advanced, each step causing the ground to quake. With a mighty punch, he smashed the spot where Baby had been—only for Baby to teleport away at the last moment.
Ascending high above, Baby gathered radiant energy in his hands. The sky roared as he unleashed a barrage of energy bombs, engulfing the ape in a storm of fiery explosions.
The battlefield trembled under the onslaught.
When the smoke cleared, Baby chuckled. "Hmph. Just a mindless brute relying on raw strength."
But his smugness faltered as the dust settled, revealing the ape—completely unscathed.
With a deafening roar, the ape exhaled a stream of searing golden flames, forcing Baby to narrowly evade. Yet no matter where he fled, the flames pursued him relentlessly.
Desperate, Baby burrowed underground to escape.
He barely caught his breath before a massive palm struck from above, launching him through a cluster of ruined buildings.
The Golden Ape stomped forward, seeking his target.
Baby, now hidden, masked his energy.
The ape, unable to sense him, turned its fury upon the planet, unleashing devastating waves of fire. The ground quaked as cities crumbled under his rampage.
Watching from the shadows, Baby scowled. "So, this is the power of a Great Ape… If Kakarot can transform, then Vegeta should be able to as well."
Meanwhile, Pan raced toward the battlefield, sensing the overwhelming energy.
"This Ki… It has to be Grandpa! But why does it feel… different?"
She soon arrived, landing atop a cliff.
"Grandpa, stop!" she shouted.
The ape turned, its burning gaze locking onto her before it unleashed a torrent of flames.
Pan narrowly dodged, the heat scorching the air around her.
The beast then leaped onto a mountain, its gaze fixated on Earth in the distance. It raised its arms and bellowed.
Pan hurriedly flew in front of him. "Grandpa, it's me! Pan! You have to remember! You need to defeat Baby so we can go home!"
The ape swatted her aside effortlessly.
Pan crashed to the ground, wincing, when a photo slipped from her backpack and fluttered into the air.
Before it could drift away, the ape caught it between his massive fingers.
His glowing red eyes focused on the image—a beach scene, where Goku stood grinning, holding a one-year-old Pan in his arms.
A flicker of recognition sparked within him.
He turned his gaze back toward Earth. His golden aura surged once more, brighter than ever. His energy swelled, his body shifting.
The massive beast began to shrink, its form reshaping.
Pan watched in awe.
His golden fur faded to crimson. His body became lean yet powerful, covered in red fur. Long black hair cascaded down his back, and his tail remained.
Goku had transformed.
Super Saiyan 4 had been born.
Pan landed in front of him, eyes wide. "Whoa… Grandpa?! You look… amazing!"
Goku turned to her, his sharp golden eyes locking onto hers—then, a small, familiar smile appeared on his face.
Pan gasped before breaking into a joyous grin.