WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Super Chapter 78, "Gas's Wish," by Akira Toriyama, Toyotarou, Caleb Cook and Brandon Bovia, available now in English through Viz Media.
In Dragon Ball Super Chapter 77, Granolah learned the full story of how Goku's father, Bardock, saved him and Monaito when Freeza's soldiers and the Saiyans attacked Planet Cereal. This revelation promised to be a major game changer for Granolah, who'd been trying to kill Goku and Vegeta as a result of their heritage. Now, Dragon Ball Super Chapter 78 explores the fallout from that revelation and pits Granolah, Goku and Vegeta against the Heeters. Here's a spoiler-filled recap of what happened.
"Gas's Wish" kicks off with Macki running to tell Elec and Gas that Granolah has stopped fighting Goku and Vegeta as the result of interference from Monaito. Gas and Macki head off to take on the weakened trio, while Elec continues on his quest to get a wish from Planet Cereal's dragon, Toronbo. Elec, for his part, promises to grant Gas his wish, though just what that means isn't totally clear at the time.
Dragon Ball Super Chapter 78 then jumps back to Vegeta, Granolah, Goku and Monaito. Granolah asks Monaito why he never told him that the Heeters were responsible for his mother's death, instead letting him work for them. The Namekian then explains that it was the only way to survive. Monaito then confirms that Bardock beat Gas, but there's some mystery as to just how he accomplished the feat. Monaito notes Gas was, in fact, very strong. However, just how Bardock beat Gas is left up in the air, as at that very moment, Elec summons Toronbo and makes his wish.
Immediately, Goku and Vegeta sense a huge power signature heading their way, which Granolah recognizes as belonging to the Heeters. Macki explains that it's now time for them to take out Granolah and the Saiyans and confirms that she tricked them into fighting each other. They then present Gas: "The actual strongest warrior in the universe."
A massively powered up version of Gas then appears and he fires an energy blast at them, destroying Granolah's ship in the process. He then creates a four-pronged energy spear that he uses to skewer Granolah, pinning him to the remnants of his ship. Goku looks on in shock, and Gas begins walking towards Granolah: "I never like you," he says.
Goku tries to attack, but Gas creates energy cubes around Goku's arms and legs, effectively immobilizing him. Gas recognizes Goku as being Bardock's son, and questions whether his old enemy is still alive. Vegeta responds that everyone in that generation of Saiyans died and "only a few members of our tribe survived the purge." Macki then affirms that the Heeters will indeed finish what Freeza started, with Gas noting they will kill anyone who stands in their way.
Gas then summons a massive energy axe to decapitate Goku, but before he can finish his swing, Granolah shoots the Heeter from behind. The axe falls to the ground, just barely missing Goku. Granolah declares himself the strongest, but Gas's only response is to run at him and down him with an energy mace. The blow sends Granolah flying. However, Gas keeps up the attack, unleashing a flurry of blows on the last Cerealian. As Macki explains, "Gas's wish came after yours, which makes him stronger, duh!"
As that's going on, Monaito intervenes, removing the energy blocks from around Goku's limbs. Monaito then starts healing Goku and asks him to save Granolah. Goku, of course, agrees. Meanwhile, the battle between Granolah and Gas continues, with the latter easily besting the former. During the fight, though, Granolah asks why they let him live, and Gas explains they didn't actually know about his survival until he'd already become a bounty hunter of such renown. Elec decided Granolah should be left alive because of his value.
Dragon Ball Super Chapter 78 then briefly flashes back to a young Granolah as he does target practice in the forest on Planet Cereal, making clear the bounty hunter made a name for himself at a very young age. Elec and Monaito talk about the former having killed Granolah's mother and the leader of the Heeters threatens the Namekian, telling him to keep quiet about what happened or else. Elec then offers Granolah a job.
Back in the present, Monaito admits that he might have made a mistake, but Goku assures him survival was his only option. Monaito struggles to heal Goku, but the Saiyan soon turns to Vegeta, bringing up their one remaining Senzu Bean. Vegeta says that it's in his armor, which he left behind. Goku asks Vegeta to go find his armor and get the Senzu Bean, saying he should eat it. Goku, after all, ate the first Senzu Bean after Granolah downed him in their initial brawl. Plus, Goku believes Ultra Ego -- which he calls Freaky-Face Mode -- could be the way to beat Gas.
Goku then jumps into the battle between Granolah and Gas, going Super Saiyan God. Still, the form isn't enough, and it's clear Goku really is just trying to hold out for Vegeta, who does indeed retrieve their last Senzu Bean. However, Vegeta doesn't plan on taking it himself. Instead, Vegeta gives the Senzu Bean to Granolah, saying, "Your revenge must be satisfied, no? So settle this grudge with your own strength."
As Dragon Ball Super Chapter 78 wraps up, it's unclear just whether Granolah will, in fact, take the Senzu Bean. But if he does, he might just be the universe's last hope of stopping Gas. In his fight with Goku and Vegeta, Granolah proved he was significantly more powerful than either of them. However, they held their own against him for quite awhile, and that may be where Granolah has an advantage. Vegeta once explained to Granolah that he hadn't yet learned how to properly use his newfound influx of energy, and it's entirely possible that same limit will hamper Gas in their upcoming Fight. So if Granolah can strike hard and fast, he might be able to beat Gas before he can tap into his full potential.
Dragon Ball Super Chapter 79 releases on Dec. 20 in English through Viz Media.
