Episode 115 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on November 12, 2017, is Kefla's show of strength. Universe 6's fusion overwhelms Goku at every level until the Saiyan, down and out of energy, finds the silver eyes of Ultra Instinct for the second time.
Summary
Still in base form, Kefla bounces Super Saiyan God Goku all over the stage. Beerus protests that the Potara should be banned, Champa invites him to use them too if he likes, but the Zenos settle it: the fusion has thrilled them, and the Grand Minister announces that the earrings are allowed. Universes 3 and 4 declare they have no need for them.
Even Beerus is tempted. Shin suggests fusing Android 17 and Android 18, twins and therefore compatible, and calling the result "Android 35", but Whis points out that if they lost, it would mean two eliminations at once, and the god changes his mind. Universe 2 actually tries it with Zarbuto and Rabanra: Zarbuto cannot get his earring on because he is still wearing his helmet, and before they can fuse, Kefla barrels through and shatters their Potara. Meanwhile, Vegeta is caught in Toppo's bear hug, Gohan severs Pilina's arm only to watch him regrow it instantly, and Android 17 stops a punch Catopesra was aiming at an injured Android 18, explaining that you do not hit a lady in the face, before pummeling him.
Goku is forced into Super Saiyan Blue, and Kefla answers by turning Super Saiyan, with a power that surprises even Champa. The fight gets so violent that even Jiren's eye twitches ever so slightly. Goku adds the Kaio-ken, though Beerus fears his body cannot take it, and for a moment it seems to work: one blow numbs Kefla's arm, another buries her under rubble. She gets back up, driven, Whis says, by her Saiyan blood. After an exchange of energy blasts, she circles behind him and kicks him in the head. Goku drops back to base form and collapses.
Kefla announces she will now throw him out and unloads a storm of energy blasts. None of them land. Goku rises wrapped in a silver glow, opens his eyes, and Roshi and the others recognize the state he fought Jiren in. Whis did not expect it to happen again so soon, Beerus is eager to see Ultra Instinct once more, and even the hard-to-please Zenos are excited. Nineteen minutes remain.
Our take
The episode is full of small comic beats, from the "Android 35" that never was to Zarbuto's helmet, and they serve a purpose: in a saga where every episode is a fight, a little levity keeps the rhythm alive. The Potara ruling also says something about the tournament: the rules hold only as long as the Zenos are having fun.
The heart of it, though, is Ultra Instinct's return, and timing it to Goku's lowest point is precise. He does not summon it by will; he stumbles into it when he has nothing left. Kefla is the perfect trigger: a new, overwhelming and impulsive opponent who forces Goku past his limit without him choosing to go there.
Trivia
- Written by Toshio Yoshitaka and directed by Takahiro Imamura, with Osamu Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Itai as animation directors. It drew a 5.0% rating in Japan.
- The newly reawakened state is explained on our Super Saiyan transformations page.
- In the manga, Goku never fights Kefla, who is eliminated by Gohan instead.
Characters
- Goku, Kefla, Champa and Vados
- Vegeta and Toppo
- Gohan, Piccolo, Saonel and Pilina
- Android 17, Android 18 and Catopesra
- Zarbuto, Rabanra and the Universe 2 gods
- Beerus, Whis, Shin, Master Roshi, Jiren, the Grand Minister and the two Zenos