A sacred and majestic aura radiated from Kaito's body, so much so that even Vados, an angel, instinctively lowered her head.
Champa, who had been sleeping soundly, smacked his lips and groggily opened his eyes. The moment he saw Kaito "burning" with golden light, his drowsiness vanished instantly.
"U-U-U... Uchiha Kaito!?"
With a startled yelp, Champa rolled over and sprang up—only to collapse to the floor with a thud when Kaito cast him a single glance.
Beads of sweat the size of beans trickled down his forehead. Supporting himself on the ground with trembling arms, he muttered,
"What's with this pressure?! He wasn't this strong last time!"
The staff in Vados's hand began trembling violently as the Grand Priest's voice came through.
"Vados! What's happening there? How can there be such an overwhelming aura?"
Vados knew she couldn't hide it any longer. She answered respectfully,
"It seems the Super Dragon Balls have been absorbed... by Kaito."
"What!? Those things can be absorbed!?"
"Yes. That's the current situation."
"Incredible..."
Kaito withdrew the golden light surrounding him and slowly approached Vados. She didn't hesitate—she simply handed him the staff.
The Grand Priest, sensing Kaito's presence, spoke again.
"Uchiha Kaito?"
"Yes. It's an honor to meet you, Grand Priest."
"The honor is mine. I didn't expect you to obtain the power of the Super Dragon Balls. Should I be calling you Dragon God now?"
Vados examined Kaito closely. Indeed, that title suited him perfectly at this point.
Kaito smiled faintly.
"So it seems I've gotten myself an official position now? I wonder what rank a Dragon God holds?"
"Hehe, that's quite a position you've gained. If possible, I'd like you to come here. We should meet face to face."
"No problem."
"Good. Vados, when the time comes, bring Kaito here."
Vados nodded in acknowledgment. The connection with the Grand Priest then cut off.
Champa, meanwhile, hadn't even dared to breathe too loudly. He felt utterly small, powerless, and helpless in the face of Kaito's divine pressure.
Fortunately, Vados hadn't forgotten about him. She turned and asked gently,
"Champa-sama, why are you kneeling there? Didn't sleep well?"
Champa shuddered as he climbed to his feet, rubbing the bump on his head.
"Maybe I got up too quickly... Can someone explain what's going on here? This... uh..."
His gaze turned toward Kaito, eyes filled with fear and awe.
"This Dragon God-sama—why is he here?"
"I brought him," Vados said casually.
Champa froze.
You're the one who brought this deity here!?
Then he noticed the six Dragon Balls floating behind Kaito and completely ran out of words.
Kaito gave Champa a friendly smile and walked closer. The heat radiating from him was so intense that Champa instinctively stepped back.
Swallowing hard, he said,
"Dragon God-sama, what are you planning to do? I don't want to fight! If you're looking for a fight, go find Beerus! He's better at that than me!"
For Champa to admit that Beerus was stronger said everything about how terrified he was of Kaito.
Though he called Kaito "Dragon God" aloud, in his heart he'd already labeled him a walking calamity. He could sense the terrifying power within Kaito's body—if they fought again, he wouldn't just be sleeping afterward; he'd be dead.
However, Kaito wasn't here to fight. He was just here to pet a cat—and compared to that dry, skinny Beerus, the chubby Champa looked much cuter.
Kaito reached out and patted Champa's head. Champa didn't dare resist, standing perfectly still and letting Kaito do as he pleased.
From Vados's perspective, Champa looked just like Kaito's pet.
Champa cast her a desperate look for help, and thankfully, Vados wasn't entirely heartless.
"Kaito, we should head back," she said. "There's still one Super Dragon Ball left to find."
Kaito nodded. Before leaving, he turned toward Champa and asked with a smile,
"Champa, Vados will be with me for a while. Will you be fine here alone?"
Champa nodded vigorously, not hesitating for a second.
He couldn't care less—Vados might call him "Champa-sama," but she was the real master here. Without her, he'd actually be freer.
And besides, from the looks of it, she was following Kaito of her own free will. If he dared try to stop her, he might end up facing both of them—and that was not a fight he'd survive.
Vados waved at him with a smile.
"Then, Champa-sama, I'll be going now~."
As soon as she finished speaking, she naturally leaned in closer to Kaito. Kaito understood, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.
Vados prepared to use her power to return them to Universe 7, but Kaito suddenly said,
"Vados, this time, let me take you."
Vados blinked, confused. Before she could react, Kaito's body trembled, and a pair of massive golden dragon wings unfurled from his back.
Pulling Vados into his arms, he murmured softly,
"Hold on tight—it might be fast."
Vados nodded blankly. Kaito tightened his embrace, then beat his wings, a dazzling golden light wrapping around them as they shot out of the temple.
The gale that followed blew Champa flat onto the floor, the entire God of Destruction's temple shaking violently as cracks spread across the ground.
Champa looked despairingly at his now half-collapsed temple. Unlike Vados, he didn't have any of those fancy divine abilities. He only knew destruction—and now, where was he supposed to live?
He blamed it all on Beerus.
If that idiot hadn't gone and picked a fight with Kaito, I wouldn't have gotten dragged into this!
Now he'd ended up angering a godlike being who nearly demolished his temple.
Clenching his fists in frustration, Champa took off toward Universe 7. He'd make Whis help him rebuild—or, if not, he'd just crash at Beerus's place and refuse to leave!
Though, at his speed, it was going to take quite a while to get there.
...
Meanwhile, Kaito had already brought Vados back to Universe 7—faster than she herself could have traveled.
They stopped before a crimson planet. Vados still looked dazed, not yet realizing they'd already arrived back in Universe 7.
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