The Old Kai's voice drifted across the sacred ground, causing Kibito and the Supreme Kai to snap to attention in barely concealed terror.
They peered down at the grass below, where an elderly figure with wispy, thinning hair stood brushing dust from his robes. The ancient man wore the traditional garments of the Sacred World of the Kais, complete with the distinctive Potara earrings gleaming at his ears.
"You... you are..." Supreme Kai descended slowly, his voice trembling with disbelief and growing recognition.
"I am the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations past," the old man declared with calm authority.
"Fifteen... fifteen generations..." Both Kibito and Shin leaned forward, sweat beading on their foreheads. "Supreme... Supreme Kai..."
They were staring at a being whose age stretched back at least seventy million years—this ancient deity was practically time itself given form! Of course, it was only his imprisonment within the Z Sword that had preserved his life; otherwise, he would have passed into legend eons ago.
But if the Z Sword was supposed to be a sacred blade of immense magical power, how could...
The Old Kai noticed their bewildered expressions. "Long ago, I was sealed within this sword by an incredibly powerful enemy. My... unique abilities made him quite anxious, you see."
"I... I understand." Shin and Kibito straightened respectfully, though skepticism flickered across their faces.
The Old Kai puffed up with obvious pride, practically glowing with joy at finally seeing daylight again. "Now then, that long-haired warrior over there—you were the one who drew the blade? Being able to pull it free so effortlessly means you possess tremendous power... Sigh, after all these eons, I assumed some future Supreme Kai would be my liberator. I never imagined it would be someone from the mortal realm. Each generation truly grows weaker than the last!"
Supreme Kai's face flushed crimson at the harsh criticism, and he bowed his head in shame.
Thinking quickly, Kibito gestured toward Raditz. "Actually, Raditz holds the rank of Apprentice Supreme Kai, so technically speaking, he does belong to the divine hierarchy."
"Oh? Is that so?" The Old Kai's eyes sparked with interest as he studied Raditz intently, nodding with growing approval. "You do indeed possess remarkable strength. With my potential awakening technique, you could very well become the strongest being in the universe."
Raditz understood the Old Kai's legendary ability—the power to unlock hidden potential that lay dormant within a fighter. What the Namekian Grand Elder could draw out was merely a trickle compared to the torrential flood the Old Kai could unleash.
Gohan's dormant power had erupted under the old deity's guidance, transforming him from Super Saiyan 2 directly into his Mystic state or Ultimate state —a realm where power flowed as naturally as breathing, without strain or effort.
But Raditz suspected this volcanic method of development might only produce miracles in fighters with truly extraordinary potential. Used on ordinary warriors, wouldn't it completely drain their reserves, leaving them with painfully slow progress afterward? The long-term effects remained unknown.
He had already reached the pinnacle of power within his current dimensional framework. Even massive improvements to his strength wouldn't yield proportional results—like trying to pour more water into an already-full vessel. The excess would simply overflow and be wasted. The only path to greater power was ascending to a higher dimensional plane entirely! He needed a larger container to hold more energy. His steady training focused on building an unshakeable foundation for that dimensional breakthrough, sprinting toward the realm of the gods themselves.
Let the Old Kai's potential awakening be saved for those who truly needed it.
"Actually, I don't require it, but there are warriors on Earth who could benefit tremendously from it." Raditz explained Earth's current situation to the ancient Supreme Kai.
"Hmm, but they weren't the ones who freed me from the sword."
"Many of them possess the strength to draw it," Raditz said with a knowing wink. "We're about to hold a grand celebration. Everyone will be there, along with an incredible feast. Would you care to join us?"
He had already extended invitations to the Supreme Kai and Kibito—it would be rude to exclude their illustrious ancestor.
The mention of delicious food failed to stir the Old Kai's interest. Unlike Beerus, he wouldn't lose his composure over cuisine. The ancient deity maintained his dignified posture, and though his back showed a slight bend from eons of existence, his bearing remained unmistakably regal.
"Visiting the lower realm is rather..."
"There will also be beautiful women of every type imaginable..." Raditz stepped closer with a sly smile, his voice dropping to an irresistibly tempting whisper.
The Old Kai's expression transformed instantly. His serious demeanor cracked like a broken mask as his ancient heart began racing with renewed vigor.
Both Shin and Kibito lunged forward, grabbing Raditz by the arms. "How dare you speak such things to our revered ancestor!"
"It's perfectly fine! Let's go to Earth immediately!" The Old Kai's eyes practically sparkled. "Ah... I haven't experienced the outside world in countless millennia. One must keep up with the times, after all!"
Supreme Kai stared at his ancestor's suddenly righteous and dignified expression, completely dumbfounded by the rapid transformation.
He was beginning to realize he was still far too young to understand the complexities of ancient wisdom.
Raditz made the necessary arrangements, and they returned to Earth.
Three days later, the celebration officially commenced. The venue was the same elegant castle that had hosted Tien's wedding, with the surrounding manor grounds providing ample space for the expanding guest list.
The androids arrived first, gravitating toward the riverside gardens where they wandered among the flowers, playing with butterflies and listening to the melodic birdsong. Android 16 especially cherished this peaceful atmosphere, his face showing the gentle smile that appeared more frequently these days. He was growing closer to true humanity with each passing moment. The android's advanced learning systems and rich accumulation of life experiences were steadily filling the gaps in his emotional development.
"They're approaching," he announced softly. The small bird perched on his finger took flight as 16 turned toward the sky.
In the distance, numerous Saiyans descended through the clouds, followed closely by Krillin, Yamcha, and the other Z-fighters. Master Roshi brought Oolong and Turtle in his distinctive aircraft, touching down last with his usual dramatic flair.
Bulma and Tights welcomed the arriving guests on the manicured lawn while Vegeta maintained his characteristic stern pose against a nearby wall, arms crossed in his eternal scowl.
Shortly after, Goku arrived with Raditz's family in tow, while Jeice, Burter, and Angila's squad from the Galactic Justice League headquarters executed a flawless group landing. Finally, Piccolo descended with the two newest Guardians of Earth, Dende and Cargo.
"Excellent, everyone's here! Let the feast begin!" Bulma called out enthusiastically, surveying the lively gathering with obvious delight.
"Hold on, we're still expecting a few more guests," Raditz interjected.
"Who else could possibly be coming?" Krillin glanced around, confirming that everyone he expected to see had already arrived.
Suddenly, three figures materialized in a brilliant flash of divine light, causing the assembled fighters to instinctively drop into defensive stances—only to recognize the Supreme Kai! The revelation of who Raditz had been referring to left everyone stunned. None of them had imagined that even the highest gods in the universe would be invited to their earthly celebration.
Piccolo had never encountered the Supreme Kai directly, but he had certainly heard the legends. Seeing the deity now, he immediately felt the crushing pressure of dimensional power emanating from an impossibly elevated plane of existence. Though his combat strength far exceeded the Supreme Kai's raw power, this divine energy made him inexplicably uneasy, and a bead of sweat rolled down his green cheek.
"Raditz, this place is absolutely delightful," the Old Kai commented, his aged eyes scanning the grounds and noting with obvious satisfaction that there were indeed numerous attractive young women present. His face lit up with barely contained joy.
The Old Kai chuckled in a manner that unconsciously reminded several guests of another legendary character—Master Roshi, who at that very moment was squinting appreciatively at the female models invited to perform, a thin trickle of blood leaking from his nose.
"Ancestor, please remember we are in the lower realm—you must maintain your dignified image..." Shin smiled with strained politeness while quietly attempting to remind the Old Kai of proper divine decorum.
"Can't even a Supreme Kai have hobbies? You youngsters these days, honestly..."
The Old Kai huffed with obvious dissatisfaction but still managed to compose himself, adopting a serious expression while clasping his hands behind his back. Despite his complaints, he walked toward Raditz with unmistakable enthusiasm.
Kibito and Shin exchanged meaningful glances, struggling to keep pace with their ancestor's surprisingly energetic stride...
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