Bulma fell silent for a moment, her lips pressed tight. After several seconds, she raised her gaze to Levos's profile and bit down gently.
"Levos… are you sure we can win this time?"
Levos met her worried eyes and gave a warm, steady smile.
"Yeah. We'll make it through. I promise."
He said no more, instead focusing his thoughts toward the North Kai.
Moments later, King Kai's voice thundered in his head.
"Levos, you've gone too far! The Supreme Kai's Realm is the sacred ground of the entire universe. How could you recklessly wish so many people into it?!"
"Lord Kai, I wasn't thinking clearly in that moment Earth had to be saved. Honestly, I did consider sending everyone to your own North Kai's Planet…"
In truth, transporting everyone to the Supreme Kai's Realm had been a deliberate choice.
Protecting Earth and the newly revived humans was only one part of the reason.
What he truly wanted… was to seek out the Elder Kai.
The old Supreme Kai's knowledge and his ability to unlock potential were invaluable.
And this realm was the perfect battlefield.
Even Goku, whose body had returned to the Other World, could fight here.
As long as the fallen warriors kept their bodies, they could continue to battle.
It was like every teammate had gained an extra "revival."
And the Elder Kai still held the ability to sacrifice his own life to save another…
Of course, that all depended on first releasing him from his sealed prison.
"What?!" King Kai gasped. Then, after a long exhale of relief, he muttered, "Good thing you didn't actually try that!"
He hesitated, then asked curiously,
"Wait… how do you even know about the Supreme Kai's Realm? Even I've only ever heard fragments of rumor."
"Probably something Trunks mentioned from the future." Levos brushed the question aside, then smoothly shifted the subject.
"Lord Kai, what I really need is your help. Tell everyone scattered across this world to search for a divine sword lodged in a stone pillar at the heart of a lake."
"And if you're suspicious, just ask Future Trunks he knows far more about this realm than I do."
Levos smirked inwardly. If anyone was guilty of violating the laws of time, it was Trunks. No need to put his own head on the block…
Their group sped forward, racing across thousands of li in a blink, the serene beauty of the world below sweeping past them.
Soon, Cooler suddenly spoke.
"The approximate location is below."
They descended into a stone forest, towering columns of rock jutting up from the ground. At first glance they seemed chaotic, but on closer inspection there was a subtle order to their arrangement.
"Perhaps this was once an ancient site of this realm," Piccolo mused.
"Doesn't matter," Levos replied. "What matters is finding the android."
The group leapt down into the maze of colossal stone pillars.
Piccolo studied the jagged formations, awe in his voice.
"Magnificent…"
After a quick survey, Levos asked, "How do we search here?"
Cooler's voice was cold, decisive.
"Simple. Destroy everything. He'll come crawling out."
Energy spheres crackled into existence in his palms each one carrying power enough to annihilate planets.
"Wait!" Piccolo barked. "If you blast this place apart, we'll expose ourselves to the Dark Trio's senses!"
"Exactly," Levos added grimly. "Right now, we can't take on even one of them."
Bulma thought for a moment.
"Then let's split up and search separately."
"There's no need." Cooler clenched his fists, crushing the orbs of destruction in an instant. His voice was like ice.
"I'll just summon two more replicas."
Levos and Piccolo exchanged a glance. Both saw the same dread reflected in the other's eyes.
If there were only one Mechanical Cooler, Levos could fight evenly once his strength returned.
But if two more arrived… keeping Bulma and Piccolo safe would be nearly impossible.
Perhaps this was why Cooler hadn't struck at them earlier.
He was cold, calculating… maybe he had even factored in how long it would take Levos to recover.
Cooler's terrifying calm was suffocating.
Levos scowled. He hated this sense of helplessness especially with so much left undone.
Piccolo's telepathic voice rang sharp in his head.
"Levos, we can't sit here waiting. If we do, every plan we have will crumble!"
"What are you suggesting?" Levos asked, grim.
"Didn't you say you'd evolve first, then absorb him? Switch the order. Absorb Cooler now. We'll find the android after."
Levos's brows knit tight.
"Piccolo, I'm still injured. My stamina isn't fully back, and even Zamasu is hard to restrain. Absorbing Cooler like this…"
"We don't have a choice!" Piccolo's will was like iron. "Deal with Cooler now, and we'll have a chance. Release Zamasu just hold Cooler back long enough for me to act."
Levos considered it. Then nodded firmly.
"You're right. It's better than waiting to die."
He relayed the plan to Bulma.
This was no time for hesitation. Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance was better than none.
"I'm ready," Levos said at last. His voice was steady.
"Once I release Zamasu you'll know what to do."
He drew a deep breath, soaring up before Cooler.
"Hm?" Cooler tilted his head, suspicious.
Levos's hands flashed up to his forehead.
"Solar Flare!"
A blinding white light exploded outward, engulfing the entire stone forest.
In the same instant, Bulma scooped up Android 18 and bolted into the distance.
Levos's tail split wide, disgorging a writhing mass of Zamasu's purple flesh, hurling it straight at Cooler.
"Hmph!" Cooler scoffed, ripping the light apart with brute force. His claws shredded the flesh of Zamasu clean in half.
Then, ignoring the distraction, his body flickered streaking straight toward Bulma.
He wasn't blinded at all!
Levos's heart lurched.
"Block him!" Piccolo roared.
"One Hundred Times Kaiō-Ken!!"
Scarlet flames burst around Levos as his body screamed in agony. His muscles tore, blood spattered but he forced his battered frame forward, intercepting Cooler.
He swung with everything he had.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each fist was wrapped in crimson light, detonating shockwaves that warped space itself.
Yet Cooler did not dodge. He didn't even flinch. He simply tanked every blow.
Metal rang against flesh, sparks flying as Levos's knuckles smashed dents into Cooler's golden body. But still, the machine pressed forward relentlessly.
And then Cooler's clawed hand shot toward Bulma's shoulder.
"ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TIMES!" Levos roared, his mouth spilling blood. His eyes blazed.
His fist, driven by everything left in him, rocketed toward Cooler's head.
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