"Ken said your little brother will be my lifelong rival." Vegeta laughed and swept his arm. The royal palace on this planet went up in flames and collapsed into rubble.
"Uh… Kakarot, that guy? Is he really that strong? That can't be right. My mother told me when they sent him to Earth, his power level was only 2." Raditz gave a dry laugh.
"I'm curious what his power level is now," Vegeta said with a faint smile.
"Raditz, you'd better watch yourself. If his power level's higher than yours, you're gonna have a bad day," Nappa snickered.
Raditz fell silent.
If Kakarot's power level really is higher than mine, I'm in for it.
I'd better tread carefully.
"I'm almost at Earth," Raditz said, a hint of worry in his voice. He raised his eyes to the pale sphere hanging in the sky and muttered, "Why does Earth look like that color?"
"What?" Nappa blinked.
Raditz didn't answer.
A sharp hiss cut the sky.
His space pod tore through the atmosphere like a meteor.
With a thunderous boom, the pod slammed into the ground and left a massive crater behind.
The hatch creaked open. Raditz floated out.
One look at the planet's eerie state left him stunned.
He pressed the button on his scouter.
A glance at the readings only deepened his confusion.
"What is going on?" Raditz blurted.
"What is it, Raditz? Did Kakarot's power level already surpass yours?" Nappa asked, suddenly tense. "Tell me—what's the highest reading on that planet?"
"There is no Kakarot. And no humans. Not even animals. No—there isn't a single blade of grass," Raditz answered.
"Not a single living thing?" Nappa felt a chill.
"Nothing. Not one. This is a dead world." Raditz rose into the air and scanned the horizon.
"Wasn't Kakarot sent to Earth?" Nappa couldn't make sense of it.
Vegeta also looked puzzled.
Nappa turned to the prince for his judgment.
"Hmph. If you can't find him, then forget it. Maybe your brother died long ago." Vegeta's tone was indifferent. "What a pity. I thought he might grow into my lifelong rival, but it seems he couldn't even manage to survive on a single planet."
"Hahaha, yeah, exactly! I know my little brother best. A low-class warrior like him becoming Prince Vegeta's rival? Get real," Raditz laughed, then took off again, wandering the planet in search of anything edible.
Before long he descended into a ruined supermarket and found a stash of canned goods.
He popped one open, tasted it, and immediately spat it out.
"Disgusting! This tastes expired." He checked the production date, then used his scouter to estimate the local time.
Once he confirmed the time standard for "Earth," Raditz looked even more lost.
"Vegeta-sama, this is really strange," he said, holding up the can and frowning at the date.
"What is it?" Vegeta asked.
"Judging by this can's production date, it was made roughly three hundred years ago," Raditz muttered. "It's basically inedible—and it tastes… contaminated. Worse than dung."
"Hahaha! You've eaten dung?" Nappa burst out laughing.
Vegeta shot him a glare.
Nappa clamped a hand over his mouth and muttered, "Just trying to lighten the mood…"
"Oh? Three hundred years? So Earth was wiped out three centuries ago, is that what you're saying?" Vegeta snorted. "Poor Kakarot. The would-be rival of my lifetime probably starved to death on that planet."
"Maybe so… poor guy, just dead like that," Raditz sighed, then asked, "Prince Vegeta, should I head back? Damn, what a waste of time. The return trip will take a year, won't it?"
"No. Go straight to the rendezvous world. Half a year from your side, half a year from ours," Vegeta ordered.
"Slow down on purpose," Nappa added with a grin. "The fighters on that world aren't weak. If you die on the way, who's gonna clean up after us?"
"Understood." Raditz lifted off—then paused when he caught sight of a huge vortex forming high above.
He hovered and stared up at it.
"What is that? A vortex at least a hundred meters wide," he muttered, tapping his scouter.
"A vortex?" Vegeta frowned. "If you're curious, go look. Why ask so many questions?"
"Right… I'll take a look," Raditz nodded.
"Use your pod," Nappa advised. "If you get sucked into space, you're toast."
"Good point," Raditz replied, diving back into the space pod.
He guided the pod toward the vortex and craned his neck to peer inside.
He saw… nothing.
Just more vortex.
"…"
"Anything?" Nappa asked over the scouter link.
"No… can't see a thing," Raditz replied.
"Hmph. No need to chase after that low-class warrior," Vegeta said. "Get back here. Worst case, we let the Saibamen clean up the mess."
"Yes, Prince Vegeta," Raditz answered.
But just as he was about to pull away, the vortex's pull spiked. The space pod was yanked in and swallowed whole.
The cabin bucked violently. Raditz was nearly spun senseless.
In the blink of an eye, the pod burst out—above Earth in Universe 6.
"Where am I? This world looks… different!" Raditz gasped.
At the same time, Vegeta and Nappa exchanged a look.
The scouters showed Raditz's signal had vanished.
Yet his voice still came through from… somewhere, broken and faint.
"What's he saying?" Nappa asked.
"Hmph. Looks like the vortex sucked him away," Vegeta said flatly.
"Where could it dump him? Somewhere even a scouter can't reach?" Nappa wondered.
"If you don't know, how would I?" Vegeta huffed. "Shame. There goes one of our cleanup crew."
"So… once we finish here, do we go seize that other planet?" Nappa asked. "It's just the two of us, but we should manage."
Vegeta didn't object. He casually blasted a few resisting aliens aside.
…
Universe 6, Earth.
Raditz's pod hung high in the sky. He stared, surprised, at the beautiful planet below.
Side by side, the two Earths were night and day—one paradise, one hell.
He glanced down and spotted a human on the ground.
Beside the human waddled a weird-looking turkey.
The man wore a straw hat and held a pitchfork, working at something in the field.
"What is this place? I'll ask," Raditz said, dropping the pod to land near the farmer.
The farmer gaped at the sphere falling from the heavens.
"What in the…?" he murmured, snatching up the rifle at his side and leveling it at the pod.
The hatch clicked. Raditz stepped out.
Seeing the strange man, the farmer's eyes bulged even wider.
"Wh-Who are you?" The farmer raised the rifle and aimed at Raditz's chest.
Raditz tapped his scouter.
"Power level 5. Trash," he chuckled.
"D-Don't come any closer!" the farmer blanched.
"Hey, you. What is this place?" Raditz asked with a lazy grin.
"Th-This… this is Landos… Landos Village," the farmer stammered.
"What's this planet called?" Raditz's face darkened.
"E-Earth!" the farmer blurted, then, wide-eyed, asked, "Are you… an alien?"
"Earth? You're saying this is Earth? For real?" Raditz laughed.
The farmer fell silent.
Raditz strode closer.
"Stop! Take another step and I'll shoot!" the farmer barked, panicking.
Raditz ignored him.
The gun cracked.
Raditz snatched the bullet out of the air and flicked it with his thumb.
"Gaaaa—monster!" the farmer shrieked, staggering back.
Raditz flicked again. The bullet pinged into the farmer's skull. He crumpled.
"Ignorant species," Raditz sneered, pressing his scouter's comm switch. "Prince Vegeta, Nappa—can you hear me? You won't believe this. Earth's got surprises. This is downright bizarre."
No response.
"That's odd… No signal? I've lost both Prince Vegeta and Nappa," Raditz frowned and jabbed a few more times.
Beep-beep.
A power reading flared.
"Power level, 322. Is that you, Kakarot?" Raditz smiled. "Hiding deep, aren't you? Did you think diving into a vortex to another Earth would keep me from finding you? Distance… a little over forty-eight hundred kilometers. Only 322? With that, you think you'll become Prince Vegeta's rival?"
He shook his head in disdain and shot into the sky.
…
A green plateau.
Piccolo was training.
He suddenly sensed a tremendous energy racing toward him.
Cold sweat broke out along his spine.
"Such a massive ki… coming straight for me. Is it Son Goku?" Piccolo's heart hammered.
Moments later, he saw the owner of that energy: a long-haired man with jet-black hair streaking through the air.
"Not Son Goku?" Piccolo's pupils tightened.
If it isn't Goku, how can he have this much power?
Who is this guy?
Raditz landed with a thud in front of him.
"So you're not Kakarot." Raditz looked disappointed. "Figures. A Saiyan wouldn't have such a low power level—even a low-class one."
"What are you, and what do you want with me?" Piccolo glared.
"You're useless to me. I'll just erase you," Raditz said, already signing Piccolo's death warrant in his head.
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to? Do you have a death wish?" Piccolo was terrified, but he didn't back down.
"You're awfully full of yourself for a 322. You're not my opponent," Raditz smirked.
"You… you bastard! Do you know who I am? I'm Piccolo Daimaou!" The title felt strangely weightless as it left his mouth.
Raditz stared at him with calm, mocking eyes.
Piccolo's body went clammy with sweat.
"Yaaaah!" he roared, trying to brace his courage.
A thunderous blast erupted from his hands, engulfing Raditz in a flood of energy. Dust billowed.
When the smoke cleared, Raditz stood there without a scratch.
"You're laughably weak. All you did was kick up dirt," Raditz said, his smirk deepening.
Piccolo's face went from green to ashen, sweat beading on his brow.
"My turn. I'll show you a real attack." Raditz flexed his right hand. Ki gathered in his palm.
Piccolo trembled.
Beep-beep-beep!
Another power signal pinged on Raditz's scouter.
"Another reading," he muttered, glancing off to the side before lifting into the air.
Piccolo blinked.
Don't go. I might be able to stall you… a little.
"There. Over twelve thousand kilometers," Raditz murmured. "Not bad. Probably the strongest on this planet. Still not even a thousand. This one must be Kakarot."
He became a streak and shot toward Goku.
He tried the comm again with Vegeta and Nappa.
Still nothing.
Weird.
Whatever.
Prince Vegeta, you were overthinking it.
Kakarot with this kind of power… your lifelong rival? Hardly.
I'll kill him today.
Put your mind at ease.
Wait—he's my little brother. Should I beat him to death?
It's fine. I'm a Saiyan.
We don't blink at killing our own.
…
Kame House.
Bulma's copter touched down on the tiny island.
She hopped out, stepped to the doorway, and called as she walked inside.
"Ah—Bulma-san!" Master Roshi said, a bit surprised.
"It's Bulma-san!" Krillin smiled.
"What a rare guest. Long time no see!" Roshi bustled over. "You kids are so cold-hearted—I kept inviting you to visit and you never came."
"This is for you." Bulma handed him a bag of snacks.
"You shouldn't have," Roshi chuckled, scratching his head as he took them.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded outside.
"Hey? That's Goku," Krillin said, delighted.
Bulma turned toward the door as well.
They all stepped out—and there was Son Goku on the beach.
"Goku!" Krillin beamed. It had been a while.
Bulma waved with a smile—then noticed the small child in Goku's arms. "And who's this?" she asked, curious.
"Are you babysitting?" Krillin asked.
"He's my son," Goku grinned.
"Huh? Your son?!"
Roshi, Krillin, and Bulma chorused in shock, each more stunned than the last.
"What's so strange about that? Gohan, say hello," Goku said gently.
"Hello. I'm Son Gohan. I'm four years old," the boy said shyly.
The three of them returned the greeting at once.
"Son Gohan? Isn't that your late grandpa's name?" Roshi blinked.
"Yeah," Goku nodded.
"I'm shocked. You've already got a kid…" Roshi sighed and glanced at Krillin.
Krillin: …
Don't look at me. I don't even have a girlfriend.
"Krillin, you're the only one left. Among my living students, you're the only one without a child," Roshi said.
Krillin choked on air.
Why specify living students?
Right, Goku's grandpa was your student too.
He died—and didn't have a kid.
Goku was adopted.
"Eh? A tail?" Bulma suddenly noticed the furry tail behind Gohan.
"Yup. Just like I had when I was little, right?" Goku laughed.
Old memories flickered through Bulma's mind.
That boy named Ken.
Only a month or two older than me.
And then—gone, without a trace.
The little blue guy said he was going to become a god… to molt into a true angel.
He said it'd take twenty-four years.
I'm twenty-nine now. Twenty-four years have passed.
Why hasn't he come to find me?
That little blue guy doesn't drop by anymore either…
The past is the past. Best not to look back.
Bulma's heart felt sealed away, hard to open again.
"Any odd behavior from the kid?" Krillin asked suddenly.
"Odd?" Goku blinked, not following.
"Like on full-moon nights—any… special changes?" Roshi asked, suddenly anxious.
"Full moon? We go to bed early," Goku said.
"Turning in early, are we? Planning baby number two?" Roshi asked, far too curious.
Goku: "???"
He stared, baffled.
What's going to bed early got to do with a second baby?
"What do you mean?" he asked, perplexed.
"Can you talk like a normal person?" Bulma snapped.
"I didn't say anything," Roshi replied with a wicked grin.
"Do you remember someone grabbing your shell and slamming you around?" Bulma huffed.
Roshi flinched and went pale.
"We agreed never to mention that," he hissed.
"Hmph," Bulma snorted.
"What was that?" Krillin leaned in, nosy.
"None of your business. Go find a girlfriend," Roshi barked.
"Didn't you say I'd get a girlfriend when I became your student?" Krillin scratched his bald head and grinned.
"I said when you became my student, you'd bring your master a girlfriend," Roshi corrected.
Krillin shut up instantly and changed the subject. He ruffled Gohan's hair and asked Goku, "Is he as strong as you were?"
"I think so. He's really strong. But Chi-Chi won't let me train him… Every time I try, she gets mad," Goku sighed.
"Why? That's a shame," Krillin lamented.
"She says the world's at peace now and there's no need to fight. It's time to study," Goku explained.
"Haha, never thought that mischievous little girl would turn into an education-minded mom," Roshi laughed.
"Hey, the thing on Gohan's hat—is that a Dragon Ball?" Bulma leaned in to look at the Four-Star Ball set in Gohan's cap.
"Yeah. The Four-Star Ball—my grandpa's keepsake. I found it and put it on his hat," Goku said. "Then I happened to find a few more. They're at home. Seeing them brought back a lot of memories…"
"It really does," Bulma murmured.
"Bulma, that person you used to mention—Ken… Does he really exist? Is he from my race?" Goku asked.
"Yeah. He's different from you, though. His goal is to become a true god," Bulma said, tapping her temple.
"A true god? Like the Guardian?" Krillin asked.
"No," Bulma shook her head. "Compared to what he's aiming for, Earth's God is nothing. Ken wants to become the greatest god in the entire universe."
"The entire universe, huh…" Krillin gazed up at the sky.
Goku suddenly snapped his head toward a distant patch of sky. His face tightened.
"What is it, Goku?" Krillin asked.
"Something's coming," Goku said, voice low, fists clenching.
"Is it the Ken you mentioned?" Krillin looked up.
"Could it really be Ken? That little blue guy said he should molt into a true angel this year," Bulma said.
A sharp whistle.
Raditz dropped from the sky and landed in front of them.
Goku's eyes widened, his brows knotting as he stared the newcomer down.
Bulma and the others startled, having no idea where this stranger had come from.
…
Universe 9, deep space.
Quitela was quickly beaten unconscious by Broly and Majin Buu.
He didn't dare fight back; he knew if he did, the beating would only get worse.
Better to take the hits. Maybe once they've vented, they'll let me go.
Just before he blacked out, Quitela regretted running his mouth.
Why did I provoke them?
Why did I go looking for trouble?
And this angel… he's way too strong.
"He's out!" Buu's eyes lit up. He grabbed Quitela by the collar like a kitten.
"Hmph," Broly grunted, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"Turn him into chocolate… I want a crunchy one. God of Destruction chocolate is the tastiest," Buu drooled, already smacking his lips.
Broly glanced at Ken for a decision.
"Do as you like," Ken said, completely unconcerned.
It's just a God of Destruction.
No big deal.
Especially one who picked the fight.
If he dies, he dies.
"Chocolate it is," Buu beamed. The antenna on his head twitched; purple energy began to gather.
But just as he fired—
A figure flashed into being.
Buu squinted, scratching his head. He'd seen this person somewhere before.
Broly instantly flew forward and dropped to one knee.
The newcomer was the Grand Priest.
Ken also stepped up and bowed.
Seeing even Broly kneel, Buu slapped Quitela aside and hurried to kneel as well.
"First, congratulations, Ken—congratulations on your metamorphosis into a true angel," the Grand Priest said with a warm smile.
"Thank you," Ken replied with a courteous bow.
"But this is my first time seeing an angel with a tail…" the Grand Priest added, eyeing the silver tail swaying behind Ken.
The gleaming tail made Ken even more striking.
"Hard to believe twenty-four years have already passed…" the Grand Priest sighed. "You've got six years left. How goes your search for a Supreme Kai?"
"Only six years, huh," Ken said, unbothered. "No problem. That's plenty of time. I'll turn him into an excellent Supreme Kai. By the way, what exactly does the examination cover?"
"There's a theory component, and there's a combat component," the Grand Priest explained. "Supreme Kais don't need overwhelming battle prowess, but they must at least possess respectable strength by mortal standards. Above all, they cannot be like Universe 7's Supreme Kai—who surrendered an entire universe to Mister Buu."
Majin Buu: "???"
Are you talking about me?
Universe 7's Supreme Kai?
Uh… now I remember. I ate two of them, blasted one away…
And the last one nearly wet himself when he saw me.
"Got it," Ken nodded, committing it to memory.
Still… that theory part might trip Goku up.
Combat will be fine. Theory… we'll need to fix that.
"Can I get the key points?" Ken asked.
The Grand Priest: "…"
Key points?
What do you think this is, a pop quiz?
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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