"I came to brief you about the Supreme Kai examination," the Grand Priest smiled. He paused, then added, "And make time to visit Universe 18 more often. Its future rests on you."
"What about him?" Ken pointed at the unconscious Quitela. "If I kill him, you won't object, right?"
The Grand Priest: "…"
You really do say the quiet part out loud.
"I don't object. But before that—Broly has already killed the Gods of Destruction of Universe 3 and Universe 9, which caused both universes' Supreme Kais to vanish as well," the Grand Priest said after a moment. "Right now, both their Gods of Destruction and Supreme Kais are gone. Broly did the deed, and Broly is your trainee, so there must be a penalty."
"What kind of penalty?" Ken asked, unhurried.
"Let Broly and Buu take over as the new Gods of Destruction of Universe 3 and Universe 9," the Grand Priest proposed, looking at Ken. "Considering it's a first offense—and because those two Gods of Destruction were out of line—I'll even help you choose their new Supreme Kais."
Ken: "…"
"So you'll have to cultivate another God of Destruction to succeed your own universe's post," the Grand Priest said pleasantly, as if everything were already arranged.
Ken was speechless.
Merus and I worked so hard to raise our Gods of Destruction, and now you swept them into other universes?
Great. So they're another angel's Gods of Destruction now?
"As for Quitela… do you have a suitable God of Destruction to put forward?" the Grand Priest asked with a smile.
"I get it. Until I find a replacement, you want me to spare his mangy life. That it?" Ken said, catching on.
The Grand Priest: "…"
Is that really how you understood it?
"I can leave him alive, but we're not letting him skate," Ken mused. "I plan to give him a proper thrashing."
The Grand Priest held his tongue.
You haven't thrashed him enough already?
"By the way, Grand Priest, why is my halo a different color than yours?" Ken pointed to the pale-amber ring around his neck.
"Don't overthink the color. It's like your skin—yours is yellow; most angels are blue," the Grand Priest explained with a smile. "Halos generally correspond to skin tone. Ours being blue is normal, and yours being that hue is also… perfectly fine."
Ken: "…"
Can't even argue with that.
Weirdly convincing, too.
"Will the color ever change?" Ken asked.
"At least, mine never has," the Grand Priest shook his head.
"And why is my halo around my neck while yours is behind your head?" Ken asked again.
The Grand Priest: "…"
"When you sit in my seat one day, yours will sit behind your head, too," the Grand Priest said with a chuckle.
"No way. I've never once thought about staging a palace coup," Ken said, vigorously shaking his head.
The Grand Priest had no response.
A brief silence.
"No more than two months. Once I find the Supreme Kais, those two will assume office in their respective universes," the Grand Priest finished, his figure already turning translucent. "Also, inform Merus. Tell him to make time to cultivate a new God of Destruction."
"All right… you're the Grand Priest. You call it," Ken sighed.
Fine, we'll cultivate another one.
It's not like I'm busy.
Raise a new God of Destruction—done.
No big deal, really.
And if Broly becomes a true God of Destruction, I'll be happy for him.
With a flicker of light, the Grand Priest was gone.
He didn't belabor Quitela's fate.
Broly and Majin Buu rose to their feet at once.
"Carry on," Ken waved to Broly.
Broly nodded and put a boot into Quitela.
Buu zipped to the far side, caught the mouse god with his head, slapped him skyward, and spiked him back.
Bang! Bang!
Out among the stars, the two of them batted Quitela around like a ball.
Ken didn't stop them. He lifted his staff and opened a line to Merus.
When the unfamiliar call came through, Merus first looked perplexed—then answered.
A rich baritone flowed from the staff's crystal.
"Merus, long time no see. You doing well?" Ken said.
Merus peered through the crystal and saw a handsome face—beneath which floated a pale-amber halo.
"This is…" Merus's eyes widened in disbelief.
As a trainee angel, he put it together quickly.
"Y-You're Ken? You've already molted into a true angel? That's fantastic!" Merus said, delighted.
"Not bad, right?" Ken smiled, flashing pristine white teeth.
"Your complexion… and the halo color on your neck are certainly unique," Merus admitted, a little awed.
"Right? I think so, too," Ken nodded. "Grand Priest dropped by earlier. He said halo color tracks skin tone. That about it?"
"More or less," Merus smiled, then apologized. "I'm sorry I didn't stay by your side. I am your best friend, after all, but—"
"Don't say that, Merus. My best friend is Broly," Ken replied.
Merus: "…"
Right in the chest.
I thought I was your best friend…
Turns out it's Broly.
And Buu's best friend is probably Broly, too.
Then who's Broly's best friend?
Don't tell me it's Ken…
Eavesdropping nearby, Broly's ears perked. Hearing Ken's words, he lit up—and hit Quitela that much harder.
"I knew while the cosmic essence was condensing into an angel, you'd be immune to all attacks. There was nothing I could do, so I didn't linger," Merus explained, a tad embarrassed.
After all, Broly and Buu stayed.
Leaving as a trainee angel… I do feel a bit guilty.
"It's fine. I knew you knew," Ken smiled. "That's why I called you first."
"Thanks for thinking of me first—after becoming a real angel," Merus said with a grin.
"No, you're mistaken, Merus. The first angel I thought of was your sister, Vados," Ken said honestly.
Merus wiped imaginary sweat.
Maybe don't say it that directly?
"Anyway… I'm still the first angel you actually called, right?" Merus tried to salvage a sliver of pride.
"I've got good news and bad news. Which first?" Ken asked.
Merus: "???"
Right—Grand Priest went to see him. This must be important.
"Good news," Merus decided.
"Good news is: I've become a true angel," Ken said.
Merus stared.
That's your good news.
I already knew that.
"And the bad?" he asked.
"The Gods of Destruction we spent ages cultivating? Your dad swept both of them," Ken said with a sigh.
"Swept… what do you mean?" Merus blinked, slow to react.
"In no more than two months, the two of them are going to Universe 9 and Universe 3 to take over as new Gods of Destruction," Ken said.
Merus: "…"
"I mean, it tracks… both are dead. They're fitting choices," Merus admitted with a wry smile. "Still—what a curveball."
"So your dad's point is: you and I each need to cultivate a fresh God of Destruction," Ken exhaled.
"All right, I understand," Merus nodded.
Something felt… off to Ken.
"Your face is super calm, Merus. What are you hiding?" Ken narrowed his eyes.
"Heh-heh! You caught me," Merus grinned, excited.
Ken: "???"
"I'll be frank," Merus said. "I expected this. Broly killed two Gods of Destruction, which erased their Supreme Kais. Normally, the harshest penalty would be Broly's life. But Broly and Buu are our God of Destruction—and Sidra of Universe 9 and Mosco of Universe 3 were the ones who provoked first. They nearly caused your erasure."
"So the 'penalty' being a transfer appointment makes sense," Ken followed. "Which means you already scouted a candidate and started training him, right?"
"You're sharp…" Merus opened his mouth, then didn't deny it.
"Show him off," Ken said.
"He's not with me," Merus shook his head.
"Not with you? Which universe is he from?" Ken asked.
"Sorry—let me keep that under wraps for now," Merus chuckled.
"You won't even say the universe?" Ken blinked.
"Not yet. I'll tell you when the time's right… How about another tournament? A God of Destruction vs. God of Destruction bout. Last time my God of Destruction lost to yours. This time I won't," Merus said.
"Make it six years from now. We'll pair it with the Supreme Kai exam," Ken decided.
"Want to push it further? You did have a twenty-four-year blank, after all," Merus offered, sympathetic.
"We'll see about timing," Ken said after thinking it over. "First, I need to confirm something. My next God of Destruction will be Vegeta. You didn't pick him, did you?"
"No, no—definitely not," Merus promised, though he was puzzled. "You're sure about your prince? Talented, yes, but not starting from the same line as Broly."
"I'm sure," Ken nodded.
"Then it's settled—six years from now, our Supreme Kais and our Gods of Destruction will face their exams," Merus said with confidence. "Give my regards to Buu and Broly."
"No need. They're right here playing ball," Ken said. "I'll have them say hi."
"Can they see through the crystal?" Merus asked.
"I've got it," Ken said, projecting the image outward. He waved Buu and Broly over.
They flew in.
"Merus," Broly greeted with a raised hand.
"Heh-heh," Buu grinned, then muttered, "I don't like you. I like Broly."
He edged closer to Broly as he said it.
Broly shivered. A sudden chill.
Ken: "…"
I've been around the past twenty-four years. I know you two didn't do anything.
Otherwise, Buu… people would take that the wrong way.
Hearing Buu's voice, Merus was speechless.
After all the training I gave you—you just don't like me?
And why do I sound like a spurned lover in my head…
Whatever.
He's about to transfer to Universe 9 or 3 anyway.
Soon, not my problem.
"Broly's grown," Merus said, smiling. "You Saiyans' features settle around this age, right?"
"More or less," Ken nodded.
"Broly, Buu—before long, you'll be posted to Universe 3 and Universe 9 as new Gods of Destruction. Listen to your angels. Don't be as headstrong as before," Merus counseled.
"Yes," Broly answered.
Buu looked bored out of his mind.
"The main duty of a God of Destruction is to eliminate unbalanced, purposeless worlds. Once appointed, work closely with your Supreme Kais. Only then can your universes move toward a better future," Merus went on. "The two universes you're going to have been without Gods of Destruction and Supreme Kais for twenty-four years. They're already sliding toward decline—"
"Enough! One more word and I'll turn you into chocolate," Buu snapped, teeth clenched.
Merus: "…"
"Ken already told us that stuff," Buu huffed.
"You briefed them?" Merus asked, giving Ken a strained smile.
"Yeah. I laid out the basics before calling you," Ken nodded.
"Then I won't repeat myself," Merus said without offense.
"Done? I'm still playing," Buu grumbled.
"Playing?" Merus tilted his head.
"This," Buu said, snatching a perfectly round "ball."
To improve the bounce, he'd wrapped Quitela in a layer of pink flesh, rolling him into a sphere.
So Merus's first glance saw a bubblegum-pink ball.
"Volleyball?" Merus smiled, not thinking too hard.
"Ball, say something," Buu said, pointing.
The pink sheath slithered back into Buu's hand and merged with his body.
A beat later, Merus saw the balled-up Quitela.
"That… that's Lord Quitela?" Merus's eyes went wide.
"Ball, wake up. Say hi to Merus," Buu said, slapping Quitela twice across the face.
Quitela jerked awake.
He saw Merus on the projection—and grabbed the chance like a lifeline, dropping to his knees.
"Lord Merus… save me… they're going to beat me to death!" Quitela sobbed.
Merus: "…"
You guys really know how to have fun.
How did Quitela end up with you, too?
"Ken… with Universe 3 and Universe 9's Gods of Destruction dead, we really can't afford another death," Merus pleaded, half-laughing. "We need fresh blood ready to step in."
Quitela's ears twitched. He stared, stunned.
The Gods of Destruction of Universe 3 and 9 are dead?
Since when?
His processor spun up.
He remembered what Broly had begun to say:
Mosco of Universe 3, Sidra of Universe 9, and Mule, who controlled Mosco…
But Ken's metamorphosis had interrupted the explanation.
He hadn't understood why Broly brought it up. Now Merus's words made it click.
Mosco and Sidra are dead? Ken killed them?
This is a disaster.
Quitela imagined the torments about to befall him. Cold sweat poured down his temples; his mind went blank.
"Merus, send your freshly trained God of Destruction to Universe 4," Ken suggested.
Merus: "???"
"The Grand Priest said if I kill Quitela, I'll need to cultivate a new one to take Universe 4's post. I don't have a candidate ready. Yours is just in time," Ken said, staff in hand, gaze intent.
Quitela shuddered, face turning bloodless.
So he does plan to kill me…
Merus: "…"
Was I not clear?
If you kill him, how long before a competent one appears?
No one else has Broly or Buu's talent—or their luck.
It takes decades—seventy, eighty years—to grow a real God of Destruction.
A universe without one and a Supreme Kai rots. In time, Zeno-sama will erase it.
Universe 7's God of Destruction and Supreme Kai may slack off—but as long as they live, the universe won't collapse. If they die, the structure fails, and problems bloom.
"Ken, take a look at Universe 9 and Universe 3 now. It's only been twenty-some years, and things already look bad," Merus urged again.
"So you're not lending me your trainee?" Ken sighed. "Don't be stingy."
"Say what? Ah—my staff's signal is getting spotty… Ken, let's talk later! For now, go find your new God of Destruction," Merus said—and cut the call.
Ken wore a faint, thoughtful smile.
The little angel's grown up.
More shrewd than before.
Old Merus wouldn't have wriggled like that.
When the call ended, Ken looked over at Quitela—bruised, swollen, pitiful.
Quitela trembled, green with fear.
"He changed color," Buu pointed out.
"Interesting reaction," Broly nodded.
Quitela was terrified. He dropped to his knees before Ken, sobbing for mercy.
"Quitela, I prefer you cocky," Ken said, patting his head.
Quitela felt his skull split. He shook harder.
What kind of monster did I provoke?
"You're lucky. I don't have a ready God of Destruction. So you have two choices," Ken said with an easy smile.
"Please, Lord Ken," Quitela blurted.
"Option one: I beat you to death," Ken said.
"No—" Quitela waved his hands frantically, shaking like a leaf.
"Option two: I beat you to death after I train your replacement," Ken mused.
Quitela's face went blank with despair.
"Of course, if you behave until then, I might spare your life," Ken added, still smiling.
"Yes! I'll behave, Lord Ken!" Quitela brightened, an enormous weight lifting off his chest.
So I still have a chance to live.
I nearly died of fright.
"But just because I've cooled off doesn't mean those two have," Ken said, glancing at Broly and Buu.
"I—I get it!" Quitela blurted. He tucked himself into a ball and chopped himself on the head.
He knocked himself out cold.
Ken: "…"
"Shall we continue?" Buu asked Broly.
"A little longer," Broly agreed.
"If you accidentally kill him, I won't complain," Ken clapped Broly's shoulder. "Gods of Destruction aren't rare. The universe is big. We'll find one."
"Mm," Broly said.
They launched into another round, smacking the mouse-god-ball through space.
Ken watched the two who had kept him company for twenty-four years. He didn't stop them.
Seeing them happy made him happy.
Even if they did beat Quitela to death, Ken wouldn't scold them.
Worst case, he'd go find another God of Destruction and train him up. Hardly the end of the world.
Then Ken lifted his staff again and tried to reach Vados.
…
Universe 6, Earth.
A specialty restaurant.
Vados sipped coffee and savored dessert, one eyebrow flicking now and then in a little dance.
She'd figured it out long ago: rather than freeload at Bulma's, better to seek out Earth's culinary scene herself.
For an angel, getting money on Earth wasn't exactly hard.
Just as she was enjoying herself, the staff inside her body gave a small tremor.
Vados raised her right hand; the staff appeared.
"My, my… Ken. You've finally become a true angel?" Vados peered through the crystal and smiled. "You've gotten much more handsome."
"Vados, remember what I said? Once I became a true angel, I'd come marry you," Ken said with a straight face.
Vados: "…"
"You remembered that?" Vados put a hand to her forehead, at a loss.
"Of course. Becoming a true angel—just to marry you," Ken said, smiling.
Vados had no words.
You call that "just" becoming a true angel?
You barely faced any hardship at all.
Not even thirty years and you're already there.
"You want to marry me… Well, I don't mind," Vados said airily, inspiration striking. "But you'll need my father's blessing."
"You mean I should propose to the Grand Priest," Ken said, smacking his own forehead. "Damn, I forgot to ask when he was just here."
"Ask away. If Father agrees, I have no objections," Vados giggled, popping a bite of cake into her mouth and swaying like a happy girl, even cuter than usual.
Watching her, Ken felt a wave of fondness.
So Vados has a side this adorable.
"You're on Earth?" Ken noticed humans moving behind her.
"Mm-hmm. And thanks to you swapping the Earths back then, Universe 6's Earth is right here for me to enjoy," Vados said brightly. "This planet is one big buffet—not just Bulma's kitchen."
"You're not at Bulma's?" Ken asked.
"Always freeloading would be rude, so I snagged a few tons of gold on another planet and exchanged it for cash here," Vados said, grinning as she lowered her voice. "I'm worth at least five billion now—enough to eat well for a long while."
Ken: "…"
Incorrigible foodie.
"Oh, and by the way—one of your people came from Universe 7 to Earth. He's chatting with Son Goku-san and the others right now," Vados added.
Ken blinked, momentarily lost.
"From Universe 7 to Universe 6's Earth? How'd he cross?" Ken asked.
He knew what point in time this was—Raditz's arrival.
But the Earths had been swapped between Universe 6 and 7.
Raditz shouldn't be able to find Goku.
"Well, I promised Bulma-san years ago I'd help her keep in touch with her sister Tights. I used the Super Dragon to open a passageway between the two Earths," Vados explained. "Later, the Galactic Patrol modified a satellite on Universe 7's Earth to relay signals here. That way, they can talk by phone. It is inter-universe, though—spotty service, lots of dropouts."
"You didn't just give Bulma or Tights communicators?" Ken asked.
"I gave Bulma a communicator, and Merus gave Tights one. They could have called directly," Vados said with a smile. "But Bulma's scatterbrained. She dropped hers behind the couch and never found it. I didn't tell her, so they're stuck using the old-fashioned line."
Ken had no words.
After chatting a bit longer, he remembered he needed to propose to the Grand Priest.
"Wait there, Vados. I'll call your father and have him marry you to me," Ken said, excited.
Vados: "…"
Ken ended the call and tried the Grand Priest.
No matter how he pinged, the call wouldn't connect.
"What?" Ken frowned.
Am I doing this wrong?
…
Zeno's Palace.
The Grand Priest watched the crystal on his staff flicker again and again—and didn't answer.
"Ne, Grand Priest, why aren't you picking up?" Zeno asked, curious.
(End of Chapter)
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