Ken combed the white planet with care, using his staff like an amplifier to sweep every inch.
After about ten minutes, he stopped over one spot.
"Doesn't feel like anyone's here… Am I hearing things? Maybe I'm just not used to this angel body yet," he murmured. "But I can sense plenty of angelic ki on this world. If I draw it in and refine it, could I push my purity to seventy?"
The thought struck; he didn't hesitate. He raised his staff high.
"Collect."
With that single word, the staff began ravenously drinking in the planet's angelic ki. An invisible gale rolled across the surface; scattered cosmic essence—those glittering motes—whirled together and streamed for the staff's crystal.
"W-wait, stop!" a girl's voice cried, suddenly panicked.
What are you doing? Are you trying to absorb me?
"Hm?" Ken glanced around. "Weird… there it is again. That voice. Am I really still not synced with this new body?"
A scream—young, sharp—cut across the air, then slipped straight into the staff.
A beat later, that same voice slid from the staff into Ken himself.
A flash.
The girl fused into him.
"Ugh…" Ken hissed.
That was… a strange feeling.
What was that? It felt like a girl dove straight at me and—yeah, that's a visual I didn't need.
He didn't dare get careless and immediately checked within.
Inside, deep in his core, he found her: a breathtakingly pretty girl, all perfect lines and impossible poise, with silver-white hair spilling to her shoulders. She was no bigger than his thumb. A slim staff rested in her hands, and a pale blue halo circled her neck.
Ken: "???"
A female angel? Rare—and her skin tone's close to mine.
"Let me out!" she snapped, eyes flashing.
"Cat got your tongue earlier. Not anymore, huh?" Ken said, all smiles.
Amarella: "…"
"I wasn't faking it. My body's too depleted… hard to hold a stable form," she said, voice small.
"You really are worn down. Looks like you'd shatter if I breathe on you," Ken said after a careful look.
She pressed her lips together and said nothing.
"What's your name, little angel?" Ken asked, curious.
"Amarella," she said.
"Right. Vados mentioned you," Ken said, snapping his fingers as it clicked. "You were Universe 18's angel. Loved your universe so much you went down with it when it vanished."
He gave her a frank once-over.
Name fits—you're… exquisitely put together.
"Let me out," Amarella repeated.
"You're too weak. If I let you out now, how long till you can even walk? As you are, getting two hours in a proper body per day would be a miracle," Ken said.
She nodded faintly. It was true. Ever since Universe 18 had begun its slow return, she'd been recovering with it. But she was so depleted she couldn't leave this white planet—bound to it, and bone-deep lonely.
"Why that name? Angel names aren't usually like… that," Ken asked.
"The naming system glitched. Stuck me with it," she replied, deadpan.
"What a coincidence. We Saiyans had a naming system glitch too. That's how I ended up Ken," he sighed. "Fate, huh?"
Amarella: "…"
"Since fate's so kind, I'll nourish you with my essence," Ken declared, as if making some noble sacrifice. "Angels should help each other—right?"
Her heart lifted… and then his next line landed.
"On the condition it doesn't slow my training. If I feel a drain, I toss you out."
Amarella: "…"
Touched for nothing.
"In that case, let me out now," she said, half laughing, half crying.
"You sure?" Ken asked.
She nodded.
He swept the staff once.
Light peeled off him—and Amarella stepped into the air, now full-sized, as flawless and delicate as he'd seen inside.
Broly and Majin Buu both blinked, trading looks.
"Thanks," Amarella said.
"No problem," Ken waved.
"Well then… goodbye," she said, holding his gaze a beat longer than necessary.
"Come on, Broly, Buu—Earth. Feast time," Ken called, already lifting off.
Earth. Feast.
Amarella lifted her eyes to the endless blank of the Null Realm above, then down to the bleached, empty world below. Loneliness pinched her face.
"Take me, too," she blurted—and in a spray of starry light, flowed right back into Ken.
Ken: "…"
That's… bold.
"Who was the one begging to be let out?" he said dryly.
"Let bygones be bygones," she chimed, airy.
"Ground rules. If you drag down the purity of my angelic ki, I absorb you. Completely," Ken warned.
"I won't. I'll help you—fast-track a true God of Destruction and a new Supreme Kai," Amarella said. After two beats, she added, "New ones."
"So you know a lot. You know I'm a Saiyan who became an angel," Ken said.
"I do. And that you're Universe 18's trainee angel," she replied.
"Universe 18 has nothing left. Maybe I should switch universes," Ken muttered, tempted.
Amarella refused to dignify that with a reply.
"We'll think about it later. First—food," Ken grinned, tapping his staff to the ground as radiant light burst off him.
"Hey, Broly—that woman just dove into Ken," Buu whispered.
Broly nodded.
"Same way you dove into me back then," Buu added helpfully.
Broly: "…"
He almost gagged.
"Don't make me sick," he glared.
Buu: "???"
When did I—never mind.
Ken flared like a falling star and ripped into the Null Realm, arrowing toward Universe 6.
As they crossed into open space there, Amarella drew a long breath.
The taste of starlight was wonderful.
"Mmm. The scent of the cosmos," she sighed.
"That's not the cosmos," Ken said without looking. "That's me."
Amarella: "…"
Mood: ruined.
"Can you not?" she glared, even from inside.
"You're nested in my body and you talk back? Want me to toss you out now?" Ken teased.
She swallowed a retort.
"We're angels. No point in bickering… We should get along," she said meekly after a moment.
…
Universe 6, Earth.
Goku sped through the blue on the Flying Nimbus, Piccolo pacing him.
"We're close. Let's drop in," Goku said, checking the Dragon Radar.
"Just dive," Piccolo said.
Goku blinked. "Why?"
"He's got a strange device. It reads position and power," Piccolo said.
"Then he already knows we're coming," Goku said.
"He does," Piccolo nodded.
"Head-on it is," Goku grit his teeth.
…
Raditz had tossed Gohan into the pod, letting the boy bawl himself hoarse.
"What a racket. For a Saiyan, you're pathetic," Raditz snorted. "I'll grab food."
His scouter chirped.
"Alert! Power level: 710. Nearby," his face tightened. "Who? Ken? No… Ken doesn't register. And Broly's way beyond this."
He traced the reading—then eyed the pod.
"You've got to be kidding me. Kakarot's brat?" He laughed. "Must be a malfunction. Gave me a scare."
He thumbed the comms. "Prince Vegeta, Nappa—can you hear me? I've landed on Earth, but things are odd…"
Ten seconds of static, then—
"...hearing you… connection's poor," Vegeta's voice crackled.
"Ah—Vegeta-sama, you can hear me! I thought I was cut off," Raditz said, excited. "I found Kakarot. His power's below mine. That so-called lifelong rival of yours? Pathetic."
"Hmph. As expected. I haven't grown much either, but eighteen thousand is more than enough to walk over this universe," Vegeta snorted.
"Haha, exactly," Raditz said.
The link dropped again.
His scouter pinged the 710 a second time.
"Again. Still a glitch," Raditz sighed. "I should finish Earth fast and get this thing serviced."
Another chirp.
"Two more readings incoming. Three-twenty-two and three-thirty-four," he frowned. "One matches Kakarot. No, that can't be—he wouldn't come. He doesn't even know where I—"
Two figures cut the sky and dropped to the shore.
Raditz's eyes narrowed, then slid to the pod behind him. Something was off.
No way the kid's at 710.
Goku and Piccolo touched down.
"Oh, it's you," Raditz smirked at Piccolo. "Didn't I scare you half to death earlier?"
Piccolo's face was stone.
"How did you find me?" Raditz asked.
"Not telling," Goku said.
"Fine. Then why are you here?" Raditz said.
"To take back my son!" Goku barked, eyes snapping to the spherical pod.
Inside, Gohan hammered the glass and cried, soundproofing swallowing every sob.
"So you won't join us?" Raditz said, amused.
"Never," Goku said.
"You'd betray your brother?" Raditz sneered.
"I don't have a brother like you," Goku shot back.
"Don't be dense, Kakarot. Think Ken will save you? You disappoint me," Raditz said, smile sharpening. "And you think two-on-one changes anything?"
"Enough talk," Piccolo said, shrugging off his cape and turban.
Clang—the weighted gear hit like iron.
"You're training with weight, too?" Goku blinked.
"Same as you," Piccolo said, rolling his shoulders. "Haven't felt this light in ages."
Raditz watched his scouter tick. Piccolo climbed to 408.
"Is that so? Then I'd better keep up," Goku said, stripping his heavy gi.
The scouter twitched—Goku climbed to 416.
Raditz laughed. "You think that'll beat me? With that? Don't make me laugh."
"Power level isn't everything. We have a plan," Goku said, fists tightening.
"I'm done talking. Kakarot, you're no longer fit to be our ally. You're a stain on Saiyans. I'll kill you," Raditz snarled.
Goku and Piccolo sank into their stances.
Raditz blurred. One instant he was before them; the next he was behind, his elbow crashing into both of their backs.
They tumbled, rolled, and landed hard, staring in shock.
He's fast.
"Your guard isn't bad," Raditz scoffed. "Killing you will just take longer. I'll savor it."
Goku steeled himself. If he could just grab the tail, they had a chance.
Sweat beaded Piccolo's brow; his jaw set.
"Before you die, a fun fact," Raditz said lightly. "The other two Saiyans make me look weak."
Goku's eyes widened. Piccolo's did, too. A hollow dropped through their chests.
"Hahaha. Now you understand," Raditz beamed.
"Damn. Two stronger than him," Piccolo hissed. "This is bad."
"What about Ken—he's strong, right?" Goku asked.
"No idea. But the kid at his side is," Raditz said.
"Kid?" Goku blinked.
"You don't need the details. You'll be dead. If I told you, you might die of fright before I do it myself," Raditz snorted.
"Where's my son? In that sphere?" Goku shouted.
"Yes. My space pod," Raditz said plainly.
"Hold on, Gohan. Papa's coming," Goku said, breath steadying, resolve hardening.
"Don't kid yourself. With that power? You'll die here," Raditz said.
"Then let's start," Goku said, raising his fists.
Piccolo nodded and slid forward.
They rushed Raditz together, fists and feet flashing. He parried almost lazily.
A few exchanges later—
They vanished, reappearing behind him.
"Behind me," Raditz chuckled, snapping both heels back—kicking them away.
They skimmed the ground and sprang again.
Raditz went vertical, arms spreading. They whiffed past and chased, but he was already gathering energy, twin suns flaring in his palms.
"Not good!" Goku gasped, juking aside.
Piccolo had no room to dodge.
Boom.
The blast erased Piccolo's right arm to the shoulder; the shockwave tossed them like leaves.
Goku skidded, rolled, and scrambled up, eyes searching—
"Behind you," Raditz said brightly.
Goku's face darkened.
The kick slammed between his shoulders and planted him.
"Pathetic. The two of you together barely add up," Raditz said.
Goku dragged himself upright, rubbing the burn in his back. "You okay?"
He turned—and saw the stump where Piccolo's arm had been, blood running in ribbons. Piccolo's face was white with pain, but his eyes were hard. "I can fight with one."
"Your time's up. Prepare yourselves," Raditz laughed.
"Goku—any new tricks?" Piccolo asked.
"Honestly? No," Goku said.
"I was going to conserve this," Piccolo growled. "But I've improved. A new technique."
"You learned something new?" Goku blinked.
"Yes," Piccolo said.
"With one arm?" Goku asked.
"It'll do. The charge time's long. Keep him busy," Piccolo said.
"Got it. Will it work?" Goku asked.
"It might. If it doesn't, no one can beat him," Piccolo said—and snorted. "I made it to kill you."
"Glad it's helping me instead," Goku chuckled.
"Don't get cozy. After him, it's your turn," Piccolo said.
Goku laughed anyway.
"Not the time," Piccolo glared.
"Right. I'll stall. Charge up," Goku said.
"Hold out," Piccolo warned, bringing his right index and middle fingers to his forehead. Ki began to coil there.
Goku dove back in. Raditz battered him bloody in moments and booted him skyward.
Goku steadied in midair and drew his hands to his side, ki surging.
"His power's spiking," Raditz muttered. "He's concentrating everything at a point to force an increase?"
He flicked a glance—Piccolo was charging, too.
"Over there—one thousand twenty… thirty… still rising? Impossible."
"Kamehameha!"
Goku hurled the beam down. Raditz slipped aside. Goku twitched his wrists; the wave hooked and chased.
"Don't get cocky," Raditz snapped, catching the beam with one hand.
Thunder. Smoke billowed.
"Damn. He caught it," Goku grimaced.
"Back to you," Raditz said, flinging a crackling lance upward.
It hit. Goku crashed, carving a furrow.
Raditz strode in, hauled Goku up by the gi, and drew back a fist for the kill. "We start with you, Kakarot. Die!"
"The dead one is you," Piccolo said, the veins standing out across his brow as violet light flared between his fingers.
Raditz flinched and glanced over.
"What—one thousand three hundred thirty? All of it to a fingertip?" he gasped. "No good. They can control their power at will."
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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