For the next two years, Ken didn't gain a single level.
That left him a little frustrated.
It took him one year to go from level 65 to level 70.
And then two more years passed—still level 70.
Who would believe that kind of drop-off?
Ken even started wondering if he'd already hit his limit.
Is my ceiling really level 70?
No way I'm that unlucky… right?
Still, he could feel the decimal behind "70" creeping upward. Over two years, he'd gone from 70.1 to 70.9—so level 71 wasn't far.
Even so, it felt unbearably slow.
My goal is level 100, and growth is already this sluggish at 70?
How am I supposed to live with that?
He grumbled internally the whole time. And since pushing harder wasn't getting him anywhere, he gradually eased up on training and came here to spend time with Android 18—try "building some feelings."
Maybe as a Saiyan, he really did need a calmer heart.
If letting Vegeta fall into a dramatic romance could steady his mindset…
Then what about him?
Could it steady his too?
With that "let's see" mentality, Ken went to Android 18, woke her up, and tried it.
Whether it would work or not—he'd deal with it as it came.
Besides, training—especially angel training—wasn't something you could copy. In theory, it was just purifying angel power.
But there was no precedent to follow.
Every angel's path looked different.
If there were a model answer, Merus wouldn't be such a mess.
In fantasy terms, it was called walking your own road.
So why not date Bulma instead?
Ken had thought about that deeply too.
After all, he'd known Bulma for a very, very long time. Their day-to-day interactions were already so close that calling them a couple wouldn't even feel strange.
What he needed was something new.
Even he sometimes mocked himself for it.
Am I a scumbag?
Screw it.
I'm a damn angel now—who cares if I'm a scumbag?
Is it really "too much" if an angel has a few girlfriends?
If it were you—if you trained into the greatest god in the entire universe—would you really marry only one?
Ken respected people like that.
He just wasn't one of them.
Emperors used to keep whole palaces.
He wasn't even asking for much—just a few women who'd been his "Dragon Ball goddesses" back when he watched the series.
That was it.
Another thing: after reaching level 70, Ken didn't go around advertising it.
This time he stayed low-key. Most people probably had no idea what his level was.
As for whether the Grand Priest knew… Ken wasn't sure.
"Ken, how about that?" Vegeta jabbed a thumb at his own nose. "I've successfully become a Super Saiyan! Just like you said—a calm heart…"
The moment Vegeta finished speaking, 21 rushed him and drove a heavy punch into his stomach.
"Guh—!"
Vegeta spat up a mouthful of sour liquid.
You shameless woman!
I wasn't even ready and you're already attacking?!
Bang, bang, bang!
Vegeta snapped into a counterattack.
After a few quick exchanges, 21 threw another punch at him.
Vegeta slipped aside, avoided her fist, then clamped her arm and squeezed hard. With one brutal motion, he slammed her body into a massive boulder nearby.
Boom!
The boulder shattered into chunks.
But in the next instant, 21 steadied herself in midair.
Vegeta snorted and charged, chopping at her with his palm.
21 rose and dodged the strike cleanly.
Vegeta chased and punched her.
21 flipped once and landed steadily.
"I didn't expect Vegeta to be this much stronger than what Dr. Gero's info claimed," 17 said with a grin.
"Yeah." 18 nodded.
16 stared at a distant patch of sky where a few birds flitted about, expression blank, saying nothing.
"Vegeta's pretty impressive," 17 said with a snort, then shifted his focus to Ken.
A brief silence.
"You're really a Saiyan?" 17 asked.
"Yes." Ken nodded.
"You don't look like one anymore," 17 said, studying Ken with curiosity.
18 pointed at the halo floating around Ken's neck and stepped closer. "Is that decoration? A golden halo… is it made of real gold?"
"It's far more precious than gold," Ken said.
"Let me see." 18 reached up to grab the halo.
Ken: "…"
Do you have any manners?
Do you think an angel's halo is something you can just grab?
Ken obviously wasn't letting her. He lightly knocked her hand away with his staff.
"Tch. Stingy," 18 huffed. "I can't even look?"
Ken leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear.
18's face instantly went red. "Not a chance!"
"I won't let you look either," Ken said.
18: "…"
"How is that the same?!" 18 snapped.
"Close enough," Ken said with a smile. "This halo is connected to my body, so don't mess with it. And back in the beginning it was pale yellow—now it's turned gold."
18: "????"
Connected to your body?
"But you're a Saiyan," she said, confused. "I've never seen Goku or Vegeta with that."
"Are you determined to discuss human anatomy right now?" Ken asked.
18's face darkened. She stopped talking.
Not far away—where Krillin and the others were watching.
"Hey… did you guys notice something?" Krillin asked suddenly.
"You mean the androids?" Yamcha said heavily. "That female android is scary. Vegeta's about even with her, but she looks so calm."
"I mean Ken," Krillin said, wiping sweat. "Look at the halo around his neck—wasn't it pale yellow before? It's gold now."
"It did change," Yamcha agreed. "But what does that mean?"
"Maybe as his strength rises, the color changes too," Piccolo said flatly.
"How strong is Ken, really…?" Krillin murmured.
"Much stronger than us," Piccolo said calmly. "Even someone as proud as Vegeta acts respectful in front of him. Think about what that implies."
Krillin nodded hard, then glanced at Yamcha.
"What are you looking at me for?" Yamcha asked.
"Just don't go picking fights with Ken anymore," Krillin said in a low voice. "The fact you haven't been beaten to death yet is pure luck."
Yamcha: "…"
"I don't need you to tell me that!" Yamcha snapped.
"Look! That guy's still alive!" Tien suddenly shouted, pointing.
Everyone turned.
On a boulder not far away, Dr. Gero had dragged himself up and finally crawled into view.
He looked like a zombie.
Luckily, gray machine oil flowed through him instead of blood—otherwise anyone seeing him would absolutely think he was undead.
Dr. Gero hadn't died. By sheer willpower, he'd crawled his way here.
When he first arrived and saw 17 and 18 awake, he even looked pleased.
But then he noticed 16 and 21.
"16! 21!" Dr. Gero shouted. "How are you awake too?!"
"Hold it."
In the middle of her fight with Vegeta, 21 raised a hand.
Vegeta sneered. "What—running out of energy? Want a halftime break to recover? Fine. Swap someone else in too."
21 didn't answer. She flashed to Dr. Gero's side.
Dr. Gero looked up at 21, his expression shifting.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes, watching from a distance.
Ken said nothing either, watching like it was entertainment.
"I never thought you'd modify yourself into an android too," 21 said coldly, sorrow laced through her voice.
"21!" Dr. Gero gritted his teeth. "Why did you activate now? If you wake up now, your strength will stagnate—you'll never reach the most perfect result!"
"I don't want perfection," 21 said. "And I don't want to sleep forever."
"You know nothing! Nothing!" Dr. Gero roared. "You stupid woman!"
"We'll put aside what you did to me," 21 said, staring him down. "Answer me: our son. Did you dispose of him?"
Dr. Gero's face stiffened. He fell silent.
"Give him back!" 21 trembled violently.
Crack!
With a single chop, she sliced off Dr. Gero's head.
Everyone watching jumped.
Krillin and the others went pale.
How vicious was she?
She just took his head off like that?
"You—what are you doing?!" Dr. Gero's severed head shouted.
Even decapitated, he didn't die immediately—because he was an android.
"I'm taking justice for my son," 21 said coldly.
A flare of light flashed in her hand, and she struck Dr. Gero's body.
Boom!
His body exploded into fragments.
"He was a failed creation," Dr. Gero said grimly, glancing at the scattered pieces. "I tried to save him… but I couldn't finish it."
"He was already dead," 21 said through clenched teeth. "You shouldn't have dug him up…"
Her hands tightened.
It looked like she was about to crush his head with her bare fingers.
Dr. Gero's expression twisted.
"And you were going to keep 16 asleep forever," 21 said, tightening her grip again. "He was my life's work. I won't allow it."
Crack!
Dr. Gero's head shattered. Oil sprayed everywhere, and small mechanical parts popped free.
"Filthy," 21 muttered, flicking oil off her body in disgust.
"That's terrifying… she really killed Dr. Gero herself…" Krillin said, face white.
"Androids really are emotionless," Yamcha said grimly.
"Poor Dr. Gero," Tien sighed. "Killed by the android he made."
Gohan and Piccolo didn't speak.
"Did it sound like Dr. Gero did something to 21's son?" Krillin frowned. "21 already had a son?"
"Who knows," Yamcha said with a shrug.
17 and 18 stood there, equally silent.
Ken sighed, sounding almost moved. "Yeah… when a woman hates you, she can be ruthless."
"So don't mess with me," 18 said.
"I like spicy," Ken said with a grin. "The hotter, the better."
18: "…"
17 rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you've got your eye on 18."
18 snapped her head around. "17, stop talking nonsense!"
"Lapis, you're still cute—same as when you were little," Ken said with a smile.
17: "…"
Who are you calling cute?
"You realize what happens when you describe the strongest android in history like that?" 17 said darkly.
Ken ignored him.
It had been a while since he'd seen Broly.
Now everyone thought they could mouth off at him.
Whatever. Since you're 18's brother, I'll let it go.
After crushing Dr. Gero's head, 21 dusted her hands and returned to face Vegeta.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," 21 said. "Did I scare you just now?"
Vegeta sneered. "That? Scare me? I did things like that when I was a kid."
"Then let's continue," 21 said expressionlessly.
"I thought you ran," Vegeta snorted.
"I wasn't serious earlier," 21 said calmly.
"Then you'd better get serious," Vegeta said. "Or you'll regret it."
"Alright," 21 said with a light smile, then rushed him.
Bang!
She slammed her forehead into Vegeta's.
Vegeta staggered back several steps, nearly falling.
His face twisted with rage.
He lunged and drove a fist into 21's chest.
21 hooked an arm around his neck, dragged him down, and smashed her knee into his stomach.
Vegeta yelped.
Bang!
A flying kick followed—21 sent him crashing into a boulder, leaving a hole in the rock.
Vegeta crawled out, battered.
"This is bad," Piccolo's expression tightened. "Vegeta's going to lose."
"Do we help?" Krillin asked urgently.
"There are four of them," Yamcha said grimly.
"Don't we have Ken-san?" Gohan asked innocently.
"Looks like they're planning to rush in together," 17 said with a smile, glancing at Ken. "Which side are you on?"
"I'm staying in the middle," Ken said. "I'm not helping either side."
"You're slippery," 17 said, amused. "Fence-sitters don't usually end well."
"If the bat is strong enough, you won't be saying that," Ken replied.
"Fine," 17 snorted. "Staying out is smart. If you get involved, you'll get hurt. I'm not the Lapis I used to be."
Ken didn't bother answering.
"Isn't 21 going to struggle if she fights too many?" 17 said, eyeing 16. "Sixteen, aren't you going to help?"
"No." 16 refused decisively.
17: "…"
That was fast.
"You're lazy," 17 said helplessly. "Why were you even made?"
"To kill Son Goku," 16 answered.
"Alright, do whatever you want," 17 said, then started walking toward the fight.
"Should I go help?" 18 asked.
"No need," 17 said with a smile. "I'll stretch my body a bit."
He appeared near Piccolo and the others in an instant.
Their expressions tightened.
"What did Ken say?" Krillin whispered.
"Don't count on him," Piccolo said. "He said he's staying neutral."
Krillin: "…"
"Ken probably has his eye on that android called 18," Yamcha blurted, sounding confident.
"No way," Tien frowned. "Ken's a god. He'd go for an android?"
"I doubt it," Krillin said. "He probably just thinks she's pretty and is teasing her."
"You're forgetting something," Piccolo said quietly.
Everyone looked at him.
"How did these androids wake up in the first place?" Piccolo asked.
Krillin shuddered. "You mean… Ken woke all four of them up?"
"Did Ken become a fallen angel?" Yamcha muttered.
"Ken-san isn't a bad person," Gohan insisted.
"I don't know what you're whispering about," 17 said coolly, "but I'll make something clear. Vegeta and 21 are fighting one-on-one. If anyone interferes, I won't be polite."
He glanced at Vegeta. "What do you think?"
Vegeta sneered. "I don't care. But I agree. If I have to fight alongside Earthlings, Namekians, or even Kakarot, I'd rather die alone."
"What a declaration," 17 clapped. "Worthy of the Saiyan prince."
"Spare me," Vegeta spat. "You puppets don't get to comment on me."
"Continue?" 21 asked with a smile.
"Of course!" Vegeta's eyes burned with battle lust.
"Then here we go."
21 rushed in and punched Vegeta hard in the face.
Vegeta flew backward.
He stabilized, slammed his feet into the ground, and launched up again.
Bang!
He smashed his forehead into 21's face.
Then he kicked her down from midair. 21 hit the ground.
Vegeta pressed his right hand down and fired an energy blast.
Boom!
It detonated on 21.
Vegeta dove down and landed across from her.
But 21 still looked calm.
"You're infuriating," Vegeta snarled. "Do you not feel pain?"
"I didn't expect you to be this capable," 21 said lightly. "Goku should be even stronger, right?"
"What did you say?!" Vegeta roared. "Kakarot is nothing! I'm the strongest Saiyan!"
"I don't find you impressive," 21 said with a smirk.
"Then I'll show you a little something," Vegeta said coldly.
He raised his right hand, and a purple-red sphere of destruction energy formed in his palm.
21's brows knitted the moment she saw it.
"Take this!" Vegeta snapped, throwing it at her.
21 flashed aside.
In the same instant, she appeared in front of Vegeta and punched him in the face.
Vegeta took it cleanly—his cheek flared with pain.
He squinted and realized the destruction energy had missed… and was flying toward Ken.
Ken caught it with his staff as casually as catching a ball.
Vegeta: "…"
Vegeta froze for a split second.
Bang!
21 kicked his arm.
Crack!
His arm twisted with a sharp snap.
Vegeta cried out, nearly collapsing.
"This is bad," Krillin said tensely. "Vegeta's in danger—do we help?"
"No," Piccolo said calmly.
Krillin stared at him.
"Watch first," Piccolo said.
"O-Okay," Krillin said quietly. "Ken won't just let this happen."
Piccolo didn't answer.
"Still want to continue?" 21 asked coolly. "Your arm is broken."
"I won't forgive you!" Vegeta lunged furiously.
21 sidestepped and punched him in the face again.
Vegeta hit the ground, panting hard, humiliation crushing him.
He clenched his teeth, forced himself up, and fired a tiny purple-red point of destruction energy at her.
21 dodged—and kicked him in the face.
Vegeta slammed down again.
"Honestly, you're not that special," 21 said with a light smile. "The only thing I need to watch for is that purple-red energy. As long as I dodge it, I'm fine."
Vegeta staggered up, looking worse by the second.
21 kicked him in the stomach again.
Vegeta wheezed, gasping.
In the next moment, the golden light around him collapsed. His hair turned black again. His head tilted—and he passed out.
"His hair turned black again, and that weird glow vanished," 17 said with feeling. He looked at Piccolo and the others, laughing. "You really do have 'martial artist spirit'—Vegeta got flattened and not one of you dared step in. Ha! Vegeta, you're not exactly popular, are you?"
Piccolo and the others clenched their fists, itching to rush in.
Who are you insulting?!
"Relax," 17 said with a grin. "Vegeta isn't dead. Feed him a Senzu Bean and he'll be fine."
Everyone froze.
They didn't expect that.
"When Vegeta wakes up, tell him to come back when his skills improve," 17 said.
21 landed beside 17, unhurried.
"Let's go," 17 called to 18 and 16.
"Ken," 18 asked, "do you know where Goku lives?"
"I do," Ken said.
"Tell me."
"Don't ask," 17 cut in. "Finding it ourselves is more fun. If you just tell us, it stops being interesting."
"Fine," 18 said, then glanced at 16. "16, what are you looking at?"
"You scared the birds away," 16 said quietly.
"Birds?" 18 blinked, not following his train of thought.
"Yeah," 16 nodded. "The environment here is nice. Birds live well here."
21 looked at 16 with a doting gaze, and a faint smile appeared on her otherwise cold face.
Piccolo and the others stared, dumbfounded.
These are the androids Trunks warned us about?
They don't feel like villains.
"I'm leaving," 18 said.
She suddenly turned, rose onto her toes, and went to kiss Ken on the cheek.
Ken had Ultra Instinct. His body reacted on reflex—he slipped aside and dodged easily.
18 kissed nothing but air.
"Didn't I give you a toothbrush?" Ken said irritably.
18: "…"
18 burned with embarrassment and rage.
You dodged, and then you told me to brush my teeth?!
You're unbelievable!
Krillin looked both jealous and bitter.
Even an android threw herself at him.
And he still dodged.
"You just wait," 18 threatened. "This isn't over."
"Next time, remember to brush," Ken suggested.
18: "…"
"Let's go," 17 said, lifting off.
"Let's stop by a town," 21 said. "I want to change clothes."
"No problem," 17 agreed.
The four androids prepared to leave.
Piccolo and the others couldn't read them, so they didn't stop them.
Krillin, however, finally worked up the courage.
"Wait!" Krillin called.
Yamcha nearly jumped out of his skin.
What are you doing?!
Just let them leave!
Does "wait" mean you want to challenge them?!
Vegeta got destroyed—who here can fight them?
And Ken already said he won't help!
17 looked back with a polite smile. "Something else?"
Krillin stepped forward, jaw tight. "What's your real goal? Kill Goku? Rule the world?"
"Our first goal is to eliminate Son Goku," 17 said. "We'll think about the rest later."
"Why kill him?" Krillin demanded. "Dr. Gero was your enemy, and 21 already killed him!"
"This has nothing to do with Dr. Gero," 17 said. "For us, it's just a game. And Son Goku is the strongest in this universe, isn't he?"
Krillin: "…"
Krillin immediately glanced at Ken.
The strongest is Ken, okay?!
"That's why we don't want his address," 17 continued with a smile. "Finding where Son Goku lives is part of the game."
"You might not beat Goku," Krillin warned.
"Thanks for the warning," 17 said. "But the more you say that, the more we want to try."
He waved dismissively. "Go feed Vegeta a Senzu Bean. If he dies here, it'll look ugly."
"We're leaving," 21 said.
Then she leaned down and kissed Krillin on the cheek.
Krillin froze, completely caught off guard. His face turned bright red.
21 looked at 18 and smiled. "See? Kissing someone shouldn't be something they can dodge."
18: "…"
You didn't need to say that out loud.
"Let's go," 17 said, looking exhausted.
This group was getting hard to manage.
Especially with two women.
For now, they didn't seem to have a conflict point—but if this went on, it would turn into chaos.
Better leave now. Really.
With a sharp whoosh, 17 led the way into the sky.
In seconds, he was gone.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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