"Level 59," Ken said.
Vegeta's eyes widened. "Broly's already passed Beerus?"
What shocked Vegeta even more wasn't Broly—it was what that meant about Ken.
Ken was that much higher than Broly… and Broly was a whole level above Beerus.
So Ken was in a completely different league from Beerus.
"Then… if Beerus is one level below Broly, how big is the gap?" Vegeta asked, unable to help himself.
Ken smiled. "Beerus could last a minute before he'd be finished."
Vegeta froze, staring at him like he'd misheard.
That big?
He could only last a minute?
"So even a one-level difference can turn into… hundreds of millions in battle power?" Vegeta grit out.
"Before level 30, the gap isn't as extreme," Ken said, nodding. "Once you're past level 50, every level is a huge leap." He stepped closer and patted Vegeta's shoulder. "Vegeta, keep at it. You've got a long road ahead."
"Tch. Of course I will!" Vegeta snapped, fire flaring in his chest. "One day, I'll surpass you!"
"Forget surpassing me for now," Ken said, sounding almost nostalgic. "Merus and I made a bet once. We each take a Supreme Kai and a God of Destruction as students, then in some future year, we compare results."
"Merus? That Galactic Patrol guy?" Vegeta blinked.
"His real identity is an angel," Ken said. "A proper one."
Vegeta: "…"
So that guy was an angel.
No wonder Merus always felt… different.
A heavy silence followed.
"Just tell me this," Vegeta said at last. "Who's the God of Destruction he picked? Do I know them?"
"Kale. Universe 6's Legendary Super Saiyan," Ken replied.
Vegeta nearly choked.
You want me competing with a Legendary Super Saiyan?
She'd grind me into the dirt.
The memory hit him immediately—Kale beating Frieza senseless. That little girl was terrifying.
"No confidence?" Ken asked, amused.
"Tch! As if!" Vegeta stubbornly shook his head.
"Vegeta, don't treat every Legendary Super Saiyan like they're untouchable," Ken said, smiling as he reassured him. "Sure, if Kale were trained by me, she might reach Broly's level one day. But Merus can't pull that off."
Vegeta had no comeback.
It really felt like Ken was just using this to hype himself up.
"So what level is she right now?" Vegeta demanded.
"No idea," Ken said, shaking his head.
Vegeta: "…"
Then go find out.
"Even if you knew, what would it change?" Ken sighed. "If she's way above you, it'll just hit you even harder."
Vegeta's body twitched again.
As if you haven't already crushed me enough.
"Go," Ken said. "Train. Don't make me regret believing in you."
Vegeta didn't answer. He just clenched both fists until his knuckles whitened.
With a sharp burst of speed, he shot into the air and disappeared.
Krillin and the others watched him go, then flew over to Ken.
"Ken, we're heading back too!" Krillin called.
"Alright," Ken said.
Before he left, Krillin scratched his head. "About the androids… got any advice for us?"
Ken smiled at him, then tapped his staff lightly against the ground. "Krillin, I hope you stop being single soon."
In a flash, Ken vanished.
Krillin was left standing there, completely stunned.
Then excitement bubbled up in his chest.
Ken said I'll stop being single soon… does that mean I'll get a girlfriend this year?
Who would it be?
Don't tell me… Android 21?
She really was gorgeous… just kind of scary.
She crushed Dr. Gero with her bare hands.
Every time Krillin thought she was too brutal, a tiny voice in his head immediately argued back: Dr. Gero was a monster—of course she crushed him.
And somehow, that made 21 feel a little… cute.
Honestly, it wasn't even that strange.
A girl had actually kissed him first. That was a first for Krillin—something he'd never experienced in his life.
As for Yamcha's offer to "take him out for fun," Krillin always backed out right at the door.
He wasn't that kind of guy.
"Krillin… you don't seriously like 21, do you?" Yamcha asked, shocked.
"Mind your own business," Krillin huffed.
"She's an android! And there's a good chance she's already had a kid!" Yamcha insisted.
"It's not like anything's happened!" Krillin hurriedly denied it. "How could we even—"
"Just don't get your hopes up," Yamcha said seriously. "If you want a girlfriend like that… honestly, I'd be better off finding you someone from that kind of place."
Krillin: "…"
"Those women only care about money," Krillin muttered, drooping. "I don't have any."
"Ask Shenron," Yamcha suggested. "While Piccolo still hasn't fused with Kami."
Tien couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed Gohan and left immediately.
Are you two trying to corrupt Gohan?
Look at him—he's eating this up.
…
Piccolo turned into a streak of light and shot toward the Lookout.
He landed at the edge, and a brand-new cape seemed to form around his shoulders as he slowly descended to face Kami.
Kami looked at him with a complicated expression.
Mr. Popo, meanwhile, was sweating buckets.
He knew exactly why Piccolo had come.
"You know why I'm here," Piccolo said, staring Kami down.
"I do," Kami said quietly. "A long time ago, you and I… no. More accurately, you and your father were once the same being. You already know that." He sighed. "I didn't expect we'd ever merge again."
"This is the best chance for me to unleash real power," Piccolo said bluntly. "Your existence right now is only tied to the Dragon Balls. And the Dragon Balls are just for bringing our friends back." His eyes narrowed. "Earth's Dragon Balls can't even revive someone who's already been revived once. For something as simple as resurrection, Ken's power is better."
Kami: "…"
"I don't even know what kind of god Ken is," Kami admitted with another sigh. "He can bring the dead back to life. That's beyond Shenron entirely." He looked away. "Still… having someone like Ken beside you is a blessing."
"Forget Ken," Piccolo said.
"The gap between me and you all keeps widening," Kami said, voice heavy. "Against enemies that strong, I'm useless. Goku was taken to the future by Trunks and still hasn't returned. Vegeta trained hard enough to become a Super Saiyan, and even then he couldn't defeat the androids." Kami's gaze sharpened. "Until Goku and Trunks come back, I don't think much will change."
Piccolo said nothing.
So you know everything.
"Maybe… the time has finally come," Kami said, forcing a smile that looked strangely bleak. "For Kami and the Demon King to become one again."
"That's right," Piccolo said, clenching his fists. "Earth doesn't need a Kami right now. It needs me—strong enough to defeat the androids." His expression hardened. "And Ken once said he'd make me into the greatest god of all. So your dream as a god… I can fulfil it for you."
"The greatest god?" Kami blinked.
"You don't know?" Piccolo replied. "A Supreme Kai."
"Ken wants to train you into a Supreme Kai?" Kami smiled for real this time. "Interesting. If that's true… then it couldn't be better."
"So you agree?" Piccolo let out a breath, hope flickering in his eyes.
"I agree. Take my body," Kami said, then added, "but I want to see how things play out first."
Piccolo's face darkened instantly. "You want to see how things play out?"
"Yes," Kami said. "Those four androids—are they actually harming Earth?"
"Why are you dragging your feet?" Piccolo snapped.
"You started the fight," Kami said slowly. "And those four didn't kill any of you."
"…That's true," Piccolo admitted, forcing himself to calm down. "History may have changed. Maybe they really have turned into good people." His eyes sharpened again. "But you and I becoming one is inevitable. It's only a matter of time."
Kami didn't respond.
"Fine," Piccolo said with a huff. He sat down on the ground. "I'll wait here until you make up your mind—until you're sure you won't regret it."
…
Ken had just risen into the sky when he heard Bulma calling for him.
He immediately checked through his staff.
"Ken, where are you?" Bulma asked.
"What is it?" Ken replied.
"I went to check on the androids earlier and just got home," Bulma said. "And right after I came back, something huge happened. I had to tell you."
"Go on," Ken said.
"A few days ago, some farmers from the west came to our company asking about something," Bulma explained. "They found a weird flying object on a mountain. They tried to take it home, but it wouldn't start or move, so they called Capsule Corporation." She continued quickly. "They couldn't describe it well, only that it had the Capsule Corporation logo on it. I had them send a photo, and I nearly had a heart attack—it was Trunks' time machine. And it's broken."
Ken: "…"
Right. Because of him, history had already shifted.
That was why Bulma was calling.
"Got it," Ken said.
"That's all you've got? 'Got it'?" Bulma snapped. "Why are you so calm?"
"Let's talk in person," Ken said.
A moment later, he appeared right beside her.
Bulma: "…"
"You got back fast," Bulma muttered, wiping sweat as she lowered the communicator.
Ken just smiled.
Bulma shoved the photo at him. "Look. Is that Trunks' time machine?"
"It is," Ken confirmed.
"Why does it look like it's been sitting there for ages?" Bulma frowned. "Did something happen to Goku and Trunks? Or did I build multiple time machines in the future?"
"Let's go see it," Ken said.
"O-okay," Bulma agreed. "Are we flying?"
"We'll fly," Ken said.
He wrapped an arm around her and shot off toward the wrecked machine.
Only a few seconds later, they landed beside it.
"You're wearing the stealth armour?" Ken asked.
"Yeah," Bulma said with a grin. "Just in case. So what—am I at God of Destruction-level defence now?"
"You are," Ken said. "Until the android situation is over, keep it on."
"Got it," Bulma said.
Ken didn't mind at all.
Those suits had been meant for Android 17 and 18, but there was no rush to hand them over. The other suit was still stored in Ken's pocket.
"It really does look like Trunks' time machine," Bulma murmured, studying it.
"It is," Ken said again.
"What is going on?" Bulma said slowly. "This thing looks like it's been here forever."
She floated up, then noticed a hole in the hull.
"This hole is weird," she said, uneasy. "It looks like it was melted by extreme heat." She tilted her head. "Is that the hatch control?"
She pressed the release.
The hatch lifted with a click.
Bulma leaned in—and saw two empty shells.
"What are these?" Bulma picked them up and examined them. "They look like… eggshells."
"Good read," Ken said with a small nod.
"Then analyse it too," Bulma huffed. "Don't just leave me guessing."
"You're already right," Ken said with a chuckle. "Check the console. See what year it came from."
"Right," Bulma said, turning to the panel. After a few quick inputs, she frowned. "The energy's basically drained… It came from Age 788." Her eyes widened. "That's one year earlier than when Trunks arrived!"
"So whoever used this got here a full year before Trunks' trip," Ken said.
"Who would do that?" Bulma whispered, stunned. "Why come to our time?"
…
On the Lookout, Piccolo's patience snapped. "Still staring at the world below?" he scoffed. "Once you merge with me, you won't get to do that anymore. Enjoy it while you can."
"I've felt uneasy these past four years," Kami said, ignoring the jab. "Not only because of the androids." His voice lowered. "I don't know who it was… but someone arrived here in a time machine."
Piccolo frowned. "What?"
"All I know is that something even more terrifying than the androids has come to Earth," Kami said grimly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Piccolo shot to his feet. "What are you talking about? Say it properly—what's wrong? Is it connected to that time machine?"
"You're right," Kami said, exhaling. "Our merging is inevitable. The day I become one with you—so you can be a true warrior—has finally come." His eyes trembled. "A massive disaster is coming to Earth. A crisis like nothing we've ever faced." His voice turned hollow. "I can feel it. It's… despair."
Piccolo's expression shifted again and again.
…
"Whoever came to our time will show themselves eventually," Ken said calmly. "No need to panic yet."
"What do we do with the time machine?" Bulma asked. "Should I capsule it up?"
She pressed the capsule button.
Bulma could handle all of this on her own. The real reason she'd called Ken was simple—she wanted to feel safe.
Even with God of Destruction-level defence, this kind of unknown, eerie situation still scared her. She wasn't afraid of the "Emperor of the Universe" type enemies, and she wasn't afraid of androids. What she feared was the unknown.
"I really am a genius," Bulma said smugly as she picked up the capsule and tucked it away. "If I take this back and fix it, it should work again."
"Don't mess with time," Ken warned. "Future you didn't know better. You do."
"Huh? Why?" Bulma blinked.
"Changing time on your own is a serious crime," Ken said, tone turning heavy. "If this timeline shifts too much, the Space-Time God of Destruction might erase the entire time stream." His eyes narrowed. "If that happens, even I could cease to exist."
"W-wait, it's that serious?" Bulma yelped.
"We're going home," Ken said.
"I get it," Bulma said quickly, nodding. "I won't research the time machine for now. I'll tell my dad too—no more messing with time."
"Good," Ken said, gently patting her head.
Bulma nodded again, obedient.
Ken pulled her close by the waist and rose into the sky.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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