The cloud of smoke had barely cleared when Buu looked up.
The few surviving Red Ribbon Army members were already retreating, leaping onto the backs of armored vehicles speeding out of the arena, leaving behind the bodies of spectators they had killed in their attempts to stop Buu.
Bulma glared at them with cold rage.
"They're running away toward the main base."
Bardock clenched his fists, aura flickering around him.
"They won't run away."
"Let's chase them," Mai said.
In a flash of pink, Buu transformed into a beam of ki and took flight.
Everyone else followed: Bulma and Mai behind him, Fasha and the other Saiyans in a triangle formation, Panchy carried in Tora's arms with extreme care.
The hunt was on.
The Red Ribbon Army headquarters stretched like a gigantic fortress across the valley: automated towers, radars, energy cannons, armored tanks as far as the eye could see. As soon as Buu appeared above the base, sirens began to wail.
"Identified: Danger. Activate full defense!"
The towers opened fire, but the attacks passed through Buu like lights projected into the void.
"Weak," he commented, as he slowly descended toward the ground.
Bulma and Mai landed on either side of him. Their auras ignited simultaneously, a wave of energy that blew apart the leading tanks.
Team Bardock surged forward; each Saiyan was a living projectile, smashing through structures, raising columns of earth and metal.
Fasha turned to Bulma as shrapnel flew all around. "And this is supposed to be the best human army?"
Bulma sighed. "Don't remind me."
In the center of the base, a blasted door slammed open, revealing a blue hologram.
It was Dr. Gero, with a cold smile.
"If you're seeing this message... then you've destroyed my army," he said with unnatural calm. "And that's fine."
Mai tilted her head. "What's this theatricality?"
The hologram continued:
"I've foreseen the possibility of failure. That's why I'm not here. I'm already elsewhere. I'm building something bigger, more perfect. And when it's complete... it will hunt you, Buu."
Buu approached the screen, his eyes narrowed.
"Hmm. Interesting."
Gero smiled.
"In a few years. You won't be able to stop him."
The message stopped.
Silence.
Then Bardock snorted. "He really did escape. And he already has a next plan."
Buu clenched his hands, the ground shaking.
'If it weren't for Android 18, I would have killed you already. Or maybe...'
"Then I'll wait for him."
Bulma placed a hand on his shoulder.
"First, we destroy this place. All of it."
Buu nodded.
The pink aura exploded, enveloping the entire base. Team Bardock rose into the air; Bulma and Mai did the same, combining their energy. A gigantic globe formed above their heads, an artificial sun.
Buu inhaled.
"BOOOM."
The globe descended like a meteorite, passing through the base and vaporizing it in a single, titanic explosion that illuminated the entire valley.
When the light faded, nothing remained. Only smoke and ash.