"L-Lord Magenta!"
A scientist in a white lab coat, his hair a complete mess, could barely hold the tablet in his hand. His voice trembled as he said, "We... our Cell MAX... its... its energy signal... has completely vanished! H-how is this possible?!"
The control room was instantly plunged into a dead silence, with only the hum of the instruments and the heavy breathing of the crowd.
Everyone's gaze was focused on Magenta, the short but sturdy man standing in front of the main console.
His back was to the crowd, his metallic-colored shoulders tensed, and his fist slammed hard on the cold console.
The news of Cell MAX's defeat was like a silent heavy hammer, viciously shattering the ambitious blueprint he had carefully constructed.
In this suffocating silence, another subordinate, who wore glasses and looked like a small-time leader, suddenly turned and snapped at the scientist who had spoken first. "Shut up! You are not to shake everyone's confidence! Cell MAX has only... only been temporarily destroyed! With Lord Magenta's flawless planning, there must be a backup plan for this!"
He looked at the still-silent Magenta, and after a twitch of his lips, he changed his tune. "Even... even if there is no backup plan this time, we can still make a strategic retreat for now! I believe Lord Magenta will definitely lead us to a comeback! We will surely take back everything that belongs to us!"
His words, filled with an unconcealable hollowness, were less about stabilizing morale and more about pumping himself up.
Magenta still did not look up, but he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging anger and a hint of imperceptible panic in his heart.
He waved his hand violently, his voice hoarse but with an unquestionable command. "Enough! All of you, stop the nonsense! Immediately execute Plan B, the Ark Project is now activated! Everyone, board the ship in the designated sequence! Quick!"
"Yes, Lord Magenta!"
His subordinates, as if they had found their backbone, immediately became busy.
The alarm lights in the control room flashed continuously, the passage gates opened one by one, and a mix of researchers and armed personnel, carrying large and small boxes, rushed in a panic towards the large spaceship docked in the depths of the base.
Magenta took one last look at the screen, which now showed only static from Cell MAX's perspective. A ruthless and unwilling glint flashed in his eyes!
Then he let out a breath and, with a resolute turn, strode towards the ship's boarding entrance.
At the boarding gate, some subordinates were still clumsily moving some expensive experimental instruments and hard drives containing research data.
"Hurry up! Stop dawdling!" Magenta barked with a frown.
A small-time leader in charge of moving the items reported, panting, "Sir, this is the latest gene sequence data and enhanced cell samples. They are crucial for our subsequent research. Just give us two more minutes..."
"I said! Don't waste time!"
Magenta interrupted him impatiently, his cold gaze sweeping over the boxes. "Anything that can't be taken... abandon it all! This is an escape, not a move! Everyone, board the ship immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
The small-time leader said no more and quickly waved his hand for his subordinates to abandon the heavy boxes. The group scrambled into the spaceship.
The hatch slowly closed behind them with a heavy "hiss," completely cutting off the desperate ruins outside.
Magenta sat in the captain's chair and looked at the gradually receding, devastated Earth outside the window. Only then did his tense nerves relax a little.
"Start the engines, set the course, target... the preset coordinates on Mars," he ordered in a deep voice.
"Engines started! Course locked!"
The pilot operated the controls skillfully.
Blue flames shot from the rear of the ship, and it began to slowly adjust its direction.
Then the ship accelerated violently, and like an arrow released from a bow, it quickly broke through the Earth's atmosphere and plunged headfirst into the deep, cold space without looking back.
...
Meanwhile, in the ruins of East City.
Whitley was teasing Vegeta, who had just made his "I'm a dog if I bet again" vow, the mocking smile on his lips not yet completely faded.
Suddenly, as if he had sensed something, he raised an eyebrow and looked up at the azure sky.
"Heh,"
Whitley let out an ambiguous chuckle and said to Dr. Hedo, who had just come over, his excitement not yet dissipated, "It seems some rats can't afford to lose and want to run away when things go south."
"Huh? Who?"
Dr. Hedo didn't react for a moment and subconsciously pushed up his crooked glasses.
But when he followed Whitley's gaze to the sky, his brain instantly caught on, and his face changed dramatically as he shouted, "It's Magenta and the others?! they're trying to escape into space! No! We absolutely cannot let that main culprit get away! No. 1! No. 2! Quick! Go and intercept them! You must bring him back to face the judgment of justice!"
"Understood, Doctor! Justice will be served immediately!"
Gamma 2 reacted the fastest. A red light flashed on his body, and he was about to shoot into the sky.
Gamma 1 also followed closely behind, blue energy flowing over his body.
"Wait."
But just then, Whitley suddenly reached out and blocked the two androids.
"Hey! Little Whitley!"
Gamma 2 stopped with some dissatisfaction, his tone a little urgent. "We are going to execute justice and capture the evil Magenta! Why are you stopping us?"
Whitley did not answer him directly but turned his gaze to No. 21, who was snuggled up beside him.
No. 21 was currently immersed in the sweet interaction with Whitley just now. When she was suddenly stared at by Whitley, two red clouds instantly appeared on her face, and her mind involuntarily began to wander. 'Why is Lord Whitley looking at me like this? Could it be... he wants to do it here... but there are so many people here... but... but if it's Lord Whitley's request... it's... it's not impossible...'
Whitley saw her dazed eyes and increasingly red face and knew that this little maid's thoughts had once again strayed to a strange place.
He was at a loss for whether to laugh or cry. He reached out and flicked her on her smooth forehead, not too hard, not too soft.
"Ouch!"
No. 21 clutched her forehead and looked at him with a wronged expression.
"What are you thinking?"
Whitley shook his head helplessly, but his tone carried a hint of doting. "You weren't you tricked by that bastard Magenta before, and almost became an accomplice in his ambition to rule the Earth? Now I'm giving you a chance to get your own revenge. What do you think?"
No. 21's eyes instantly lit up!
But the light only lasted for a moment before it dimmed again. She pouted and said with some dejection, "I... I also want to teach that bastard a lesson myself! But that guy Magenta is very cunning and has always been hiding very deeply! I... I can't find him..."
"Don't be in a hurry,"
Whitley smiled meaningfully, his tone confident. "I'll find you a helper. I guarantee that it won't matter where he hides!"
"A helper?" No. 21 tilted her head, her face full of confusion.
Whitley did not explain. He looked up and, in a not-so-loud but very clear voice, called out to the empty surroundings, "Vados."
The moment Whitley's voice fell, the two of them felt their vision blur, and an elegant figure had silently appeared before Whitley.
She held a staff, her figure graceful, a timeless, gentle smile on her face, her posture as if she were detached from all the chaos.
"Lord Whitley,"
Vados bowed slightly, her voice pleasant. "You called for Vados. What are your orders?"
The moment No. 21 saw Vados appear, her expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously shrank behind Whitley.
For some reason, she had an instinctive... awe and a hint of an indescribable... sense of competition towards this always-perfectly-smiling, somewhat unfathomable angel madam.
Anyway, she just didn't want to be alone with her! Not at all!
But... but this woman was the helper that Lord Whitley had personally found for her...
No. 21's heart was in turmoil, her small face wrinkled in conflict.
Vados seemed to not have seen No. 21's little thoughts, her calm gaze still on Whitley.
Whitley saw Vados and subconsciously reached out to touch her ponytail, and then he instructed her, "Just now, Magenta and his group of subordinates should have escaped into space in a spaceship. I'll have to trouble you to take No. 21 to find them. After you find them... just leave those people for No. 21 to handle."
"As you command, Lord Whitley."
Vados nodded gracefully.
In front of outsiders, she would always give her husband enough face.
"Well then, let's depart, Miss No. 21."
Vados turned to the still-conflicted No. 21 and held out her hand with a smile.
No. 21 looked at Whitley's encouraging eyes, then at Vados's seemingly harmless smile. In the end, her anger towards Magenta overwhelmed her subtle feelings for Vados.
She nodded vigorously and walked up, somewhat reluctantly taking Vados's outstretched hand.
The next moment, the top of Vados's staff flashed with a faint light, and the two of them turned into a rainbow-colored streak of light and vanished from the spot with a "swoosh."
Whitley watched them leave and then, satisfied, turned back to look at Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, and Dr. Hedo and the two Gamma androids.
"Alright, the nuisances are dealt with, and the rats are being caught,"
Whitley clapped his hands, a relaxed smile on his face.
"Well then, as per tradition... let's have a party!"
"OH OH OH OH OH!!! A PARTY!!!"
Goku was the first to jump up. The fatigue from the battle and the pain in his stomach were instantly thrown to the back of his mind!
He touched his rumbling stomach, his eyes shining. "We can finally eat!!! I'm starving! Whitley, do you have any Senzu Beans left? Give me one first!"
Although Vegeta still had a stern face, a hint of imperceptible relaxation flashed in his eyes.
Trunks and Dr. Hedo looked at each other and smiled.
Although Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 did not need to eat, they could also feel the cheerful atmosphere, and their eyes both flashed with a light that represented joy.
Whitley shook his head with a smile, placed his hands on Goku's and Vegeta's shoulders, and gestured for Trunks and Dr. Hedo to come closer.
"Let's go, let's teleport back. Bulma and the others are probably getting anxious."
Before his words faded, the figures of the group flashed and instantly vanished from the devastated ruins.
...
Far away, in the temporary base camp on the riverbank in West City.
Bulma and Future Bulma were directing several small robots that had been released from a capsule to set up a long dining table by the clear river. The table was already dazzlingly filled with all kinds of delicacies brought from the past timeline.
A large amount of food, fragrant and tantalizing, just looking at it made one's mouth water.
When Whitley and the others appeared in the center of the camp with a "swoosh," this was the scene that greeted them, a scene that had been fully prepared, as if they had expected them to return in triumph at this time.
"Hey, you're back just in time!"
Bulma stood with her hands on her hips and said with a proud smile, "We two just prepared this!"
Whitley was a little surprised. He looked at the two Bulmas and asked, "Your speed... is a bit too fast. How did you two know that we were just finished over here?"
The two Bulmas exchanged a look. Future Bulma nodded and stepped forward, answering with a light chuckle, "After you left, Miss Vados was doing a live broadcast with her staff the whole time."
As she spoke, she glanced at the nearby Vegeta with a teasing look. "So, whatever happened over there, we saw it very clearly~"
"Wh-what?!"
Vegeta's face instantly froze! His forehead seemed to have veins popping.
A live broadcast the whole time? Doesn't that mean... his embarrassing vow after being tricked by Whitley was seen by these three women?!
He instantly felt a rush of hot blood to his head and wished he could find a hole to crawl into!
Future Bulma, as if she hadn't seen his ashen face, walked up to him with a grin and, in a volume that everyone around could hear, she teased, "Hehe! I never would have thought that the proud Prince Vegeta would have such a... promise-keeping side? You actually admitted your loss after losing a bet? You're quite responsible."
Vegeta squeezed out a cold snort from between his teeth and turned his head to the side, refusing to communicate with Future Bulma.
Future Bulma clearly had no intention of letting him off the hook easily and continued with a smile, "But what I didn't expect even more was that you would actually, without regard for your own safety, go all out to protect Trunks. On this point, Vegeta, I have a new level of respect for you."
Her tone, for a rare change, carried a hint of sincere emotion.
Vegeta's body stiffened slightly. He still didn't turn his head, but his tightly crossed arms seemed to have loosened a little.
Seeing this, Trunks quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. "Mom! Goku-san said he's hungry. Everyone has been fighting all day and must be exhausted. Let's eat first, let's eat first!"
As he spoke, he pushed Future Bulma towards Whitley.
Whitley reached out his hand and very naturally pulled the approaching Future Bulma into his arms.
He first kissed her on the cheek, and then, while she was a little shy, he called out to everyone, "Trunks is right! Everyone has worked hard, so eat your fill! No need to wait for No. 21 and Vados. They... will probably need some time to handle things."
With Whitley's interruption, the atmosphere in the camp became lively again.
...
And at this time, in space, outside Earth, a spaceship was traveling at extremely high speed towards Mars.
Inside the spaceship, Magenta and a few of his core subordinates were gathered in the conference room, discussing the replanning of their future.
"Lord Magenta!"
A scientist with glasses drew a few points on an electronic map. "According to our calculations, we can establish a temporary base near this crater. The minerals and potential ice layers there can provide us with initial resources."
Another person chimed in, "Yes, sir. Although Cell MAX has failed, we have retained the most core data and biological samples. This time, we will learn from our mistakes, focus on strengthening the defense of the energy hub, and at the same time, optimize its combat capabilities! The ultimate weapon we create next time will definitely not..."
"Next time?"
Suddenly, a cold female voice abruptly sounded at the entrance of the conference room, interrupting their fantasy of the future.
"Who?!"
Magenta shot up from his seat, a look of horror on his face as he looked towards the entrance.
Two figures had appeared at the entrance of the conference room at some unknown time.
The one on the left was wearing a black and white maid outfit, with long flaxen hair that fell naturally over her shoulders, her features very delicate.
And the one on her right was holding a staff, her posture elegant, a smile on her face as if she were watching a play.
The newcomers were Vados and, of a group that had once been on Magenta's side, No. 21!
And at this moment, her eyes no longer had the usual timidity and infatuation when facing Whitley, but only a cold killing intent and a thick disappointment as she looked at them.
"It's... it's No. 21!"
One of Magenta's subordinates cried out. But then he forced a fawning smile on his face. "Y-you... you've had a change of heart and have come back to join us? That's great! As long as you're here, our research will definitely..."
"Shut up!"
No. 21 snapped, her gaze fixed on Magenta. "Magenta! You used my and Dr. Hedo's trust, and wrapped your ugly ambitions in hypocritical lies! You deceived us and made us your accomplices in destroying the world! So many innocent people have died because of you, cities have been turned to ruins... you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"
Cold sweat instantly covered Magenta's forehead. He forced himself to remain calm and tried to make a final struggle. "No. 21! Let me explain! Everything I've done is for the future of the Earth! Only under absolute power and order can humanity achieve true peace and prosperity! Believe me, as long as I..."
"Enough!"
No. 21's voice suddenly rose, her tone trembling a little, but it was exceptionally resolute. "I won't believe a single word of your sweet talk anymore! For the people whose lives you have taken, for the trust and efforts of mine that you have trampled on... Magenta, your ambition ends here! You have no future!"
"Wait! No. 21! We can cooperate! We can share this universe..."
As Magenta spoke, he pretended to be terrified and retreated.
A remote control suddenly appeared in his hand. Under the horrified faces of his subordinates, he instantly pressed it. "This is the remote for the ship's self-destruct! Since you insist on attacking me... then you can go down with me!!! Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!"
The moment he pressed the remote, Magenta quickly ducked into a life pod on the wall.
But... everything he had expected did not happen.
Vados was watching this comical scene with a smile, the staff in her hand glowing slightly.
"You bastard!"
Seeing this, the last bit of hesitation in No. 21's eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a near-crazed resolve!
"Magenta! Take your delusions with you to hell!!!"
"BOOM—!!!!!"
A vast pink energy instantly erupted from her body. Her form suddenly changed, her body and hair quickly turning pink, and her eyes becoming wild and dangerous!
Her Majin form had returned!
A huge pink ball of light, containing a vast energy, rapidly condensed and expanded between her hands, and the dazzling light illuminated the entire conference room as if it were day!
Magenta and his subordinates were so oppressed by this terrifying energy that they collapsed to the ground, their faces filled with despair and fear, the words of pleading they wanted to say no longer able to come out.
No. 21 coldly pushed the small sun in her hands towards the center of the conference room.
"Well then, farewell," she said softly, her words like a final goodbye.
The moment the energy ball touched the ground, the pink energy silently annihilated all matter!
Then, a violent explosion that engulfed the entire spaceship!
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!
The large amount of fuel stored inside the spaceship was instantly ignited, and in this silent universe, a brilliant and cruel... firework bloomed.
...
On Earth, countless survivors who had struggled to climb out of the rubble and fearful civilians who had been hiding in dark corners all, at this moment, looked up in unison.
They saw the spot of light in the night sky that had suddenly become exceptionally bright and then had slowly dissipated.
No sound came from above, but the momentary brightness seemed to have dispelled the last bit of gloom that had been shrouding their hearts.
Many people stared blankly, tears silently streaming down their faces.
They knew that the giant monster that had brought destruction and death, and the mastermind who had created it, seemed to have truly... disappeared.
Their homes were in ruins, and their family and friends might all be dead, but... they were still alive.
Hope, like a tenacious weed, once again quietly poked its head out from the ashes of despair.
...
At the temporary base camp by the river, the banquet was in full swing.
Whitley and the others also saw the fleeting bright light in the night sky.
Goku, with his mouth full of food, pointed at the sky indistinctly. "Mmph! Look! There are fireworks!"
Bulma and Future Bulma looked at each other and smiled, both of them seeming to understand something.
Just then, Goku suddenly swallowed the food in his mouth, held up the drink in his hand high, and shouted with a grin, "Everyone! To delicious food! Cheers!!!"
"Cheers!"
Bulma and Future Bulma were the first to respond with a smile, raising their respective glasses.
"Cheers," Whitley also smiled and raised his glass.
"Cheers!" Trunks and Dr. Hedo quickly followed suit.
Even Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, who did not need to eat, also picked up the glasses of juice in front of them.
Finally, everyone's gaze fell on the only one who was still sitting, Vegeta.
Vegeta had a stern face. Under the smiling gazes of everyone, he very reluctantly and quickly picked up the glass in front of him.
"CHEERS!!! HAHAHAHA!!!"
The crisp sound of glasses clinking and cheerful laughter echoed by the river, forming a stark contrast with the still-ruined city in the distance, but it was also filled with hope for the future.
...
And in the main timeline, at this time in the Briefs' estate.
Whis and the angel of Universe 11, Marcarita, were waiting leisurely in the dining room of the estate for Whitley's return.
Marcarita was poking at the food on the plate in front of her with her chopsticks. She clearly had little interest in food.
Her proud and beautiful eyes were more focused on Whis, who was elegantly enjoying the delicacies of Earth opposite her.
"Whis,"
Marcarita finally couldn't help but speak. "I hear that Whitley is your disciple?"
Whis unhurriedly swallowed the delicious food in his mouth, took a light sip of the black tea beside him, and only then did he smile at his younger sister. "That's right, Whitley-san did indeed train with me for a period of time."
"Well then, what is he like? How is his talent?"
Marcarita pressed, these were the two questions she was truly concerned about. "I hear that Father has high hopes for him?"
"Whitley-san..."
Whis put down his teacup, a meaningful smile on his face. "He is... very popular with women~ as for his talent..."
He paused, as if weighing his words. "According to my estimation, in probably no more than twenty years, his comprehension of the realm of Ultra Instinct may surpass mine."
"Surpass you?"
Marcarita's slender eyebrows rose slightly, her tone filled with clear disbelief.
Whis's talent was top-tier even among the angel race. She found it hard to believe that a human could reach and even surpass Whis's realm in such a short time.
But seeing Whis's confident appearance, she did not object, just turned her attention back to the first topic.
"You said just now that he is very popular with women?"
Marcarita propped her cheek with her hand, her gaze lazily looking at the sky outside the window. "To what extent?"
Hearing her question, the smile on Whis's face deepened.
"Well... as for the specifics, you will naturally find out when you see him in person. Marcarita-san, I only hope that when you are by Whitley-san's side, you can... last a little longer~"
"Oh?"
Far from backing down, Marcarita was actually a little intrigued by Whis's words. A confident curve appeared on her lips. "Hearing you say that, I'm actually looking forward to meeting this Whitley-san sooner~ I hope he won't be too boring."
Whis just smiled and said nothing, just elegantly picked up a new pastry and tasted it silently.
Far away in the future timeline, Whitley, who was chatting and laughing with everyone at the banquet, felt a sudden chill down his spine for no reason.
...
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