Chapter 4: The Weight of the Cosmos
The transition from Sadala back to the God of Destruction's planet was usually a seamless blur of rainbow light. But as the transport cube touched down on the pristine manicured lawns of my temple, the world didn't just tilt—it inverted.
A sudden, violent spike of pressure slammed into the base of my skull. It wasn't a physical blow, but a sensory overload. For a terrifying second, I didn't just feel my own ki; I felt the rhythmic pulse of billions of stars. I felt the tectonic shifts of a thousand inhabited worlds. I felt the collective breath of Universe 6.
"My Lord?" Vados's voice sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a deep well.
My knees hit the grass first, then my chest. The last thing I saw before the darkness swallowed me was Cala's wide, terrified eyes and the shimmering hem of Vados's robes.
The Hour of Static
When I finally blinked my eyes open, I wasn't in my bed. I was sprawled on the training floor, the cold marble pressing against my cheek. I felt... heavy. Not the sluggish heaviness of overeating, but a dense, vibrating power that made my very marrow hum.
"Oh, good. You've decided to rejoin the living," Vados said, her tone light, though her staff was gripped slightly tighter than usual. "I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to start looking for a replacement. A very short, very grumpy replacement."
I pushed myself up, and the floor beneath my palms didn't just crack—it disintegrated into fine dust. I stared at my hands. They were glowing with a faint, translucent violet hue that wasn't quite Hakai energy. It was deeper. More primordial.
"How long?" I wheezed.
"Exactly one hour," Vados replied, walking a slow circle around me. "And in that hour, your biological signature has undergone a fascinating, albeit reckless, transformation. It appears your little 'intervention' with the girl on Sadala triggered a latent resonance."
"Resonance?" I stood up, feeling a surge of strength so sharp it made my vision pulse. "Vados, I feel like I could bench-press a galaxy. What did you do?"
"I did nothing, My Lord. You did," she said, tapping her staff to bring up a holographic display of my vitals. "By manually stabilizing a mortal's ki with your own Godly energy, you inadvertently created a feedback loop. You haven't just trained a Saiyan; you've Soulbounded yourself to the Mortal Level of Universe 6."
The Universal Index
I looked at the data floating in the air. My power level wasn't a static number anymore. It was a fluctuating graph, tied directly to the "Development Index" of the universe.
Status Report: Lord Champa
Current State: Soulbound (Universe 6)
Power Increase: 10\% Base Multiplier Applied
System Note: Strength is now intrinsically linked to the collective growth, stability, and ki-output of the inhabitants of Universe 6.
"Ten percent..." I whispered, clenching my fist. A shockwave rippled out, knocking over a row of decorative pillars a mile away. "I'm ten percent stronger just by waking up?"
"For now," Vados cautioned, her wit returning. "But do keep in mind, My Lord, that a Soulbound link is a double-edged sword. If the universe prospers, you grow. If the civilizations under your care fall into ruin or their power levels stagnate, you will feel that lethargy in your own bones. You are no longer just the janitor of this universe; you are its heartbeat."
A God's Investment
I looked over at the far corner of the courtyard. Cala was there, huddled under a tree, staring at me with a mixture of awe and absolute dread. She had seen her God collapse, and now she was seeing him radiate a power that made the air itself scream.
I realized then that my plan for the Super Saiyans wasn't just a "deterrent" anymore. It was a necessity. If I wanted to surpass Beerus—if I wanted to truly become the strongest—I couldn't just sit on my throne and wait for the tithes to come in. I had to cultivate this garden.
"Five hundred times gravity," I barked, my voice echoing with a new, metallic resonance. "And Vados? Forget the pizza. Bring me the most nutrient-dense senzu-equivalent we have in the pantry."
I walked toward Cala, every step leaving a glowing footprint on the stone.
"Get up, kid," I said, a predatory grin spreading across my face. "You just became the most important investment in the cosmos. We're not just going for Super Saiyan. We're going to push you until the universe itself feels the vibration."
"My Lord," Vados interrupted, "are you sure? If she breaks under the pressure, your new 'Soulbound' heart might skip a beat."
"Then she won't break," I said, looking at my hand as the violet glow intensified. "Because if she does, I'll just have to hold her together myself."