"You are actually refusing to become a Supreme Kai? Boy, you need to understand that this is the highest honor! Supreme Kais are the most exalted god in the universe. Not only do we hold absolute power over life and death, we also have the ability to create life and planets with our own strength, traverse time to oversee the entire universe, and even control the laws of all existence!"
As Old Supreme Kai spoke in disbelief, he exaggerated the authority of the Supreme Kai to the heavens.
But even so, Talot's answer was still a firm refusal.
Old Supreme Kai was left speechless, and in the end, could only tell Talot to think it over and not rush to give an answer.
To the Old Supreme Kai, East Supreme Kai, and Kibito, there was no doubt that Talot had rejected this supreme and unparalleled honor.
They felt Talot was overly arrogant, as if he looked down on the Supreme Kai.
What they didn't know was that Talot's reason for refusing was simply because becoming a Supreme Kai meant sharing a life link with the God of Destruction!
Even if in the original work there had never been a case of a God of Destruction dying and the Supreme Kai dying with them, Talot knew that once he became a Supreme Kai, his life would be bound.
However, one thing the Old Supreme Kai mentioned did remind Talot of something.
The Supreme Kai governs creation, and with the Time Ring in hand, can travel through time to the past and future.
What was once beyond his reach was now in front of him, and he had no choice but to consider it carefully.
After all, back when Porunga answered his question, he had indeed thought about seeking out the Supreme Kai and having them use the Time Ring to bring Bardock, who had traveled to the past, back.
Of course, whether it was possible was still unknown, because this involved the domain of time, something he currently had no access to.
After a round of discussion, the Old Supreme Kai, the East Supreme Kai, and even Kibito were all shocked.
Because crossing time and space was truly beyond imagination.
Especially since Bardock had been mysteriously transported to the past during a planet's explosion.
"Time Ring can indeed allow someone to return to the past or travel to the future, but it is limited to use by us Supreme Kais. Moreover, the timeline of the past is not allowed to be altered. Even if it's confirmed that someone from the future has traveled back, the most we can do is observe, we cannot set foot in the past to change it. So regarding this matter, I'm sorry, but I cannot help you…" The words of the East Supreme Kai made Talot realize that the matter was not as simple as he had imagined.
Even if one could go back to the past, they couldn't do anything once there, or else changing the past could result in the current future world ceasing to exist.
Then, the Old Supreme Kai offered his own insight: "Perhaps the Saiyan named Bardock that you're talking about didn't merely go back to a certain point in the past, but instead arrived in an entirely new alternate timeline. That would explain why even with a wish to the Eternal Dragon, he couldn't be brought back." [TN: Changing parallel timeline to alternate timeline. It's the official term in the dragon ball world.]
"A different alternate timeline? Ancestor, is that even possible?" East Supreme Kai was stunned.
A tiny change could potentially give rise to a new alternate timeline.
Old Supreme Kai nodded: "In the past, I once encountered a similar case, though it was millions of years ago. I've forgotten many of the details, but what I can say is that indeed, someone from the future once crossed into the past, and that gave rise to our alternate timeline's future."
"So what you're saying, Ancestor, is that even we are just the result of development in an alternate timeline of some other world?" Kibito gasped in shock.
To him, it was all too unreal.
Old Supreme Kai's eyes were deep: "Who's to say? Even we Supreme Kais are not omnipotent. Above us, above the universe, there are even higher existences… What we need to know is that we live, we exist, and that is enough. At least for us, this world is our world! Anything is possible!"
As his words fell, East Supreme Kai and Kibito were even more shaken.
Their worldview had been broadened by Old Supreme Kai.
Talot, however, understood exactly what he meant.
"This matter involves time, and is of great importance. Let me give you a word of advice, since that Saiyan named Bardock happened to cross time and space by some twist of fate and ended up in the past, then that is his destiny. If it cannot be changed, just let it be. What do you say?"
"Besides, even if we were willing to risk violating the universal laws on time, we still couldn't determine exactly which point in time Bardock ended up."
"According to the age of our universe, it has already existed for more than ten billion years..."
Old Supreme Kai's words seemed aimed at dispelling Talot's thoughts.
East Supreme Kai and Kibito both nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, Talot could no longer press the issue and had no choice but to accept reality.
He couldn't exactly force them to find Bardock. Even if they were Supreme Kais, it would truly be asking too much.
Besides, just as Old Supreme Kai had said, with so many alternate timelines, even if they went back to the past, they might not be able to locate the one Bardock had entered.
And if they failed to find him, yet another new future alternate timeline would be created.
With no other option, Talot placed his final hope entirely on the dragon balls.
Unless he truly became powerful enough to break through the limits of space and time—to wield the power of time itself—or perhaps, find that Supreme Kai of Time!
If it were her, she should be able to travel freely across timelines.
Of course, there was also another possibility: that Bardock had heard the suggestion he previously sent and had gone to Planet Namek to summon Porunga and make a wish...
No longer fixated on this issue, Talot simply changed the subject.
He didn't want to become a Supreme Kai apprentice, but that didn't mean he couldn't remain in the Sacred World of the Kai.
Old Supreme Kai didn't force him and gave him plenty of time to think it over, but he also no longer brought up the divine power training method.
Talot wanted to obtain it, but they had made it very clear: without becoming a god, he couldn't train in divine power.
He could only take things slowly.
.......
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