"Goku, you know holding back is an insult to your opponent, right?" Warren Fox was straining, but he kept goading him on. He wanted Goku at full power.
"Is that so? Sorry then. Kaioken times ten!" Goku scratched his head, then shouted. A crimson aura exploded around his Super Saiyan Blue form, power spiking in a geometric leap.
The terrace shook. Blue god-ki burned under a storm of red.
Feeling that surge, Warren let out a wry smile. Of course it was Goku. Of course it was the protagonist.
Total bug.
With Goku fully uncorked, the balance finally tilted. Kaioken was too absurd, multiplying strength in an instant. In their iron test of grips, Warren's arm was forced down.
Goku exhaled, the grin of victory flickering across his face. He shook out his hand, eyes bright with respect. "You are really strong."
He meant it. As a Saiyan, he had assumed he was untouchable on Earth. Then a human showed up and dragged him all the way to his strongest form, and even made him tap Kaioken x10. Not even Universe 11's Toppo could always walk away from that unscathed.
Vegeta coughed into his fist, stunned all the same. Kaioken times ten. Even as Blue, he was not sure he would have it easy against this Earthling.
The proud prince tasted something like humiliation.
"Whis." Vegeta thought for a heartbeat, slipped off to his room, and came back with Trunks's hoarded premium chocolates. He thrust the box at the angel. "For you. I have a favor to ask."
"Oh?" Whis took a square, let it melt, and sighed. "Marvelous."
"Really? Do not lie to me," Beerus barked, snatching the rest and dumping them into his mouth. "Whaaa. Delicious."
Vegeta hid a private smile. Bulma had paid a fortune for the finest in the world. If even these two were impressed, his timing was perfect. He stated his aim without fuss. "Whis, train me."
"But there are not even forty hours left."
"It is fine. We have the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
Vegeta waved, and Whis whisked him away.
Trunks stared at his now empty chocolate stash in outrage. "That was mine. You glutton."
"Oh?" Beerus slanted him a look. "What was that, brat?"
"Nothing at all."
Despite the loss, Warren was not discouraged. Their test had been a single axis of strength. He still had fire, the Byakugan, and other trump cards. In a real melee his value would not be smaller than anyone's.
Gohan walked over, shook Warren's hand, and spoke earnestly. "Brother Warren, in two days there is a battle between universes. Would you be willing to..."
"Huh?" Warren blinked with feigned surprise.
Goku leaned in fast. "Bulma said if you join, you get one hundred million zeni and Master Roshi's entire stash. All yours."
"Since when do you make deals for me?" Bulma marched over and pinched Goku's ear. He grimaced through the pain, still grinning.
"Warren, just say yes or no," Goku hissed, then dragged Bulma aside to whisper and plead.
Warren blinked at the whirlwind. He had only meant to act like he knew nothing about the Tournament of Power. He tossed a normal attack and the other side blew all their ultimates.
A minute later Goku returned, rubbing his ear. "Bulma agreed. Any other requests, name them, and we will try to make it happen."
Warren shook his head. "No need. I am in."
Goku froze, then seized his hand again. "Deal is a deal. No take-backs."
Warren nodded with a smile.
"Yes." Goku threw both hands up. "Gohan, one rep down, six to go."
He turned back to Warren before Gohan could answer. "Any recommendations?"
"If I get a say, I saw a bald cop earlier. Moves like a real martial artist."
"Bald cop?" Goku and Gohan traded a look. The same face snapped into focus in both minds.
"Krillin?"
"Uncle Krillin?"
Gohan stared, half expecting Warren to laugh and take it back. Warren's face stayed perfectly serious.
"See? I told you Krillin is strong," Goku said, delighted.
Gohan deflated a little, then shrugged. If the man who had forced out Dad's Kaioken vouches for Krillin, who was he to argue.
"Let us run it by Beerus," Goku said, sauntering off to brief the God of Destruction on Universe 7's roster and to ask, purely for reference, if there were any other battle-hardened races he had forgotten. For recruiting. Definitely for recruiting.
Watching them go, Warren flexed his hand and smiled. He knew exactly where Krillin's ceiling was. As a human he could not hang with the main cast in raw power. A stray shockwave could put him in the hospital.
But that was not the point.
"Gohan, Krillin is not there to carry the fight," Warren said, voice low and amused. "He is Dad's cheat switch."
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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