"This is your idea, remember. Pinky promise." Ken held out his little finger.
"Alright, pinky, pinky." Vados humored him.
Ken hooked his pinky with Vados's and tapped thumbs.
"From now on, you're my girlfriend," Ken said solemnly.
"Sure, sure," Vados laughed, then instantly changed the subject. "Let's find the Super Dragon Balls first."
"Together," Ken nodded.
With the Super Dragon Radar, the search was pretty straightforward.
In just one full day, Vados gathered all three Super Dragon Balls from Universe 7 to the fringes of the Solar System.
The next day, she took Ken to Universe 6.
As the radar indicated, there were indeed four Super Dragon Balls there.
Vados spent another full day transporting those four to the Solar System's outskirts in Universe 7.
All seven Super Dragon Balls were assembled.
"I'm going to summon the Divine Dragon," Vados exhaled, a trace of excitement on her face.
Ken nodded, expectant.
A Divine Dragon, huh.
Should I sneak in a wish for immortality while we're at it?
He immediately dismissed the thought.
What's immortality good for?
Before gods, it's nothing.
Even if you can't die, if someone seals you away forever, that's a fate worse than death.
Or if they torture you endlessly—you'd learn what "immortal suffering" really means.
Power is the only truth that matters.
Without enough strength, "immortality" is a joke.
Besides, become a true angel and you're functionally immortal.
Angels never age.
The only way an angel dies is in an all-out battle.
But Ken was different. Even if he became a true angel one day, he was determined never to die in battle.
Out in the vast star-sea, the seven planet-sized, golden Super Dragon Balls drifted together.
Their glow gilded the void.
"Come forth, Divine Dragon, grant my—"
Vados stopped mid-chant as her scepter trembled.
She glanced at the crystal, then swallowed the rest of her incantation.
"Oh my… the Grand Priest is calling," she murmured, surprised.
Ken's expression tightened.
The Grand Priest?
Why reach out now?
He must know we've gathered the Super Dragon Balls…
And… did he see me kiss his daughter?
Please don't pick now to make me an example.
I can't beat you!
"Don't say a word," Vados whispered to Ken. She set him down, flashed away to a distant point in space, and opened the connection.
"Grand Priest, long time no see," Vados greeted cheerily.
"Vados, don't use the Super Dragon Balls yet. I need them for something else," the Grand Priest said flatly.
"Ahh, after all that work, the Grand Priest swoops in for the prize," Vados sighed.
"You've got some nerve…" His face darkened. "I planned to have Ken train under Kusu, and you poached him."
"My apologies. I didn't 'poach' him; he decided Universe 6 suited him better," Vados deflected.
"Take him if you like, but I expect you to guide him well. Get him to true angelhood as soon as possible."
"No problem. I've already taught him the authentic Ultra Instinct," Vados said.
"Good."
"By the way… I never knew a human could cultivate angelic power. How did he do it? He isn't your secret love-child, is he?" Vados mused.
"…"
The Grand Priest's face went blacker.
"Mind your manners," he scolded, then answered anyway. "He received Amarella's angelic power—that's why he has this opportunity."
"Amarella?" Vados blinked.
"Do you remember what she said before she disappeared?" the Grand Priest asked.
"Vaguely… She said she left her purest angelic power somewhere in the cosmos, waiting for a destined soul to resonate with it," Vados recalled. "She even said that person might, through training, become a true angel… It's been ages."
"Exactly."
"So Ken is that destined one?"
"Another thing: Universe 18 has re-formed—in embryonic form," the Grand Priest added, dropping a bomb.
"Oh my… The erased Universe 18 has returned?" Vados's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Only as a seed."
"And Amarella?"
"She's also in recovery," he replied. "I intend to assign a God of Destruction and a Supreme Kai to the newborn Universe 18, plus an attendant angel for training and development."
Vados waited. He wasn't finished.
"Any suggestions?" he smiled.
"Why an attendant angel if Amarella is back?"
"Her angel power is still weak. She can't shoulder a universe yet. She'll need a partner."
"In that case, Merus would be ideal," Vados said. "As for Destroyer and Supreme Kai, we can pick them from the twelve universes."
"Merus isn't ready," the Grand Priest shook his head.
Vados frowned.
"He can't even tell good from evil properly. He's not suited to steward a universe."
"…You might as well just say 'Ken,'" Vados said, sweating.
"That is my thought—but he's too weak for now. I need you to train him," the Grand Priest said, voice growing grave.
"Understood. Since his angelic power comes from Amarella, making him Universe 18's attendant angel is perfect," Vados nodded.
"As for GoD and Supreme Kai—I know he's already grooming a GoD. Find an opportunity to speak to him about the Kai," the Grand Priest instructed.
"Consider it done. I'll keep an eye out," Vados said. Then, dryly, "But giving him an entire universe—won't that go to his head?"
"You've heard of 'bids' in the mortal realm?" the Grand Priest asked.
"???"
Vados looked lost.
"What does that even mean?"
"When choosing a partner for a project, you hold a tender. Sometimes the winner is already decided, but you still invite other companies to submit bids—'accompanying bids,' they call them."
"…"
"You're saying we should arrange a few 'accompanying bids'?" Vados translated.
"Exactly." He nodded. "Make it six months from now. By then, his strength and the purity of his angel power should have improved."
"Alright," Vados agreed. "But what does that have to do with the Super Dragon Balls?"
"Just wait for my word. Your real task is to train Ken over the next six months. Get his angel-power purity to 20."
"He's only at 10 now…" Vados winced. "Maybe I should just send him back to Universe 10."
"…"
The Grand Priest hung up.
You stole him from Kusu and now you want to send him back?
Vados stared at the dimmed crystal, thinking hard.
Six months… to get Ken from purity 10 to 20.
That's going to be rough.
Should've let Kusu have him…
She sighed.
Ken, seeing the call was over, flew back.
He'd been polite enough not to eavesdrop on the Grand Priest. He wasn't suicidal.
"What's wrong? You look troubled. What did your dad say?" Ken asked.
"…"
"So Merus told you the Grand Priest is my father?" Vados gave him a look.
"We tell each other everything," Ken grinned.
"It's fine. But we can't use these seven Super Dragon Balls. The Grand Priest needs them," Vados said, glancing at the glittering orbs.
Ken looked too. Each ball was Earth-sized, blazing in the dark.
Then—
They vanished.
Right before Ken's eyes, the seven Super Dragon Balls winked out. The gold-washed void went black.
"Who stole them?!" Ken snapped.
"…"
"Who else could teleport seven Super Dragon Balls like that?" Vados side-eyed him. "Besides the Grand Priest?"
"…Fair." Ken paused, then added, "On the bright side, once I grow up and marry you, he'll be my father-in-law, right?"
Vados had no words.
Your logic is… disturbingly consistent.
"Anyway, they're gone. Looks like swapping the Earths will have to wait," Ken sighed.
"Then we wait. A year or two won't matter," Vados said. She fixed him with a look. "Once your suit is finished, we return to Universe 6. You want to become a true angel? Then I'm going to train you hard."
Ken nodded vigorously.
"Three months. Can you get your angel-power purity to 20?" Vados asked.
"…"
"No," Ken said without hesitation.
He knew his limits.
Purifying angelic power was like leveling in a game—the higher you go, the slower it gets.
If only it all went as fast as the early levels.
He reckoned he'd need at least a year to reach 20, not three months.
"I do have another idea, though," Ken mused. "Might boost purity faster."
"What idea?"
"Siphon a little from you."
"…"
"That sounds… wrong," Vados said flatly. "No."
"Stingy," Ken sighed.
—
Two more days passed.
Dr. Brief finally completed the Iron Man armor.
"So I just press the red button on the watch?" Ken asked, excited.
"Yes," Dr. Brief nodded.
"Try it, Ken! I helped too—I want to see you in it!" Bulma bounced, eyes sparkling.
Broly watched with open envy.
Vados stood off to the side, noncommittal.
Click.
Ken pressed the red button.
In a blink, a crimson suit of armor wrapped his body.
It followed the Iron Man silhouette almost exactly—only the material was something far beyond Tony's tech.
And once equipped, it multiplied the wearer's power fiftyfold.
Ken stepped to the mirror.
Nice. Very Iron Man.
And the surge of power—real. A clean fifty times.
"What a hottie!" Bulma clapped, her high ponytail swishing.
Broly stared, impressed. Way cooler than the old bot—this looked smart, not dopey.
"Mm. Good design," Vados offered.
"I tuned the height to about 1.8 meters," Dr. Brief explained. "Closer to your future frame."
"If you end up shorter, yikes," Vados giggled.
"Then I'll wish for five extra centimeters," Ken rolled his eyes.
Whatever. Not the point.
Even scaled up, the suit controlled like his own limbs, brimming with effortless strength.
He raised his left arm. A panel popped. He tapped it—armor retracted in an instant, flowing back into the watch. The kid was a kid again.
He'd already reinforced the watch with angelic power. No way it would pop off mid-battle.
"Thanks, Doc," Ken said sincerely.
"My pleasure. Your 'weird materials' will fuel my research for years," Dr. Brief smiled.
"Then we should be going," Vados said. "Thank you for putting up with us this week."
"You're always welcome," Dr. Brief replied.
"Ken, don't go. Come to school with me—I'm starting first grade," Bulma pleaded, gripping his hand.
Ken yanked free and leapt onto Vados's back.
I graduated college. You want me in first grade?
Just kill me.
I'm sticking with Vados.
"Hmph! I hate you!" Bulma pouted.
"We Saiyans don't do elementary school," Ken said, shaking his head. "Study hard, Bulma."
Bulma turned to Broly.
He twitched and said, "No."
She deflated.
"When will you come back to play?" she asked.
"What's a girl's best age again?" Ken mused.
"For Earthlings? Sixteen," Vados answered.
"Then I'll come back when you're sixteen," Ken said, giving Bulma a quick hug.
"You promise," Bulma nodded. "When you grow up, come marry me."
"…"
I'm marrying Vados.
"Uh… we'll see." Ken hopped back onto Vados and wrapped his tail snugly around her narrow waist.
"When I grow up, I'll marry Cheelai…" Broly muttered, blushing, and stood obediently at Vados's side.
"Off we go," Vados tapped her staff to the ground.
Starlight engulfed them.
They shot into the sky and vanished.
Bulma stared up where Ken had disappeared, eyes wet.
"Bulma, Ken is destined to be a man of gods," Dr. Brief sighed.
"Then I'll be a goddess," Bulma huffed.
"…"
—
Two hours later.
Vados ferried Ken and Broly to the edge of Universe 7, slipped through the Null Realm, and on the way past Universe 18, stole a glance.
Even in a glance, she could see the newborn cosmos.
Tiny, as the Grand Priest had said—just a seed.
Only one star and a white planet. Nothing else.
It would need ages to grow.
Strictly speaking, a newborn universe needs a Supreme Kai first.
Picking a God of Destruction now felt early…
Still, she didn't dwell. Angels don't meddle—that was the Grand Priest's concern.
Her only regret now was the workload of training Ken.
"Vados, is that the new universe?" Ken pointed toward the distant glow of 18.
He and Merus had noticed it before—and even landed on that white planet. He'd sensed angelic power there.
"Mm-hmm," Vados said lightly. "New universes do appear, sometimes."
"So what will you do with it?" Ken asked.
"The Grand Priest will decide. Not our problem," Vados giggled.
"…"
They flew on.
Pop.
They crossed into Universe 6.
"Welcome to Universe 6," Vados smiled.
Broly glanced around like he could tell the difference.
"You said 6 and 7 are mirror universes, right?" Ken asked.
"Yes."
"So Universe 6 has Saiyans too?"
"It does," Vados said. "But unlike most of the evil-leaning Saiyans of Universe 7, the Saiyans here are broadly just and often protect the peace."
"Can you take me to their planet?" Ken perked up.
If you come to Universe 6, you visit Planet Sadala. That's the rule.
"Later," Vados said, face turning serious. "Right now you need purity—not sightseeing. When your angel power reaches a certain level, go to Sadala yourself."
"That sentence contains traces of logic, but not enough to be convincing," Ken deadpanned.
"???"
She felt dizzy.
"Fine. Let's go to your place," Ken said. "But just so we're clear—your bed is mine now."
"…"
"You'll be disappointed. Angels don't sleep; I don't have a bed," Vados grinned.
Ken was speechless.
"Did you ever see me sleep on Earth?" she teased.
"What do you do at night?"
"Watch TV," she said. "Earth shows are fun—especially with sunflower seeds."
"Next time I'll give you a massage. Even better," Ken said, staring at her figure and swallowing.
"Sounds… reasonable," Vados said, not catching his drift.
"What do you even watch? Late-night shows aren't exactly wholesome."
"Kid, spare me the lecture," Vados snorted.
"Let's watch together," Ken offered.
Vados sped up instead of replying.
Half an hour later—
Pop.
They broke into the realm of the God of Destruction.
"See that upside-down pyramid? That's Planet Champa," Vados pointed.
"Mm." Ken nodded, then buried his nose in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath.
"…"
Vados glanced at Broly.
"???"
"Broly, just so we're clear—Lord Champa is Universe 6's GoD. No ripping him in half," Vados said pointedly.
Broly nodded hard.
I'm not stupid.
I can't beat him yet.
That GoD from Universe 3 wrecked me.
I'll lie low… until I'm stronger.
They landed.
"Lord Champa, I'm back!" Vados called.
Silence.
"Out working. Or out playing," she shrugged.
Broly looked around, wide-eyed.
Ken already knew the place by heart from manga—an upside-down pyramid world, suns and moons scattered above, some real, some decorative. Blue turf carpeting the ground like a heavenly lawn.
"Give me a tour of your boudoir," Ken said.
"…"
—
Universe 7, Galactic Patrol HQ.
Merus returned with Majin Buu.
"Merus, you're alive? We thought you were dead," Jaco gaped. "I cried for days. Ate myself chubby at your memorial."
"…"
Merus glanced at Buu.
According to Broly's 'settings', isn't this where you pile-drive Jaco into the floor?
Buu did nothing.
Merus died a little inside.
Then—
"Memorial? I want food," Buu said, patting his belly. He'd finally caught up.
Merus gave up.
What kind of GoD am I raising here?
Turns out, raising one…is not easy.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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