"By the way, Merus—without a spaceship, how'd you get back?" Jaco suddenly remembered and blurted out.
"Ah… Buu flew me home," Merus answered with a line he'd prepared.
"Buu?" Jaco blinked and glanced at the pink fat guy beside Merus.
"Let me introduce you. This is my best friend, Buu," Merus said, pointing at Majin Buu.
"Ah—nice to meet you, I'm Jaco." Jaco stepped up and offered a handshake.
"Turn into chocolate!" Buu's head antenna snapped toward Jaco, purple sparks gathering at the tip.
"Buu!" Merus's face darkened. He barked the order.
Buu suddenly remembered something scary, and the purple charge fizzled out.
"I'm hungry. I want to eat," Buu patted his big belly, looking aggrieved at Merus.
"Jaco, would you tell the mess hall to get Buu some food?" Merus said apologetically.
"On it." Jaco nodded, cheerfully unaware he'd almost become a truffle.
After Jaco left, more Patrol officers came by to say hello.
Merus returned each greeting.
Even the Galactic King rushed in, thrilled at the news Merus was alive.
"Merus, we thought you were dead… It's wonderful you're safe!" the King trembled with emotion. "You're our finest officer!"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Merus smiled.
"And this is…?" The King eyed Majin Buu curiously.
"An octopus?" Buu smacked his lips. "Takoyaki on Earth is delicious."
"…"
"…"
"Buu, mind your manners. This is His Majesty, the Galactic King. Bow!" Merus ordered, voice crisp.
Still wary of Merus's power, Buu nodded quickly and bowed.
"Hahaha, no need to be so formal." The King chuckled and held out a tentacle. "You're Merus's friend? Welcome to Galactic Patrol HQ."
"Ooh…" Buu stepped up and grabbed the King's other tentacle.
"Uh…" A blush spread across the King's green face.
Why is it always those…
Why do you people keep grabbing there?
"Let go," Merus murmured in Buu's ear.
"Hm?" Buu scratched his head, baffled by Merus's temper.
Isn't that how you shake hands?
Weird!
Still, he obediently released.
Merus then arranged for Buu to stay in his own quarters.
Angels don't sleep, after all.
Keeping Buu under his roof meant fewer chances for trouble.
At least in theory. What actually happened gave Merus a headache.
After eating his fill, Buu flopped onto Merus's bed and instantly began to snore.
And no matter how they tried, they couldn't wake him.
Jaco tiptoed in to try—Buu grabbed his face and tossed him out the door.
"…"
Merus looked to the ceiling and sighed.
Maybe I was a little hasty picking this 'trainee God of Destruction.'
—
Supreme Kai's Realm.
For days, the Supreme Kai and Kibito were too anxious to eat or sleep, jolting awake from nightmares.
They kept a constant watch on Buu's movements.
But to their confusion, ever since Buu started following Merus, he hadn't killed anyone. He hadn't even blown up a planet.
That didn't fit the Kai's understanding of reality.
Ten-plus days crawled by like that.
Only then did the two relax a fraction.
"Lord Supreme Kai… did we overthink this?" Kibito ventured.
The Supreme Kai hung his head, silent.
"Since Buu joined Merus, he's under tight watch. No killing, no planetary destruction," Kibito went on.
"…"
The Kai didn't know what to say.
"Who is this Merus, really?" Kibito grew more curious. "Is he truly a demon?"
"He must be a demon! Absolutely must be!" the Kai said, face grave.
"A fallen angel… that's what you mean?" Kibito asked.
"You're right," the Kai nodded. "Even if they aren't doing anything now, something feels off. We must keep our eyes on them."
"They've returned to the Galactic Patrol HQ," Kibito reported. "And Buu… fell asleep. He's been out for days."
"In short, we cannot let our guard down," the Kai said, voice low, expression heavier by the second.
"But… Supreme Kai, what can we do?" Kibito asked the hard question.
The Kai said nothing.
Exactly.
What can we do?
As the "greatest god in the universe," I feel powerless.
I can't even beat a 'fallen angel' from the demon realm.
What a pathetic Supreme Kai I am.
(And by "universe," he meant Universe 7. He had no idea about the other eleven.)
Once again, the Supreme Kai felt doomsday looming over all creation—his creation.
His life was one long knot of dread.
When Buu was sealed, he feared Buu might break out.
When Buu did break out, he feared the universe's destruction.
Now that Buu was under Merus's thumb, he feared a mere "angel" being so strong that even he, the Supreme Kai, could do nothing.
He sighed and looked at the sacred sword embedded deep in the ground.
"If only I could draw that sword," he murmured, wanting, but powerless.
—
Universe 6 — Planet Champa.
Training under Vados, Ken finally learned the authentic Ultra Instinct.
Vados also passed Broly some basic combat technique—
Starting with the most straightforward: God of Destruction skills.
Broly listened intently and took mental notes.
"So Whis only gave me a kiddie version of Ultra Instinct, huh?" Ken said wryly.
"Mm-hmm. That starch sausage you gave him had only 3% meat… a simplified manual was already 'generous,'" Vados said truthfully.
"Vados, praise me," Ken grinned.
She blinked. "…For what?"
"I used the kiddie manual and still awakened angelic power. I must be quite the prodigy," Ken said, unabashed.
Vados held her tongue.
Should I tell you that you awakened it because you inherited Amarella's angelic power?
She decided not to.
"Since you're a 'prodigy,' all the more reason to train diligently. Push your angel-power purity to 20," she said, playing along.
"I'll give it everything." Jokes aside, Ken didn't slack.
With the true Ultra Instinct in hand, he had no excuse to delay refining his angelic power.
Time flowed on.
Before they knew it, three months had passed training on Planet Champa.
Ken's angel-power purity finally reached 20.
When he released it now, the halo burned brighter, cleaner.
Even Vados was mildly surprised.
So he really is a genius.
I only set three months to pressure him. I didn't think he'd actually do it.
We had half a year per the Grand Priest—he finished in three.
"Vados, we had a deal. If I hit purity 20 in three months, I get a kiss," Ken said suddenly.
"When did I ever say that?" Vados asked, stone-faced.
"I heard it," Broly chimed in.
"…"
Vados shot Broly a look, not entirely pleased.
"Mr. Broly, would you like to rephrase that?" she smiled, sweet but sharp.
"I… I heard it!" Broly insisted, though a little timid.
"Were you there?" Vados asked sweetly.
Broly's face changed. He scratched his head and waved it off. "I remembered wrong…"
"Whether Broly was there or not, he heard you. He's got great ears," Ken said, smirking.
Vados was speechless.
"Alright, you want a kiss?" Vados's eyes glinted; she had an idea.
Ken nodded vigorously.
"Catch me, and I'll let you have one," she said, grinning.
"Ah—Is that Lord Champa up there?" Ken suddenly pointed skyward.
"Oh? He's back?" Vados looked where he pointed.
For the record, Champa had been out playing the whole three months.
Angels and GoDs are immortal. Three months away is nothing.
The instant Vados glanced aside, Ken pounced like a starving tiger.
At the very last instant, Vados merely tilted her body and slipped past him.
"Trying to distract me?" she laughed. "Did you forget—I use true Ultra Instinct? Angels are born with it."
"Doesn't matter. I'm catching you today," Ken said, lifting a hand. A black strip of cloth appeared.
He wrapped it over his eyes.
"What are you doing?" Vados frowned.
"Starting," Ken said solemnly.
"…"
"You can't catch me with your eyes open. Why blindfold yourself?" she asked.
"I can't catch you anyway. This just… feels better," Ken grinned.
Vados stared, baffled.
Feels… better?
I don't understand you.
(Truth was, the blindfold gave him "Pigsy-catches-his-bride" vibes. Catching a bride feels nicer that way. Don't ask.)
"Shff, shff, shff!"
Ken charged again, homing in on Vados, who danced lightly out of reach.
He went at it for a good while and still couldn't even brush the hem of her clothes.
He didn't give up; he sped up.
Broly, off to the side, grinned like a dope, watching Ken "catch the wife."
Just then, a flicker of purplish-red light shot across the sky.
Broly blinked. The light dove toward the ground—
A fat cat-man.
An extremely chubby cat-man.
Ken and Vados had already told Broly: the God of Destruction of this universe is a cat-person.
Broly thought it through. This had to be Champa.
Pop.
Champa floated down, giving Vados a puzzled look, then stared at blindfolded Ken.
Then his eyes slid to Broly.
Ken, sensing powerful divine ki, stopped chasing and yanked off the blindfold.
"Ah, Lord Champa's back," Vados bowed.
"Vados, what's going on? Where'd you find two little monkeys?" Champa snorted. "You raising pets now?"
"…"
Broly bared his teeth at Champa, eyes blazing.
Ken said nothing—just weighing how to deal with this mouthy cat.
Annoying punk.
Not so easy to handle, though.
Three months ago, neither Broly nor I had a chance.
Now… maybe.
"Allow me. This is Ken; that's Broly," Vados said, then to the boys, "This is Lord Champa, the God of Destruction of Universe 6."
"What are these two little monkeys doing here?" Champa's eyes narrowed. "Two pets at once? Where'd you buy them?"
He'd been out having fun. Now he comes home to strangers?
Unacceptable.
He took an instant dislike to them.
Broly's fists clenched.
Who are you calling monkeys?
So what if you're a God of Destruction?
I beat one before…
"Peace, Broly. Besides, Saiyans are monkey-descended," Ken said, amused.
"Uh…" Broly scratched his head, recalling Vegeta's great-ape form.
Right. Maybe we are kinda monkey-ish.
He eased up.
"In a bit, just do this, then this, then this… got it?" Ken whispered a quick plan into Broly's ear.
Broly nodded, taking it in.
Champa didn't catch the whisper—he just stared down his nose at them.
"Vados, get rid of them. Or I'll erase them both," Champa huffed. "I don't want outsiders in my home."
"Please, this way," Vados beckoned Champa aside.
"What?" he grunted. "Spit it out."
"That Mr. Ken was assigned by the Grand Priest," Vados said quietly, careful Ken couldn't hear.
"What? Assigned by the Grand Priest? Don't joke," Champa's face drained, his tubby body shivering.
"I'm not joking," Vados said, serious.
"…"
Why would the Grand Priest plant this kid in my realm?
"Wait—Is he swapping out God of Destructions?" Champa blurted, suddenly nervous.
"You're overthinking it," Vados sighed.
"Then what's so special about this Ken?" Champa pressed, sneaking a glance at Ken before looking away.
"He may be an angel," Vados said.
"An angel? Don't be ridiculous—hahahaha…" Champa burst out laughing.
Vados merely watched him laugh himself out.
"…Unless—he's the Grand Priest's illegitimate son?" Champa's grin froze as a thought struck him.
Vados said nothing.
Funny—I thought that too.
To anyone who didn't know better, he does look like the Grand Priest's secret kid.
And honestly… it's not impossible.
Seeing Vados hold her tongue and blink innocently, Champa grew convinced.
"Seriously? Whose child is he?" Champa gasped.
"Don't tell anyone," Vados whispered.
"For real? An actual love child?" Champa gaped, delighted by the cosmic gossip.
He sneaked another glance at Ken.
"Why is he that skin tone?" Champa asked.
"A disguise," Vados said.
"Got it." Champa nodded, enlightened.
Sure, a disguise!
Under that shell, a hidden angelic halo.
"And the other one?" Champa asked, glancing at Broly.
"That's Broly. He's a clansman of Ken's 'disguise.' Bringing a companion makes the cover stronger, doesn't it?" Vados's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Makes sense… Doesn't look like a native of our universe… We don't have humans like that," Champa muttered.
"He isn't. He's from Universe 7—a Saiyan," Vados said.
"Universe 7? Beerus's dump," Champa scoffed. "No wonder he's ugly. People from Beerus's universe always look punchable."
Vados didn't respond.
Our universe's Saiyans look the same—minus the tail.
"Then again, our Saiyans don't have tails…" Champa mused, then waved it off. "Whatever."
"Please be civil with them," Vados advised. "It'll make things easier long term."
"How long are they staying?" Champa had a bad feeling.
"Until Ken transforms into a true angel," Vados said after a beat.
"…"
That… could be a while.
"Oh—Universe 7's got a trainee angel too, right? Merus? He's the Grand Priest's son as well?" Champa smacked his forehead, suddenly remembering.
"Heh… In some cases, love-children get more attention than legitimate ones. Growing up without parental love, and all that," Vados said smoothly.
Champa bought it, nodding gravely.
He even felt a flicker of pity for Ken.
"Your… father suddenly having a love child—you don't feel anything?" Champa asked Vados.
"Angels keep a tranquil heart. It's nothing," Vados said breezily.
"That is your kind," Champa agreed, then couldn't help asking, "Do you know who Ken's mother is?"
"I don't. And I don't want to," Vados sighed.
I can't keep spinning this.
Please stop.
"I'm saying—treat Mr. Ken politely. It'll only help," Vados reminded him. "Also, Ken himself doesn't know he's the Grand Priest's love child. Do not slip up."
"Got it, got it," Champa waved, agreeing.
Now that he knew "who" Ken was, he dropped the bark a notch.
He strode over and gave Ken a once-over.
"Kid, don't think your 'special status' lets you run wild in my realm," Champa snorted. "That castle is mine. You two don't set one foot in it. Understood?"
Broly's fists bunched again. He really wanted to tear this cat in half.
Ken gave him a look: stand down.
"…"
Didn't we just cover that he's the Grand Priest's love child?
How are you still this rude?
"Fine. I'm not interested in your 'castle' anyway. It's a cat bed," Ken said coolly.
"You—what did you say?" Champa glared.
"Are those giant ears just for peeing?" Ken sighed.
"You know who you're talking to?" Champa roared. "If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll never learn what a God of Destruction can do! Time to show you how cruel the world is!"
"Easy, Lord Champa," Vados cut in.
"You stay out of it!" Champa barked. "I don't care who he is—I'm beating him today!"
Vados fell silent.
On second thought, she didn't object.
A little pain might do Ken and Broly good.
Only with setbacks will they train harder.
And that helps me finish my assignment.
Besides, now that I've "blessed" Ken with identity armor, Lord Champa won't go too far.
Let them scrap.
"Kid, if I don't pound you until you're digging teeth out of the lawn, I'm not the God of Destruction Champa! Ready?" he growled, lunging at Ken—
"AAAHHH!"
At that exact moment, Broly let out a bellow.
Boom!
Emerald fire roared skyward. In a flash, he became the Legendary Super Saiyan.
"What?" Champa flinched, eyes snagged by the transformation.
Whoosh!
Ken seized the opening and blinked to Vados's side.
She started—assuming Ken was using her as a shield while his God of Destruction did the fighting.
Cute.
Let your God of Destruction brawl while you hide behind me.
"Vados, lend me your staff," Ken said.
Vados blinked again, eyes glittering with meaning.
A brief, weighty pause.
"So—you figured it out?" she asked softly.
Ken smiled and held out his hand.
Vados hesitated, then passed him the staff.
Ken's lips curled.
He'd been studying an angel's staff for a while.
He'd handled Vados's staff more than once.
And he'd discovered something big:
An angel's staff amplifies angelic power.
Vados's, in particular, could magnify it fiftyfold.
Which meant, with the staff, Ken could multiply his own by fifty.
Stack that with the Iron Man suit—Ken's combat power would spike by 2,500 times.
No way I lose to Champa at that boost.
Even if I can't beat him, I won't be beaten.
You kept poking the bear—fine. No more Mister Nice Guy.
Boom!
A thunderclap split the distance.
Transformed, Broly was already trading blows with Champa.
One heavy punch smashed into the cat's chubby face.
Champa, caught off guard, took it full on.
"Yeow!" he yelped, tumbling backward.
He hadn't expected the Saiyan to hit that hard.
Whoosh!
Broly pressed, eyes blank with fury, locked on his single target.
Bam-bam-bam!
Fists and feet slammed into Champa in a flurry.
Rrrrumble!
Broly opened his jaws—an emerald beam blasted forth.
It swallowed Champa whole——and erased a decorative "star" behind him to dust.
Dust billowed everywhere.
When it thinned, Champa's figure emerged, unharmed, wearing a frosty look.
"Not bad, kid. But did you think that would beat a God of Destruction?" he sneered, thumbing his nose.
Broly didn't flinch. Emerald power surged as he rocketed back up after Champa.
"Hmph. Know your place," Champa stretched out a hand, gathering power—not Destruction, just something ordinary.
In his mind, this kid was the love child's friend. A light spanking would do.
Killing him might tick off the Grand Priest's boy.
Just as Champa was about to fire—
Whoosh!
A figure in sleek, mechanical armor streaked up—and smacked Champa across the face with a staff.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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