Universe 6, Earth.
At Capsule Corp HQ, in Bulma's sprawling courtyard, Bier was keeping Ai company while they played. Broly sat off to the side, happily stuffing his face. Emily was busy entertaining little Trunks, and every so often the kid burst into bright, carefree laughter.
Bulma had gone back to the lab to repair Android 16.
Ken, however, was staring up at the sky, his expression unusually heavy.
Merus stood beside him, and his face kept shifting as he tried to keep his composure.
"You felt it too, didn't you, Merus?" Ken asked, glancing sideways.
"Yes… Zeno-sama is coming," Merus said, sweat already beading on his forehead.
"What's he doing here?" Ken clicked his tongue, not exactly thrilled.
"Maybe he's just… sightseeing?" Merus guessed.
"Only people at level 80 and up can avoid being erased, right?" Ken asked casually.
Merus stared at him.
"What did you do that makes you worry like that?" Merus asked, half laughing and half miserable.
"It's just… having my fate in someone else's hands doesn't sit right," Ken said with a quiet sigh.
"Zeno-sama is actually pretty easygoing," Merus said quickly. "Personality-wise, he's a lot like Majin Buu—very childlike. If Buu didn't have that darkness in him… they'd probably have a great time together."
Ken didn't follow that thread. "If your father fought Zeno-sama… who wins?"
Merus went completely blank.
"I… don't know," Merus said, shaking his head hard. "And you really shouldn't think that way. The angel race isn't warlike. Even if the Grand Priest is universally acknowledged as the strongest deity, he would never challenge Zeno-sama."
"So is it 'can't win,' or 'can't be bothered'?" Ken pressed.
Merus didn't want to talk anymore.
"When Zeno-sama gets here, don't say anything like that," Merus warned, voice tight.
"You're my best friend, so I can say it to you," Ken said with a grin. "In front of him? I'm not that stupid."
"Good. Good." Merus finally breathed again, then his expression tightened. "Once Zeno-sama enters Earth's range, we should go greet him… no, we should go together—me, you, and Bier."
Ken just looked at him.
"…Right. And Broly and Bardock too," Merus hurriedly added. "As Gods of Destruction, they should pay their respects."
"No need," Ken said, shaking his head. "Let's just see what he wants first. You and me are enough."
Merus blinked. "Is that… appropriate?"
"Ten minutes," Ken said, eyes still on the sky.
Ten minutes later, Ken and Merus shot up into the air, turning into two brilliant streaks of light as they headed straight for space.
"Eh? Hey! Hey! Where are you going?" Bier shouted after them, staring at the two lights vanishing overhead.
She lifted her right hand. A staff appeared in her grip.
Thunk!
She tapped the staff lightly against the ground and launched after them.
Unbelievable. Going out without me?
"Don't get lost, Bier…" Ai called kindly.
"Lost? It's right there!" Bier glanced back with a smug smile. "How could I get lost at a distance like this?"
She turned into another dazzling streak—and promptly flew off in the wrong direction.
Ai fell silent.
Broly looked up, scratched his head, and muttered to himself.
She can lose someone on a two-step trip… how did she even make it to Earth?
Sure enough, Bier veered around the planet and ended up on the opposite side of Earth.
She hovered, looked left and right, then blinked.
Huh?
Where did Ken and Merus go?
A second ago she could still feel their angel power in that direction—so why did it vanish?
Bier spun around, scanning the sky, and the more she looked, the worse her headache got.
Why didn't you just bring me?
On the other side of the planet, Ken and Merus arrived near Zeno-sama.
They immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"Zeno-sama," Merus said respectfully.
Ken echoed him—louder than Merus, as if volume counted as etiquette.
If manners mattered here, Ken intended to do them properly.
"Mm!" Zeno-sama yanked the reins, bringing Majin Buu to a stop. "Merus! You're here too?"
"Yes, Zeno-sama. I came to find Ken," Merus said, then looked toward Buu.
Poor Buu…
I trained a God of Destruction, and now he's Zeno-sama's mount.
What am I supposed to say about that?
…Then again, being Zeno-sama's mount is also something you can brag about for the rest of your existence.
Merus glanced at Buu again—and realised Buu wasn't looking at him at all.
Buu's eyes were locked on Ken.
They were watery, pleading, full of desperate hope—like he wanted to cry but didn't dare.
I made it back to Earth.
I'm safe.
Ken—please, save me.
Ken met his gaze and gave him a calm, reassuring look.
Buu instantly looked like he'd been given a lifeline.
Ken had never seen Zeno-sama in person in this world.
Up close, he really did look like the porcelain-doll description Supreme Kai loved to use.
If you didn't know who he was, you might honestly think he was harmless.
And yet this small, ordinary-looking figure could erase an entire universe with a wave of his hand.
"Nice to finally meet you for real, Zeno-sama," Ken said, stepping closer and grabbing Zeno-sama's hand in an enthusiastic shake.
The two guards' eyes snapped to Ken, instantly hostile.
Merus nearly had a heart attack.
Didn't I just tell you to be respectful?
You were doing fine—until you decided to hold his hand!
Zeno-sama stared at Ken for a moment, then asked curiously, "You're Ken?"
"Yep," Ken said cheerfully.
"Becoming an angel through your own trials is the first miracle like this since the universe was born," Zeno-sama said, sounding almost impressed.
"Thank you," Ken said, sincere.
"About the Supreme Kai I told you to train," Zeno-sama said. "How's that going?"
"Raising a capable Supreme Kai takes time," Ken said with a rueful sigh. "If you rush it, you end up with someone unreliable… like Universe 7's Supreme Kai."
"You're right," Zeno-sama said, and slowly raised a small hand. "Then maybe I should just erase Universe 7…"
Merus' face went white.
"I've never actually seen a universe get erased," Ken said, eyes shining. "Perfect timing. I can finally watch it up close."
Merus' soul left his body.
The guards glared at Ken so hard it felt physical.
Zeno-sama stared at Ken's eager expression.
Then, just as suddenly, Zeno-sama lost interest.
"Forget it," Zeno-sama said. "Once your Supreme Kai is ready, send him to Universe 7 as soon as possible."
"Easy," Ken said, nodding. "Give me ten years at most. I'll have a Supreme Kai ready to take the post."
"Merus," Zeno-sama added, turning his head. "I heard you're training a Supreme Kai too. Let your two Supreme Kais compete."
"Yes, Zeno-sama," Merus said, bowing again.
"That's all," Zeno-sama said, pulling his hand out of Ken's grip. He patted Buu's backside. "Take me to that place with good food. I want to try it."
"Yes!" Buu replied obediently—then immediately looked back at Ken again, pleading.
"Before you go, Zeno-sama," Ken said suddenly, "what are you planning to do with Universe 7's Supreme Kai?"
Zeno-sama turned. "Got an idea?"
"Erasing him is too merciful," Ken said with a light smile.
Zeno-sama's eyes lit up, and he nodded hard. "Yeah! Yeah!"
"So I revived his enemy," Zeno-sama said, grinning. "What was his name again?"
He looked to the left guard.
"Bibidi's son, Babidi," the left guard answered.
"Right! I revived Babidi," Zeno-sama said, giggling.
"That still isn't enough," Ken said, shaking his head.
"What else can we do?" Zeno-sama asked, genuinely curious.
"Make him your mount," Ken suggested, smiling wider. "Punish him the way you're punishing Buu."
Zeno-sama's face brightened like he'd discovered the best toy in the universe.
"Let Babidi torment him first," Ken continued, "then turn him into your mount. He knows Instant Transmission—he can take you anywhere in an instant."
Zeno-sama clapped happily.
"Do it," Zeno-sama said, voice suddenly commanding. "Train him well. I want an excellent mount."
He patted Buu again. "I trained this one for a long time before he finally felt comfortable to ride. I'm honestly a little reluctant to let him go."
Buu looked like he was about to cry.
"Understood," Ken said, nodding. "I'll train Universe 7's Supreme Kai properly and make sure he becomes a qualified mount."
"Deal!" Zeno-sama said, and patted Buu again.
Buu shot down toward Earth like a streak of light, carrying Zeno-sama with him.
The two guards followed closely.
As the right guard left, he turned back and shot Ken a vicious look.
"Merus," Ken called after them, loud enough to be heard, "what level is that guard, again?"
The right guard instantly snapped his head back, eyes sharp.
"I… don't know exactly," Merus said honestly. "But I've heard both guards are at least level 70."
"I know they're over 70," Ken said. "I want the exact number."
Merus shook his head. "I really don't know…"
"I'm level 71," a voice said in their ears.
Merus stiffened. "My apologies, sir…"
"A trainee angel asking about my level," the right guard said with a faint smile. "Planning to challenge me?"
"No," Merus said quickly, stepping in. "Neither of us meant anything by it. Please forgive us."
"Hmph." The right guard snorted—and was gone in an instant.
"Ken," Merus said seriously, "don't provoke the guards. Their tempers aren't good."
"Relax," Ken said with a grin. "I was just curious."
Ken's thoughts drifted.
I'm level 70 right now. If I transform, I can reach level 72.
If both guards are level 71, I could probably handle them.
…But if I beat up Zeno-sama's guards, Zeno-sama would absolutely come for my head.
That's something I'll have to plan carefully.
Then nostalgia hit him out of nowhere.
It's been so long since I've seen Amarella.
I wonder how she's doing.
She'd definitely know more details about the guards.
"I'm heading out for a while," Ken said to Merus. "I'll be back later. You stay here and enjoy yourself—or take Kale to train."
"Where are you going?" Merus asked, startled.
"Suddenly missing someone," Ken said with a soft smile.
"You're going to find my sister Vados, aren't you?" Merus said, immediately getting it. "Yeah… she hasn't had Earth food in ages."
"That's my little brother-in-law," Ken said, clapping Merus hard on the shoulder in approval.
In the next moment, Ken became a brilliant streak and shot toward the World of Void.
Merus watched him vanish, then headed back to Earth and brought Kale to train.
To Merus, Kale's strength was fine—she'd only been knocked out because she was careless.
And this was exactly why Merus had brought Kale and Jiren here.
I need Kale to break through to a higher level.
A tournament run by Cell is actually a perfect trigger.
If I fake my death—or just disappear—Kale will definitely snap past her ceiling and reach Legendary Super Saiyan Two.
Just thinking about it made Merus excited.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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