Universe 9's God of Destruction, Sidra, was a short, green-skinned old man with a red beard and hair, eyes a bit shifty.
"Click."
Mule opened Mosco's chest hatch and stepped out, tossing Sidra a small, ornate case.
Sidra caught it one-handed and flipped it open.
A sheet of light fanned out. Countless motes gathered, and in a blink they formed a sultry, green-skinned beauty.
She was stunning—face and figure both top-tier. Sidra had seen plenty of alien beauties, but never one this… convincing.
"Lord Sidra, I am Unit No. 7. You can call me 'Seven,'" the woman cooed, slipping her arm through his.
Sidra immediately felt the, ah, "surge" against his forearm. "What's her skin made of?"
"Condensed H85 energy-light particles," Mule smiled. "Don't ask me how the scientists pulled it off. Just see if she meets your… standards."
"I'll test her first." Sidra smirked, tugging the robot beauty away.
Seven even put on a shy, half-resisting act as she went. That pushed Sidra's anticipation higher.
High tech… incredible. The skin felt dewy—almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
"She's tuned for you personally," Mule called after him, laughing. "Do your office proud, Lord God of Destruction—don't embarrass us."
"Embarrass? You joking?" Sidra scoffed, strutting off with Seven.
Roh, the Supreme Kai at his side, stared after the robot, eyes blazing, practically itching to try.
A beat of silence.
"Lord Sidra… care to share?" Roh grinned, wicked.
"Scram! Is that how a Supreme Kai should act?" Sidra barked.
"Why not? I like pretty women—same taste as you. On the job I'm meticulous. Even if the Grand Priest showed up, he'd find no fault," Roh said breezily.
Sidra ignored him and disappeared with Seven.
Three minutes later, he returned with a not-quite-satisfied Seven.
"That short?" Mule cracked up.
"She's outrageously good… Meanwhile I'm a three-minute God of Destruction," Sidra sighed. "I'm getting old…"
Mule chuckled. "Not on you. She's literally built to press all your buttons."
"Then I'm claiming her. From now on, she's mine." Sidra was thoroughly pleased. Constant optimal temp and humidity, hyper-smart, fragrant—Universe 3's tech truly was wild.
How did they build something this good?
Seven flashed another bashful look, almost indistinguishable from a real woman.
"Mule… can I get one too?" Roh asked, hopeful and hyped.
"Of course. Consider it done," Mule thumped his chest.
"Tell me what you need help with," Sidra said, finally cutting to the chase.
"My son is dead…" Mule's smile fell away. His fists clenched; the two horns on Mosco's head shivered.
"Tell me everything," Sidra said. If a God of Destruction's son had died, it should be easy to answer with violence. The fact Mule had come for help meant it wasn't.
Mule laid out the story—his suspicions, too—and repeated the Grand Priest's exact words.
Sidra and Roh both fell silent, thinking.
"You're the only one who can help me," Mule said, eyes rimmed red. Grief had kept him sleepless.
"The Grand Priest wants evidence," Sidra said slowly.
"So… can you help me get it?" Mule pressed.
"It's not impossible. The trick is knowing what that kid Broly likes," Sidra mused.
"You have an angle?" Mule asked.
"Where is he now?"
"I've been watching. He hasn't left Universe 18 yet."
"Let's go take a look," Sidra said. "Play it by ear. You—say as little as possible. I'll handle it."
"Thank you, Sidra!"
"I held little Muse in my arms once… Never thought he'd reincarnate so soon," Sidra sighed.
Mule's eyes reddened again. It was hard enough for a God of Destruction to have a child; Muse had been his only one—reborn and gone. He needed the killer found, no matter what.
"Roh, you don't need to come," Sidra added. "Head back."
Roh didn't argue, but kept glancing at Mule as if to hint. Mule understood, stuffed down his sorrow, and thumped his chest. "When I'm back in Universe 3, I'll have them build one tailored for you too."
"Many thanks," Roh said. Then, with a teasing glint, "Though technically Supreme Kais aren't male or female…"
"Right…"
"But that doesn't mean I can't like women," Roh chuckled. "Or men."
He tossed Mule a flirty look. Mule yelped and dove back into Mosco, slamming the hatch.
Roh laughed harder and ran his hand over Mosco's armored hull. Mule resisted the urge to slap him into paste and let those filthy fingers wander across the plating.
"I'm off," Roh said, and instant-transmitted away.
"Let's move," Sidra nodded.
…
Universe 18, on the white planet.
Ken was still discussing Supreme Kai candidates with Merus.
"Ken, I'm going to head out for a bit—to search for the right human," Merus said.
"Go on, then," Ken nodded. "I'll return to Earth in Universe 6 first."
"…" Merus. That wasn't quite what the Grand Priest had intended—he'd told them to train here, to refine angelic power.
"Ken, if you polish your angelic power first, you can travel later," Merus coaxed. "And Son Goku is still too young. Going now won't help much."
"I said I'd raise him from the ground up," Ken said, righteous as ever.
"But purifying your angelic power should come first."
"Why? I can refine anywhere. Or are you saying Earth won't let me train?" Ken grinned.
Merus fell quiet. Why is it I never win these back-and-forths with you?
Two streaks of purple-red light flashed across the sky.
Ken and Merus looked up.
"It's Mosco," Merus murmured, brow creasing. "What's he here for?"
Ken kept his thoughts to himself.
"And the other ki—Universe 9's God of Destruction, Sidra," Merus added.
"Let's watch first," Ken said, still unsure of their purpose.
The two descended in a soft thud, landing on the spotless white ground.
"Congratulations," Sidra called warmly. "I heard Universe 18 has chosen a new God of Destruction!"
Mosco said nothing, obediently tucked behind Sidra.
"Lord Sidra," Merus greeted with a bow.
"You're Merus, right?" Sidra clapped him on the shoulder. "Heard you're training with the Galactic Patrol in Universe 7."
"Yes," Merus replied.
"And you must be Ken." Sidra shook Ken's hand with a smile. "Remarkable. A human, so young, cultivating angelic power—first in history, yes? Work hard and become a true angel soon!"
Ken returned the pleasantries, mind spinning. Why is he really here?
"I meant to bring contestants for the tournament, but something came up," Sidra went on with a regretful shake of the head. He thumbed at Mosco. "Bumped into Mosco on the way; he filled me in—Camparri told him the rest."
"[beep-beep]," Mosco nodded.
"I just wanted to meet the new God of Destruction, Broly. No other motive. We gods should know each other, right?" Sidra laughed, all easy charm.
"[beep-beep-beep]," Mosco added.
"Mosco, drop the beeps—Merus probably doesn't understand you," Sidra teased.
Merus was about to say he actually did when Broly and Majin Buu trudged back from a lap around the planet. It was small and, sadly, foodless. Both looked disappointed.
From a distance, Broly spotted Mosco's hulking frame and his body tensed, anger flashing—then, after a breath, he scratched his head and let it go.
What am I mad about? Sure, he beat me up… but I tore his son apart. And I can't touch him now anyway. Ken said I need power equivalent of 50 before I can stand toe-to-toe with a true God of Destruction. I'm only at 20. Nowhere close.
"You must be Broly? Hahaha—so tall, handsome, heroic; your towering frame just radiates vitality!" Sidra said, shaking… Majin Buu's hand.
"???" Majin Buu blinked.
I'm not Broly. I'm Majin Buu.
Still… "tall, handsome, heroic, towering, vital"—keep going. I was about to turn you into chocolate.
"[beep]," Mosco pointed at the actual Broly.
"Er—so you're Broly. My apologies." Sidra bent and shook the right hand this time.
"Who are you?" Broly asked.
"Sidra, God of Destruction of Universe 9," Sidra replied, red beard fluttering, pride in his eyes.
Broly kept his face blank.
"To celebrate your appointment, let me take you out to play. I promise it'll be fun," Sidra grinned.
Broly's eyes lit up. He was barely five, almost six—of course he wanted to "play," Saiyan or not.
Majin Buu practically hopped. He jabbed a thumb at himself: I'm a candidate too! Didn't get picked… but I wanna go.
"You too? No problem! All of you come," Sidra said generously. "Ask around—play is my specialty. Merus can vouch."
"True. Lord Sidra is… unique in that department," Merus admitted.
"It's settled, then," Sidra smiled. "Angels, you two coming? I'm sure you enjoy a God of Destruction's games."
"We'll pass," Merus said politely. After how blunt Sidra was, tagging along would look bad.
Ken's gut tugged. Something was off, but he couldn't pin it down. He didn't want Broly going… yet he couldn't keep the boy under his wing forever. If Broly truly wanted to go, Ken wouldn't kill his mood.
"Let's go," Sidra beckoned.
Broly, bright with anticipation, still glanced toward Ken for approval. Majin Buu, meanwhile, was nodding so hard he forgot Merus even existed.
Merus stared, wordless. Same training program; somehow I picked the chaos magnet. This time, choosing a Supreme Kai, I refuse to lose to Ken. The Grand Priest was right—I lost to him on the God of Destruction pick. I won't lose on the Supreme Kai.
Let Buu tag along—great. I can search in peace.
"Broly, come here," Ken called.
"Go on," Sidra laughed, patting Broly's shoulder. "You just became Universe 18's trainee God of Destruction; lots of things to clear with your angel. That's normal. And Ken, I'm not sowing discord—just stating how we Gods and Angels work."
"No worries," Ken smiled, not rising to it. He still smelled mischief on Sidra. But right now, Ken and Broly couldn't take on even one full God of Destruction, let alone two.
Maybe Sidra really did want to build ties. Broly would be a great God of Destruction someday; starting early would make for a stronger bond. Wait until he's grown and it'll be too late.
As for Muse's death—Ken felt they'd erased the trail. Mule shouldn't be able to trace it. Muse had already reincarnated; no corpse, no proof.
Ken drew Broly aside, out of earshot.
It was time to let the kid walk alone for a bit. This was part of his path—he couldn't cling to Ken forever, not after being named a trainee God of Destruction.
"Broly, take this." Ken slipped off his wristwatch and pressed it into Broly's palm.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]