"So when the Space-Time God of Destruction arrives later, make sure you're polite. Even Zeno-sama is wary of him," the Grand Priest reminded Ken again.
"Where's Majin Buu?" Ken asked instead.
"Zeno-sama took him out for a ride," the Grand Priest said with a smile. "He seems to like that mount a lot."
Ken didn't know what to say.
Poor Buu.
Zeno-sama's turned him into a ride.
And what could anyone do about it?
If Zeno-sama picks a mount, you're not exactly going to fight him for it.
"Then we wait," Ken said.
"Yes. We wait," the Grand Priest replied, giving a small nod.
They stayed in Zeno-sama's palace and waited for the Space-Time God of Destruction to arrive.
Time passed, and he still didn't show.
"Grand Priest… are you sure he's coming soon?" Ken asked. Waiting like this was starting to get on his nerves.
"Be patient," the Grand Priest said. "Sometimes waiting is also a form of training."
Ken had nothing to say to that.
"You're a prodigy, Ken. In just one year, you went from level 60 to level 65," the Grand Priest said, sounding genuinely impressed. "Seeing you reminds me of myself when I was young."
Ken stayed silent.
"Though… I was already ten thousand years old back then. You're only in your twenties," the Grand Priest added.
Ken still didn't respond. Being praised by the Grand Priest was, admittedly, something to feel good about.
"I hope one day you'll surpass me and become the strongest god in our timeline," the Grand Priest said.
"You're not worried I'll become a threat if I surpass you?" Ken asked with a laugh.
"Would you?" The Grand Priest's smile didn't change.
"I don't want much. A few wives, a quiet life. I only keep getting stronger so nobody bothers me," Ken said.
The Grand Priest fell silent.
Truly… a simple dream.
What the Grand Priest didn't know was that Ken had been eyeing his daughters for a while now.
"Everyone has their own path. Gods are no different," the Grand Priest said. "Do as you like."
People had their own goals.
As the Grand Priest, he guided—he didn't force his will onto anyone.
Interfere too much, and you'll only end up annoyed.
"By the way, Grand Priest… what level is Zeno-sama?" Ken asked.
"How should I put it…" The Grand Priest thought for a moment. "Zeno-sama's defence is level 90. His physical attack is only level 30. His magical attack is level 80."
He paused, then added, "Let's call it that for now. This whole 'level' idea is something that only started getting discussed in recent years."
Ken went quiet again.
Those numbers were strange.
Defence: 90.
Physical attack: 30.
Magical attack: 80.
He understood what "magical attack" meant.
Erasure.
Amarella had said it before—reach level 80, and you won't be erased by Zeno-sama.
Which meant that if Zeno-sama wanted to erase him right now, it would take nothing more than a casual wave.
Terrifying.
"When you have time, spend a bit more time with Merus," the Grand Priest said. "He really treats you as his best friend."
"I want to, but as my level keeps climbing, I'm worried it'll just put pressure on him," Ken said.
The Grand Priest didn't answer.
He wasn't wrong.
Merus had been struggling lately.
If your close friend suddenly shoots far past you, who wouldn't feel awful?
After that, they both fell quiet for a long stretch.
There wasn't much for Ken to talk about with the Grand Priest. He wasn't about to pry into the Grand Priest's personal business.
No point.
Ken just needed to keep training properly.
…
Trunks's timeline.
Universe 7, King Kai's planet.
"Found it! It's that way!" King Kai said, pointing into the distance.
"Got it, King Kai," Goku replied, nodding with a serious look. "If I have the general direction, I should be able to lock onto Namek's ki."
"Right… you learned Instant Transmission from the Yardrats, didn't you?" King Kai said, thinking. "You've been dead for over twenty years now… though, come to think of it, you were here just last month to hang out."
"Huh?" Goku blinked and looked back.
"The dead you, obviously," King Kai said, laughing. "You come here to hang out. Sometimes you even train on my planet."
"Is that so?" Goku grinned.
Then his eyes lit up.
"I've got Namek's ki. Perfect—I'm going," Goku said, vanishing the moment he finished the sentence.
Not long after, an orange blur flickered into existence on King Kai's planet.
"Back that fast?" King Kai asked.
Goku stared at him, confused.
Only then did King Kai notice the golden halo above his head.
"Ah… you're the Goku of this era."
"King Kai… what are you talking about? I'm not following," Future Goku said, scratching his head.
"Bulma's incredible," King Kai explained. "She finally finished the time machine. Trunks went back to the past and brought the you from twenty years ago into our era."
King Kai knew exactly what had been happening on Earth.
Future Goku came by often, asking if there was any way to save everyone.
But what way was there?
They were dead.
Dead people weren't allowed to interfere with what happened on Earth.
They could worry themselves sick and still do nothing.
Even so, Future Goku had learned through King Kai that Bulma was building a time machine—planning to go back and change history.
"I still don't get it," Future Goku said. "If history changes… shouldn't I just come back to life? Or do we end up with two of me?"
"That's how multiple timelines work," King Kai said. "Once the past changes, a new timeline branches off. Changing history is a serious crime, but Miss Bulma didn't know—so let's say it doesn't count."
"So Trunks brought my past self here?" Future Goku asked.
"Yeah," King Kai said with a sigh. "He just went to Namek. He's trying to bring a Namekian back to Earth to become Kami, and revive you all."
"Past me really pulled it off," Future Goku said with a laugh. "But I can't be revived. I died of a heart virus."
"There's nothing to be done about that," King Kai said, nodding.
"But… if Trunks brought past me here, how's that supposed to beat the androids?" Future Goku asked. "Twenty-years-ago me should be about as strong as Trunks is now, right?"
They were talking when—
Goku reappeared, bringing a Namekian with him.
"King Kai! This is the new Kami I found on Namek. I'm off," Goku said, vanishing again with Dende before anyone could react.
King Kai fell silent.
Bubbles fell silent.
Future Goku fell silent.
Past me… you really didn't see me at all?
King Kai stared after him, speechless.
There's an extra person standing right here. How did you miss that?
Future Goku could only laugh helplessly. There was no way he could just use Instant Transmission and chase him to Earth.
…
Goku popped back in beside Trunks.
"Goku-san! You're back already?" Trunks said, shocked and thrilled at the same time, his eyes flicking nervously to Dende.
"His name's Dende. A prodigy among Namekians," Goku said, then turned to Dende. "Dende, this is Trunks. His parents are Vegeta and Emily."
Dende greeted them politely, then looked at Goku as if he wanted to say something, before holding it back.
"Let's head to the Lookout," Goku said. "It should still be up there in this world, right?"
"Where is it?" Trunks asked.
"It's floating in the sky," Goku said. "You've never been?"
Trunks shook his head.
"Come on, I'll show you," Goku said. "If you didn't even know it existed, it's probably still safe up there. Oh—how's Korin? The cat."
"The cat?" Bulma said. "The androids killed him twenty years ago. And that fat guy with the sword—when Korin died, he hacked at Android 18 a bunch of times. Didn't even scratch her. Then she killed him."
"You mean Yajirobe…" Goku said.
"Yeah. It's been too long," Bulma said, nodding. "I couldn't remember his name clearly."
"Then we'll go to the Lookout," Goku said.
"Go," Bulma replied. "I want everyone revived as soon as possible."
Emily didn't say anything.
She was still furious about that "Supreme Kai" nonsense.
I'm almost sixty, and a Supreme Kai still wouldn't let me go?
On the way to the Lookout, Dende finally couldn't hold it in.
"Goku… earlier, didn't you notice someone who looked exactly like you?" Dende asked.
"Someone who looks exactly like me?" Goku said, blinking. He honestly hadn't noticed.
He was the type to miss the obvious.
"He was on King Kai's planet," Dende said, half amused, half exasperated.
"Really?" Goku said, thinking it over. "Why would there be someone who looks exactly like me?"
"He even had a halo," Dende said.
"I'll go check later," Goku said, sounding completely unconcerned.
The three of them arrived at the Lookout.
It was spotless, as if someone had been keeping it clean all this time.
Not long after they arrived, a round, dark figure stepped out from a room.
"Mr. Popo! You're alive!" Goku called out, hurrying over.
"Goku? You've been revived?" Mr. Popo asked, his eyes widening.
"I didn't die… I just—" Goku started, then had to explain the time machine situation again.
Mr. Popo finally understood.
Then Mr. Popo explained what had happened here.
After Piccolo died and Kami vanished, Mr. Popo stayed on the Lookout. He never went down to fight the androids. He simply waited for a new Kami to appear.
"I believed that day would come," Mr. Popo said, looking at Dende with wet eyes. "My feeling was right…"
"Dende, how long until the Dragon Balls are restored?" Goku asked.
"If you have the Dragon Balls that were used on Earth and turned to stone, I can restore them immediately," Dende replied.
"And how many wishes can Shenron grant?" Goku asked.
"Three," Dende answered.
"Can he revive someone who's already been revived once?" Goku asked.
"That would take some adjustments," Dende said after thinking it through. "Then it becomes two wishes."
"What about reviving people in bulk?" Goku asked. "Everyone the androids killed—can that wish work?"
"That would require further adjustments," Dende said. "It would drop to one wish."
"Then adjust it," Goku said.
"Even so, very few can be revived," Mr. Popo said. "After twenty years, most humans would've been reincarnated. Only those with souls still intact can come back."
"Yeah," Goku said, nodding.
"I'll restore the Dragon Balls first," Dende said. "Do you have a dragon statue model?"
"I'll get it," Mr. Popo said, rushing off and returning with it moments later.
"Please place it on the ground over there," Dende said.
Mr. Popo did so immediately.
Dende pointed, and an invisible force surged into the model.
Golden light burst from it, shot up into the sky, split into seven streaks, and scattered across the world.
"Alright," Dende said with a smile. "The Dragon Balls are restored."
"That was easy!" Goku said, excited. "Trunks, take the Dragon Radar and find them. I'm going back to King Kai's planet to check that guy who looks like me."
"Got it, Goku-san," Trunks said, tears welling up. "Dende-san… thank you. Thank you so much."
"Just call me Dende," Dende said.
Trunks nodded hard, then rushed off to grab the Dragon Radar.
…
Goku used Instant Transmission and appeared on King Kai's planet, right in front of the other him.
Two Gokus stared at each other.
It was like looking into a mirror.
"Huh? Are you the me from this time?" Past Goku asked.
"And you're the me Trunks brought from twenty years ago," Future Goku said. "I saw it—you brought a Namekian back, restored the Dragon Balls. Earth's going to make it. Gohan and Chi-Chi should come back too."
"You still can't be revived?" Past Goku asked.
"I died from a heart virus, so no," Future Goku said. "It's fine. If Gohan and the others can return, I'm satisfied."
"Out of our friends… has anyone been reincarnated?" Past Goku asked.
"No," Future Goku replied.
"What about Vegeta?" Past Goku asked. "He did a lot of awful things—his soul wasn't erased, right?"
"Vegeta's in Hell," Future Goku said. "He should be revivable."
"Yes!" Past Goku said, pumping a fist.
"You're planning to revive everyone and fight the androids together?" Future Goku asked.
"The androids? They're already gone," Past Goku said.
"Gone?" Future Goku said, stunned. "How?"
"It's a long story," Past Goku said. "A Supreme Kai from Universe 6 took them out."
"Supreme Kai? Universe 6?" Future Goku said, turning to King Kai.
"A Supreme Kai? Universe 6?" King Kai echoed, blinking.
"Yeah," Past Goku said.
"So a Supreme Kai from Universe 6 saved Earth in our universe…" King Kai said, letting out a long sigh. "And I've been wondering what our universe's Supreme Kai has been doing."
"I was going to handle it myself," Past Goku said, laughing.
"I can tell you're stronger than I was twenty years ago," Future Goku said, studying him.
"That's because Ken taught me Ultra Instinct," Past Goku said.
"Ken? Who's that?" Future Goku asked.
"Sounds like he doesn't exist in your era," Past Goku said, shaking his head. "I don't know why."
"Let's spar," Future Goku said, suddenly excited. "Honestly, if I could revive, those androids wouldn't stand a chance against me now."
"Huh? You kept training after you died?" Past Goku asked.
"Yeah," Future Goku said.
"Alright," Past Goku said, taking a stance.
"You're not transforming?" Future Goku asked.
"No," Past Goku said. "Let's start in base."
"Then here I come," Future Goku said, flaring his energy.
Power surged outward from him in waves.
Past Goku's expression tightened.
Even in base, Future Goku was far beyond him.
"That's normal," Future Goku said. "I trained here for twenty years. Even without going Super Saiyan, my power climbed a lot."
"You're amazing," Past Goku said. "Your ki… it's almost forty percent of my Super Saiyan."
"Well then," Past Goku said, drawing a deep breath.
Red, flame-like energy rose around him as he entered Super Saiyan God.
Future Goku froze.
"What is that form? I can't sense your ki at all!" Future Goku blurted out.
"It's Super Saiyan God," Past Goku said. "After a year of training, I finally learned to turn my energy into god ki."
"God ki…?" Future Goku said, staring.
"Go on—transform too," Past Goku said.
"I can't get a read on you at all," Future Goku said. "But you look absurdly strong."
Golden light burst from him as he went Super Saiyan.
His aura was denser and brighter than Past Goku's early Super Saiyan ever was.
"I spent twenty years refining it," Future Goku said. "I forced Super Saiyan to fit me better. Call it Super Saiyan, Full Power."
"You took it that far… incredible," Past Goku said, nodding.
"Then I'm coming," Future Goku said, raising his guard.
Past Goku steadied himself.
Future Goku became a streak of gold and shot forward, driving a heavy punch at Past Goku.
Past Goku vanished at the last instant.
Future Goku's fist cut through empty air.
He snapped his gaze around.
"Heh. I'm right here," Past Goku said from behind him.
Future Goku turned stiffly.
He hadn't expected Past Goku to be that fast.
"Now it's my turn," Past Goku said, flashing red as he appeared in front of him.
Future Goku raised his guard.
Past Goku flickered behind him again.
A light palm strike landed squarely on Future Goku's back.
Future Goku stumbled and went down, his golden aura collapsing instantly.
Past Goku walked over, dismissed his red aura, and offered a hand.
Future Goku took it and stood up, still stunned.
How is the gap this big?
I refined Super Saiyan this far… and I still couldn't touch him.
And he's me from twenty years ago.
"Goku, your past self trained god ki," King Kai said to Future Goku. "That's a qualitative change in energy. Losing to him is normal."
"I didn't expect you to become this strong," Future Goku said. "Is it because of that Ken guy?"
"Yeah," Past Goku said. "Without him, I wouldn't have reached Super Saiyan God."
"That's insane," Future Goku said, rubbing his head. "I trained twenty years longer than you, and I'm still nowhere near it. I want to reach that form too."
"When I've got time, I'll teach you," Past Goku said with a laugh. "But your foundation is scary. I need to keep polishing mine."
…
Main timeline.
Zeno-sama's palace.
Another hour passed.
The Grand Priest looked up.
"He's here," the Grand Priest said quietly.
Ken's expression tightened.
A level 100 Space-Time God of Destruction… what did someone like that even look like?
"Greetings, Space-Time God of Destruction," the Grand Priest said, bowing toward the sky.
Ken bowed as well.
Courtesy wasn't optional here.
"Grand Priest, you're too polite," a deep, commanding voice said from above.
A figure descended slowly, stopping in front of them.
He wore an angel's divine attire. His skin was pale blue, his ears long.
Two halos floated behind his head, bright as white jade.
His features even resembled Beerus in certain ways.
So this was the Space-Time God of Destruction.
And he was connected to Beerus somehow.
"A little angel with a tail," the Space-Time God of Destruction said, glancing at Ken.
"This is Ken," the Grand Priest said. "He was originally human. Through his own effort, he cultivated himself into a true angel."
"Good," the Space-Time God of Destruction said, and looked away as if Ken no longer existed.
Ken kept his face still.
"Space-Time God of Destruction, this way, please," the Grand Priest said, gesturing. "We prepared a feast for you."
"Much appreciated," the Space-Time God of Destruction said, nodding once.
The Grand Priest led them away from the throne area.
With a snap of the Grand Priest's fingers, a long table appeared out of thin air.
It was about 1.6 metres wide.
As for the length—it stretched out for at least ten thousand metres.
Comfortable chairs lined both sides at intervals.
The tabletop was packed with food.
Earth dishes, and dishes from other universes and planets, covered the entire thing.
So he really came here to eat.
"Please, enjoy at your leisure," the Grand Priest said.
"Not bad," the Space-Time God of Destruction said, sitting down and starting without hesitation.
The Grand Priest didn't eat. He stood nearby, perfectly composed.
Ken didn't eat either.
He wasn't that interested, and he wasn't about to be the first one to move.
The Space-Time God of Destruction ate without the slightest restraint, oil on his mouth, sucking on his fingers when he finished.
Ken kept his thoughts blank.
After about half an hour, the Space-Time God of Destruction stood.
"Where's Zeno?" he asked.
"Zeno-sama went out to play," the Grand Priest answered.
"To avoid me?" the Space-Time God of Destruction said, smiling.
"Perhaps," the Grand Priest replied.
"Your timeline's food is acceptable," the Space-Time God of Destruction said.
"Thank you," the Grand Priest said, bowing lightly.
"Then this time, I won't destroy your timeline," the Space-Time God of Destruction said.
Ken's eyes sharpened.
This time?
Destroy their timeline?
"I'm leaving," the Space-Time God of Destruction said.
"Safe travels, Space-Time God of Destruction," the Grand Priest replied, bowing again.
"I heard your timeline recently produced a Great God of Destruction," the Space-Time God of Destruction said, stopping.
"Yes," the Grand Priest said. "We created that seat so the Gods of Destruction can work more effectively."
"Good," the Space-Time God of Destruction said.
Ken stayed silent.
He wasn't about to let a stray thought leak out in front of someone at level 100.
"I've been considering retirement," the Space-Time God of Destruction said. "If your Great God of Destruction is up to it, perhaps he could inherit my position."
The Grand Priest's eyes shifted slightly.
"Space-Time God of Destruction, retiring?" he said. "That's big news."
"Choosing a new Space-Time God of Destruction may be decided through a Tournament of Time and Space," the Space-Time God of Destruction said. "Work hard. Among all timelines, yours ranks in the top ten."
"We will," the Grand Priest said.
The Space-Time God of Destruction vanished.
Ken stared at the empty space, sorting through what he'd just heard.
Retirement.
Top ten.
Broly possibly inheriting the role.
"Is he gone?" Ken asked, keeping his voice low.
"He's gone," the Grand Priest said.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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