Darkness surrounded Leo.
No pain.
No sound.
Just warmth.
He realized he wasn't asleep—
he was inside a dream.
A vast sea of flames stretched endlessly, yet the fire didn't burn. It moved gently, like a living sky. From the center of that fire, something descended.
Wings.
Huge, radiant Phoenix wings, glowing crimson and gold.
A presence far older than time itself stood before him.
The Phoenix Beast of Lily.
> "Leo…"
The voice echoed directly inside his soul.
Leo didn't step back.
"I know who you are," he said calmly.
The Phoenix's eyes softened.
> "Then listen carefully."
---
The Truth Inside the Coma
> "I am protecting your child,"
"inside Lily's body."
Leo's breath caught.
> "Even in her coma, the life within her is safe. My fire shields it."
Leo clenched his fists.
"Then why can't she wake up?"
The Phoenix lowered its wings slightly.
> "Because Lily herself does not know the full truth." "And I cannot tell her."
> "Not yet."
The flames around them dimmed.
> "You have two paths, Leo."
The Phoenix raised one wing.
> "If you wish to save both Lily and the child…" "Then wait."
> "Let the tournament end." "Let Lily give birth to your child." "Even if she remains in a coma while doing so."
Leo's heart pounded.
"And if she still doesn't wake up after that?"
The Phoenix's voice grew heavy.
> "Then you will have to do it."
Leo already knew.
"…The Dragon Balls."
> "Yes."
> "You will have to enter the Dragon Ball universe." "And bring them back."
Silence followed.
Then Leo spoke, quietly but firmly.
"I know all that."
He looked up.
"But I trust her."
> "I believe Lily will wake up." "Even then."
The Phoenix studied him.
For a moment—
It smiled.
---
A Dangerous Question
Leo hesitated, then asked—
"Can you bring Lily's spirit here?"
"Her body may be in a coma… but her spirit must still be wandering."
The fire trembled.
> "…You shouldn't."
Before the Phoenix could stop him—
A soft light appeared behind Leo.
Slow footsteps.
A familiar presence.
Leo turned.
"Lily…?"
---
The Promise of a Mother
She stood there—
not her body, but her spirit.
Gentle. Weak.
Yet unmistakably her.
She smiled.
"Leo…"
His throat tightened.
"If I don't come back," Lily said softly,
"then please… don't do all this."
Leo shook his head.
"No."
She stepped closer.
"I want you to take care of our child."
Tears formed in Leo's eyes.
"I trust you," Lily continued. "You can give them a good education." "You can protect them."
She lowered her gaze.
"Because… I might not be able to."
Leo froze.
"If I wake up," Lily whispered, "I may lose my memories."
"Or my body may never move again."
She reached out—
her hand passed through his chest, touching his heart.
"But even then…"
She smiled through fading light.
"I believe in you."
The flames roared.
"Lily!" Leo shouted.
Her spirit dissolved into fire.
And the dream shattered.
---
Somewhere Else — A Different Sky
A completely different universe.
Two warriors stood facing each other beneath a purple sky.
One with wild hair and endless curiosity.
The other with crossed arms and a dangerous calm.
They clashed fists—
the shockwave tearing the ground apart.
The curious one grinned.
"So… how strong do you think the King of the Multiverse really is?"
The other's expression darkened.
"…Don't even try."
"Seriously," he warned. "If you make him angry—"
The sky trembled.
"He might crush our entire universe like it's nothing."
The curious warrior fell silent.
Because they both knew—
Even the gods of their universe
were nothing in front of him.
---
Far away—
Leo opened his eyes in the dark hotel room.
Sweat covered his body.
His aura flickered once.
Then stabilized.
Outside the window—
The night deepened.
And destiny moved closer.
---
End of Chapter 48