The descent to Earth's surface gave Marcus time to think.
As the wind rushed past him and the scarred landscape grew larger in his vision, his mind raced through the implications of everything that had just happened. He had defeated Majin Buu—a creature capable of destroying planets, a monster that had absorbed some of the most powerful warriors in the universe. He had done it with abilities that didn't belong to this world, powers borrowed from a completely different fictional universe.
And now he had to explain himself.
What do I tell them? Marcus wondered, watching as tiny figures began to stir on the ground below. The truth? That I'm a dead accountant from a world where their entire lives are an animated television series? That I watched them fight and die for entertainment?
The thought made him wince. No. Absolutely not. That conversation would be a disaster on multiple levels.
First, there was the credibility issue. Even in a world of ki blasts and alien transformations, claiming to be a reincarnated soul from another dimension where their reality was fiction would strain belief to its breaking point. These were warriors, not philosophers. They dealt in concrete threats and tangible power, not metaphysical concepts about the nature of existence.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, there was the psychological damage such a revelation could cause. How would Goku feel knowing that his struggles, his sacrifices, his moments of triumph and despair—all of it had been scripted for the amusement of beings in another universe? How would Vegeta cope with the knowledge that his pride, his growth, his entire journey from villain to hero had been nothing more than a character arc designed to entertain?
No. Some truths were better left unspoken.
I need a cover story, Marcus decided. Something that explains my powers without raising too many questions. Something that fits within their understanding of the universe.
The answer came to him as his feet touched the ground: he would tell them a version of the truth. Not the whole truth, but enough to satisfy their curiosity without opening doors that could never be closed.
He was a sage. A being who had mastered the natural energies of existence. He came from a distant realm, far beyond their universe, where warriors trained in different arts and developed different powers. The specifics didn't matter as long as the broad strokes made sense.
Keep it simple, he reminded himself. Keep it vague. And whatever you do, don't mention anime.
The first of the freed warriors to fully regain consciousness was Gohan.
The young half-Saiyan sat up with a gasp, his hand immediately going to his chest as if expecting to find a wound there. When he found only intact flesh beneath his torn clothing, confusion crossed his features.
"What... what happened?" Gohan looked around, taking in the devastated landscape. "The last thing I remember is Buu attacking, and then..."
"You were absorbed," Vegito said, landing nearby with a grimace. The fused Saiyan was still injured, though his Saiyan biology was already working to repair the damage. "Buu consumed you, along with everyone else. We've been fighting him for hours."
"We?" Gohan's gaze shifted to Marcus, and his confusion deepened. "Who is that? I don't recognize his energy signature at all. Actually, I can barely sense him—it's like he's not even there."
More figures were beginning to stir around them. Piccolo rose with characteristic stoicism, his regenerated body already prepared for battle. Goten and Trunks awoke tangled together, their fusion having apparently worn off while inside Buu. Krillin sat up with a groan, followed by Tien, Yamcha, and—most surprisingly—Android 18, who looked deeply unsettled by her experience.
"Is everyone alright?" Piccolo's voice cut through the growing murmur of confused warriors. "Sound off."
One by one, the Z-Fighters confirmed their survival. There were injuries—bruises, torn clothing, the general exhaustion that came from being absorbed by a magical monster—but everyone was alive. Everyone was free.
"Where's Buu?" Tien demanded, his three eyes scanning the horizon. "If he's still out there—"
"He's gone," Marcus said, drawing everyone's attention. "Permanently."
Silence fell over the group. A dozen pairs of eyes fixed on the glowing stranger, taking in his golden aura, his cross-shaped pupils, the nine black orbs that floated behind him like a crown of shadows.
"Gone?" Krillin repeated skeptically. "As in, destroyed? Because I've seen Buu 'destroyed' before, and it never seems to stick."
"This time it did." Marcus met the shorter man's gaze steadily. "I erased him. Every piece, every fragment, every cell. He won't be coming back."
"And who exactly are you?" Piccolo stepped forward, his posture wary. The Namekian's analytical mind was clearly working overtime, trying to categorize this strange new presence. "I've never sensed energy like yours before. It's not ki, it's not magic, it's not even life force in any way I recognize. What are you?"
This was the moment. Marcus took a deep breath and launched into his prepared explanation.
"My name is Marcus. I am what my people call a Sage—a being who has achieved harmony with the natural energies of existence itself." He gestured to his glowing form, the truth-seeking orbs. "Where I come from, warriors don't use ki. We use a different kind of power, one that connects us directly to the fundamental forces of creation."
"Where you come from?" Gohan's scholarly curiosity was evident in his voice. "You mean you're not from Earth?"
"I'm not from this universe," Marcus clarified. "I come from a realm far beyond your reality—a place where the rules of power work differently. I arrived here recently, drawn by the massive disturbance Buu was causing." The lie came easily, wrapped in enough truth to feel authentic. "I saw the battle and chose to intervene."
"Just like that?" Vegeta's voice—wait, no. That was still Vegito, but the skeptical tone was pure Vegeta. "A stranger from another universe just happened to show up at the exact moment we needed help?"
Marcus shrugged. "Call it fate. Call it coincidence. Call it whatever you want. The result is the same: Buu is dead, you're all alive, and the planet is safe." He paused. "You're welcome, by the way."
"He's telling the truth," Piccolo said slowly, his expression shifting from suspicion to reluctant acceptance. "At least, he believes he is. I can sense no deception in his words."
"That doesn't mean he's not dangerous," 18 pointed out, her arms crossed defensively. "Anyone with that kind of power is a potential threat."
"Oh, he's definitely dangerous," Vegito agreed, a strange gleam entering his eyes. "He took apart Super Buu like it was nothing. Moves I've never seen before, abilities that completely negated Buu's regeneration..." The fused Saiyan grinned—an expression that was all Goku. "I want to see more."
Marcus blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"Fight me." Vegito's grin widened. "A spar. No killing intent, no permanent damage—just a chance to test our powers against each other." He rolled his injured shoulder, wincing slightly. "Well, maybe after I heal up a bit. But soon."
"Vegito, that's insane," Gohan protested. "We just survived the biggest threat we've ever faced, and you want to start another fight?"
"It's not a fight, it's a spar," Vegito countered. "There's a difference. Besides, aren't you curious? This guy just showed up out of nowhere with power none of us understand. Don't you want to know what he's really capable of?"
Marcus watched the exchange with growing amusement. Even fused, the Saiyan love of combat was on full display. Goku's enthusiasm and Vegeta's pride had merged into something that couldn't resist the challenge of an unknown opponent.
Should I accept? he wondered. The logical part of his mind counseled caution. He still didn't fully understand his own abilities. Fighting a warrior of Vegito's caliber could reveal weaknesses he didn't know he had.
But another part of him—a part that might have been growing since his arrival in this world—wanted to test himself. He had defeated Buu, yes, but that had been a fight for survival against a mindless monster. A spar against a skilled martial artist would be something else entirely.
Besides, demonstrating his abilities in a controlled setting might actually help. It would show the Z-Fighters what he was capable of without the chaos of a life-or-death battle clouding their observations. It might even help them trust him more.
Or it could make them see me as a threat, he acknowledged. But they're going to be wary regardless. Might as well give them a show.
"Alright," Marcus said, surprising himself with the decision. "But are you sure you're up for it? You took some serious damage against Buu."
Vegito laughed, a sound full of confident energy. "I'm a Saiyan—two Saiyans, technically. We heal fast and fight faster." He dropped into a ready stance, golden aura flaring to life around him. "Besides, I can feel the fusion starting to strain. We probably have..." He tilted his head, as if consulting an internal clock. "Twenty minutes? Maybe thirty? Either way, this is my only chance to fight you like this. I'm not wasting it."
The other Z-Fighters exchanged glances, then began to back away, clearing space for what was about to happen. Marcus noticed that several of them looked concerned—Gohan and Krillin especially—while others, like Piccolo and Tien, seemed genuinely curious about the outcome.
Here goes nothing.
Marcus rose into the air, putting some distance between himself and Vegito. The fused Saiyan followed, matching his altitude until they floated roughly fifty meters apart.
"Rules?" Marcus asked.
"Standard spar rules. No killing blows, no planet-destroying attacks, we stop if either of us calls it." Vegito's grin took on a predatory edge. "Everything else is fair game."
"Fair enough."
The two warriors faced each other across the empty sky. Below them, the freed Z-Fighters watched with bated breath. The air itself seemed to hold still, waiting for the first move.
Then Vegito vanished.
Marcus's enhanced perception tracked the movement—barely. The fused Saiyan had crossed the distance between them in a fraction of a second, fist already swinging toward his head. He leaned back, letting the blow pass within inches of his face, and countered with a palm strike to Vegito's chest.
The impact sent the Saiyan sliding backward through the air, but he recovered almost instantly, using the momentum to launch a spinning kick that Marcus blocked with his forearm.
"Not bad," Vegito admitted, pressing the attack with a rapid combination of punches and kicks. "Your reflexes are good. But can you keep up with this?"
His aura flared brighter, and suddenly he was moving even faster. Marcus found himself on the defensive, truth-seeking orbs moving instinctively to deflect attacks he couldn't block in time. Each contact produced a sharp crack of displaced air, the force of their exchanges sending shockwaves rippling across the sky.
He's incredible, Marcus thought, weaving between a flurry of ki-enhanced strikes. Even injured, even tired from fighting Buu, he's pushing me to my limits.
But he was keeping up. His body moved with fluid grace, guided by instincts he hadn't known he possessed. The Six Paths Sage Mode wasn't just power—it was understanding, awareness, a connection to the fundamental nature of combat itself.
"My turn," Marcus said, and went on the offensive.
His first punch caught Vegito off-guard, crashing into the Saiyan's block with enough force to drive him backward. He followed up with a sweeping kick that Vegito ducked under, then brought an elbow down toward the back of the Saiyan's head.
Vegito twisted away, retaliating with a point-blank ki blast that Marcus deflected with a truth-seeking orb. The golden energy scattered harmlessly, and Marcus pressed forward, keeping the pressure on.
For several minutes, they exchanged blows at speeds that would have been invisible to normal eyes. Marcus was impressed by Vegito's skill—the fused warrior combined Goku's creative instincts with Vegeta's technical precision, creating a fighting style that was greater than the sum of its parts.
But Marcus had advantages of his own. His truth-seeking orbs provided both offense and defense, attacking from angles that a normal fighter couldn't cover. His sensory abilities let him predict Vegito's movements moments before they happened. And his connection to natural energy meant his stamina was effectively limitless.
"You're holding back," Vegito accused, blocking a strike that would have taken his head off. "I can tell. You've got more than this."
Marcus smiled. "So do you."
"Fair point." Vegito's aura exploded outward as he pushed his Super Saiyan power to its maximum. "Let's stop playing around!"
The fused Saiyan launched himself forward with renewed intensity, his attacks now carrying enough force to shatter mountains with each blow. Marcus responded by pulling on more of his own power, his golden glow intensifying as he drew deeper on the wellspring of energy within him.
Their clash sent them spiraling across the sky, trading blows that cracked the clouds and made the air itself tremble. Below, the Z-Fighters watched with wide eyes, struggling to track the high-speed combat.
"This is insane," Krillin breathed. "They're both holding back, and they're still shaking the planet!"
"The stranger is keeping up with Vegito," Piccolo observed, his tone impressed despite himself. "That shouldn't be possible. Vegito is the strongest being we've ever encountered—aside from Buu, anyway."
"He beat Buu," Gohan reminded them. "We saw it. Whatever power this 'Marcus' has, it's beyond anything we understand."
Back in the sky, Marcus was reaching the same conclusion—but from the opposite perspective. Vegito was phenomenal. Even without using his full power, the fused Saiyan was pushing him in ways that Buu never had. This wasn't a monster to be defeated through nullification; this was a warrior to be matched through skill.
Time to show him something new.
Marcus suddenly disengaged, backflipping away to create distance. Vegito paused, curious about the change in tactics.
"Giving up already?" the Saiyan taunted.
"Just getting started." Marcus brought his hands together in a familiar cross-shaped seal. "Let me show you something from my world."
He focused his energy, reaching into the depths of his power for a technique that had become legendary in its source material. The knowledge was there, waiting to be accessed—the muscle memory of a body that had never existed, the experience of battles he had never fought.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
The air around Marcus erupted with golden light. When it faded, there were no longer one of him—there were twenty.
Vegito's eyes widened. "What the—"
Twenty golden figures surrounded him in a perfect sphere, each one identical to the original. Each one possessing its own truth-seeking orbs. Each one radiating the same impossible energy that made the Saiyan's senses swim.
"These aren't illusions," Vegito realized, his head snapping back and forth as he tried to track all of them. "They're all real. I can sense them—barely—but they're there. You can multiply yourself?"
"It's a basic technique where I come from," Marcus said—all twenty of him speaking in unison. "Shall we continue?"
The clones attacked as one.
What followed was chaos. Vegito was skilled enough to handle multiple opponents—the training he'd inherited from both Goku and Vegeta had prepared him for exactly this kind of scenario. But twenty enemies, each one as powerful as the original, each one armed with truth-seeking orbs that negated his ki attacks?
That was a challenge even the fused Saiyan struggled to meet.
He dodged, weaved, and counter-attacked with incredible precision. Golden ki blasts eliminated clone after clone, each one disappearing in a puff of smoke when dealt enough damage. But for every clone he destroyed, the others pressed their advantage, forcing him to divide his attention in ways that left openings.
A kick connected with his ribs. An elbow glanced off his shoulder. A truth-seeking orb nearly took his arm before he managed to twist away.
"Enough of this!" Vegito roared, power exploding outward in a omnidirectional burst that scattered the remaining clones. "If you want to play with numbers, try this: Final Kamehameha!"
The technique was devastating—a combination of Vegeta's Final Flash and Goku's Kamehameha, merged into a single beam of pure destruction. It swept across the sky in a wide arc, eliminating the scattered clones before they could regroup.
When the light faded, only one Marcus remained.
"Impressive," Vegito panted, a genuine smile on his face despite his exhaustion. "That clone trick is annoying. But you're out of copies now, and I've got—"
"Who said I was out?"
Marcus formed the seal again. Another twenty clones popped into existence.
Vegito's smile faltered. "You've got to be kidding me."
"I told you—this is a basic technique. I can do it all day." Marcus allowed himself a grin. "But let's try something a little more advanced."
He extended his hand, and something began to form in his palm. Energy gathered, spinning and compressing into a sphere of raw power. But this wasn't ki—it was something else entirely. Natural energy, shaped and refined through pure will into a technique of incredible destructive potential.
"Rasengan."
The sphere hummed with contained force, its surface rippling like water in a storm. Vegito's senses screamed warnings at him, recognizing the danger even if he didn't understand its nature.
"What is that?" the Saiyan demanded.
"Something special." Marcus's grin widened. "But let me show you what makes it really interesting."
The sphere in his hand began to change. Its color shifted from pure blue to a deep crimson, and the energy within it took on a different quality—sharper, more volatile.
"Lava Release: Rasenshuriken."
He hurled the technique not at Vegito, but at the ground far below—an uninhabited stretch of wasteland already devastated by the earlier battle. The sphere struck and exploded, releasing a wave of molten energy that reduced everything within a hundred meters to magma.
Vegito stared at the destruction, then back at Marcus. "You can throw it? And add elements to it?"
"Among other things." Another Rasengan formed in Marcus's hand, this one crackling with electricity. "Wind, fire, water, earth, lightning—I have access to all of them. And I can combine them in ways that would take a lifetime to explain."
He demonstrated, cycling through variations faster than Vegito could track. A blue-white Rasenshuriken surrounded by wind blades. A black-and-red version that seemed to distort space itself. A golden orb that radiated such intense light it was difficult to look at directly.
"This is insane," Vegito breathed. "The versatility alone... you're like a walking arsenal!"
"You haven't seen anything yet."
Marcus dispelled the Rasengan and closed his eyes. Around him, the remaining clones did the same, their truth-seeking orbs beginning to pulse with a synchronized rhythm.
"In my world," he said softly, "the greatest sages were those who could manifest the power of the tailed beasts—creatures of pure energy, ancient and terrible in their might. The strongest of these was the Nine-Tails, a being of such immense power that it could flatten mountains with a swipe of its tail and destroy nations with a single attack."
The air began to grow heavy. The Z-Fighters below felt a pressure building, something vast and primal awakening above them.
"I carry that power within me," Marcus continued, his voice taking on an otherworldly resonance. "And now... I'll show you what it looks like when I use it."
Orange energy exploded outward from his body, but it wasn't random—it was taking shape. A massive construct began to form around him, a creature of pure power that dwarfed even the fused Saiyan. A head appeared first, vulpine and snarling, with teeth the size of buildings. Then a body, lean and powerful, covered in patterns of golden light. And finally, the tails—nine enormous appendages that swept through the sky like the arms of an angry god.
The Kurama construct stood nearly a kilometer tall, its eyes blazing with the same cross-shaped pupils as its creator. Marcus floated at its center, connected to the massive avatar through threads of visible energy.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" Krillin screamed from below, his composure completely shattered.
"It's... it's some kind of energy construct," Piccolo managed, though even his voice was shaky. "He's created a physical form out of pure power. But the scale of it... I've never seen anything like this!"
Vegito, to his credit, didn't flee. The fused Saiyan floated before the titanic beast, his expression a mixture of awe and competitive excitement.
"Now that," he said, "is impressive. But you're not the only one who can go big!"
He cupped his hands at his side, gathering every ounce of energy he could muster. His aura blazed like a star, golden power condensing into a point of incredible density.
"FINAL... KAMEHAME—"
"I'm not done yet."
The clones—the ones Vegito had thought were merely supporting the main construct—began to glow with the same orange energy. One by one, they manifested their own Kurama constructs, smaller than the original but no less real.
Then they merged.
The smaller constructs flowed into the main one like rivers joining an ocean. With each fusion, the primary Kurama grew larger, more detailed, more powerful. Its nine tails became eighteen, then twenty-seven, each one capable of leveling cities. Its body expanded until it filled a significant portion of the sky, a titan of pure energy that made even Vegito's immense power feel small.
When the merger was complete, the fully-realized Kurama construct let out a roar that shook the planet to its core. Windows shattered hundreds of miles away. Oceans developed massive waves from the vibration alone. The Z-Fighters below were driven to their knees by the sheer pressure of its presence.
"This," Marcus announced, his voice booming from within the construct, "is the power of a sage. This is what I can really do."
Vegito stared up at the massive creature, his half-formed attack fizzling out as he processed what he was seeing. For a long moment, he was silent.
Then he started laughing.
"THIS IS AMAZING!" the fused Saiyan shouted, pure joy radiating from his voice. "I've never felt anything like this! The power, the scale—it's beyond anything I've ever encountered!" He dropped his fighting stance, raising his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I give up. You win this round. There's no way I can match that, especially in my current condition."
Marcus felt a smile cross his face. With a thought, he began to dispel the Kurama construct, letting its energy dissipate harmlessly into the atmosphere. The massive form shrank and faded, the orange light retreating until only the original golden figure remained.
"A wise decision," Marcus said, floating down to Vegito's level. "Though I suspect you might have more tricks up your sleeve if we kept going."
"Maybe a few," Vegito admitted, still grinning. "But not enough to beat that. Not today, anyway." He glanced down at his body, where his clothing was beginning to shimmer strangely. "And speaking of today—I think my time's almost up."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "The fusion?"
"Yeah. I can feel it straining. Another minute or two, and..." Vegito shrugged. "Well, you'll see."
They descended together, landing among the still-stunned Z-Fighters. Marcus dismissed his remaining clones with a thought, returning to a single body surrounded by the usual nine truth-seeking orbs.
"That was..." Gohan struggled to find words. "I don't even know what to call that. The giant fox creature, the clones, the elemental attacks—none of it makes any sense based on any power system I've ever studied."
"I told you," Marcus said calmly. "My power works differently than yours. We use different energies, different techniques. I'm not sure how well they'd translate if you tried to learn them."
"But they could be learned?" Piccolo pressed. "Your abilities—they're teachable?"
Marcus considered the question. In theory, Six Paths Sage Mode was a unique state achieved through very specific circumstances. The techniques themselves, though—the Rasengan, the Shadow Clones, the elemental manipulations—those were learned skills in their original context.
"Some of them," he said carefully. "The basic techniques, maybe. The more advanced abilities..." He gestured to his glowing form. "This is who I am now. I can't really separate my power from myself anymore."
Before anyone could ask more questions, Vegito suddenly groaned and doubled over. Light erupted from his body, blindingly bright, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When the glow faded, two figures stood where one had been.
Goku and Vegeta faced each other, both looking disoriented. They were dressed in their own signature outfits again—Goku in his orange gi, Vegeta in his blue battle suit—and their Potara earrings had vanished entirely.
"Whoa," Goku said, rubbing his head. "That was weird. I forgot how strange it feels when the fusion ends."
"Tch." Vegeta crossed his arms, his expression shifting to its customary scowl. "Speak for yourself, Kakarot. I'm glad to have my own body back."
"Goku! Vegeta!"
Gohan rushed forward to embrace his father, relief evident on his face. The other Z-Fighters gathered around as well, a moment of reunion after the terror of their absorption.
But both Saiyans' attention quickly returned to Marcus.
"So," Goku said, his innocent expression doing nothing to hide the calculating look in his eyes, "you're the guy who saved us from Buu? And who Vegito was fighting just now?"
"That's right."
"And those powers—the clones, the giant fox thing—that's stuff from your world?"
"Yes."
Goku's face split into a massive grin. "That's so cool! I've never seen anything like it! You have to teach me some of that stuff!"
"Idiot," Vegeta snapped. "Did you not see the fight? His power doesn't work like ours. He doesn't even use ki." The Saiyan prince turned his sharp gaze on Marcus. "But that doesn't mean he's trustworthy. We know nothing about him except that he's powerful and comes from somewhere else. For all we know, he could be a greater threat than Buu."
"Vegeta!" Bulma's voice cut through the tension—Marcus hadn't even noticed her arrive, presumably having flown in on some kind of vehicle. "He just saved everyone! Show some gratitude!"
"I don't trust strangers who appear out of nowhere with godlike power," Vegeta retorted. "That's called common sense."
Marcus held up a placating hand. "Your caution is understandable. I'm a stranger with abilities you don't understand—of course you're wary." He met Vegeta's suspicious glare steadily. "I'm not asking for your trust. That has to be earned. But I'm also not your enemy. I intervened against Buu because it was the right thing to do, not because I have some hidden agenda."
"And what do you want now?" Vegeta demanded. "Why are you still here?"
It was a fair question. Marcus considered his options. He couldn't go back to his old world—that life was over. He didn't know if travel between universes was even possible for him. For better or worse, this was his reality now.
"I don't know yet," he admitted. "I'm still figuring out my place in this world. For now, I'd like to learn more about this universe and its inhabitants. Maybe find a purpose." He glanced at the devastated landscape around them. "There seems to be no shortage of threats here. Perhaps I can help deal with them."
"You want to be one of us?" Krillin asked, surprised. "Like, a Z-Fighter?"
"I want to be useful. Whether that means fighting alongside you or finding some other role, I'm open to possibilities."
Goku stepped forward, extending his hand with a warm smile. "Well, I think you're pretty cool. Anyone who can make a giant energy fox and shoot different types of Rasen-whatevers is okay in my book!"
"It's Rasengan," Marcus corrected, but he shook the offered hand.
"See?" Goku turned to the others. "He's not so bad. And he's really strong! If he wanted to hurt us, he could have just let Buu do it." The Saiyan's logic was simple but effective.
Vegeta scoffed but didn't argue further. Piccolo and Gohan exchanged thoughtful glances. The other Z-Fighters seemed to be waiting for some kind of consensus.
"He can stay," Piccolo said finally. "For now. But we'll be watching." The Namekian's tone made it clear that the surveillance would be thorough.
"That's fair," Marcus agreed.
"Then it's settled!" Goku clapped his hands together. "Welcome to Earth, Marcus! We should have a party to celebrate Buu being gone and making a new friend! Chi-Chi makes the best food, you have to try it!"
"A party?" Vegeta looked disgusted. "We nearly died, the planet is half-destroyed, and you want to have a party?"
"Why not? Everyone's alive, the bad guy's gone, and we've got a cool new ally. That's worth celebrating!" Goku's enthusiasm was infectious, and despite themselves, several of the Z-Fighters smiled.
Marcus found himself smiling too. This wasn't the life he'd expected. It wasn't even a life he'd asked for. But surrounded by these extraordinary people, with powers beyond his wildest dreams at his fingertips...
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Later that evening, as the sun set over a world that had narrowly avoided annihilation, Marcus found himself sitting on a cliff overlooking a vast forest. The party at Capsule Corporation was still going on behind him—he could hear Goku's laughter and Vegeta's irritated grumbling even from this distance—but he'd needed a moment to himself.
The truth-seeking orbs floated around him in their usual formation, their black surfaces reflecting the orange sky. He studied them, still marveling at the reality of his situation.
I'm actually here, he thought. In the Dragon Ball universe. With Naruto's powers. Living a life I never imagined.
It was terrifying. It was exhilarating. It was completely and utterly insane.
And it was his now. His life. His power. His choices to make.
"You're thinking too hard."
Marcus turned to find Goku floating behind him, a plate of food in each hand. The Saiyan landed nearby and offered one of the plates.
"Chi-Chi sent me to find you. She says you need to eat more—apparently you barely touched your food at the party." Goku sat down beside him, already digging into his own plate. "So what's on your mind?"
Marcus accepted the food but didn't eat immediately. "Just processing everything. A lot has happened today."
"Tell me about it. I died, got wished back, fused with Vegeta, nearly got absorbed by Buu, and then met a guy from another universe who can make clones and giant fox monsters." Goku grinned around a mouthful of rice. "Pretty standard day, honestly."
Marcus couldn't help but laugh. "Is it really? Standard, I mean?"
"More or less. Things have been crazy ever since I was a kid. You get used to it." Goku paused, his expression becoming more serious. "But you're not used to it, are you? This is all new to you."
More than you know, Marcus thought. But what he said was: "It is. Where I come from, things were... quieter. Less dangerous, but also less... alive, I suppose. Being here, with all of you, it's overwhelming in the best way."
Goku nodded as if this made perfect sense. "Well, don't worry too much. We're all pretty weird in our own ways. You'll fit right in." He finished his plate in a few more bites and stood up. "Coming back to the party? Bulma's about to bring out the cake, and you don't want to miss that."
Marcus looked at his own untouched food, then up at the Saiyan's genuine smile. This man had died and come back. Had saved the universe multiple times. Had every reason to be suspicious of a powerful stranger.
And instead, he was inviting Marcus to have cake.
Maybe I chose the right universe after all.
"Yeah," Marcus said, rising to his feet. "Let's go."
Together, they flew back toward the lights and laughter of the celebration, leaving the quiet cliff behind. Tomorrow there would be questions. Training. Probably more threats to deal with. The Dragon Ball universe was never peaceful for long.
But tonight, there was cake. And for now, that was enough.