After only a short exchange, the battlefield fell still.
Merus's final strike sent Broly skidding backward, carving a long furrow through the rocky ground. Dust settled slowly, drifting across the barren plain like smoke after a cannon blast.
Merus stood calmly, hands at his sides, his expression unchanged.
Broly, breathing heavily, wasn't tired — he was frustrated.
He had never been overwhelmed like this.
He hadn't landed a single blow.
And for the first time, Broly felt something close to helplessness.
He studied Merus carefully, brow furrowed. There was something… off about him. Not just strong — different.
"We've met before… haven't we?"
Merus's smile twitched, almost imperceptibly.
"Impossible. We just met today."
Broly's gaze sharpened. "No… it feels like I've been beaten by you before. That same… unreachable feeling."
Merus quickly waved the thought away.
"You're imagining it. Your adrenaline is playing tricks on you."
But Broly wasn't convinced.
Something about Merus — the way he moved, the way he spoke, even the way he looked at Broly — stirred a strange, half-remembered feeling in him.
After a long moment, Broly asked bluntly:
"You're not really a normal patrolman, are you?
You're a god, aren't you?"
For the first time, Merus's composure nearly cracked.
His eyes widened for the briefest instant.
He forced a chuckle.
"Of course not. I'm just a patrolman."
Broly's eyes narrowed. "Your movements… your presence… it's not normal."
Merus smiled faintly. "If you want, I can teach you that movement style… but honestly, it might not suit you."
Broly frowned. "Then what does suit me?"
"I'll think about it," Merus said. "Your power is… unique. You need techniques tailored to you."
Broly nodded. "Fine. I'll beat you one day."
Merus's smile returned. "Then I'll train harder too — so you can't."
Talk of Other Universes
Merus then added:
"Once you're stronger, I'll take you to meet powerful fighters from other universes. There are opponents there who can truly challenge you."
Broly's eyes lit up.
"Like who?"
"For example — Jiren from Universe 11. Right now, he's far stronger than you."
Broly frowned slightly. The name felt… familiar, though he couldn't remember why.
Merus didn't elaborate.
In another life, you defeated him…
But that was a different story.
Departure
With a final nod, Broly launched into the sky like a streak of gold, heading toward Earth.
Merus watched him go… then sighed deeply.
He raised his staff — then hesitated.
He had considered reporting to the Grand Priest, but changed his mind. As a trainee Angel reborn into this era, he wanted to make his own judgments.
He stored the staff away… and then—
Whoosh!
Broly suddenly reappeared.
Merus blinked. "…What's wrong?"
Broly scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… where's Earth?"
Merus nearly fell over.
"…That way."
Broly nodded, embarrassed, then shot off in the correct direction this time.
Merus covered his face.
Incredible power… but sometimes unbelievably clueless.
A Visit to King Kai
Broly's next stop wasn't Earth, but the planet of King Kai.
There, Goku was chasing the agile monkey Bubbles as part of his training.
King Kai nearly choked on his tea when Broly appeared.
"You… weren't you supposed to go back to Earth?!"
Broly ignored that and asked:
"Is Merus a god?"
King Kai hesitated.
"I… don't think so? But… maybe…? If he's above my level, I wouldn't know…"
Broly nodded. "Makes sense."
He then asked for new techniques.
King Kai scratched his head. "My moves like the Kaioken and Spirit Bomb require fine ki control. Your energy is too wild for that right now."
Broly nodded again, accepted it, and left as abruptly as he came.
King Kai stared at the sky.
"These kids… come and go like this is a bus stop…"
Night on Earth
On Earth, in a remote mountain wilderness far from civilization, Piccolo, Gohan, and Launch sat by a campfire.
They were battered and bruised — especially Piccolo and Gohan, covered in bumps and scrapes from harsh training.
Launch, however, was cheerfully munching fruit as if nothing had happened.
The fire crackled. The wind howled. And the long night of training continued.
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