Everyone at the temple looked up at the three figures suspended above them, curiosity plain on every face.
Aside from Piccolo, no one knew what they were discussing.
Levos thought for a moment. "I've heard that a Supreme Kai's life is linked to his universe's God of Destruction…"
Champa's eyes flew wide, hackles raised. "Kid, how do you know a divine secret like that? You'd better have an explanation!"
"Zamasu told me himself," Levos replied evenly. "He also said it took him great effort to find a timeline where Beerus didn't exist…"
Zamasu had boasted enough and died in enough timelines that pinning it on him felt safe.
Champa's expression cleared. "So that's it. No wonder so many Zamasus converged on this era."
Vados slanted Levos a look, smiling. "I suspect Mr. Levos knows more than just that."
Levos' heart ticked up, but his face stayed calm. "I do. I even know a few angelic secrets."
Champa blinked, intrigued. "You know things about angels, too?"
There was no hiding Merus' existence within the Galactic Patrol. In the beginning, Levos had clung to the angels to save his own skin; secrecy hadn't exactly been the priority. Bulma, Merus, and Mr. Popo all knew Levos carried secrets.
By now, though, none of that mattered; with the power he commanded, not even Champa could browbeat him.
And if he needed a shield, Future Trunks' timeline offered one.
So Levos nodded without hesitation. "I know Merus of the Galactic Patrol. Unfortunately I lost contact with him three days ago. I don't know where he is or if he's safe."
Vados' eyes narrowed, the smile in them deepening. "Merus mentioned you. In fact, he asked me to help Earth."
Champa went blank for a beat.
Then it hit him and he exploded. "Vados! So that's why you dragged me out before breakfast!"
Vados' eyes sparkled though her face stayed prim. "Finding the wishing orbs was your idea, Lord Champa."
Champa huffed, then couldn't stop himself: "Aren't you angels supposed to be neutral beyond good and evil?"
"Oh, but this was a fine chance to make Lord Champa exercise. How could I refuse Merus' request?"
"I hate dieting more than anything!" Champa roared, struck a nerve. "You've gone too far, Vados!"
"For the sake of your health I worry myself sick every day, and you still scold me boo hoo~" Vados lifted a hand to her face in an exaggerated sob.
Champa rolled his eyes so hard it looked painful and turned away.
Watching them bicker, Levos felt an odd tug like master and attendant had switched places.
He faced Vados. "Lady Vados, do you know what happened to Merus?"
"The Grand Priest summoned him back," Vados said after a breath. "But he very much wants to return to Universe 7."
"The Grand Priest…" Levos frowned. "Why the sudden recall?"
"It's tied to the disappearances of the Destroyers in Universes 7 and 10," Vados answered. "Lord Rumsshi, Destroyer of Universe 10, and the creation god Gowasu both vanished three days ago."
"Now we know Universe 10's trouble came from Zamasu. But the cause in Universe 7 remains… unclear."
Levos rubbed his chin. If it depended on Universe 7's Supreme Kai, they might never find a neat answer.
From what he knew, Shin was earnest, impulsive, and… not exactly competent. Hard to hate, but scary to rely on especially with that supercharged jinx aura. Whoever he "blessed" had a way of getting flattened.
In short, anything foolish Shin did counted as normal in Levos' book.
"Another reason," Levos added, "might be fear that Merus would break the rules…"
In the Moro arc, Merus had sealed Moro's copy ability and paid for it with his life.
"You know Merus quite well," Vados said, eyes bright with curiosity.
Champa couldn't hold it in any longer. "Hey! Vados! Kid! Do you two realize what we're supposed to be doing right now?"
Vados pressed her lips together in a small smile and stepped back.
Levos waved it off lightly. "Reviving Lord Beerus is simple, actually. I've heard that the angels possess the power to revive."
Champa turned, doubtful. "Is that true, Vados?"
Vados' gaze on Levos turned playful. "It is."
"What? And I didn't know?" Champa blurted, then rushed, "Well? Hurry up and revive Beerus!"
Vados shook her head. "Reviving a Destroyer reviving any Supreme Kai or Destroyer is a serious breach of the rules. The conditions are… harsh."
Champa scowled and muttered, then eyed Levos. "So why bring it up?"
Levos coughed lightly. "I never said Lady Vados should revive a currently seated god."
He let a beat pass. "The Elder Kai can bestow his entire lifespan on another…"
Then he laid out his plan.
Champa's eyes went round he hadn't seen a route like that coming.
"So you'll have the Elder Kai give his life to that kid Supreme Kai and if that brings Beerus back, good. If not, Vados revives the Elder Kai, then we track down Beerus' soul and give him the rest of the Elder's years?"
Levos nodded. "I just don't know whether reviving the Elder Kai would expose Lady Vados to penalties for breaking neutrality."
Vados arched a brow, smiling. "It's far less serious than directly reviving an incumbent god. I can bear it."
"Please don't push yourself," Levos said. The lynchpin was the Elder Kai; Vados was the safety net. If Beerus returned, Universe 7's fate might shift with him. With Zeno poised to erase the entire universe, Levos had no tidier option. He had to pin his hopes on Vados and on the Elder Kai.
Champa clapped Levos on the shoulder. "Kid, you've got a head full of tricks."
Vados' fox-bright eyes lingered on Levos'. "If anything happens to me, Mr. Levos, do make sure Lord Champa sticks to his diet~"
Levos blinked, glanced at the sputtering Champa, and nodded. "I will."
He contacted King Kai at once and had Kibito bring Supreme Kai Shin back to the temple.
Quietly, he explained the situation to Shin and the Elder Kai.
"This won't do! Elder, I can't accept your life for mine!" Shin blurted, stricken.
"Don't be childish," the Elder Kai sighed. "You're still young…"
"I can at most live a few more thousand years, anyway."
"E-Elder!" Shin's voice shook.
"If we don't do this, the universe is finished," the Elder said, folding his legs and closing his eyes. "That's enough. Farewell."
The ring above Shin's head began to dissipate.
Thud.
The Elder Kai's body slumped to the floor.
Shin's eyes reddened. He clenched his fists. "Elder… I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."
"Good. Then act with caution," came a dry voice.
The Elder Kai pushed himself up from the floor, opening his eyes. "Stop blundering about like a child."
"E Elder?!" Shin nearly fainted.
A beat, and he remembered they were still within the divine realm.
Here, the good who died could revive where they fell so long as their bodies remained marked with a halo.
"So… did Lord Beerus revive as well?" Levos asked.
Shin shook his head, baffled. "I don't know."
Champa grew antsy. "Vados check."
"At once, Lord Champa."
Vados leaned close to the blue orb on her staff and peered within.
A moment later she smiled. "Success. They're both awake and very confused."
Levos exhaled in relief.
Champa went rigid. "Hurry! Vados, let's go before that guy notices we were here!"
Vados tilted him a glance. "My, my. You're not going to resume searching for the wishing orbs?"
"When he's asleep!" Champa hissed, looking exactly like a man caught trespassing.
Levos couldn't help a wry look. "Lord Champa, you and Lady Vados just saved Universe 7. You could brag to Lord Beerus, you know."
"Skulking around will only make him suspicious."
Champa froze, eyes going round before his mouth curled up. "True!"
"Vados! First we feast on this kid's planet, then we stop by Beerus' place to say hello!"
Vados' eyes lit. "A rare wise decision, Lord Champa."
"But of course!" Champa puffed up with pride.
Levos' mouth twitched. So as soon as Beerus came back, Champa dumped the "Zeno will erase the universe" problem out of his head.
"Wait, Lord Champa aren't you worried we'll vanish during the meal when our universe is erased?"
Champa started, then grunted. "Kid, you really do think of everything. If only you were from Universe 6."
"No need to worry," Vados said earnestly. "Before the Omni-King erases a universe, the Grand Priest will recall that universe's angel in advance."
Levos blinked.
That was… vital.
If he watched Vados' movements in Universe 7, he'd have an early-warning system foreknowledge of Zeno's timing. He wouldn't have to stay on edge every second; he could focus on finding the last Super Dragon Ball. He might even wrangle a reason to leave with Vados and avoid erasure entirely.
Hope crept back into his chest. Champa and Vados really were Universe 7's saviors.
The more Levos looked at them, the more he liked them.
Champa, especially strangely adorable, that round cat.
Levos then asked Vados about the final Dragon Ball.
"So the last Super Dragon Ball's signal vanished near Earth?"
Vados nodded. "Yes."
Levos frowned.
Each orb was three times Earth's diameter. Something so huge didn't just… disappear. Mortals had no way to stash it.
His suspicion narrowed at once to the Zamasu collective. No one knew the Super Dragon Balls better than they did.
It all circled back to Zamasu.
By now, aside from the fused core, every other Zamasu had fallen to Levos. Rose Vegito, Rose Gogeta, and Dark Monaka were gone; Rose Broly lay sealed by the Mafuba.
Then a thought sparked.
The first Zamasu Levos had defeated this timeline's Zamasu.
He'd handed that one to Frieza. What became of him?
Levos turned to the Emperor
and found the plaza bristling.
Two camps, facing off.
On one side, Earth under Trankon. On the other, Frieza, his father, and their forces.
The line was sharp; neither side struck first.
Frieza stared at Trankon, eyes dark.
Levos considered, then decided to intervene.
Cooler's true strength remained unknown. With Universe 7's fate still uncertain, better to keep options open than multiply enemies.
Cooler's machine legion; the Heeters who controlled the Cereal Dragon Balls; the Saiyan Empire's Green-Haired Corps; Moro, who had used the Namekian Dragon Balls to grant himself three wish-based power-ups
These were all thorny factions.
Levos could handle any one of them head-on. Two at once would get… messy.
And with Zeno's erasure looming, infighting was pointless.
Of course, for Earth's safety, these threats would have to be culled in time. But priorities were priorities.
Levos touched down.
All eyes swung to him.
He walked toward Frieza.
On Frieza's side, nerves frayed. Cooler's armored squad trembled, half a mind to run but nowhere to go. Kikono mopped his brow, utterly at a loss.
The others stood firm, shielding their Emperor.
Frieza waved them aside.
Step. Step.
He paced forward and lifted his gaze to meet Levos', face solemn.
"Heh-heh-heh. Mr. Levos, I propose ceding all nearby star systems around Earth to you in exchange for an alliance between you, myself, and my brother Cooler. What do you say?"
"Agreed."
Cooler's eye twitched. "Frieza, you don't speak for me. Partnership comes with a condition: we join forces against the Saiyan Empire."
"Fine," Levos said without hesitation.
Then, as directly as a blade, "Lord Frieza, do you know where the last Super Dragon Ball is?"
Frieza's eyes narrowed to slits. "I do."
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