Time was running out.
"I'll take you to pick up the Super Dragon Ball," Levos said quickly.
Vados nodded and set a slender hand on his arm.
Whoosh.
One instant later they appeared near the subterranean factory beneath Central City. Levos carved open space with a blade of ki and stepped through with Vados.
A faint orange glow pulsed below them. The Super Dragon Ball lay at their feet.
Vados tapped her angel's staff. A gentle divinity unfurled and wrapped the entire orb. The world around them went dark for a heartbeat, and the Super Dragon Ball vanished into the staff's inner realm.
Levos blinked. So that really was divine power. Before visiting the Supreme Kai's world, he could barely sense it at all. Now he could at least touch it and feel its flow.
"The Grand Priest will not wait long," Vados said with a smile.
"Right. Let's go."
They warped back to the courtyard where the feast was held.
Beerus was slumped with despair. "I did not eat my fill. I am not satisfied."
Whis smiled. "Lord Beerus, will you keep the Grand Priest waiting?"
"Damn it, Whis. You are stuffed. I only started tasting things. And Champa, this is my universe, yet he ate first and ate more. How annoying."
He broke off, noticing Levos and Vados reappearing. "What were you two sneaking off to do?"
Vados chuckled. "Is this really the time for that, Lord Beerus?"
Beerus deflated at once. He still stuffed food into his mouth and mumbled, "Whis, how much prep time do we have?"
"Forty seconds."
"Champa, tell me the number one dish right now."
Champa smirked and tilted his chin. "Fried rice with egg."
"Fried rice with egg? Do not lie to me." Beerus raked frantically through the platters. "Which one is fried rice?"
The Earthlings traded looks.
"Lord Beerus, it is not on the menu," Gohan said.
"Champa, are you playing me?" Beerus roared.
Champa did not flinch. He preened. "I am telling the truth. I have the greatest recipe in the entire cosmos right here."
"How would you have something like that?"
Champa's pride swelled. "To beat you in a gourmet showdown. I spent a lot of trouble acquiring this secret."
"You are still hung up on that?" Beerus scoffed.
"Let us settle it now. If I win, Earth is mine."
"Earth?" Beerus frowned.
"Earth is the planet we are on," Whis supplied gently.
"I get it. So that is your angle," Beerus said, then cut him off flatly. "I refuse."
"What is wrong? Afraid?" Champa narrowed his eyes.
"Fool. What do I gain? If I win, can you stake something I actually want?" Beerus waved him off. "Besides, Universe 7 is about to be erased. Earth included."
"Not necessarily," Champa said with a sly grin.
Beerus gave him a sidelong look. "So you do have a chip that might interest me."
"Of course. I have gathered the wish orbs that can grant any desire. Note that I said any desire. That should be worth more than Earth."
"They are so powerful that even a universe erased by the Omni-King can be restored."
Whis's brows rose. He seemed to ponder something.
Beerus still looked doubtful. "Even if I agreed, there is no time to compete."
"You can surrender," Champa drawled. "You have no chance of beating my recipe. If you do not believe me, ask Vados."
"Lord Champa speaks truth," Vados said, eyes curving like crescents.
Beerus studied the pair, about to press further, when Whis murmured, "Twenty seconds, Lord Beerus."
"Damn it. Champa, you wasted my eating time."
"If that is how you feel," Champa said, picking his ear, "but gourmet duels are our tradition. Even if you refuse the wager, you cannot dodge the contest."
"I underestimated you, Champa. You learned to loot a burning house," Beerus ground out.
Champa threw his head back and laughed.
Levos lifted a brow and spoke to Beerus in a private voice.
A flicker of surprise crossed Beerus's face. He caught on at once, then gave Champa a cold smile. "I will accept your wager, but only if you accept another challenge from me."
Champa's shoulders twitched. "What challenge? Battles between Gods of Destruction are forbidden."
"I know," Beerus said, voice silky. "We will not fight. Our universes' top fighters will. Team melee or singles, you pick. If Universe 6 cannot beat my people, the right to use those wish orbs is mine."
"My advice is to surrender the martial match now. No need to explain why. Also, you do not have time to gather a team, do you?"
"If you want Earth, you have only a few seconds to make it happen. Hahaha."
He laughed in Champa's face.
"Damn," Champa muttered, scowling. Then he flashed a crooked smile. "Fine. I accept the martial match, and I surrender. Now, about our gourmet showdown…"
Beerus hesitated, then sighed. "I surrender."
He added under his breath, "If that egg fried rice appears someday, I am eating it."
Champa snickered. "Since you forfeit, I hereby declare Earth part of Universe 6. It will be my second base. I will come and go as I please."
"Do not get cocky," Beerus snapped. "A little planet cannot compare to wish orbs that grant any desire."
Across the courtyard, Levos and Piccolo exchanged a look and smiled. Everything was going according to plan.
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