Whis covered his forehead, completely speechless.
You're really spouting nonsense with a straight face, huh.
Merus quietly wiped cold sweat at the side.
Ken actually isn't talking nonsense.
Because Ken knows perfectly well that the reason Frieza could unlock his Golden form wasn't simply the "I'm a genius" line he gives.
Of course, Frieza being a genius is part of it.
But the biggest reason is that he was stuck in a cocoon in Hell for decades, tempering his mind.
During that period, whenever he had nothing to do, Frieza would think about ways to train.
That's why, after being revived, he could break his limits in just four months and unlock Golden Frieza.
Without those decades of Hell-hardened will, you really think four months of training alone gets you to Golden?
Obviously not very realistic.
If pure training could do it, then why didn't Frieza train after losing to Son Goku on Namek, instead of heading straight to Earth to get revenge?
And on his trip to Earth, he even brought his father along as backup.
He just never imagined that Goku wouldn't be back yet—Trunks, Vegeta's son, would be there waiting.
Frieza was sliced in two by Trunks' sword.
Thus fell an emperor of the universe, in tragic fashion.
Later, after his revival, Frieza boasted he was a born prodigy who only needed four months to reach a terrifying level.
That was his own spin—adding a genius halo to himself.
In reality, the Golden form came out of constant grinding in Hell.
Later still, Frieza happened to find an extradimensional space where time flowed differently.
He trained there for ten years, unlocked Black Form (Black Frieza), and upon returning easily floored Ultra Instinct Goku and Ultra Ego Vegeta.
All this is straight from the latest manga chapters Ken's read.
After that, the manga basically rehashed Beast Gohan's plot; Ken skimmed it and didn't keep up.
"You—you… are you insulting me?" Frieza was so furious he stammered.
Mainly, he was badly hurt—his body black and blue, thoroughly worked over by Broly.
"I'm serious," Ken smiled. "You'll believe me later."
Frieza simply shut up.
You think I'll buy your nonsense?
It's not just Frieza who doesn't believe him—Whis and Merus are both giving Ken that skeptical look.
Especially Merus; after some time around Ken, he knows him a bit.
Merus is thinking, Are you trying to talk Frieza into dying?
Frieza can't be that dumb, right?
Still… Frieza really is pitiful.
His son got torn in half by your trainee God of Destruction, Broly.
And now you're going for the kill shot on his pride?
How did you cultivate angelic power with a mindset like this?
"Ahem… aren't we off-topic? Weren't you going to name a suitable trainee God of Destruction?" Whis abruptly changed the subject.
"Right, Ken—who is it? Someone more suited to being a God of Destruction," Merus perked up at once.
Merus is a bit disappointed in Majin Buu right now. If there's a better candidate, it's not too late to switch.
"Actually, Vegeta is a better fit for you, Merus," Ken said to him.
Merus: "…"
He was instantly at a loss for words.
I remember that Vegeta got absolutely bullied by your Broly.
And now you're recommending him to me?
No thanks!
At least my Majin Buu can use his special body to edge out Broly.
What can Vegeta do?
He can't even beat Frieza, right?
Frieza nearly burst out laughing beside them.
"I thought you were going to say someone impressive. Vegeta?" Frieza held back his laughter, his mouth twitching nonstop.
"Merus, think long-term. Vegeta is actually a great fit to become a proper God of Destruction," Ken said earnestly.
"I've decided—I can't give up on Majin Buu. Since I freed him from the seal, I should take responsibility for him." Merus didn't want to engage with Ken.
Too much, Ken.
I treat you as a friend and you recommend Vegeta to me?
Of all people to mentor?
Sure, I was in the ship and didn't go down to meet Vegeta.
But I know this Vegeta is the Saiyan prince—wild and unruly by nature.
He'll be even harder to handle than Buu.
"Knew you'd say that… forget it, pretend I never brought it up." Ken sighed.
Whis also let it drop. He lifted his staff, peered into the crystal, and quickly pulled up info on Vegeta.
One glance and Whis was rubbing his temples again, speechless.
This kid looks seriously headstrong.
And his power… if we go by Frieza's scouter numbers…
Only 18,000?
Is someone like this really suited to be a trainee God of Destruction?
Whis stopped watching, feeling that such a kid wasn't worth grooming.
…
Universe 7, a certain planet.
"Achoo!" Vegeta suddenly sneezed.
"Prince Vegeta, are you alright?" Raditz asked with concern.
"Did you catch a cold, Your Highness? Saiyans can handle harsh environments; we rarely get sick," Nappa added.
"Hmph. Just a sneeze!" Vegeta snorted, his young face written with defiance.
"That's true, hahahaha…" Raditz chuckled stupidly.
Vegeta shot him a sideways glare.
Raditz shut up immediately.
"By the way, Your Highness, I heard Lord Frieza was… taken by someone? I caught it over the scouter," Nappa said, tapping the device over his eye.
"Taken? By who?" Vegeta blinked.
"Could it be that so-called Legendary Super Saiyan killed him?" Raditz gloated, clapping gleefully.
"Probably not Broly!" Nappa shook his head, then sighed. "Never thought the Legendary Super Saiyan would actually be real."
"Damn it! I won't let him off! One day I'll surpass him and grind his face into the ground!" Vegeta clenched his fists, body trembling.
…
Universe 18, on the arena.
Universe 3 stands.
Seeing the pick he'd painstakingly chosen—Maji-Kayo—get eliminated just like that, Mule's eyes burned even darker with hatred.
It must be that Broly who killed my son!
He's certainly strong.
That pink fatso, Majin Buu, is suspicious too.
"You useless scrap!" Mule roared.
Maji-Kayo lowered his head, not daring to say a word.
He felt miserable—knocked out of the ring by a collision, just like that.
I didn't even do anything.
Didn't even get a chance to regenerate.
"Lord Mule, do we stay and watch, or leave?" Campari asked.
Mule's eyes locked on Broly in the ring. After a moment's thought, he ordered, "Let's go. No point embarrassing ourselves here."
He jumped straight back into Mosco's body.
Clack!
The hatch on Mosco's belly shut.
Campari tapped his staff lightly. Starlike radiance wrapped Mosco and Maji-Kayo, whisking them away.
Soon the three appeared in the Null Realm.
They flew on for a few minutes.
"Gigu gigu… gigu!" Mosco "spoke."
"Understood, Lord Mosco." Campari nodded, offering no further explanation, and took Maji-Kayo onward.
After a while longer—
Maji-Kayo couldn't hold it in. "What did Lord Mule just say?"
"That's Lord Mosco," Campari corrected.
Maji-Kayo: "???"
"What's the difference?" he asked, baffled.
"Lord Mule is Lord Mule; Lord Mosco is Lord Mosco," Campari explained. "Lord Mule is our universe's strongest mortal, and Lord Mosco is our universe's God of Destruction. Their roles are different."
Maji-Kayo looked even more lost.
Three seconds of silence.
"Isn't that robot controlled by Lord Mule?" he asked the question in his heart.
"It is. But when Lord Mosco is not in stasis, he's the God of Destruction," Campari clarified.
Maji-Kayo: "…"
Feels no different to me.
You've got me all turned around.
"So… what did Lord Mosco just say? He can't even talk inside that robot," Maji-Kayo scratched his head.
"Lord Mosco said he wants to look around nearby and not return to Universe 3 yet," Campari replied. "As for not being able to speak—he's been mute since the day he was built, long ago."
"With our tech, we still can't give Lord Mosco a voice?" Maji-Kayo asked.
"Of course we can, but being mute is one of Lord Mosco's traits. Traits aren't changed lightly," Campari smiled. "You saw the other universes' Gods of Destruction—they all speak, right? So not speaking is what makes him… special."
Maji-Kayo had no response.
You… actually kind of have a point. I've got nothing.
But what's the point of doing it this way?
He asked no more.
The world of gods has its own rules.
A mortal like me shouldn't pry.
…
Back on Universe 18's arena.
Majin Buu was still straddling Zamasu, punching him over and over.
Zamasu howled miserably, screaming like a slaughtered hog.
Even the angels watching sighed.
This pink fatso really has a personality.
Merus, though, lowered his head in embarrassment, as if he himself were doing the beating.
Furious, Zamasu suddenly swung his hand-blade.
Slash!
One cut—and Majin Buu's head came off.
Thud!
Buu's head rolled off his neck and stopped in front of Zamasu, eyes shut tight.
"Wahaha… hahaha…" Zamasu burst out laughing, radiant with glee.
Try being cocky now.
Your head's off—let's see you regenerate.
Zamasu struggled to his feet.
If I kill you, I'll be disqualified and won't become God of Destruction—
But you deserve death!
You dared to straddle a god and humiliate me.
Dying by my hand should be your honor!
Eyes brimming with hatred, Zamasu began to push himself up.
Pop!
Buu's head suddenly opened its eyes.
Zamasu jolted and sprang up, every hair on his body standing.
He's still alive?
But when Zamasu glanced down, the pink fatso's head was still there with eyes closed.
Did I imagine it?
He rubbed his eyes, lifted his hand-blade to guard his chest, and stared closely at Buu's head.
Pop!
This time Buu's head opened its eyes again—and even grinned.
"You—you—" Zamasu scrambled backward in fright and fell on his butt.
Buu was all smiles—despite being just a head.
Then came the nightmare.
Buu's body unhurriedly walked over, picked up his own head, and set it back on his neck.
"Heh-heh!" Head and body clicked together.
Only… somehow he put it on backwards, so his eyes and butt both faced the seated Zamasu.
Zamasu was petrified.
"How should I deal with you?" Buu beamed, rubbed his belly—and felt something off.
Why is my belly in two halves?
Oh… that's my butt.
"Backwards." Buu clamped his hands on his head and twisted it 360 degrees like wringing a towel.
Felt like one spin too many, so he twisted back, then turned his body to face Zamasu.
Zamasu now had psychological trauma.
What even are you?
I'm a god and even I'm scared.
He scooted backward, face white.
"I'm going to eat you," Buu smacked his lips, stared coldly at Zamasu, then twitched the antenna on his head toward him. "What should I turn you into? Chocolate? A cookie? Chocolate cookie?"
Zamasu was too scared to speak.
After three seconds of stupor—
His terror flipped into rage.
"What are you? Do you know who you're talking to? I am a supreme god! Do you dare kill me?" Zamasu snarled, veins bulging as his right hand formed the blade again.
"Uh—god?" Buu's grin widened. "I ate two Supreme Kais… hehe."
He patted his belly.
Then continued, cheerful as ever: "I wasn't this fat at first… one Supreme Kai was chubby, another tall and burly—so I turned into this."
Zamasu's soul nearly left his body. He stared in disbelief.
"Y-you—you're lying! You ate two Supreme Kais?" he gasped.
He'd thought being a god—a god—put him above all beings.
He never imagined this monster had eaten two Supreme Kais!
That can't be real!
He must be bluffing!
I don't believe it!
"Merus, did you know about this?" Whis turned to ask.
"I… heard a bit," Merus wiped sweat, then blinked. "So that's why the Grand Supreme Kai disappeared—Buu… ate him…"
"Aha… no wonder there's a gap in the Supreme Kai succession—our thanks to this Majin Buu," Whis shook his head.
"Brother Whis… that won't affect me taking him as a trainee God of Destruction, right?" Merus asked carefully.
"No, no—those are events from ages ago," Whis reassured him.
"I mean… the Grand Priest won't be angry, will he?" Merus whispered into Whis's ear.
Whis glanced toward where the Grand Priest had been—and realized at some point he'd vanished.
"Ah, he might have left because you annoyed him," Whis shrugged, pointing skyward. "See? He was floating up there. Now he's gone. Probably upset."
Merus felt his heart sink, lowering his head like he'd made a grave mistake.
"Whis, stop scaring him. His nerve isn't that strong to begin with," Vados finally couldn't stand it and scolded Whis.
"Heh-heh… just teasing," Whis chuckled.
"Sis Vados… so the Grand Priest won't be angry, right?" Merus asked meekly.
"He won't. He doesn't get mad over little things like this," Vados nodded.
With her assurance, Merus let out a long breath.
Ken also glanced toward where the Grand Priest had been—and found he'd disappeared.
Why'd you suddenly vanish?
Is the match still proceeding?
"Where did the Grand Priest go?" Ken asked Vados.
"How could we know his movements?" Vados smiled and shook her head.
…
On the immaculate white planet.
The Grand Priest slowly landed on the snowy ground.
The white earth made his blue garments look especially bright.
"Amarella, did you sense it? That kid Ken's angelic power," the Grand Priest asked.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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