"All right then, I'm heading out. Wishing you a swift metamorphosis into a true Angel." She offered Ken a friendly handshake.
Ken's small hand met Kusu's sapphire-smooth palm.
"Do your best, little one," Kusu added with a smile, then blinked away and reappeared beside Rumsshi.
The crystal atop Kusu's staff flared like a spray of stars, the radiance wrapping Rumsshi and Zamasu.
"Whoosh!"
Kusu carried the two of them from the arena, vanishing from sight.
After about ten minutes of flight, Kusu glanced another way and spotted a familiar figure.
"My, my… isn't that Mosco? Still not heading back?" Kusu flew over with a friendly wave.
"Jigu-jigu! Jiji!" The robot-God emitted mechanical syllables.
"What bird-scratch are you spouting, Mosco?" Rumsshi grumbled. "Speak a proper language!"
"Lord Mosco says he's taking a stroll out here and isn't ready to return," Kusu translated.
"Figures—only Angels can parse that machine-speak," Rumsshi snorted at Mosco. "Strolling in the Void Realm? What's there to see?"
"Jigu," Mosco replied.
"Lord Mosco says—" Kusu began.
"No need. Not interested. Let's go," Rumsshi waved her off, clearly unimpressed.
"As you wish, Lord Rumsshi." Kusu dipped her head, then waved to Mosco. "We'll take our leave, Lord Mosco."
"Jigu," Mosco nodded.
"Whoosh!"
Kusu whisked Rumsshi and Zamasu away.
Zamasu, half-unconscious from his injuries, said nothing—though a corner of him silently wondered: could someone heal me first?
On the arena.
Fifteen of the twenty minutes had elapsed.
Only four contestants remained: Broly, Majin Buu, Toppo, and Hit.
Right now, Toppo was facing all three on his own.
Hit rushed in, unleashing a sharp flurry.
Toppo handled it calmly.
After several exchanges, Toppo smashed a heavy punch into Hit's face.
Once again, Time-Skip failed to bite. Hit nearly toppled, his expression turning grim.
Majin Buu hauled himself up; vents across his body hissed white steam as he ramped his power to the limit.
"Thud!"
He barely charged before Toppo's kick cracked across his face, skidding Buu along the tiles and gouging a long mark.
"You too, little one," Toppo crooked a finger at Broly. "Come on."
Broly didn't hesitate; he closed the gap and swung hands and feet in a storm.
Toppo still looked unruffled.
"That all you've got, kid?" Toppo chuckled. "For your age you're impressive, but—"
"Bam!"
His boot flipped Broly onto his back.
Worth noting: Broly had bulked up slightly, tapping the Great Ape's power. But at five years old his arms and legs were short—nowhere near his adult leverage.
"Three-on-one, and this is it?" Toppo smiled. "Time's running out. I'll toss you out one by one—who first?"
His eyes weighed the threats and settled on Buu.
That magic is a problem. If I get turned into chocolate…
"Decision made. Pink first." He leveled his right hand at Buu.
"Zing!"
An energy shell streaked toward Buu.
Buu had just risen when he saw it coming; his eyes widened—
—and a small silhouette flashed in front of him.
Broly thrust his right hand straight into the blast, then hooked his left and tore.
"Snap!"
He ripped the shell clean in two, one half in each hand.
Gold light burst from him; his hair shot upright—Super Saiyan.
He squeezed, and both halves shattered to sparks.
Toppo blinked, stunned. He can transform?
Buu gawped at Broly. "We said we'd team up," Broly grinned.
Buu bobbed his head, scampered to Broly's side.
"Your power didn't grow much," Broly added, peering at him.
"I was asleep for six months," Buu said frankly.
"You slept half a year?" Broly blinked.
Buu nodded.
"I didn't expect you to transform, kid," Toppo huffed. "I underestimated you."
Broly beamed, then told his ally, "Watch me. You two don't need to step in."
Buu let it pass. Hit, too, stayed silent, giving Broly a long look.
"You'll challenge me alone?" Toppo smiled. "You're confused. On your own, you can't defeat me."
"Ken said it: I'm the man who'll become the strongest God of Destruction!" Broly's face shone with earnest fire.
On the stands, Belmod laughed. "Strongest God of Destruction? Lofty dreams! He can't even beat Toppo."
Marcarita's lashes fluttered. "I'm not so sure. I can feel an immense power buried inside the little one."
"How could that be? He's—what—five or six?" Belmod shook his head. "Still, warn Toppo not to get cocky."
Belmod fell quiet, unsettled.
Champa, by contrast, smiled. You really think that kid's easy? He's like a cockroach—won't die, comes back stronger every time. Half a year ago, Ken and Broly together beat me. True, Ken set the table—but the boy's power is no joke.
Vados chuckled. "After six months, he's much more fluent when he talks."
"Everyone grows," Ken nodded.
"I just noticed it too," Merus added with a grin.
"Rumble—"
Emerald aura roared off Broly.
Legendary Super Saiyan—awakened.
Belmod's pupils pinched. That surge… absurd.
Toppo felt it too; color drained from his face.
Broly said nothing more. He became a green comet and slammed in.
"Thump!"
He smashed his forehead into Toppo.
Toppo snapped his palm down to swat him—
—but Broly's tail flicked, hooking Toppo's wrist; Broly rolled his body and drilled a fist into Toppo's chest.
"Grah—!"
Toppo's teeth bared as he stumbled back and plopped onto the tiles.
"Pa!"
Broly landed light and grinned, dopey and bright.
"Turn to chocolate!" Buu streaked in, violet bolt lashing from his head-tendril.
Toppo flinched and tumble-rolled away.
"Hey, bird-head—your turn to tag in!" Buu yelled toward Hit.
Hit: "...?"
Bird-head?
He glanced behind him. No one there. …He means me?
"I said you!" Buu barked. "Stop looking back!"
Hit: "…"
He suddenly wasn't keen on teaming with the pink blob—but he still slid a foot out and braced the rolling Toppo, stopping him cold.
Toppo shot him a wary look.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Hit said with a smile. "I just don't like winning with numbers. You're a worthy opponent."
He offered a hand. After a heartbeat, Toppo took it, and Hit hauled him up.
"They're teaming up," Buu reported as he rejoined Broly.
Broly didn't mind. "It's fine."
Buu fell silent, eyes gleaming with interest.
Broly's green light surged; he lunged at the pair.
Toppo timed a counter and snapped a punch—
"Crack!"
His fist sank into Broly's cheek. Broly only grinned, palmed Toppo's head, and jackhammered his face into the tiles.
Hit's finger darted for a vital—
Broly grit his teeth and took it on the body. "Oww, oww…" he hissed, but didn't stop grinding Toppo's face along the floor.
Hit stared, shaken. My strike… didn't work? This monster…
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Broly seized Toppo by the fingers and rag-dolled him left, right, up, and down.
Toppo howled.
"Whip—!"
Broly flung him high, then spat a lance of emerald energy.
"Bang!"
It hit square; smoke curled from Toppo as he wobbled downward.
"Heh-heh!" Broly beamed.
"Nice!" Buu clapped, delighted—
"Thunk!"
—only to take Broly's fist on the nose and topple backward.
"Ah—sorry. That was too fun; I swung without thinking," Broly scratched his head.
Buu climbed up, scowling.
Toppo crashed back into the arena, carving a man-shaped dent.
"Pff—"
He coughed a mouthful of blood, pale and reeling.
Buu's eyes lit; he stomped in and punted Toppo over and over. "That's for hitting me before!"
Still not satisfied, Buu sat on him—then paused, bored with the routine, and brightened with a new idea.
"Got it!" He stood, aimed both fists at Toppo's face—
—and his fists detached, rocketing off his arms to pummel Toppo like machine-gun fire.
Toppo's face swelled purple and blue while Buu cackled above him.
"Aaagh!"
Toppo roared; a knot of purple-red Hakai energy surged in his palm.
"Zzzap!"
The destruction blast tore for Buu.
Buu blinked, raised an arm on reflex—
"Snap!"
His forearm fizzed like foam and began to disappear.
Buu's eyes ballooned.
At that instant, Broly flashed in; a knife-hand lopped Buu's dissolving forearm cleanly away.
"That's destruction energy. Careful or you'll be erased," Broly warned.
Buu shivered. He'd felt death breathing on his neck.
"You tried to kill me?" Buu's gaze went cold.
He booted Toppo up into the air—
—while he scooped his two loose fists from the ground, merged them back, and reformed his arm.
"I'll kill you," Buu snarled.
"Shing!"
Broly flicked a green bolt; it smacked Toppo midair and tipped him out of bounds.
"Flash!"
Toppo vanished to the stands—eliminated.
Buu: "…"
…Kill-steal?
Belmod's face had gone ashen. "Hmph. I didn't think that brat was this strong."
"My apologies, Lord Belmod," Toppo bowed his head.
"It's on me for underestimating them," Belmod grunted. "I should've brought Jiren."
Toppo said nothing. He hadn't expected the boy's power either. We're not on the same tier.
"We're leaving," Belmod told Marcarita.
With only Universe 6 and Universe 7 left, the result wouldn't be theirs. It soured his mood—and as Toppo's master, the loss stung all the more.
"Whoosh!"
Marcarita carried Belmod and Toppo away in a star-bright streak.
Only Universe 6 and Universe 7 remained on the stands.
Champa's feelings were complicated. If nothing unexpected happened, Hit would likely be tossed out, and the winner—99.99% chance—would be that kid Broly.
Never thought the brat would really become a God of Destruction.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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