"Super Shenron, come forth and grant my wish!"
The Grand Priest spoke in the language of the gods to summon the dragon.
Ken: "…"
He was honestly speechless.
I didn't say I was ready to wish right now…
Why summon the dragon this second?
What am I even supposed to ask for?
Truth was, he didn't have a good wish lined up. Even Super Shenron couldn't refine his Angelic power for him—some things he'd have to do himself.
So what use was the dragon?
With a sharp snap, each of the seven Super Dragon Balls—each one larger than the white planet—flared with golden light. The glow washed across the entire Eighteenth Universe until everything turned gold.
A colossal golden dragon rose from the orbs.
Super Shenron appeared.
He was so vast the universe itself struggled to contain him. His roar rolled through the Eighteenth Universe.
"You who gathered the Dragon Balls, state your wish. I shall grant any one wish."
"Ken, go on," the Grand Priest said with a small smile. "Consider it a reward for raising the new God of Destruction."
Ken: "…"
The sudden appearance of the dragon startled Broly and Majin Buu, who were wandering the white planet. Both of them looked up. Broly's eyes went wide; Buu's mouth rounded into a perfect O.
How long would a chocolate that big last if I turned it into candy?
"Turn to chocolate!" Buu, thrilled, let the antenna atop his head spark with violet lightning.
The bolt streaked toward Super Shenron.
Super Shenron: "…"
Grand Priest: "…"
Ken: "…"
Ken could only rub his brow.
Classic Buu.
You might be the first soul in history to attack Super Shenron.
He didn't stop it. Part of him was curious what would happen when Buu's transmutation struck the dragon.
Zzap!
The purple lightning hit Super Shenron.
And… nothing happened.
If this were an online game, a giant "IMMUNE" would've popped over the dragon's health bar.
Thunk!
Merus, cold sweat on his back, shot in from afar and rapped Buu's head with his staff.
You really won't let me rest, will you?
Even the Grand Priest had shown nothing but respect to the dragon, and your first thought was to turn it into candy? I fed you fifty pounds of chocolate earlier—wasn't that enough?
A fresh lump swelled on Buu's head. He clutched it and howled.
I just wanted a really big piece of chocolate. Did you have to hit me?
Ken drifted beside the Grand Priest and looked up at the dragon. Super Shenron's eye alone was hundreds of times larger than Ken. Buu's bolt hadn't even warranted a flinch.
"I'm standing right here," the dragon seemed to say, "and you still can't scratch me."
"Ken, speak your wish," the Grand Priest prompted.
"My wish… swap Earth in Universe 6 with Earth in Universe 7," Ken said.
It was the promise he'd made to Vados half a year ago. He didn't need anything for himself; the only personal wish he'd wanted—surviving in space—he'd already had the Namekian dragon grant. So he'd help Vados fulfill hers.
A present for my future wife—what's wrong with that?
And a thank-you. For six months she'd trained him with care. Without her, his Angelic purity wouldn't have climbed so fast.
"It shall be done," Super Shenron boomed, his golden eyes flashing.
Universe 7, deep space.
Whis ferried Frieza through the stars and soon returned him to his own sector.
"Your ship is just ahead. Then I'll take my leave."
"Stay for tea," Frieza offered immediately.
"Perhaps after you've healed," Whis smiled, and without lingering—or healing Frieza—became a streak of starlight and vanished.
Watching him go, Frieza clenched his fists, resentment burning.
Ken's techniques… feel an awful lot like that angel's.
What is he, really?
They say he's an Angel…
And Angels… can do what, exactly?
Whatever. Broly, the so-called Legendary Super Saiyan—just you wait.
Bruised and battered, Frieza limped into his ship. His underlings went silent at the sight, eyes wide with terror. He ignored them, slid into the medical pod, and let it work. When he emerged healed, he made a hard decision and announced to his men that very day:
"From now on, we're legitimate businessmen."
Plenty of underlings grumbled internally.
So before, we weren't?
On his way back to the God of Destruction's realm, Whis suddenly felt something off in Universe 7. He peered through the crystal of his staff. In an instant, a planet had become a dead world.
"My, my… what happened here?" He looked closer—and understood. "Ah. Earth traded places with Universe 6's Earth. Only Super Shenron could manage that."
He confirmed the planet's name: Earth. As for why Ken would make such a wish, he didn't pry. An Angel keeps a tranquil mind; even if a universe perished, Whis's heart would remain calm.
Universe 6, deep space.
Vados and Champa streaked along with Hit in tow, cloaked in starlight.
"Hey, Vados, why'd the Grand Priest boot us all out?" Champa grumbled.
"Likely to make an announcement," Vados guessed.
"What secrecy? Isn't he just naming the new God of Destruction of Universe 18? Who else but that kid Broly?"
Vados held her peace.
Hit said nothing either—still turning over the "bird-head" comment.
Why would they call me that?
What do birds have to do with my head?
"Weird timing aside, that brat really did become a God of Destruction," Champa mused.
"Not quite a full God of Destruction yet," Vados corrected gently.
"An apprentice God of Destruction, then? Either way it's only a matter of time."
"Indeed," Vados agreed, and said no more.
Of course the other God of Destruction didn't know. The "God of Destruction selection" was, in truth, a search for a trainee Angel. Ken already had the qualifications to govern Universe 18; the tournament was just a formality—an exam. The other universes were there to make up the numbers.
For now, only Merus wore the title of trainee Angel. Ken, as a human, was an exception… a special case.
…Could Ken actually be the Grand Priest's secret child? Champa's nonsense is getting to me.
A distant star system flickered. One planet blinked—and was subtly, instantly different. Vados felt the ripple and turned.
"Isn't that… Universe 6's Earth?" she murmured, eyes brightening.
They were still several light-years away, but she spotted the pale blue world at a glance. Through its atmosphere she could make out the faint traces of people.
"There it is…" She looked deeper—West City, Capsule Corporation… and Bulma, face tipped toward the night sky.
Bulma blinked her bright eyes, a hopeful look within them. "Ken, I hate you!" she huffed, lips puffed out.
Vados: "…"
She heard it clearly, saw it plainly. It really was Bulma.
So Earth had been moved to Universe 6.
Ken must have made that wish.
You little surprise-maker.
It was my wish—yet you granted it for me.
Why do I feel… a little moved?
Something unlocked in her chest; a warm, unfamiliar current flowed out. Then a new thought crossed her face, and her expression shifted.
"What is it?" Champa asked.
"Nothing," Vados said lightly.
"Strange woman…"
Inwardly, though, she reflected: even the Dragon Balls and Super Shenron could be a test. If Ken had asked for something selfish, the Grand Priest would have had a different plan ready—and Vados doubted it would've been pleasant.
It's pitfalls all the way down.
On the Angel's path, every road has traps.
Merus had stepped into plenty before he learned caution. How many would Ken face before he became an Angel?
"Hurry and grow up, little one," Vados smiled.
For an instant she pictured herself in bridal silk.
"Hey, Hit—what are you thinking about?" Champa rapped his skull.
Hit rubbed his head. "Lord Champa, does my head look like a bird's?"
"Nonsense. What would birds have to do with your head?" Champa scoffed. "What are you even on about?"
"Then why did Broly and Buu call me 'bird-head'?"
"Who knows," Champa waved it away.
The Void—Universe 18.
"Your wish is granted. Farewell," said Super Shenron.
He dissolved into a sea of gold. The light filled the universe, then streaked out toward the Void.
Before long, it poured into Universes 7 and 6. Moments later the glow dispersed, resolving into colossal planets that settled into their new places in space.
"Ken, with this wish you could have asked for something for yourself," the Grand Priest noted, smiling.
"First I should repay kindness," Ken answered evenly. "Vados trained me with care. She's why my Angelic purity reached thirty. So this wish had to be for her. She loves gourmet food—I want her to enjoy Earth's cuisine to her heart's content."
The Grand Priest's approving gaze warmed. Most beings, handed the Super Dragon Balls, would indulge their own desires. Ken hadn't.
No wonder he'd one day become an Angel.
"Next, work with Merus to find suitable Kai candidates for Universe 18," the Grand Priest said, and then vanished in an instant.
Ken felt a prickle of suspicion.
Are you… dangling a carrot?
Why bring Merus in to train a Kai alongside me? If his Kai wins…
Won't that hand Universe 18 to him?
Then again, Merus is his son. Would the Grand Priest really let a random human run a universe instead of his own child?
So I build it up and then pass it to Merus? That tracks.
He shrugged inwardly. Fine. Treat Universe 18 as a sandbox. If Merus inherited it later, so be it. He was a friend, after all.
Still, Ken wanted to know if Merus understood any of this.
"Merus, what's your dad up to? Why have both of us train a Kai?"
"I truly don't know the Grand Priest's intentions," Merus said, shaking his head.
"If your Kai wins, does that mean you take over Universe 18?" Ken pushed, more direct.
"I don't think so," Merus blinked. "I haven't even considered governing a universe."
"C'mon. You say you haven't for now—what about later?" Ken watched his eyes. Angels didn't lie, and Merus was terrible at it anyway.
"Let's talk about 'later' when it comes," Merus chuckled softly. "Since the Grand Priest chose you to steward this universe, he has his reasons."
Ken: "…"
He let it drop.
"My point is," Ken said at last, smiling as he floated up and patted Merus's shoulder, "I'm not married to running a universe. When I've got this one into shape, you can take it."
"I couldn't possibly," Merus demurred, shaking his head.
Ken could tell Merus truly hadn't thought about it—and likely didn't know his father's plans. Maybe his hunch was wrong anyway. Either way, he'd focus on what mattered: refining his Angelic power to forty and ascending.
Everything else was noise. Only with strength would he stand firm in this cosmos.
"Ken, which universe do we start with for our Kai search?" Merus asked.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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