Emily shrieked so hard she actually peed herself.
At first, she genuinely thought Vegeta had grabbed her to jump off the building.
But when she looked again, they weren't falling at all—they were shooting up into the sky.
Her panic finally eased a little.
"Y-you… you can fly?" Emily blurted out.
Vegeta snorted. "I could fly the day I was born."
Emily fell silent.
Can you not brag?
Flying the day you were born—who do you think you are, Superman?
"Talk. Where are we going next?" Vegeta asked.
"I need to go home first." Emily's cheeks burned. "You just grabbed me and flew up out of nowhere. I thought you were jumping… I got so scared I… I peed myself."
Vegeta glanced down and saw the wet stain on her pants.
"Hmph. Stupid Earthling woman. You wet yourself over that?" He clicked his tongue.
"What do you mean 'Earthling woman'?" Emily pouted. "Like you're not from Earth!"
"I told you already. I'm a Saiyan," Vegeta said flatly.
"And Saiyans aren't from Earth?" Emily asked, genuinely puzzled.
Vegeta decided he wasn't answering that.
…
Three days passed.
Bulma finally finished a second set of invisible battle gear, then handed two earrings to Ken.
Ken nodded, pleased, and put them away.
No rush.
He'd deliver them after the two Androids woke up.
For now, he needed to train properly.
And keep an eye on Vegeta.
…
Days rolled by.
As time passed, Ken's angel power kept refining itself.
In just one year, his angel power climbed to Level 65.
Only five levels in a year still rubbed him the wrong way.
Normally, he gained at least ten levels a year—sometimes more.
Now it was five.
That gap was hard to swallow.
And Level 65 wasn't high or low—just awkward. He was still weaker than Kusu, Vados, and Marcarita.
That was the real annoyance.
At least let me reach the point where I can beat Marcarita.
Marcarita was Level 66.
Just one more level.
Even if he hit 66, he'd still need time before challenging her.
Same level didn't mean same strength. There were decimals behind the number.
That "decimal" reminded Ken of those scammy "one more tap" deals that hide the real progress.
Are these levels basically the same thing?
They never tell you the decimal, but that tiny difference still matters.
Worth mentioning: a while back, Ken had planned to visit Vados and spar.
Then he changed his mind.
Back then I was Level 60. Why would I go over there to get bullied?
Level 60 and Level 68 weren't even close—it was a massive gap.
Now that he'd reached Level 65, he finally understood just how massive the jump from 60 really was.
From Level 65, looking back at 60 was like standing atop the Himalayas and staring down at the foothills.
That was what "levels" meant.
Still, only five levels in a year left a bad taste.
So Ken called Merus and asked about his level.
When he learned Merus hadn't improved even a fraction, Ken's mood instantly recovered.
Right after that, Ken called Bier and asked about her angel power purity—her level.
Bier wasn't bad. She'd reached Level 47.
Last time he saw her, she was already at 46.9, so she'd spent a year gaining 0.1.
Not bad at all.
Ken grinned to himself.
Comparisons really do make you feel better.
…
Galactic Patrol Headquarters, Merus's room.
After that baffling call from Ken, Merus stared at the crystal ball on his staff and drifted into thought.
Why did you call just to ask my level?
Did you level up again?
I forgot to ask!
Should I call back and ask?
Ken's call had been short—he asked Merus's level and ended it immediately.
Merus answered on reflex, ready to ask Ken's level next, and then Ken hung up.
Merus didn't know what to do with that.
You asked me, but you won't tell me yours?
After hesitating, Merus decided to call and ask anyway.
You were already Level 60. Your leveling speed should slow to a crawl.
There's no way you gained even one level in a year.
That has to be it.
He took a breath and used the staff to contact Ken.
Ken accepted the video call through the crystal ball.
"Merus, did you need something?" Ken asked with a faint smile.
"Ken… you didn't tell me your level," Merus said.
"Right. How's Kale doing?" Ken asked, smoothly changing the subject.
"Kale? She's doing great." Merus answered seriously. "I took her to train on a bunch of planets. Over this past year, her courage improved a lot."
"Courage is good." Ken nodded. "Now find a way to raise her power too."
"Yeah, yeah." Merus smiled. "I'm going to make her the second Broly. Speaking of that—how's Vegeta's training?"
"Not great." Ken shook his head. "Ever since he came back to Earth, he's gotten sloppy. He's basically turned into a love-brained idiot."
"A love-brained… idiot?" Merus blinked.
"Simple version: he's dating an Earth woman." Ken shrugged. "He's still training, but the progress isn't much."
"You've got to light a fire under him." Merus chuckled. "How else is he supposed to surpass Kale?"
"Yeah." Ken nodded. "You're right. I should push him harder."
Merus chatted along for a moment, then the alarm bell finally rang in his head.
I called to ask your level.
"Ken, what level are you?" Merus asked again.
"By the way, Merus—have you heard of Bier?" Ken asked, swerving again.
"Bier… You know her?" Merus paused, and Ken dragged the whole conversation off course.
"I remember hearing someone say there was only one apprentice Angel." Ken sighed. "Merus, you're not being honest."
"I never said that." Merus wiped at his forehead. "You must be remembering wrong."
"Whatever." Ken waved it off. "Still, I didn't expect Bier to be so pretty. With an Angel that cute, you didn't introduce her to me sooner? Merus, that's cold. I thought you were my best Angel friend. What about you?"
Merus scratched his head, suddenly embarrassed, like he'd wronged Ken.
Wait.
Wait, wait…
Did you just talk me into feeling guilty again?
Bier existing has nothing to do with me.
If you didn't ask, why would I randomly bring it up?
One year apart and you're still this good at messing with my head.
"We Angels usually don't volunteer information unless you ask," Merus said quickly. "Even if you ask, we might not answer."
Ken's expression soured. "Merus, listen to yourself. What kind of answer is that?"
"What was wrong with what I said?" Merus asked.
"You said 'we Angels.' So you don't count me as an Angel?" Ken snapped.
Merus went quiet.
"That's not what I meant." Merus laughed helplessly.
"Then what did you mean?" Ken pressed.
Merus had nothing.
"Those lines I just used are classic 'pretty girl quotes,'" Ken said abruptly, switching back to calm.
"Pretty girl quotes?" Merus stared.
"Aren't they kind of unreasonable?" Ken asked.
Merus couldn't argue.
You know they're unreasonable, and you still said them.
Now I don't even know what to say.
"So if you ever date a beautiful girl, be careful." Ken spoke with full seriousness. "One wrong step and you're done. Consider it an Angel trial."
Merus just stared.
"I… don't really have any plans to date a beautiful girl," Merus said.
"Then introduce one to me." Ken grinned. "I'll solve that complicated problem for you. I specialize in handling the uncooperative."
Merus covered his forehead, completely defeated.
So you ran in circles just to say that?
"Fine." Merus nodded. "I'll keep an eye out."
Hold on.
How did I get dragged into agreeing again?
"Anyway, Ken… what level are you?" Merus asked for the third time.
"Merus." Ken's voice dropped. "You've asked twice, and I dodged both times. You still don't get what that means?"
Merus froze. "What does it mean?"
"I didn't want to say it and crush you." Ken scolded. "Look at you—zero social awareness. Still asking."
"I can take it." Merus clenched his teeth. "Just tell me."
"I'm worried you won't be able to sleep," Ken said solemnly.
"We Angels don't need sleep," Merus replied with a smile. "Say it. I can handle it."
Ken sighed. "Honestly, I'm embarrassed. I only gained a few levels in a whole year."
"So what level?" Merus leaned in, even more curious.
"65," Ken said.
Merus went blank.
Level 65?
In one year, from 60 to 65?
What kind of Angel are you?
Merus stood perfectly still, like someone had hit pause.
"Did the signal freeze?" Ken tilted his head. "Calls through the staff shouldn't lag…"
Merus ended the call.
Too humiliating.
We're both apprentice Angels—how are you suddenly at full Angel level?
Ken stared at the staff with the dead signal and felt a tiny sting of guilt.
Did I go too far?
Maybe I'm not treating him like a friend.
…No, friends are exactly who you flex on.
Not long after Ken and Merus ended their call, Bier called him.
Bier was thinking the same thing.
You asked my level, but you wouldn't tell me yours.
Shameless.
So Bier desperately wanted to know whether Ken had gained even 0.01 this year.
"Ken, time flies." Bier blinked her blue eyes. "A whole year already. Did your level go up by 0.01? Last time we met, you were 60.11, right? Are you 60.12 now?"
Ken stared at her.
"Why would you assume that?" Ken asked.
"Martinu-nee-san told me that when she was Level 60, she only gained 0.01 in a whole year," Bier said with a smile.
"Then you're going to be disappointed." Ken shook his head.
"So you didn't gain even a decimal?" Bier sighed. "But that's normal. Some Angels level fast, some take years to gain 0.01."
Ken sighed too. "What if I gained five levels in a year? Wouldn't that be… not normal?"
Bier went stiff. "W-what?"
"I'm Level 65 now." Ken waved it off. "Ignore the decimal."
Bier didn't speak. The shock hit her all at once.
Five levels in one year.
Are you even an Angel?
"What level is Martinu?" Ken asked.
"Martinu-nee-san was Level 65 a year ago…" Bier answered. "I don't know her current level."
Her gaze kept drifting back to Ken, full of admiration.
Five levels in one year…
At this rate, you're aiming to become the Grand Priest.
Bier didn't take it personally the way Merus did.
They'd only just met. They weren't close enough for it to sting.
"You're not with Martinu?" Ken blinked, noticing Bier floating in open space.
"N-no…" Bier answered, embarrassed.
"You're traveling?" Ken asked.
"No… I'm trying to get back to the God of Destruction Realm," Bier said, even more embarrassed.
Ken didn't think much of it—until she added something that made him go silent.
"Actually… for this entire year, I've been drifting around in space."
Ken stared.
"I got lost," Bier admitted, cheeks red.
"You mean after you ran into me last time… you never made it back?" Ken rubbed his forehead.
"Hmph. You've got nerve saying that!" Bier snapped. "If you hadn't told Martinu-nee-san to look in a mirror, would I have left and ended up unable to find my way home?"
Ken just looked at her.
That's my fault?
How lost do you have to be?
A year and you still can't find home?
"But I did find you the fastest!" Bier said, suddenly excited.
Why are you proud of that?
"Normally it takes me years to find other Angels… if nobody guides me," Bier added.
"Bier, when you say this…" Ken sighed. "You don't sound embarrassed at all. You sound proud."
"I'm done talking to you." Bier huffed. "If you've got any conscience at all, come get me and take me home. I don't even know what universe I'm in."
"My conscience? You already ate it." Ken said, and cut the call.
Bier muttered, "Was it good?" still not realizing what he meant.
She drifted around the starfield for hours.
Then it finally clicked.
My conscience got eaten by you…
Are you calling me a dog?
Ken, you just wait!
I'll—
…Wait. I don't think I can beat him.
Fine. I'll find home first.
Bier resumed her long, miserable journey of trying to find her way back.
Ken finally understood why he'd never heard of this Angel girl before.
She wasn't just directionless—she was terminally lost.
A whole year and still no home.
She was probably the type to get lost the moment she stepped outside.
What a talent.
Me, help you get home?
How bored do you think I am?
No chance. This is your training. Keep searching. You'll get there eventually.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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