Granolah had no idea that the Heeters were the ones ultimately responsible for the destruction of Planet Cereal. As far as he knew, the blame belonged entirely to Frieza and the Saiyans, and all of his hatred had been directed at them for decades.
"Come on, Oil. You're not finished already, are you?" Elec called toward the hole in the floor with an amused smile. "If you are, we'll let Macki have a turn."
Oil burst back into the hall carrying a broken slab of stone above his head, furious at being humiliated so easily.
"Like hell I'm losing to you!"
He hurled the slab straight at Granolah, but Granolah merely raised one hand. A strange glow resembling destruction energy flickered from his palm and spread over the stone, erasing the entire slab before it could reach him.
Oil's eyes went wide.
"What was that, some kind of magic?" Macki scoffed as crimson energy gathered around both of her hands and formed into a pair of sharp claws. "Fine. I'll expose whatever trick you're using."
She rushed Granolah and slashed at him repeatedly, but he slipped around every attack without effort. After several exchanges, Macki suddenly realized that the scarf around Granolah's neck had somehow wrapped itself tightly around both of her wrists.
Macki stared at the knot in disbelief.
You could've at least tied a bow.
Granolah yanked on the scarf and slammed her hard into the floor before swinging her toward the opposite wall. Gas finally stepped in, slicing through the cloth with a sharp chop before Macki could crash into it.
She landed on all fours and immediately looked toward him. "Thanks, Gas. Be careful. He's seriously strong."
Gas moved into position to fight, while Granolah calmly retrieved his scarf and wrapped it back around his neck as though nothing had happened.
"That's enough, Gas. Stand down," Elec ordered.
Gas paused, clearly confused by the decision.
"We've seen enough to know he's telling the truth." Elec turned his attention back to Granolah. "You've been getting stronger lately, but this is far beyond normal growth. What happened to you?"
Granolah hesitated, remaining silent for several moments before finally shaking his head.
"Sorry. I can't tell you."
"Then I can't tell you where Frieza is," Elec replied coldly. "Understand something, Granolah. If you go after Frieza and fail, we're the ones who'll suffer afterward. I need proof that you actually have the power to beat him."
Granolah's expression tightened. He clearly didn't want to reveal the truth, but Elec had left him little choice.
"I used the Dragon Balls."
Macki blinked. "The Dragon Balls?"
As Universe 7's foremost information brokers, the Heeters had naturally heard of them, although the information was relatively new. Moro's use of the Dragon Balls to release the Galactic Prison inmates had been what first brought them to the organization's attention.
Elec's smile returned. "So Planet Cereal really does have Dragon Balls."
"Yes," Granolah admitted.
"I see. You used them to obtain enough power to become the strongest in the universe."
"That's right."
Oil immediately looked offended. "That's cheating!"
Macki's expression soured as well. Using a wish to leap straight to the top hardly seemed fair, while Gas remained silent and watched Granolah with the same cold stare as before.
"All right, now I understand," Elec said. "But you'll still have to wait. We don't know Frieza's exact location right now, and finding him will take time. Go back to Planet Cereal. We'll contact you once we have something."
"Then hurry." Granolah's voice grew heavier. "I don't have much time left."
Elec frowned. "What does that mean? Are you dying?"
"My lifespan is almost gone."
Macki stared at him in confusion. "You're only around fifty, aren't you? Cerealians live for more than two hundred years."
"I traded away the roughly one hundred and fifty years I had left for power," Granolah explained.
Elec's expression finally changed. "You did what?"
"The dragon told me that if all the power I would've gained throughout the rest of my life were condensed into the present, my strength could be multiplied far beyond its natural limit." Granolah's voice remained steady. "That's how I became the strongest in the universe. But now I only have three years left to live."
Macki could only stare at him. "You sacrificed almost your entire life just to kill Frieza? You're insane."
"Just find him for me, Elec."
Granolah turned toward the exit, ready to leave, but before he could step outside, two figures suddenly appeared in the middle of the hall through Kai Kai.
Beerus had arrived with the Grand Supreme Kai.
Their sudden appearance immediately put everyone in the room on alert. Granolah turned back to examine the newcomers, though the look in his eyes showed little concern.
"Who are you?" Macki demanded.
Beerus ignored her completely and looked Granolah up and down instead. "So you're Granolah?"
Granolah frowned. "Who are you?"
"I heard you used the Dragon Balls to become the strongest in the universe." Beerus gave him an amused smile. "That true?"
Granolah's eyes widened. He immediately spun toward Elec with an angry glare.
Seriously? They spread the news that fast?
He had only just told them, yet somehow two strangers already knew about his wish.
"Don't look at us!" Elec snapped. "We didn't tell anybody!"
Oil, however, was staring at the Grand Supreme Kai with growing recognition. He leaned toward Elec and lowered his voice.
"Elec... I think that one's the Supreme Kai."
Elec blinked. "The Supreme Kai? Why would he come here?"
Macki followed Oil's gaze and looked even more startled. "Wait, that's the Supreme Kai? The fat one?"
Gas narrowed his eyes but remained silent.
"Should we bow?" Oil whispered.
Elec nodded. "Of course. Whatever else is happening, he's one of the highest gods of our universe. Show some respect."
Elec led his siblings forward, and the four Heeters bowed respectfully to the Grand Supreme Kai.
None of them paid Beerus the same courtesy.
That wasn't particularly surprising. Beerus spent so much of his existence asleep that very few mortals in Universe 7 even knew what their God of Destruction looked like.
"No need to be so formal." The Grand Supreme Kai waved cheerfully and gave them his usual easygoing smile.
[End of chapter]