"..."
Was that the smile of a god? No, that was the grin of a devil, Bulma grumbled to herself.
Still, for a high school girl brave enough to go on a wild adventure with a kid like Goku, she was remarkably quick to adapt to new realities.
"So, if you're this 'Destroyer Candidate' or whatever... what about those two?" Bulma asked, picking up the sleeping Goku and standing up. She pointed a cautious finger toward Beerus and Whis.
"Them?" Gran said, elegantly popping another takoyaki into his mouth. "The skinny one is my Big Boss. He's the actual God of Destruction for this universe."
Since the word "Candidate" was still attached to his title, Beerus was technically his superior. Calling him "Boss" felt like a fair compromise.
"As for the elegant, handsome man with the scepter... he's the teacher for both of us. He's the Angel of this universe."
An actual God of Destruction? And an Angel?! Bulma swallowed hard. Even without knowing the specifics, those titles sounded terrifyingly powerful. She suddenly remembered meeting Gran as a child, back when Beerus was pointing a glowing purple finger at her. Gran had told her she nearly died and that the money she gave him was the "fee" for saving her life.
Hiss! Bulma sucked in a breath of cold air. She really had been staring death in the face back then. She had been standing in front of actual deities and didn't even know it!
"Alright, pay for this too," Gran said, strolling toward the next stall.
"Yes, sir!" Bulma chirped. She realized now that this Destroyer Candidate didn't actually harbor any ill will toward her. In fact, he was her accidental bodyguard.
"Bulma, you've been traveling with Kakarot to find the Dragon Balls. What was your wish going to be?"
"Who's Kakarot?" Bulma asked, paying the vendor and hurrying to keep up. She didn't even stop to wonder how he knew her name. They're gods, she reasoned, of course they know who I am.
"The little guy in your arms. He and I are from the same race."
"Oh! That explains it! No wonder Goku turned into a giant gorilla; he's not even an Earthling!" Bulma looked down at the snoring Goku, the pieces finally falling into place. "As for my wish..."
Bulma suddenly became fidgety, a soft pink hue dusting her cheeks.
"Well?" Gran asked, feigning ignorance.
"I was going to wish for a Prince Charming, but the wish never happened!" she said, pouting. As she spoke, she stole a sideways glance at the Candidate.
He had a jawline that looked like it was carved from marble—sharp, masculine, and undeniably handsome.
"Pfft!"
Gran couldn't help himself; he burst out laughing. So the legend was true—Bulma really was obsessed with the "Prince Charming" wish.
"Hey! What are you laughing at?" Bulma snapped, her face turning even redder.
"Nothing, I just thought of something funny. Listen, Bulma... sometimes the guy on the white horse isn't a prince. Sometimes it's just a monk heading West. Trust me, you're better off not obsessing over the whole 'Prince Charming' thing."
Bulma stood there, speechless.
Gran then looked at the boy in her arms. "Wake him up. He's probably starving."
Bulma blinked, then realized he was right. Back in Pilaf's castle, Goku had been complaining about his hunger the entire time. That was why he didn't have the strength to break them out of the cell. She quickly shook him awake.
Goku, still dressed in Oolong's tiny overalls, saw the endless rows of food and practically vibrated with excitement. With Bulma's permission, he bolted toward the stalls. Without his tail, he was a bit wobbly at first, but he adapted in seconds. His little legs began moving like high-speed pistons.
Gran followed suit. After eight years of disciplined training, his appetite was monstrous.
For the next several hours, a God of Destruction, an Angel, and two Saiyans conducted a total scorched-earth campaign on the food street. Everywhere they went, towers of empty plates rose three meters high.
Three hours in, Beerus and Whis finally tapped out, satisfied. Gran and Goku, however, kept going. It took another three hours before the two Saiyans finally hit their limit.
When they finally finished, they looked back to see every chef on the street slumped over their counters, twitching with exhaustion. A few were even foaming at the mouth. It was a scene of culinary carnage.
"..."
The fashionable Bulma stood there with a dark expression. Where is the divine dignity? This is ridiculous! She realized Gran wasn't lying. Goku really was the same race as him. You didn't need a DNA test—you just had to look at the bill.
It was late now, and the group stood at the end of the street. Bulma finished paying all the exhausted chefs, giving them massive tips for their trouble, before catching up with the gods. The atmosphere had turned quiet.
"Whis, what do you think?" Beerus asked, looking at Goku.
It was clear Gran had come here specifically to see this boy. Regardless of whether the kid was special, his appetite was certainly "divine." He was a Saiyan through and through.
"He has some basic martial arts training, but his power level is quite low..." Whis trailed off, glancing at Gran as if trying to read his true intentions.
Gran noticed the look but said nothing. He just looked around, whistling innocently.
Beerus and Whis exchanged a look of exasperation. Bulma giggled behind her hand; she found the Candidate surprisingly charming.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" Goku finally asked, his voice high and innocent.
"Aside from being a bit naive, I don't see anything particularly special—" Beerus started, but he cut himself off. His expression suddenly turned grave.
"Lord Beerus, isn't a pure, innocent heart a good thing?" Whis asked, leaning on his staff. "Gran was just as silly when we first met him."
"Traditional Saiyans are brutal. After Gran, this is the second one we've found who breaks the mold!"
Who are you calling silly? Gran thought, rolling his eyes at Whis.
However, Whis's words hit Beerus like a physical blow. He began to tremble. "You're right... Gran was exactly like this back then!"
Beerus clenched his fists, his eyes burning with a sudden, competitive fire. Before Gran, he wouldn't have cared. But after seeing what Gran became, his perspective had shifted. What if this kid were another diamond in the rough?
Beerus's gaze now mirrored the look Champa had when he first saw Gran. He looked like a man who was ready to stuff Goku into a burlap sack and run.
"It's a 'Pure Heart,'" Whis said, his grip tightening slightly on his scepter as he dropped his playful facade. "Just like Gran. People with this heart can master martial arts with ease. They can even grasp the movements of the Angels—Ultra Instinct—without the mental baggage of a normal warrior."
Whis turned to Gran. "Of course, I don't think anyone could reach Gran's level of absurdity. I truly believe he is a once-in-an-eon anomaly. But... people with this temperament often possess limitless potential."
Gran stopped joking. His face became uncharacteristically calm. Whis really was incredible; his ability to judge potential was second to none.
"THEN WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?!"
Beerus produced a large sack out of nowhere, looking like a literal kidnapper. He was ready to bag Goku right then and there.
The sight terrified Bulma. She understood Goku was a prodigy, but this felt a bit extreme.
"Whoa, whoa! Stop!" Gran stepped in front of Goku. "Lord Beerus, what exactly are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I'm taking him back to train him!"
"And who's going to do the training? You or Whis?"
"Well, obviously I... I mean, you..." Beerus's voice trailed off as he lost his nerve. "Whis will do it!"
Whis's lip twitched. I'm the one doing all the work again, aren't I?
Gran sighed, rubbing his forehead. He knew this would happen. "Kakarot, what are you going to do next?"
Ignoring Beerus, Gran knelt down and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Kakarot? Is that me?" Goku tilted his head, looking confused. "Well, I promised my Grandpa Gohan... I mean, I told Master Roshi that after I helped Bulma find the Dragon Balls, I'd go to him for training!"
Exactly as the story goes, Gran thought. Goku would train with Roshi, meet Krillin and Launch, and begin his journey.
Gran picked the boy up and looked at Beerus. "He belongs here for now. This is where he needs to grow." He glanced up toward the sky—toward the Lookout.
Beerus and Whis followed his gaze. They both realized what he meant.
The Angel in black... Beerus remembered Whis's old words. As long as Korin Tower and Mr. Popo were on this planet, Earth would be a sacred land for martial arts. Whis had predicted that Earth's martial foundation would eventually produce someone truly remarkable.
Thoom! Beerus's heart skipped a beat. The person Whis predicted years ago... it's this kid!
Whis realized it too. Is the prophecy coming true? How interesting.
"Big brother, now that the Dragon Balls are collected, I really have to go see Master Roshi," Goku said, looking up at Gran.
"Then go on," Gran said, putting him down and ruffling his hair. "Train hard. One day, Universe 7 is going to need you."
"Okay!" Goku chirped. He didn't understand the "Universe 7" part, but he nodded vigorously anyway. "Flying Nimbus!"
A golden cloud streaked across the sky, and Goku leaped onto it.
"Kakarot!" Gran shouted as the boy took off. "My name is Gran!"
"Big Brother Gran! I'm Son Goku!" The boy gave a cheeky grin and waved. "Bye, Bulma! Bye, everyone!"
The image of a young Saiyan flying into the clouds on a golden mist while an adult Saiyan watched from the street felt like a moment frozen in time.
You little rascal, Gran thought, watching the silhouette disappear. Goku needed his journey. He needed to meet Krillin, to marry Chi-Chi, to train with Piccolo... Gran couldn't take that away from him.
"Sigh." Beerus let out a long, dramatic breath. He looked miserable. "Can't you two just let me have one more talented student?" he grumbled. If he had another prodigy, Champa would die of jealousy.
"And what would you do with him, Lord Beerus?" Whis asked with a dry smile.
"Him? Besides napping, what does he do?" Gran joked.
"You two..." Beerus fumed. He really wanted to smack them, but since he couldn't beat Whis and didn't want to hurt Gran, he just pouted.
"Lord Beerus, why the long face?" Gran asked, backing away a few steps just in case.
"He's your kinsman! Why don't you want to look after him?"
"I'm not his babysitter. Besides, Earth is the best place for him right now."
"...But then he won't be my disciple!"
"But he's still a warrior of Universe 7, isn't he?"
A lightbulb went off in Beerus's head. "Oh! You're right!" This was his universe. He could still brag to Champa about having two legendary Saiyans in his territory!
"Ohohoho~!" Beerus started laughing, accidentally mimicking Whis's signature chuckle.
Whis, Gran, and Bulma all shared a look of "Is this god a total idiot?"
With Beerus calmed down, Gran looked at the darkening sky. "Lord Beerus, are we heading back to the Destroyer's Realm, or...?"
"Go back to that cold, empty place? For what? Earth has all this food! Earth is my home now!" Beerus looked at Bulma, tilting his chin up. "Stupid mortal! Take us to where we can rest!"
Bulma sighed internally but didn't dare argue. She led the three deities toward the Capsule Corp estate.
Gran and Whis shared a knowing nod. They knew this would happen. As the group walked through the moonlit streets toward the richest estate on Earth, Gran felt content. He had reached the divine tier, met the legend, and now had some time to relax. After all, you could still train on Earth.
Their long shadows stretched out under the moonlight as they walked.
In a palace at the very center of the multiverse—the seat of absolute power.
"Grand Minister, has the little one reached the Divine Tier?"
"He has, Sire."
"Then it is time. Prepare for a Meeting of the Gods of Destruction."
"At once, Grand Zen-Oh."
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