The immense pressure radiating from Vados forced Trunks down to one knee. The golden glow surrounding him flickered out as he fell from his Super Saiyan form, his body trembling under the overwhelming divine energy.
Though Vados hadn't aimed at the others, the sheer force of her power made everyone's breathing difficult. Even the seasoned warriors among them felt as if their chests were being crushed.
Bulma, being human, let out a pained gasp before collapsing softly into Chiga's arms. The sudden contact caught Lazuli's sharp gaze; her brow arched, irritation flickering across her usually calm face.
A golden light flashed in Chiga's eyes. The air around him trembled as his divine Ki surged, clashing violently against Vados's. For an instant, the entire planet seemed to halt. Every creature, from the smallest insect to the mightiest warrior, felt their souls shudder in instinctive fear.
Chiga's voice broke the silence, deep and composed.
"Enough."
At his command, Vados's oppressive aura receded like a fading storm. She tilted her head, curious, her tone light yet edged with authority.
"Are you familiar with him? You do know that traveling through time is considered a grave sin."
Chiga's calm eyes shifted toward Trunks, whose face was pale from the strain. His voice was even, but carried undeniable weight.
"Isn't what you call a 'sin' simply determined by your word, Vados? Earth is under my protection. If you wish to act, you'll have to do it somewhere else."
Vados chuckled softly. "You're quite bold. Last I recall, this planet already has a God. Does he know you've claimed it as yours?"
A bead of sweat rolled down Piccolo's temple as he thought about Kami on the Lookout—his counterpart. "Don't say something that'll get us all erased… Kami wouldn't even dare call himself a god in front of them."
Chiga's hair rose slightly as his power built again. His gaze sharpened.
"So, you still plan to act?"
"Pfft!" Vados suddenly laughed, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. "Why so tense? If that's your wish, then I'll pretend I saw nothing. It's not my universe, after all."
Chiga exhaled quietly. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not defending the boy. Your pressure was making my people uncomfortable."
Vados blinked in mild surprise, then her eyes drifted toward Bulma, who was still held in Chiga's arms. "Oh? Are you referring to her? What is she to you? Perhaps what humans call a… girlfriend?"
Bulma's cheeks turned scarlet, and she quickly pulled away, flustered.
Lazuli's eyes flashed, her expression darkening with jealousy. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting?! Chiga's girlfriend is clearly me!"
She clenched one fist, her other arm looping possessively around Chiga's neck. The tension in the air thickened instantly.
Everyone froze. Even Goku, Vegeta, and the others stood awkwardly, unsure what to do. Yamcha looked particularly miserable—he couldn't even muster the courage to speak, knowing any claim on Bulma was long gone.
Gohan tugged lightly on his father's sleeve. "Dad, who's Chiga's girlfriend? Aunt Bulma or Miss Lazuli?"
Bulma groaned inwardly. Even after the candy bribe, he's still calling me Aunt Bulma…
Goku scratched his head in confusion, completely out of his depth. "Uh… I'm not really sure, Gohan."
Krillin stepped in with mock wisdom, patting Gohan's head. "You'll understand when you're older, kid. From what I can tell—probably both!"
"Nani?! But Dad only has Mom!" Gohan protested.
Krillin grinned smugly. "That's different! Your dad's married, he only gets one wife. He's not a king!"
"Oh… I think I get it?"
Gohan's confused nod was cut short when Goku slapped Krillin's bald head with a sharp smack!
"Ow! What was that for?!" Krillin whined, rubbing his head.
Goku frowned. "I don't know… but I felt like I should!"
The group fell into awkward silence.
Vegeta crossed his arms, snorting. To him, the matter was trivial. Among Saiyans, women were rarely more than companions or bearers of offspring. The stronger a Saiyan, the more control he held. In his eyes, if Chiga had both Bulma and Lazuli, it wasn't anything to question.
Of course, Vegeta didn't realize that, in another timeline, he would risk his life for Bulma against a God of Destruction. In this one, however, he was far from that man.
Meanwhile, Vados simply smiled, sensing the tension she'd caused. "Oh dear, I seem to have caused a misunderstanding. My apologies, truly."
Lazuli exhaled through her nose, clearly still annoyed, but turned away without further comment.
Trunks slowly stood, brushing the dust off himself. Despite being from a bleak future, he carried his mother's poise and respect. He bowed deeply toward Chiga.
"Thank you for saving me. I spoke rashly before. Please forgive my disrespect."
Chiga regarded him quietly. Despite everything, he held a degree of respect for Future Trunks—someone who had carried an entire world's hope alone.
"Get up. I understand your situation. Wait here for now."
Trunks nodded obediently. In front of Chiga and Vados, even a Super Saiyan seemed insignificant.
Turning to the Angel, Chiga asked evenly, "So, is there anything else? Shouldn't you be tending to your Sixth Universe?"
Vados shook her head, her silver-white ponytail swaying gently as she smiled. Chiga's gaze lingered for a brief moment—he had never seen such long, pristine hair. A stray thought crossed his mind: Does tying it that tight not hurt her scalp?
Of course, Vados had no idea what he was thinking. She blinked innocently. "Nothing major, really. I just have a small request…"
"A request? From an Angel? That's rare. Go on."
Vados clasped her hands behind her back, her tone playful. "I've come quite a distance, and you're the only familiar face around. So, I was wondering… could I visit your home for a while? Just to rest. It's not too much to ask, is it?"
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Happy new month, Ladies and Gents 🍁
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