"Is Beerus awake?" Broly asked, a little hopeful.
Majin Buu shook his head first.
Broly went speechless.
"So you're telling me… you ended up like this because someone beat you up in his sleep?" Broly honestly didn't know what to say.
Majin Buu nodded helplessly.
"He's still sleeping?" Broly asked again, lowering his gaze.
A moment later, he spotted Beerus sprawled on a tree branch, sleeping without a shred of dignity.
"Great God of Destruction… Beerus has quietly reached the peak of level 57!" Gin hurried up to report.
"Peak of level 57?" Broly raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't he level 56 before?"
Gin and the other Gods of Destruction nodded together.
"So if he keeps sleeping a while longer, he'll hit level 58, right?" Broly muttered.
"Sounds about right," Heles said after a brief thought.
"Then we'll fight after he wakes up. I'm not interested in picking on someone who's still asleep." Broly shook his head, decisive.
He already had a plan: go to other universes first and get the other Gods of Destruction to acknowledge him as the Great God of Destruction.
There was no need to bully a sleeping Beerus.
When Beerus woke up, they could have a proper fight. That would be a lot more fun.
Heles and the others silently admired him, and they couldn't stop themselves from praising him in their hearts.
If Broly had gone over and started pounding on a sleeping Beerus right now, Heles and the others might have enjoyed it—but they would've looked down on him too.
Beating up a sleeping man—what kind of Great God of Destruction was that?
If you weren't the Great God of Destruction, sure, they could all go kick him together.
But the Great God of Destruction needed the Great God of Destruction's dignity.
Of course, every God of Destruction present understood one thing clearly: Broly could absolutely beat Beerus as he was now.
Beerus was asleep, and his level was lower than Broly's.
"Let's go." Broly waved them on. "Universe 6 first."
"Yes!."
Heles and the others bowed.
At the same time, Heles and Liquiir both noticed the sphere floating beside Broly. Curiosity flickered through them, but neither dared to ask.
Broly had left for a bit—and came back with a strange robot like this?
"Before we head to Universe 6, who's going down to collect the cosmic essence from Universe 7's God of Destruction Realm?" Broly asked.
"Cosmic essence?" Liquiir froze, his expression changing.
Gin and Heles looked the same.
The Great God of Destruction wanted cosmic essence?
That meant the entire God of Destruction Realm of Universe 7 would be destroyed on the spot.
"Is Great God of Destruction planning to destroy the God of Destruction Realm?" Heles trembled, her face going pale.
"I only need a little," Broly said.
Before Broly set out, Ken had already told him to gather cosmic essence.
Everyone quietly exhaled in relief.
If it was just a tiny amount, that was manageable.
"Twelve universes. Each one contributes a little cosmic essence—enough to make a piece about Ai's size." Broly gave the order, leaving no room for debate.
"Yes! Great God of Destruction!"
Gin, Heles, and Liquiir bowed immediately, the tension easing from their shoulders.
Taking only a little wouldn't cause much damage to the God of Destruction Realm.
If they drew too much cosmic essence, the entire realm would suffer irreversible harm.
"Cosmic essence is the core of the God of Destruction Realm. I'll go get it." Gin raised a hand and volunteered.
Broly nodded once.
Whoosh!
Gin turned into a streak of light and plunged deep into the earth.
For a God of Destruction, entering the planet's depths was effortless.
And with the realm this vast, avoiding Beerus wasn't difficult either.
About five minutes later—
Whoosh!
A purple-red streak shot into the sky.
In an instant, Gin reappeared before Broly, holding a piece of cosmic essence about the size of a soccer ball.
Starlike light shimmered within it. Even at that size, looking inside felt like staring straight into the universe itself.
Gin offered the cosmic essence up with both hands.
Broly nodded in satisfaction and pressed a button on his watch.
Kukukaka!
A set of red battle armor spread over Broly's body.
He fed the cosmic essence into the armor.
Then Broly pressed the button again.
Shhk!
The armor vanished in a blink, and the cosmic essence disappeared with it—compressing into the watch.
"You three—go back and take a portion of your own universe's cosmic essence. Don't damage your God of Destruction Realm, and meet up in Universe 10!" Broly ordered Gin and the others.
"Yes, Great God of Destruction."
The three bowed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
They quickly departed, returning to their own universes to collect cosmic essence.
As for Bardock, he had been planning to visit Beerus' Planet, but he happened to run into Broly on the way there.
Broly told Bardock not to go to Beerus' Planet and sent him back to Universe 9 to collect cosmic essence instead.
Bardock could only comply.
On the way back to Universe 9, Bardock felt a little numb.
All this time… I've basically just been tagging along, haven't I?
Is it because I'm too weak?
I need to get stronger.
I have to get stronger—fast.
In this group of Gods of Destruction, I barely even register.
Bardock took a deep breath, his eyes burning with a sharper hunger than before.
But how do I get stronger?
I know I've trained seriously. My level's risen fast too—from level 30 to level 32.
Two levels should be enough to satisfy me, but compared to a real God of Destruction, I'm still over twenty levels behind.
After I deliver the cosmic essence to Broly, I'll train hard for a while.
…
Planet Namek.
The Grand Elder's residence.
Ken appeared inside the Grand Elder's room.
"Ken, is that you? It's been a long time," the Grand Elder said with a sigh.
"Yeah. Last time I saw you, you still had some spring in your step… Now you can't even move?" Ken's smile thinned.
Namekians were a long-lived race.
Their lifespan could reach five hundred years.
Five hundred years.
On Earth, that was enough time to see twenty—maybe even thirty—generations come and go.
Even so, seeing the Grand Elder in his twilight years, seated there and unable to move, still left Ken with a heavy feeling.
Back then, the old man had looked sturdy.
The Grand Elder didn't respond.
You're really using that phrase to describe me?
"Congratulations, Ken. You finally achieved your wish and trained into godhood," the Grand Elder said with a gentle smile.
"Since I'm a god now, I came to repay you for how you looked after me back then. I'll restore your youth and vitality." As Ken spoke, he aimed his staff at the Grand Elder's body.
"No need… I've lived long enough… It's time for me to leave this world." The Grand Elder shook his head lightly.
"Alright then." Ken pulled his staff back.
The Grand Elder fell silent.
You really don't hold back at all.
For a moment, the Grand Elder didn't know what to say, and a small sense of loss crept in.
"See? You still have attachments here. I thought you were truly ready to let everything go." Ken smiled.
The Grand Elder didn't answer.
"Then I'll restore your youth. Live again—maybe life will be more interesting the second time." Ken sighed and raised the crystal orb of his staff toward the Grand Elder again.
The Grand Elder's chest stirred.
Yes… youth, and another life.
It would definitely be more interesting.
Probably more interesting than this life turned out.
And I still have many wishes unfulfilled.
So many of my people were killed by Frieza.
I don't want to leave this world with regrets.
Ken said no more and used angel power to restore the Grand Elder's youth and vitality.
As he did, Ken paused. "By the way, Grand Elder—what do you think of Piccolo?"
"Piccolo? He's Katas' child. Truly a remarkable prodigy," the Grand Elder said, giving a fair assessment.
"What if I train him to become a Supreme Kai?" Ken asked.
"Supreme Kai?" The Grand Elder's eyes widened, and he sprang up from his seat.
The next second, he snapped back to himself and stared at his own body in surprise.
His youth had returned completely.
His skin had shifted from dark green to a fresh grass-green.
A grass-green Namekian looked like a tender sprout—youth at its peak.
As Namekians aged, their skin darkened until it became deep green.
"I… I'm fully restored." The Grand Elder breathed out, moved, and conjured a mirror with a wave.
He looked himself over and suddenly felt he looked even younger than Nail.
The Grand Elder went quiet again.
Ken watched silently. In his younger years, the Grand Elder did resemble Nail a little.
But he looked broader than Nail now—more muscle, more heft.
"Ken, you're incredible. Even this is possible… I always thought only a dragon could restore youth." The Grand Elder shook his head in amazement.
"It's nothing." Ken kept smiling.
"So you meant… you want to train Piccolo to become a Supreme Kai?" The Grand Elder asked, his expression turning serious.
"What do you think? He's your people. You'd have the best perspective." Ken asked sincerely.
"I don't think it's a problem. He still has a trace of evil in him, but with his character, he'll erase it completely sooner or later. When that happens, he may become a qualified Supreme Kai." The Grand Elder pondered.
"That's all I needed to hear." Ken nodded gently, patted the Grand Elder's shoulder, and sighed. "It's a shame I arrived too late. Elder Moori and Delta… but it's fine. I'm sure Goku and the others will find a way to revive the innocent Namekians who were killed."
"Ken, can you really train Piccolo into a Supreme Kai?" The Grand Elder asked again, still solemn.
"Grand Elder, did we just freeze? I didn't use any time rewind… but I feel like we went back a minute." Ken grinned.
"I'm being serious." The Grand Elder's face hardened.
"So am I." Ken nodded.
"Then… let me give Piccolo a precious gift." The Grand Elder clenched his fist, resolve settling in, his posture straightening.
If I'm going to live again, I should live better.
"You're planning to give him your body?" Ken asked.
After saying it, Ken felt a slight awkwardness.
He meant it literally, and nothing else.
"That's right. I'll have him assimilate me!" The Grand Elder made his decision.
"Good. I support you." Ken nodded.
The Grand Elder froze.
Wait… shouldn't you at least try to stop me?
At least pretend a little!
You're not stopping me at all—you're supporting me. Now you've got me thrown off.
Hold on.
Did I just walk into a trap?
The Grand Elder rubbed his forehead, feeling like there was a pit waiting for him to jump into.
Did Ken restore my youth on purpose… just so I'd offer myself to Piccolo?
No… that can't be it.
He couldn't have planned that far.
…Right?
I'm thinking too much.
He may be a god now, but he's still only a god who's lived twenty-something years.
I've lived over five hundred.
"Once he assimilates you, his body will change drastically in every way." Ken sighed. "Grand Elder, you'll lay a solid foundation for him to become a Supreme Kai."
The Grand Elder's eyelid twitched.
It really does sound like you dug this pit for me.
"After he assimilates you, what happens to you?" Ken asked.
"I'll disappear… I won't exist anymore." The Grand Elder let out a breath. "But it's like I'll live another life inside Piccolo."
"When do we leave to find him?" Ken asked, eager.
The Grand Elder was completely lost now.
How badly do you want me to assimilate with Piccolo immediately?
"Now." The Grand Elder's voice dropped. "I have a bad feeling…"
"Tell me. What kind of bad feeling?" Ken asked.
"Frieza may return… and when that happens, Planet Namek could suffer catastrophic destruction." The Grand Elder grew even more grave.
"Your instincts are really sharp, Grand Elder." Ken sighed.
The Grand Elder stared at him.
…
High above.
Merus hovered within the nearby clouds with Kale, holding a crystal ball and watching Ken talk the Grand Elder into it all.
Merus didn't know what to say.
He had to admit it—if he were the Grand Elder, Ken might've talked him into offering up his body too.
But thinking it over, this really was the best choice for the Grand Elder himself.
Ken only gave him a push.
If you truly resisted inside, no amount of talking would ever work.
For the Grand Elder, instead of spending dull days in the Other World after dying, living again and helping his people accomplish something meaningful mattered more.
If Ken planned to train Piccolo into an outstanding Supreme Kai, then as the Grand Elder of their people, offering him all of his wisdom—what was that, really?
Merus only sighed in passing. Training Piccolo into a Supreme Kai didn't strike him as anything especially unusual.
"Kale, let's go over there," Merus said.
"Mm." Kale nodded.
Merus took Kale and sped toward where Goku and the others were.
…
After Bardock left, Goku and the group gathered and discussed what to do next.
Frieza had already passed out and drifted into space, so for the moment, they couldn't do anything about him.
"Let's make the wishes first," Piccolo suggested. "We've got three wishes total."
"Piccolo's right. Let's use the wishes while we can." Goku nodded.
"Hmph. By our agreement, one of those wishes is mine!" Vegeta grit his teeth and stepped forward.
"Give it to him," Piccolo said without hesitation, his mouth lifting slightly.
"Piccolo… you mean…" Krillin already understood and leaned in to whisper.
Piccolo smirked, meeting Krillin's eyes. "I heard you need Namekian to make a wish. When the time comes, let Vegeta keep hoping for his wish all he wants."
"I suddenly feel kind of bad for Vegeta…" Krillin snickered, then changed the subject. "But Goku's dad really does look strong."
"He's a God of Destruction… Universe 9's God of Destruction," Piccolo said softly.
"Then let's gather the scattered Dragon Balls first," Goku suggested.
No one objected.
Krillin immediately pulled out the Dragon Radar and checked the Dragon Balls' positions.
They were scattered nearby—blasted apart during the fight.
But one Dragon Ball had been quietly slapped far into the distance by Frieza.
He wanted them spread out so they couldn't make any wishes.
Luckily, Goku and the others had a Dragon Radar, so finding them was easy.
While they searched, Vegeta spotted Nail at a glance.
In fact, the moment Nail arrived, Vegeta had already recognized him.
That shadow from his childhood made Vegeta's hands go cold just seeing him.
Back then, if I couldn't turn into a Great Ape, this guy would've beaten me into the dirt.
Vegeta steadied himself quickly, snorted, and stared at Nail with a hard gaze.
Nail watched him in silence.
"What? You think I'm still the same Vegeta from back then?" Vegeta sneered.
Nail didn't respond and turned to leave.
In a flash, Vegeta appeared right in front of him and blocked his path.
"Move," Nail said, his face darkening.
"Twenty years ago, fine—I wasn't your match." Vegeta snorted. "But it's been all this time. My Power Level has climbed a lot. Let's settle this again!"
Nail didn't react.
"Relax. I won't use destruction energy on you." Vegeta lifted his right hand, a sesame-sized purple-red spark forming above his palm.
He flicked it casually at a nearby rocky hill.
Pop.
The hill vanished like a soap bubble, erased into nothing.
"Well? Nail?" Vegeta laughed.
Nail's pupils tightened, his expression shifting again and again.
What kind of brutal technique is that?
A speck that small, and it wiped out a whole hill?
Not even dust left behind.
Terrifying.
Is that the destruction energy Bardock mentioned?
Unbelievable.
"Come on." Vegeta looked down at Nail, smug. "Don't worry—I won't use that move again."
"…Fine. Then let's spar." Nail drew a deep breath.
Boom!
A powerful surge erupted from Nail, his aura rolling outward in all directions.
The moment Vegeta sensed it, his face changed.
Vegeta's Power Level hadn't actually risen by much.
When he went to Earth, his Power Level was 18,000.
Later, after Goku beat him down, he returned to Frieza's planet, learned Ultra Ego, and raised his Power Level to 24,000 before coming to Planet Namek.
At that stage, Vegeta could easily defeat Dodoria and Zarbon before transforming.
But against Zarbon after transforming, Vegeta's Power Level fell short.
In the end, Zarbon seriously wounded him and threw him into a healing tank.
After recovering, Vegeta's Power Level jumped to 35,000—already above Zarbon's transformed 32,000.
Even so, compared to the Ginyu Force, Vegeta still lagged far behind.
Aside from Guldo, the weak link, every member of the Ginyu Force had a Power Level of at least 40,000.
So even in the original story, Vegeta still couldn't beat Recoome.
And Nail's Power Level?
Nail's Power Level was 42,000—basically at the Ginyu Force level.
Sensing Nail's overwhelming aura, Vegeta's expression turned ugly.
He never imagined a "mere" Namekian could be this strong.
"Then I won't hold back!" Nail said, lunging in and driving a brutal elbow into Vegeta's chest.
Vegeta spat a mouthful of blood, his vision wobbling.
Nail surged forward again and planted a kick into Vegeta's face.
Two moves.
Just two moves, and Vegeta collapsed, landing hard on the ground.
Vegeta stared upward, dazed, his mind blanking out.
I can't even beat a Namekian?
I… I can't accept this.
"Still want to continue?" Nail asked calmly.
Vegeta didn't answer.
Goku and the others hadn't expected Nail and Vegeta to start fighting out of nowhere.
But once they realized it was only a spar, they relaxed.
"I saw Vegeta provoking Nail earlier… poor guy. Look at him now." Krillin sighed.
"Vegeta needs to work harder… or how's he going to become a strong God of Destruction?" Goku shook his head.
"Let's keep searching for the Dragon Balls," Krillin said.
Goku agreed.
The two stopped talking and continued searching across the area.
"I'm going to find the Dragon Balls. Take care of yourself." Nail left him with that and walked away.
Vegeta remained seated there, still in a fog.
Fine, losing to Frieza is one thing.
Fine, losing to Kakarot, a low-class warrior, is one thing.
Now even some Namekian can strut around in front of me?
Vegeta started questioning his whole life.
Am I even a genius?
If I'm a genius, why am I this weak?
No—I'll become a Great Ape!
I'll take it back!
Vegeta sprang up, his face twisting, and lifted his right hand, condensing a glittering sphere of light.
With a fierce sweep of his arm, he hurled it into the sky.
"Shine!" Vegeta roared.
The sphere radiated a holy glow and became a full moon overhead.
Vegeta raised his head, locking his gaze onto the artificial moon.
His body warped instantly—black fur bursting out, fangs and a snout forming.
Vegeta transformed into a massive black Great Ape, pounding his chest as he bellowed.
Seeing Vegeta transform out of nowhere, the others searching for Dragon Balls all went silent.
Why start trouble now, of all times?
Don't you want to make your wish?
In a flash, Vegeta appeared beside Nail, grinning viciously.
"Well? Namekian!" Vegeta laughed, towering over him like a mountain.
Nail's mouth twitched.
You lost and now you're transforming to get it back?
"Since you held back earlier, I won't kill you. Don't worry about that." Vegeta snorted and swung a massive palm down.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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