Chapter 74: Androgyny and the Sparkling One
Looking at the Shieldy Protector in his hand, Franklin shook his head and stopped overthinking it. Right now, Mikan and Ryōko Mikado's safety was more important.
If they really encountered an enemy he couldn't handle, he still had the Flying Thunder God and Phantom techniques to use for temporary retreat, buying time to grow stronger.
Thinking of the Flying Thunder God, Franklin could sense that his previous markings were still active. The last one, if he remembered correctly, was placed on Master Roshi's sea turtle.
When the time came, he would first find Master Roshi, get Goku's location from him, and then collect all seven Dragon Balls.
After handing two badges to Mikan and Ryōko Mikado, Lala gave a detailed explanation of how to use the items.
During her explanation, Franklin, who was eating on the side, couldn't shake a strange feeling. When he noticed that Zastin's seat was once again empty, his brow furrowed—his alertness immediately heightened.
Walking to school with Lala along the familiar road, Franklin noticed a blue-haired girl wearing the male uniform of Cainan High standing by the roadside, as if waiting for someone.
That girl gave him a sense of both familiarity and strangeness. Before he could think too much about it, the girl smiled brightly and waved in their direction.
"Lala! Long time no see! Because of Ren, I came to Blue Star too!"
Hearing the distant shout, Lala—who had been leaning close to Franklin—turned curiously toward the voice.
"Who are you? You seem familiar, but I don't recognize you."
The blue-haired girl's cheerful expression froze instantly.
"So cruel. We used to play together all the time when we were kids—it's not wrong to call us childhood friends."
Seeing Lala's puzzled expression, Franklin immediately activated the Eye of True Sight on the girl. With his current level, it was never excessive to be cautious with aliens.
Name: Run Elsie Jewelria (Ren Elsie Jewelria)
Age: 16 / 300
Race: Memorzorians
Bloodline: Memorzorian Bloodline (Androgynous before adulthood; becomes male and female upon maturity; twin souls; spiritual power several to dozens of times greater than beings of the same age and intellect)
Physical Cultivation: First Origin Realm – Peak (Potion Enhanced)
Spiritual Qi Cultivation: Mortal
Mental Cultivation: Mortal Heart Realm
Talent: None
Overall Combat Power: 300
Because of their power difference, the girl didn't notice Franklin's probing.
After seeing the details, Franklin suddenly remembered what kind of being she was.
"Lala, she's a Memorzorian," Franklin whispered.
Lala's eyes lit up at once.
"I remember now! The crybaby Ren! You transferred to Cainan High too?"
Lala's question went unanswered. The girl glanced at Franklin, then smiled helplessly. "Judging by your look, it's clear you'd never like Ren. But he's been obsessed with you since we were kids. If he weren't a Memorzorian with a strong body, you might have played him to death.
Because of his feelings for you, when he heard you had a fiancé, he swore he'd come to Blue Star no matter what—to defeat your fiancé and win you over.
He kept nagging about it, so I gave in and came along. Lala, is this the fiancé you're engaged to? How about calling him out now, so Ren can give up completely?"
Lala shook her head. "No way. I'm not that kind of shallow girl who just likes whoever's strongest. That whole engagement thing was my dad's idea.
I like Lin. I'll always like Lin. Tell Ren to give up. Even if he becomes strong enough to defeat Lin, I still won't like him. Come on, Lin."
Franklin, who had been ready for a fight, was pulled away by Lala. Hearing her words, warmth spread through his heart.
Standing still, Run looked surprised. Watching the two walking away, their happy smiles shining in the sunlight, something stirred in her heart.
Deep in her consciousness, Run spoke to the pale figure curled up in her mind. "You heard her, Ren. Lala will never like you. You know her personality—once she's decided something, she won't change."
The blunt words hit Ren hard. But suddenly, as if recalling something, he stood up.
"Give me control of the body. I'm not giving up. I have to try—at least once, on my own."
Run didn't say anything more. In the next instant, a puff of smoke flashed, and the blue-haired, delicate girl transformed into a handsome young man with white hair on top fading into black below.
"Harsh words for a childhood friend—are you sure that's okay?"
Lala shook her head helplessly. "Even if I say that, he won't give up. Otherwise, he wouldn't have transferred to Cainan High in the first place."
As she spoke, Franklin's brow twitched violently. A chill ran down his spine as his divine sense spread out instantly. Within moments, a figure entered his perception.
Sensing danger from above, Franklin summoned the Guardian Sword without hesitation.
With a piercing sound, a red-and-gold figure streaked past above them in a blink.
The speed was so great that Franklin was stunned. Before he could even activate the Eye of True Sight, the figure had already vanished from his spiritual sense, disappearing rapidly into the distance.
"Lala, did you see what that was just now?"
Seeing Franklin's serious expression, Lala thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Sorry, Lin. That thing was too fast. I didn't catch a thing."
Her answer made Franklin's heart sink. That meant if the figure had attacked them just now, he might not have even had time to react before being defeated.
How was he supposed to fight an opponent so much faster than himself?
As he sat down and pondered, a small flying insect—just like the one from yesterday—appeared again.
When he placed it on his ear, Zastin's voice came through.
"Son-in-law, be careful. Two individuals arrived today—one from the royal family of Memorze, and one from the imperial line of Shining Star.
Both are formidable. Memorzorians, with their twin souls, naturally possess immense spiritual power; the one here can already control blue energy sources.
As for the Shining Star people, their technological prowess is extraordinary. The one I saw is wearing a new-type battle suit, likely powered by a blue energy source as well.
To put it simply, blue energy corresponds to a Core Formation cultivator. With your current power, it'll be very difficult to face them.
But your strength is far from ordinary—much greater than that of a typical green-energy user. Winning isn't impossible. How to do so, though, I can't say. I wish you good fortune in battle."
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