Part 10, Chapter 2: In the Shadow of Ice

Well, Beerus... If I recall correctly, you like to say something along the lines of, "Before any creation must come destruction."

...And destruction might just be what this upcoming creation needs...

I will finish you all...with your very own technique.

...Hakai!

Wh...What was that?! Just now...that flash came from Lord Beerus' direction...!

A...An explosion?!

It can't have been?! Everyone was still there...!!

N...No!!

We can worry about them later! For now, we've got to get as far away as possible! Run!!

W...Wait! We're still running?! My legs are starting to cramp!

Now isn't the time to complain...! We're nowhere near safety yet!

Our highest priority right now is to get Shallot back to town and tend to his injuries...!

Well, well, what do we have here... A little birdy, fallen from his nest!

Ack...!!

Holy smokes! The Frieza Force?!

And who're his friends... An Earth girl and a Galactic Patrolman, huh? Ha ha ha! Talk about an easy fight!!

Eeek! Of all the times these guys could show up...!!

(This doesn't look good... It's three against one... I'm not sure I can handle them alone...)

Alright! Let's get this party started!!

Argh!! Come and get it!! Don't underestimate a Super Elite!

Gwahh!

Y...You did it?!

*puff* *puff* You just experienced firsthand... what a Super Elite is capable of...!

N...No way?!

What do you say? Ready for round two?!

Blast! This isn't over!!

Ph...Phew! Chalk that up as one more victory... for justice...!

Jaco?!

But... I'm afraid I'm at my limit... I'm not sure I can move another inch...

N...No way!! If you can't move anymore, then that means...

...that means you want me to abandon you and Shallot?! Are you crazy?!

Wait a sec! I didn't say anything about abandoning anyone!!

(Although, she has a point... What exactly are we going to do?! At this rate, Shallot and I won't last much longer out here...)

Wh...What do we do?!

Hey! These are the guys, right?

Huh?!

It does appear to be them.

Wh...Who are you?!

Oh! I'd remember that funny little face anywhere! His name's...uhh...

...Taco!!

What?! Lo...Lord Champa?!

Hey, Taco! You went and made quite the name for yourself at the Tournament of Destroyers exposing Frost's little trick, eh?

Lord Champa, perhaps you should let bygones be bygones, at least for the time being. These people appear to have been through a lot today.

Pipe down! I've been waiting for the chance to get this off my chest!

Actually...my name is Jaco...

Hold up a minute! Just who is this flabby, big-bellied Lord Beerus supposed to be?!

Woah! Watch your tongue! This is Lord...!

Jaco, let's wait to speak until we see to Shallot's injuries, shall we?

What? Wh...Why do you know Shallot's name?

...That should do the trick... He should wake up any moment now.

W...We can't thank you enough!

So...is now a good time to ask who you two are and why you know about Shallot...?

I'm Champa, almighty God of Destruction!

And I am his loyal companion, Vados.

God of De...Destruction?! You mean there are Gods of Destruction other than Lord Beerus?!

Not in your Universe, no. But in Universe 6...

Universe...6...?

You mean to tell me Lord Beerus hasn't told you?

In this current moment, there are a total of 12 Universes.

The Universe that you call home is Universe 7.

Wh...What?! That's way too many! You expect me to believe that?!

It took me a while to wrap my head around it too the first time I was informed.

Jaco?! You knew all along?!

Of course. But Lord Champa, what are you doing here in Universe 7?

Shortly before that explosion earlier, Whis relayed a message to us from Lord Beerus, imploring us to rescue you.

From Lord Beerus?!

Thank the gods, literally! Lord Champa, with you here we'll be able to...!!

Don't get ahead of yourself!

Huh?!

I was only asked to rescue you lot and that's it.

Other than that, I have no cause to involve myself further. This is your problem, not mine!

H-Huh? You can't be serious?!

*cough*

...!

Shallot?!

Is he awake?!

Wh...Where am I...?

It would appear so...

You're not...Lord Beerus and... Whis... Who are you?

May I present Lord Beerus' twin brother, Lord Champa.

And this fine lady is Whis' older sister, Vados. They came to our aid.

Y-Y'mean you're Lord Beerus' and Whis'...?!

Pre-cisely! And what? No "thank you"?!

Now...tell me what happened back there.

On the...continent...

...!!

...

Ha ha...

So it wasn't a dream...!

Shallot...

...! Wait! Goku... Cabba...Giblet... Where are they...?!

...! Ummm...

W...Well...

Vados. Get him up to speed.

Understood. Listen well Shallot. The one known as Zahha has obliterated the entire land of ice.

Wh...What?!

Lord Beerus and Whis went to stop him, but it appears they were caught in the blast. We haven't heard from them since.

You're kidding?! Even Lord Beerus and Whis...

This is awful! We...We've gotta go back there!!

Don't be an idiot. We just told you, there isn't even anything left TO go back to.

...! We won't know for sure until we see for ourselves!

I must've misheard you. You couldn't possibly doubt the words of a God of Destruction.

You heard just fine!!

Cool down, Shallot! Don't be reckless!

She's right! Let's all take a breath!!

Hmph. If my wisdom won't reach you via words, perhaps fists would be a more suitable delivery system.

Vados' fists that is!

...!

You would have me fight?

Absolutely! I'm eager to witness this power Beerus values so highly.

Fine by me! If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!!

...Very well, then.

I'm more than prepared to face you. As is Lord Champa...

Huh?! Me?!

It wouldn't do you any harm to get some exercise between meals...

Maybe so...but...

Alright. Let's begin.

Alright, that's enough...!

*pant* *pant*

...Phew...! That was far too much exercise for one day!

You were the one who started it!!

(Tch, these two are just like Lord Beerus and Whis... They're crazy strong...!)

...

(Judging from his movements, Shallot's already fully recovered...)

(The question is...how?)

Hey, Vados! Back to business! We've still got things to tell these guys, don't we?!

Quite so. Our conversation got somewhat derailed before, but I will begin by divulging the information we received from Lord Beerus.

Information? About what?

That which was obtained by Zahha. The "Omnificence Crystal".

...!

From what we know, the Omnificence Crystal is a failed Super Dragon Ball. Only, it was refined in some way by Zahha...

Then, as the "Tournament of Time" was set to begin, he implanted it into you and your twin...

He used the twin Saiyans to perfect the Omnificence Crystal...or something like that?

Correct. All that was needed was for the twins, at this point no more than vessels, to grow stronger and eventually clash...

Or at least, that's what Lord Beerus and Whis have surmised.

...

Hmmm, doesn't that seem a little...contrived, to anyone else?

Assuming Zahha was the mastermind all along...surely he can use Dark Ki, right?!

He could've used it to brainwash both Shallot and Giblet...

...and simply force them both to get stronger and then fight, couldn't he?

Why brainwash Giblet but go through the trouble of befriending Shallot?

When you put it that way, it certainly does seem inefficient... Perhaps this Zahha fellow isn't too bright!!

Rgh...! Zahha's not some idio...

Huh? What's your problem? Don't tell me you're defending his honor or something?

You realize he's been manipulating you all along, right?! I hate to break it to you, but he isn't your friend!

Th...That's not...!

The only fool here is you, Lord Champa.

Huh?!

In all likelihood, simply having the twins clash would not have sufficed to perfect the Omnificence Crystal.

There must have been something specific regarding the vess... regarding the twins.

...

I've heard enough about crystals! For now, we've gotta figure out our next move...

Finally! If this meet and greet is quite done with, I'll be leaving. After all, I did what I came to do!

W...Wait! You can't seriously be leaving?!

Lord Beerus is your brother! You can't just abandon him!!

Don't talk like you know so much, kid!!

Huh?!

Don't underestimate us! If we were so easily killed, we wouldn't be called Gods of Destruction!!

...

Fine. I suppose that makes it my turn to ask a question.

What question?

When you next face Zahha, what do you intend to do?

?!

I...I...

(Next time I face Zahha, I'll...I'll...)

(I'LL...!)

Be warned, regardless of your response, I'm done here.

If you choose the wrong course of action, it will simply mean the end of Universe 7.

N...Ngh...

Now then, Vados, let's get off this rock!

Indeed. Shallot, Bulma, Jaco. I wish you good fortune in the battles to come.

H...Hold up a minute! He actually left?! The lazy, no good...FATSO!!

He's gone... What do we do now?!

Tsk!

It's no use whining about it now.

First up, we gotta go back to the land of ice!!

Huh?! Go back and do what, exactly?!

She's right! Lord Champa said there's nothing left...

And I said I don't believe him! Not until I see it with my own two eyes!!

Well then, Lord Champa. What's your assessment of Shallot?

Huh? Assessment? What are you...?

Like Shallot said, you were the one who started it...

You wanted to see for yourself the power of that crystal's vessel, didn't you?

Hmph.

Why did Beerus prioritize Shallot's escape above all else?

Perhaps there's something special about this Shallot. I was curious is all...!

But with things the way they are now, they're doomed!

However strong, however special, the Shallot back there is no good to anyone!

Without a clue as to what to do next, he'll end up rushing in and doing something reckless, no doubt.

Hmm. It seems that, left in his hands, Universe 7 truly will end.

But that couldn't possibly be your desired outcome, could it?

...

...Well? Do you sense any Ki coming from the land of ice?

...

Wh...What's happening?!

I can't sense any Ki... It's too far away or something!

Huh? What do you mean?!

I'm not sure...but, it's like there's a thick fog blocking my vision!

Th...This is worse than we feared!

Hmph. You two better go find a town to hide in!

No way! The only place I'll feel safe in this mess is by your side!

...Safe, huh...?

Wh...What?! Where's the cocky "leave it to me" Shallot gone?! You're weirding me out!

Huh?! R-Right, uh, leave it to me!!

Not your most convincing delivery to date...

...

(I felt it during the conversation with Lord Champa too...but something about Shallot isn't quite right...)

(...It's gotta be...)

Tch! If I can't sense Ki, I guess we'll just have to use our other senses when we get there...

Hyaahh!!

!! That was close!!

He he he!!

So, we meet again!

Filthy dogs!!

We aren't dogs!! Looks like you still need someone to fix that attitude problem, punk!

I thought Gohan disposed of you mangy mutts!

We may have been disposed of, but we ain't dead!

Now it's our turn to do the disposing!

You ain't no Gohan, but putting you six feet under will definitely brighten our day!!

Damn...! These no-good thugs...!

You took the words right out of my mouth!

When you're writhing in pain, remember you brought this on yourselves!

What?!

Th...This pressure...?!

Last time was my bad! I was in a hurry, so I couldn't give you my full attention.

But don't worry, this time I'll give you jerks something to remember me by!

Gwah?!

Eeek!!

It's over! This is as bright as your day is gonna get!

D...Damn it!!

I've gotta get to the land of ice! Now, scram!

The land of ice...? But it's...

(...Ah, I get it, I get it!)

...?

Listen, musclehead, there's nothing left there for you to find!

What did you say?

Oh, did I hit a nerve? I'm just wondering what exactly you think you're going to do when you get to that wasteland!

And this time you've got a different set of losers with you! Hah! What happened to the last lot?!

Th...That's...got nothing to do with you slobbering lowlifes!

Hey, Lavender, you don't suppose his friends are all in a million little pieces scattered around the continent, do you?

You...!!

Gya hah hah! Yeah, yeah! And he's gonna scoop 'em all up and put them back together again! How considerate!

This day actually did get brighter! I bet Gohan probably got blown up there with the rest of them too!

...! Th-There's no way that happened!

I wonder who else died? Let's see, the little runts and...

Oh yeah, the swordsman!

!!!

From what I saw, you two had quite the bromance going! He he he!!

!!

I see you haven't changed in the slightest, muscles-for-brains! Ha ha ha!

Sh-Shut up... Well neither have you, snide little...

Make sure you open your twin brother's eyes with that message! In your own...unique Saiyan way.

...Well, you don't gotta tell me twice!

Shut up!

Maybe you can have a reunion hug on the continent...assuming he's not completely vaporized! Kya hah hah!!

SHUT UP!!!

Hyaa?!

You don't know anything! You'd better shut your big mouths before I shut them for you!!

Gyaaah!!

Woah! Steady Shallot!!

Don't you think you're taking this a bit far?!

?!

Take a breather! Those two aren't worth it! Don't let them get under your skin!

Argh!!

...

(Like I suspected, being betrayed by Zahha has thrown him for a loop...)

(If it continues like this, it's hopeless... How can I get through to him...)

...

What a pitiful spectacle...

...!

What now?!

Wh-Whose voice is that?!

(I...I can hear a voice, but I can't see anyone... I can't sense any Ki either...!)

Where are you? Show yourself!!

...That voice...

It...It can't be!!

What is it, Jaco?!

Behind you...

...?!

(When did he get behind us?!)

Rgh...! Take this!!

...

You slippery little...!

(This is bad! His movements are too quick...! He's too strong!!)

If I wasn't playing nice, you'd be dead already...

As I thought! You're Hit!!

Huh?! You know this guy?!

He's the deadliest assassin in Universe 6!!

Ah, you must be Shallot...

Time to get to work!

Let's do this!!

Take your best shot!!

Very well...

Hyahh!!

Tch! That speed...!

(...But, I can still keep track of him...! It's not over!!)

Hmph.

Uggh?!

(H...He hit me?! I didn't see a thing...!)

Eeek! What is this guy?!

Shallot! Are you okay?!

O...Of course I am! I'll crush this purple poser...just you watch!

Impossible. Your defeat is a forgone conclusion.

?!

Do you not see why I appeared behind you?

It was to help you grasp the inevitability of your death.

Wh...What?!

At that moment, it should've been apparent that you have no hope of besting me.

Shut up!! The only thing apparent here is that you've gotta be taken out!

N...No! Stand down, Shallot!!

(Nothing can stop me getting to the land of ice! Goku...Giblet... everyone...)

(I have to save them!! ...And then...!!)

(...)

(And then...I...I'll have to...)

(...face Zahha...?)

Game over.

Ahhh!!

Shallot?! SHALLOT?!

*pant*

(M-My...b-body...won't...)

Young and foolish...

Charging into things without a thought as to the consequences of your actions. What could you possibly hope to accomplish?

How disappointing... Die where you lay. Surely, you're capable of that much...

(N...Not...like...this...)

(...)