Part 15, Chapter 1: The Battlefields Crumble...!

Now, my greatest obstacle, the God of Destruction, has been rendered helpless. And I've had my fill with all the festivities...

I suppose I won't be seeing any of their faces ever again... Or yours.

...

...! Another earthquake?!

Well, then! Let's all enjoy the show to the very end. We have front-row seats to watch this planet go kaboom after all!

Did you say...kaboom?!

You mean that's what all this shaking is about?!

Ugh! So you guys are all here to keep us from leaving, is that it?!

Heh! Fine by me! If you think you can stop us, then let's see you try!!

...Guhh... Ugghh...!

!! How can they still get back up after that?! You guys just don't know when to quit!

Hmph... Heh, heh, heh... We won't let you get away. No matter what!

We are all prepared to die for Lord Zahha! Haahahahaha!

Damn it... They really plan to take us down with them by keeping us here!

Heh! You've all got some guts. I'll give you that. I know we're enemies, but do you idiots really wanna die here?!

No, that's not it, Caulifla. They're all probably brainwashed...

Kyah?! Again...?!

Grr! The tremors are getting more and more frequent... At this rate, we may already be done for...

(No...! This is no time to be weak... That's not what Master taught me!)

Think! There must be something I can do. I can't give up now!

Hmmmm... This is quite the dilemma...

Damn! We gotta find out where the others are, now!

It's no good, Whis! I can't sense Cabba, Giblet, or anyone's Ki anywhere! There's no way I can get to them with Instant Transmission!

It would appear Zahha's still hindering everyone's ability to sense Ki.

It's hard to say what can be done under these circumstances...

There's gotta be something we can do, right Whis?! I'll do whatever it takes!

Gyahahahaha! Aww, how noble! Spending your last moments worrying about others!

I don't think you morons realize what's about to happen to you! Ha ha ha ha ha!!

Great, more jerks to get in our way. We don't have time for you guys!

Raaah!!

Damn it, they really are pros at being annoying! We gotta do something quick!

Be that as it may, Goku's Instant Transmission isn't available to us.

And even with my abilities, there isn't enough time to get to the others before the inevitable happens...

I dare say there's nothing we can do to save everyone.

That can't be! Are you saying we should give up on them?!

Well...yeah! If they can't be saved, then there's nothing we can do!

In that case, we gotta save our own tails by getting off this rock! That's the best we can do, right?

Yes... We could simply leave with both our lives and dignity intact...

Or, we can simply stick to our original plan! We still have that one option available to us.

One option...? What's that?

In other words, it's time to contact you-know-who, Goku!

Since we asked for his help beforehand, I'm sure he's still keeping an eye on things all the way from his humble little planet.

!!

And we mustn't forget to get in touch with our two friends back on Earth. They're still standing by, after all.

Standing by on Earth...? You mean Bulma and Jaco?

Oh, yeah! I see what you're getting at. Nice one, Whis!

Ho ho! I must say Goku, you're quick on your feet when you want to be.

Right back at you, Whis! You can be a real trickster when you want to be! Looks like we've still got hope! Heh heh heh!

Hold on! I don't see what you're getting at! What "option"? "You-know-who"? Bulma and Jaco? What are you talking about?!

For starters, Bulma and Jaco are on Earth! How are they supposed to help us all the way from there?!

No, I'm pretty sure they can lend us a hand. We won't know til we try!

Hey, King Kai!!

Can you hear me?!

Well, if it isn't Goku! Long time no telepathy. What's up?

What's up? You mean you don't know?

Hm? What're you on about?

You mean you haven't been watching? Whis asked for your help awhile back, right?

O-Oh, right! Y-Yeah, sure, I didn't forget! I've been keeping a close eye on things. Mm-hm.

So, it must be my time to shine!

Hmmmm, that's a weird way to say it...

But yeah, basically! So, can you help us out? As in right now!

Uhhhh... Who is Goku talking to right now?

Oh, right! I guess no one else but me can hear him... That must look pretty strange to everyone else.

Hey, King Kai! Can you make it so everyone else can hear you too?

Oh dear, where are my manners?

There we go! Everyone should be patched in now.

Whoa! What the...?! Why am I hearing a voice without a communicator?! Who is that?!

Why, I'm King Kai, of course! I explained things when you came to this era. Pretty rude of you to forget.

Huh? Oh, sorry about that... See, as soon as I came to this era, I had my memories wiped by Zahha...

Really? But that doesn't mean you should go forgetting something so important! Well...can't be helped, I guess.

Ahem! So, as you can see, I can talk to anyone in the entire universe, no matter where they are.

!! For real?! Anyone? Anywhere?!

Anyway, we're in a hurry, King Kai! Can you help us get in contact with Bulma and Jaco back on Earth?

You got it! Just leave it to me. It's nice to be needed. I've been feeling pretty bored these days.

...

...

*Sigh* Doesn't look like anything exciting's gonna happen on Earth...

Hmmmm... I wonder if this means Lord Beerus' plan to take the fight to Zahha panned out after all...

That would be the most ideal outcome.

Oh, it's you guys! How's everyone doing?

Gohan and the older Trunks are still sleeping.

And Goten and the smaller Trunks apparently went off somewhere to play... They don't appear to be here, either.

Knowing them, I suppose they'll come back once they're finished.

Hercule and Buu went to the city for some food, so we asked them to pick some things up on the way.

I see. Sounds like everyone's off doing their own thing. Must be nice...

No one would complain if the two of you took a bit of a break. You've certainly earned it.

So long as Hit and I are here, the Lookout should be safe. It must be exhausting constantly being on alert here.

I appreciate the thought, but Lord Beerus himself told us to stay here and be ready, just in case. So, ya know...

Lord Beerus asked YOU?

...ey...!

Hey...! Is there anyone on the Lookout? Can you hear me?

?! That voice...!

Goku?! Where are you...? You're not using a communicator, are you? So why can I hear you?!

This must be King Kai's doing.

That's right! He's lending us a hand, and that's why I'm able to talk to you!

Oh! That name rings a bell. He's the guy who explained all the rules right after he transported us to this era, isn't he?

You got it! Anyway, Bulma! Lord Beerus gave you a job before we left, right? Something about "assurance"?

Sure, but...wait, so that means you're contacting us because there's an emergency?

? What's this all about?

Remember what I was just saying about "just in case"? Lord Beerus gave us an important job. That's why we're here.

Oh, I almost forgot! Bulma! Jaco! Lord Beerus would like to speak with you for a moment...

Huh?!

Me too...?

I have a very important job for you two...

To be perfectly candid, our attempt to take the fight to Zahha may not quite go according to plan.

To that end, as Lord Beerus mentioned, we'd like to have some assurance. Therefore, I have a favor to ask of you.

Assurance...? I don't like the sound of that... What do you want us to do?

I-I have to imagine there's other people who could help you better. You know, stronger people.

Yes, we thought about asking Hit or Piccolo, but they're warriors, so this task might not be best suited for them.

A fighter might get caught up in combat and be unable to carry out this mission. That's where you, the peanut gallery, come in.

"The peanut gallery," he says...

That's right; you're totally unimpressive.

In other words...we need people who aren't on the enemy's radar and can outwit them. That's where the both of you come in.

Because despite being totally unimpressive, you two have completely impressed me!

!

If someone gets in contact with you somehow, it means our direct plan of attack was a failure.

In which case, we'll need you to use the trump card we've got stashed away on Kami's Lookout.

Does that mean what I think it does...?

Yep! The Dragon Balls!!

...And that's about it. This planet's gonna blow up and we don't have a lot of time!

We need to save everyone who went through the hole in space-time, and the Dragon Balls are our only chance!

I can't believe it's come to this...!

Lord Beerus lost and the planets everyone are on will explode?! I, uh, don't suppose you're pulling our leg...?

'Fraid not. It's all true.

Damn...! This isn't looking good.

It could be better... But all that matters now is making sure everyone makes it out of this alive!

Once we've got that covered, we'll have to figure out another way to find Zahha and try again!

Find Zahha...and try again...?

Okay...got it! I'll get things ready as soon as I can!

Hold on a sec!

?! What's wrong, Shallot?

Oh...?

I don't have a problem with using the Dragon Balls to get us back to Earth. In fact, that'd be a huge load off my mind.

But I don't like this idea of trying to find Zahha all over again. Not when we've come this far!

If we gotta go back to Earth...

...we need to bring that bastard back with us!!

Whaaaaat?!

This has really been pissing me off!

He's always off somewhere using his men like pawns, and now he's even blowing up planets...

He always gets to kick up his feet and enjoy the show. Every. Single. Time! I'm sick of it!

That's a terrible idea, Shallot! Do you really want to fight someone that powerful on Earth?!

He's right...! Even Lord Beerus lost! If we do something that reckless to him, who knows what he'll do!

I gotta admit, I thought Shallot might say something like that... And I agree with him.

What?!

What's there to agree with?! It's obviously too dangerous!

Maybe it is, but it's also better than trying to figure out where he is all over again.

I...grr... That's...actually a good point.

Don't worry about it! Even if things get bad, we'll pull through. We always do! Right?

That's...not exactly reassuring...

Hey, what about you, Whis? You agree with us, right? It's way too dangerous!

In my opinion...

...I say go right ahead. Since Lord Beerus is indisposed, I'll defer to everyone else's expertise.

Defer...? Expertise? I can't believe what I'm hearing...

Heh heh, all right! That settles it!

Nothing's settled!! I object! Objection, I say!!

Let's get cracking! Bulma, Jaco! Bring everyone including Zahha back to Earth with the Dragon Balls!

We're counting on you!

Wait, for real?! You're kidding me! You really want us to go through with this?!

I'm not happy with it either, but we're out of time. Let's just trust Shallot and Goku and do what they asked.

Oh for...! Fine!! I'll do it, so just hold your horses!

Phew! That's a bit of a load off.

I'm not so sure it is! Is she even gonna make it in time?!

All that's left is to wait...

...except...

...I doubt our friends over there are going to wait quietly with us.

Oh, great...!

Looks like we gotta take out the trash!!

Buzz off!!

I'll kick you into next week!!

Damn that Zahha... All he does is send more and more of 'em...! I freakin' HATE that guy!!

You mean like how he kept sending you mutts after us? Over and over and over.

Shaddup! I'm not trying to go down memory lane with you! All I care about is getting the hell out of here! What's keeping your little Earth buddies?!

Okay, that should do it!

So, these are the Dragon Balls of Earth. They're much smaller than the ones I'm familiar with.

Lord Beerus sure is prudent. I'm impressed he thought to hide the Dragon Balls here on the Lookout.

Apparently they were originally hidden to prevent any of the Tournament participants from abusing their power...

So from what I've gathered from my original era, there's something you need to say to summon the dragon, right? What could it have been...?

Wait, say what?! You need to say something specific?!

There's no special incantation. Shenron will respond no matter how you call him.

Wait, really?!

So it doesn't matter? What made you think there was a special phrase?!

That's hardly important! Just summon Shenron, now!

R-Right! Here I go...!

Come out, Shenron!!

Whooooooa!!

This is Shenron...?! He's way bigger than I imagined!!

Come, say your wish.

I'll grant you any three wishes within my power.

Wait, three?! I thought it was just one!

It is now three. I received an upgrade after a new person assumed the role of Kami on Earth.

Sorry, Shenron, but we're in a hurry, so we need to keep the chatter to a minimum.

Oh, I see. I beg your pardon, Lord Piccolo.

Hurry, Bulma! Make your wish!

Right...! Ummmm...let's see...

We need to bring back the people that went with Lord Beerus, the ones who went into the portal on their own, the dogs, Zahha...

Oh, that's right. I guess just saying "Lord Beerus' allies" would leave a lot of people unaccounted for...

In that case, there's only one way to make this wish in order to include everyone!

Shenron, here's my first wish...!

The shaking's getting a lot stronger...

Okay, everyone! Can I ask you all to stand near me, just to be safe?

Whaddya mean "just to be safe"?! You mean they're not gonna make it in time?!

Knock off the whimpering, it's not gonna do any good! All we gotta do is trust them and wait it out.

Gyaaaaaah! We're done for! This rock's gonna explode!!

Come on Bulma...Jaco...

We're counting on you guys! You gotta save us!

Hmmmm...

What's wrong...?

Shenron! Can't you grant our wish?!

...

Your first wish...

!

*Gulp*

...has been granted. However, any longer and it might have been too late.

We made it!!

All right!!

Thank goodness...!

I've brought the one named Shallot, the ones he calls his allies...

...as well as the one known as Zahha to this planet.

Phew! I thought I was going to have a heart attack...

Uhhh...I don't see Shallot and the others anywhere, though.

Hm? You're right...

I had something like this happen to me too.

They're all on Earth, but they probably wound up on different parts of it. You didn't actually specify which part of the planet to transport them to, did you?

Oops...

...

What the...?

Wait...this is Earth... Yes!! We made it!

Hey! Can everyone hear me?!

Is that...?

Goku! Where are you? And where is this place?!

Everything happened in an instant, so I bet you're all pretty confused, but we're back on Earth!

Most of you probably have no idea what's going on, so let me try to explain.

So that's why we were brought to Earth, along with Zahha.

It seems like Lord Beerus lost to Zahha, but the good news is he's still alive according to Whis!

So that means all of us are alive and in one piece.

Everyone's okay! That's awesome! Haha! What a relief.

That said, seems like Bulma didn't tell Shenron where on Earth to send us, so we're all a little scattered!

So for now let's all head to Kami's Lookout.

If Zahha's on Earth too, we can use the Dragon Radar to find the Crystal, so we can figure out where exactly he is!

...

IF Zahha's on Earth...

But...

Ah, it seems like Giblet realized the problem.

Huh? What problem?

As Goku mentioned, Zahha has the Omnificence Crystal.

Meaning being sent to Earth is only a minor inconvenience for him. He can easily whisk himself off to another planet.

So what do we do? Should we use those Dragon Ball things to stop Zahha from doing that?

No, we shouldn't! That would be a waste of a wish.

?

...

Just leave it to me! I'm gonna sink my fist into that smug face of his if it's the last thing I do!

What is this place...?

!! Is this the Earth...? But the sky looks different...

I see. They used the Dragon Balls to bring me here...

Hmph. I can't imagine their plan ends there. This can only mean all of Lord Beerus' pawns are still alive.

And they've even managed to pull one over on me. Even with their precious God of Destruction sealed away, they continue to resist. How infuriating...!

...

But in the end, it's all futile.

After I make my way to a new planet, they'll be left to fumble around in the darkness once more.

Hey! Zahha!!

?! This voice is...!

I know you can hear me! King Kai's using his power so that we can have a little chat.

So say something!

Hello, Shallot...

Heh! Is that it? I was hoping to get more of a reaction out of you. That would've made me almost dying back there seem worth it.

Don't misunderstand, I'm quite surprised. And equally livid. I was hoping to finally be rid of you pests.

Well then, what is it? Since you've gone through the trouble of having King Kai help you, I assume it's important.

Since we're both finally on Earth after all this time, I wanna say something to you...

Don't you dare run!

Run...?

Yeah! I know you, Zahha.

You were just thinking of running away to some other planet, right?

You must be scared of me! Aren't you?!

!

Why don't we cut the crap and settle this once and for all?

Cause I'm not like you! I never run!!

So don't start quaking in your boots and try to escape!

...

That's all I got to say to you. You're gonna get what's coming to you!!

...

Hmph. Dear me... Here I was wondering what was on Shallot's mind...

In the end, he just wants to play childish games. What a waste of my time.

All they can do is play games... Games. And nothing more.

You must be scared of me! Aren't you?!

So don't start quaking in your boots and try to escape!

...Damn him...

(Why does thinking about what he said make me so...irritated?)

(Run away? Scared? Of the likes of him?)

...

Very well.

As you wish, dear Saiyan... We'll make this planet our final battleground.

I'll make you feel unfathomable depths of despair. Then, and only then, will I allow you to die...!

Shallot...!