Part 8, Chapter 2: Warriors On The Move!

Haa...! Haa...!!

Damn it...! What was with Shallot's power?! What sort of foul play was that?!

Heh... Foul play, you say...

...!!

You aren't exactly the gold standard for sportsmanship yourself. What with all those poor fighters you went and absorbed.

Y-You! What are you doing here? What do you want now?!

Goodness, no need to be so hostile. I came to make you an offer, to grant you revenge against Shallot.

You do want revenge, don't you? I can give you more power, Buu.

(...More power...?)

Oh, you want to help me now, do you?

This whole situation is your fault! If you hadn't trapped me in that blasted space-time prison, none of this would have happened!

If you hadn't given Shallot the time he needed to achieve that red-haired form, I would have killed him already!

And now you come to me offering your "help?!" I have no desire to play your idiotic games. I'll kill Shallot myself.

And you know what? Before I do, I think I'll kill you first so that you can never stand between me and what I want ever again!!

...Hm.

Saiyans are a warrior race. We fight to the death!

From the start, the only way to put an end to those wicked Saiyans was to kill them all!

(Ugh... That can't be right...! That isn't what we were trying to do...!)

(Giblet...!)

...

...up... Wake up...! Shallot...!

Hey! He's awake...!

Sh-Shallot! Thank goodness you're alright! I was worried you'd only be woken by true love's kiss when even Zahha's healing magic wasn't working.

Huh...? Bulma? Jaco?

...!! That's right!! I was fighting Giblet and...!

What happened to us? Where is he?! And what about that guy with the weird hair?! A-And that black hood guy?!

C-Calm down! We'll explain everything, so just relax for a second...!

...So the mastermind...

Right. He and Zamasu took Giblet and disappeared.

...

Well then, what about Zahha and Cabba? What about everyone who came to help us?

They're fine. A bit roughed up from the battle but nothing serious. They're taking a look around the base and deciding what to do next.

Ah, everyone except Caulifla's and Bardock's groups... It's not like that! They're fine, they're just doing their own thing. You know how they are.

...

...Well, that's where things stand for now, but why don't you eat something? You must be starving after all that fighting.

Nah, I'm good... I'm gonna go stretch my legs!

...What??

I don't believe it... Shallot turning down food?! He must be more shaken up than I thought!

Are you sure we didn't bring home the wrong twin...? I wonder what's up with him...

...

(...I couldn't stop him...! I couldn't stop Giblet...!)

Urgh...! What is this pain?!

D-Damn it...! What the hell is going on?!

(If it wasn't for that pain I felt...! What the hell was that anyway?!)

Ugh... That's not it! It wasn't because of the pain!!

I was just too weak...! I'm not strong enough to stop him yet... Neither is my resolve...

Looks like you finally came around.

...!

Zahha!

Bulma and Jaco said you were up and about.

Though it looks like you're not quite back to your old self. It's about Giblet, isn't it?

I just... I'm so mad!

Mad at how pathetic I am... And that I couldn't stop him back there!!

This isn't the end, Shallot. We'll have another chance. And if the past can tell us anything of what's to come, you'll only get stronger.

Next time isn't good enough!!

...!

"Next time"... "Definitely next time"... Just how many times have I fought him in this era?!

There isn't gonna be a "next time" anymore! I need to stop him as soon as possible...

But I'm just... I'm too damn weak!

Shallot...

Hey hey hey! I thought I heard some loudmouth up and shouting when he's s'posed to be half dead!

Huh...?! Nappa!!

Thought you could give me the slip, eh? Fat chance! Now listen, no need to throw a big old pity party just because you lost a fight to your brother, kid.

I-It ain't like that! And neither of us won or lost! It's just...!

Gwa hah hah! I'm just yankin' your chain, no need to put up a front for your master!

Now get that chin up! If you two cubs are in the hole, papa bear's gonna lend you a hand! Put those mitts up!

...!

You heard me! It's time for you to show your master how much stronger you got!

Heh... You never change, old man.

...But I think this might be just what I need! You got it, Master! Just don't tap out too fast on me, okay? It's time to blow off some steam!

...Heh! N-Not so bad for someone down in the dumps!

Would you stop with that already?! ...Whoa, you doing alright there?

D-Don't be stupid! As if I would lose against my pupil! ...I was just surprised by your growth!

*sigh* Remind me again how I got dragged into this?

...Haa...

What? You haven't had enough yet?! You wanna go again?!

Nah... I'm good! After a bit of fighting, my head finally feels clear!

...My bad, Zahha... Nappa...

Huh?

More than being mad... More than anything, I needed to show you guys my gratitude...!

If you both hadn't stopped Buu back then, I probably never would have been able to become a Super Saiyan God...!

Heh... Being told that now feels kind of weird. It's not like you at all.

Ah... Yeah... Fine! I won't thank you, then!!

...If you say it outright like that, it actually kind of ticks me off.

Heh. Seems like you two have been getting along since we went our separate ways!

...Right! Nappa! What the hell have you been doing until now?! And Zahha too!

If you were both alive, you could've at least shown your faces!

Heh! A pupil worrying about his master?! You have some nerve! Are you underestimating how tough I am?

Who said anything about you being tough?!

I couldn't believe it either when I heard he'd survived fighting the Frieza Force alone.

Gwa hah hah! I'll admit that was a close one, even for an elite like me! And since it looked like Vegeta'd bit the dust, I had nothing but time!

And that's when I happened to run into our very idle master...

He's also going to cooperate with us.

...Cooperate? What for?

Because for our final showdown with the mastermind, we need to gather more allies...!

...!

More...allies?!

Yes... We have to gather warriors fighting those with Dark Ki and get them to join us.

That's why I hid myself after fighting with Giblet...

If I appear to be dead, the enemy won't be able to discern our plan, no?

I see... After all, no one would suspect a dead guy would be up to anything!

And when I returned to Mai, you just so happened to be fighting with Buu...

Although, I hadn't anticipated that Giblet would show up too... If only I'd had the foresight to...

Hey, don't sweat it! You guys did enough by fighting Buu!

My battle with Giblet is just between us anyway...!

And next time will definitely be the last!! I'll beat him to a pulp!!

Hoo-raah! Now that's my student!

Beat him to a pulp... Only a Saiyan would come up with that...

Sh-Shut up...! This is just how we Saiyans are! You got a problem with that?!

...Heh, none whatsoever.

...Then what is it?

No... It's nothing. I just remembered something from a long time ago...

...Just a message of the importance of family...

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!

Now that that's over, let's go back to the base. You've got a guest waiting.

...?

Lord Beerus just arrived on Earth a little while ago.

Bulma, Goku, and the others are probably filling him in on everything that's happened.

For real?! Alright! Time for me to get goin'!!

...Ack!

Now that I've unwound a little...I'm starving!! Surely I got time to grab a bite before all that...

...Well! Zahha, Nappa, thanks, you guys! I'll catch ya later!

There he goes... I guess I can't complain that he's back to his gluttonous old self. Still...

It's better that way! Well then, I'm gonna get going too! Do whatever you want for the rest!

...What? You aren't going to work together with us?

The only reason that I accepted your invitation was because I wanted to check on Shallot!

So basically, I got no intention of helping you! ...However!

Feel free to let me know about the guy you're lookin' for! You know...what he looks like...and his outfit and stuff...!

...Geez... You're such a clingy master...

The annihilation of this universe... Is that the mastermind's objective?

Yep! Well, he said he can't do it quite yet, but that's what we're up against.

Hey, Lord Beerus! Goku!

Shallot! Where did you wander off to?! Don't you know how ill of portent it is to keep a god waiting?

I got kinda hungry so I went off to get a bite!

Goku! You and Vegeta saved me from... Zamasu, was it? That smug guy with the earrings calling himself a god? I owe you one!

Yep! But truthfully, Zamasu didn't seem interested in fighting anymore...

Not interested in fighting? What a weirdo... And then? What happened to Vegeta?

He went off by himself saying that we should just "do what we want."

What?! Why?

...But I guess that's just Vegeta for you.

I believe we have other priorities right now, you two!

...Ah! That's right! So what's our next move, Lord Beerus?

Well, first things first... Shallot.

...Huh? What is it?

Transform into Super Saiyan God form! We're going to spar, here and now.

...?!

Excuse me?! Shouldn't we be talking about the mastermind right now?!

No, Bulma. This is actually the perfect time.

The real fight with the mastermind has only just begun... We have to know where Shallot stands in terms of power.

...

...Well, that's my official stance, anyway. In all honesty, I just want to fight him myself.

Huh?!

Hahaha! I forgot Lord Beerus has that side to him!

That's not something to laugh about!!

Like hell it ain't! He actually wants to fight me! I've gotten stronger, but I wanna see how much that counts for against him!

Heh... A typical Saiyan. I'm ready anytime... Just come at me!

You got it! Remember back on your planet when I could barely land a single hit on you?

...It ain't gonna be like that anymore!!

I should hope not! Now, Shallot, let's see if your Super Saiyan God is the same as Goku's back then...

...or if it has...something special...

LET'S FIND OUT!!

DAAAH!!

...Hmph...!

Uwah...?! Uwawawa!!

H...H-Hey!! Can you two fight somewhere else?!

Oh...! Y-Yeah, sorry!!

...Lord Beerus! Let's change locations and really get started!!

Very well...!

Alright! There shouldn't be anyone complaining now! I'm gonna let loose!!

(Hmm... His current power isn't bad... However...)

(...He's absolutely nowhere near Goku's Super Saiyan God. As expected, even with the same godly power, there's a difference in experience...)

...EAT THIS!!

...?!

...Damn! It missed!! Man... You really are something, Lord Beerus!!

...That caught me off guard!

So then before... You were just suppressing that power, I see!

Yeah! But here I can go all out!! It's the same for you too, right? Come on! Lemme see your full power!!

...What an absolutely mad statement to make to me...!

If that's the case... Try to make me get serious then!!

GAARGH?!

...Hmph... I'll admit I was surprised by your full power. However, you aren't anywhere near Goku's power from that time...

...GRR!! I'M NOT DONE YET!!

...Wha-?!

...Hng!! Hrrgh?!

Hell yeah! I finally got a hit in!!

Grr...! This damn muscle-head...!!

(...This guy...! The power he can release in a single instant is astonishing...!!)

...I'm not done yet!!

You see! If I keep going, I can...!

...Yes...!

Things have finally gotten interesting...!

...?!

(W...What?! What is this feeling?! If I run in there head-on, I'll be toast!)

...Heh... Your instincts are good! It seems like you sensed what would happen if you came at me head-on...

...W-What a freakin' monster...!!

...Calling a god a monster, how rude...

...You wanted to see it, right? The full power of a God of Destruction...!

In that case, I'll show you a fraction of my true power...! Get a taste of this!

Okay! You two, that's enough!

...?!

...What is the meaning of this, Whis? It was just getting good...

If Shallot manages to land any more solid punches like that one before, you'll get into one of your moods and cause trouble...

Don't be ridiculous! As if I'd let him hit me again! And what do you mean "one of my moods?!"

...Really?

Alright, I get it... Maybe things went a little too far...

I know how strong Shallot is right now, so let's wrap things up here...

W...Wait! I can keep going!

No, let's stop... If things go any further, I'll get too excited and probably end up destroying you.

...Ngh!

I still need you to do more work for me... You understand that much, don't you?

...Jeez, I get it! Dying during a sparring match is outta the question...

(But... I don't feel any of the pain that I felt while fighting Giblet...)

(Tch... I don't get it. What the hell was that? What was...?)

Well then, let's get back to the base. We have more things to talk about.

I was watching, Shallot! You've really gotten a lot stronger!!

Maybe, but it's not enough! I still don't stand a chance against Lord Beerus...

Obviously. Can you imagine a God of Destruction losing to someone at your level? I'd practically die of humiliation.

However... Your progress is rather impressive, I'll give you that.

Just as expected from someone with the blood of the "Saiyan God" running through their veins.

...!!

You remembered something when you assumed Super Saiyan God form for the first time, didn't you? Why don't you tell us about it?

How did you know that?!

...Huh? You remembered something, Shallot?!

Yeah, but...it's kinda a long story...

Y-Your ancestors were... Super Saiyan Gods?!

A righteous race who long ago fought against wicked Saiyans...

Yeah... That's why Giblet...

That's what he means with the "blood of the defeated," your bloodline of the Super Saiyan Gods, who knew only defeat as long as they existed...

...And the "blood of the tainted," evil Saiyans whom history records as victors and who live to this day.

...

...Hmph. That's more or less what I expected.

...You knew?

Not that I had proof or anything. I figured it would be best to hear it from you, anyway.

But still... Twins with the blood of a god, huh...

...?

(The other one is working for the mastermind... That can't be just a coincidence...)

(There must be something very special about these twins... I thought I might glean something by fighting him, but it's still a mystery...)

But anyways...! What's our next move? That's gotta be more important than that stuff I remembered, right?

Well...we haven't decided yet. We were talking about it before you came, but...

Yeah, but a certain God of Destruction decided he had to get his way and started frolicking around like a little kid!

I wasn't frolicking!!

If you haven't decided, then let's start with Giblet!

...Actually, no. Right now searching for Zamasu takes precedence.

Wh-?!

Why Zamasu?

Well, finding the mastermind himself would be ideal, but... Like Goku said, we can't search for him by his Ki...

It would be great if we could find Giblet...but only if we have a convenient opportunity...

Of all the people we can search for right now, Zamasu poses the greatest threat... Right, Lord Beerus?

Exactly.

Oh yeah, you're probably right! He did drive all mortal life to the brink of destruction that one time...

Huh...?! Are you serious?! This Zamasu guy did something like that...?!

From what I've heard about how it went, there's no way you could possibly comprehend it... Regardless, that Supreme Kai apprentice is dangerous.

I don't know what era this Zamasu is from, but I'm sure he has something up his sleeve...

...

...You seem displeased, Shallot.

...Yeah! I am! ...But I'm sick of ranting about it now!!

...And, Zamasu... Now that I think about it, there's something I wanted to ask that guy!

Hmm, things are getting ever more interesting.

(...He probably already knows that something happened between Giblet and I!)

It's decided then... Shallot, Bulma, and Jaco, you three are in charge of the search for Zamasu.

Got it! Leave it to us!!

Huh?! Wait a minute!! What about me?!

You have a different mission. Let's talk over here... Follow me!

...Huh? A different mission? I wonder what it could be?

Well, let's do our best, Shallot!

Yeah! Don't go and mess up your mission! Whatever it is!

It seems like Goku is still being taken advantage of by Lord Beerus, as usual.

I feel like we all are... But anyways, it's time for the mission! Are you ready to go, Shallot?

...Alright! Now that we know what to do, let's get our heads in the game!

It's time to start the hunt for Zamasu!!

Yeah! Let's find him quickly and make him spill the details on where the mastermind and Giblet are!!

I guess you're raring to go, Shallot...

Okay, I'll start searching for Zamasu's Ki!!

...

...

Huh...? What gives...? I don't get it!

You don't get it? As in, you can't find any trace of it?

No, that's not it! I can't pin down his Ki...

Wait, that's right... He was saying that he's a god or something. Maybe he has that God Ki, just like Lord Beerus.

Lord Beerus was saying that mere mortals couldn't sense the Ki of a god, wasn't he...?

But you became a god already, didn't you, Shallot? Even now, you still can't sense it?

Hmm... I'm not sure, but it seems like I still can't sense it very well...

Wait... How the heck are we gonna find this guy then?!

If I can't find him by his Ki, we'll just have to run around looking for him!

Don't be ridiculous! Do you know how big this world is?! There's no way we'll find him like that!

Oh dear... You two are as loud as ever, aren't you...?

...?!

...Zahha?! Why are you here?

Ah... I was eavesdropping on your conversation with Beerus.

You're looking for Zamasu, right? We had the same plan as you...

If we're both looking for the same thing, I figured we might as well do it together...

I see... All of us will spread out and search for Zamasu, right?

It sounds good to me! Way better than Shallot's idea of just wandering around looking for him!

But it seems like we'll only get so far by just spreading out and searching...

I came here thinking you guys might have had a good plan in mind, but... It seems like I was off the mark.

...A good plan, huh...

...

Ah! That's right! My nose!

...Nose...?

Yeah! Like we did with Android #16! If I can't find Zamasu by his Ki, I should look for him by his scent!

Hrnn... I guess it did work for #16, but... Do gods even have a scent? Isn't there a whole thing about godliness and cleanliness?

Can't say I've ever tried sniffing one to find out... I really don't think you'll be able to find him just by his scent, but...

Gonna give it a shot anyway!

...

Something smells nice over there! Let's go take a look!

...Smells nice... Right...

...Smells more like failure to me.

...We're here! It's definitely here!!

Are you sure? It doesn't look like there's anyone around to me...

No... Someone's here. I don't share Shallot's...olfactory talent, but I can definitely feel a presence now that we're close.

Huh...?! Then...could Zamasu actually be here?

It really...does smell good...

...Huh?

It smells like a...barbeque? I think someone's cooking meat over there...

Tch! So it's actually just a good smell then, isn't it?!

In the end, Shallot was just lured here by the smell of meat, just like a dog!!

Don't call me a dog! It's not like that! I really was actually searching!!

What's going on?! What a ruckus!!

...! Someone's coming over here!

...

Who the hell are you guys?!

...!! Saiyans...?!

...

How are you feeling, Buu?

Hmm... I feel pretty good. At this rate, I can definitely defeat Shallot.

Splendid... It seems like everything went smoothly, then.

What exactly did you do to him?

Hm hm hm... I gave him more power, as promised.

A regular warrior would be unable to withstand the effects of this power, they would perish. However...

As I predicted, one as strong as Buu here should be able to handle it.

...

Heh...hehe... Just you wait, Shallot... I will destroy you once and for all...

Is it just me, or does he seem quite...different than before?

What does it matter? As long as he puts on a good show, the plan will proceed uninhibited.

Well then, Buu... I hope you finish the job this time.

"The plan will proceed uninhibited," is it...?

(And yet, when Buu or I have moved to strike Shallot down, he only interferes...)

(But now he's given Buu further power with which to attempt to kill Shallot again... Why...?)

...At least one thing is certain. It is imperative that I uncover what his true intentions are...