Beerus's expression darkened instantly, as if invisible veins had popped on his forehead. He glared at Whis in annoyance.
"Oh, my, how rude of me! I was only making a little joke. I hoped it might help wake you up, Lord Beerus." Whis quickly reined in his smile, though the amusement remained in his eyes.
The two of them changed direction, preparing to set off again.
But just then—
"Whoosh!"
Another small spaceship came hurtling from a different direction. It visibly slowed as it approached Beerus and Whis.
The ship's external loudspeaker lit up, and a crude, urgent voice boomed through energy conversion, its sound vibrating through the vacuum and reaching Beerus and Whis:
"Hey! You there, purple cat! And that blue elf! Yes, you two! I'm talking to you! Did you just see a spherical mini spaceship pass by here? If you can hear me, answer me right now!"
Beerus: "..."
Whis: "..."
"Bastards! Are you deaf? Answer my question!" When the voice from inside the ship saw that the two weren't responding, it grew even more arrogant and impatient.
"Destruction."
Beerus couldn't even be bothered to look at the ship again. He simply uttered the word coldly.
At once, an invisible, dark purple energy rippled outward like water, instantly enveloping the rude little spaceship.
"Pop!"
There was no explosion, no flash of fire, and no debris.
In that instant, the ship—and the arrogant voice inside it—vanished completely, as if erased from a drawing with an eraser, reduced to the most basic atoms and dispersed into nothingness.
It was as if it had never existed.
"Annoying fly." Beerus gave a cold snort and flicked his tail. "We really should get going this time, Whis."
"Of course, Lord Beerus." Whis nodded gently and said no more. He gave his staff a slight tap, and a soft glow, more brilliant and pure than the stars, began to shine around them.
"Whoosh!"
The two became a streak of light that pierced the sea of stars, speeding toward their destination: the planet of gourmet food.
As they flew, Beerus seemed to be trying to shake off the last of his drowsiness—or perhaps he was simply curious—and casually asked, "By the way, Whis, what was the deal with that fly I just destroyed?"
Whis raised his staff again. Light and shadow flowed across its crystal orb as he traced the history of the ship that no longer existed.
"Heh heh. Based on the residual energy signature and a comparison with the database, it seems that the one aboard that ship was the father of the Saiyan baby from earlier. His name was Paragus. He was probably tracking his son's ship by following its signal," Whis replied.
"Another Saiyan!" Beerus narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in his pupils. "I remember telling that fellow, King Vegeta III, to find me the most comfortable pillow in the whole universe. And what did he do? He found one, but kept the best for himself and gave me a second-rate tribute! What a bunch of disrespectful wild monkeys!"
Whis listened quietly without interrupting.
"It seems the Saiyan race really has no reason to continue existing." Beerus's voice turned cold and imposing as he made his decision. "Whis, contact Frieza immediately."
"As you wish, Lord Beerus." Whis carried out the order.
At once, Frieza's face appeared on the crystal orb of Whis's staff, wearing his trademark fake smile.
"Well, if it isn't Lord Beerus!" Frieza's voice came through, polite yet naturally sinister. "What are your orders? It would be my honor to serve you."
"I'll be going into a long slumber before long." Beerus gave the order in an unquestionable tone. "While I'm asleep, you'll be responsible for carrying out my planet-destruction duties. Understood?"
"Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho!" Frieza let out a string of delighted, cruel chuckles. "You can rest assured, Lord Beerus! Destroying planets and making their inhabitants vanish in the most beautiful fireworks is my favorite pastime—and the thing I'm best at!"
"Mm." Beerus gave a nonchalant reply. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "While you're at it, destroy Planet Vegeta too! That's all."
On the other end of the call, Frieza's fake smile froze for an instant, then grew even more pronounced and sinister.
I'd been worried that the Saiyans might give rise to that elusive legend of the Super Saiyan.
Lord Beerus, your order is just what I needed!
"I shall obey your will, Lord Beerus!" Frieza's voice brimmed with excitement. "I will make sure Planet Vegeta offers you the grandest and most eternal lullaby!"
The call ended.
Beerus yawned and gave the endless starry sky one last look. "Finally, some peace and quiet... Let's go, Whis. I hope the food you mentioned is good enough to make me forget about sleeping for a while."
The two of them disappeared completely into the depths of the starlight.
Three months later.
Earth.
A vast blue ocean stretched out beneath the sky, dotted with islands of all sizes like pearls.
One of the islands was tiny, yet filled with a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.
The most striking building on the island was an odd house with a Chinese-style design.
At that moment, the owner of the house, Master Roshi, known as the "God of Martial Arts," was alone in his room.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, wearing an enormous pair of sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt. His body was practically pressed against the screen of an old cathode-ray television.
On the screen, several lively young women in revealing outfits enthusiastically performed aerobics, their movements full of youthful energy.
"Heh heh heh... This one's great. What a figure... Oh! That smile is so sweet!" Master Roshi watched, utterly entranced. His cloudy old eyes gleamed as drool trickled unconsciously down his gray-white beard.
"Thank you, everyone, for watching! That's all for today's Happy Fitness Exercise. We'll see you at the same time next week!" The girl leading the routine blew a kiss at the camera and gave a sweet, radiant smile.
Master Roshi felt as if Cupid's arrow had struck him. His whole body went limp, and he instinctively waved along with her, murmuring a dazed farewell. "Goodbye..."
The program ended, leaving only a monotonous test pattern and a buzzing noise on the screen.
Reluctantly tearing his eyes away, Master Roshi smacked his lips, still wanting more. Only then did he slowly push himself up from the floor, his old arms and legs stiff.
Master Roshi stretched again, and a series of soft cracks echoed through his body.
"Ah... The good times never last." Sighing, Master Roshi strolled outside to get some fresh air and see whether his Sea Turtle had returned.
It was dusk. The setting sun had dyed the sky and ocean a warm orange-red, and the water shimmered as if strewn with gold.
The slightly salty sea breeze drifted gently by, carrying the lazy air unique to a tropical island.
Just as Master Roshi had steadied himself and was about to take a deep breath—
"Whoosh!"
An unusually bright shooting star, trailing a long tail of flame, suddenly streaked across the gorgeous evening clouds and hurtled toward Earth's atmosphere.
Master Roshi froze, then his old face lit up with delight.
A shooting star!
He hadn't seen one this bright in ages!
What a rare opportunity!
Quick, make a wish!
Before you continue