After a long while, the Grand Elder's wise voice finally rang out, slowly offering just three words in reply:
"Keep working hard."
Perhaps genuinely worried they wouldn't make it back to the God of Destruction Realm in time for dinner, Whis traveled through space unusually fast this time.
The stars of the universe streaked past them in elongated streams of light. In less than five seconds, the view before them abruptly settled.
The enormous, restless blue star that gave off an ominous feeling—Lisphi—appeared before them once again.
Its massive bulk filled a vast stretch of their view. The extremely unstable energy fluctuations coming from its core were like those of a colossal bomb ready to explode at any moment, radiating a heart-pounding pressure.
Supreme Kai Shin stared at the enormous star before him, feeling its scorching, destructive energy, and couldn't help but look stunned.
He swallowed nervously, then cautiously glanced at Vitelli.
"You said...the thing we needed to deal with was this star?"
The star's size and energy level far exceeded his imagination. In particular, the violent fluctuations coming from its core, which seemed on the verge of collapse, made the young Supreme Kai's scalp tingle.
But that wasn't even the most important part. The most important part was Vitelli's plan from earlier—
Vitelli would destroy the star, and then he, the Supreme Kai, would do everything in his power to stabilize space and dissipate the terrifying shockwaves that might sweep through the surrounding star systems after the star's destruction.
Th-this task was far too difficult! He was only a "young" Supreme Kai who was a few tens of thousands of years old!
There were still many advanced divine techniques left behind by his predecessors that he hadn't had the chance to study in depth!
Shin looked at Vitelli, who was watching him expectantly, and wore an awkward, troubled expression.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke honestly.
"I-I'm very sorry, Mr. Vitelli. I may...not be able to do this."
"Huh?"
Vitelli looked surprised.
"Aren't you the Supreme Kai in charge of creation? Aren't you supposed to be an expert at handling things like runaway energy and stabilizing space? How can you not even manage something like this?"
Based on some of the knowledge about deities he'd learned in the God of Destruction Realm, the Supreme Kai's powers should have been just right for the task.
Shin looked even more awkward. His pale red cheeks had even turned crimson.
He explained quietly, embarrassed.
"I-In theory, that's right. But I'm still too young, and...I haven't learned or mastered many advanced divine techniques for stabilizing energy dissipation. If the Grand Supreme Kai and the other senior Kais were still here, they could definitely handle this with ease. But...everyone was taken out by Majin Buu..."
As he came to the painful part, Shin's expression turned pained and gloomy. He had clearly been reminded of the tragedy that had nearly wiped out the Supreme Kai Realm.
Vitelli watched him in silence for a moment. The irritation he'd felt over Shin's earlier "idiotic" behavior faded away.
He sighed, stepped forward, and gently patted Shin on the shoulder, his tone unusually soft as he comforted him.
"All right, don't be too upset about what happened in the past. When we get a chance, I'll help you take care of Majin Buu for good. Then you won't have to look at everyone with suspicion, thinking they're working with Babidi."
Shin quickly wiped away a glimmer of tears that had slipped from the corner of his eye. He looked up at Vitelli with sincere gratitude.
"Really? Thank you, Mr. Vitelli!"
"It's no trouble."
Vitelli waved a hand, then turned to Whis, who was casually admiring the starry sky as if none of this concerned him. His tone immediately grew less polite.
"You saw that, Whis. Quit slacking off. It's your turn to step in. Our Supreme Kai buddy can't help us for now."
Whis sighed softly, wearing the helpless expression of someone dealing with an unteachable pupil. He spoke in a tone of earnest instruction.
"Vitelli, you can't go on like this. As a God of Destruction, you need to learn how to deal with all kinds of emergencies and problems on your own. If you're always relying on an Angel...what will you do when you become a proper God of Destruction and have to make a decision by yourself? This is a great opportunity to get some practice~"
Watching Whis speak with such conviction, as if he were doing it all for Vitelli's sake, Vitelli gave a scornful laugh and bluntly exposed his "slacking" ways.
"Whis! Why do you think Grand Zeno and the Grand Priest assigned an Angel to accompany every God of Destruction? Was it so you could cheer them on and watch the show? Hmm?"
"Ahem!"
Whis was caught off guard. He coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment, then smoothly changed the subject.
He elegantly tapped his Scepter against empty space. An invisible ripple instantly spread out, enveloping the blue star before them and the space they occupied.
"All right, all right, Vitelli. I've temporarily sealed and reinforced the space in this area. But the effect will only last three minutes~ Hurry up and get to it!"
Whis's familiar smile returned, as if he hadn't just tried to slack off.
Vitelli didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He'd gained a new appreciation for just how thick-skinned this Slacker Angel was.
This was something Whis could have handled with the lift of a finger, yet he'd gone around in circles, trying to trick Vitelli into doing it himself.
Vitelli said no more. He raised his hand and aimed at the restless blue star. Deep purple Destruction Energy instantly gathered in his palm.
"Go!"
At his low command, a concentrated beam of dark purple light shot out and precisely pierced the blue star's core!
A huge, silent fireworks display unfolded before them.
The enormous blue star began silently collapsing from within, like a bubble being burst.
Under the influence of the God of Destruction's power, its vast mass and terrifying energy rapidly turned into the most fundamental particles, before finally vanishing completely into the universe!
A faint ripple of energy stirred within Whis's spatial barrier, then quickly settled.
A potential cosmic disaster capable of destroying star systems across several light-years had been casually dispelled just like that.
Vitelli lowered his hand, feeling the power release and recede in an instant. He curled his lip at Whis.
"Whis, from now on, your nickname is 'Slacker Angel.' I think it suits you perfectly."
Whis smiled and gracefully voiced his objection.
"I must decline that inelegant title, Vitelli."
"Your objection is overruled!"
Vitelli snorted and played his trump card.
"If you still want to enjoy delicious food from Earth regularly, like hot pot, barbecue, ice cream cake, and things like that...you'll have to accept the nickname!"
Whis's smile froze for a moment. He was clearly torn.
On one side was the elegant title of an Angel; on the other was Earth's supreme delicacies... It was an incredibly difficult choice!
A few seconds later, Whis's expression softened in surrender, and he spoke very seriously.
"Vitelli, I think we can discuss this title a little more. If Miss Bulma regularly provides those delicious meals...then being called 'Slacker Angel'...might not be entirely unacceptable..."
Vitelli stared at him in astonishment.
"You've got to be kidding! I was joking! You'd give up your dignity for a little food? Are you serious?"
Whis immediately put on a solemn expression and replied with utmost seriousness.
"Vitelli, you're still young. There are some pleasures in life—no, in a deity's life—that you don't understand yet. The joy of fine food, especially an exquisite taste experience, means more to me than any title."
Vitelli was speechless.
He was utterly defeated.
Nearby, Supreme Kai Shin watched the two of them interact, and a trace of envy unconsciously surfaced in his eyes.
Though Kibito had always been by his side as a guard, he was unfailingly respectful toward Shin. He'd never dared to joke around or even trade barbs with him the way Whis did with Vitelli.
Shin hadn't experienced this kind of easy, friendly relationship for a very, very long time.
He couldn't help remarking with a hint of emotion.
"Y-you two have such a good relationship."
Vitelli and Whis instantly turned to look at him, answering almost in unison.
"Shin, are you serious?"
"My, my~ Are you serious, Supreme Kai?"
After they spoke, they shot each other an irritated glare.
"Heh, heh..."
Shin gave an awkward laugh. He realized he might have said the wrong thing. The two before him seemed to have a "good" relationship that could turn into an argument at any moment.
After the stellar crisis was dealt with, Supreme Kai Shin and Kibito said their farewells and returned to the Supreme Kai Realm. They needed time to process the massive amount of information they'd taken in that day.
Meanwhile, Vitelli and Whis turned into streaks of light and returned to the God of Destruction Realm, bickering and teasing each other as usual.
Inside the modern house Bulma had built with Hoi-Poi Capsules in the God of Destruction Realm.
A loud, startled shriek suddenly rang out from an upstairs bedroom. Its sheer volume made Vitelli jump as he stepped into the living room.
"Yaaahhh!!!"
Bulma stood there holding a small mirror, her blue eyes wide.
Her face was full of disbelief as she checked her reflection from every angle.
"Darling! Darling! I...I've gotten smaller!!!"
When Bulma saw Vitelli return, she sprang over like a startled rabbit, holding up the mirror and speaking so excitedly that she could barely get the words out.
Vitelli froze for a moment, then broke into a mischievous grin.
He smoothly wrapped one arm around Bulma's waist, while his other, less well-behaved hand began wandering up and down. Deliberately misunderstanding her, he said:
"Where did you get smaller? Let me see... Nothing's changed, has it? You're still just as irresistible~"
"Pah! You pervert! What are you thinking?"
Bulma blushed and smacked away his wandering hand, giving him an annoyed, coquettish look.
"I mean my age! My age! You idiot husband, with your mind always in the gutter! Why did I wake up from an afternoon nap and suddenly become...become so young?! My skin looks so much better too! I look even better than I did at eighteen!"
She suddenly thought of something and looked at Vitelli, whose face wore a smug grin. Her eyes shone as she guessed excitedly:
"You did this, didn't you?"
Vitelli looked like he was silently begging her to praise him and nodded vigorously.
"That's right! Whis and I went out on business today, and we happened to make a trip to Namek, Kami's home planet. Their Dragon Balls are a lot more powerful than Earth's! So I wished for you to return to the age of eighteen! Well? Surprised? Happy?"
When Bulma heard that Vitelli had made the wish for her, a wave of immense delight washed over her.
She leapt up, quickly wrapped her legs around Vitelli's waist, and tightly hugged his neck, excitedly planting several kisses on his face.
"I'm surprised! So surprised! You're the best, darling! Mwah! Mwah!"
But after her excitement passed, Bulma looked at Vitelli with a hint of hesitation and concern.
"But...isn't this a little bad? Using the Dragon Balls to make a wish like this...could there be some kind of price or side effect? And..."
She touched her smooth, firm cheek.
"It feels a little strange, like I suddenly stole a lot of time."
Vitelli held her and laughed easily.
"Don't worry. Namek's Dragon Balls are very powerful, so there won't be any side effects. As for the price?"
He grinned.
"The price is that your husband will have to 'work' even harder from now on to deserve such a beautiful, charming wife!"
As he spoke, he scooped Bulma up in his arms and turned toward the bedroom.
"Hey? What are you doing? Put me down!"
Bulma cried out, her little face instantly turning scarlet.
"What am I doing? I'm going to personally test whether the Dragon Balls' effect is really that magical! Let's see if you really did turn eighteen again. Come on, let's head inside! We'll 'study' it properly!"
With a mischievous grin, Vitelli carried Bulma off as she giggled and playfully pounded on him. Their figures soon disappeared around the stairwell.
Meanwhile, the dining room in the house next door was the scene of another kind of "intense" battle.
Whis and his older sister Vados were locked in a silent, lightning-fast struggle over a plate of freshly cooked roast beef, its aroma wafting through the room.
Their chopsticks crossed in midair, moving so fast they left afterimages.