Conversation

Although the tone was as casual as reading a list, to the ears of the East Supreme Kai and Kibito, it was nothing short of a bombshell.

"What did you just say!? Eight years old! He could defeat Frieza at eight years old!? Are you sure you aren't lying to us?"

"Of course!" Laila said earnestly. "It happened eight years ago. How could you have failed to notice the situation in the lower realms?"

Hearing this, East Supreme Kai Shin's face flushed, and he stammered, "I... I really haven't been paying much attention to Frieza's affairs."

At this moment, Kibito stepped in to smooth things over. "It's like this: because you haven't been around these past years, West Supreme Kai, the current East Supreme Kai has officially taken over the duties of the Great Supreme Kai. Between monitoring and creating life in the universe and keeping a constant watch on Majin Buu, he hasn't been able to pay much attention to other events occurring in the universe..."

"I see." Laila didn't react to the fact that Shin had officially assumed the duties of the Supreme Kai. She had known this long ago; after all, back when only the East Supreme Kai remained in the Supreme Kai World, his succession had come as no surprise to her.

"Since you don't know, I'll tell you again," Laila said to the pair. "Just as I said, he is no ordinary mortal. He defeated Frieza when he was only eight. Although he didn't kill him, he brought him to the brink of death. And that was eight years ago. Now that he has spent eight years training, do you have any idea what his strength is like today!?"

Without waiting for Shin or Kibito to answer, Laila continued, "Let's put it this way: even if I were to join forces with both of you, we might not be his match!"

"How is that possible!?" Kibito found it hard to accept, unable to even imagine such a thing.

"It is the truth!" Laila looked at Kibito with an incredibly serious expression. "I have lived with him for eight years. As early as a year ago, he already possessed strength rivaling my own. Now, he has reached his current peak. Although we haven't sparred since his strength surpassed mine, I can feel it—even if I were to combine my full power with yours, we would still be no match for him."

"Wait," Shin suddenly interrupted. "Sister Laila, did you just say that you and that mortal—oh, excuse me, that human—have lived together for eight years?"

"Yes, to train him and make him stronger. Why?" Laila asked, puzzled by Shin's tone.

"Er... alright, never mind. You were training him, I see. Well, according to what you've said, since he is so powerful, where is he now? Why didn't he come with you?"

Laila fidgeted slightly. "This... that is because he went off to seek an opportunity to break through."

"Break through?" Shin looked confused.

Laila explained, "Yes. He said he has reached his current limit and can only continue to grow stronger by breaking through this bottleneck, so he left my side and went out." She paused for a moment before adding, "Besides, his current strength is likely still not enough to handle Majin Buu, so I didn't have him come with me."

"Then—!?" Before Shin could finish his sentence, Laila quickly interjected.

"But don't worry. He and I have an agreement. I gave him one year. I will go find him in a year's time. By then, he should have made his breakthrough. Once he does, his strength will be even greater, and we will have a way to deal with Majin Buu."

"No, I meant..." Seeing that Laila had misunderstood his train of thought, Shin tried to explain, but before he could finish, Laila interrupted him again.

"I know what you want to say. You're wondering how we'll contact each other, right? That is exactly why I returned. Only here in the Supreme Kai World can I observe the lower realms, and only here can I pinpoint his location. So, you can rest easy on that front; I had already planned for it, otherwise, I wouldn't have returned at this time."

However, Shin and Kibito stood there looking utterly helpless. Laila's words hadn't changed their outlook at all; in fact, as she finished speaking, they exchanged glances, looking as though they didn't know what to say.

"What's wrong?" Laila asked, puzzled by their defeated expressions.

Shin looked at Laila and explained, "Sister Laila, that isn't actually what I was trying to ask. I meant that if that human is simply looking to break through his limits, I happen to know of a method that could help him do just that..."