Breaking

"Is this for real?!"

At that, Laila was the happiest of all. After all, if what the Supreme Kai said was true, she wouldn't have to wait another whole year.

However, Kast showed no reaction to everyone's hopes.

He raised the Z Sword in his hand and swung it diagonally toward a pile of rocks in the distance.

Though Kast was still quite far from the rocks, the instant the Z Sword came down, a dazzling flash of sword light appeared over the pile.

In an instant, right where the sword's light had passed, the pile split down the middle with a crack, then slid to the ground with a rumble.

"What?!"

The Supreme Kai's pupils contracted sharply. In a flash, he appeared beside the pile of rocks.

"How fast!"

Looking at the two halves lying on the ground, the Supreme Kai touched the cut surface.

It was extraordinarily smooth, without the slightest roughness. He could even just make out his own reflection in it. The Supreme Kai was truly shaken.

The Supreme Kai World was unlike other places. The things there were far sturdier than anything in the outside world. Yet here, Kast had relied on nothing but his strength and the Z Sword's sharpness to cut the pile in two from a distance with a mere slash of sword energy. The Supreme Kai couldn't help but be astonished.

The Supreme Kai stood and returned to Kast.

Looking at Kast, who had caused all this without changing his expression, the Supreme Kai asked,

"Mr. Kast, is this Z Sword's ability simply that it's exceptionally sharp?"

But then he added, disappointed, "Even so, if it can't help Mr. Kast break through his limits, then its sharpness alone won't be enough to defeat Majin Buu."

Kast didn't see it that way. He was somewhat satisfied with the Z Sword's sharpness, but something else mattered most.

He looked at the Z Sword in his hand, then turned to the Supreme Kai.

"Do you know what the hardest metal in this universe is?"

"The hardest metal?"

The Supreme Kai was puzzled. He didn't understand why Kast was asking, but he answered anyway.

"As far as I know, the hardest metal in this universe is Jingang. Why?"

Kast nodded at the Supreme Kai's answer.

"That's the one. Summon it."

The Supreme Kai didn't understand what he meant.

"What do you need Jingang for?"

Then, as if he'd suddenly realized something, the Supreme Kai imagined,

"Could it be that you want to test the sword, Mr. Kast?"

Kast didn't answer, but Laila quickly spoke up beside him.

"Don't worry about all that, Shin. Hurry up and summon the Jingang."

Laila didn't know why Kast wanted the hardest metal either, but if he'd asked for it, he must have a use for it. And if he had a use for it, they needed to get it to him right away. If things went well, she might get to keep traveling with him.

"Okay!"

This time, the Supreme Kai didn't ask why. He raised his arm, palm facing upward, and with a flash, a pitch-black metal cube appeared in the sky.

"Mr. Kast, this is Jingang. Where would you like me to put it?"

Kast shook his head.

"Just throw it at me. Aim it at me."

"What?!"

The Supreme Kai and the others cried out in shock.

Laila was especially quick to stop him.

"Kast, don't do anything crazy! Even if the Z Sword can't help you break through, don't go trying to kill yourself!"

Kast was speechless at Laila's words. How had she gotten the idea he was trying to kill himself? What kind of logic was that? He glared at her, then explained to the Supreme Kai,

"I said to throw it over here, not to hit me with it. Enough talk. Hurry up and throw it!"

The Supreme Kai answered in a daze,

"Huh? Oh! All right!"

Looking at the dazed Supreme Kai, Kast honestly didn't want to explain any of this. But if he wanted to undo the Z Sword's seal, he had to.

Yes, the reason Kast had done all this was to break the Z Sword's seal and release Old Kai!

Just as he'd thought before, Kast had only ever had one goal: Old Kai. He was the only one who could help Kast break through his limits and reach another level.

But Kast couldn't simply come out and say that. In fact, he hadn't even wanted to think about it earlier.

Kast knew one thing: the Supreme Kai had an ability that let him see into people's hearts. Before, Kast had needed to keep his thoughts completely clear to guard against it. But the longer they spent together, the more he realized something: if Kast resisted letting the Supreme Kai know what he was thinking, then the Supreme Kai couldn't see into his heart.

That much was clear from their interactions lately. The Supreme Kai didn't know what Kast was thinking. He genuinely had no idea.

Of course, it was also possible that the Supreme Kai didn't want to use this ability because Laila was there and because he respected Kast.

But as long as the Supreme Kai didn't know, that was good enough.

Soon, the Supreme Kai waved his hand, and the Jingang in the air flew toward Kast.

As the Jingang came toward him, Kast used no ki or other abilities. He gripped the Z Sword in his hand and swung it.

In an instant!

"Crack!"

The moment it struck the Jingang, the Z Sword in Kast's hand suddenly shattered without warning, breaking in two and falling to the ground.