If You Can't Afford the Damages, Just Run

A desolate wilderness stretched across the northwest, the earth scarred and ravaged as if struck by countless meteorites falling from the sky. Broken chunks of rock littered the ground.

A dozen people stood amidst the ruins, engaged in conversation.

"Gohan, just tell me what you need. As long as it's within my power, I won't refuse," the Supreme Kai promised, patting his chest with grand assurance.

"Supreme Kai, that legendary Z Sword has been stored away for endless ages. Aren't you curious what would happen if it were pulled out?"

"I believe that with my strength, I can certainly pull it out. That way, the Sacred World of the Kai will have one more supreme treasure to use against powerful enemies in the future."

Son Gohan spoke with calculated persuasion, his goal being to release the Old Kai from fifteen generations ago.

"This..."

The Supreme Kai hesitated. That holy sword was far too important; even he dared not make such a decision lightly.

"Dad, Trunks, could you please take Android 17 and the others to Dende first?" Son Gohan said, taking advantage of the Supreme Kai's hesitation.

Son Goku and Trunks nodded. They grabbed the three people on the ground and vanished in a flash.

"Power is meant to be used. If we fail to defeat Cell this time and he goes on a rampage across the universe, or even destroys the Sacred World of the Kai directly, then what meaning does the holy sword have left?"

Piccolo, having finished reading Dr. Gero's memories regarding the androids, provided a helpful assist.

He did not know why Son Gohan wanted to pull out that sword, but he chose to support him unconditionally.

"Boom!"

Piccolo tossed Dr. Gero's body into the air and casually obliterated it with an energy blast.

The Supreme Kai pondered for a while longer, his expression flickering between uncertainty and resolve. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "You're right! Faced with such an emergency, my own strength is insufficient. I truly do need a powerful artifact to assist me."

"Gohan, then I'll trouble you to accompany me to the Sacred World of the Kai."

"Supreme Kai, since we're going, why not take us all along? Everyone would love to see what the Sacred World of the Kai looks like," Son Gohan requested.

It would be a waste to go alone; once he released the Old Kai, he intended to reap some serious benefits.

"No problem!" The Supreme Kai agreed readily. Since he was already taking one person, he might as well go all the way.

"Wait, Kibito, you usually oppose humans visiting the Sacred World of the Kai. Why didn't you stop us this time?"

Seeing his attendant acting out of character, the Supreme Kai asked in confusion.

"These are the saviors of the universe; naturally, they are qualified," Kibito replied, a sincere smile breaking across his stern, square face.

Whoosh!

Just then, Son Goku and Trunks returned. With Kibito's powerful Instant Transmission, the group of eleven vanished from Earth.

The sky of the Sacred World of the Kai was a nearly transparent pale purple, while the ground was an endless expanse of emerald green grassland. The air was filled with a crisp, sacred aura.

"What a beautiful view!"

Krillin looked up at the sky, where countless planets were visible. The large ones hung like glass plates overhead, while the small ones sparkled like crushed diamonds.

"In millions of years, this is the first time the Sacred World of the Kai has had so many guests, and humans at that," the Supreme Kai remarked, finding it truly incredible.

"That over there is where the Z Sword is located."

Kibito called out, leading everyone deep into the grasslands. Soon, a clear, limpid lake appeared before them.

A lone peak rose from the center of the lake, steep and straight. The Z Sword was firmly embedded in a crevice at the summit, with only its golden hilt visible.

"Gohan, you can give it a try. Although I have already witnessed your immense power, to my knowledge, no one has ever been able to pull it out."

The Supreme Kai was somewhat nervous, unsure of what would happen if the divine sword were removed.

Under the expectant gazes of the group, Son Gohan gripped the hilt with both hands. He felt a cold, hard sensation radiating from it.

As he applied a bit of force, the entire lone peak beneath his feet began to sway. With a loud, crisp crack, countless fragments of stone flew in every direction, and the Z Sword was pulled free.

"I... I can't believe it!" Kibito's face flushed with shock.

"That's amazing!" the Supreme Kai praised sincerely.

"What's the big deal? They made it sound so mysterious, but Gohan pulled it out so easily," Yamcha remarked, feeling the divine sword was nothing special.

"Supreme Kai, I faintly sense a weak aura inside this sword. I'm going to break it to see what's inside."

Before anyone could react, Son Gohan brought his hand down like a blade, striking the length of the sword.

"Clang!"

The Z Sword snapped into two pieces and fell to the ground.

The Supreme Kai and Kibito were in a state of extreme shock. Their eyes were wide, their mouths hung open in exaggerated 'O' shapes, and cold sweat streamed down their faces as they struggled to speak.

"W-what... the Z Sword... it actually... broke."

The Z Fighters were also horrified, unable to understand why Son Gohan would do such a thing.

"It's over. This is the supreme treasure of the Sacred World of the Kai. We can't afford to pay for this!" Tien Shinhan's three eyes blinked rapidly, unable to think of a solution.

"Goku, can you use Instant Transmission to Earth? Let's run!" Krillin's mouth twitched as he urged them to leave.

Ding!

Just then, a crisp sound emanated from the broken sword. A gentle breeze blew past, and an old man appeared like a phantom.

His face was deeply wrinkled, his head topped with only a single tuft of white hair. He wore traditional Supreme Kai robes and looked somewhat lecherous.

"P-please... who are you?" Faced with the series of events, the Supreme Kai felt as helpless as a child.

"My name is Old Kai. I am the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations before you. Do you understand now?" The old man looked a bit muddled as he spoke with pride.

"The... the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations ago!"

The Supreme Kai and Kibito were dumbfounded; they hadn't been able to speak clearly since arriving on their own turf.

"A long, long time ago, there was a ridiculously strong bad guy who sealed me inside this sword because he was afraid of my terrifying abilities."

The Old Kai sounded quite smug as he recounted the tale.

Only Son Gohan knew the old man was bragging, but he didn't expose him—after all, he would need the old man's help later.

The truth was that 75 million years ago, during a millennial meeting, the Old Kai and God of Destruction Beerus had gotten into a heated argument over a trivial matter.

Beerus, unable to let it go, had sealed the Old Kai inside the Z Sword.

"He looks like an old man who only knows how to talk big," Son Goku muttered quietly.

"Where is this 'terrifying ability' you speak of? I don't feel anything," Son Gohan teased him on purpose.

"I'm not telling you!" The Old Kai stuck his tongue out at the group.

"How about this? I'll give you a photo album of beautiful women," Son Goku said, realizing at a glance that the Old Kai was cut from the same cloth as Master Roshi.

"I don't need that. I can use my clairvoyance to see beautiful women all over the universe," the Old Kai said, demonstrating it for everyone.

"What's the point of looking if you can't touch? Next time, I'll bring a real beauty to you," Son Gohan whispered into his ear.

"Really? Okay, I promise you!" The Old Kai drooled, smiling lecherously.