We Can't Afford to Pay-Let's Run

The desolate wilderness in the northwest was a scene of utter devastation, as if countless meteorites had fallen from the sky and smashed into the earth. Shattered rocks littered the ground.

A dozen or so people stood among the ruins, talking.

"Gohan, just tell me what you need. If it's within my power, I won't refuse." Supreme Kai thumped his chest, readily promising his help.

"Supreme Kai, that legendary Z Sword has been kept here for countless ages. Aren't you curious about what would happen if someone pulled it out?"

"With my strength, I'm sure I can pull it out. Then the Sacred World of the Kai will have another treasure capable of standing against powerful enemies."

Son Gohan coaxed him along. His goal was to release the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations ago.

"This..."

Supreme Kai hesitated. The sacred sword was far too important for him to make such a decision lightly.

"Dad, Trunks, could you take Android 17 and the other two to Dende for now?" Son Gohan said while Supreme Kai was still hesitating.

Son Goku and Trunks nodded. They picked up the three people on the ground, and in a flash, they were gone.

"Power is meant to be used. If we don't defeat Cell this time and he goes on a rampage across the universe—or even destroys the Sacred World of the Kai—then what good will the sacred sword be?"

Piccolo had finished reading Dr. Gero's memories about the androids and chimed in at just the right moment.

He didn't know why Son Gohan wanted to pull out the sword, but he chose to support him unconditionally.

"Boom!"

Piccolo tossed Dr. Gero's body into the air and casually fired an energy blast, blowing it to pieces.

Supreme Kai thought it over for a while, his expression shifting back and forth. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "You're right! In an emergency, my own strength isn't enough. I really do need powerful items to help me."

"Gohan, then please come with me to the Sacred World of the Kai."

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

Going alone would be a waste. After they released the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations ago, he planned to squeeze every bit of help he could out of him.

"No problem!" Supreme Kai readily agreed. If he was going to take one person, he might as well do a good deed and take everyone.

"Hey, Kibito, weren't you against letting humans visit the Sacred World of the Kai? Why aren't you stopping them this time?"

Supreme Kai noticed his attendant acting strangely and couldn't help asking.

"These people are the saviors of the universe. Of course they're qualified to come." Kibito's square, resolute face broke into a heartfelt smile.

Whoosh!

Just then, Son Goku and Trunks returned. The eleven of them vanished from Earth under Kibito's powerful Instant Transmission.

The sky over the Sacred World of the Kai was a nearly transparent pale purple. An endless emerald-green grassland stretched across the ground, and the air was filled with a crisp, sacred aura.

"What a beautiful view!"

Krillin looked up at the sky. Countless planets filled his view, some as large as glass plates hanging overhead, others as small as scattered diamonds.

"It's been millions of years since the Sacred World of the Kai had this many visitors—and they're all humans, too." Even Supreme Kai found it hard to believe.

"The Z Sword is over there."

Kibito called to them and led everyone flying deeper into the grassland. Soon, a clear lake appeared before them.

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

"Gohan, you can give it a try. I've already seen how powerful you are, but as far as I know, no one has ever been able to pull it out."

Supreme Kai was a little nervous. He didn't know what would happen if someone drew the divine sword.

With everyone watching expectantly, Son Gohan gripped the hilt with both hands. He felt a cold, solid sensation beneath his palms.

He exerted a little strength, and the entire peak beneath his feet began to shake. With a loud crack, countless fragments of rock flew in every direction, and the Z Sword came free.

"I-I can't believe it!" Kibito was so shocked that his face flushed red.

"That's incredible!" Supreme Kai exclaimed sincerely.

"What's the big deal? Everyone made it sound so impressive, but Gohan pulled it out with ease." Yamcha thought the divine sword was nothing special after all.

"Supreme Kai, I can faintly sense a weak presence inside this sword. I'm going to break it and see what happens."

Before anyone could react, Son Gohan formed his fingers into a blade and chopped at the sword.

"Clang!"

The Z Sword snapped in two and fell to the ground.

Supreme Kai and Kibito were utterly stunned. Their eyes bulged, their mouths gaped into exaggerated O's, and cold sweat streamed down their faces. They could barely get the words out:

"W-What... the Z Sword... actually... broke..."

The Z Fighters were also shocked. They couldn't understand why Son Gohan had done it.

"We're done for. That's the Sacred World of the Kai's greatest treasure. We can't afford to pay for it!" Tien Shinhan blinked all three eyes repeatedly, but couldn't think of a solution.

"Goku, can you use Instant Transmission to get us to Earth? Let's run!" Krillin's mouth twitched as he urged him on.

Ding!

Just then, a clear chime rang out from the broken sword. A gentle breeze swept past, and an old man appeared out of nowhere.

Deep wrinkles creased his face like knife cuts, and only a tuft of white hair stood upright on his head. He wore the traditional robes of the Supreme Kai, and looked a little lecherous.

"P-Please... who are you?" Faced with one unexpected turn after another, Supreme Kai felt helpless as a child.

"My name is Pettoro. I was the Supreme Kai fifteen generations before you. Understand?" The old man looked a little confused, but spoke proudly.

"T-The Supreme Kai from fifteen generations ago!"

Supreme Kai and Kibito gaped at him. Ever since they'd returned to their own domain, they hadn't managed to speak a single sentence smoothly.

"A long, long time ago, there was an outrageously powerful villain. He was the one who sealed me in this sword because he feared my terrifying abilities."

Old Kai sounded rather smug as he spoke.

Only Son Gohan knew the old man was bragging, but he kept that to himself. After all, he would need the old man's help soon.

The truth was that 75 million years ago, at a millennium conference, Old Kai and God of Destruction Beerus had gotten into a huge argument over something trivial.

Unable to contain his anger, Beerus had sealed Old Kai inside the Z Sword.

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

"Where are these terrifying abilities of yours? I can't sense them at all." Son Gohan deliberately needled him.

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

"How about this? I'll give you a book of pictures of beautiful women." Son Goku could tell at a glance that Old Kai was just like Master Roshi.

"Not necessary. I can use my clairvoyance to see beautiful women all over the universe." As he spoke, Old Kai demonstrated for everyone.

"What's the use if you can look but not touch? I'll bring you a beautiful woman next time," Son Gohan said, leaning over to whisper in his ear.

"Really? All right, you've got a deal!" Old Kai drooled and grinned lasciviously.