“A unique Super Saiyan form?” Vegeta from Universe 13 said, mouth agape. “How is this possible?”

  “Is this because she’s half-god?” East Supreme Kai said, biting his lip.

  “And pink.” North Supreme Kai shook his head in dismay. “That color… it’s the color of death!”

  “Death?” Little Pan said, frowning. “Huh? It’s not my favorite, but it’s still super cute.”

  “He’s talking about cherry blossoms. They’re beautiful and considered a symbol of rebirth, but ancient people considered them a bad omen. Since their leaves don’t live for long, many consider them a symbol of death. And there are stories about how each tree has a dead body buried under it.” The other Gohan suppressed a shudder. “What this form will portend, I wonder.”

  “A bad omen, I tell you!” The Elder Kai said, distraught. “Nothing good can come from this. Death will come soon.”

  “Gee, isn’t that overstating it.” Pan said. Bad mojo or not, it was only a color.

  “Amazing,” South Supreme Kai said, utterly dazzled. “The power of a true god!”

  “I have surpassed mortal constraints and ascended to new heights. I am not bound by what’s possible,” Libra said, glowing with mind-boggling power. Even Pan’s grandfathers was stunned.

  “Incredible,” Goku said. Unlike everyone else, this revelation only excited him. “It means there are even greater heights to climb.” Pan stared amazed. Even after sensing her power, he was still eager to fight? This Goku was something else.

  “Tsk. Keep dreaming,” Pan’s grandfathers said, snorting in derision. He clasped and unclasped his hands. “It seems I’ll have to work harder to subdue this unruly daughter of mine.”

  “What happens if she becomes Super Saiyan 3, or something even beyond that?” Piccolo asked, his body stiff. “Could anything stop her?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Pan’s grandfather said. “I’ll still beat her. Nothing can surpass me.”

  “Impressive. Not even I thought you’d reach such a level,” Buu said. “Yes… this fight’s about to become very interesting.”

  “I doubt it,” Libra said, her tone superior as she floated above her opponent.

  “Yes, this is exactly what I wanted!” Despite the foe he faced, Buu only became more excited. Was this his Goku side coming out? “Finally, an opponent I can use my full power against! How I’ve waited for this moment! Pan gasped as Buu’s ki spiked to levels beyond anything he’d shown so far. He’d been hiding this much power?

  “Shall we begin again, devil?” Libra made a come-hither gesture with one hand.

  “My pleasure!” Buu vanished, moving so quickly that Pan only caught a flicker of motion. She glanced around but couldn’t even catch his afterimage.

  Libra, however, merely floated, completely impassive. She didn’t even glance around to locate her opponent. The entire arena rattled as she blocked an incoming kick with one hand. Libra remained imperious, as if her opponent’s efforts were completely beneath her notice. The sky flashed as Buu unleashed hundreds of blows so quick they seemed like one to the naked eye. But Libra blocked each one, still using only the same hand to deflect them.

  “What kind of monster is she?” Android 18 said, seeming ready to curl into a trembling ball.

  “She doesn’t even need to try,” Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. said, his mouth a hard line.

  “Y-yeah,” Pan said, lost for words. And once Libra won, she’d unleash that power on her next tournament opponent, Pan—obliterating her before she could even blink. She’d likely lose the fight before it even began.

  “Hey, it’s not over yet,” her father-as-Piccolo said, putting a comforting hand on Pan’s remaining arm. “If I know anything about Buu, it’s not to underestimate him. I bet he still has some tricks up his sleeve.”

  “What strength!” Buu said, spreading out his arms and laughing. “This is exactly what I wanted! I was right to join this tournament!”

  “Are you that eager for your death? I’m a god. I can make sure you’re never resurrected,” Libra replied.

  “Like Gast, I presume?” Buu raised an eyebrow. “I’ve noticed he still hasn’t returned to life. Your doing?”

  “I thought I’d let him stew in hell for a while,” Libra said. “Let him understand the folly of opposing a god.”

  “Ugh, she always assumes she knows what’s best for everyone,” Little Pan’s face twisting in disgust.

  “That’s some divine arrogance, isn’t it?” the alternate version of her father said.

  “I prefer the term ‘divine wisdom.’ Through Bra’s memories, I can see the suffering the Kais of your universe allowed to happen.” Libra gestured to the Androids and the Saiyans from Universe 13. They both flinched when she addressed them, as though their lives might end any second. “I will fix the other Kais’ mistakes. With this power, I can bring true peace.”

  “Or true hell,” Buu said. “I doubt this divine wisdom of yours—especially coming from someone who’s essentially a child.”

  “Then I will prove otherwise.” Libra’s aura flared like a pink supernova, everyone flinching back as if burned. “I will show you all, I’m the only savior you’ll ever need.”

  “Might makes right, eh?” Buu said, chuckling. “We shall see.”

  “Show me then.” Libra replied. “Show me you're worth listening to.”

  “Very well.” Buu’s aura flared, turning a shade of red. His ki skyrocketed, surprising even Libra. Huh? Kaio-ken?

  “Gah!” Libra recoiled as a fist drove into her sternum. She leaped back, shocked Buu had hurt her.

  “I just thought I’d take a cue from my student,” Buu said, the red tint of his aura making his skin a dark wine-red. “As they say, the teacher often learns more than the student.”

  “You!” Libra barely blocked the next blow, the effort making her wince. She vanished and reappeared as she engaged Buu fully, lights flashing as they exchanged blows.

  “You taught Buu the Kaio-ken?” Little Pan said, giving the older boy the stink eye.

  “No!” Uub said, his voice bordering on panic. “Of course not! He just taught me a little magic, that’s it!”

  “Don’t blame Uub, Pan,” Goku’s voice held some amusement. “He has my memories, remember? I learned that trick when I trained under King Kai.”

  “Oh yeah,” Little Pan said, flushing.

  “Still, I’ve never been able to make it work with Super Saiyan. I’m amazed Buu can even do it. It’s sure helping him match Libra’s power,” Goku continued. “Though I have to wonder if Buu’s really immune to the Kaio-ken’s downsides.”

  “I imagine he should be,” Uub replied. “I mean, it’s not like his body gets tired or wears down. He’s made of magic! Besides, with that technique, I can’t see how Buu can lose!”

  “Maybe,” Goku said, his mouth tightening into a frown. Huh? Did he know something?

  Buu continued his relentless assault against his opponent, attacking from so many angles, it was impossible to tell which direction his fist would strike next. His blows pounded into Libra, but her expression remained unbothered—no, amused.

  Then a hand caught Buu’s next punch, holding him in place. “Not bad. Your speed is impressive.” Her other fist slammed into Buu’s chest, and he howled in pain, staggering back. “But you’re only a gnat biting at a god.”

  “One punch hurt Buu that badly?” Little Pan said, eyes wide.

  All confidence drained from Buu’s face. He struck back, but Libra pivoted away, delivering another devastating blow to his chest. He retreated, grimacing. With a gesture, Libra invited him to attack again—but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he hung back, considering his options.

  “Too afraid to fight?” Libra said, mocking. “How about I take the initiative, then?” Her power flared, disappearing in a flash. An elbow drove into his skull from above, his head stretching unnaturally from the blow. Libra extended a hand and pink light enveloped Buu.

  But Buu was quick, stretching out a piece of his arm, so the blast didn’t competently catch him. It flew away, landed, and reformed into an unhappy Buu. He heaved, his injuries taking a heavy toll.

  “Buu.” Unlike her usually maniac counterpart, who reveled in violence, Anpan’s voice was tiny and full of worry.

  Despite everything, this earned a genuine smile from Buu. “Don’t worry about me, Anpan. I’m just getting started.” He stared up at Libra, who gazed down upon him like a judgmental god.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The ground rumbled as Buu gathered power, the red aura around him blazing. “Kaio-ken times a thousand.”

  “A thousand?” Goku said, amazed. “Can even Buu handle that level of power?”

  The air vibrated with the Majin warrior’s energy. His body seemed blisteringly hot, steam wafting from his skin. It looked as though every cell of his magical body was boiling. He smiled as he fired a ki blast into the ground. Dust exploded everywhere, obscuring the arena. The tournament fighters coughed as it choked their lungs.

  Unbothered, Pan kept watching, trying her best to pierce the cloud cover. Her eyes scanned for movement. Libra hovered in the clearest pocket of the arena, only slightly obscured by dust. Libra’s eyes scanned the surroundings, ready for any trouble.

  Then a fist burst from the cloud bank, hurling Libra a distance despite blocking in time. It was Buu, his body bursting with power. A howl of genuine pain escaped Libra’s as his strikes connected. Face contorted in rage, she struck back, struck only empty air.

  Blood oozed from Libra’s mouth as a blow connected with her ribs—a real sign she’d finally taken serious damage. But she stood strong, refusing to relent. A hand extended, and she blasted a hole straight through Buu. Then she vanished, reappeared behind him, and delivered a double-handed blow to the skull that sent him hurtling away. He tried to fight back, but his body remained sluggish. Libra used the opening to blast him into the ruined arena, shattering more stone as he landed like a comet. Buu tried to push himself up, but his body refused to respond.

  “It seems even your body has its limits, Buu,” Libra said, floating down. Blood continued to trickle from her mouth, but she looked ready to continue.

  “He’s lost,” Little Pan said, stunned.

  “She’s not wrong about his limits. Buu’s body is barely holding together.” Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. said. Buu’s skin had taken on a liquid-like quality, as if he were melting.

  “Buu!” Anpan actually sounded scared her genuinely worried, visible for everyone to see.

  “Truthfully, even I didn’t know what happens if I push Kaio-ken that far.” Buu released a pained chuckle. “My counterpart’s lucky his Kaio-ken Transcended doesn’t make his body explode.”

  “I commend you, Buu. You’d push me further than likely anyone ever will.” Libra extended a hand, energy gathering between her fingers. “But now it’s over.”

  “Indeed, it is.” Buu smirked, and Libra frowned, wondering what joke she was missing. Then a pink blur shot up from the ground, wrapping around Libra from behind.

  “That trick again?” her father-as-Piccolo said, mouth in a hard frown. He seemed to be reliving some memory. Pan could relate.

  “I see,” Piccolo-as-Cell Jr. said. “He separated a small part of himself, using the dust cloud to mask it. Then he pushed the larger part to its limits to weaken Libra enough to capture her.”

  “Pathetic.” But Libra seemed unconcerned as the pink goo spread faster around her body. Her ki spiked, ready to blast the invasive substance to dust. But then the seemingly too-injured Buu melted, springing at Libra from the front. Together, the two parts consumed her whole. They reformed into the whole Buu, standing triumphant. Despite all odds, Buu had won.

  ///

  “What the hell.” Libra stared, stunned, wondering where she was.

  Music boomed from unseen speakers as she walked down a paved street. She passed through carnival stands that advertised a wild array of entertainment, but no one manned any of them, nor was there anyone else besides her to enjoy the offerings. Garish lights almost blinded her, circling through a wild, random array of colors. Misshapen animals danced around, each playing an instrument to add to the cacophony of the bizarre circus.

  “What is this?” Libra winced, feeling a headache coming on, drowning in the wild, contradicting sensations. She covered her ears, which only somewhat dampened the effect.

  A building caught her eye—one shaped like a giant Buu. Its mouth opened wide, inviting visitors to enter. A giant sign pointed to the portal, with blaring neon lights around the arrow. While the mouth-shaped entrance wasn’t inviting, it was at least dark and might save her from the overloading visual and audible noise outside. She dashed inside, wondering what she was walking into.

  She sighed in relief as the blaring noise outside dampened, giving her some ability to think.

  “Right. Buu absorbed me,” Libra said, finally organizing her thoughts into something coherent. “He absorbed me!” She tensed, realizing what danger she was in. Before she could act, she flinched as the lights turned on, temporarily blinding her.

  “Welcome to the show!” Buu wore a circus ringmaster costume, whip tucked under his armpit. He stood in the middle of a circus ring. Surrounding them were bleachers, and in each seat sat a Buu who clapped and cheered at the show.

  “Buu! What the hell is all this?” Libra demanded, entering a fighting pose.

  “I thought I’d do something interesting!” Buu replied. “I suppose I could have shown you endless pink walls and pulsing flesh, but that’s a little dull, and I hate being predictable!”

  “So, a circus from hell is your answer?” Libra replied.

  “You always seem so high-strung, Libra.” Buu spread an arm, inviting his guest to survey her surroundings. “I thought it might help you loosen up.”

  “More of your stupid jokes.” Libra scowled, already tiring of this. “If you think I’ll let you absorb me, you’re sorely mistaken.” She gathered her ki, ready to blow herself out of this hellhole.

  “Absorb you?” Buu smirked his most insufferable smile. “What makes you assume I want to pollute myself with you?”

  “What?” Libra stared, taken aback.

  “No. Like Broly, I don’t want your taint. I’ve seen your heart, Libra—and you are vile to the core, the fusion of two bad people made worse,” Buu replied. “Besides, I like the way I am.”

  “Whatever.” Enough of Buu’s japes and nonsense. “I’m getting out of here.”

  “You’re leaving? Without even enjoying any of the festivities?” Buu said mock-hurt. “You don’t want to at least try to catch some goldfish?”

  “You’re wasting my time.” The shoe dropped as Libra realized Buu’s plan—realizing she’d just spoken it out loud.

  When South Supreme Kai fought the other Buu, he’d gotten careless and gotten absorbed, just like her. Thankfully, he avoided being fully consumed, but it’d taken too long for him to escape, so the announcer declared Buu the victor. How long had it been since Buu absorbed her? If she didn’t escape before the announcer finished the 30-count after her disappearance, she’d lose.

  “Bastard!” Libra fired a beam at Buu, blasting his ridiculous costume to pieces and blowing a hole through the circus tent. The audience Buus booed her, throwing trash at her. She ignored them, dashing through the hole she’d forced open.

  Outraged by the disruption she’d caused, the audience Buus all charged at once, surrounding her on all sides. Libra cursed, firing beams at her attackers. But there were too many. For every Buu she killed, twenty took their place. They threw themselves with total abandon at her, trying to pile on her.

  Libra flew out of the circus tent, just slipping past countless hands trying to grab her. The Buus continued their pursuit, leaping at her. She ducked and dived out of the way, but it cost her seconds she couldn’t afford. A hand grabbed her arm, and another grabbed her leg. She had a moment until they had her caught.

  “Off me!” Libra’s pink aura flared, blasting the Buus who’d grabbed her to pieces. Any Buus standing too close got disintegrated. But this hardly mattered to the seemingly endless Buus that flowed from the circus tent. They rushed her with abandon, not caring if her aura tore them to shreds. Pink goop sloshed onto her, restraining her as it spread across her body. More Buus grabbed at her. Her aura flared to blast them to pieces, but Libra’s flagging ki only somewhat tore them apart. No! She’d spent too much power during her outside fight with Buu!

  Libra tried gathering enough energy to repel more of her attackers, but bodies tackled onto her. The world went dark as countless Buus grabbed her head. More Buus threw themselves onto the ones who’d already grabbed her, creating a monstrous cocoon of pink bodies. They had her trapped. So consumed by bodies, Libra found herself unable to breathe, already weakening her failing strength.

  Despite the countless bodies covering her ears, a clear, audible voice came to her. “When you lose, learn from it. That’s the problem with your father—he never learned to lose. He was born a winner, so why grow as a person? Don’t be like him. Be better.”

  More lectures to mock her failure in the false trappings of advice? Her lip curled, eyes blazing with fury. How dare he talk down to her. That he doubted her divine wisdom. Her fury stoked the flames of her power, startling the Buus as their world rumbled with the might of her divine indignation.

  “I won’t let you beat me, Buu!” More power gathered within her, inexhaustible. “You won’t win!”

  ///

  “So, it’s finished,” East Supreme Kai said, a slight tremor in his voice. “Majin Buu with Libra’s divine might at his command!”

  “Yeah, terrible business.” Elder Kai replied, shook his head, forlorn.

  “Yeah.” Pan swallowed, wondering how she’d even match that. Would she get absorbed next?

  Much to his colleagues’ surprise, their South counterpart snorted in derision. “Libra wouldn’t be that easy to absorb. She’ll fight him the entire way.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think he absorbed her. Buu wasn’t able to absorb me,” Little Pan said, referring to when she’d allowed herself to be absorbed by the other Buu to save Pan from within—a feat of bravery Pan still found astonishing and earned her eternal gratitude.

  “Yeah, but you let yourself get absorbed as a ploy to defeat him.” But her alternate self had a point. For whatever reason, Buu hadn’t changed form. In fact, more puzzlingly, he just stood there, unmoving like a statue. His eyes were closed, as if he were in deep contemplation.

  “Pan’s right,” the other Piccolo said. “I don’t sense any change in Buu’s ki at all.”

  “Huh, I wonder what’s going on in there?” Goku asked, intrigued.

  “Foolish girl.” Her grandfathers only shook his head. Was it her imagination, or was there a hint of forlornness in his voice? He remained tense, like a disaster might happen any second.

  “Since Libra has left the arena, I will begin the countdown. Thirty. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight. Twenty-seven. Twenty-six. Twenty-five.”

  Seconds passed, but there was no change. Buu continued to stand there, unmoving. He remained so still, you might assume him dead. The combatants muttered among themselves, theorizing what might happen. Would Libra emerge from one of Buu’s pores like South Supreme Kai had? Pan remained fixed on Buu, watching for any sign of change in his appearance or ki.

  “Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen. Twelve. Eleven. Ten.”

  “It’s over,” North Supreme Kai said, sighing.

  “You won’t fail us, Libra.” Unlike his fellow gods, South Supreme Kai remained unwavering in his faith. The fanatic fever in his eyes worried Pan.

  “It might be best if she does,” East Supreme Kai said. “Some humility will teach her a valuable lesson.”

  “She won’t fail. And what use is humility when she has the knowledge and wisdom of ages?” South Supreme Kai’s harsh rebuke made his East counterpart flinch.

  “Five. Four. Three.”

  “She’s cutting it close if she’s going to pull off some miracle,” her father-as-Piccolo said.

  “Two.”

  “Huh?” Both Piccolo and his counterpart in Cell Jr.’s body straightened. “Do you feel that?”

  “One.”

  “Feel what?” Pan asked. She extended her senses but felt nothing. Her grandfather stood at attention, hope glistening in his eyes.

  “Zero. Libra from Universe 0 is unable to battle. Buu from Universe—”

  Everyone flinched back as Buu exploded, pink bits scattering everywhere. Standing where Buu had been was a heaving Libra. Everyone stared at her in astonishment.

  “She blew him apart from the inside?” Little Pan said, amazed. “I-It can’t be.”

  “Thank goodness.” Her grandfathers sighed in obvious relief.

  “I knew she wouldn’t fail,” South Supreme Kai said, smug.

  Pieces of the splattered Buu started moving, ready to gather back into a whole again. But Libra refused to allow that, every muscle tensing as she sensed the ki gathering. But what could she do? The pieces of Buu were too widespread. Even with her incredible speed, she’d never destroy them all in time.

  “No. Not again,” Libra said, her voice hard. She extended a hand upward, a ball of energy gathering within it.

  “Dad, what is she doing?” Pan asked, alarmed.

  “No, she won’t,” her father-as-Piccolo said in utter disbelief.

  “Everyone get—” But Goku never finished. Libra thrust her hand down and the world exploded.

  ---

  Next time!

  Libra vs Buu aftermath. Another solar system destroyed?! Libra makes a wish. Vegito vows to finally fulfil his promise. Libra vs Vegito?