Chapter 14: Exploring the South Area
After the sparring session with Mikan, Zero returned to his office, the grandeur of the room contrasting with his pensive demeanor. He stood by the wide window, gazing down at the bustling Kianko below. His tail swayed thoughtfully as his sharp eyes took in the scene, his mind consumed by a cascade of reflections and plans.
If I were to follow the original story, I'd have to wait 700 years or so for Goku and the others to become active, he mused, resting a finger on his chin. But why should I wait? I have the power to make a few changes. While the flow of time will naturally guide some events, my actions can alter the course. They might change things for the better—or perhaps not. The key is to live my life the way I want to.
The thought brought a smirk to his lips, a gleam of defiance in his eyes. He turned his gaze skyward, contemplating the vastness of existence. The multiverse under Zeno's oversight is a complex sphere, divided into two halves: the realm of the living and the Other World. Between them lies Hell, while the Demon Realm occupies the lowest part of the living universe. On its outer edges, exists the Sacred World of the Kais.
His smirk widened as he pieced together his thoughts. Twelve universes, each with a twin counterpart: 1 and 12, 2 and 11, 3 and 10, and so on. I currently exist in Universe 7—one of the weaker universes, living as an insignificant creature on a small planet in its least populated galaxy.
Despite the humbling realization, Zero felt no despair. Instead, determination burned brighter within him. His tail flicked with rising excitement as he formulated his ambitions.
I could aim to become the King of Everything, but Zeno holds that throne. There doesn't seem to be anyone more powerful than him… Damn, I wish there was a way. He clenched his fists, frustrated by the apparent ceiling.
Suddenly, like a lightning strike, inspiration hit him. Zalama! The Creator of the Super Dragon Balls. Zero's thoughts quickened, drawing connections. The Super Dragon Balls have the ability to grant any wish. At the start of the Tournament of Power, the Grand Priest mentioned the "3,135,500,603rd day of the Era of Our King." That's about eight and a half million years. This means Zeno hasn't been the King since time immemorial!
His tail lashed excitedly as the pieces fell into place. Very well. Let's see how it feels to take over the multiverse. I'll move one step at a time. Compared to the gods, I'm nothing but a speck of dust, but I have one advantage—they underestimate me. Time is on my side.
His focus sharpened. For now, Namek and Yardrat are in the Northern Area of this universe. But I should focus on the Southern Area first. I have 400 years before I need to concern myself with the "Mysterious Saiyan." Konats, Plant, Sadala, Geyser, —these planets are the ones we know of in this galaxy.
Then he remembered something. There's a planet further than Sadala with massive energy readings. The Tuffles were too afraid to investigate it. I discussed this with one of the engineers back when we were heading to Sadala all those years ago.
With a newfound goal and strengthened conviction, Zero rang a bell, summoning his aide. "Call for the Elders," he instructed, his voice calm but commanding. "We have much to discuss."
Later, in a grand conference room, Zero sat at the head of the table, addressing the Kianko Elders. The room was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation as the leaders leaned forward, hanging on his every word.
"As you all know," Zero began, his voice steady, "we are not alone in this galaxy. The Saiyans, Frost Demons, Shamoians—they are but a fraction of the life forms that inhabit this universe. However, there's one particular place I wish to explore."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Many years ago, while traveling to Planet Sadala with Mikan, one of the engineers mentioned a mysterious planet far beyond Sadala. Back then, the Tuffles lacked the power and technology for such a dangerous mission. But now, we do not face those limitations."
Zero stood, his imposing presence filling the room. "We are scholars, yes, but we are also warriors. What better way to grow stronger and wiser than through adventure? Many of you were raised in controlled environments. Your power is immense, but superficial. You lack the understanding and experience to wield it fully."
The Elders exchanged glances, nodding as his words resonated. The spark of excitement began to ignite in their eyes.
"This is your opportunity to change that," Zero continued. "One hundred Kianko warriors will accompany me on this mission. We will explore the unknown and uncover the secrets of this distant planet. This will not be a simple journey—it will be a trial. Prepare yourselves."
"All for the glory of the Kianko!" one Elder declared, and the others echoed their agreement.
"Understood."
"Yes, Lord Zero."
"It shall be done!"
The unanimous acceptance of his plan caught Zero slightly off guard. No questions, no hesitation—only loyalty and resolve. He made a mental note of their response but pressed on.
"Everything must be ready in the next few days," Zero concluded. "Prepare for an expedition that will shape not only our understanding but also our strength. We leave soon."
Zero sat in the control room of his flagship, his eyes fixed on the infinite expanse of space as his ship neared its destination—a mysterious planet far beyond Sadala. The hum of the ship's systems filled the room, but his mind was elsewhere, deep in thought. His tail, coiled tightly around the arm of his chair, suddenly lashed out, smacking the ground in frustration as his musings consumed him.
"Universe 7 had 320 planets with sapient life destroyed 10 million years ago by a great magician called Moro," he recalled, his eyes narrowing. "And by the time of the Supreme Kai Shin, only 28 planets with life remained."
The thought gnawed at him, a bitter reminder of the systemic failures that had plagued this universe for eons. He exhaled sharply, leaning forward as he pieced together the grim chain of events.
The reason this all happened was clear—Beerus. The so-called God of Destruction, constantly asleep, indifferent, or shirking his responsibilities. Sealing away experienced Supreme Kais and leaving a child, Shin, with no training or guidance as the only active overseer of Universe 7. It's pathetic.
Zero's tail smacked the chair again, the sound reverberating through the control room. His frustration was more than anger; it was the resolve of someone unwilling to accept the negligence of divine beings who allowed the universe to crumble.
As the flagship cruised through the vast emptiness of space, Zero's thoughts shifted to the larger picture. He mulled over the catastrophic failures that had shaped Universe 7's history. Universe 7 didn't just suffer from external threats; it was gutted from within by mismanagement and apathy. Moro, Majin Buu, and countless invasions from the multiverse weren't the cause of its decline—they were symptoms of a much deeper rot.
He began tallying the egregious events that had led to the universe's current state:
Fifteen million years ago, Beerus sealed away the 15th-generation Supreme Kai in the Z-Sword, removing an experienced guardian from the equation.Ten million years ago, Moro destroyed 320 planets with sapient life, unchecked, leaving behind a barren shell of what Universe 7 once was.Five million years ago, Majin Buu rampaged across the cosmos, obliterating thousands of planets before Beerus even stirred.
The facts burned in his mind, each one more damning than the last. Beerus is the epitome of failure. The very role of a God of Destruction is to ensure balance—to eliminate threats to the universe's development, not to sleep through its ruination. And yet, here we are, with Universe 7 stagnating, crippled by the absence of thousands of thriving worlds.
Zero clenched his fist, his fingers digging into the armrest of his chair. And Whis? Indifferent, but that's his role as well. He watches from the sidelines, a neutral teacher. No one dares to confront Beerus—not the Kais, mortals, or even angels. They accept his incompetence because they fear his power.
His gaze turned to the purple-and-blue planet growing larger on the monitor as his ship approached it. He could sense the latent energy radiating from the celestial body. This was it—the next step in his journey.
As the planet loomed closer, Zero's resolve hardened. This universe has been mismanaged for far too long. The gods have failed it time and time again. If no one else will fix it, I will.
An idea crystallized in his mind, sharp and clear. Becoming the God of Destruction will be my short-term goal. It's the only way to change the system from within. I need to fundamentally alter the way this universe is governed.
He allowed himself a rare smirk, his tail flicking with anticipation. Of course, I'll need power, influence, and strategy. But this is a stepping stone. If I can establish myself as a Destruction God, I can begin the work of restoring Universe 7—one planet, one galaxy, one life at a time.
Zero rose from his chair, his energy simmering just beneath the surface. He stared at the planet outside, a newfound sense of purpose burning within him.
Step by step, I'll shape this universe into what it should have been all along. And if the gods stand in my way… they'll learn the hard way why change is inevitable.
Breaking through the planet's atmosphere, Zero stood by the viewing window of the flagship, taking in the sight of the alien world below. The planet was a vibrant patchwork of lush greenery, vast oceans, and towering mountain ranges. Streams of golden light pierced through scattered clouds, illuminating the surface with an otherworldly glow. It was teeming with life, as if untouched by the destructive hand of civilization.
One of the Kianko stood nearby, reading aloud the data streaming in from the ship's scanners. "This planet appears to host numerous lifeforms, though only one species is sapient. The rest consist of vegetation, animals, microorganisms, and other non-sapient creatures. The level of civilization is primitive, as expected. There is no centralized government or advanced technology. Instead, it seems to follow a tribal system similar to the one Sadala utilized in its early years."
The Kianko continued, scrolling through the data. "Unlike Sadala, however, there is no king or central figure to unite the tribes. The sapient lifeforms have two known sexes—male and female—similar to Tuffles, Saiyans, and ourselves, the Kianko. They are tall, muscular humanoids with purple skin, flattened ears, bald heads, and red eyes. Their average power levels range between 5 and 16 million."
The last line drew murmurs of confusion from the other Kianko within earshot. "That's a broad range," one of them remarked, frowning. "We Kianko vary between 10,000 at birth and 10 to 20 million at adulthood. The difference between 5 and 10,000 is astronomical."
Another chimed in, "It's unusual. Such variability suggests either an inconsistency in their genetics or differences in environmental factors. Either way, it's worth investigating."
As the Kianko debated, Zero studied the images of the planet's inhabitants displayed on the monitors. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly, his mind piecing together fragments of information. These people look remarkably similar to the assassin Hit from Universe 6, he thought, leaning closer to inspect their features. Tall, lean, with purple skin and those unmistakable red eyes… It's uncanny.
His thoughts deepened, a connection forming in his mind. In the timeline I'm familiar with, there was no mention of this planet existing. It's highly likely it was destroyed, perhaps by the natural disasters that plagued Universe 7 or by external forces. But if this race shares any relation to Hit, they might possess latent abilities over time itself. That could explain the variability in their power levels.
Zero's gaze grew sharper as his thoughts continued. Hit was born around the same time as me and lived well beyond the Tournament of Power. If this race mirrors his traits, their lifespans might be exceptionally long. This planet and its people could hold untapped potential—if they haven't already lost it to their primitive way of life.
While Zero was lost in his analysis, the spaceship's systems began the landing sequence. The craft descended smoothly, cutting through the vibrant sky before touching down on the planet's surface with a gentle hum. The Kianko onboard immediately got to work, setting up equipment for research and development. They moved with precision, unpacking scanners, establishing communication lines, and deploying drones to map the area.
After observing their progress for a time, Zero stood and made his way to the exit ramp. His steps were deliberate, his movements exuding calm authority. When he finally stepped onto the solid ground of the planet, the first thing that struck him was the richness of the environment.
The planet was alive in every sense of the word. Towering trees with massive canopies shaded the ground, their leaves a kaleidoscope of greens and golds. Vibrant flowers dotted the landscape, their petals shimmering with faint bioluminescence. Strange creatures flitted through the trees or darted through the underbrush, their calls blending into a symphony of life. The air was thick with the scents of earth, foliage, and blooming flora.
Zero's tail swayed behind him as he took it all in. This place is lush, untamed, and brimming with potential, he thought, his eyes scanning the horizon. And yet, its people are ununified, primitive, and vulnerable. If this planet's inhabitants have any connection to Hit, they could become something far greater—if given the right guidance.
Turning back to observe the Kianko working efficiently to set up their base of operations, Zero allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. This planet will be the first step. Let's see what secrets it holds.