Zeno personally reached out to help Raditz stand, and that simple gesture of familiarity sent shockwaves through every witness present.
The two guards flanking the throne exchanged horrified glances, their carefully maintained composure shattering. Their training dictated proper protocol for every conceivable situation—but this? The Omni-King personally assisting someone to their feet with such casual warmth? Even Supreme Kais rarely received acknowledgment beyond a passing glance, let alone physical contact initiated by His Majesty himself!
Yet despite their alarm, neither guard dared intervene. Questioning Zeno's decisions was literally unthinkable.
Being Zeno's personal guard is the hardest job in all existence, they both thought simultaneously, identical beads of nervous sweat forming on their unusual faces. On one hand, they had to ensure nothing made Lord Zeno unhappy. On the other hand, they had to prevent others from making Lord Zeno unhappy. The margin for error was nonexistent—because if Lord Zeno grew displeased, there was no telling whether he might erase a person, a planet, or an entire universe on a whim.
And at this moment, watching their charge bounce excitedly on his feet, the guards felt their anxiety levels approaching critical mass.
"Hey, Raditz!" Zeno's childish voice carried undisguised enthusiasm. "I've been SO bored! Did you bring what you promised? Are you ready?"
The innocent question hit Raditz like a freight train. He remembers? It's only been a few months! Most beings of ultimate power tended toward short attention spans regarding mortal promises. Apparently, Zeno was the exception—when something caught his interest, he remembered with perfect clarity.
"Well..." Raditz hesitated, searching for the right words. "The truth is—"
"You're not ready yet?" Zeno's head tilted to the side, his expression shifting toward visible disappointment.
The reaction was instantaneous. Both guards straightened to their full imposing heights, chests puffing out as they took synchronized half-steps forward. Their eyes locked onto Raditz with fierce intensity, radiating silent menace designed to intimidate him into immediate compliance.
What did I do to deserve this? Raditz thought with mounting frustration. This has nothing to do with you two! Your boss is the one asking questions!
But despite his internal protests, the coercive pressure emanating from both guards made his instincts scream danger. His palms grew slick with nervous sweat. These weren't ordinary warriors—they served at the pleasure of omnipotence itself, which meant their power likely exceeded anything he could currently handle.
Meanwhile, Zeno continued staring up at Raditz with those wide, unblinking eyes, patiently awaiting a response. The innocent, almost puppy-like quality of his gaze somehow made the situation even more nerve-wracking.
"Lord Zeno," Raditz said carefully, bowing his head respectfully. "I'm still working on finding you the perfect companion—someone who can truly keep you entertained long-term. But that requires more time to arrange properly."
"More time?" Zeno's disappointment deepened, his lower lip pushing forward in a small pout. "But I finally found someone interesting. I don't want to wait..."
Panic flared in Raditz's chest. He couldn't let this spiral out of control—not when Zeno's "displeasure" could manifest as cosmic erasure. He needed a distraction, something to redirect that infinite attention span toward acceptable alternatives.
"However!" Raditz interjected quickly, raising one finger. "I did bring you something wonderful right now. Something I'm confident you'll absolutely love."
Zeno perked up immediately, his disappointment evaporating like morning mist. "Really? What is it?"
"A very interesting book!"
"...Book?" Zeno blinked in confusion, then turned toward the Grand Priest with questioning eyes.
The Grand Priest held a special place in Zeno's heart—the one constant presence throughout his eternal existence, the trusted advisor who helped him navigate complex decisions, the only being whose counsel he sought without hesitation. When uncertainty arose, Zeno always looked to his faithful attendant for guidance.
Recognizing the silent request, the Grand Priest stepped forward with his characteristic grace. "A book, Your Majesty, is a collection of written stories—narratives that describe adventures, characters, and events. Think of it as... capturing interesting experiences and preserving them so you can enjoy them whenever you wish. Reading allows you to follow exciting journeys and meet fascinating people, all from the comfort of your throne."
The explanation sparked visible interest in Zeno's eyes. "Ohhh! That sounds fun! Where is it? Show me!"
"Give me just one moment, Your Majesty," Raditz said, already preparing to teleport. "I'll retrieve it immediately."
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Zeno bounced on his feet with childlike impatience. "Go fast! I want to see!"
Raditz didn't need further encouragement. He vanished in a flash of light, racing back to Universe 7 at maximum speed.
In the empty palace, silence settled like a blanket. Zeno climbed back onto his oversized throne, his short legs dangling and swinging back and forth as he waited. The Grand Priest and Whis stood side by side with hands clasped behind their backs, both wearing nearly identical expressions of serene patience.
"Whis," the Grand Priest said quietly, his tone carrying subtle amusement. "Your universe has produced quite the extraordinary individual."
"He is rather remarkable," Whis agreed with a slight smile.
"I would very much enjoy having a proper conversation with him sometime. I suspect it would prove quite... enlightening."
"He might be terrified of you, Father."
The Grand Priest's eyebrows rose slightly. "Afraid? Of me? Whatever gave you that impression?"
"Oh, nothing specific," Whis replied with barely suppressed mirth. "Just a feeling."
They continued their light banter for a few more moments—then both fell silent simultaneously as they sensed Raditz's approach. The Saiyan Supreme Kai burst back into the palace mere minutes after departing, clearly having given the Omni-King's request absolute priority.
Smart man.
Raditz materialized before the throne, slightly breathless, clutching two thick volumes bound in elaborate covers. These were published editions of Dragon Ball Heroes, written by Vegeta sister-in-law Tights—adventure novels totaling over 600,000 words across both volumes. They'd become bestsellers throughout the four major galaxies, praised for their engaging narratives and dynamic characters.
Raditz enjoyed reading them during his rare moments of downtime, finding Tights's writing style both accessible and genuinely entertaining. Even Beerus had gotten hooked on the series, regularly pestering Raditz about when the next volume would be released. If stories could captivate a God of Destruction, surely they could entertain the Omni-King.
The Grand Priest accepted the books with both hands and presented them to Zeno with a formal bow. The Omni-King grabbed both massive volumes eagerly, though his small hands made the gesture look somewhat comical—like a child trying to carry textbooks twice their size.
Sensing the awkwardness, the Grand Priest conjured an elegant reading table from nothing, its surface perfectly positioned for Zeno's height. He carefully spread the first volume open, pointing out key elements and guiding His Majesty through the initial pages with patient instruction.
Zeno's eyes began tracking the words with growing fascination, his expression brightening as comprehension dawned. "Hey! Hey, look!" He pointed excitedly at the illustrated character profiles on the opening pages. "This guy looks just like you, Raditz!"
Well, yes, Raditz thought with mild embarrassment. That's because these stories are based on real events, with me and the others as the primary characters. Tights had adapted their actual adventures into fictionalized narratives, changing enough details to avoid sensitive information while maintaining the core excitement.
He explained this to Zeno, whose enthusiasm immediately doubled. "So these are YOUR adventures?! That makes it even better!" The Omni-King's eyes shone with delight as he dove back into the text.
After several minutes of absorbed reading, Zeno suddenly looked up with a radiant smile. "This is wonderful! I love it!" Then, with characteristic impulsiveness, he made a pronouncement that froze everyone in place: "Raditz, let's be friends!"
"Friends?" Raditz echoed, unable to hide his shock. "You want to be friends... with me?"
The guards' faces darkened immediately, their bodies tensing as they prepared to demonstrate displeasure at such presumption—
"Stand back!" Zeno snapped at them without even glancing their direction, his childish voice carrying absolute authority. "I wasn't talking to you!"
Both guards immediately retreated, practically tripping over themselves in their haste to obey. Raditz couldn't suppress a flash of satisfaction. Finally! Someone put them in their place.
Zeno hopped down from his throne and approached Raditz with one small hand extended. "Come on! Let's shake on it! That makes it official, right?"
Raditz's mind raced through the implications. Friendship with the Omni-King? The potential benefits were staggering—protection from virtually any threat, possible assistance with cosmic-level problems, access to information spanning all twelve universes. At minimum, it guaranteed Zeno wouldn't erase him or Universe 7 on a whim.
The decision took approximately half a second. Raditz knelt down to Zeno's level and grasped the offered hand firmly. "I would be honored to be your friend, Your Majesty."
"Don't call me that anymore!" Zeno protested with a laugh. "Friends don't use titles. Just call me Zenny!"
"Then... I'm honored to be your friend, Zenny."
The handshake sealed something profound—a bond between the absolute apex of existence and a Saiyan who'd climbed his way up from nowhere. They spent the next several minutes chatting with surprising ease, Raditz explaining various elements from the books while Zeno asked rapid-fire questions about the adventures depicted.
Before long, Raditz found himself making additional promises: "I'll bring you more interesting things next time I visit. New books, perhaps some games, maybe even recordings of exciting battles..."
"When's next time?" Zenny asked immediately.
"Uh... soon. Relatively soon. When I find something good enough."
Eventually, the Grand Priest gently indicated that the audience should conclude, and he escorted Raditz and Whis back toward the palace entrance. They walked through the magnificent corridors in contemplative silence until the Grand Priest suddenly spoke.
"Raditz, I must point out something." His tone remained pleasant but carried an edge of knowing amusement. "While Lord Zeno's reading speed is rather slow, those two volumes of Dragon Ball Heroes won't occupy him for very long. I suspect you'll receive another summons quite soon—perhaps within weeks."
Raditz's expression shifted into something suspiciously smug. "I've already considered that possibility, Lord Grand Priest. As it happens, Dragon Ball Heroes doesn't consist of only two volumes. There are additional completed manuscripts ready for publication."
The Grand Priest's eyebrows rose fractionally. "Oh? Then why didn't you bring them all at once?"
"Strategic serialization," Raditz explained with barely suppressed satisfaction. "It's a technique where you release content gradually, keeping the audience engaged over extended periods. Even if Zenny wants to read the subsequent adventures immediately, he'll have to wait for the author to release them."
Both the Grand Priest and Whis froze mid-step, turning to stare at Raditz with identical expressions of confused curiosity. Despite being among the most advanced beings in creation, this particular concept seemed to elude them completely.
"Wait for... release?" Whis tilted his head. "But if the content exists, why not simply provide all of it?"
"Because anticipation enhances enjoyment," Raditz explained, warming to his topic. "When you have to wait for the next installment, you spend that time thinking about possible developments, discussing theories, building excitement. The waiting becomes part of the experience itself. It's actually a sign of respect for the story—treating it as something valuable enough to savor rather than consume all at once."
The Grand Priest studied Raditz with an intensity that made the Saiyan's skin prickle. That enigmatic smile remained fixed in place, but something calculating flickered behind those ancient eyes. "How... clever. And I suppose the author's writing speed is beyond your control?"
"Completely beyond my control," Raditz confirmed, spreading his hands innocently. "I'm not Tights—I have no idea how quickly she works. Could be weeks between volumes. Could be months. Who can say?" The lie came smoothly, wrapped in just enough truth to sound plausible.
The Grand Priest's smile widened fractionally—an expression that somehow conveyed both amusement and warning. "I see. How unfortunate for His Majesty's patience." He paused deliberately. "I do hope you won't disappoint him, Raditz. Lord Zeno values his friends... but he can be quite volatile when his expectations aren't met."
The unspoken threat hung in the air like a sword suspended by spider silk.
"I understand completely, Lord Grand Priest," Raditz said carefully. "I'll do everything in my power to keep Zenny entertained and happy."
"Excellent. Whis, you may escort Raditz home now. When His Majesty requires their presence again, I'll send notification." The Grand Priest gestured toward the palace exit. "You're dismissed."
Both Raditz and Whis bowed deeply. "Yes, Lord Grand Priest. Thank you for your hospitality."
Before they realized it, they'd reached the outer boundary of Zeno's Palace—that impossible threshold where reality transitioned between the realm of absolute authority and the conventional multiverse. Rainbow light enveloped them as Whis activated his transportation ability, and they shot away across dimensional barriers, returning toward Universe 7's God of Destruction Realm.
The Grand Priest stood at the palace entrance, watching their luminous trail fade into the endless void. His expression remained pleasant, unchanging—but his eyes carried depths that transcended ordinary perception.
After a long moment, he turned and began walking back into the palace. His measured steps seemed to grow heavier with each pace, the earlier lightness replaced by something more ponderous. The shadows of the corridor reached out to embrace him, and gradually, his form merged with the darkness until he vanished completely—leaving only silence and the weight of cosmic responsibility in his wake.
Somewhere deeper in the palace, Zenny's delighted laughter echoed as he read about heroes fighting impossible odds. For now, the Omni-King was happy.
And when Zeno was happy, the multiverse could rest easy.
For now.
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