Levos felt the "Divine Path" tick forward again another sliver of progress, but still shy of triggering a full evolution.
He turned to the one figure who had stayed behind in the temple. "By the way, Lord Dabura. I've heard the Dark Demon Realm stands in opposition to the Twelve Universes, and that even Lord Zeno cannot erase it. Is that true?"
Dabura nodded. "It is."
The answer eased Levos's chest a little. Of course any force that could push back against Zeno wouldn't be simple. If anything, the Dark Demon Realm likely housed enemies whose power defied imagination.
Piccolo's eyes went wide; he sent Levos a private thought.
Don't tell me you spared Dabura because you were already planning around Zeno's erasure? How far ahead are you thinking?
I'm not clairvoyant, Levos replied, wry. He'd kept Dabura alive for a much more mundane reason: with this "guide" in hand, he could slip into the Dark Demon Realm and, with Cell Max's absorption, push his Magic Route to evolve.
Piccolo's shoulders loosened a fraction. So besides fleeing to Universe 6, the Dark Demon Realm could be another refuge.
"Don't get too hopeful," Levos cautioned. "Zeno's erasure is terrifying. I can't rule out the possibility that, when he erases a universe, the effect locks onto everyone who belongs to it no matter where they run."
In the end, the only reliable path was still to persuade Zeno.
After a bit more quiet back-and-forth, Piccolo understood the depth of Levos's worries.
Levos faced Dabura again. "How do we enter the Dark Demon Realm?"
"To enter, you must open the Gate of the Dark Demon Realm," Dabura said. "But it has been many years since I returned. The Demon God guarding the gate may not recognize me now…"
True or excuse, Levos wasn't planning to rush in there anyway. Power aside, he wasn't arrogant enough to blunder into a realm that rivaled the Twelve themselves. The last thing Earth needed was a new, immeasurable enemy.
"So you can't be sure you can go back," Levos said mildly.
"That's right. Perhaps, near the gate, I could contact Towa and have her bring me in."
Everything Levos knew about that realm came from Dabura's mouth. Sorting truth from smoke would take time.
"Fine," Levos said with a small smile. "When I have time, I expect you to take me for a look."
"Of course."
"For now, you can stay on this planet. Don't do anything… rash," Levos added.
"I understand, Lord Levos," Dabura said, bowing.
With that arranged, Levos and the others took their leave of Mr. Popo and Dende.
"Dende, aren't you coming to Bulma's for the banquet?" Goku asked.
"No. We Namekians don't need food. I'll stay and help Mr. Popo repair the Lookout."
"Take care!" Levos waved.
High above West City.
"So you're saying the new captain of our Special Forces is… Son Gohan?" Ginyu blurted.
Levos nodded. "That's right. Call it an appointment by fate."
"By… fate?" Ginyu looked baffled, then straightened. "If it's Lord Levos's decision, we'll obey."
"Good. Head to the banquet and report to your captain while you're at it," Levos said with an easy smile.
"You're not coming?" Goku asked.
"I've got errands."
"Oh! If Chi-Chi and the others aren't there yet, I'll go pick them up," Levos added, side-eyeing the perennially scatterbrained Saiyan. If he didn't nudge him, Goku might "forget" his own wife at their reunion.
"Yikes, I almost did forget!" Goku smacked his forehead. "Thanks, Levos if Chi-Chi heard that, I'd never hear the end of it!"
"Go on," Levos said. "Take care of your family."
Goku zipped away, and only Piccolo remained beside Levos.
"Why haven't you told Goku about Zeno?" Piccolo asked.
"Because right now, they deserve a few hours of peace with the people they love. They've been apart for over twenty years…"
Piccolo's mouth quirked. "You're getting good at reading the room. What about you? Where's your family?"
"Far away," Levos said, rubbing his nose. "Very, very far. Go on, Piccolo explain the Special Forces to Gohan. He's probably staring into space right about now."
"Alright." Piccolo nodded, then flashed a brief grin. "But when you're done, you are coming back. We won't let the party end without you. At the very least… I know Bulma will be waiting."
"You talk too much," Levos sighed. "I liked you better when you brooded."
He vanished with Instant Transmission.
Central City, near the Pilaf Gang's old underground factory.
"Same place. Different world," Levos murmured.
The neighborhood was unrecognizable from his last visit bustling streets, crowds flowing like water. Restaurants, cafés, bars, theaters, shopping centers; bright displays stacked with delicacies and gadgets.
And in that bright street corner… a dozen ragged children huddled by a wall. Like strays. Like they'd been tossed out of the world.
A little girl with her hair in buns crouched by a trash can, eyes squeezed shut, shaking. A boy beside her whispered, "Don't cry. We'll get your capsule back."
"They kicked us out of the factory," the girl sobbed. "But that place belongs to Lord Pilaf…"
Helplessness rippled through the children like a shiver.
"I'm late."
Levos crossed the street and stopped in front of them.
"Big brother!"
"You finally came!"
The girl flung herself into his arms and burst into tears.
"I'm sorry you went through this," Levos said softly, patting her head.
She blinked up at him through tears. "Big brother… the capsule you gave me they took it."
"Tell me slowly," Levos said, smoothing her hair. "Everything."
"When we woke up, some people came and threw us out of Lord Pilaf's house," she said, still trembling. "There was a really mean lady she said the Capsule was hers. Then they snatched it and ran."
"Did they hurt you?" Levos asked, frowning.
The girl flinched and fell silent. Another child spoke up. "They locked Apricot in a dog cage… and hit her with wire."
Levos lowered his gaze.
The girl's faded dress was slit in places; across her small, pale back, welts of raw red slashed from shoulder to waist.
A hot veil dropped over his eyes.
Killing intent spilled out of him like a tide. The temperature of the entire street seemed to plunge.
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