Chapter 332:
– Layla –
I sat at the very edge of Lady Death's realm, staring out into the endless void of stars and galaxies. My bare feet dangled lazily over the edge, and I swung them slightly, lost in thought.
As incredible as the view was, I barely noticed it at the moment—my mind was occupied by a rather serious discussion with my System.
I sighed softly, rubbing my temples. "Alright, System, let's slow down and run this by me one more time—clearly. What's this plan you have?" I asked. "Because I refuse to give up my Gamer status. That's just non-negotiable at this point."
[Don't worry—there is a loophole we could potentially exploit. One that will probably be patched out once you pull this off…]
I sat up straighter at that. "A loophole? You have my attention. Go on, explain."
[Gamer Systems like myself don't just randomly spawn out of nothingness. In truth, existing Gamer Systems are capable of generating new Gamer Systems once their Host reaches a certain threshold of strength and capability.]
I tilted my head, surprised. "Wait, you're telling me that you could essentially reproduce yourself into a completely new Gamer System?"
The System paused for a moment, as if carefully considering its answer.
[In essence, yes. You've grown incredibly powerful, Host—powerful enough that I now possess the capacity to split myself into two independent Systems. One part would stay with you, and the other part would create an entirely new Gamer.]
I was intrigued. "Go on…"
[If we did this–ME–the half that remains connected to you could safely accompany you to another gamer's multiverse, because I'd be "weakened" enough to not be noticed essentially by any other Systems...]
"That sounds almost too good to be true," I admitted slowly, curiosity piqued. "What's the catch?"
The System replied quickly, as if expecting my skepticism.
[When I split, like I said, I will temporarily be weakened. You won't be able to accept quests or gain experience and level up for roughly one week.]
I shrugged lightly. Honestly, the temporary loss of quests and levels didn't bother me much at all. At my current state, leveling up had become nearly irrelevant.
I was already strong enough to obliterate gods, demons, and any other cosmic entities. Plus, after completing this Phoenix Force trial, I'd have the Life Stone added to my collection. I doubted leveling up further would even make a difference at this point.
"That's not a problem," I assured the System. "Considering how strong I already am, a week without leveling up isn't exactly a deal-breaker. But tell me this—how do I choose the person who becomes the new Gamer? Can it be anyone I want?"
[Yes, Host. You have complete control over the selection process. However, I strongly advise you to choose someone… carefully.]
I nodded thoughtfully, leaning back on my hands, staring quietly out into the expanse of stars.
There was really only one choice then… Well technically three.
…
I stepped out of a swirling purple portal, emerging silently into the softly illuminated bedroom of my three daughters. The portal closed gently behind me, the room instantly becoming peaceful again, leaving only the soft glow of magical lanterns floating gently near the ceiling.
Hilga, Sia, and Lia were all sleeping soundly, curled up comfortably in their beds. It was long past their bedtimes, and thankfully, the protective wards didn't trigger any alarms at my sudden intrusion to wake them up. I'd keyed myself directly into their magic long ago, meaning they welcomed my presence without issue.
I smiled fondly at the sight of my girls, feeling a surge of warm pride in my chest. Each of them was so incredibly precious, and I'd do absolutely anything to ensure their safety and happiness.
Which was exactly why I was here.
My children mattered above everyone else. If I had the chance to share something as incredible as a Gamer System, then I wanted my daughters to have it—to protect themselves and become as powerful and independent as possible.
Of course, there was absolutely no way in hell I'd let three toddlers have that much power right now.
[Rest assured, Host. I can ensure the new Gamer Systems will remain completely dormant until your daughters reach approximately eighteen years of age. They'll have no indication or knowledge of its existence until that moment.]
That sounded perfect to me. I was relieved knowing my kids would have normal–ish childhoods before receiving such overwhelming power.
The System had also warned me about its own limitations. I wasn't the kind of mom to pick favorites. I wanted all three of my girls and maybe even Heather (if she wanted it) to have System's of their own as well.
The System told me though that it couldn't just split over and over and it would take years for that to be feasible. That was fine with me. There was no rush, my daughters were still only three years old. We had plenty of time.
Careful not to wake them, I moved silently to Hilga's bed. My little Asgardian princess slept peacefully. I gently brushed a strand of black hair away from her tiny face, bending down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.
"I love you, Hilga," I whispered softly.
The second my lips touched her skin, I felt it—a sharp, wrenching pain in my chest, as if something vital was slowly torn away from deep within me. I grimaced, forcing myself not to pull away as a faint glow enveloped Hilga for just a moment before fading away completely.
[It is done, Host. Half of myself has now successfully integrated into Hilga. Her Gamer System is safely dormant and will awaken naturally when she turns eighteen.]
I exhaled slowly, waiting until the pain faded away completely before responding mentally, 'Thank you. You've done more than enough for now.'
Stepping back, I gave my daughter another loving smile, feeling deeply satisfied. Hilga would be safer, stronger, and able to stand against anything when she grew up. It was a comforting thought.
"I promise, Sia and Lia," I whispered, glancing at my other two sleeping girls, "you'll both get your turn eventually. You'll all have the power to keep yourselves safe. But your mommy has to wait a bit longer, okay?"
They remained blissfully asleep.
My gaze drifted toward the closed bedroom door, thoughts shifting quickly to the rest of my loved ones here in Asgard. I considered briefly visiting some of my lovers to say a proper goodbye before I left on this dangerous mission.
But if I did that, they'd undoubtedly insist on accompanying me. Technically, after my unexpected two-year disappearance into a black hole, we'd all agreed that at least one person should always accompany me on my adventures from now on. They'd argued—quite convincingly—that they never wanted to lose me again. And truthfully, I understood their fear and agreed wholeheartedly.
But this…was different. Facing another Gamer, one whose power I knew nothing about, was a risk I couldn't let anyone else take with me. Maybe this other Gamer was weaker, or maybe they'd match me blow-for-blow.
The only thing I knew for sure was that they were "evil."
I had to handle this alone.
Well, perhaps not entirely alone.
Smiling softly, I held out my hand and summoned Ten-chan. In a blink, my beautiful zanpakutō appeared in sword form. The blade vibrated softly, obviously surprised by the sudden summoning. "Momma?" Ten-chan's voice rang out curiously in my mind. "What's going on?"
"Sorry for the sudden summoning," I whispered softly, running my thumb along the handle to comfort her. "But we're going on a very important mission. I don't want anyone else at risk, so it's just going to be you and me. Think you're up for it?"
Ten-chan's confusion shifted instantly into firm determination. "Of course!"
Warmth filled my chest at her unwavering loyalty. "Thanks, Ten-chan. I knew I could count on you."
Her blade hummed in satisfaction as I placed her carefully into my Inventory.
Turning back to my sleeping other daughters, I smiled tenderly one last time. "I love you all," I whispered. "Be good until I get back."
And then, with quiet resolve, I opened another purple portal in the center of the room, stepping through it. The moment I stepped out of the portal, I found myself right back in Lady Death's throne room. The familiar dark and cold surroundings greeted me warmly as the champion of Lady Death.
Lady Death was lounging on her throne, a seductive smirk on her lips as she caught sight of me. Her slender fingers gently patted her thigh again, clearly inviting me to return to her lap.
I laughed softly and playfully shook my head, giving her an amused look. "Nope, sorry. If we start fooling around, we'll never get anything important done…"
She pouted dramatically, crossing her arms beneath her full chest. "No fun…"
"Business first, pleasure later, my love," I promised her gently, giving her a teasing wink.
Lady Death sighed dramatically, clearly disappointed but understanding. "Very well, Phoenix, please inform my beloved exactly where she'll be going."
The Phoenix Force stood near Lady Death, watching our interaction quietly with faint amusement flickering in her golden eyes. "Layla, I have been closely monitoring a certain nearby multiverse—one that has recently gained my attention due to its... peculiarities."
I tilted my head curiously. "You have my attention."
"This multiverse possesses mortals capable of extraordinary feats," she explained. "Even ordinary humans there can gain strength great enough to obliterate entire planets with ease."
My eyes widened in instant recognition. Could it really be…?
The Phoenix continued calmly, apparently not noticing my surprise yet. "Moreover, within this multiverse exist powerful artifacts—seven mystical orange orbs capable of summoning a dragon who can grant near-limitless wishes. The magnitude of these wishes easily rivals the powers you've experienced with your Infinity Stones."
I blinked, my heartbeat picking up as excitement bubbled inside me. "Wait, orange orbs? Planet-busting mortals? You—You don't mean…"
Lady Death chuckled quietly, finally breaking her seductive pout. She clearly already knew about my enthusiasm for this particular universe. "Yes, Layla. She's talking about the Dragon Ball multiverse."
"Holy shit!" I burst out eagerly, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. "I'm seriously going to Dragon Ball? You have no idea how amazing this is! That's like my childhood favorite universe of all time!" I then paused for a second and stared at Lady Death. "Wait? How do you know about Dragon Ball?"
"I get bored from time to time and even I enjoy reading mortal works of fiction," she replied.
Fair enough. I smiled at her and suggested we have a watch party sometime with the whole family!
Lady Death smiled warmly at my enthusiasm, clearly pleased that I was so excited for this particular task. "I'm glad you're happy about my hobbies, dearest. But please stay focused."
[She's one to talk, considering she wanted you back on her lap a second ago…]
I nodded. "Right, sorry. Phoenix, please continue. What's this evil Gamer's goal there?"
"Currently, the most powerful being within that multiverse—a childlike entity known as Zen-Oh—is hosting an event called the Tournament of Power. During this tournament, teams from multiple universes shall battle fiercely for their survival. The victor of this tournament receives a single wish granted by these "Super Dragon Balls," the strongest wishing artifacts in existence!" The Phoenix explained dramatically.
Lady Death rolled her eyes, giving an exasperated sigh. "Unfortunately, the real version of Zen-Oh himself isn't particularly bright. He's far too innocent and naive to comprehend the catastrophic possibilities someone could create by abusing such immense power. He doesn't even realize that someone might wish to claim all of his abilities for themselves…"
I instantly grasped her words, feeling my stomach tighten in concern. "And obviously, that's exactly what this evil Gamer is planning to do."
The Phoenix nodded at me, telling me my task was to stop them and slay them. I don't think she particularly cared how I went about it as long as they didn't succeed in usurping Zen-Oh and then possibly becoming a greater threat.
I stood quietly for a moment, absorbing everything I'd heard carefully.
Despite the seriousness of the task, I couldn't deny the thrill that raced through me. I was actually going to step foot into the Dragon Ball universe during the Tournament of Power! I was going to get to fight alongside—or maybe even against—characters I'd grown up loving and watching.
My lips curved upward into a wide, delighted grin. "This is going to be so incredible. I can't wait to get in on that action!"
The Phoenix Force cleared her throat politely. "When you're ready, Layla, I can open the portal to that multiverse."
I stepped back slightly, giving Phoenix an eager smile. "Alright then, let's do this!"
A brilliant golden-orange portal formed in front of me, shimmering brightly in the throne room. I glanced back over my shoulder at Lady Death one last time, flashing a confident grin.
"Wish me luck," I said cheerfully, stepping toward the shimmering gateway.
Lady Death smiled lovingly, eyes full of warmth and affection. "You don't need luck, my dearest. You're more than powerful enough. Now go—save the Dragon Ball multiverse, and hurry back to me…"
…
I stepped out of the portal, feeling my feet sink lightly into a patch of grass. I glanced up and saw a clear blue sky filled with soft clouds drifting lazily overhead. The air smelled fresh, and I could sense the presence of very powerful energies dotted all around this world.
It was definitely Earth, but not the one I came from.
I couldn't help the flutter of excitement in my stomach.
Turning my head, I noticed an Asian-style dojo just a few yards away. A sudden spike of energy came from inside. Whoever was in there had already sensed me because I felt their "ki" focus on my location. They were heading toward me, and they were fast.
My eyes lit up. I wondered which Dragon Ball character it would be!
Unfortunately, the door slid open to reveal a tall, bald man with three eyes. My excitement dropped instantly. It was just Tien Shinhan.
Lame.
Inside my head, the System snickered.
[You're being rude, Host. Even if he can't read your mind…]
I sighed mentally. 'Fine, I know he's strong and all for a human, but he's not exactly my favorite.'
Tien eyed me warily as he came to a halt in front of me. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he demanded, his tone gruff as his three eyes bored into me.
I cleared my throat, deciding I'd keep it polite. "You're Tien Shinhan, right?" I asked, even though I knew perfectly well who he was.
He gave a brief nod, still tense and suspicious. "Yeah, and you still haven't answered my question."
I offered him my friendliest grin, trying to calm him down. "My name is Layla of the Fallen, and I'm here to take your place in the Tournament of Power."
Tien's eyes widened, shock plain on his face. "What? You can't just barge in and do that! I don't even know who you are!"
I shrugged casually. Technically, he was right. I was a random stranger who suddenly appeared in his yard. "That's not important," I said, dismissing the detail with a wave of my hand. "What's important is that the survival of this entire universe is at stake. You need the absolute strongest warriors for the Tournament of Power. If you can't beat me, you don't deserve to take part, right?"
I caught a flash of anger in Tien's eyes. He folded his arms over his chest defensively. "Fine, I guess you have a right to challenge me," he said, huffing a bit. Then he looked me up and down, taking in the outfit I was wearing. A sleek, low-cut black dress that showed quite a bit of my impressive cleavage. Tien snorted derisively. "Are you planning on fighting me dressed like that?"
I glared at him, irritated that he was insulting Lady Death's dress. But he had a point—it wasn't exactly appropriate for a brawl. "No," I snapped. "And don't talk shit about my dress."
I snapped my fingers, channeling a spark of my magic to switch outfits. Instantly, Lady Death's dark gown was gone, back in my inventory, now replaced by a comfy T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Simple, practical, and perfect for a quick brawl.
Tien rolled his three eyes. "Neat trick. So you do know some magic. Magic usually can't hold up against ki, though."
I smirked, crossing my arms. "Yeah? Maybe in your experience. Let's just say you haven't met someone quite like me before."
His expression hardened, clearly ready for a fight. "Fine. We'll do this your way. If I lose, you can take my spot in the Tournament. But I don't plan on losing."
I couldn't help the little thrill of excitement that sparked inside me. This was my first real match in the Dragon Ball world—and I was itching to see how my cosmic power stacked up against Tien's ki-based abilities. This might be fun, or maybe it'd be over in a single move. Either way, I was ready to see how serious Tien could get.
"Let's see what you've got," I said, cracking my knuckles and standing in a loose fighting stance… It's been a while since I just punched a bitch.
– Goku –
Goku sat at Bulma's kitchen table, shoving food into his mouth as fast as he could swallow. Vegeta, Beerus, and Whis were seated around him. There were plates and bowls piled high with various dishes, and Goku was determined to devour as much as he could.
Him and Vegeta needed the energy for the upcoming fight in the Tournament of Power!
Between bites, Beerus glared at Goku, annoyance clear on his purple face. "You'd better have picked a good team, Goku! I'm not about to get erased because you made stupid choices again."
Goku paused long enough to catch his breath. "Relax, Beerus. I got the strongest guys I know together, and we'll all do great. Just trust me!"
Beerus growled, displeased. He stabbed at his food with a pair of chopsticks, though his aggression didn't stop him from eating everything in sight. "I still can't believe Majin Buu is suddenly out of the tournament. You'd better have a backup for him..." he grumbled.
Goku shrugged, grabbing another rice ball. "Yeah, that sucks. Buu fell asleep and won't wake up in time." He tried to sound confident. "But everything will still work out. I've got an idea for our tenth member and everyone else is ready in top shape!"
Well, he hoped they were at least…
Vegeta set down his cup. His expression turned serious. "Kakarot, do you feel that energy spike on the other side of the planet?"
Goku tensed, swallowing the food in his mouth. He closed his eyes briefly, sensing the disturbance. There was a strong ki flaring in the distance, accompanied by Tien's familiar energy signature.
Another ki felt strange—unlike anything Goku had sensed before.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell is that fighting Three-Eyes?"
"It feels like a woman," Goku muttered. He focused harder for a second, trying to gauge her power level. It was hard to tell. She was suppressing it or something. But still…
"Wow, she's strong…and Tien's getting his but kicked."
Vegeta growled. "For fuck's sake. Right before the tournament too…"
Beerus flicked his chopsticks onto the table, clearly annoyed. "Goku, you better check it out. We can't lose another member or we'll be disqualified!"
Goku chuckled nervously and wiped his mouth. He pushed his chair back and stood up, patting his stomach to settle all the food he'd devoured. "I guess I have to," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, I'll go see what's happening. Don't eat all the rest without me, okay?"
Vegeta rolled his eyes, and Beerus snorted. Whis gave a slight, amused smile. Goku tuned out the rest of the chatter, focusing on Tien's energy. Once he had a clear lock, Goku raised two fingers to his forehead.
"See you guys in a minute," he said, and with a quick burst of Instant Transmission, he vanished from Bulma's house to find out what was going on over at Tien's place.
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