Chapter 11 - Her Resolution

 

“Thank you for the meal...” Mitarashi said with a faint smile.

The immense gravitational force faded away. Space slowly returned to normal, and the terrifying pressure that had distorted the stars vanished as though it had never existed.

Broly approached her cautiously.

His heart pounded against his chest.

The woman standing before him had avenged his father, destroyed the Great Devourer, and effortlessly ended the life of the monster's master. Words failed him.

Overwhelmed by gratitude, he lowered himself and reached for her foot, intending to bow before her.

“Broly, you do not need to do that.”

Her voice was gentle.

As she spoke, her appearance returned to that of the familiar Kai of Time. The endless black hair receded into soft white waves, and the terrifying aura that had filled the cosmos disappeared without a trace.

“I-I don't know how to thank you...” Broly stammered, looking up at her. Tears welled in his eyes. “For bringing justice to my father... and to all of our men.”

Mitarashi gazed down at him with compassionate eyes.

Without hesitation, she reached out and cupped his cheek.

Then she gently guided his head to her shoulder.

That simple act shattered the last of his composure.

Broly broke down in tears.

“Your suffering is over now, Broly,” she whispered softly.

As she comforted him, he reverted fully to his base form. His green hair faded into black, and his massive frame relaxed. Mitarashi slowly patted the back of his head, the golden nail guards on her fingers producing a faint metallic chime with every movement.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Eventually, Broly pulled away and wiped his eyes.

“What do I do now?” he asked between sniffles. “I have nowhere left to go.”

Mitarashi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Then return with me to Lord Black's planet,” she suggested. “You are welcome there.”

Broly stared at her for a moment before nodding.

Then Mitarashi's expression became more serious.

“There is one thing I must ask of you.”

Broly straightened immediately.

“Everything you witnessed today...” she began, her golden eyes meeting his, “must remain between us.”

He blinked.

“Why?”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“Because Lord Black must not know who I am.”

She paused briefly.

“At least not yet.”

Broly thought about the terrifying being he had witnessed only moments ago.

Then he nodded firmly.

“You have my word,” he said. “I will keep your secret.”

Mitarashi smiled.

“Thank you, Broly.”

With that, the two turned toward home, leaving behind the silent remains of a battle that would never be recorded in the history of the universe.

The two finally returned to Planet Nyan-Qing.

To their surprise, the emperor and his people welcomed them with music, cheers, and showers of colorful confetti. The unexpected celebration left both Mitarashi and Broly momentarily dumbfounded.

“Miss Mitarashi! Broly! You both did wonderfully!” the emperor exclaimed as he hurried toward them. “Lord Black's condition has improved significantly!”

A smile appeared on Mitarashi's face.

She and Broly offered the emperor a respectful bow.

“I am relieved to hear that Lord Black has recovered, Your Majesty,” she said warmly. “I would also like to sincerely thank you for granting us refuge during such difficult times.”

The emperor beamed.

“The Empire of Nyan-Qing will always lend its aid whenever you require it!”

“Your generosity is greatly appreciated,” Mitarashi replied.

After exchanging a few more words, the pair excused themselves and made their way toward the palace gardens.

As they approached, Mitarashi spotted a familiar figure standing beside one of the ponds.

His hands were clasped behind his back as he quietly observed the carnivorous koi swimming beneath the surface.

Goku Black.

He appeared calm and healthy once more.

For a moment, Mitarashi stopped walking.

She simply watched him from a distance.

A sense of relief washed over her.

Slowly, she stepped forward and knelt.

Broly followed suit.

“You have returned,” Goku Black said without turning around. “It seems you found the Great Devourer and dealt with it.”

He finally glanced over his shoulder, a faint smile resting on his face.

“On your feet, both of you.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Mitarashi rose gracefully, followed by Broly.

“I am truly glad that your health has returned,” she said. “I could not have accomplished this without Broly's tremendous strength and assistance.”

As she approached her master, she instinctively began to extend her arm toward him, as though wishing to embrace him.

Halfway through the motion, she stopped.

Her hand lingered for only a moment before she lowered it once more and folded it neatly against her abdomen.

Fortunately, neither Goku Black nor Broly seemed to notice.

“You both performed well,” Goku Black said casually. “Now come. Let us return home and discuss everything you discovered.”

A gentle smile touched Mitarashi's lips.

“As you wish, my lord.”

She bowed her head in agreement.

For the first time in days, she felt at peace.

Her master was safe.

And for now, that was all that mattered.

Back on Goku Black’s planet, the Destroyer God resumed his place upon his throne in the living room. As always, Mitarashi served him his favorite cup of tea. He took a slow sip before setting the cup on the side table beside him.

Broly and Nia sat cross-legged on the carpet facing their master, with Mitarashi seated beside them, all patiently waiting for him to speak.

“What happened over the past few days was chaotic,” Goku Black began. “Even I, as a god, could hardly comprehend that such events could unfold.”

His gaze settled on Mitarashi.

“Mitarashi, as my closest confidant, you did everything in your power to nurse me back to health. You investigated the source of my illness and searched tirelessly for a way to eliminate the Great Devourer. Your dedication is greatly appreciated.”

“Thank you for your kind words, my lord,” Mitarashi replied with a gentle smile. “It is an honor to serve you.”

The Destroyer God then turned toward the princess.

“Nia, you cared for me while I was weakened. You're not only a talented cook but also a capable caregiver. I commend your efforts.”

“At your service forever, my lord!” Nia chirped cheerfully, puffing out her chest with pride.

Goku Black allowed himself a small smile before shifting his attention to the Saiyan.

“Now, Broly.”

The towering warrior immediately straightened.

“Your role in defeating the Great Devourer was admirable. Through Mitarashi’s guidance, you finally attained the justice you sought for your father. Considering your service, your loyalty to your family, and the fact that you have nowhere else to go...” He paused briefly.

“I would like to offer you a permanent place here as one of my attendants.”

Broly's eyes widened with excitement.

“I would be honored to serve you, my lord!” he replied with heartfelt determination.

“Good. Then it is settled.”

Goku Black glanced toward Mitarashi.

“Mitarashi, help Broly prepare a room. He will be joining our household.”

“Yes, my lord. I will see to it immediately.” She bowed politely before turning to Broly with a smile. “Congratulations on becoming Lord Black’s newest attendant.”

“Aww... too bad.” Nia pouted. “I wanted to turn him into fish food.”

Broly blinked.

“Why do you want me to become fish food?”

“Because you smell like fish food,” she replied with a mischievous grin.

The Saiyan immediately began sniffing himself in alarm.

“Nia,” Mitarashi said with a patient sigh, “no one is becoming fish food. Broly will make an excellent sparring partner for our lord, and he can also help tend the gardens.”

“Oh, I like gardening,” Broly said with an innocent smile.

Nia stared at him for a moment.

“You’re surprisingly soft-spoken for someone so huge and intimidating.”

“Soft-spoken men are quite rare these days,” Mitarashi commented warmly. “I think Broly’s gentle nature is one of his greatest strengths.”

As the conversation continued, Goku Black lowered his gaze to the tea in his hands. He slowly swirled the liquid inside the cup before speaking.

“It is rare to meet someone like him nowadays.”

The others looked toward him.

“Despite his appearance, he carries himself with humility.” He paused thoughtfully. “Truthfully... I was rather soft-spoken myself before becoming a God of Destruction.”

The room fell silent.

Even Nia looked surprised.

Realizing what he had just admitted, Goku Black cleared his throat and straightened in his seat.

“We are getting off topic.”

His voice returned to its usual authoritative tone.

“What I meant to say is that I am grateful for all of your dedication and determination. Thanks to your efforts, this matter has been resolved.”

He took another sip of tea.

“At last, we may return to our ordinary, uneventful lives.”

Nia groaned dramatically.

“Ordinary and uneventful sounds boring.”

“I agree,” Broly added.

Goku Black ignored them.

“Nia, show Broly around the planet. Mitarashi, remain here. There is something I wish to discuss with you.”

“Yes, my lord,” the three replied in unison.

Nia and Broly rose to their feet, offered a final respectful bow, stepped backward three times, and departed from the room together.

Soon, only Mitarashi and the Destroyer God remained.

Mitarashi stood quietly before the throne, hands folded neatly over her abdomen, patiently awaiting whatever questions her master wished to ask.

“You toiled tirelessly... You did everything you could to save me,” he whispered.

“I merely did what was required of me, my lord,” Mitarashi replied calmly.

The Destroyer God's gaze drifted toward the nail guards adorning her fingers. His hand twitched upon the armrest, as though he intended to reach for hers, yet he stopped himself and instead looked away.

“Bathe me,” he commanded.

“Yes, my lord.”

Later, the Destroyer God sat immersed in a bath of warm water, rose petals floating gently across its surface. Mitarashi poured fragrant bath oil into the tub, the soft dripping echoing throughout the quiet chamber. His arms rested along the rim as steam rose around him.

“Tell me...” His lips barely moved. “What happened?”

“Are you familiar with a man named Fuuja?” she asked while gently stirring the scented water with her fingers.

“The Crown Prince of the Rebasu Empire. Son of Emperor Fuusa,” Goku Black muttered.

“He claimed that you were responsible for the destruction of his empire.”

Mitarashi dipped a cloth into the bathwater and carefully wiped across his chest.

“I did everything I could to save them,” he replied, lifting his chin slightly as the cloth reached his neck.

“The Rebasu Empire was worse than the Saiyans and Frieza's forces combined. They colonized countless worlds and established themselves as the superior race wherever they settled. In doing so, they devastated the ecology of much of the Northern Cluster.”

His fingers absentmindedly played with a cluster of floating rose petals.

“At the time, I was the North Kai. I brought my concerns to the former God of Destruction, yet he dismissed them entirely.”

He let out a quiet sigh.

“I understood what happens to advanced civilizations. They often collapse faster than they rise. I warned the Rebasu leadership that if they continued down that path, their empire would eventually fall. Many listened to my counsel, especially because I was the North Kai.”

A shadow crossed his expression.

“Unfortunately, the one person who needed to believe me most... did not.”

He looked down at the water.

“Fuuja was my friend.”

Mitarashi paused but remained silent.

“He claimed my warnings threatened his smooth ascent to the throne. I told him only the truth, yet he attacked me and swore that if the empire ever collapsed, it would be my fault.”

The Destroyer God gathered a handful of rose petals from the water, staring at them as though they carried old memories.

“And then the very future I feared came to pass.”

His voice grew quieter.

“Their colonies rebelled and fought for independence. Much of their military was destroyed. Famine followed. Civil war erupted soon after. By the time Fuuja finally ascended the throne, the empire was already crumbling beneath him.”

The petals slowly slipped through his fingers and drifted back onto the water's surface.

“His empire collapsed the moment he inherited it.”

For a long moment, he simply watched the petals float.

“And even now...” he murmured bitterly, “he still blames me.”

He turned toward Mitarashi, meeting her gaze directly.

“Was it Fuuja who tamed the Great Devourer?” he asked quietly.

“Sadly, yes, my lord.” Mitarashi lowered her eyes for a moment. “I know his story in its entirety. I have seen his life, and I can assure you that everything you told me is the truth.”

Goku Black fell silent.

“I am disappointed that he would go to such lengths just to kill me,” he said at last, sorrow evident in his voice.

He shifted slightly in the bath, causing gentle ripples to spread across the water and disturb the floating rose petals.

“I once considered him a friend.”

His eyes lingered on the petals drifting across the surface.

“I warned him because I wanted to save his people, not destroy them.”

His fingers brushed through the water absentmindedly.

“And yet, after all these years, his hatred remained strong enough to consume him.”

A bitter smile formed on his lips.

“In the end, he became the very thing he accused me of being.”

A single teardrop fell from his eye.

“How did he tame the Great Devourer?” he asked.

“By making a wish using the Purple Dragon Balls,” Mitarashi replied.

Goku Black tilted his head toward her.

“Are they more powerful than the Super Dragon Balls?”

“Not quite, my lord. However, they are said to be nearly as powerful,” she answered.

“Do you know where they are located?”

“Yes. They are hidden within the Western Cluster and guarded by a Namekian named Natto.”

“We should investigate them soon,” he commanded.

“Yes, my lord.”

A brief silence followed before another thought crossed his mind.

“Now tell me,” he said, “how exactly did Broly destroy the Great Devourer?”

Mitarashi gently folded the damp towel in her hands.

“Once we tracked down Fuuja, we discovered that the Great Devourer was connected to him, almost as if their lives were linked. Broly defeated Fuuja first, and shortly afterward, the creature began to crumble away like dust.”

Goku Black listened intently.

“However,” she continued, “Fuuja was wearing a Time Breaker Mask.”

The Destroyer God's brows furrowed.

“A Time Breaker Mask?”

“Yes. Fortunately, I managed to recover several fragments before they were lost.”

She reached into her sleeve and produced a tiny shard of dark material, holding it up for him to see.

“I intend to investigate who supplied it to him. Such an artifact is forbidden, and its appearance raises many concerns.”

She carefully returned the fragment to her sleeve.

“Do not worry, my lord. Since this matter is connected to the Kais of Time, I will continue the investigation personally.”

Satisfied with her answer, Goku Black gave a slow nod and sank deeper into the warm water.

A moment later, another question surfaced in his mind.

“What exactly is a Time Breaker Mask?”

He sat upright, splashing water over the edge of the tub and onto the floor. A few droplets landed on Mitarashi's robes, though she paid them no mind.

“It is an artifact somewhat similar to a Time Ring,” she explained. “However, instead of just allowing travel through time and space, it amplifies the wearer's power and ki to extraordinary levels.”

Goku Black's expression darkened.

“That is dangerous.”

“It is, my lord.”

“If such items continue to circulate, they could threaten countless timelines.”

His voice carried a low growl.

“You had better investigate this thoroughly.”

Mitarashi bowed her head.

“Rest assured, my lord. I fully intend to.”

The following morning, Goku Black decided to visit Zamasu on the Supreme Kai's planet. Before leaving, Mitarashi packed a box of snacks that Princess Nia had specially prepared for the Supreme Kai.

As the two entered through the gates, they found Zamasu and Tatsu seated beneath a tree, leisurely sipping tea.

"I see you've finally recovered," the God of Destruction remarked with a pleased smile.

"Fortunately, Mitarashi and Broly eliminated the monster in time," Zamasu replied, setting his teacup down. "Otherwise, we would have ceased to exist."

"I never imagined Fuuja was behind all of this..." Goku Black said quietly, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"The lengths someone consumed by vengeance is willing to go should never be underestimated," Mitarashi commented as she gently placed the box of snacks onto the table.

"Indeed," Zamasu nodded. "It is a terrifying truth."

He paused for a moment before asking,

"I still wonder... how did he manage to make that creature obey him?"

"Can you show us the Western Cluster?" Goku Black requested. "Mitarashi informed me that purple Dragon Balls exist within our universe. I assume they possess power comparable to the Super Dragon Balls."

"We have Dragon Balls of our own?" Zamasu asked in surprise, nearly overflowing his teacup. "Are those what he used to tame the Great Devourer?"

"So it would seem," Goku Black replied. "According to Mitarashi, a Namekian named Natto serves as their guardian. Fuuja used those Dragon Balls to control the monster."

"It sounds like we should investigate," Zamasu agreed.

Rising from his seat, he approached the enormous celestial orb behind him. Raising both hands, he activated its divine projection and began scanning the Western Cluster.

Meanwhile, Goku Black settled onto a nearby sofa while Mitarashi stood quietly beside him. Tatsu remained respectfully at her side.

As the orb searched through countless stars, it eventually focused on a small world resembling the Namekians' home planet. Unlike the lush world of Namek, however, this planet appeared to have once been barren before being carefully terraformed over many years.

"Hmm..." Zamasu murmured. "Only a single lifeform resides there—a lone Namekian. Is this the Natto you mentioned?"

"Most likely."

Now that the location had been confirmed, Zamasu turned toward the God of Destruction.

"What do you intend to do now?"

Goku Black accepted another cup of tea from Tatsu before answering.

"I'll pay him a visit. I simply want to confirm whether everything he told Mitarashi is true."

After finishing his tea, he handed the empty cup back to Mitarashi.

"And are you planning to destroy him?" Zamasu asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"No."

Goku Black leaned back comfortably.

"Those Dragon Balls are far too valuable to destroy. They may prove useful in the future."

"So..." Mitarashi began thoughtfully, "you intend to keep the Dragon Balls under our protection?"

"Exactly."

The destroyer's expression grew serious.

"If we safeguard them ourselves, no one will ever be able to abuse them the way Fuuja did."

He stood from the sofa and walked over to Zamasu, resting a reassuring hand on his counterpart's shoulder.

"I'll visit the Namekian soon enough. We can't allow another incident like this to happen."

Zamasu smiled softly, placing his trust in his other half.

Meanwhile, Mitarashi quietly instructed Tatsu to store Princess Nia's snacks before she and Goku Black departed.

 

Upon returning home, Goku Black walked into the courtyard and sat upon the wooden swing beneath the great tree. Grasping the ropes loosely, he stared into the distance as the cool afternoon breeze swept across the planet, gently stirring his ebony hair.

"We should visit that Namekian immediately," he said at last.

Mitarashi stood before him with her hands neatly clasped over her abdomen.

"Right now, my lord?"

"Yes."

Though his face remained composed, countless thoughts raced through his mind. Without realizing it, he gently pushed against the ground with his feet, causing the swing to rock back and forth.

"You seem troubled, my lord," Mitarashi observed.

"A set of Dragon Balls with that much power cannot be left unchecked," he admitted quietly. "Who knows what else they are capable of? Perhaps they can grant even greater miracles... or perhaps multiple wishes with a single summoning."

His voice carried an uneasiness that Mitarashi had rarely heard from him.

She smiled reassuringly.

"Do not worry, my lord. Let us see these Dragon Balls with our own eyes before drawing conclusions."

Goku Black nodded.

"Very well."

He rose from the swing.

Mitarashi turned toward the open sky, and Goku Black rested a hand upon her shoulder.

Without another word, space itself folded around them as she teleported the two divine beings to the Western Cluster, where the mysterious Namekian guardian awaited.