"Angelic beings have no need to lie," Enchantress reminded the approaching Destroyer, her voice dripping with a cool confidence.
"That may be so, but we do in fact lie," Vermont interjected, stepping into the conversation smoothly. Enchantress turned, her gaze narrowing on the angel, her interest piqued.
"We never lie because there is never a need to. However, should the need arise, I can confidently tell you that your life is in no danger, and I will personally ensure your safety." Vermont's tone was calm but authoritative, as if he were giving a gentle reminder of the rules of their celestial game. The Sorceress, however, scoffed in response, unimpressed by his reassurances.
Before the tension could build any further, Circe approached the group, walking up behind Gohan and Chronoa with a casual grace, almost as if she didn't care about the chaos unfolding before her. "Well, I wanted to find a beach and get the best martini I could find before you got caught, but I guess this will have to do," she said with a mocking smile, reaching out and grabbing a handful of Enchantress's hair without hesitation, as if she were plucking a flower.
Turning to Gohan and Chronoa, she bowed slightly, her eyes glinting with purpose. "Please allow me to retake what she stole from me," she requested, her voice calm but firm.
Enchantress smirked, her arrogance unfazed. "Look at you, you've become quite the lapdog," she taunted, her voice laced with venom. Circe, however, didn't even blink. The insult slid off her like water off a duck's back.
Gohan, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by the exchange. Vermont, sensing Gohan's bewilderment, stepped in to clarify.
"So, she stole your essence?" Gohan asked, his voice carefully measured. Circe nodded, her expression betraying a hint of frustration.
"If you would allow me to reclaim what was mine, I'd be most grateful," Circe explained, though it was clear from her posture that she hadn't fully recovered from having her essence torn from her.
Gohan, ever the pragmatist, nodded. Circe smirked, her confidence returning, as Enchantress let out a barely audible groan, realizing what was about to happen.
'Now, onto greener pastures,' Merno thought, turning his back on the scene. He walked away without a second glance, leaving Enchantress to scream in agony behind him. 'If I'm not mistaken, it should be this way,' he mused as he strode purposefully forward.
Chronoa, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but wince as Enchantress writhed in pain, her essence violently shaken. She sent out a quick telepathic message. 'Trunks, there's an intruder running around the Time Nest. Find out where he is—it's an Angel.'
A young man with purple hair and a sword strapped to his back nodded absentmindedly. "Understood, Lady Chronoa," he replied, his tone serious, though his mind seemed elsewhere.
Meanwhile, far from the chaos, the Grand Priest's gaze lingered on the King seated upon his throne, the silence between them thick with unspoken tension. "Is it so strange for me to be seated in silence?" Zeno asked, his childlike voice cutting through the stillness, catching his assistant off guard.
"Forgive me, Grand Zeno," the Grand Priest began, quickly recovering from his surprise. "I have never seen you sit passively while turmoil brews in the Omni-Verse. You have always erased first, never questioned. I have always trusted your judgment in these matters."
"But you didn't this time," Zeno said, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "You chose to stay silent and allow the mortals and deities a fighting chance. Have my previous actions seemed unfair? Is that why you chose not to inform me about your son first? And the trouble he is scheming?"
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The Grand Priest, though under intense scrutiny, did not flinch. "Certainly not, my lord. The mortals have always followed the rules you laid forth. Those who did not were rightfully erased. The emergence of my son, Merno, is not their fault. The mortals played our game and won, so it was only right that their victory should not bring about their destruction. That blunder falls on my shoulders. As the Angel who spoke the wish to the Super Dragon Balls, should anyone deserve to be erased for Merno's return, it should be me."
He bowed his head slightly, his tone steady and unwavering.
Zeno tilted his head, considering his words. "So, you were looking to save your own skin?" Zeno asked, his expression unreadable.
"Partially," the Grand Priest admitted. "But I am also aware that you had already foreseen this. Had I angered you, I would have been removed from service long ago. I was merely acting according to your will." His voice carried no fear, only calm acceptance.
Zeno nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "You're one of the few who can figure out that this situation is entirely by my design. But you're right—I did it this way because something new and interesting would come of it. There are things that only I know," he said, his voice taking on a slightly cryptic tone. "And just as all things, creation will eventually reach harmony once again. No matter how many Omni-Cycles you have to endure, I believe you will be the perfect leader."
The Grand Zeno waved his hand dismissively, and in an instant, the Grand Priest and everything around them changed, leaving Zeno alone. The Supreme Being sat quietly, his mind swirling with thoughts. 'How peculiar. Should I let this little angel run amok? I can't see the outcome... which only means something interesting will happen,' Zeno mused to himself, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 'Something that will affect even me...' He closed his eyes.
'That time is approaching...'
Back on Earth.
"Alright, so as we move, you have to say 'FUSION HA.' It's not necessary, but it helps sync us," Karen explained, her tone more serious than one would expect given the circumstances. Kara, on the other hand, just blinked at her, arms crossed, trying her best not to let her embarrassment show.
"I'm surprised that you, of all people, would do a goofy dance like this," Kara said, her eyebrow raised, as if she were trying to decide if Karen was being serious or if this was some sort of elaborate joke.
Karen's cheeks turned a faint shade of red. "Don't remind me," she muttered, quickly glancing away. "But Maste—uh, I mean, Goku—told me that the resulting power between two compatible people would basically be unstoppable," she explained, stumbling a little over her words.
"Wow. Never thought I'd live to see the day where Karen of all people would call someone 'master,'" Dinah quipped, leaning against a nearby pillar, her expression amused. Oliver, standing next to her, gave a small nod in agreement, arms folded as if trying to hold back his own smirk.
Karen crossed her arms defensively, trying to shrug it off. "Goku's... different. He's a really good teacher," she admitted, her voice softening slightly, almost as if the words themselves felt strange coming out of her mouth. "I think he's the only person I'd ever acknowledge as a master. He taught me lessons that I couldn't have learned anywhere else."
The rest of the group exchanged glances, their incredulous expressions only growing deeper. Karen's sudden open-mindedness was almost like a 180-degree turn from the rigid warrior they were used to seeing. It was like whiplash for everyone present.
Kara, catching the vibe, just stood back and watched it all unfold, barely holding back a chuckle. 'I get it,' she thought to herself, recalling her own moments of learning from unusual sources. Sometimes, even the most rigid people could surprise you.
Oblivious to the growing tension between herself and the amused onlookers, Karen continued, completely focused. "Don't worry about lowering your energy. I can match it. You just need to follow my every move," she said with determination, her voice a mix of focus and slight awkwardness.
As they moved in sync, the rest of the heroes watched with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Do you really think this is gonna work?" Oliver asked, his tone filled with just the right amount of skepticism.
Dinah, ever the optimist, just shrugged, her playful smile not fading. "If it does, our minds will be blown. If it doesn't, well... at least we'll be entertained. Simple." She grinned at him before turning her gaze back to the Kryptonians, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Karen and Kara synchronized their movements as they prepared for the final step, their determination apparent. "Fu—"
Their arms and legs moved with precision...