Gowasu and I entered a room filled with artifacts lining the shelves around us. As I took in some of the stranger objects Gowasu opened a drawer revealing the same box from yesterday. Gowasu took a deep breath as he opened it, revealing all the Time Rings present.
"Ah good, to be honest when they said someone had stolen a Time Ring I was worried someone had taken one under my nose." Gowasu closed the box and we began making our way back to Lord Beerus in the courtyard.
"Master who would steal a time ring, no rather who would be even capable of such a feat?" I had kept quiet during most of the conversation between Gowasu, Lord Beerus, and Whis. It was hardly my place to speak on such matters unspoken to, but the situation had my attention.
"Hm there is no way to know for certain, I could only assume a rogue Kai has misused the ring's power. Regardless the matter does not concern us, Lord Beerus is already looking into the matter."
"So we will do nothing then." I sighed sensing a pattern and unsatisfied again.
"For the time being yes, now come Lord Beerus and Whis are waiting for our return." Gowasu also seemed to know where our conversation was leading and rushed us out.
Outside Lord Beerus and Whis stood on the otherside of the table as Gowasu presented the Time Rings. "As you can see all the Time Rings are present and accounted for. Though I must ask why come to universe 10 for a problem in universe 7?"
As Gowasu and the other Gods spoke, I felt an ominous presence, the feeling of being hunted and watched. Looking to my left I saw Goku again, the look in the mortal's eye, hands clasped as hs approached me. Unnerved by the manic excitement in his eyes I began step away. Unfortunately this only seemed to encourage him as he quickly paced his way over, looking at me as if I knew what he wanted.
Enough of this! "Get away from me." I spoke sternly controlling my temper but he continued to pester me.
"All I'm asking for is quick fight, I just wanna see how strong you are!" A fight? He's still going on about such nonsense?
"Watch your tongue, you are speaking to a god!"
"Oh right I gotta ask propely." Oh please not again "Your holy Kai'ness sir I dearly and humbly ask sir to participate in a duel of fist O' cuffs sir Zamasu. Regardless sir of your answer I give you honor and glory sir!"
"No."
"Oh come on!"
I was about to snap at the mortal for his obsessive insolence when Gowasu spoke up. Apparently the 3 older gods had noticed our bickering. "Zamasu just fight him already."
Goku starting giggling like a fool while I stood dumbfounded.
"Master Gowasu please reconsider." Couldn't Lord Beerus just throw this mortal again? Into orbit perhaps?
"Now Zamasu this will be a good chance to understand the mortals."
But I don't want to understand THIS mortal! I could come to greater enlightenment conversing with a talking pig! Meanwhile Goku was thanking my master for answering his death wish. "Thanks Gowasu! For an old timer your pretty cool!"
"Now Zamasu your going to have to pull your punches ofcourse." This put the mortal into a frenzy.
"Whoa whoa! Hold it no one is holding back here!" The mortal turned and pointed at me "You better come at me with all you got you hear?"
My tolerance was just about at it's limits. My anger coming out as I growled "Well if you insist."
"Oh he does insist and you'd do well to listen." I was suprised by Lord Beerus' words, he looked at me with a sinister smile. "If you hold back you will die."
Gowasu and I are caught off guard by this bold statememt. I turn back to the smiling mortal, the Destroyer was surely jesting. Theres no conceivable way a mere mortal could actually pose a challenge to a god.
We make our way out of the temple and to a flat plain of grass. The two of us step away from the others leaving 5 meters between myself and the mortal.
Gowasu quickly announces that the battle would be a simple affair. The first one knock their opponent off their feet would win.
The mortal began some stretching when he made another bold statement "You know I'm getting excited I haven't fought a deity since Beerus."
"You fought a destroyer?" I asked both stunned and skeptical, it would explain Lord Beerus' statement but surely he didn't mean this Sayian was as strong as a destroyer? He simply gave a small laugh in response to my inquiry as he suddenly exploded into a golden form. His power! It escalated dramitically and the transformation I haven't seen any like it beforehand. Just who is this mortal?
I steeled myself as he took the same stance from earlier. No. Regardless of how much this Sayian empowers himself he can't match the power of a god. I will teach him a lesson, make him regret so casually challenging a god. I will put him in his place. I take my own fighting stance, the style of the Kai, the perfect style in terms defense, capable of countering any attack and punishing any mistake.
"Alright I'll make the first move then!" With a cry the oaf charges at me, pulling back his fist for an obvious attack. Pitiful. I simply place my hand infront of the attack, catching it I redirect all his momentum past myself as I step around him. He's falling foward as if he just threw himself at the floor, his back completely turned to me the battle was over. I focus my ki for one single attack a strong chop to the back of his head would knock him out. "And your done."
To my mild surprise he actually manages to catch himself, even more suprising he shifts his momentum back at me! He propels a ki blast right into my strike, I see it coming though and raise the power in my strike, easily dispersing his attack. I see his expression change to utter suprise, no doubt in shock from my power. As the ki from his attack is dispersed around us we take it as moment to reset and seperate.
I retake my stance, Goku does the same though he seemed tense as he stood opposite to me. However rather then stopping this and begging for forgiveness he charges at me once more. As he prepares another attack I notice something peculiar about his Ki. Is that god Ki? No that's not possible.
The simpleton throws another straight punch at me and I catch it once again with ease. What is this fool trying to accomplish with such simple attac- what is this force? Before I can redirect his strike my hand is pushed back from the power behind the attack. I manage to force the attack to my left but my hands are pushed with it, I barely manage to move them back to catch a roundhouse kick. Once again the force is too great and the attack overpowers me, he actually manages to graze my face.
Then the mortal starts throwing a flurry of attacks, it's only then I realize what he's doing. Each strike is not just powerful, they're being aimed, and each subsequent strike is from the opposite side of the previous. With my guard faltering I can't block the each attack properly! A high kick breaks my guard sending my arms down as I take solid blow to my face. He hit me! The mortal actually struck me!
Stepping back he continues to come at me relentlessly and I barely manage to defend myself. Precision strike after precision strike, sweeps from below taking my attention away from my upper body. I desperately attempt any kind of offense only to be forced to block another overpowering strike. What is this strength? How can a mere mortal possess this power! With a sweep to my knee my leg gives in and as I try to catch myself he rushes foward with the strongest strike yet right to my face. I falter taking a knee.
I look up to see him throwing one final attack directly at me. There is nothing I can do. Then as it stops everything stops, his fist floats right in my face and he pulls back grinning. "Man your pretty tough, way stronger then the Supreme Kai from our Universe!"
It was over. I lost. Utterly defeated. How? How could I be so utterly humiliated by this Sayian? On the ground I clenched my fist how could he be this much stronger? I am a prodigy the strongest of Kai! I notice some movement infront of me, it's the Sayain extending a hand to help me up still with that stupid smile. "We should train together sometime! You could become really strong!"
I look up, how dare he speak to me like this, humiliate me and speak so casually! I raise my hand, I should take his arm as tribute for this foolishness. No not now, Gowasu just pardon my actions for attacking the Barbarian I won't upset him now. Furthermore this Sayain is clearly some kind of study to Lord Beerus, maiming him would likely upset the destroyer. I reluctantly take Goku's hand and he pulls me up to my feet.
"Well we saw the rings, we saw their little battle, and we missed desert." Lord Beerus spoke with a yawn. "Come on Whis."
Whis and Gowasu said their goodbyes.
"Well thank for having us Gowasu, I hope you'll pardon our intrusion."
"No it was a pleasure to have you Lord Whis."
"Goku come now or we'll leave you here with Zamasu."
"Yeah I'm coming, well see ya later Zamasu." And with that he ran after the two gods and they were gone in an instant as the angel warped them away. Leaving me and Gowasu back to ourselves as we were.
I just stood there looking down as Gowasu approached me. "Well then it appears neither of us were expecting what just happened." I was for at loss for words.
"Y-yes it was." I wasn't sure what to say as emotions swirled inside me. Anger, hate, disappointment, embarrassment along with several questions. "Master that mortal, his power it was unnatural. How could a mortal be this powerful, so powerful as to best me?" I looked down at my hands was I too weak?
Gowasu placed his hand on his chin in thought "I was wondering that myself though I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised."
"What do you mean?"
"Well for a mortal to be traveling with Lord Beerus and Lord Whis it's likely he's being trained by the two. Whis likely believes him capable of taking up the title of destroyer."
"Destroyer him?" Ridiculous, such a naive fool shouldn't be even allowed in the same room as a god, let alone be trained by us. "Master such power shouldn't exist outside the realm of the gods. How can he be trusted with such power?"
"Lord Beerus and Whis clearly have faith in this mortal. That should be satisfactory for us as well, to trust that power will not be misused." As Gowasu spoke a thought popped into my head. Perhaps that power had been misused already?
"Master the missing Time Ring Lord Beerus spoke of, and the theif that bears the same apperance as the mortal." Gowasu looked at me quizzically so I continued "Perhaps the theif is the mortal we just saw here from the future? With his insatiable thirst for battle and power who's to say he wouldn't vandalize and steal the Time Rings looking for battle? Perhaps he's fooled Lord Beerus and Whis and is simply using them to gain more power for this quest?" It made too much sense, he was playing the fool and surveying another set of Time Rings to steal. This Goku, surely is some cunning devious mortal, how else could he have beaten me?
My musings were interrupted by Gowasu who let out a long sigh. "Zamasu it's interesting theory, but if such was the case Lord Beerus and Whis would've come to that conclusion. Furthermore even if that mortal somehow obtained the Time Ring he would be unable to use it, even if he obtained the proper Potara he would lack the spirit of a Kai." Well I felt my feet kicked out from under me after that, "Now Zamasu we'll no longer discuss the Universe 7 affair. We have our own duties to attend to."
I gave a defeated sigh, Gowasu clearly wanted to leave the topic at that. I was getting tired of being told about what we cannot do as Kai. The status and role of a god shouldn't be so limited.
My mind went back to the mortal, that Goku, even if he was trained by gods he shouldn't be able to attain such power. But yet he did. He had entered the realm of the gods and surpassed his creators, it was terrifying, but also somewhat impressive.
"Now then back to your lesson." Gowasu's announcement brought me back to reality and confusion.
"My lesson master?" I couldn't exactly recall what Gowasu could be talking about. Between my terrified Tea tasting session and fight with Goku I was at a loss.
"You learning how to put your trust into mortals my boy." I had started dusting myself off when I was reminded of the moments before Lord Beerus' arrival. "I have to say you did well controlling yourself against the mortal. So this next lesson shouldn't be a hassle for you."
"Oh ofcourse master, so what exactly did you have in mind?" Placing my hands behind my back I regained my usual composure.
"We won't be acting today obviously has been quite hectic for you I imagine." Well yes that is too say the least "But tommorow you'll be going on your trip and doing some observation."
"Observation? Do you mean similar to our trip on Barbari?" The trip was fruitful but would Gowasu want to repeat it after yesterday's events.
"Yes and no, you'll be observing the inhabitants of the planet from a distance but staying in our present age."
"So then which planet have you decided for us master? Preferably one that isn't so humid." Gowasu gave me a smirk and I knew I wasn't going to like the coming words.
"I won't be going any where Zamasu, for this lesson you'll be going to a developed planet and studying the mortals of that planet for 3 days."
"3 days by myself master? What would I have to gain without your guidance?" I have not spent a lot of time out if the world of the Kai or Otherworld. The idea of spending 3 days surrounded by mortals seemed inane. "I understand you want me to have faith in mortals but don't you think this is a bit rash?"
"I understand your concern Zamasu, but sometimes we need that push. A push outside our known comforts and into new prospects." Gowasu placed his hand on my shoulder. "I know you may feel this is too much for you at this moment, but I have faith in you Zamasu and I want you to learn to have that same faith in mortals."
I felt pride welling up in my chest from Gowasu's words. "Yes Gowasu, I won't let you down." While I wasn't thrilled about being alone surronded by mortals if I show him I can interact with them safely maybe he'll give me the chance to create some life?
"I'm sure you won't Zamasu, so go rest for the day and take a look at the maps of some galaxies. Find a planet you think is interesting, one you believe will give you the best results."
"Yes master." With that the two of us went our seperate ways in the temple. I made my way into our library and started looking through planet records. While reading about various mortal societies my mind wondered back to them in general.
Mortals, these last 2 days have given me food for thought on them. Clearly they aren't as hopeless as I had originally thought. If those Barbarians and that Goku tell me anything is that mortals have much potential. At the same time that potential is what makes them dangerous, will the Barbarian's future remain peaceful? Who's to say that Goku doesn't use his power to endanger the Multiverse? I suppose that maybe a bit extreme but regardless I suppose it's good that Lord Whis is guiding him.
I was reading about a planet of small intelligent bipedal animals when my mind wondered again. Putting the book down I walked over to our Godtube device, turning it on I searched for events in Universe 7 and typed, 'Goku doppelganger'. A single day old video appeared, 'Goku vs Black in Universe 7' by ScrumptiousEatingAngel. Black, that must be the name of this Time Ring thief, watching the video sure enough Goku battled a second copy of himself clad in black gi. This Black certainly appeared to be the very definition of evil, and yes he did in fact possess the Time Ring and a Kai's Potara.
"Who is this mortal?" I asked aloud curious to who this man was to tamper with time. Closing the video, I got up and left the library for my room knowing the planet I would be visiting.
