Chapter 43

They all were looking at the changed form of the two fused Zeno´s.

"Zen-chan," Goku called out.

"Lord Zeno," Toppo said in a more respectfull manner.

"Lord Demigra?" Towa questioned as well.

"Yes - Zeno and Demigra..." one of the new merged beings said.

"We are both," the other one added.

This were the two Lord Zeno´s they already knew, the one from their own timeline and the one Goku had brought from Trunks future. Only now they were fused with Demigra. And by what Saek and the now dead Grandpriest had told them, they had in all other timelines as well.

And the first thing this merged Zenos had done then was to erase all of creation. All except this palace... and them. They were the last living beings in existence.

"Lord Demigra - Lord Zeno - why did you erase everything?" Rum asked.

He was not even completely sure who he was talking to.

"It was... an impulse," both of the merged Zeno´s replied simultaneously.

An impulse? Given the situation this sounded maybe even more scary than if they had done it on purpose. Because this suggested that none of them - neither Demigra or Zeno - was truly in control of this new entity. And there was no telling now what they could do and why.

"Lord Demigra - you have to gain control of the Fusion," Towa said to him. "This is your chance to become ruler of all creation."

"Ruler?" the merged beings repeated with their combined voices... and then laughed. "Who cares?" they called out.

"Who cares at all? Destroying universes - creating new ones, that is all what matters."

"Zen-chan - you have to bring everything back," Goku said. "There is nothing left of all the universes, right? We are completely alone."

"Only until I beginn to create a new Multiverse, in my image," one of the Zeno´s replied, this time only with Demigra´s voice.

"Bringing everything back?" the other one said, with Zeno´s voice.

"Yes," Goku repeated.

"You have to Lord Zeno," Gohan called out. "Please."

"Do not listen to them My Lord," the Fallen Angel Calver exclaimed as well. "Yes - bring everything back, but in the way you want it to be."

"Yes Master Demigra - take control," Jeffra asked him.

"No Lord Zeno - don´t let him!" Toppo called out.

"No - no, stop this!" Suddenly both Zeno-Demigra´s were crieing out and holding their own heads in terrible pain.

"It seems they are both very unstable," Beerus stated. "It would be better not to push them too hard."

"And this dark manifestation that we have seen is probably affecting them both now," Piccolo pointed out.

"Their first impulse was to erase everything," Gohan agreed.

"I fear that is true," Whis said.

"Do you have any idea how we can reach Lord Zeno?" Cabba asked him and Vados.

"I also fear that there are some people here who have no intention to bring our world back," Seventeen commented with a clear side-glance to Towa and the other Fallen Angels.

"Certainly not," Eighteen said. Despite her stoic appearance she felt devastated inside and she guessed Seventeen didn´t felt any better.

Krillin, Marron, Seventeen´s family and everyone else was gone. She had never been so thankful that their turning into Androids had damped the expression of their emotions. She had the suspicion that this was all that kept her from breaking down right here. And they needed to keep it together if they wanted the slightest chance to bring them all back.

"Destroy - destroy everything," the two Zeno-Demigra´s called out simultaneously. "Create and destroy. Create and destroy - again and all over again," they both ranted in a sing-song voice and a clearly deranged tone.

xxxx

This was pobably more frightening than anything they had ever heard before, they all thought. And they all had faced world-destroying monsters and threats to their universes before many times.

But this? An insane and metally unstable Supreme God, actually two versions of him present. And this beings also possessed the powers of the Super Dragon Balls and Demigra´s. And with that practically complete power over the entire reality.

It could hardly be any worse.

xxxx

"That didn´t feel so great," one of the fused Zeno said. "Why did we just say this?" he asked.

"I don´t know," the other replied. "What should we do now? What Goku and the others say or the Fallen Angels?"

"I am not sure," the first Zeno said.

"Lord Zeno," Seventeen spoke up, "you are confused because you were fused with Demigra by the Super Dragon Balls. You remember that, right?"

"Yes - of course. I - I don´t know what I want," one of the Zenos replied.

He and the other one staid silent for a few moments. None of the others said anything either.

Goku seemed to want to speak up, but Beerus, Whis, Seventeen and Gohan just looked at him... and Whis and Seventeen meaningful shaking their heads.

This was enough for even Goku to stay silent.

"I have an idea," the second Zeno suddenly said. "Why don´t we have a fighting-contest like before? Something like in the Tournament of Power. It was fun, wasn´t it? And we have a lot of fighters here after all."

"Maybe," the first one replied. "But this time we should do it a little bit differently. Group fights are interesting, but their numbers are too off. Goku´s group is much larger."

"But many of them are weaker than Demigra´s fighters. Most of them are Angels after all," the second Zeno pointed out. "How about one two one matches? Each group can choose by themselves who fights and who not," he suggested.

"Or we can just let them choose smaller groups," the first said. "How about three from each group who fights and the rest of them watch?"

"Yes," the second Zeno replied. "Or maybe we could let both sides choose a group of three first and then a fourth fighter who joins in later as... how do the Mortals call it?"

"A trumpard My Lord?" Vados suggested.

"Yes - as a trumpcard," the first Zeno-Demigra said. "That would be even better."

"Yes - let us do that," the second answered. "The rules are this. Both of your sides can choose three of you who fight each other. When two of these three are out, you can choose an extra fighter."

"Fighters are out when he can not longer fight, gives up or dies," the first Zeno stated.

"Then we decide if we bring back the Multiverse like it was or if we create a new one," the second one announced.

"You would do that?" Goku asked hopefully.

"Yes - but only if your side wins of course," the Zeno/Demigra replied.

Somehow during their discussion both their tone and behavior however seemed to have become actually less erratic and more coherent and focussed than before.

Was it possible that this was actually helping them somehow? Maybe the fact alone that they were concentrating on something else than their internal struggle was stabilizing them a little bit.

"I don´t think this is just a game to them, or a way they can decide what to do," Whis commented quietly. "The different sides of this being seem to be seriously struggling with each other."

"I think so too," Vados agreed. "Maybe the real Lord Zeno inside them is trying to give us a chance."

"Yeah maybe," Beerus replied. "But I don´t see much we can do about it right now. So I say we just play along for the time and try to win this `game´."

"I see it the same way," Toppo agreed.

"So do we," Seventeen said on behalf of himself and Eighteen.

"Okay," we are accepting as well," Towa from Demigra´s side stated.

"So do I," Saek announced. "But I want to be on Lord Zeno´s side."

"What?" some people around called out.

"You traitor," the Fallen Angel Rum called out.

"We all have just seen what Lord Demigra´s plans have ultimately led to," Saek responded matter of factly. "The end of everything. And an even more unstable version of Lord Zeno. The opposite of what he originally claimed he intended."

"Interesting," the Zenos/Demigras commented. "So you want to switch sides? Your suggestion is accepted. But if your side looses, you will have no place in the new world order."

"I accept that," Saek replied.

"What about you Beby?" one Zeno asked. "Are you still wiling to fight for Demigra´s side? You have been promised a new universe for yourself after all."

"You are still going to keep that promise?" Beby said skeptically. Technically this was not longer even the same being who gave it after all.

"Of course," Zeno-Demigra replied. This time with a voice that sounded nearly entirely like Demigra´s. "A new universe with a new, thriving, Tsufuru Race and an Empire with you as it´s ruler, like it was agreed," he stated. "If you decide to join Demigra´s side and win."

Beby stepped closer to the Fallen Angels, while parallel to that he at the same time turned around looking back at the Z-fighters and their allies.

And he gave them a malicious smile.

"I am sorry, but as it seems my choice is quite clear here," he said.

"If you want to trust the word of a madman," Vegeta replied stoically.

"Even if it is, you realize that this is exactly everything I ever wanted, all what I could ever wish for? The return of the Tsufuru and an entire universe belonging to them."

"You mean to yourself?" Gohan countered.

"Well - it is the same thing isn,´t it? After all the new Tsufuru will be created in my image," Beby stated.

He looked back to Zeno/Demigra.

"But there is still one thing I am missing," he said, "a new fitting body for such a fight."

"Indeed," the Zenos replied.

A bright light suddenly flashed up between them and an unmoving body appeared out of nowhere. They saw that it looked exactly like Vegeta.

"What?" a few of the fighters, including Future Trunks and Cabba, called out in surprise. Especially these two at seeing Zeno/Demigra creating a seemingly exact copy of Vegeta out of thin air.

"That is cheating," Caulifla exclaimed.

"It is not cheating if it is interesting," the first Zeno replied. "Besides, there is no rule about what bodies the fighters can use from the beginning. That means possessing, absorbtion or fusion are also allowed."

Some of them exchanged a few glances at the last statement, while Beby liquided his form and let himself flow into his new body. The exact copy of Vegeta started to change, similar like Gohan´s had before. It was covered by Beby´s silvery skin and machine-like eyes.

The new Vegeta-Beby opened his eyes and grinned.

"You see - this is just as it is meant to be," he said.

"Then let us beginn," the second Zeno announced.

Suddenly the entire room around them changed, from Zeno´s throne-room to an exact replica of the fighting arena of the Tournament of Power.

"Now - choose your fighters," the first Zeno said.

The members of both sides held a short discussion at this command.

"So who of us will it be?" Gohan questioned.

"We are just not strong enough," Brianne admitted.

"Neither are we," Cabba stated.

"They said Fusions are allowed," Caulifla pointed out.

"Even as Kefla, many of the others are still stronger than you," Cabba replied.

"He is right Sis," Kale said, "as much as I hate to admit it."

"Yess," Caulifla admitted grimly.

"I have the power of a God of Destruction," Toppo stated. "But even that is not enough to take on the Fallen Angels one to one, like some of you can," he admitted.

"And neither am I," Future Trunks said. "As strong as I have become during the last years, this Fallen Angels are still beyond me."

The same went for Cooler. After all the way he pushed himself from being King Cold´s `weak´ older son, he was now one of the strongest in Universe 7. But here he was simply outmatched.

He however saw no reason to point this out when everyone was aware of it anyway. And just said nothing with a scowl on his face.

"Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Seventeen, Eighteen, Broly, Vados and myself of course," Whis stated. "I think we are the strongest out of our entire group."

"You don´t mention Lord Beerus?" Vados questioned.

Beerus however looked unimpressed by this statement.

"I am not above to admit that right now, Goku, Vegeta and the others have surpassed me," he said, "and that they are better suited for this fight than me. But don´t expect it to stay that way." He looked to Goku and Vegeta. "I have grown stronger and I will catch up with you again."

"I don´t expect you to trust me," Saek spoke up. "So I don´t ask you to let me fight. But I know my former comrades abilities and weaknesses perfectly and can tell you about them."

"Well - thank you," Gohan replied.

"I want to fight," Goku said.

"Wait Dad," Gohan told him."I think it is better if you stay behind for now."

"Zeno actually pointed out that `Fusions are allowed´, do you remember?" Piccolo pointed out. "You are the one of us who has the most experience fighting as a Fusion. But there is always a chance that you are eliminated through bad luck before you have the chance. It is better if you are our extra-fighter."

"I agree," Seventeen stated.

"Let me fight," Vegeta said. "I am the best to deal with that parasite. Trust me, I have a plan. Should I get eliminated, you can fuse with Seventeen again instead. That means of course you should be in as well."

"Yes," Goku agreed. "You are one of our strongest and your barriers are incredible useful."

"You are also our best teamplayer," Gohan pointed out.

"Okay - that means Vegeta and Seventeen," Eighteen commented. "Who else?"

"How about you?" Brianne suggested.

"What?" Eighteen asked.

"We have seen how strong you have become," Kakunsa said. "You even learned Ultra Instinct."

Gohan and Piccolo nodded.

"And you work the best with Seventeen," Piccolo stated.

"Your coordination is incredible," Brianne agreed. "We would know that best."

"Maybe," Eighteen responded, "but I am..."

xxxx

She thought back to her fight with the Beby-possessed Cell-Max. How she barely escaped with her life from the giant explosion he caused, but was caught anyway. How the monster had hit her right afterwards.

xxxx

"... the truth is I am injured ever since I escaped that explosion. You can say I am not at the head of my game."

"You..." Brianne exclaimed.

They all just realized that Eighteen had been fighting off Towa, one of the strongest Fallen Angels, while being injured. If they had been impressed before, they were even more now.

"I am not in a good state either," Gohan said. "Otherwise I would do it, but..."

"Nobody blames you after what happened," Goku told him.

"I am in no state to fight either," Future Trunks said, "even if I were strong enough."

"I would do it," Broly stated. "But I am afraid. Sometimes I still loose control. And against opponents like this, I will have to go to my limit. If I go berserk again, I could not only become a threat to you as well, but cause us to loose this entire battle. My insane counterpart was the best example of this."

"Maybe we have not other choice," Gohan responded.

"We could try to ask Lord Zeno if he would heal them for the fight," Brianne suggested.

"Do you think that is a good idea in the state he is?" Beerus asked her. "He might just decide that it is not worth the effort and erase as all."

"Maybe there is still another option," Piccolo realized, "Caulifla, Kale..." he said.

xxx

"Have you made your choice?" the Zenos combined voice halled over the place from the tribune where they were sitting.

"We have," Towa called out from Demigra´s group. "I will fight."

"So will I," Krombar announced.

One of the Fallen Angels who had not been fighting so far and was still `fresh´. This made sense.

"And I will," Vegeta-Beby said.

As expected. The question was which of the Fallen Angles their hidden fourth fighter was.

"And your side?" the Zenos asked the Z-fighters.

"Vegeta and Seventeen will fight," Goku called out.

"And we will," they heard Piccolo calling over the arena.

He and Cooler were standing side by side. Each was holding one of the Potara earrings that Caulifla and Kale had before.

And they put them on.

With a bright flash of light they merged into a green and purple skinned humanoid with a tail similar to Freeza´s family and the ears of a Namekian.

"You can call me Picooler," he said.

Here is finally the next chapter. I had been overloaded with work the last months, so it had taken a while longer.

It is mostly built up for the final fight.

One side-comment, the Zeno who is called the "first" Zeno (who had also been the one from the present timeline, but that does not really makes a difference) tends a bit more to his Zeno-side, while the second does a bit more to his Demigra-side.