The Zenith Beyond Chapter 2

Edited by: Priapus, Marethyu

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– Whis –

Whis, the Angel of Universe Seven, was captivated by his staff, desperately seeking the origin of a peculiar phenomenon that was altering the very fabric of the seventh universe. Despite hours of investigation, he was left with more questions than answers. Was the cause deliberately concealing itself? Was it a conscious act at all?

"What an enigma…" He muttered to himself. "How very fascinating."

It was an abrupt disruption. One moment, it was an ordinary day for him, attending to his destroyer's planet, and the next, in a mere blink, reality shifted as if a cosmic force had rearranged the very essence of the universe.

He was at a loss. The universe seemed to be in a recalibration process of some kind. What the reason for that was, Whis couldn't fathom, a rarity for him. How was he unable to trace the source of this...

He wasn't sure if he should call it a problem. Whatever it was, it didn't affect the universe negatively. In fact, it almost seemed like a positive force. Even though he couldn't understand or explain it, the Oracle Fish, for some reason, had gotten marginally more powerful.

To make matters more confusing, the fish didn't notice anything different, talking as if he had always been this strong. It didn't make sense— it wasn't like it had been a warrior of any sort prior. What was this random jump in power?

It wasn't exclusive to the fish, either. A few minutes of looking into this made him notice that this power-up affected many other mortals. Not all of them, but trillions across all four sectors of the universe. But why? Who was responsible for this?

Was it some sort of universal defense mechanism? Since when was a universe capable of such a thing? And why now? Why not when Majin Buu or Moro had wreaked havoc a few million years ago? Why not when Freeza and his father were terrorizing the galaxies?

Was there a threat so dangerous it made the universe itself respond? If yes, then whoever this monster was, they needed to be stopped. To think that whoever it was was more dangerous than even Planet-Eater Moro…

…But no matter how hard and long he searched, Whis found nothing. There was no monster destroying planets or wiping out civilizations. Cold never bothered with blowing up planets, Freeza, while alive, was recently defeated and was in critical condition, Buu was sealed, and Moro was still in the galactic prison.

The universe was dead quiet. It was the safest and most peaceful it had ever been. This thing being some kind of threat just didn't make sense. Not that it mattered all that much, for he had no reason to interfere. Angels must remain neutral, and picking a side would lead to their immediate erasure.

So if there was a universe-destroying threat, all Whis could do to contribute was wake his napping destroyer and see if Lord Beerus deemed it worthy of his time. Though, all he had kept mumbling about the past two decades was something about a Super Saiyan God, and as far as Whis was aware, no such thing existed.

If Lord Beerus did not care, which was to be expected, then oh well. It wouldn't help their mortal level, but the Supreme Kai could handle it. Probably. It's not like it was hard making new planets. But what did he know? He was only a humble servant.

The second sign of this inexplicable incident was the fish giving them a completely different prophecy. From the appearance of the Super Saiyan God and the rise of the strongest in the universe to something about a 'Princess' and an 'Outsider'.

It was as vague as ever, but Whis was sure that whatever had caused this change, it was related to this 'Princess' and the 'Outsider'. The issue was finding them and figuring out how they were capable of such a thing. Whis was quite interested, and if they were a threat, then Lord Beerus would be sure to wipe them out.

Unless he found them too interesting to erase. After all, he had been looking for a worthy rival for a few thousand years. Perhaps they'd fill the part? Or would that be the Super Saiyan God? Who knew?

Regardless, he was intrigued. This was the first time that something like this had happened since the eighteen universes' conception. Tending to his lord could be a painfully dull endeavor, so this was a welcome change of pace for sure.

Now, if only he knew where this 'Princess' was…

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– Dev –

I seem to have greatly underestimated how much Saiyans can eat before feeling full.

I know they have an abnormally fast metabolism and need a significant amount of nutrients to sustain themselves, but what I'm seeing is ludicrous. It shouldn't even be physically possible for a small child like her to eat something twice her size, much less five times over.

I look at the several skeletal remains on the table that Monsoon had quickly created for the child to eat on. To make matters worse, she barely took a few minutes to finish a feast like this. At this rate, the food we had hunted together would only last her a week at most.

She did seem to enjoy her time eating very much. I believe dining is one of mortals' great pleasures, so it makes sense for her to feel that way as well. She is, after all, still mortal. A mortal with infinite potential, but a mortal all the same.

It would take her a bit of time before she'll be able to use Metanova in its purest form, so she's not quite an equal yet. Eventually, though, she'll surpass me.

She has to.

"I'm back," Zenith says, prompting me to look at her, showing me her tiny hands, which are still wet with water. "I washed my hands like you said."

"Excellent," I respond tonelessly, glancing at her shirt. "Hygiene is critical to keeping a healthy mind and body. We'll make sure you get properly cleaned up every day before sleep."

With an infinitesimal amount of my Metanova, the food leftovers and the wetness of the water on her white shirt disappear. Zenith blinks a few times, her eyes glimmering in fascination and awe.

"Now, let us—"

"How did you do that?" She suddenly says with a calmness that betrays her excitement, skipping closer to me and hugging my metallic leg. "I wanna do it too."

"As I said, using your Metanova is still too complicated at the moment," I respond. "Be patient. Let us start with something easier, and we will work our way up there eventually."

Zenith blinks a few times before relenting, letting go of me.

"Okay."

"Good," I state. "Follow me."

As I lead the child through the interior of Monsoon, she holds onto one of my claws, ensuring that she stays by my side at all times. I find this act strange— it's not like we're in any dangerous territory. There's nothing safer than the insides of this space vessel. At least for us. Although, Zenith does not look anxious. She's seemingly holding me for the sake of it.

…Mortals are odd.

We stop behind a closed door next to a control panel attached to the glass wall showing the training chamber, a room designed solely for training the mind and body, advanced enough to create planet-wide simulations within a relatively small 2500 square meters area. A late addition to Monsoon after I realized I needed something like Zenith to use against the Master.

However, there's barely enough data to simulate any fruitful training for Zenith. Recording data would require me to go into battle, and I cannot afford that. I've determined that wasting my Metanova and cutting my time short is not a wise decision.

I've built a few mechanical warriors for that purpose, and while they've gone and gotten me enough data to test and help Zenith get used to battle, she has already shown how gifted she really is, so whatever data I have might not be as valuable as I had once predicted.

And I've underestimated the denizens of this cluster quite a bit. While the upper echelon doesn't even compare to a fraction of my creator's might, there are shockingly many mortals here that can annihilate entire planets.

"Here is the training chamber," I explain, pressing some buttons on the control panel and opening the door. "As the name suggests, this is where most of your training will take place."

I gesture for her to go inside, and she hesitantly obeys, letting go of my hand and going in with a curious look. The door shuts behind her, causing her to flinch and turn around, her expression becoming frightened.

"Remain calm. I am still here." I say tonelessly over the intercom. "We'll only run a few simple tests. There's nothing to fear."

Zenith nods slowly, comforted by my voice before she continues looking around the room. Although there is nothing to see at first, a small tool materializes next to her after I press a few buttons on the control panel, making her blink in surprise.

It is something I created centuries ago in preparation for Zenith's conception. It is shaped like a cube with two holes in it and a screen underneath, this device conceptually cannot be lifted. Not in the way that it's infinite in weight, but that is simply its fundamental existence. No matter how physically powerful one might be, it cannot be moved in a traditional sense.

I doubt Zenith is capable of achieving such a feat at the moment. It might take her many years to gain enough power to control abstract existence, but this test will assess her current physical strength. The display will indicate the amount of weight she can lift.

"The object in your hand will be one of several ways to determine your pure physical strength," I explain. "I want you to try to lift it."

Zenith nods, putting both of her arms in the designated space of the cube. She blinks as she tries to lift it, seemingly confused that she cannot, before frowning in focus and trying again. Each time she tries to lift it, the screen shows the weight of 300-500 tons. Impressive.

But I can tell she isn't using her whole strength.

"I can't." She says. "It doesn't move."

"Try your hardest."

"Okay…"

Once again, Zenith tries, putting far more effort into it than before. The screen quickly shows the weight of 600 tons and rising, easily reaching 900 as the exertion on the child's face becomes noticeable.

Zenith grits her teeth once the device reaches 1200 tons, stopping the moment it passes the 1500 mark. Incredible. How come she is so physically powerful with a body so small? She has yet to even develop any muscles. Using her ki as a boost would explain it perfectly, but she did not release her ki, just as I told her not to.

Are Saiyans this naturally powerful? Is Zenith a special case in that regard as well? She's shown immense natural skill in ki usage, but could it be that she was also just born that powerful? Fascinating.

As I'm about to praise her, she speaks first.

"I failed," Zenith says, looking at me through the glass with a sad look. "I'm sorry."

"No. There is no failure in this test." I respond. "You're merely helping me register data so I may understand how powerful you are. Understand your current limits and how to break them. Your true training will begin at a later date."

"...I didn't fail?"

"On the contrary—" I press a button, causing the device to dematerialize. "—You've surpassed my expectations. Well done."

Her fluffy white tail starts to swish from side to side once again as her face breaks into a small smile.

"This second test will be about speed," I speak, pressing a button that paints blue stripes in the shape of a rounded rectangle around the entire chamber. "And it's as simple as the last. Run three laps across the chamber as fast as you can without using your ki. Begin when you're ready."

"Okay." She replies almost enthusiastically, even though her voice is as quiet as ever.

She glances at the blue stripes and stands on them, not needing me to instruct her as she quickly understands why they are here. Zenith pauses for a moment before causing a strong sonic boom with her dash, finishing three laps in mere seconds.

Mach 20. Without ki. And to think she was only born a few hours ago…

"Did I do good?" She suddenly asks, nearly smashing into the glass separating us. "Did I?"

She looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to say something.

"Good enough," I confirm simply, then register the data and return to the matter at hand. "Our next test will be the simplest out of them all. I want you to release as much of your ki as possible."

Zenith blinks a few times, looking slightly disappointed, before nodding and stepping back.

The child closes her eyes as the silverish aura roars into life, red electricity crackling with power as she expels more and more of her energy. This is much higher than what she had shown after exterminating the failed experiment. It is quite impressive. It seems that I was worried about nothing.

Even though her current battle power sits comfortably at 132,400, it pales in comparison to what she unleashed previously. The computer system malfunctioned while attempting to process her ki, and I think the last reading it captured before crashing was in the billions.

Currently, she is unable to fully control her strength. It's a bit disappointing, but I shouldn't expect too much. She's only been fully conscious for a few hours, after all. Despite her talent, I can't expect miracles.

Her natural talent in ki can only get her so far. And while I've done my research, perhaps it would be wise to look for an expert in the subject. I'm not quite proficient in ki. Knowledgeable but not experienced.

"That is enough."

Zenith listens, exhaling deeply as the aura dies down.

"Did I do—"

"Next, we shall put your mind to the test," I add. "I've prepared a few puzzles for you to solve, each more difficult than the last."

She seems to want to say something for a moment before closing her mouth and obeying my words. I do not understand the eager look on her face or the anticipatory stares she keeps throwing my way, but if she does not find it essential to bring it up, then I don't believe it is worth noting.

And we're in the middle of something rather important here. Seeing that she is out of her tube much earlier than anticipated, I must determine her strengths and weaknesses. She must be ready to continue this mission on her own as soon as possible.

It is only a matter of time before I'm forced to leave her side.

…I do not know why, but even though it is inevitable, that thought displeases me greatly.

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As I register all the data I acquired from testing Zenith, who has been standing beside me for the past ten minutes in utter silence, I begin organizing a suitable training program for her. Besides her inability to access her full power, everything else she showed me was better than expected.

Her strength and speed are higher than average, and her control over ki is extraordinary for an inexperienced child like her, but her cognitive capabilities surprised me the most. Her problem-solving and learning skills were relatively high for a child. She cleared up to stage five of the puzzles I prepared, which even most mortal adults would be unable to solve.

Quite the surprise indeed. Saiyans seem to have a reputation for being too meatheaded and thick. What's more pleasing is that she enjoyed solving puzzles, seemingly unlike most of her kind. That should hopefully ensure future cooperation.

Nevertheless, by tomorrow, I'll put her strength to the test, not by simple measures of strength and speed, but by her raw talent in battle. I may not have quite a lot of data on worthy adversaries for Zenith. However, it is not needed. At least not for now.

After all, I have Zenith herself, and once I've seen enough, I will have her accompany me to another planet. One that's somewhat close by, called 'Yardrat'. Recently, its species has evolved drastically, producing a race of ki users with unique techniques that might be useful for Zenith to learn and master.

More than that, their grandmaster is a skilled user of 'Spirit Control', an advanced technique Zenith could use to help herself access her true power. Their agreeable nature works in our favor— as long as we appear amicable and perhaps offer a thing in return, I believe they'll help us.

"Dev."

I pause and look down at Zenith as she calls my name.

"Yes?"

"I want a snack."

"A… snack?"

"Yeah."

"You ate approximately three hours ago," I respond. "Are you feeling hungry already?"

"No." She shakes her head. "But I want a snack. Give me."

"What? Why do you want something to eat if you are not hungry?"

"I dunno."

I stare at her silently for a moment.

…What qualifies as a 'snack' for a Saiyan? I do not know. If a dinner similar to what she had earlier is an indication, then gathering food might become a much higher priority. Otherwise, I cannot afford to give her snacks.

And I do not wish to displease her. I need her to be amiable if I want her to make better progress.

"...Very well." I take a basket full of fruits from my storage dimension and hand it to her. "Take this."

Her face visibly brightens up as she takes the basket, her Saiyan tail swishing from side to side, seemingly signifying her happiness. She puts the basket down on the floor and sits next to it, stuffing her mouth with as many fruits as possible.

With the champion satisfied, I return to my work. After Zenith's training on Yardrat is done, and once a few tests are done to measure her strength, perhaps I should have her take up bounty hunting. Not only would it be a good way for her to gain much-needed experience, but also to gain currency in case we ever need it.

Although, having to navigate the universe with this Freeza Empire being around would be quite risky. I do not wish to gain their ire, at least not now. It's a recent organization, created only a few hundred years ago, so I do not know very much about them.

I haven't had a chance to study them thoroughly. The only ones who pose a significant threat are their leaders, Cold and Freeza. They belong to the Arcosian race, also known as Frost Demons, or recently renamed the 'Freeza' race. Quite the pompous bunch.

In comparison to Zenith, who is part 'me', so to speak, they were born much more powerful due to their mutated genes, but they are still vastly more limited, for they are adjusted to never go above a certain level no matter what they do. Unlike Zenith, they lack Metanova.

It would still be… bothersome to have their leaders set their eyes on the champion any time soon. Zenith is not strong enough to defeat them as she is now. On the other hand, it's reasonable to say that they're a good target for the child to practice on. Their armies, at least.

If this 'Freeza' individual, the current emperor, tries to target Zenith personally, we will simply lay low and try again later. After all, we cannot be traced while within the confines of Monsoon. Hiding away is simple. Soon enough, she will be more than powerful enough to defeat him.

"Dev."

"Yes?"

As I look down at Zenith, I pause and see that she has already emptied the basket within the minute I look away. I am… quite genuinely impressed and slightly concerned. How? She just ate a whole feast…

"I'm done."

"Yes. I see that." I answer, glancing at her as she rubs her eyes tiredly. "It seems that you enjoy eating quite a lot."

"It's yummy."

Feeding her is going to be a big problem if I don't stock up very soon. This is absurd.

"So it is," I respond tonelessly. "... Do you need anything else, Zenith?"

"I'm sleepy." She says quietly.

"As you wish," I state, offering her a claw that she quickly takes. "Let us first give you a bath."

Zenith nods as I lead her to the bathroom—a spacious room with a large bath filled with clear water that could accommodate multiple people. The ship itself can create such simple chambers instantly, and there's abundant water on this planet, so there's no need to worry about wasting it. In fact, 92% of the planet is covered in water, with very few patches of land.

"Undress and get in," I tell her.

Before obeying my words, Zenith dips a hand in the water and frowns.

"It's too cold."

As I was going to command Monsoon to warm up the water, it does so on itself as the steam slowly rises from the bath. Did it respond to her? Fascinating. I don't recall ordering it to obey Zenith.

"It is warm now," I say as she dips her hand again. "Unless this is too hot?"

"Mhm." She responds, undressing and getting into the bath. "…It's nice."

As she begins to… 'melt' in the bath, for lack of a better word, she flinches in surprise as metal appendages begin applying a cleansing agent on her head and body. Zenith responds by powering up and immediately blasting the appendages, destroying one of them, launching most of the water outside, and creating a hole in the ceiling.

Needlessly violent but understandable. She must've been startled since she had never interacted with the ship directly.

Her quick reaction is duly noted.

"Settle down," I say. "Monsoon was only helping."

"Soon?" She tilts her head at me curiously as her aura flickers out.

"Monsoon." I correct her. "The ship we are in is sentient with that given designation."

As said, the ship instantly repairs all the damages done to it and returns the water to the bath. It waves at Zenith with one of its appendages, which, for some reason, makes Zenith giggle. This time, she does not react as violently as it begins reapplying the cleansing agent.

"Soon!" Zenith points at the metal, pincer-like arm. "Like Dev!"

"…If you insist." I telekinetically carry Zenith's outfit and make a clean copy, turning it into comfortable sleepwear for her. "Once you are done with your bath, wear this and sleep in your bedroom. Tomorrow, we will begin your training."

"Where are you going?" Zenith asks as I walk out of the bathroom.

"I have important matters to attend to," I answer vaguely. "I will return in a few hours. Monsoon will provide whatever you desire in my place while I am not here. Do not hesitate to ask it."

"But I wanna go with Dev."

"No."

"But–"

"No." I shut her down immediately. "And you will listen to me this time."

The disappointment on her face is clear as she frowns sadly, but thankfully, she does not argue.

"…Okay."

As the door behind me closes, I walk outside the ship, equipping my plasma rifle. I mustn't waste any more time. Seeing how much the champion needs to eat, restocking has become a top priority. She cannot train and grow on an empty stomach.

Tomorrow will be a long day of training and teaching Zenith. For as clever as she is, she's yet to learn even basic math, which is an essential skill to have if I want her to be able to grow alone. Though, I am confident she'll tackle any subject with relative ease.

I want her to stay in top condition at all times. Answering all her needs and wants is still a priority. At the end of the day, I am her servant, and she is my master. It is not the other way around, and it never will be. I will raise her into a perfect creator no matter what I must do.

And if by chance I run into one of her failed incarnations… Well, I may be willing to use some of my power. After all, they'd be excellent data for Zenith to train with. I doubt they will be of any other use to us.

Perhaps their being alive was a blessing in disguise.

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I left a few obvious hints when this fic is currently taking place :)