Chapter 9 (Part 3)

The sun started setting as Gohan stood in front of the grill. "You know, this is making me a little hungrier than I expected," Gohan commented as the smell of cooking meat started making his mouth water.

Diana got up and approached him from behind, wrapping her arms around him and taking a big whiff of the cooking meat. "It smells delicious. I had no idea you could cook."

Gohan shrugged. "I watched my mom cook a lot over the years when I wasn't studying," he explained.

"But if you're that hungry, we could go to a restaurant once we're done here?" she offered. Gohan looked at her happily.

"You sure?" he asked. She was a bit surprised to see his excitement for more food but nodded and smiled.

"If you aren't full and satisfied, then this wouldn't be a proper outing," she explained as she leaned closer and kissed Gohan, who returned the gesture.

Diana pulled back after a few moments. "Don't forget about the meat," she warned as Gohan looked back to see the meat was turning darker than it should.

"No!" Gohan panicked as Diana burst into laughter while he quickly flipped the meat.

Vermont and Circe had finally arrived back at the Destroyers' world. Upon arrival, both Bardock and Raditz approached the angel. They were initially surprised to see a woman they had never seen before.

"Bardock, Raditz? Can I assist you with anything?" the angel asked with a smile. Circe glanced at Vermont; he was acting differently. His smile seemed somewhat genuine, at least.

'Why is his tone so... relaxed when he speaks to these two weaklings?' she wondered. The two beings before her looked and felt like weaklings.

Once Vermont asked the question, the two Saiyans turned and looked at one another before nodding. Immediately, they began to power up, shaking the Destroyer world and surprising Circe as divine power erupted from the two Saiyans and their hair turned red.

"We achieved the Super Saiyan God form, but unlike Lord Gohan, mixing it with Super Saiyan has been impossible. We'd like to ask you to up our training and move it to the next level. With this power, we should be capable of it," Bardock explained to the angel.

'These two went from nothing to having enough power to eradicate half the universe....' Circe mused. That was unexpected. She now learned a valuable lesson, not to underestimate anyone she met while with an Angel.

Vermont nodded. "Of course. My brother Whis already explained to me how all the forms worked, so of course your next stage of training will be done in my staff, where you will learn how to completely control your Ki. This will be far more difficult than the Ki manipulation you've done up to now," Vermont explained with a mischievous glint in his eye.

The two Saiyans nodded. "We are ready to do anything," Raditz cut in before they released their transformation, glad that the angel agreed to take their training to the next level. But a single thought occurred to Raditz.

"Also, Vermont, could you tell me where Strix has been?" Raditz asked as his cheeks tinted red. "She has been away since Lord Gohan left for the 7th universe."

Vermont looked to the sky. "She is just fine. She should return eventually. She destroyed a planet for an unknown reason and has been traveling across the cosmos," Vermont explained with a proud expression.

Circe's eyes widened slightly. 'She did what?!' That really cemented her reason for not stepping on anyone's toes.

Suddenly, something caught his attention, and he summoned his staff. It was glowing. An image of the Grand Priest appeared in the sky of the Destroyer world.

Immediately, Bardock and Raditz got to one knee and lowered their heads, pleasing Vermont and the Grand Priest. Circe, however, was confused about what was happening. "Father," Vermont started.

"Vermont," the Grand Priest called out. "I am issuing a summit for all transcendent deity ranks and above," the Grand Priest explained, stunning everyone. "Naturally this includes all 164 Gods of Destruction."

Circe, catching on to who was before her, quickly lowered her head and bowed. If this was the father of the angel she had been traveling with, then he must be beyond anything she thought she understood. 'Transcendent gods are at the very top of reality... if this angel can order them all, then he must be beyond them all.'

Vermont nodded. "You are planning on taking action before Merno himself can do something that damages reality?" Vermont asked as the Grand Priest smiled and nodded.

"Indeed. I can sense him lingering beyond the Source Wall. I believe he is up to no good. The faster we can stop him, the safer it will be for all life," the Grand Priest explained. Vermont couldn't argue with his logic.

"The meeting will take place in exactly two hours. Please bring Lord Gohan. I am currently speaking to each angel with a destroyer god, and the Spectre," he explained as Vermont nodded.

"Of course," Vermont tilted his head and bowed as the image of the Grand Priest disappeared.

"I had no idea there were that many destroyer gods," Raditz said as Bardock nodded.

"I have to go and collect Lord Gohan. There will be a summit for the transcended gods," Vermont explained.

"You are welcome to come along or continue your training," Vermont offered the two Saiyans, who again glanced at one again another before nodding.

"You don't get to see a pantheon of the highest tier of gods all the time." They would definitely delay their training just to see this occur.

Circe cut in. "If I go along, I won't be in danger, correct?" she asked as Vermont glanced down at her.

"You should be alright. However, I would suggest to everyone to never speak unless explicitly spoken to. Some gods take great offense to mortals speaking in their presence," he explained. "I also need to collect Lady Strix," he explained as he closed his eyes and telepathically communicated with her.

"Lady Strix, you are required," Vermont explained to her as she sat in a ship she had taken from a war-mongering planet. "I will come and collect you immediately. An urgent situation has occurred."