226-230

Chapter 226: Earth Style: Arena Restoration Technique 

It was clear that Yamato was itching for a fight, barely able to contain herself. 

Right from the start, she skipped the usual probing phase, unleashing her Conqueror’s Haki immediately. All three types of Haki—Observation, Armament, and Conqueror’s—were on full display as she bombarded Master Roshi with “Thunder Bagua” attacks like they cost nothing. 

Roshi, in turn, cranked up his ki, shifting from Afterimage Fist to Shockwave Palm, even firing off a Kamehameha once to clash with Yamato’s Thunder Bagua. Each collision tore through the air, sending shockwaves rippling outward in all directions. 

The wind howled fiercely. 

Some front-row spectators were already scrambling to the back, desperate to escape. 

And who could blame them? 

The oppressive aura of Conqueror’s Haki was intimidating but bearable. 

What wasn’t bearable were the countless bits of rubble and debris flying like a hailstorm. In just moments, dozens of spectators were left clutching their bruised heads, fleeing in pain. The blonde referee, tasked with commentating the match, wore a conflicted expression as he narrated the chaos. 

According to tournament rules, attacking the audience was forbidden, carrying the same penalty as using weapons: immediate disqualification. 

But… 

What if the attacks weren’t intentional, and it was just the fallout from an intense battle accidentally hitting the stands? How should that be handled? 

The blonde referee was grappling with this dilemma. 

As the situation threatened to spiral further, Uchiha Hikari reached into her pocket for her Blood Coral Jade, ready to raise a barrier around the arena to protect the crowd. 

But Esdeath noticed her move and acted first, snapping her fingers. A chilling gust surged, and a massive ice wall, over ten meters tall, rose from the ground. It stretched out from where Hikari’s group sat, extending nearly two hundred meters to either side, blocking all the flying debris. 

The ice wall was translucent, like a glass curtain, ensuring the audience’s view of the match remained unobstructed. 

“…Hm?” 

The referee blinked for a few seconds before turning to Esdeath. “Thank you so much for your help, miss. After today’s matches, please accept a special gift from us…” 

“No need,” Esdeath replied flatly, glancing at Hikari. “Give the gift to her instead.” 

“Huh?” 

Hikari paused, then smirked. “Well, in that case, I won’t say no.” 

“Whatever.” 

With the situation temporarily under control, the tournament staff began escorting the injured spectators for treatment. The remaining audience moved to seats farther from the arena, continuing to watch the two fighters duke it out. 

The blonde referee regained his enthusiasm, resuming his commentary with gusto: 

“…And now Yamato unleashes another fierce assault! A left front kick, a right whip kick—both blocked by Jackie Chun!” 

Yamato and Roshi clashed like a meteor hitting Earth, battling intensely for nearly half an hour. 

In that time, the thousands of square meters of the arena were reduced to rubble. Several support pillars were smashed, and the sign reading “World Martial Arts Tournament” teetered precariously. The scene looked like a tornado had ripped through a parking lot. 

Finally, both realized their opponent wasn’t someone they could easily defeat. To conserve energy for later matches, they decided to pull back and settle it with one final move. 

Roshi, naturally, went with his signature Kamehameha—a supercharged version capable of leveling a mountain. 

Yamato, in that moment, revealed her true trump card—not Haki, but her Devil Fruit. 

Inu Inu no Mi, Mythical Zoan: Okuchi no Makami Form! 

In theory, this ability counted as an “external tool,” against tournament rules. But since the organizers didn’t know what a Devil Fruit was, and Yamato’s ability was fully internalized, requiring no weapons to activate, they let it slide. 

In an instant, Yamato’s appearance transformed. She became a white wolf with sharp fangs, her already tall frame growing even larger. She coated herself in icy armor and opened her mouth wide, unleashing a blast of freezing breath: 

“Mirror Mountain!” 

“Takanotsume!” 

The former was for defense, the latter a devastating attack capable of rivaling Kaido, unleashed in her hybrid beast form. 

The next second, a massive cloud of dust erupted, and the explosion’s roar echoed across the heavens! 

It took three or four minutes for the smoke to clear. 

When it did, Yamato and Roshi reappeared, both panting heavily, having retreated dozens of steps. Their clothes were tattered, and they were clearly exhausted. 

Then… 

Roshi raised his hand. “I surrender.” 

“?” 

Yamato was the most shocked. 

“Huh? Why give up all of a sudden? I was just getting warmed up… You’ve still got plenty of ki left, don’t you? Wanna keep going?” 

“Heh.” 

Roshi chuckled but said nothing. 

Just as Yamato hadn’t used her full strength—her empty-handed Thunder Bagua was weaker than when wielding her kanabo, and she hadn’t fully tapped into her Devil Fruit’s power—Roshi had only used about seventy percent of his strength. As “Jackie Chun,” he couldn’t show too much of his true power, lest he be recognized. 

In an unrestricted fight, the outcome between them was anyone’s guess. 

But right now… 

Roshi felt that continuing might risk his wig falling off. 

He wasn’t afraid of Yamato’s physical techniques, but her stamina and recovery were downright monstrous. Without major mistakes, a decisive win could take over an hour. If his wig slipped and people recognized him, he’d be too embarrassed to call himself the “God of Martial Arts.” 

Roshi’s goal in joining the tournament wasn’t fame but to keep his disciples, Goku and Krillin, from getting too cocky with high rankings. With Yamato and Esdeath as gatekeepers, Goku had no shot at the championship and would struggle to even reach the finals. Roshi saw no need to keep up the act. 

“See ya. Maybe we’ll meet again.” 

Roshi casually hopped off the stage and vanished into the crowd. 

“Uh…” 

The blonde referee hesitated before grabbing the microphone. “In that case, Yamato is the winner by Jackie Chun’s forfeit! Their battle has destroyed much of the arena. To continue the tournament, we’ll need a day or two to repair it before resuming matches…” 

Strictly speaking, the arena’s damage was Yamato and Roshi’s fault. 

Though the organizers were gracious enough not to demand compensation, planning to cover repairs themselves, Hikari, as a friend of one of the culprits, felt a bit uneasy. 

“I’ve got this.” 

Hikari stood, walking to the edge of the arena. She crouched, placing her hands on the shattered stones. “Earth Style: Mud Wall!” 

Chakra surged. 

In that moment, the crushed stone slabs began to writhe. 

Then, the debris floated upward, piecing themselves back together like building blocks, restoring the damaged areas. 

A ninja technique from the Naruto world shone at the Dragon Ball World Martial Arts Tournament. 

This wasn’t a standard use of Mud Wall. 

Though it seemed simple, it required exceptional chakra control. 

An average Jonin or even Kage-level ninja likely couldn’t pull it off. But Hikari had been training her chakra control, and her chakra reserves had grown significantly since last year’s awakening, making it manageable. 

In about ten minutes, the wrecked arena was mostly restored. Pits and craters were filled with earth, though the color and hardness differed slightly. At least it was no longer uneven underfoot. 

The blonde referee, witnessing this, looked like he wanted to say something but held back. 

As the tournament’s dedicated commentator, he wasn’t a martial artist but knew enough. He’d seen masters like Roshi and understood ki could do incredible things. 

But… 

First the ice wall, now this earth-filling trick… Was this not straight-up magic? 

Could ki really do this? 

“…All done.” 

Hikari stood, glancing at her handiwork before brushing the dust off her clothes. “You can keep going now.” 

Maybe she’d rename this move “Earth Style: Arena Restoration Technique,” like Yamato’s Wood Style: Three-Bedroom-One-Bath Technique from the Naruto world. 

“Huh? Oh!” 

The referee snapped out of it, nodding quickly and grabbing the microphone to announce the next matches. 

With Yamato and Roshi’s match setting the tone, the following fights were just as intense. 

Take Brand versus Giran. Bound by rules against using Teigu, Brand relied purely on physical prowess, pummeling the dinosaur-like human into submission until Giran tearfully surrendered. 

Then, Akame took down Yamcha with ease. 

—Yamcha had entered the tournament but couldn’t escape his first-round knockout fate. 

Goku defeated the barbarian. 

And one match worth noting was Esdeath versus Tazmi… 

To be fair, Tazmi’s talent was impressive—exceptional, even. 

In the Akame ga Kill original story, he went from a rookie village swordsman to facing off against a top-tier boss like Esdeath in under a year. His growth was astonishing, rivaling even battle-hardened elites like Akame and Brand, if not surpassing them. 

But… 

The current Tazmi had only trained with Night Raid for two months. Since Brand was still alive, Tazmi hadn’t inherited the “Demon Cloak” Teigu. Against an even stronger Esdeath than in the original story’s finale, he stood no chance and was taken out in a few swift moves. 

Esdeath returned to the stands calmly, as if she’d done something trivial. 

“…How was it?” Hikari asked quietly. 

“Fine.” 

Esdeath’s expression didn’t change. She glanced at Hikari, then at Tazmi, who’d just left the stage. “For his age, his skill’s decent. In the army, he’d be moldable talent… but compared to you, he’s nothing special.” 

“Huh?” 

Hikari gave her an odd look. 

Was Esdeath saying that after seeing a “genius” like her, other so-called prodigies felt lackluster? 

“Once you’ve seen the ocean, rivers seem trivial” kind of thing? 

Well, that worked out. 

In both the original story and now, Tazmi clearly had no interest in Esdeath. According to Brand, he’d been getting close to Mine lately—proof that even with the timeline heavily altered, Tazmi and Mine’s connection held strong. If Esdeath had fallen for him like in the original, that could’ve been messy. 

That night, Hikari’s group returned to the hotel for another big meal. After eating their fill, they washed up and headed to bed. 

Over the next two or three days, the tournament continued its eliminations. 

By the evening of the fourth day, the top eight were finalized— 

Five of them were from Hikari’s group: Esdeath, Yamato, Brand, Akame, and Hikari herself. 

The other three were Goku, Nam, and Krillin. 

Hilariously, Master Roshi, the founder of the Turtle School and their master, was knocked out in the first round. Meanwhile, his disciples, Goku and Krillin, had avoided facing Hikari’s crew and fought their way to the top eight. 

But… their luck would only carry them so far. 

Chapter 227: Another Showdown with Esdeath 

The quarterfinal matchups were determined by the competitors’ assigned numbers. 

So, Uchiha Hikari faced off against Goku, Brand against Krillin, Yamato against Akame, and Esdeath against Namu. 

Well… 

Just looking at the lineup, you could pretty much guess the outcome of each match. 

Goku, the future Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan God, candidate for God of Destruction, and strongest warrior of Universe 7, was still just a thirteen-year-old kid at this point. He wasn’t even a match for Tao Pai Pai in this era, let alone Hikari. 

Krillin and Namu were in similar boats. 

Namu at this time was slightly stronger than Krillin, maybe even on par with Goku. But against Esdeath, who was like Piccolo Daimao in her dominance, he was just plain out of luck. 

The only match with some suspense was Yamato versus Akame. 

But considering Akame’s strength relied heavily on her swordsmanship, and weapons were banned, Yamato had the edge. 

As expected, the quarterfinals played out predictably. 

In the matches the next day, Hikari, after a “grueling” battle, defeated Goku with a “slight” advantage. 

This kind of precise score-control was practically her trademark by now. Regular spectators thought it was just a coincidence, but sharper martial artists from Earth picked up on it. After all, consistently barely passing was no easier than acing every round. 

On the other side, Esdeath took a completely different approach, overwhelming Namu in just a few moves and knocking him off the stage. 

“By the way…” Bulma said hesitantly, watching Namu’s dejected expression from the stands. “Didn’t he join the tournament to get water for his village? Kicking him out like this… doesn’t it feel a bit harsh?” 

“Yeah, a little,” Hikari agreed. 

They were here for fun, treating the tournament like a casual group outing. But for Namu, it was about his village’s survival. 

If they hadn’t known, it’d be one thing. 

But since they did, ignoring it didn’t sit right. 

“…I’ll talk to him later and send some supplies,” Bulma said after a moment. “We’ll call it a Capsule Corp charity donation.” 

In the original story, Master Roshi helped Namu in a similar way, though with a single capsule instead of supplies. With Bulma’s wealth, she could do even more. 

Still, that was just a temporary fix. The real solution would be… 

“After the tournament, Esdeath and I will visit his village,” Hikari said softly. 

She hadn’t tried it yet, but with her full-powered Susanoo, carving out an artificial lake with a few swings of her blade shouldn’t be too hard, right? 

Then Esdeath could whip up some ice to fill the lake. Once it melted, they’d have a natural reservoir. 

The only question was whether Esdeath would agree… 

“An artificial lake?” Esdeath, fresh off the stage, frowned at Hikari’s suggestion. “Sounds boring.” 

“Uh…” 

Just as Hikari was about to try persuading her, Esdeath spoke again. “But if it’s something you want to do, I’ll go along with it. On one condition… in the final match of the tournament, you fight me with the intent to kill, not just mess around. And I’ll do the same.” 

“Huh?” Hikari raised an eyebrow. 

She’d come to the tournament with a laid-back mindset. They were all friends here, or at least not enemies, so there was no need to go all-out for some “World’s Greatest Fighter” title or a measly 500,000 zeni prize. If Esdeath wanted the win, Hikari would’ve even considered forfeiting. 

But now… 

“You remember your promise, right?” Esdeath narrowed her eyes, her expression deadly serious as she stared at Hikari. “As part of our deal, I can challenge you. Back in the East Sea was the first time. This will be my second challenge. You won’t refuse, will you?” 

A brief silence. 

Hikari looked up, a gentle smile spreading across her face. “Alright. If that’s what you want… I’ll give it everything I’ve got.” 

… 

[Yongdaimei @Bulma: Miss Bulma, how’s the tournament going today?] 

[Bulma: Well, the Dragon Ball world team got wiped out. Hikari beat Mr. Brand, and next up is Esdeath versus Yamato… No surprises, the One Piece world team’s probably out too.] 

[Yongdaimei: Esdeath?] 

[Bulma: Oh, that’s the general lady. Hikari calls her ‘Esdeath,’ so I do too.] 

[Ghost Princess: …I know she’s strong, but even you don’t think I can win, Miss Bulma?] 

[Bulma: Cough I’m rooting for you, Yamato, but Esdeath is kind of a beast. Even Hikari has a tough time with her… Anyway, my ‘gravity training chamber’ is almost done! After the tournament, you guys can come train in it. It’ll definitely boost your strength!] 

In reality, Hikari, fresh from her match with Brand, sipped an iced cola while checking the chat group messages. 

Yamato had a bit of a fixation on Esdeath. 

Back in the Akame ga Kill! world, she’d challenged Esdeath once and got thoroughly trounced. Months later, Yamato’s strength had grown, and after beating Master Roshi, she was eager to test herself against Esdeath again. 

But… 

The outcome would likely be the same. 

In just a few moments, the chat group conversation had jumped from the tournament to the “gravity training chamber” and then to “Dragon Ball wishes.” 

The existence of the Dragon Balls was no secret. 

Even Kikyo, Yamato, and Yotsuya, who joined the group later and hadn’t been part of the Dragon Ball hunt, knew about them. While Kikyo and the others were mildly curious, Yuji Itadori tentatively asked if the Dragon Balls could “make cursed spirits disappear.” 

[Nameless: Erasing cursed spirits… that’s tough. In your world, cursed spirits come from human resentment. Even if you wiped out all the current ones, as long as humans exist, more would appear. Completely eliminating them involves the yin-yang mechanics of your world, which is probably beyond the Dragon Balls’ power.] 

[Yotsuya: Sounds a bit like my world…] 

[Nameless: Also, Tanjiro’s wish might be more urgent since Dragon Ball resurrections have a time limit. Bulma and I are planning to test it with him first.] 

[Iron Head: Huh? Won’t that be too much trouble for everyone? I did think about using the Dragon Balls to revive people killed by demons, but Miss Hikari already used Impure World Reincarnation, and I thought that was pretty good…] 

[Nameless: People brought back by Impure World Reincarnation aren’t truly alive. It’s fine short-term, but over time, it could cause problems…] 

Though she said this in the chat, Hikari wasn’t entirely sure if the Dragon Balls could grant wishes from other worlds. 

She’d have to wait until after the tournament to ask Korin, who’d mentioned contacting the Kami. By now, there should be an answer on whether Kami would meet them. 

… 

As time passed, the tournament reached the finals. 

As expected, the championship match was between Hikari and Esdeath. 

Before the match began, Hikari handed her Blood Coral Jade to Kikyo, asking her to spend a day setting up a massive barrier around the spectator stands. 

Since they were going all-out, the fight would be intense. Without precautions, the audience might be wiped out before it was over. 

The Blood Coral Jade barrier alone, with strength only a few times that of the Four Violet Flames Formation, might not withstand their clash. 

But with Kikyo’s spiritual power and barrier expertise, it was a different story. While not quite as strong as the Four Red Yang Formation, it was close enough. 

Even so, Hikari warned Bulma and the others to hop on the airship and flee at the first sign of trouble to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. 

With everything set, Hikari and Esdeath stepped onto the arena, standing a hundred meters apart as the blonde host-turned-referee read out the rules. 

“…And now, the match begins!” 

The moment the host’s voice fell, a boom echoed as towering ice pillars, like ancient trees, shot up around Esdeath, hurtling toward Hikari like spears! 

“Ice Inferno!” 

On the other side, Hikari got serious, forming a hand seal and exhaling sharply. 

Fire Style: Majestic Flame Destruction! 

BOOM!!! 

Crimson flames surged forward like a tidal wave, colliding with the ice pillars. Sparks of fire and shards of ice flew everywhere, while scalding steam rolled out like a tsunami. Even through the barrier, the audience could feel the blistering heat. 

“What… what is this?!” 

“Those flames—what’s going on?!” 

Even Master Roshi’s eyes widened in shock, his face full of disbelief. 

He’d seen Esdeath’s ice powers, but… Hikari had something like this too? And those flames seemed to carry traces of “ki”? 

That was only natural. 

Ninjutsu stemmed from chakra, and Hikari’s chakra had fused with “ki” to become “chak-ki-ra.” Her ninjutsu naturally carried Dragon Ball world traits. 

But right now, Hikari had no time to explain, her focus entirely on the battle. 

Before the steam from the first clash could dissipate, Esdeath’s onslaught continued. 

One after another, hundred-meter-long ice spikes pierced through the mist with sonic booms, chasing Hikari as she dodged with agile movements. In just a few breaths, the repeatedly repaired arena was shattered again, rubble flying and dust clouding the air. 

At the source of the ice spikes, Esdeath stood on a floating ice platform high in the sky. With a fierce stomp, she shot forward like blue lightning, delivering a kick encased in ice! 

Clang—! 

Facing that tangible killing intent, Hikari steadied her breathing and threw a punch. 

Ten Heavens Breathing: Fist Spike!! 

The instant her fist met Esdeath’s boot, both their bodies shuddered from the impact. 

Then, a massive force traveled through Hikari’s body into the ground, shattering the tiles beneath her! 

In the next moment, Esdeath flipped to the ground as Hikari launched forward like a young tiger, her fists whistling with sonic booms. Despite the sheer power, her movements were as delicate as a butterfly, dodging Esdeath’s attacks with minimal effort. 

In mere moments, they’d exchanged nearly a hundred blows. 

Their speed was so blistering that their figures blurred. Weaker spectators could only see two whirlwinds—one black, one blue—clashing on the stage, accompanied by sonic booms. Only a few, like Master Roshi and Yamato, could track their movements. 

“…Not bad. You’ve gotten a lot stronger since last time,” Esdeath’s voice cut through the sonic booms, clear and sharp. 

Hikari’s lips curved slightly. “You too.” 

It seemed her trips through the Naruto and Dragon Ball worlds had inspired Esdeath. Compared to when they’d left the Akame ga Kill! world months ago, her progress was noticeable. 

“Well then…” 

“Try this one—it’s something I prepared just for you!” 

After another flurry of blows, Esdeath pulled back and clasped her hands together. 

Whoosh— 

A sound like a thousand cannons firing rang out. 

A ferocious blizzard swept in. 

Under Hikari’s and the audience’s gazes, Esdeath’s body became enveloped in a faint frost, rising into the sky. The ice gradually solidified, gleaming, until it formed a towering, fully-formed ice giant dominating the arena! 

“?!” 

Hikari’s eyes twitched. 

This move… 

Was it a Demon’s Extract-style Susanoo?! 

Chapter 228: Ice Demon vs. Fire Thunder God 

Now Uchiha Hikari understood why Esdeath said this move was made for her. 

In their previous spars, Esdeath’s biggest headache was Hikari’s Susanoo. That chakra armor made it so even Esdeath’s “Mokobotmo,” which could freeze time and space, was useless against her. 

On the other hand, while “Amaterasu” and “Tsukuyomi” were powerful, they could be countered or mitigated to some extent. 

So now… 

“Join them if you can’t beat them, huh?” 

In a split second, Esdeath commanded her ice giant, taking a massive step forward and swinging a colossal fist! 

Ice Demon: Stage One! 

The punch hadn’t even landed, but the wild gusts from it already displaced the air, enveloping Hikari completely! 

In a flash, Hikari gathered her breath and leaped, her petite frame dodging like a nimble cat. She crossed her arms, blocking the shower of debris kicked up by the attack. 

At the same moment, the black pinwheel pattern in her eyes spun gently. “Amaterasu!” 

Jet-black flames materialized, surging toward the ice giant’s body. 

But the giant’s icy structure was so dense that even Amaterasu’s thousands-of-degrees heat could only melt a thin surface layer, unable to reach its core. 

As for regular Fire Style or other ninjutsu? No point even trying. Against a behemoth like this, they’d be like scratching an itch through a boot. 

Hikari pursed her lips, starting to grasp how Esdeath must feel facing her Susanoo. 

Looked like she’d have to… 

She exhaled softly, pushing her eye power harder. Her body flipped and rolled again, dodging another barrage of ice spikes and the ice giant’s fist. 

In mere seconds, a dark red silhouette emerged behind her, rapidly forming bones, flesh, and armor. It towered like a skyscraper over the arena. 

Susanoo: Fourth Form! 

The next instant, Susanoo’s arm shot forward, blocking the ice giant’s punch in midair! 

BOOM! 

A deafening roar echoed as milky-white shockwaves erupted from where their fists met, sweeping across the entire arena in a blink! 

From the spectators’ view, it was as if an invisible barrier exploded outward from the collision, scattering all nearby debris and leaving a hundreds-meter-high vacuum zone. Even the clouds above were briefly parted. It took seven or eight seconds for the air to rush back in, refilling the space. 

“…Bring it on!”  

Esdeath, high in the air, had a fiery glint of battle lust in her eyes. 

Clearly, she’d been working on this “Ice Demon” move for a while. 

Though built from ice and snow, the giant moved with surprising agility, not a hint of clumsiness. Each punch unleashed a series of milky-white sonic cones, strong enough to shatter a small mountain. 

The fourth-form Susanoo was starting to struggle. 

So Hikari pushed her eye power further, unleashing her Complete Susanoo. 

Esdeath, tapping into the “Demon’s Extract,” boosted the ice giant’s size and strength to nearly two hundred meters. It was still slightly smaller than the Complete Susanoo, but not by much. With the Demon’s Extract sustaining it, any damage from the Susanoo healed almost instantly. 

Of course… 

This was partly because Hikari wasn’t using her spiritual weapons. 

The dark red greatsword aside, if she brought out “Fire Thunder God,” this stalemate wouldn’t last. 

But tournament rules banned weapons, and Hikari had other plans for “Fire Thunder God” to counter one of Esdeath’s moves. She was already quietly building up for it. 

As the battle raged on, the two giants clashed repeatedly, sending visible shockwaves rippling through the air like waves on a lake. 

Immense forces filled the arena, weaving an invisible field of energy. 

The few remaining stone slabs on the stage, and even the distant venue buildings, were crushed, shaken, and pulverized under this unseen force, reduced to fine dust that scattered into the sky! Explosions rang out continuously. 

At this point, even the barrier reinforced by Kikyo was starting to give. 

Fine cracks appeared on the translucent shield. 

Then, increasingly intense seismic waves spread from the arena floor, as if the entire earth was trembling. 

The audience couldn’t sit still anymore. 

Over the past few days, they’d seen plenty of mind-blowing fights—Yamato vs. Roshi, Esdeath’s earlier displays, and the skills of Brand, Akame, Nam, Goku, and others. But this scene still left their jaws on the floor. 

Well… they hadn’t yet witnessed the merciless Piccolo, who’d casually destroy entire cities. 

Otherwise, aside from Bulma and Roshi, not a single spectator would’ve stayed. 

“No way… are these two really human?!” 

“The blue-haired woman’s one thing, but this little girl too…? They’re not gonna destroy the city, are they?” 

“…Let’s get farther back. We can watch the broadcast on TV—no need to risk it this close.” 

Soon, droves of spectators fled their seats, rushing outside. Those who stayed either had nerves of steel, refused to back down as self-proclaimed martial artists, or, like Goku, wanted to study the fight to improve. Even they were on edge, ready to bolt while watching the match. 

Even Roshi’s face was unusually grim. 

He was the only one present who’d seen the Great Demon King Piccolo in person. 

This scene faintly stirred a memory in his mind— 

“If I’m not mistaken, that guy could grow massive too… Who are Bulma’s friends? This kind of power—it’s not far off from Piccolo himself, is it?” 

Meanwhile, the blonde referee clung to his microphone, dutifully commentating despite the battle exceeding his comprehension. His words came out jumbled, and the TV broadcast, plagued by interference, flickered with static. 

“…We might’ve gone a bit overboard.” 

Hikari glanced at the surrounding chaos. 

Her fight with Esdeath was intense, to say the least. Even unintentionally, the damage to the tournament venue was severe. 

But the organizers were probably used to it. This arena was destined to be wrecked by Goku’s Great Ape form anyway, and years later, Piccolo Jr. would trash it again. This was just a sneak preview… 

After another close-range clash, with Susanoo blocking the ice giant, Hikari spoke quickly. “This could go on forever. How about we both drop these forms, Esdeath?” 

“You sure?” Esdeath raised an eyebrow. 

“Absolutely.” 

The fight had already shown that Susanoo and the Ice Demon were evenly matched. Neither Hikari nor Esdeath could quickly defeat the other like this. 

Without Senzu Beans, neither could sustain these forms for long—the energy drain was too much. 

So why not switch to other moves? 

So far, Esdeath hadn’t used “Mokobotmo.” In past spars, Hikari had relied on Susanoo to tank it, but now… she wanted to test a counter she’d been devising. 

Maybe it’d surprise Esdeath. 

Soon, both giants vanished, dissolving into scorching flames and icy mist. 

Hikari and Esdeath landed back on the arena in human form, trading dozens of blows in close combat. Then Esdeath seized an opening, clasping her hands together to unleash her signature move: 

“Mokobotmo!!” 

With a low shout, a chilling ice-blue aura burst from her, spreading kilometers outward in an instant! 

Where the cold passed, a circular curtain of light expanded! 

Then, boundless ice froze everything in sight! 

From Hikari on the arena to the blonde referee nearby, to Bulma, Roshi, and the audience in the stands… despite the barrier, everyone and everything froze in place. Light, sound, images—everything stopped. 

From an outsider’s view, it was as if the world had been draped in an ice-blue filter. Only the blue-haired figure with waist-length hair remained, slowly raising her head, gazing calmly ahead. 

Crunch, crunch— 

Footsteps echoed forward. 

Esdeath, in her long boots, raised her right hand and walked toward Hikari. 

“…Sorry.” 

“This time, I win.” 

As she advanced, frost cloaked her slender fingers, forming a narrow ice blade. Her gaze fixed on Hikari’s pale, delicate face, a subtle emotion flickering in her eyes. 

At this level of fighting, holding back wasn’t an option. They’d agreed to go all out beforehand. 

Of course, it wouldn’t come to actual death. 

Esdeath knew Hikari’s resilience—unless decapitated or torn apart, she could recover fully. Worst case, Esdeath had a small stash of Senzu Beans to revive her. 

But… 

For some reason, Esdeath felt a flicker of anticipation, hoping to see a miracle from the girl before her— 

“If it’s you, maybe…” 

Her thought cut off. 

Esdeath’s eyes narrowed, dismissing the notion. She stopped two or three meters from Hikari, turning her ice blade to aim at her chest. 

Right at her heart. 

The blade’s tip touched Hikari’s clothes. One small push would end the match. 

But… 

At that exact moment, Hikari, enveloped in the icy veil, twitched. 

More precisely, her eyes twitched. 

A tiny spark of flame appeared in the black pinwheel of her Mangekyo Sharingan, glowing with vibrant color. 

“?!” 

Esdeath’s pupils contracted, the thought she’d suppressed surging back. Her hand froze mid-strike, her gaze locked on the girl. 

Then… 

Whoosh— 

A faint breeze seemed to pass through. 

With it, the spark in Hikari’s eyes flared, blooming like a crimson flower or a dark red veil wrapping around her body. 

In that moment, Hikari seemed to shift from monochrome to vivid color, “coming alive” in the frozen, lifeless world. She merged with the flames, radiating dazzling brilliance. 

Literally “merged.” 

From Esdeath’s view, Hikari’s form blurred. Her black hair whipped like wild snakes, interwoven with countless streams of red light. Her face and body shimmered with fiery hues, exuding a heart-stopping heat that felt like it could melt anything too close. 

This was the trump card Hikari had prepared— 

Spiritual Weapon: Fire Thunder God!! 

“Hey, Esdeath.” 

Hikari raised her head, like an elf cloaked in flames, flashing a bright, radiant smile at Esdeath. 

But… 

Esdeath had no time to admire it. 

Shock overwhelmed the warrior princess, her face showing disbelief: 

“You actually… broke through ‘Mokobotmo’?!” 

Chapter 229: "Flame Form" and the Kami 

The question didn’t need an answer— 

Just as Esdeath had been tirelessly studying how to counter Susanoo, Uchiha Hikari had been pondering ways to crack Mokobotmo. 

She’d come up with two plans. 

The first was to have Yuji Itadori from the chat group head to the Jujutsu Kaisen world and absorb the power of Mahoraga. 

The essence of Mokobotmo wasn’t true time manipulation but rather using the ice and snow power within Demon’s Extract to create an extreme low-temperature environment, effectively freezing an area to mimic a time-stop effect. 

So, if someone could withstand absolute cold and move freely in such conditions, Mokobotmo would be rendered useless. 

In the original story, Takanotsume had used this principle to counter the move. 

Mahoraga worked similarly. 

It could adapt to Sukuna’s Dismantle in mere moments after encountering it, so theoretically, adapting to Mokobotmo was only a matter of time. 

But… 

Mahoraga wasn’t just any cursed spirit—it was the Fushiguro family’s shikigami. Hikari and Yuji were just casual friends, so asking the Fushiguro clan to summon their shikigami for her to “consume” felt a bit absurd, even to her. 

So, Hikari devised a second method— 

A deeper development of Fire-Thunder God. 

The Fire-Thunder God, a spiritual weapon born from her Mangekyō Sharingan, first awakened during her initial duel with Esdeath in the Akame ga Kill! world. Back then, she’d instinctively tapped into its Thunder God aspect, embodying extreme speed and ferocity. 

Now… 

Facing Esdeath again, Hikari tried the Fire God aspect. 

With the Fire-Thunder God’s versatile nature, she didn’t shape it into a weapon like a sword but instead transformed it into a veil-like garment that enveloped her completely. The blazing flames shielded her from Mokobotmo’s freezing grasp, allowing her to break free from the time-frozen space. 

If she had to name this technique, it’d be— 

Flame Form! 

In contrast, the Thunder God aspect would be her Light Form. 

“Hoo…” 

Hikari exhaled softly. 

With the motion, her flame-wreathed body flickered, silently melting the ice blade at her chest. The resulting water didn’t even have time to drip before it evaporated into the surrounding air. 

Esdeath, gripping the ice blade, seemed to feel the wave of heat and instinctively pulled her scalded fingers back. She squinted, scrutinizing Hikari with an unreadable expression. 

In Flame Form, Hikari was a living embodiment of fire, her body radiating thousands of degrees. 

If she hadn’t been deliberately controlling it, her clothes would’ve been incinerated by the Fire-Thunder God in an instant, let alone the ice blade pressed against her. 

“…Sorry, Esdeath,” Hikari said, standing still and offering an apologetic smile as the flames illuminated Esdeath’s face. “Looks like I win again.” 

“…” 

Esdeath’s expression shifted a few times before she sighed and conceded defeat. 

She still had some strength left and could’ve unleashed Ice Demon again, but it was pointless. 

Ice Demon could, at best, match Susanoo, and Mokobotmo was completely countered by Flame Form. Until she developed a way to handle Flame Form, challenging Hikari ten more times wouldn’t change the outcome. 

Having gathered the intel she needed, it was time to start a new “arms race.” 

But that would have to wait. 

As Esdeath’s fighting spirit faded, Hikari closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, her hair and skin returned to their usual pale shade, the fiery red glow fading away. 

Afterward, she discreetly glanced at her sleeve, where a fresh scorch mark was clearly visible. 

“…Guess I need to spend more time getting used to Flame Form.” 

Compared to Light Form, her control over Flame Form was less stable. 

It was fine when standing still, but in high-intensity combat, there was a risk of burning her clothes. To avoid an embarrassing situation like fighting Esdeath in the nude, she’d need to train her control over Flame Form. 

For safety’s sake, she should also make some fire-resistant clothing. 

The East Sea Cloud Dragon’s fur had some flame-retardant properties. She could have it processed into a fitted sweater and pants for decent protection. 

… 

Meanwhile, the audience below was bewildered. 

Including Master Roshi, none of them could resist Mokobotmo’s effect, so during the frozen moment, their minds and bodies had genuinely stopped. From their perspective, it was like Hikari and Esdeath were locked in fierce combat one second, and the next, Esdeath suddenly surrendered, ending the match abruptly. It felt bizarre. 

But… 

It didn’t matter much. 

The intense battle before Mokobotmo had already been worth the ticket price. 

Next came the awards and photo session. 

Per the rules, the top three received medals, while the champion got a one-time prize of 500,000 zeni and a gold-plated trophy inscribed with “World’s Greatest Fighter.” 

The money wasn’t a big deal. Hikari had recently raided the Red Ribbon Army’s headquarters, amassing a hefty haul, so she wasn’t short on cash. 

But the trophy and medal held some sentimental value. 

Hikari hugged them, grinning as she took photos with Bulma, Eri, and the others, then passed the awards around for them to admire. Stretching lazily, she glanced at Esdeath. “The tournament’s finally over. Wanna grab some good food later? My treat.” 

“…” 

Esdeath, staring at her silver medal, didn’t respond. 

Instead, Goku scratched his head and asked tentatively, “Big Sis Hikari, can Krillin and I come too?” 

“Hm?” Hikari smiled. “Of course. I meant everyone. After this, we’ll all be heading our separate ways, and who knows when we’ll meet again? Gotta make the most of this chance to hang out.” 

“Yay!” Goku cheered. 

As they chatted, Hikari felt someone approach and lightly poke her arm. “Miss Hikari, look over there…” 

“Hm? What’s up?” 

Turning, she saw Tanjiro pointing in a direction. “I just saw someone over there… a cat. I think it’s Master Korin.” 

“Huh?” 

Hikari blinked, following Tanjiro’s gesture but finding her view blocked by the crowd. 

Using Sky Dance to lift herself slightly, she scanned the area and soon spotted a white figure in the corner of the stands—Korin, leaning on his staff with his usual squinting eyes. 

Next to him sat an unremarkable middle-aged man in a T-shirt, shorts, and glasses. 

Sensing Hikari’s gaze, Korin licked his whiskers, still squinting. 

The man nodded at her briefly before standing and walking away slowly. 

“That guy…” Hikari narrowed her eyes, a thought forming. 

Korin’s appearance caught her off guard. 

The old cat rarely left Korin Tower. In the original story, he sent Yajirobe to deliver senzu beans to the Z Fighters. Coming to the World Martial Arts Tournament in person? This was a first for Hikari. 

As for the middle-aged man beside him, he was even more unfamiliar. 

Even after mentally flipping through the entire Dragon Ball manga, Hikari couldn’t place him. 

Still, she had a guess about his identity— 

(Could that guy be Kami in disguise?) 

Kami had the ability to manipulate minds. In the original story, he’d possessed “Mr. Shen” to enter the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, attempting to seal Piccolo Jr. with the Evil Containment Wave. It failed, and he ended up sealed instead, only escaping thanks to young Goku. 

So… 

Had Korin already visited Kami and told him about their group? 

The answer wasn’t clear. 

But there was no rush. 

If that man was indeed Kami, here to observe them, he’d likely approach after the tournament. All Hikari had to do was wait. 

… 

That evening, the group dined at another upscale restaurant in the city. 

With Goku’s bottomless appetite, Hikari’s 500,000 zeni prize money was quickly devoured, and she had to dip into her own pocket for another million to cover the bill. 

Bulma offered to chip in, but Hikari waved her off. 

“Nah, it’s fine. I’m pretty flush right now. That Red Ribbon Army haul was massive, and I haven’t spent much of it.” 

“Huh?” Bulma blinked, leaning in to whisper, “I’ve been meaning to ask… Did you and Esdeath really take down the Red Ribbon Army in just a week? They’re a notorious global organization. I heard even the Earth’s king sent troops to wipe them out and failed…” 

“Actually, it was four days,” Hikari corrected. 

The fall of the Red Ribbon Army hadn’t caused much of a stir. 

Aside from a few places directly oppressed by them, most regions and people were unaware the organization was gone. Over time, though, it’d likely come to light. Whether a new group would replace them was up to the Dragon Ball world. 

Hikari had already meddled once. The rest could be left to Goku and his friends. 

That night, the group returned to the hotel. 

Bulma eagerly rounded up people for a poker game. 

Yamato jumped in first, while Kikyo and Eri were reluctantly dragged along. 

After her intense fight with Esdeath, Hikari was a bit tired. She took a shower, soaked in the bath to ease her fatigue, and changed into fresh clothes before heading to the living room for a cola. Just then, a knock came at the door. 

“Hm?” 

Who’d come this late? 

After a moment’s hesitation, Hikari peeked through the peephole, then opened the door to find Korin standing there, licking his paw. “Hey, Hikari. Got a minute to talk?” 

“That matter you and Tanjiro asked me to look into? There’s an answer. The big guy wants to meet you.” 

“Oh?” Hikari raised her head, her gaze passing Korin to the hallway’s corner, where a green-skinned, weathered old man in a white robe stood, staring at her with a serious expression. 

“Come on in,” Hikari said, stepping aside and heading back inside. She opened the fridge, pulling out some juice and water and setting them on the table. “Want a drink?” 

“…No, thank you,” Kami said, sitting on the sofa. He glanced at Korin before speaking slowly. “Korin’s told me a bit about you… I never imagined there were other worlds beyond ours, or that you could travel freely between them. It’s incredible.” 

“Yeah,” Hikari nodded. 

In a way, she found the chat group’s existence pretty incredible too. 

After some small talk, Kami got to the point. “Korin mentioned you and that boy, Tanjiro, want to use the Dragon Balls?” 

Chapter 230: Negotiations with the Guardian 

In truth, the Guardian had noticed Uchiha Hikari earlier than she’d expected. 

To be precise, about a year earlier. 

Before last year, no one on this planet had used the Dragon Balls to make a wish for nearly a century. So when Hikari and Bulma gathered all seven Dragon Balls at Pilaf’s castle last year to make a wish, the Guardian had taken notice. At the time, he didn’t know Hikari was from another world, so he only gave it a cursory glance and didn’t think much of it. 

But… 

Just a few days ago, Korin found his way to the Lookout and told the Guardian about Hikari and Tanjiro. 

Only then did the Guardian recall that moment from a year ago, connecting Hikari to the girl he’d seen. 

Now, the existence of “other worlds” was a bit bizarre, but not unacceptable. 

After all, the Dragon Ball world was full of strange things. The Guardian himself was an alien and Earth’s “god,” with Kai and Supreme Kai above him, and rumors of other universes beyond this one. Another world wasn’t exactly shocking—no need to make a fuss. 

However… 

This group of “otherworlders” was a tad numerous. 

And a tad too strong. 

Though he hadn’t seen Hikari and Esdeath wipe out the Red Ribbon Army, their performance in today’s World Martial Arts Tournament finals showed their strength was on par with the Great Demon King Piccolo. If they wanted to cause trouble on Earth, no one could likely stop them. 

That’s why the Guardian sought Hikari out, wanting to meet her in person and gauge what kind of person she was. 

So far… 

First impressions were good. 

Moreover, their goal for collecting the Dragon Balls wasn’t selfish but to revive innocents killed by demons—a motive the Guardian admired. 

(A kind, good kid, he thought.) 

“…I’ve heard about your situation from Korin. Simply borrowing the Dragon Balls is no issue,” the Guardian said slowly, forming his judgment. “The Dragon Balls I created may not excel in other areas, but they’re exceptionally powerful for revival. Even thousands or tens of thousands can be revived at once, as long as they meet the same condition.” 

That was true. 

In terms of energy level, Earth’s Dragon Balls were inferior to Namek’s. 

But Namek’s Dragon Balls could only revive one person at a time, while Earth’s could perform mass resurrections. In the original story, they’d been used multiple times for this—like reviving everyone killed by Piccolo, Frieza, Cell, or Buu. The total number of people revived by Earth’s Dragon Balls likely reached the tens of millions. 

Hikari considered this, confirming the revival conditions with the Guardian. 

“The soul must not have reincarnated,” he explained. “The body doesn’t need to be perfectly intact, as the Dragon Balls can repair it to some extent… but if it’s too damaged, like reduced to bones, it probably won’t work.” 

“As for time…” 

“If the number of people isn’t too large, those who died within three years should be revivable.” 

“…Huh?” 

Hikari raised an eyebrow. 

So, the “one-year” time limit mentioned in the original story had specific conditions. 

Reviving everyone killed by Frieza, including those on distant planets, shortened the limit to one year. But for fewer people or a smaller scope, the time could extend slightly. This meant Tanjiro’s family fell within the revivable window. 

—Except for his father, Tanjuro, who died of illness earlier. 

As for Shinobu Kocho’s sister, Kanae, she’d died within the last three years. 

Muichiro Tokito’s brother, Yuichiro, had likely been dead for over three years, so his revival was uncertain. 

Of course… 

These conditions applied to this world. 

For another world, with no precedent, it was all guesswork. 

They’d have to try it to know. 

Hikari chose her words carefully. “We know there might not be a clear answer, but we’d like to try. If it doesn’t work, we’ll have to give up… Could you, Lord Guardian, share how the Dragon Balls grant wishes? And if you came with us to the Demon Slayer world, could you summon Shenron with them?” 

“Go with you?” The Guardian blinked. “That’s possible?” 

“Of course.” 

Half a month ago, taking the Guardian to the Demon Slayer world would’ve been tricky. 

Hikari’s usual method was sealing people in a coffin for transport, unsealing them at the destination. That was fine for close allies or “subordinates” like Esdeath, bound by contract, but the Guardian was different. 

He was a “god,” after all. Smuggling him like that would be a bit undignified. 

But now, things were easier. 

With 100 points, they could grant temporary travel permissions, letting the Guardian cross worlds like a chat group member. With Hikari and the others’ remaining points, they could cover ten trips for him. 

Hearing this, a faint curiosity flickered across the Guardian’s face. After a moment’s thought, he replied earnestly: 

“The power to grant wishes comes from Lord Salama, the Dragon God… Think of the Dragon Balls’ creator as a signal relay. When someone gathers the Dragon Balls and summons Shenron to make a wish, Lord Salama’s power flows through the relay, empowering Shenron to fulfill it. 

“In theory, the stronger the creator, the greater the relayed power, and the broader the wish’s scope. 

“But that’s a generalization. Different Dragon Balls have different wish ranges. Some with lower energy levels can grant wishes even higher-level Dragon Balls can’t.” 

“As for whether I could summon Shenron in another world with the Dragon Balls, it depends on whether I can still receive Lord Salama’s power…” 

“Hm…” 

Hikari frowned slightly. 

The issue the Guardian raised could, in theory, be solved. 

Since the chat group allowed cross-world travel, it should also maintain connections to the original world, enabling “ultra-long-distance signal relay.” 

Whether that worked would require testing. 

For now, Hikari pinged Bulma and Tanjiro in the group chat, informing them of the Guardian’s arrival, then carefully asked another question: 

“Lord Guardian, one more thing… Do you know about Namek?” 

“…What’s that?” 

The Guardian furrowed his brow, looking puzzled. Having come to Earth as a young child, he had no memory of Namek. 

Seeing this, Hikari chose her words. “My eyes… they have a certain ability to foresee the future.” 

“??” 

A knock sounded at the door. 

This time, Bulma, Tanjiro, and a curious Eri poked their heads in. 

Tanjiro knew Korin but not the Guardian. 

Bulma and Eri didn’t know either but had seen Korin and the Guardian in the Dragon Ball manga, so they were visibly excited. 

“Wow, so this is the Korin that Hikari and Tanjiro mentioned? So cute! I wanna pet him!” Bulma exclaimed. 

“…” 

As an 800-year-old sage, Korin wearily blocked Bulma’s eager hands with his staff, floating up with Sky Dance. 

Hikari coughed, signaling Bulma to be serious. 

Reluctantly, Bulma sat on the sofa, turning her gaze to the Guardian. 

“You’re Lord Guardian, right? You really do look exactly like Piccolo…” 

“?!” 

Hikari and Bulma spent a while explaining the “foresight” thing—essentially the Dragon Ball manga’s plot, but they couldn’t just say that outright. 

“…So, Miss Hikari, when you arrived in this world, you saw glimpses of the past and future, including that I’m from Namek?” the Guardian asked, stunned. 

Despite being nearly as old as Korin, the centuries-old Guardian thought he was pretty open-minded. But meeting Hikari’s group and hearing these revelations was shaking his worldview. 

Bulma nodded. “Yes, according to… ahem, what Hikari saw, your home planet, Namek, will be targeted and destroyed by the cosmic emperor Frieza in a few years. Hikari and I want to help prevent that tragedy, so we might need your help.” 

“What?” The Guardian blinked again. “Namek faces such a fate…? I’ve heard of this Frieza from somewhere—he’s extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to stop him?” 

“Well, preventing the disaster doesn’t mean we have to beat Frieza,” Bulma said with a grin. “Just keep him from finding Namek, right?” 

In theory, this was doable. 

Frieza only went to Namek after learning about the Dragon Balls, a rumor traced back to Vegeta and Raditz. If they could suppress that information, Frieza would have no reason to go. 

Of course… 

Frieza, being a cosmic real estate mogul, might find Namek eventually, Dragon Balls or not, but it would buy time. 

Bulma’s mention wasn’t just altruistic—she had another motive. 

“I heard from Hikari about you, Lord Guardian. You came to Earth as a child in a spaceship, right? Could I… borrow it to study?” 

Her eyes sparkled at the word “spaceship.” 

The tech tree in this era’s Dragon Ball Earth was a bit lopsided. 

On one hand, they had insane tech like Capsule Corp’s space-folding capsules. 

On the other, Earth’s space travel tech would take over 4,000 years to reach Namek. 

Namekian ships, however, could make the trip in a month. 

Bulma was dying to study that tech. She’d mentioned it to Hikari before, but without knowing the Guardian, they’d shelved the idea. Now, with him right here, she wasn’t letting the chance slip. 

The Guardian hesitated. “I did arrive in a spaceship, but I was too young to remember much. I wouldn’t know how to operate it now. If you’re interested, Miss Bulma, I can have Mr. Popo show you.” 

“Sweet!” Bulma beamed. 

Her excitement wasn’t just about Namek’s tech but also tied to the “Dimensional Pirate Crew”—some spaceship tech could likely be adapted for their pirate ship, right? 

For now, Hikari discussed a plan with the Guardian: 

Tanjiro would return to the Demon Slayer world to have the Demon Slayer Corps collect the bodies of those they wanted to revive, assessing their number and condition. 

Once done, Hikari would bring the Guardian to try summoning Shenron and reviving them. 

If Shenron couldn’t be summoned in another world, they’d seal the bodies and souls in coffins, bring them to the Dragon Ball world, and make the wish here. 

This would take time—maybe a couple of weeks if quick, or one to two months if slow. 

In the meantime, Bulma could study the Guardian’s childhood spaceship. In the original story, she and Dr. Briefs figured it out in a few months. Now, with less knowledge, it might take longer, but not by much. 

Hikari would focus on gathering the seven Dragon Balls. 

But before that, she had a promise to keep— 

“First, a few days’ rest, then I’ll head out with Esdeath to dig an artificial lake in Nam’s hometown.” 

(End of Chapter)