Dragon Ball: I Became Cell in a Doomed Future

Fortunately, Levos had another idea for dealing with Champa.

"Bulma, could you grab two cups of instant noodles for me?"

Bulma didn't question it. She popped a capsule from her all-purpose case, and in a puff of smoke, a pile of supplies appeared. She rummaged through them and produced two large, cup-style instant noodles.

Catching on to Levos' plan, she peeled back the lids, added seasoning packets, poured in boiling water, and closed the tops.

Champa eyed them with suspicion.

Even Vados glanced over, curiosity flickering in her gaze.

"These," Levos explained, "are a special delicacy prepared for our two esteemed guests."

"Huh?!" Champa's eyes bulged, his expression twisting with distaste.

"Forget it. We're not interested in this planet's food."

Vados' lips curved into a faint smile.

"I, however… wouldn't mind trying it."

Champa frowned deeply.

"This simple little thing? You think it's worthy of my palate?"

He patted his round belly, as if to remind them he was no stranger to the finest of feasts.

Vados' eyes curved like crescent moons as she addressed the group.

"Ever since Lord Champa obtained the recipe for the most exquisite cuisine in the universe, he's rarely found other dishes worth his attention."

Champa tilted his chin up proudly.

"Exactly. And since I'm in a generous mood, hurry up and bring me something else instead."

Everyone exchanged awkward glances. What exactly did Champa expect?

He didn't keep them guessing long.

"I think that box over there looks quite nice. Hand it over along with what's inside and we'll call it even."

The entire group froze.

They all knew exactly what was in that box the seven Dragon Balls. The last hope for Earth. There was no way they could hand them over.

"No way!" Gotenks shot back without hesitation.

The Dragon Balls were needed to revive Piccolo. No matter what, they couldn't give them up.

Champa's expression darkened.

"'No way?' You refuse me?"

Of those present, only Levos truly understood Champa's identity.

Dende, Future Trunks, and Bulma could probably guess, but the rest only knew that these two visitors were mysterious and clearly powerful.

The air grew tense.

Future Trunks stepped forward, trying to defuse the situation.

"Forgive us, Lord Champa, but we truly can't offer the Dragon Balls as payment. They are Earth's only hope the one way we can rebuild our home."

"Hmph!" Champa's patience was wearing thin.

"Planets are made to be destroyed! Without me, you'd have been wiped out along with yours."

He jabbed a finger upward at the shimmering blue barrier above the Lookout.

"I saved you. That means you owe me your lives. Understand?"

Vados gave her God of Destruction a sidelong glance.

"Lord Champa, it's rather impolite to demand gifts, you know."

Champa blinked, then muttered sullenly,

"Vados… whose side are you on?"

She laughed softly behind her hand.

"Why, yours, of course, my lord. But you must think of your image. Besides…"

She sniffed the air delicately.

"That food they offered smells… quite good."

"Fine! Eat your food, then we're leaving."

Levos listened to them bicker, his mind elsewhere.

What he really cared about was the status of Rose Vegito and Rose Broly.

Originally, he'd planned to use the Dragon Balls as soon as he returned to the Lookout to revive Piccolo, so Piccolo could craft more sealing talismans and reinforce the containers. But once Champa started eyeing the Dragon Balls, he decided to wait.

If the seals broke, he could have Champa deal with the enemies. After all, if Champa wanted the Dragon Balls, he'd have to earn them.

But… there'd been no movement from either Rose Vegito or Rose Broly.

"Bulma, where did you put those two sealed containers?" Levos asked.

Bulma frowned slightly.

"Frieza said he knew their weaknesses and could take them out for good, so…"

"So you handed them over to him?" Levos immediately understood and felt a sinking sense of dread.

Bulma sighed.

"The containers were already covered in cracks. They weren't going to hold much longer."

Levos felt a brief moment of relief… followed quickly by resignation. The Great King was in for a rough time.

No matter that all three Dark Warriors had Saiyan bodies at their level, they could likely ignore the hazards of space entirely. The frigid vacuum was a mere two hundred seventy degrees below zero, nothing to them. Cosmic radiation was hardly worth mentioning. And as a former Supreme Kai apprentice, Zamasu could almost certainly create oxygen at will.

Once they dealt with Frieza, they'd regroup and come after him.

The thought of facing all three at once made Levos' head throb. Earth's fighters were nearly wiped out, and Frieza's side had taken heavy losses as well.

He had almost no options left.

The only real chance was convincing Champa to fight.

"Lord Champa… may I ask this top-tier recipe you obtained… what dishes are in it?"

At the mention, Champa perked up.

"Oh, now you're speaking my language."

Drawing out his words, he extended one finger. A large egg appeared in his palm.

"This… is a specialty of Universe 6 the egg of the Dong-Dong Bird. Even boiled, it's incredible."

He puffed up with pride.

"And the crown jewel of my ultimate recipe is…"

"Fried rice."

The Earthlings exchanged baffled looks.

"Fried rice?" Levos repeated carefully. "That's it? No other dishes?"

Vados rolled her eyes.

"It's Lord Champa's own fault he was too impatient. With such a golden opportunity, he only got a single recipe. Even I think it's a pity."

Champa scowled at their unimpressed faces.

"Hey! Don't you dare look down on it. My ingredients are sourced from the greatest worlds across the universe. Rare beyond imagining! You Earthlings couldn't dream of tasting them."

He held up the egg.

"And fried rice made with Dong-Dong Bird eggs… is without question the finest cuisine in all the cosmos!"

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