“Wha—what?” Uub stared at the newest version of Buu, both baffled and perplexed. “Is that Buu? What’s happened to him?”

  “Oh, simple!” Anpan replied, eager to answer any questions. “Buu absorbed Pan and now wants to kill you!”

  “Huh?” Uub replied, staring at the alternate Pan, bewildered by her blunt yet cheerful response to his possible demise. Lila had to agree with Uub here—Anpan’s total disconnect from the danger of their current situation was beyond bizarre.

  “Right, Buu can steal the attributes of the people they absorb, hence why the other Buu is so different,” Uub said, gathering his thoughts. “I never thought I’d see, though. The changes are so drastic. What’s wrong with her ki? It’s off somehow.”

  “Buu strong now! Stronger than you! Buu is gonna beat you up!” Buu said, almost dancing in joy at the prospect of battle.

  Uub shook his head, gathering his resolve. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve beaten you before, and I’ll do it again. I was holding back in our previous fight, Buu.” His smile turned wolfish as he gathered his ki. “Watch this!”

  The sheer power of Uub’s unleashed ki almost blew Lila and her fellow Kais off their feet. It amazed her that a mere mortal had such power. “Who is this human?” Lila wondered, suddenly put on edge. First Vegito, Goku, Bra, and now this. Mortals shouldn’t have power that surpasses the gods. It wasn’t natural!

  “Remarkable.” Unlike Lila, the Grand Supreme Kai seemed unperturbed by this mortal’s unnatural power. No, he seemed more delighted than anything. To this, Lila only sighed. Did he not realize the danger of mortals having more power than the gods?

  “Remarkable,” East said, eyes wide. “He might have Buu beat!”

  “Indeed. Incredible. I didn’t realize he was hiding this much power,” South said, limping over.

  “These young’uns are something else,” North added, amused.

  “I can’t wait!” Anpan said, giggling. Her eyes shone with an almost maniacal glee. “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

  “Show her what you’ve got, Uub.” Piccolo said, a devilish smile spreading across his face. No doubt he was more aware of Uub’s capabilities.

  Only Bardock seemed solemn, watching the impending conflict with a worried expression. Lila shared his concern. Despite the power level on display, Buu’s smile hadn’t changed. She wore a secretive grin like she knew something they didn’t. The pair of combatants eyed each other, neither making the first move.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to handle this alone,” Uub said. “Stupid, I know, but I inherited that trait from my master. Please step back. This might get messy.”

  “Good luck.” Piccolo said with a slight wave, joining Lila and the others as they flew to a safe distance. The Turtle hermit and his pupils eyed the impending conflict with interest, knowing they’d be no use in the fight.

  She figured they’d also only get in Uub’s way. She’d seen how both Buus fought. Lila and her fellow Kais wouldn’t be much use against him. Besides, Buu might use them as absorption fodder if the battle turned against her.

  Only Babidi stood where he was, confident he wasn’t in danger. He stomped his foot in impatience. “Well, fight already! Uub isn’t the only enemy here, you idiot! Look at the mess you caused, arriving so late! I’ve lost almost all my forces!”

  In response, Buu only stuck her tongue out at her master and returned her attention to Uub. For whatever reason, she seemed content to allow him to make the first move. Did she have something up her sleeve? Antsy, Uub finally struck.

  And Buu smiled, delighted, as they exchanged the first few opening blows. While Uub fought harder than his opponent, neither committed to any real attack. They were both testing the other’s power, seeking any potential vulnerabilities.

  To his disbelief, Uub seemed more winded from the exchange. “What? How am I this tired already?” A light flashed in his eyes when he realized why. “You’re draining me, like Pan did against Cell?”

  This earned a mischievous smile from Buu. “Maybe.”

  “I can’t afford to draw this out, then. Simple magic tricks won’t work this time.” Uub’s ki spiked higher, sending a jolt of fear and excitement through Lila. Now the real fight would begin.

  Lights flashed as the pair increased the pace of the battle. They moved so fast that they were almost a blur to Lila’s godly vision. While on equal footing in power, Uub edged out his opponent on speed. Still, Buu’s magically constructed body didn’t have the restraints of a normal person. She laughed as Uub’s blow missed because she stretched out of the way and replied with one of her own. Uub hissed in pain, launching a sudden close-range ki blast from his hand. It blasted right through Buu’s chest, but it closed a second later.

  “Darn it,” Uub said, cringing. In a desperate rush, he blasted Buu to pieces with a sudden burst of energy, only for her to reform totally unharmed.

  “Gah!” Uub howled in pain as Buu suddenly headbutted him, causing him to recoil. Buu continued her assault, her rubbery skull pounding into her opponent. She laughed with glee, amused by his pain.

  “Amazing!” Babidi said, cackling in delight. “She’s unstoppable. There’s nothing that can stop Buu now!”

  “That’s it!” A red aura flared around Uub, releasing previously hidden power. Lila marveled as his ki flared to astounding heights. “Kaio-ken!”

  “What?” Buu recoiled as a fist pounded into her chest, almost blowing her body apart. Uub moved so quickly, that even Lila couldn’t follow him. He zipped around his opponent, pummeling Buu with each mighty blow.

  Buu wheezed as a blow sent her flying, stunning her. A victorious grin spread across Uub’s face, energy gathering in his palms. The red aura around him flared brighter, like a miniature solar storm. His muscles expanded, his arms bulking up three times their usual size as he unleashed his true might. “Heal from this, Buu! Kaio-ken Transcended! Kamehameha!”

  The blast threw Lila and her fellow Kais back, dust filling the arena as it obliterated Buu. She winced as her head struck a wall, shaking it to clear the dizziness.

  “Did he get her?” North Kai asked, coughing on dust. When the dust cleared, no sign of Buu remained.

  Uub stood stock still, a pleased smile on his face, though he winced as he tried moving his body. “I should have listened to Master. Kaio-Ken really puts a strain on the body. At least…” He gasped as a pink hand burst through the rubble beneath him. Despite only being an arm, Buu was still alive. Uub’s eyes widened in horror as Buu reformed before his eyes, her body regrowing from her remaining arm.

  “Got you! Got you!” A devilish smile grew across Buu’s face. Terror spiked in Lila’s chest as Uub’s arm decayed and shriveled like a raisin. Uub pulled his arm away, but the damage had been done. The disparity between his two limbs was almost comical if it wasn’t so grotesque—his bad limb little more than thin skin on bone.

  “What the?” Uub said, backing away. He panted like he’d run himself ragged.

  But Buu only beamed, pleased with herself. “Buu thinks she’s gotten used to her new powers. How about I show you what Buu can really do?”

  “It’s over already?” Anpan said, kicking her legs as she lay across a pile of rubble. From her tone, she seemed utterly unconcerned by the events unfolding before her.

  “This is bad.” Lila hadn’t expected the situation to turn this dire so quickly. “We can’t stand on the sidelines any longer.” However, with such a discrepancy in power, their options were limited.

  “We must,” Grand Supreme Kai said, nodding. The others gave their agreement. While desperate, they might trap him if they worked together.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  And they needed to act fast. They watched as Buu tore apart Uub piece by piece. Despite his impressive power, Kaio-Ken Transcended ravaged his already damaged, weakened body. His attacks turned desperate as Buu easily evaded them.

  “Now!” With Buu’s back turned, the five Supreme Kais struck at her from all angles. Babidi opened his mouth in warning, but it was too late.

  “I hope this works,” Lila thought, pressing a hand against Buu’s back. Fog obscured her vision as she stole the heat in Buu’s body.

  Thankfully, her duplication of Bra’s makeshift freezing technique against King Cold worked, turning the Majin monstrosity’s pink torso to ice. The other Kais extended a hand and created a ki barrier around Buu, restraining her. It’d only last a couple of seconds, but it should last long enough to freeze Buu’s entire body. Lila only hoped she’d have enough ki to complete the task.

  Buu struggled against their restraints, but her body became useless as its rubbery substance froze solid. Lila’s legs trembled as she expended more ki, her reserves running dry. But she held strong, relieved when she realized Buu wouldn’t break free in time. Uub sighed in relief, his ravaged body sagging. He won’t stand for much longer.

  “Let Buu go!” Lila recoiled as Buu howled at the top of her lungs, almost getting blown off her feet.

  Ice drove into Lila’s chest as the power of the shockwave of Buu’s voice shattered the Majin creature’s frozen body into tiny ice chunks. Steam filled the arena as each chunk of Buu heated itself to super hot levels. Then the liquefied parts of the magical creature sloshed together to reform Buu, completely unharmed.

  “No!” Lila quivered in fear, knowing they’d blown their only chance to contain Buu. She’d been a fool, not realizing Buu could just shatter herself to save her pink skin.

  “Buu, you survived!” Babidi said, relieved. That’d been too close for his comfort.

  “No, we failed!” East Kai said in despair. The other Kais shared his dismay, knowing they’d lost everything.

  “Impossible.” Uub said, trembling from either fatique or fear.

  “You make Buu mad! Buu hate you! Buu kill you dead!” Buu said, turning her baleful glare on the stunned Lila. Before she could even open her mouth in alarm, Lila gasped as a fist drove into her stomach, blood dripping down Buu’s glove.

  “East!” West cried out in alarm, but he was too late.

  Any remaining power left her body as Lila collapsed, all strength leaving her limbs. Blood soaked the floor beneath her from the fist-sized gaping hole in her chest. While more resistant than mortals, it was a fatal wound. Lila barely clung to life.

  “No!” Uub hurled his remaining fist at Buu, but it only implanted into her rubbery body, stretching with the impact. His punch lacked sufficient power to inflict any harm. His ki reserves drained away, the warrior stumbling as his body deflated, his Kaio-Ken failing.

  “You lose!” Buu thrust a punch into her now scrawnier opponent, Uub coughing blood as the blow crumpled his rib cage. Buu raised her fist in triumph, laughing and dancing around in a circle.

  “No!” Lila uttered a strangled cry of despair. They’d lost. She watched in muted, helpless horror as Buu set her wrath on her fellow Supreme Kais next.

  ---

  “Are you feeling better?” the Namekian asked, wiping sweat from his brow. His green skin seemed paler than usual, tight on his flesh.

  “Better, thanks,” Bra replied. She stretched her right arm, sighing in relief when it’d caused no pain. That damn Majined Heliorian had done a number on it, almost ripping the limb from its socket. While not at peak strength, she’d manage.

  “I’m sorry about your leg,” the Namekian said. “If we had some Senzu beans, we would grow it back. I’m afraid it’s beyond my meager power.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’ve done plenty.” The ward was proof of how hard the healer had worked. Many had recovered from injuries that would have been lethal without his remarkable ability. Still, it wasn't enough. Only a handful of Namekians had survived the onslaught. Their number was insufficient to help the countless injured, and few Senzu beans remained. While Bra could have demanded a Senzu bean, more critical patients needed them.

  “Stupid Dad,” Bra thought sourly, recalling how he’d grabbed several handfuls of Senzu beans for himself that morning. True, he couldn’t have known about the Majin attack, but his wastefulness had cost lives. Around her, cots filled with the injured and dying lined the room, the atmosphere of suffering tugging at Bra’s heartstrings.

  “Are you okay, Bra?” Gohan-as-Piccolo asked when he saw her clench her fist.

  “This shouldn’t have happened,” Bra replied. “We got lazy and complacent. Innocents are paying for our idiocy.” They’d allowed evil into their company, and this was the result. Lila was right. Evil was a cancer that needed to be excised.

  “Yeah,” Gohan-as-Piccolo said, nodding. “But we’ll make things right.”

  A scream cut short their conversation as a woman sobbed over a young man lying on a cot. From the stillness of his body, it was clear what had happened. A Namekian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as the woman grieved for her son.

  “Will we? The Dragonballs can restore him to life, but they can’t so easily wish away the pain,” Bra replied. That grieving mother would forever suffer the memory of this painful moment.

  “Yeah,” Gohan-as-Piccolo said, giving a somber nod. No doubt he understood the woman’s agony well enough. He’d seen his own daughter killed right in front of him.

  Piccolo-as-Gohan entered, giving them a nod. “Cell is fighting the other Gohan, but otherwise the other Majin seem contained. I think the worst is over.” After escorting Bra to the makeshift hospital, the Pan from Universe 18 had rushed after her father to see if he was okay. From what she sensed, the other Gohan was engaging Cell. Bra figured both should be fine.

  “Not yet. Not until Babidi is a corpse,” Bra said, flexing her fingers. She’d enjoy snuffing out the wizard’s pathetic existence with her own hands. She stood up from the cot, using her ki to stay aloft. While having only one leg was annoying, she’d manage.

  “Still at it, huh?” Gohan-as-Piccolo said with a shake of his head. “I suppose I won’t stop you. Just don’t go overboard.”

  “And don’t underestimate him,” Piccolo-as-Gohan added. “That little toad is slipperier than he looks. We’ve underestimated him once already.”

  “I’ll just blast him on sight,” Bra promised. Her half-brother didn’t seem happy about her answer but knew arguing was pointless.

  Bra gasped as she almost lost her footing. Wounded cried out in pain as the shockwave knocked them off their seats or beds. Namekians and other volunteers rushed to assist the fallen.

  “Getting a little rough, aren’t they?” Gohan-as-Piccolo asked, frowning as he sensed something. The ward was once an empty storage area, not an apartment, so nothing blocking their senses. That burst of power hadn’t come from either Cell or the other Gohan.

  “Not another one,” Bra said, rushing from the makeshift ward. Then she sensed another power, one even more powerful. The building rumbled from a shockwave as the two powers fought. Both Gohan-as-Piccolo and Piccolo-as-Gohan followed her to check out the situation. In the background, Gohan and Cell continued to fight, but they stopped as they felt this massive ki.

  Bra arrived with a gasp of horror as she saw the sight before her. She trembled, her breath caught in her throat. “Lila!” Her friend was lying in a pool of her own blood, her ki barely clinging to life. The other Kai were in worse shape, most were already dead. Only the Grand Supreme Kai stood, though he fought to stand. Uub, who’d somehow returned to the tournament planet, breathed raggedly as he bled out on the ground. Only Bardock and the real Pan seemed unharmed, watching the battle from the sidelines.

  And there their attacker stood, dancing in delight over their victory. It was Buu, but the magical monstrosity had changed, becoming sleeker and more feminine. What the hell? She gasped in horror as the female Buu extended a hand and the Grand Supreme collapsed dead, a ragged hole in his chest.

  ”Bastard!” Bra said with fist clenched.

  “More interruptions,” Babidi said, annoyed. The froggy wizard eyed Bra and her compatriots contemptibly, not thinking her much of a threat. “Kill them too. Then I can claim the Dragonballs for ultimate power.”

  “Another opponent?” Buu tilted her head, curious. “Another playmate?”

  “Buu’s changed?” Gohan-as-Piccolo said, his green face scowling. “He must have absorbed some. And from that shape.” He gasped. “Pan?!”

  “I think you’re right. I can feel Buu sapping away my ki.” Piccolo-as-Gohan said. “That’s one of Pan’s abilities. Though, she never actually enjoyed using it.”

  And Bra realized he was right. Though subtle, she detected an odd change in her ki, like something was tugging away at her power. “Great.” Why had that idiot girl allowed herself to get absorbed by Buu? Now her curse might doom them all.

  “No, not Pan.” Gohan-as-Piccolo trembled with emotion, his Namekian feature twisted with anguish. They solidified in rage as he glared at Buu. “You’re not getting away with this.”

  But before her half-brother could launch himself into action, Bra stopped him. “Don’t. You don’t have your original body anymore. You can’t win. Let me handle this.”

  Indecision wracked Gohan-as-Piccolo’s features, wanting to avenge his daughter. But reason gave way, and he nodded. He sagged, defeat. “You’re right. I can’t do anything against Buu. Just promise me you’ll win. We’ll get her back with the Dragonballs.”

  “Sure.” Bra decided against reminding him that the zombie Pan wasn’t the real Pan. There wasn't time for an argument. Heck, Bra she wasn’t even sure the Dragonballs could restore the monster Pan. But that was a problem for later. Buu eyed her with interest as she floated over.

  “You have some nerve causing this much trouble, Babidi,” Bra said, floating up to Buu. She’s lost a freaking leg because of this bastard. “But it’s over now. You’re facing me now. I’m not soft like Pan or Uub. You’re both going to die, and I’m personally making sure neither of you gets revived.”

  “Huh?” Buu said, not really understanding what she was talking about.

  Babidi however trembled in fear at the intensity as she eyed them both. But he regained his nerve, laughing at her with scorn. “You, little girl? Kill me? Kill Buu? You saw what she did to Uub! You and your pathetic band are all already dead!”

  “Are you strong? Buu like strong opponents!” The pink monster seemed to bounce with glee at the prospect.

  “I’m ready.” Bra got ready to launch her attack, but a hand grasped her leg, stopping her. It was the dying Uub.

  His voice was weak and rasping, barely clinging to life. “Don’t underestimate her. She can drain you dead with a touch.”

  With gentle care, she pushed Uub’s hand away. “I won’t. I’ll be careful.” She turned to address her two adversaries. “Strong? You don’t know the half of it.”

  But Bra knew she had a choice. She’d sensed Uub’s power during their fight. It’d be astonishing any human could reach that level. Even her father would have to try fighting someone like him. Heck, he’d even surpassed her normal Super Saiyan form. While healed, she wasn’t at her full capacity. As she was now, she’d stand no chance against this version of Buu with zombie girl’s power. But Bra had a trump card that would turn the tables.

  A hand inexplicably shook as she considered accessing that form, fear paralyzing her. Her father’s voice spoke to her, telling her what a monster she was. How he’d kill her without hesitation if she ever lost control again.

  Was she a monster? Honestly, Bra wasn’t certain. She hoped not, but her father’s nagging voice argued otherwise. It clawed at her, trying to drag her into the pits of self-loathing and despair. Sometimes it was easy to listen to that voice and believe every word, that she wasn’t deserving of either forgiveness or happiness.

  But none of that mattered. Lila was in danger. Her family was in danger. She’d sworn she’d become the protector the multiverse deserved. She’d do the ugly work if it meant keeping people safe. And this fear and self-loathing only held her back. Her father was wrong about her.

  “You can do this,” Bra told herself. “If Pan from Universe 18 can control SSJ2, so can you. Bra, you aren’t a child any longer. You can surpass her. You can surpass your father!”

  “I’m done holding back. I’m done being scared.” Power welled inside her, a dam ready to burst. Like a caged animal, it was eager to be finally free. Bra inserted the key into the lock and turned.

  “What?!” Babidi said, striking the ground hard as he flew off his feet. Buu stared at her with wide-eyed astonishment, her pink rubbery skin rippling in the wind.

  “No way!” The dying Uub said, eying her with awe.

  “This is going to be fun!” The real Pan clapped her hands in delight.

  “She’s doing it,” Gohan-as-Piccolo said, awed and delighted. “Has she finally mastered it?”

  “No. This not right. You’re this strong?” Buu said, trembling as she sensed the golden aura that raged like an inferno around Bra.

  “I am Son Bra, daughter of Vegito. I am the nightmare that makes evil tremble.” A slight smirk creased her lips and she entered a battle stance. It was primal, her fingers like claws ready to gore her prey. Never had Bra felt so alive. She was Super Saiyan 2’s master, not the other way around. Her Saiyan blood sang, eager for battle. “And now I’m coming for you, Buu. I hope you’re ready.”

  ---

  Next time:

  Buu vs Bra! Babidi makes a move! Majin Bra? Cell, Little, and Gohan enter the fray! Nightmare Buu! Can anyone stop her?