Rayden looked up from his seat by the campfire, watching Paragus tear into a huge chunk of roasted meat with almost feral enthusiasm. Smoke from the fire curled upward into the night sky, carrying the mouthwatering scent of fresh barbecue. The veteran Saiyan warrior's jaw moved like a machine, his focus entirely on the food in front of him.
"Paragus," Rayden asked suddenly, his voice calm but carrying a spark of curiosity, "have you tried breaking through to Super Saiyan Five recently?"
Paragus swallowed his mouthful with a deep gulp, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before shaking his head.
"Rayden," he replied, his deep voice tinged with mild frustration, "after you transformed in the Sixth Universe last time, we all gave it a try. Every single one of us. But it was useless—nothing happened."
He stabbed another piece of meat with his fork, his tone becoming more matter-of-fact. "Later, once our Super Saiyan Four and Super Saiyan Blue forms became strong enough to take on the Gods of Destruction, we stopped trying for Super Saiyan Five altogether. There didn't seem to be much point."
"I see," Rayden murmured, leaning back slightly, his gaze thoughtful.
Then his eyes lit up with a confident gleam. "Paragus… with the strength you've built up since then, you can definitely do it now."
The older Saiyan froze mid-bite. "Are you serious?"
"I'm not in the habit of joking about things like this," Rayden said with a small smile.
Paragus's lips curved upward into a rare, excited grin. "Very good… very good!" He could barely keep his voice from trembling. To become the third warrior in history to achieve Super Saiyan Five—it was within his grasp.
Without hesitation, Paragus tossed aside the half-eaten bone in his hand and stood up. His aura began to rise immediately, faint ripples of energy shimmering in the air around him.
Rayden, knowing what uncontrolled energy surges could do to their dinner, quickly raised his hand. A shimmering protective shield enveloped the table and the remaining food, sealing them off from the growing turbulence.
"Paragus, not so fast," Rayden said with a smirk.
Paragus glanced at him in confusion. "What? You just told me I could do it. Why stop me now?"
"Because…" Rayden crossed his arms, "Super Saiyan Five is much more demanding than Four. You'll need a calm, focused mind—and the Supreme Kai World is the perfect place for this kind of breakthrough."
For a moment, Paragus looked like he might protest. His Saiyan instincts screamed at him to transform right now, here and now. But after a few seconds of thought, he let the power drain away.
"…Fine. But we're going immediately after this."
Rayden grinned. "Eat first. You'll need the fuel."
They both sat back down, the others—Broly and Cell—joining them at the fire. The crackling flames lit their faces, and the feast resumed. Perhaps out of impatience, Paragus tore into his food even faster than before, almost inhaling each bite. Broly, despite his size, had to settle for whatever was left, occasionally glancing at his father with a mixture of pride and mild concern.
Ten minutes later, the ground around the fire was littered with animal bones and empty wine bottles. The smell of roasted meat still lingered in the air.
Paragus wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood. "Rayden. Let's go. Now."
Rayden chuckled, raising his right hand. In his palm, a swirling sphere of purple-red energy formed, its heat warping the air around it.
"Annihilation!" he called, tossing it toward the heap of discarded bones and bottles. In an instant, the trash was consumed—erased from existence as if it had never been.
He turned to the others. "Grab on."
Broly, Cell, and Paragus each placed a hand on Rayden's shoulder. With a sharp focus, Rayden activated Instant Transmission, and the world blurred away.
---
Supreme Kai World
The group reappeared atop the peaceful green plains of the Supreme Kai Realm. The skies were bright and calm, the air filled with an almost divine serenity.
The old Supreme Kai was sitting cross-legged under a tree, a magazine in hand, chuckling to himself. Supreme Kai Shin and his attendant, Jebit, stood nearby.
"Old Supreme Kai, Supreme Kai, Jebit—it's been a long time," Rayden greeted warmly.
"Indeed, it has," Shin said, nodding politely.
The old Kai didn't look up at first, still flipping through his magazine. But that peace shattered in the next moment.
Paragus shot into the air, his aura flaring like a wildfire.
"Rrrraaaahhh!" he roared. His black hair began to lengthen, wild strands spilling down past his shoulders. Crimson fur grew across his chest and arms, his tail transforming to match. In seconds, he had reached Super Saiyan Four.
But he didn't stop there.
The air thickened as his ki skyrocketed again, pushing past the familiar limits. Lightning crackled in the sky above, and dark clouds swirled ominously.
The old Supreme Kai's eyes went wide. "Rayden! What in the blazes are you doing here?"
Rayden smiled. "We're here for a breakthrough. This is the best place for it."
The old Kai slammed his magazine shut. "Ever since you planted that Spirit Tree here, Goku and his friends have been showing up, picking fruit, sparring, and turning this realm into your personal training ground! Now you bring another one to break through? I'm too old for this!"
Before Rayden could reply, Paragus's roar split the sky. Bolts of lightning slammed into the ground around him, and his black hair shifted—first to white, then shimmering silver, cascading all the way to his waist. The crimson fur on his body turned the same metallic shade, and his tail gleamed like molten silver.
The pressure of his ki was staggering. Even the ground beneath them trembled.
Rayden immediately conjured another barrier to shield the Kais from the turbulent energy.
The old Kai was speechless. "How… how did his power rise so fast?"
Shin and Jebit exchanged stunned glances. This Paragus was nothing like the fighter they remembered from the Sixth Universe competition.
"Small scene," Cell muttered from the side, arms crossed.
The three gods of the realm all turned to him, unimpressed. "Really?"
Paragus descended, his eyes bright with victory. "Incredible! Super Saiyan Five… it's even more amazing than I imagined!"
Broly beamed with pride. "Father… you did it."
Rayden turned to Cell. "Your turn. You and Paragus stay here and guard the Kais while Broly and I make our breakthroughs."
Cell smirked. "Gladly."
With a guttural roar, Cell's energy erupted. The skies darkened again, and arcs of lightning danced wildly. His green bio-armor shifted, glowing faintly before turning an icy, metallic silver. His very presence became chilling, the air temperature around him dropping sharply.
The gods shivered inside Rayden's shield, still able to feel the oppressive might radiating from Cell.
When Cell's transformation was complete, Rayden and Broly soared into the sky together. They hovered side by side, the silent understanding between them clear.
Cell and Paragus raised twin barriers below, reinforcing the protection around the Kais.
"Cell," the old Kai called up, unable to resist, "your power now… it's beyond the Gods of Destruction, isn't it?"
Cell only smiled in reply, his gaze fixed upward.
Rayden met Broly's eyes. Both warriors grinned.
"Rrraaaaahhh!"
Their combined roar shook the realm. The transformation began—black hair turning silver, growing longer and longer until it brushed their waists. Silver fur spread across their torsos, arms, and tails, their ki surging past mortal comprehension.
The ground cracked beneath the Supreme Kai World itself. The heavens churned violently, and somewhere in the vast universe, distant planets felt the disturbance.
Still, their energy climbed higher.
The aura they unleashed rippled outward, crossing the borders of the realm, spilling into the endless void of space.
The breakthrough had only just begun.
---
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)