Chapter 24: CHAPTER 24
c24: Control! Enter the Time Chamber Again
After Champa's departure, Goku and Vegeta requested to resume their training under Whis on Beerus's world. With Whis personally overseeing their progress again, their growth was exponential. Every movement, every breath, every drop of sweat brought them closer to perfecting the Super Saiyan Blue transformation.
They knew that once Champa completed preparations for the Tournament of Destroyers, they would face Universe 6's strongest fighters—Hit, Cabba, Frost, and others. A showdown between universes was looming, and time was short.
Three days later.
Back on Earth, deep within a remote valley far from civilization, a terrifying surge of power suddenly burst into the skies like a storm breaking through the clouds. The sky itself trembled, and birds scattered in flocks.
Piccolo, meditating atop the Lookout, opened his eyes sharply.
"That Ki…! It's Luya's!" he said in shock.
Tien, standing beside him, narrowed his gaze.
"It's even more intense than when he fought Frieza… It's like he's breaking through his limits again."
Gohan, feeling the pressure from across the continent, clenched his fists.
"He's not just strong anymore, he's getting dangerous."
———
Back in the valley, Luya stood silently in a massive crater he had unintentionally carved into the ground. A milky white aura surged around him—calm yet immense, like a sleeping dragon curled within.
The crater itself spanned over a kilometer wide. Merely releasing his energy had shattered the rock and soil beneath him.
"Huff…" Luya exhaled slowly. The radiant glow around him gradually faded, revealing his calm expression and steady breath.
"At last… I can fully control my own energy," Luya said softly. "My base power is now over eight billion. My Ki control is no longer wild, it's like this strength was always mine to begin with."
Indeed, after days of solo training and using his system's support, Luya had mastered internal Ki control to an astounding degree. Even Goku and Vegeta had taken years to fine-tune their transformations, Luya had done it in mere days.
More importantly, his Kaioken had evolved too. Originally unstable beyond 10x, it was now refined and enhanced through his Saiyan system.
"Fifteen times Kaioken..." Luya clenched his fists. His body could now endure the terrifying strain without tearing itself apart. "This level… even if I face Super Saiyan Blue, I'm not at a disadvantage anymore. Although I still can't fully stack them."
His current limitation was stacking 15x Kaioken on top of Super Saiyan 3. The power was there but control remained difficult. Still, he was far beyond what any normal Saiyan could reach through raw training alone.
Luya looked up at the sky.
"I wonder if the tournament with Universe 6 has started yet."
And with that, he vanished from the crater in an instant.
———
The Lookout.
Zwoom!
Luya's figure materialized quietly atop the platform. Dende and Mr. Popo turned toward him in surprise.
"Mr. Luya!" Dende said in mild shock. "You startled us. What brings you here today?"
Luya offered a polite smile. "I was wondering if I could stay here for a while. I don't really have a place of my own anymore."
Dende blinked, surprised. "You… don't?"
Luya scratched his head a bit sheepishly. "I was staying near Gohan's place, but I don't want to interrupt his time with Videl and Pan." He chuckled lightly. "I figured I'd give them space."
The young guardian smiled, understanding his situation. "Well, of course you're welcome here! We can set up a chamber for you near the edge of the platform. Mr. Popo and I will handle it."
Luya nodded sincerely. "Thank you, Dende."
At that moment, Mr. Popo, who rarely showed emotion, stepped forward. "You've protected this planet once already. We'd be honored to offer you shelter."
Luya smiled gratefully.
"Also," Dende added, glancing over toward the central tower, "if you're looking to train even further… the Hyperbolic Time Chamber is still functional. Would you like to enter it again?"
Luya's eyes lit up.
The Room of Spirit and Time—a dimension where one day outside equals an entire year inside. Goku and Vegeta had trained there before the Cell Games, and again before the Tournament of Power.
"That would be perfect. I can't waste a single minute now," Luya said firmly.
Dende nodded. "We'll make the preparations."
As Luya looked up at the vast sky above the Lookout, his mind was calm but determined.
"Universe 6… Hit… Champa… Whatever awaits, I'll be ready."
Luya nodded slightly, then thought of something and asked, "By the way, is Son Goku still on Earth? What about Vegeta?"
Dende shook his head: "They left a few days ago. I can't sense their ki anymore, most likely they've gone to Lord Beerus' planet to train with Whis."
So it's true... Luya thought to himself. If his guess was correct, their disappearance aligned with the beginning of preparations for the Tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7, proposed by Lord Champa himself.
Thinking of that, Luya's eyes narrowed. He also wanted to participate in the Universe 6 vs Universe 7 tournament. The idea of fighting warriors from another universe—especially the famed assassin Hit, who had the ability to manipulate time stirred his Saiyan blood.
Only against such opponents could he feel challenged again. At his current level, only Goku's Super Saiyan Blue, or opponents on the level of Beerus' concern, could push him to go all out.
[Ding! System Mission Triggered!]
[Mission: Participate in the Universe 6 vs Universe 7 Tournament and Defeat Hit!]
[Reward: ??? (Hint: A technique related to time... Flash Step? Time-Skip?)]
Luya's eyes twitched. "Defeat Hit? System, are you trying to end me?! That guy gave Goku a run for his money in Super Saiyan Blue!"
System: "Host, calm down. The tournament isn't for several days. You still have time to train. And let me be blunt, if you do manage to defeat Hit… the reward will be extraordinary."
Luya's mind instantly raced. Based on what he knew, Hit's Time-Skip ability was what gave Goku so much trouble—even with Super Saiyan Blue and Kaioken combined. If he could defeat Hit… maybe the system would reward him with that ability!
Just imagining possessing Hit's Tokitobashi (Time-Skip) made Luya's pulse race. With his already high battle power and Ki control, acquiring Time-Skip would be a game-changer—even Beerus might have to take him seriously.
System: "Also, host, please be advised: This mission is non-cancelable. The system has been trained in universal mandate compliance. Unless erased, a triggered mission must be fulfilled."
Luya: "...Screw it. Guess I'm doing this."
Resigned but motivated, Luya turned toward Dende. "Is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber still available?"
Dende nodded: "Yes. You only used about six hours during your last stay. Traditionally, each person can spend two Earth days in there per lifetime, which gives you about eighteen hours remaining."
After a pause, Dende added: "Actually… I recently finished restoring the chamber. Thanks to help from Mr. Popo and Whis's spatial repair guidance, the room is functional again. Now, all restrictions have reset. Anyone can enter again, but only for three full days per entry."
"Restored?" Luya blinked in surprise. Then he smiled. "Perfect timing. I want to go in now."
Dende hesitated. "Forgive me, Luya, but… your power level already rivals Super Saiyan Blue. Why continue pushing yourself so hard?"
Luya closed his eyes, grinning with a hint of sarcasm. "Well, you know… as a plug-in-enhanced cough Saiyan, I naturally crave greater strength. Besides… I have a feeling something much bigger is coming. If we're not prepared, it could be disastrous."
Dende didn't quite follow, but nodded anyway. "Very well. Please be mindful of the time, though. Once the door seals, it will not reopen from the inside."
Luya nodded firmly: "I'll be careful."
Truthfully, even if something went wrong and he was stuck inside, he was confident in his ability to break out—he'd studied how Super Buu once escaped by screaming and warping dimensions. With his current level, he could replicate that if needed.
Just before entering the chamber, Luya turned back. "Oh right—if Goku comes back to Earth, tell him I'm here. If he's looking for me, he'll know where to find me."
Dende blinked. "Goku's… looking for you?"
Luya grinned slyly. "Soon enough."
Dende scratched his head, trying to process everything. "First that Frieza fight, now this tournament talk... Just who is this guy?"
But he nodded: "Understood. I'll notify him when they return."
"Thanks," Luya said before turning and walking into the chamber.
As the door sealed, Dende turned to Mr. Popo. "He's... really something else."
Mr. Popo, as always, simply nodded with his eternal calm.
———
Inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Luya stood still for a moment, eyes closed, feeling the immense gravity and air pressure pressing down on him.
"Three days. No distractions. Just me… and the next level."
The training began immediately. Ki amplification. Endurance. Mental clarity. Muscle refinement. Internal stress tolerance. Layer by layer, he sharpened his power to handle higher Kaioken multipliers and eventually, prepare for any broken technique Hit would throw at him.
———
Three hours later (Earth time)
On the other side of the planet, a flash of divine energy split the sky.
Fwoosh!
Goku, Vegeta, Beerus, and Whis appeared over the Capsule Corporation compound. Their arrival meant one thing: the Universe 6 Tournament team selection was about to begin.
Their purpose was clear—gather strong warriors who could represent Universe 7 against the unknown elites of Universe 6.
The multiversal battle was drawing near.
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