Chapter 68: Darkness
"Finally, that devil is gone..."
Hiding behind a crumbling corner of the castle, Pilaf and Shu watched Cyrus and his group fade into the horizon. As soon as they were out of sight, both collapsed to the ground, trembling and gasping for air.
"There are such horrible monsters in this world... Lord Pilaf, let's forget about conquering the world and just go home," Shu muttered, his voice tinged with lingering fear as he recalled the devastating explosion.
"Idiot!" Pilaf snapped, leaping to his feet and glaring at Shu. "How dare you spout such nonsense? I've taught you better than that!"
"Conquering the world is our destiny. We must never give up on that ambition—absolutely!!!" Pilaf's voice echoed with defiance, his small frame trembling with determination.
"But... but Mai was captured by them," Shu said weakly, his gaze downcast and shoulders slumped.
"Hmph!" Pilaf scoffed, crossing his arms. "That was just a strategic surrender. Do you understand? We're merely biding our time!"
Shu looked up, confused but hopeful. "Strategic surrender, Lord Pilaf?"
"Exactly!" Pilaf declared, puffing out his chest. "Once the time is right, we'll regroup and reclaim what's ours. Mai included!"
Though his words brimmed with confidence, even Pilaf couldn't shake the chill in his heart from facing Cyrus.
"That fool thinks he can make Mai work for him just by taking her away. Hmph!" Pilaf sneered, folding his arms with a smug expression. "He doesn't realize that Mai only obeys my orders."
"Just wait. Mai will escape and come back soon—bringing all the Dragon Balls with her!"
"Really? Master Pilaf?" Shu asked, his eyes wide with naive hope.
"Of course!" Pilaf puffed out his chest, grinning confidently. "I secretly winked at Mai three times. She must have understood my signal."
"Oh, I see now! You truly are a genius, King Pilaf!" Shu exclaimed, clapping his hands in admiration.
"Exactly! Once Mai returns with the Dragon Balls, we'll summon the Eternal Dragon and make a wish. Then, my ambition to rule the world will finally be realized!"
Pilaf raised his fists triumphantly, his small figure trembling with excitement.
"By then, I'll be the king of the world! Oh hahaha! Oh hahahaha!"
His laugh echoed through the ruins of the castle as Shu joined in, the two lost in their delusions of grandeur.
...
Scene Transition: Heavenly Temple
Using [Teleport], Cyrus and Mai appeared high above the clouds, at the Heavenly Temple.
"Where... where is this?" Mai asked, looking around in bewilderment at the strange and unfamiliar surroundings.
Just moments ago, they had been flying on that mysterious black cloud. How had they ended up here in an instant?
"This is the Temple of the Gods," Cyrus explained briefly, his tone calm and authoritative. "It is the residence of the gods."
"Temple of the Gods?" Mai muttered, her head spinning. The idea of a divine residence, perched in the sky, felt surreal and overwhelming.
Before she could process it further, a figure emerged from the grand hall.
"My Lord God, welcome back," said Bobo, the loyal servant of the gods, bowing respectfully as he approached.
"Bobo, report to me what has happened in the past few days."
It had been quite some time since Cyrus and Bulma left the Heavenly Temple. During his absence, all matters concerning the temple were entrusted to Bobo, the ever-reliable servant of the gods. Now that Cyrus had returned, he was eager to catch up on everything that had transpired in his absence.
"Yes, Lord God," Bobo replied respectfully, bowing his head before beginning his report. He efficiently summarized the events of the past few days, keeping his tone concise and professional.
Meanwhile, Mai stood off to the side, her expression a mix of blankness and astonishment. Slowly, the pieces of her situation began to fall into place.
This place, soaring above the clouds, was the Temple of the Gods. And the man she had been forced to follow—Cyrus—was no ordinary man. He was a god.
No wonder he seemed so powerful, so untouchable. It all made sense now.
"Well done. Thank you for your hard work," Cyrus said, nodding in approval after listening to Bobo's report. His voice carried a tone of genuine praise as he acknowledged Bobo's efforts. Then, turning slightly, he gestured toward Mai.
"This is Mai," Cyrus introduced. "She's a subordinate I've recently recruited."
With a sharp gaze, he added, "I'll be staying on Earth for a while, so she will remain here. Bobo, I want you to teach her martial arts and ensure she receives proper training."
"As you wish, Lord God," Bobo responded dutifully, shifting his attention to Mai.
Cyrus's eyes narrowed as he addressed her directly, his tone taking on a stern edge. "Mai, though you are now my subordinate, I have no use for worthless trash. Prove your value."
Mai swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in.
"You will stay here and practice martial arts with Bobo to improve your strength. When I return, I will check your progress. If you haven't made any…"
Cyrus paused, his gaze darkening as he let the silence stretch, a sinister smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"You understand, don't you?"
Mai froze, her heart pounding in her chest at the intensity of his words. His smile sent a chill down her spine.
"Ah... yes!" Mai quickly answered, voice trembling with fear.
"Master, I will practice hard and never be lazy!"
Cyrus's smile widened as he patted her shoulder with a feigned kindness. "Keep doing your best. I'm rooting for you." His tone was mocking, yet there was an edge to it that made her stomach tighten.
After one last glance at Mai, Cyrus turned to Bobo and nodded. Without another word, he vanished, leaving only a lingering sense of dread in the air.
Bobo straightened up, his hands clasped behind his back as he turned to face Mai. "Your name is Mai, correct? I am Mr. Bobo. I will teach you martial arts as ordered by the Lord God."
Mai nodded stiffly, still shaken by Cyrus's presence.
"First, you must run around the temple 500 times so I can assess your physical fitness."
"5... 500 laps?!" Mai exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.
She looked at the temple, which, though not enormous, seemed vast enough to make this task feel impossible. The thought of running around it 500 times made her feel lightheaded.
"Yes, what's the problem?" Bobo asked his face as calm and serious as ever.
Mai's shoulders slumped as she realized there was no avoiding it. She blinked rapidly, feeling her future grow darker with every passing moment.
…
"Hahaha..."
"Qiqi, come chase me!"
"Goku, wait for me!"
High in the sky, Goku and Chi-Chi were playfully chasing each other on their somersault clouds, their laughter echoing through the air. Behind them, Bulma and Taisi floated leisurely on their clouds, enjoying the view.
"I'm back," came Cyrus's voice suddenly, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared between Bulma and Taisi.
"Cyrus!" Taisi cheered, throwing her arms around him in greeting. Bulma, on the other hand, folded her arms, turning her face away with a huff.
"Humph, didn't some people just leave with their new lover? Why are they coming back?" Bulma's voice held a touch of bitterness, her words laced with jealousy.
"Hey, Bulma, are you jealous again?" Cyrus teased, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
"Mai is just a subordinate I recruited. Since when did she become my lover?" he added, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Bulma narrowed her eyes at him, but before she could respond, Cyrus casually scooped her up and placed her on his lap, despite her protests.
"You just asked her to call you 'Lord,' 'Master.'"
"She will be my subordinate and property from now on. Is there a problem with her calling me master?" Cyrus's tone turned mischievous. "Or, Bulma, do you like being called that?"
He held her face gently, a wicked grin spreading across his features.
"I—I don't like it!" Bulma stammered, her face flushed with embarrassment, her earlier irritation melting away into flustered silence.
Bulma was the type to get jealous without much reason, something Cyrus had learned to navigate. He knew that with her, it wasn't about logic—it was about action.
So, with a grin, Cyrus leaned in and kissed her, silencing any further protest.
"Wuwuwu…"
She was ashamed and angry and struggled to resist, but Bulma's strength was no match for Cyrus. It didn't take long for her to become dizzy and her body went limp.
She was ashamed and angry and struggled to resist, but Bulma's strength was no match for Cyrus. It didn't take long for her to become dizzy and her body went limp.
After what seemed like an eternity, Cyrus savoured the taste of victory, a satisfied smirk adorning his face, while Bulma lay on Cyrus, seething with unending resentment.
As Bulma endured Cyrus's bullying once more, Taisi, standing beside her, chuckled mischievously and wrapped her arms around Cyrus's, asking:
"Cyrus, what's our next adventure?"
"The dragon balls have been collected. Let's go back to Kame Island to rest for two days, and then I'll take you to other places to play for a while."
After thinking about it, Cyrus replied.
"Very well, I shall abide by your wishes..."
Leaning on Cyrus, Taisi's face was filled with happiness...
To be continued…
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