>>6299129
As the door to the time chamber is opened, you immediately expand your ki sense. First, you sense your wife, Meloka, then Cooler. But they're not alone, Mr. Popo's unsettling energy accompanies the combined Ginyu Force's ki as well as the Kai-in-training Kars. Stepping out onto the Lookout proper, you see everyone you'd sensed, as well as the androids of Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha.

“Hmph. Finally finished wasting time in there, Brother?” Cooler asks, smug as ever. But Freeza returns his smugness with a smirk of his own.
“There's no longer a need for you to enter. Between Karn and myself, we can defeat the other universes entirely by ourselves.” the former emperor replies to his brother as the two walk towards each other. Cooler no doubt sizing up his brother.
“Captain! We're going.” Cooler says, not saying another word to Freeza. But stopping by you, his eyes meeting your own. Clearly seeing something different in your expression. But neither of you say anything, the current emperor stepping past you both and heading towards the door.

“Yes sir!” Ginyu shouts, dashing after him, but stopping by you and Freeza. “Most impressive, you two. See you on the other side.”
“And you as well, Ginyu Force.” Freeza replies.
“Good luck.” you tell them, the combined Ginyu Force following Cooler inside. You can feel it when they enter, the door closing and cutting their ki off from your senses. But as you turn back to everyone gathered, you see Mr. Popo staring at you rather... Intently. And before you can say anything, he reaches out to you telepathically as your wife comes to you.

“So. You've seen it.” he says, and his knowledge of what lies beyond doesn't surprise you. He's not from this reality either, after all. “The Devourer.”
“Yeah. Not impressed.” you reply back with a thought, showing him what your final fight with Dumplin himself looked like from your perspective. “Not the first monster beyond my understanding I've fought.”
“But one way or another, it will be the last.” he replies cryptically as your wife reaches you, you hugging her as she leaps up to your head level, arms wrapping around your neck as she hugs you. But you immediately realize something's off, she's hugging you far tighter for just being gone for a day. You get the feeling something terrible's happened while you were away.


cont