Chapter 145 : Call me Husband

Watching her father pass away, Esdeath's eyes became dull.

She couldn't accept the reality before her—her father, the strongest person she knew, had been slain by northern invaders. Her village lay in ruins, engulfed in flames, and she stood alone amidst the devastation, her mind blank and her heart lost.

Zalama, watching the scene, remained unmoved. Life and death were natural occurrences, especially among mortals.

"Do you seek revenge for your father?" Kahn's voice broke the silence after a long pause.

Esdeath snapped out of her daze, her icy blue eyes shifting toward Kahn and Zalama. Cautious yet intrigued, she asked, "Who... are you?"

Kahn smirked. "That doesn't matter. I ask you this—do you wish for great power? Do you want vengeance for your father?"

Esdeath's answer came without hesitation.

Her father had ingrained in her the belief that only the strong survive. His death only solidified her resolve. She needed strength—power beyond anything she had ever known.

However, her warrior instincts made her wary of strangers. "Are you strong?" she questioned.

Kahn smiled but didn't reply. Instead, he teleported them above the northern invaders' city on the empire's border. With a simple Ki Blast, he annihilated the entire civilization in an instant.

A towering mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The overwhelming display of destruction left Esdeath in stunned silence.

She had always considered herself talented, able to hunt dangerous beasts alone at her age. But compared to Kahn's power, she was less than an insect.

Staring at the cataclysmic sight, her eyes shone with excitement and desire. "Please, Lord! Teach me! I want power like yours!"

Her pleading gaze, filled with longing, fixated on Kahn.

Kahn didn't respond immediately. Instead, he teleported them back to the ruins of her village.

"Gaining power is simple," Kahn said with his hands behind his back. "But strength comes at a price."

"What price? As long as it makes me stronger than anyone else, I'll pay it!" Esdeath declared.

Kahn smirked. "My palace needs maids. If you serve in my palace, I will make you stronger—thousands of times stronger than you are now."

"I accept!"

The opportunity to gain unfathomable strength at the mere cost of servitude was a deal Esdeath couldn't refuse.

"Then follow me."

Without hesitation, she trailed behind Kahn and Zalama as they left the ruined village. As they walked, she asked, "My lord, what is your name?"

"Kahn."

Great Palace of the Gods of Destruction

Esdeath had already changed into a maid outfit prepared by Zalama.

Her usual warrior-like aura softened just slightly, giving her a newfound elegance. Though she remained fierce, the uniform added an unexpected charm to her appearance.

"Master Kahn, what should I do next?" she asked, her sharp intellect already assessing her new surroundings.

The power Kahn had displayed, coupled with the grandeur of his palace, left no doubt in her mind—this was a man of unparalleled status and strength.

Kahn instructed, "For now, stay here. Your room is on the second floor. Choose any one you like and familiarize yourself with the palace. Zalama and I will be leaving to recruit more maids. Once everyone is gathered, I will train you."

"Understood!" Esdeath nodded solemnly.

After ensuring Esdeath was settled, Kahn and Zalama departed the realm of the Gods of Destruction.

As they traversed the First Universe, Zalama glanced at Kahn curiously. "You seem to have known that girl back there."

Kahn shrugged. "Not exactly. I just knew someone like her existed."

Meeting Esdeath in Universe 7 sparked a thought in Kahn's mind.

Could it be that this wasn't just the Dragon Ball universe? Were other anime worlds fused into this reality?

It was a possibility. But meeting just Esdeath wasn't enough proof. If he encountered more characters from other worlds, then his theory would be confirmed.

"So that's why you pursued her?" Zalama asked with interest.

"You could say that."

Changing the subject, Kahn smirked and pulled Zalama close by the waist. "Also, you should stop calling me 'Master Kahn.'"

"Then what should I call you?" she asked playfully.

Kahn grinned. "Since we're husband and wife, 'husband' would be appropriate, don't you think?"

A soft, affectionate smile formed on Zalama's lips. "Alright, Kahn—no, husband."

Kahn laughed heartily. "Now that's sweet."

At that moment, his Grand Gods of Destruction staff lit up.

"Hm? Vados?" Kahn muttered as he answered the call.

The light screen projected Vados' face.

"Husband, where are you right now?" she asked.

"Still in the First Universe. What's wrong?"

Vados' expression turned serious. "Can you return? Something strange has happened in the future timeline."

"Future timeline?" Kahn and Zalama exchanged glances, both raising their eyebrows in surprise.

"Yes," Vados confirmed. "It's already affecting our present timeline. I believe it's best to deal with it immediately."

Kahn frowned slightly.

He had assumed his presence had altered the timeline enough to prevent Future Zamasu's existence. However, it seemed that after the Tournament of Power, Zamasu had still managed to resurface.

It looked like it was time to clean up the mess.

"Understood. I'll return right away."