Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Secrets of the Cosmos

​The transition from Earth’s quiet suburbs to the dizzying, neon-drenched metropolis of the Galactic Patrol Headquarters was nothing short of whiplash. For months, my life consisted of hyper-drive jumps across alien star systems, dodging low-level space pirates, and navigating the rigid, often absurd bureaucracy of interplanetary law enforcement.

​The physical evaluations and combat tests had been a joke. To a man who had spent a year pushing past absolute limits in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber—while packing a body enhanced by divine wishes—standard Galactic Patrol combat standards felt like a gentle warm-up. It hadn't taken long for my competence, combined with an undeniable, quiet authority, to earn me a promotion to Middle Commander.

​Standing in the bustling central terminal of the base, I caught my reflection in a polished steel bulkhead and had to suppress a smirk. Gone was the simple red t-shirt from Earth. In its place hung a sleek, heavy black Galactic Patrol commander's jacket, tailored sharp across my broad shoulders, bearing the official insignia proudly emblazoned on the chest. With my thick black hair and commanding height, I actually looked the part of an intergalactic commander.

​But I hadn't joined up to chase petty space poachers or fill out paperwork. My sights were set on a much higher prize.

​"Hey! Middle Commander! Earthling! Whatever I'm supposed to call you now!"

​A high-pitched, frantic voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see Jaco jogging up to me, his yellow visor catching the fluorescent overhead lights, looking visibly stressed as usual.

​"What is it, Jaco?" I asked, keeping my tone cool and level.

​Jaco stopped, placing his hands on his hips and blowing a sharp breath through his snout. "I just saw the flight logs for your patrol vector. Are you out of your mind? You filed a requisition for a deep-space jump straight toward Sector 4-Alpha. Do you have any idea what’s out there? That’s uncharted territory! We don't patrol there!"

​"Relax, Jaco," I replied, stepping past him with an easy, unhurried stride toward the hangar bay. "It's not a patrol. It's a special assignment. Consider it a classified reconnaissance mission."

​Jaco scrambled to keep pace, his boots clicking rapidly against the metal grating. "A classified mission? Who authorized that?! I didn't see any sign-off from the Supreme Kai or the Commander-in-Chief!"

​I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to look down at him with a calm, unshakeable gaze that made the veteran patrolman instinctively take half a step back. The sheer density of the ki I kept tightly locked beneath my skin always caused a subtle, subconscious unease in anyone sensitive enough to feel it.

​"I authorized it," I said smoothly. "And you’re coming with me, Jaco. Consider it an escort duty."

​Jaco sputtered, throwing his hands up in utter disbelief. "Me?! Why do I have to come?! Every time I get dragged into one of your unhinged schemes, my ship takes structural damage!"

​"Because," I said, flashing a confident grin, "you're the only pilot I trust not to crash us into an asteroid belt. Now move. Our transport is waiting."

​Reluctantly, muttering every curse word known across three different galaxies, Jaco stomped ahead toward the hangar.

​Hours later, the compact patrol vessel dropped out of hyper-drive, sliding smoothly into a quiet, eerie sector of space. Outside the reinforced viewport, the cosmic landscape shifted into something surreal. Drifting in the absolute stillness of the void was a bizarre, floating temple surrounded by rings of ancient stone and glowing ethereal energy—a place completely detached from the ordinary hustle of the empire.

​Zuno’s realm.

​The atmosphere inside the small cockpit instantly grew heavy, the ambient hum of the ship’s engines sounding muted against the profound silence outside.

​Jaco adjusted his visor, peering through the glass with a sudden, uncharacteristic drop in his usual bravado. His skin turned a shade paler, his fingers hovering hesitantly over the control panel.

​"By the stars..." Jaco whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "You... you actually brought us here. Do you know what this place is, Krillin?"

​"Of course I do," I replied, leaning forward, my eyes locked onto the ancient floating structure ahead. "It's Zuno's domain. The all-knowing."

​Jaco shot a terrified glance up at me, his eyes wide behind his yellow visor. "The all-knowing?! Nobody comes here unless they have permission from the highest tiers of divinity! Zuno knows everything—past, present, and obscure cosmic secrets that can get a man erased from existence just for asking. Why on earth are you dragging us into this? What could you possibly want to know?!"

​I didn't answer right away. I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling the heavy fabric of my black commander's jacket shift against my frame.

​My heart hammered against my ribs, but it wasn't fear—it was the sharp, thrilling realization of the chess pieces falling into place. I knew what was coming. I knew about the Super Dragon Balls, I knew about the impending tournament with Universe 6, and above all, I knew that Beerus was going to wake up soon, hungry for a fight against a Super Saiyan God that didn't technically exist yet.

​If I wanted to survive the cascading chaos of the coming arcs—if I wanted to ensure that Earth didn't become collateral damage in a divine temper tantrum—I needed precise, undeniable facts. I needed to know things that even Goku and Vegeta were stumbling blindly toward.

​"I need answers, Jaco," I finally said, turning my gaze from the window to meet the patrolman's panicked expression. "And Zuno is the only one who can give them to me."

​Jaco swallowed hard, realizing there was no turning back. With shaking hands, he initiated the docking sequence, guiding our tiny ship toward the surreal, floating sanctuary of the universe's ultimate informant.

​As the landing ramp hissed open, bathing the dark interior of the ship in a soft, ethereal golden light, I stepped forward. My new boots hit the ancient stone floor of Zuno’s courtyard with a firm, confident echo.

​The game had officially changed. It was time to find out just how deep the rabbit hole went.