>>5460399“Y-yeah… just a sec…” Hokay what. What. ‘Jaki, where exactly did you send that guy? And HOW? Izzy’s fought him before, he’s not exactly the kind who goes down easily. That was some… tabletop game banishment spell stuff.’
‘Not incorrect. It’s a skill I learned from those who took me in.’ he responds at first, then pauses, thinking. ‘Are you familiar with certain kinds of Portal Magic that are out there?’
‘...Portal Magic?’
‘Usually categorized under a form of Shadow Magic. Portals to voids and other dimensions attached to this universe.’
Your turn to think for a moment. And then you recall something, something mom told you about… from before you and Gohan were born. The 23rd World Tournament. The person dad faced in the finals, Garlic Jr. He could open up portals. Portals to… what was it called again…? Your eyes widen. ‘…Like the Dead Zone?’
‘Ah, so you are aware of that after all.’
‘YOU DID WHAT?!’ You have to force yourself from shouting that out loud.
‘An individual as powerful as that could easily cause chaos once he’s accomplished whatever he was sent to do. The best course of action would him simply no longer being here.’
‘I… but… HOW? The Dead Zone portal from what mom told me about it nearly ate up an entire stadium. If that got out of control-’
He telepathically snorts dismissively at that. ‘An Amateur or madman might allow a portal like that to go out of control. I am neither. I focused it for a single entity that needed to be shunted away.’
‘And if he gets out?’ You’re… easing up a bit.
‘I can’t keep something as powerful as that trapped forever, no, but I suspect he doesn’t have the power to break out immediately. You will have more than enough time to finish this… competition.’
‘...Okay. So no one can sense out any other bits of mischief going on then?’
‘Not a thing.’ Pantea responds.
‘Can we keep this guy around? Just like, sayin’ “No.” and teleportin’ someone like that away is REALLY handy.’ Bon Para requests.
‘Up to him. Thank you regardless, Jaki.’ You smile at Cocoa. “Problem solved, for sure. Things can continue as planned, with no delays.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Okay, but again, you missed most of the rounds.”
Shit shit shit. “Who’s winning?”
“Team Green has once again taken top spot, but Sachie and Atole got full points too. Neither team suffered a single loss in the rounds.” she reveals to you, motioning to the once-more celebrating Cheelai and Hakka, though with the fox boy and giving the also celebrating Sachie and Atole a look of rivalry.
“Sorry…” you tell her sheepishly.
“I’m not gonna say a bit of paranoia is unwarranted, but I will remind you: you can relax here. Coordinate if you need to, but let others handle this.” Cocoa holds your hand in hers. “Okay?”
(cont.)
