"I was just so excited to finally face an opponent who could match my strength!" Karnel said, rubbing the back of his head with an embarrassed laugh. The thrill of divine combat still coursed through his veins, it had been far too long since he'd encountered a worthy challenger.
"Enough chatter, Whis," Beerus grumbled from his position on the cube's floor. "There's still time to fix this mess. I'm exhausted from giving my all against Karnel, and I desperately need a nap." Having just suffered his first genuine defeat in eons, the God of Destruction was in no mood for lengthy discussions. He rolled over dramatically, presenting his back to both companions.
Whis chuckled softly at his charge's petulant behavior. "Lord Beerus, you're quite right. You haven't engaged in serious combat for so long that your skills have grown rather rusty. Otherwise, you wouldn't have lost to Karnel quite so decisively."
"Yes, yes," Beerus muttered irritably. "I'll have to resume proper training when we return." With that declaration, he settled into a more comfortable position and promptly began snoring, apparently capable of sleeping through any conversation.
'Restoration to original state, that's temporal manipulation on Whis's level, Karnel observed with fascination. Truly remarkable! My current mastery of time's power is pathetically limited by comparison. I can barely affect single objects, while he's casually rewinding entire galaxies. I need to study his technique carefully, understanding his methods might help me better utilize this hard-won ability.'
His attention focused intently on the ornate staff in Whis's hands.
Temporal Restoration!
Whis raised his scepter with practiced elegance, and silver energy flowed from the crystalline orb at its tip. The ethereal current spread rapidly through the surrounding space before disappearing into the cosmic fabric itself.
Below them, the devastated Northern Galaxy began reversing its destruction. The expanding waves of annihilation contracted, drawing back into their point of origin. Cosmic dust materialized from nothingness and compressed into reformed planets. Shattered spacetime knitted itself back together seamlessly, and within moments, everything had returned to its pristine, undamaged state.
"Fortunately, Lord Beerus's energy sphere explosion was extraordinarily rapid," Whis said, dusting off his hands with satisfaction. "The entire annihilation sequence took less than three minutes. Any longer, and even I would have been powerless to reverse such devastation."
'What incredible mastery of time manipulation, Karnel thought with genuine awe. I only possess a single fragment of time's power, barely enough to reverse minor changes on individual targets. To think I was becoming complacent about my abilities, how foolish. I still have such a vast distance to travel before reaching Whis's level. I wonder if decades or centuries of training would be sufficient...
His gaze remained fixed on the staff, studying every detail of its construction and energy patterns.
"Oh?" Whis noticed his intense scrutiny and smiled knowingly. "Mr. Karnel, you seem quite interested in my scepter."
Karnel blinked, realizing he'd been staring rather obviously. "Ah, yes. Your staff appears to be extraordinarily sophisticated, far beyond anything I've encountered."
Whis's smile widened, but he offered no further explanation about the artifact's mysteries.
"Mr. Karnel," Whis continued, his tone shifting to something more serious, "I've observed that you possess remarkable talent. To achieve true divine status through personal cultivation alone, rivaling even a God of Destruction, such accomplishment is extraordinarily rare." He paused meaningfully. "Would you be interested in becoming the next God of Destruction after Lord Beerus eventually passes on?"
Karnel blinked in surprise. 'God of Destruction? He's seriously offering me that position?' Looking at Whis's expression, there was no hint of jest or casual suggestion.
Beerus's snoring abruptly ceased. The God of Destruction bolted upright with indignant fury. "I heard every word of that, Whis! I'm still very much alive and in excellent health, yet you're already planning to replace me? I'm nowhere near ready for retirement!"
"Lord Beerus, you were listening? How terribly embarrassing!" Whis said, covering his mouth with exaggerated surprise. Then, turning back to Karnel with undiminished cheerfulness, "Well, Karnel, should you ever reconsider, simply call my name toward the heavens and I'll hear you."
Karnel shook his head with an amused smile. "I appreciate the honor, Lord Whis, truly. But while the position of God of Destruction certainly sounds impressive, I'm not particularly interested in that responsibility."
'And it really is unnecessary, he reflected privately. My current strength already rivals any God of Destruction. If I were to employ my temporal abilities fully, I could likely eliminate one outright. Besides, the position requires linking one's life force with a Supreme Kai, beings whose combat abilities are typically abysmal. I refuse to stake my survival on someone else's competence. What if the Supreme Kai gets killed by some random threat? I'd die for their incompetence.'
"Are you certain you won't reconsider?" Whis pressed with obvious amusement. "I truly believe you'd perform the role far more effectively than Lord Beerus."
That comment proved to be the final straw. Beerus exploded with rage, pointing an accusing finger directly at Whis's nose. "Whis! Karnel has clearly stated he's not interested in the position, yet you continue making these suggestions! You're completely disrespecting my authority as the current God of Destruction!"
Recognizing he'd pushed his companion to the breaking point, Whis gracefully backed down. He waved dismissively with a placating smile. "Lord Beerus, I was merely engaging in playful banter with Karnel. Why are you taking it so seriously?"
Karnel stood awkwardly to the side, unsure how to defuse the tension. After all, Whis had essentially told Beerus directly: 'You're fired. I've found someone better qualified for your job. You're no longer needed.'
Beerus turned toward Karnel with obvious suspicion and barely concealed hostility, clearly viewing him as a potential usurper.
"Ahem!" Karnel cleared his throat diplomatically. "Please don't concern yourself, Beerus. I have absolutely no intention of taking your position as God of Destruction. I can guarantee that with complete sincerity!"
Seeing that Beerus still harbored doubts about his motives, Karnel added with a wry smile, "I promise, your job security is safe from me."
'Though internally, I'm wondering how I managed to get caught in the middle of this divine workplace drama, he thought with mild exasperation. All I wanted was a good fight, and somehow I've become involved in discussions about cosmic employment opportunities.'