Jiren…"
Toppo muttered his name in a low voice, watching Jiren's energy surge to its peak. His tone was laced with concern, but Jiren didn't respond his focus was absolute.
Was Jiren really going to kill someone like Linze? A worthy opponent who had earned his respect?
Though Jiren often appeared distant and emotionless, Toppo knew better. He understood that the cold exterior was a result of deep pain trauma from the murder of Jiren's family and the betrayal by his comrades long ago.
Jiren had stopped believing in trust. He had built a life around solitude and absolute strength, isolating his emotions behind a stone facade.
But in truth, Jiren wasn't a merciless killer. He didn't strike without reason.
"It looks like… Linze's about to die."
"I've never seen Jiren go this far against a regular mortal…"
Dyspo's voice was subdued as he spoke, his usual cockiness replaced by unease.
In the past, Jiren had only ever unleashed his full might against pure evil warlords, destroyers of cities, chaotic forces that threatened innocent lives.
Never like this.
"It's over…"
Jiren's voice was deep and calm, but final.
Fwoom!
His right fist fired a punch through the air. From it exploded a wave of scarlet ki—shaped like a massive energy dragon that tore through the sky toward Linze with unstoppable speed.
"Ten times… Kamehameha!"
Summoning every last ounce of strength left in his battered body, Linze shouted as he formed the blazing blue energy wave between his palms.
This was his ultimate technique his most powerful move in his current form.
Whooosh!
The beams collided.
But instead of a massive explosion or shockwave, Linze's x10 Kamehameha was immediately overpowered.
It was swallowed by Jiren's crimson dragon-like energy without resistance, which continued its rampage straight toward him.
"It's… over…"
Linze's voice trembled with defeat as the red energy smashed directly into his chest.
BOOM!
The force was colossal.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Linze's body flew backwards like a comet, crashing through mountain after mountain, tearing through the landscape uncontrollably.
He was hurled thousands of miles, finally vanishing beneath a mountain of shattered rock and debris.
All was silent.
"Did he… really die?"
Toppo stood frozen, his face shadowed with sorrow as he whispered to himself.
There was no sign of Linze. No aura. No movement.
I've always believed Linze was a remarkable opponent. Ever since he defeated me, I've trained relentlessly to close the gap.
I pushed myself beyond my limits so I could one day fight Linze again after becoming stronger.
But it seems... that day may never come.
I even hoped to name him captain of the Pride Troopers once I became a God of Destruction.
Now, none of that can come true.
"Jiren really is the strongest warrior in our universe. Today... I finally witnessed his power firsthand."
Dyspo, unlike Toppo, wasn't filled with regret his voice carried more pride than sorrow.
To be teammates with the gray giant Jiren that was something worth boasting about.
"Incredible, Jiren…"
"That arrogant human actually dared to go against Jiren. He clearly didn't know his place!"
…
Casellar, Quincy, and the other Pride Troopers spoke with smug expressions, sneering as they watched the aftermath of the clash.
"He's not dead…"
Suddenly, Jiren turned his head and spoke calmly to Toppo and the others.
"Wh-What? Not dead?!"
Toppo's eyes widened with disbelief.
He took Jiren's full-force blow right in the chest and survived?
How was that even possible?
Dyspo and the others looked equally stunned. They had seen it with their own eyes Jiren's punch had landed cleanly.
Noticing their confusion, Jiren explained:
"At the very last moment, Linze retracted his energy wave... condensed it into a barrier, and blocked a portion of the damage."
"But while he isn't dead... he can't fight anymore."
To be honest, Jiren hadn't intended to kill him. That last punch only carried about 70 to 80 percent of his true power.
If he had gone all-out, even with that last-second energy barrier, Linze wouldn't have survived.
"So that's what happened…"
"Didn't think it was possible to pull energy back that quickly to form a barrier under pressure."
"This guy is... full of surprises."
Toppo muttered in awe.
Everyone in the Pride Troopers knew Jiren's speed was terrifying. For Linze to react in time, even on the brink of defeat that took insane awareness and control.
Whoosh…
Jiren's body vanished in a blur and appeared next to Linze's impact zone.
Toppo, Dyspo, and the others rushed in right behind him.
The terrain had been carved into a massive trench stretching for thousands of meters like a canyon carved by divine force.
At the end of the destruction lay a mound of broken rock and beneath it, Linze.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the rubble exploded outward.
Linze leapt up from the debris.
Though his body was trembling and weakened, he managed to land on one knee, gasping in pain, his aura flickering weakly.
"It's over, Linze."
"You're a remarkable opponent you forced me to use 70% of my power. No one has done that in years."
Jiren stood over him, his voice steady. There was no mockery only sincerity.
And within that calm tone... was a rare sense of respect.
"You think I care about that?"
"You think I should feel honored, proud...?"
"My goal isn't your approval."
"I didn't come here to impress you… I came to defeat you."
"The battle's not over yet, Jiren."
Linze's voice was hoarse, each word spoken between ragged breaths. But as he raised his head, something shifted.
His face twitched, his muscles spasmed, and his crimson eyes glowed with a wild, unrestrained light like an ancient beast awakening from deep slumber.
"I will not lose to you…"
"RAAAHH!!"
Suddenly, Linze shot to his feet, his body convulsing as he roared skyward with primal force.
CRACK!
The sky above split open. Thunderclouds churned as the heavens turned dark, and bolts of divine lightning came crashing down each one slamming into the earth with apocalyptic force.
Something was changing.
Linze wasn't finished yet.
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