"It's too late to withdraw now," Shin admitted with an awkward smile. He glanced at Beerus, clearly wishing they'd handled things differently. "I told you we should've explained the rules to them earlier, Beerus-sama."
"Oh, shut up!" Beerus snapped. "You're already here, so quit complaining and get ready to fight! I expect every last one of you to give it your all!"
"Man, what a mess," GT Goku muttered, shaking his head. There wasn't much point arguing anymore, though. They'd already agreed to participate, and the tournament was about to begin.
"Now that's more like it!" Beerus declared. "Look at the fighters we've gathered! If a team this strong can't win the tournament, then I don't know what will!"
"All right. We'll do our best," GT Goku replied, accepting that they would have to see things through.
GT Vegeta still wasn't happy about being tricked into risking his existence, but even he understood that complaining wouldn't change anything now.
With their final warnings delivered, Beerus, Shin, the Grand Supreme Kai, Old Kai, and Whis left the arena and settled into Universe 7's viewing stands.
Champa had been watching the whole exchange from the neighboring section, and he couldn't resist taking a shot at his brother.
"Hey, Beerus! So you had to drag fighters here from another timeline, huh?" Champa laughed. "What happened? Couldn't find ten decent fighters in your own universe?"
"You've got some nerve saying that!" Beerus snapped back. "How many of those fighters on Universe 6's team originally belonged to my universe?"
"Not Kale, Caulifla, or Hit," Champa replied without missing a beat.
"Which means the other seven came from Universe 7!"
Champa stuck his tongue out and made a face at him, enjoying every second of his brother's frustration.
"And whose fault is that? You're the one who thought Ken was worthless and gave him up all those years ago!" Champa laughed. "Seriously, Beerus, what do you even use your eyes for? Do you piss out of them?"
Beerus nearly lost his mind. His fists clenched, his forehead throbbed, and his entire body trembled with the effort of keeping his temper under control.
If Zeno-sama hadn't been watching, he would've beaten Champa so badly that his brother wouldn't have been able to get out of bed for a month.
While the two Gods of Destruction were busy insulting each other, Shin noticed something unusual about one of the teams still waiting below.
"Master, look over there," he said to the Grand Supreme Kai. "That universe only has eight fighters."
"I believe that's Universe 4," the Grand Supreme Kai replied, studying the group.
Old Kai nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose gathering ten capable fighters isn't as easy for every universe as we'd thought."
Elsewhere, Bardock was giving Universe 9's team a few final instructions before joining the other gods in the stands.
When he'd finished, his attention settled on Zarek, who was standing among the fighters with a rather pleased expression.
"Don't look at me like that, Dad!" Zarek declared with a grin. "I've already made up my mind. If Universe 9 goes down, I'm going down with it!"
Bardock studied his youngest son for a moment before giving a solemn nod. He still wasn't happy about Zarek's decision, but there was no changing the boy's mind now.
He reached over and affectionately ruffled Zarek's hair, then left the arena alongside Universe 9's Supreme Kai and Mojito.
Universe 3 was also finishing its preparations. Ai had taken the form of a female android and was giving her fighters their final instructions before heading to the stands with the Supreme Kai and Angel of her universe.
Broly watched her leave, his expression growing troubled. Unlike the other Gods of Destruction, he had a very personal reason to worry about what might happen if Universe 3 lost.
He turned toward Ken, struggling to put his concerns into words.
"Ken... Ai..."
Ken immediately understood what was bothering him and offered a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. Even if Universe 3 gets erased, I'll find a way to keep Ai safe."
Broly's expression brightened at once. He let out a long breath, visibly relieved to hear that Ken had already considered the possibility.
With the gods and spectators gone, only the eighty competitors remained on the arena. The enormous battlefield was finally ready for the Tournament of Power.
Over on Universe 6's side, Gohan was studying the other teams when he noticed the same thing Shin had pointed out earlier.
"Piccolo, look over there. That universe only has eight fighters."
"Yeah, I noticed," Piccolo replied, keeping his attention on Universe 4.
"Only eight?" Caulifla asked, surprised. "Couldn't they find two more people?"
Kale shook her head. "I don't think that's it. I can sense two more fighters over there."
Caulifla focused for a moment and realized Kale was right.
"Huh, you're right. Think they're invisible or something?"
"Invisible fighters?" Gohan looked toward Universe 4 again. "Then we'd better be careful. Someone could sneak up and knock us off the arena before we even know they're there."
Piccolo agreed. Whatever Universe 4 was planning, the missing fighters were clearly something they would have to watch out for once the battle began.
Above the center of the arena, Ken waited until everyone had settled into position before speaking.
"All right, everyone! I'll go over the rules one last time!"
The fighters turned their attention toward him as he gestured to the enormous pillar standing in the middle of the battlefield.
"The tournament will last for 100 taks! As time passes, the central pillar will gradually sink into the arena. Once it's level with the floor, the tournament is over!"
He allowed everyone a moment to look at the pillar before continuing.
"To eliminate an opponent, you simply have to knock them out of the arena! Anyone who falls will automatically be transported to their universe's viewing stands, so there's no need to worry about what happens afterward!"
Ken paused and surveyed the eighty fighters gathered below him.
Despite their confidence, many of the competitors were beginning to feel nervous. They weren't simply fighting for a trophy or bragging rights. Every mistake could bring their entire universe one step closer to being erased.
Ken smiled as he looked across the arena.
"Well, then! Is everyone ready?"
The competitors immediately prepared themselves, some settling into fighting stances while others watched their nearest opponents for the slightest movement.
Ken raised his voice for the final announcement.
"Let the Tournament of Power begin!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Android 17 became the first fighter to charge into battle.
Goku, Vegeta, Hit, Caulifla, Goten, and Trunks quickly scattered in different directions, each setting off in search of opponents.
Within seconds, only Gohan, Piccolo, and Kale were left standing together where Universe 6's team had gathered.
Gohan watched his teammates disappear across the arena, wondering what had happened to Fuwa's advice about working together. Apparently, everyone had forgotten it the instant Ken announced the start.
Kale glanced between him and Piccolo, then smiled.
"Gohan-nii, I guess the three of us are a team now!"
Gohan and Piccolo exchanged a look. It wasn't quite the teamwork they'd been expecting, but staying together in a group of three wasn't a bad idea, especially with so many unfamiliar fighters scattered around the arena.
Meanwhile, Android 17 had already reached a group of competitors from Universe 10.
The fighters were caught off guard by how quickly he'd come after them, but they recovered and prepared to defend themselves. One of them stepped forward and threw a punch straight at 17.
Android 17 ducked beneath the blow and struck back with an open palm, knocking his opponent off balance. Before the fighter could recover, 17 followed up with a powerful kick that sent him flying straight off the arena.
"Murisarm!" one of his teammates cried as the fighter disappeared over the edge.
Murisarm barely had time to realize what had happened before his body vanished in a flash of light.
A moment later, he reappeared on Universe 10's viewing stands.
Rumsshi stared at him, his elephant trunk twitching in disbelief.
"Murisarm?!"
Murisarm looked around in confusion. One moment he'd been preparing to fight Android 17, and the next he was standing beside his universe's God of Destruction.
Wait, what happened? Had he already been knocked out?
"So this is where eliminated fighters end up?" Rumsshi muttered, still trying to process the sight of one of his competitors appearing beside him.
Then the realization hit him, and his face twisted with fury.
"YOU IDIOT! You're the first person to get knocked out of the tournament, aren't you?! It hasn't even been three seconds since the fighting started!"
Murisarm stared at him for a moment before tears began streaming down his face.
"I finally came in first at something..."
Rumsshi was so furious that he couldn't even think of a reply.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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