Ken was a little speechless.
You guys sure have a destiny with the word "Guide."
The book I trained with was literally called Ultra Instinct Training Guide.
…Whatever, not important.
Merus handed the book to Jiren and explained, "Jiren, just keep doing what you do. But your true status is now my trainee Supreme Kai. When you have time, study what's inside this book."
"Yes, Lord Merus." Jiren bowed, then straightened and looked at Ken. His eyes carried weight—heat and fighting spirit.
Ken blinked.
What's that supposed to mean?
Merus also looked at Jiren, not sure what he wanted.
"Mr. Ken, I hear you became an angel through training—is that right?" Jiren asked.
"Not yet," Ken nodded.
"May I challenge you?" Jiren drew a deep breath, staring solemnly. "My apologies, but I haven't had a worthy opponent in a long time."
"What a coincidence. Neither have I," Ken said, not refusing.
He also wanted to feel out his real level.
His angelic power purity had already reached 30.
Since they'd run into Jiren, a friendly spar sounded fine.
Merus was even more eager to see Jiren's true strength. He could estimate it with his staff, sure—but nothing beats a real fight.
"If you two are going to spar… could you take it into space? Battling here will affect the planet," Merus suggested. "Jiren, you can survive in space, right?"
"I can." Jiren nodded.
"Good. Let's head out." Merus tapped his staff lightly.
Snap!
A starry radiance wrapped him.
Whoosh!
Merus shot into the sky and vanished in a blink.
Even Jiren was a bit surprised by that speed—Merus was showing off on purpose. Don't go thinking angels are weak. In pure flight speed, even an apprentice angel leaves you in the dust.
"After you," Ken gestured. "I'll let you fly first."
Jiren gave Ken a long look, then flared a crimson aura—
Whoosh!
He tore through the atmosphere, leaving a bright trail, and chased Merus's direction hard.
He's just an apprentice angel. No way I can't catch up.
Jiren poured everything into speed.
But the farther he went, the more he realized Merus was already gone—utterly out of sight.
Only then did he truly feel it: even an apprentice angel is on another level in speed.
And then he glanced down—and saw another starlike stream racing up after him.
Ken!
I won't lose on speed!
Jiren pushed to the limit—
Pa!
Ken's hair flashed—turning silver white.
Shhhk!
He streaked past Jiren in a star-bright blur.
The sheer slipstream spun Jiren head over heels until he barely stabilized himself with a burst of ki.
Pa!
Ken eased to a stop and smiled across at him. "Let's spar here."
Jiren's face tightened, wary.
Whoosh!
Merus zipped back from afar—
…and stopped, stunned.
"Ken… your hair—it turned silver!" Merus stared.
Snap.
Ken conjured a small mirror, checked himself, and chuckled. "Kinda cooler than black."
"You… you're looking more and more like a real angel," Merus murmured, shocked by how far Ken had come in just half a year.
Silver hair already.
"This should be true Ultra Instinct," Merus judged, pleased. "Congratulations, Ken—you've fully awakened Ultra Instinct! That silver hair says it all."
"You flatter me," Ken said evenly.
"You two spar. I'll erase any stray blasts so the universe doesn't get hurt," Merus said, staff ready.
"No need to fuss," Ken smiled. "It's not like this will be some apocalyptic battle."
"That's true… The gap between humans and angels is huge. Even if you're not an angel yet—now that you've truly mastered Ultra Instinct—no ordinary human can touch you," Merus nodded.
Jiren: "…"
You're writing me off that hard?
"I am the strongest fighter of Universe 11!" Jiren's face hardened, no trace of arrogance. "Mr. Ken, I'll fight you seriously. I hope you'll take me seriously too!"
"Fine. I'll be a little serious." Ken nodded.
"Then… begin!" Merus swung his staff.
Jiren exploded forward, weaving angles in a blur, closing fast.
In a blink he was in front of Ken and chopped a palm—
Ken was faster.
Swish!
He ghosted behind Jiren.
Jiren's strike hit nothing; his eyes darted, searching—
Thwack!
Ken's palm clipped the back of his neck.
Jiren's mind went white; his body went limp, drifting in the void—out cold.
"…No way? That easy?" Ken looked disappointed.
Merus: "…"
He hadn't expected it to end that fast either.
"I can't with you… You faint too easily," Ken sighed, then snapped his fingers by Jiren's ear.
Jiren jerked awake, rubbing his neck, face tightening.
Is the gap really that big?
"Again. That didn't scratch the itch—I didn't expect you to drop so quick," Ken beckoned.
Jiren: "…"
Merus dabbed imaginary sweat. "It's not that he's weak—it's that you're too strong. You've fully mastered Ultra Instinct. No normal human can be your match!"
"Oops—accidentally became the strongest in the universe. I almost feel bad," Ken said gravely.
Merus had no words.
Whoosh!
Ken drifted to Jiren and bathed him in angelic power, healing him up.
Jiren woke, saw Ken's smile—and flinched backward on instinct.
For reference: Ken's Ultra Instinct was the real thing—his angelic power purity had reached 30. This wasn't the same as Goku's silver hair at the Tournament of Power; Ken's state was closer to Goku's silver during the Moro arc—but with better stability and stamina, thanks to a different training path. Ken tempers angelic power and refines its purity; Goku tempers energy and converts it to Divine Ki, but that Divine Ki just isn't at the same level as true angelic power.
"You faint too easily. Come on, one more," Ken waved.
Jiren fell silent. The gap wasn't just a step—more like several floors.
"Maybe… call it here?" Merus tried to mediate.
"I've got it—how about I cover my eyes and we continue?" Ken said, conjuring a black strip of cloth and tying it on.
"Come on, Jiren. Eyes closed this time. Don't let me down."
Jiren: "…"
That's just bullying.
He almost agreed, but caught Merus frantically winking at him: Don't. You can't win.
And that… ticked Jiren off.
I've trained for years. No way I lose to someone who's only trained a year or two—with his eyes closed.
"This is your idea! I won't hold back!" Jiren's aura deepened.
"Come." Ken nodded.
Merus sighed internally. Why, Jiren? He's got true Ultra Instinct. How is a human supposed to beat that?
Still, Merus took some comfort. He could tell how strong Jiren really was—stronger than Broly, by his read. Maybe he should make Jiren a God of Destruction instead? But then… what about Buu? Seal him again? Jiren's at least normal; Majin Buu never listens…
His mind wandered.
Jiren shouted, sending his voice one way as he crept in the other, then flashed behind Ken and launched a full-force punch—
Ken tilted aside and slipped it.
"What? He dodged? Eyes closed?!" Jiren froze.
"Too slow. Your attack speed is too slow," Ken said.
"You—say my attack is too slow?" Jiren gritted his teeth and unleashed a flurry.
Eyes covered, Ken evaded everything. True Ultra Instinct moved his body on its own—effortless.
A minute later, Jiren was gasping, and hadn't even brushed Ken's clothes.
Thump!
Ken's foot flicked out and tapped Jiren right in the kidney.
"Arrgh—!"
Jiren howled, folding up as cold sweat beaded and his lower back refused to straighten.
Whoosh!
Merus zipped in. "Let's end it here."
He shot Jiren another look: Just yield already.
"I… I yield," Jiren forced out between clenched teeth.
"One last test—see if you can take it," Ken said.
Jiren blanched.
Swish—
Ken vanished.
Jiren's head turned mechanically—Ken was behind him, smiling.
"Not… good—"
Thwack!
Another light chop to the nape.
Jiren sagged, unconscious again.
Merus was speechless.
You knocked him out again?
"So fragile," Ken shook his head. "I wanted to take this seriously."
"Stop joking. You've mastered true Ultra Instinct. No matter how strong Jiren is, he can't beat you," Merus said, healing Jiren with his staff.
Jiren soon revived, eyes unfocused.
"You shouldn't have challenged him. He's very petty…" Merus whispered.
Jiren's mouth twitched; he bowed quickly.
"Go on. Train well. I'll come back and check on you," Merus patted his shoulder.
"Yes!" Jiren nodded.
He'd barely turned when Ken spoke.
"Hold on," Ken called out, stopping Jiren.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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