"Has there been any movement from the Demon Realm recently?" the Left Guard asked.
"I checked carefully. Nothing significant for now," the Grand Priest said with a nod. "You may relax. If the sky falls, the tallest person has to hold it up. Ken wants to stand at the top now, so let him hold that line for a while."
The Left Guard and Right Guard had no idea what to say.
The logic was not wrong, exactly, but it still sounded strange.
Were they really going to let a mortal who had trained for less than a hundred years shoulder something like this?
"Ken's strength has improved dramatically," the Grand Priest continued with a small sigh, "but compared with the Demon Realm, there is still a great distance between them. I only hope the Demon Realm waits until Ken has grown further before making its move."
"The Great Demon God may not wait that long," the Left Guard said grimly.
"Yes," the Grand Priest said, his expression thoughtful. "That is true."
In Universe 10, on the Sacred World of the Kai, a crystal orb sat on Zamasu's desk.
Inside the orb was the tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7.
"Filthy Saiyans," Zamasu muttered, his fists clenched tight and hatred burning in his eyes.
The door opened without warning, and Gowasu walked in.
Zamasu flinched. In his panic, he hurriedly cut off the image.
"What were you watching, Zamasu?" Gowasu asked with a smile. He stretched his neck toward the crystal orb, but the picture was already gone. "Oh? You switched it off already. And why is your face so red? Don't tell me you were peeping at girls bathing."
Gowasu waved lightly at the crystal orb.
The previous image returned at once.
Zamasu's eyes widened.
It could do that?
"Oh, it's a tournament." Gowasu leaned in for a closer look, then glanced at Zamasu. "It is only a match between mortals. Why are you acting as if you've been caught stealing?"
"No… I wasn't…" Zamasu forced an awkward laugh.
"It appears to be a match between Universe 6 and Universe 7. I haven't seen something like this in quite some time." Gowasu watched for a moment, clearly enjoying it.
Zamasu said nothing.
"Take your time and watch," Gowasu said, patting him on the shoulder. "Watching a good match can broaden your heart and sharpen your mind. It may even help your own growth."
With that, Gowasu left the room.
Zamasu let out a long breath.
Then he looked back at the crystal orb.
He had already noticed the Goku and Vegeta from another timeline. His gaze flickered as a thought began to form.
Of course.
Why did he have to keep tormenting himself in this timeline?
He could simply choose another one.
Ken was abnormal. No matter how hard Zamasu trained, he would never defeat him.
So he needed a timeline without Ken.
Should he choose this so-called GT timeline from the tournament?
Zamasu thought it over, then slowly shook his head.
The Saiyans from that timeline were powerful too.
He would search elsewhere.
Zamasu shut off the crystal orb and went to Gowasu's room.
"Finished watching the tournament?" Gowasu asked with a smile. "Did you learn anything?"
"I gained a great deal from it, Gowasu-sama," Zamasu said.
"That is good. Learn more, gather experience, and one day you will become an excellent Supreme Kai." Gowasu laughed, pleased with his disciple.
"Yes."
Zamasu bowed respectfully, then stepped forward and poured Gowasu tea.
"Is there anything you need my help with?" Gowasu asked after taking a sip.
"I noticed that the fighters from Universe 7 seem to have come from another timeline," Zamasu said.
"That does appear to be the case." Gowasu nodded seriously. "The Supreme Kai of Universe 7 likely invited them from a parallel timeline. Once the tournament ends, they should be sent back."
"May I visit another timeline as well?" Zamasu asked.
"You want to see another timeline? That is fine. It would be good for you to learn from other worlds." Gowasu smiled. "I have heard that the Saiyan named Son Goku from Universe 6 often travels to another timeline to study under the Supreme Kai there."
"Son Goku…" Zamasu nodded thoughtfully. "I remember him."
"He is fighting right now, isn't he?" Gowasu asked.
"Yes."
"If you wish to travel through other timelines, I see no problem with it. Go learn. Build experience." Gowasu took out the box of Time Rings, opened it, and handed one ring to Zamasu. "This is the timeline Son Goku often visits. Start there."
"Yes."
Zamasu bowed again and accepted the Time Ring with both hands.
"I explained how to use the Time Rings before," Gowasu said, taking another sip of tea.
"Thank you for your guidance," Zamasu said. "I will visit Son Goku's timeline."
"Go on, then."
Gowasu waved him off without hesitation.
Zamasu bowed once more before leaving the room. Then he teleported to a quiet stretch of space and slowly turned the Time Ring in his hand.
A moment later, he vanished.
Back in Universe 18, at the tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7, Goku and GT Vegeta had already been fighting for about a minute.
The two of them drifted down from the air.
"Warm-up is over," GT Vegeta said, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.
"Right," Goku said with a nod.
"Transform into Super Saiyan 4 already," GT Vegeta said, his expression turning serious.
"Super Saiyan 4? I can't do that," Goku said, shaking his head.
"You… really can't?" GT Vegeta stared at him in disbelief.
"You need a tail for that form, right? I don't even have one anymore. How would I transform like that?" Goku laughed.
"Hmph. Then that makes this simple." GT Vegeta's mouth curled. "If you can't use it, I don't need to hold back."
His body changed immediately, red fur spreading across him as he entered Super Saiyan 4. Then he settled into an attacking stance.
"I can't become Super Saiyan 4," Goku said, "but I can become a Super Saiyan God."
Flames of divine energy rose around him, and he transformed without hesitation.
GT Vegeta's eyes narrowed.
"Super Saiyan God?" The name was unfamiliar to him.
"Yeah. This is Super Saiyan God," Goku said.
"Hmph. Interesting."
GT Vegeta rushed forward.
They clashed again, this time at far greater speed. Their fists and feet blurred across the arena, trading thousands of blows in moments. For a while, neither seemed to have the advantage.
Below the ring, Vegeta watched with his body trembling.
Kakarot had grown stronger again.
Before, Goku's Super Saiyan God form had only been about equal to Vegeta's Golden Great Ape. Now that same form could match the other timeline's Super Saiyan 4.
Then what about Super Saiyan Blue?
Could Kakarot crush the other him with that form alone?
The thought sat bitterly in Vegeta's chest.
Goku pushed forward with a palm strike and hit GT Vegeta in the chest. GT Vegeta staggered back, then kicked off the ring and shot straight at him, throwing a heavy punch toward his face.
Goku slipped aside and raised his knee.
The blow struck GT Vegeta in the stomach, making his face go pale as he coughed up bitter fluid.
Goku followed with another punch and knocked him down.
GT Vegeta sprang back up almost immediately, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. His face turned colder than before.
"Damn it. I will not lose to you, Kakarot!"
His power erupted again. This time, GT Vegeta poured almost everything he had into it.
He pushed his speed to the limit and appeared in front of Goku in an instant, driving a powerful punch at him.
Goku lowered his body and avoided it again. Then he caught GT Vegeta's arm, used his momentum against him, and smashed him into the arena. Before GT Vegeta could fully recover, Goku grabbed his arm and threw him toward the outside.
GT Vegeta flew past the edge, but he managed to stop himself in midair before his feet touched the ground.
He had not been eliminated yet.
He stared at Goku from outside the ring, shaken. His face grew darker.
Below the arena, Vegeta trembled with anger.
The other him had no chance against Kakarot.
That bastard was not even using Super Saiyan Blue.
"Vegeta, I'm going to end this quickly," Goku said.
Blue flames rose around him. His hair lifted and turned blue.
GT Vegeta froze at the sight of the new form.
Beerus's eyes widened as well, disbelief written all over his face.
"So when that Son Goku fought me, he was still holding back a transformation?" Beerus bared his teeth, deeply irritated.
Whis said nothing. He only gave a light nod.
"Looks like our Vegeta is going to lose too," Beerus muttered, grinding his teeth.
Five matches.
Universe 7 had not won a single one.
That was beyond infuriating.
"Blue? What form is that?" GT Vegeta asked, his expression growing heavier.
"This is Super Saiyan Blue," Goku answered.
"Hmph. Super Saiyan Blue? What a careless name." GT Vegeta shouted in anger, "You think changing your hair color is enough to beat me?"
"Let's try it."
GT Vegeta dove from the air and threw a full-power punch.
Goku was about to dodge, but GT Vegeta shouted first.
"Kakarot, take this head-on if you dare!"
"Ah… all right."
Goku hesitated for a moment, then lifted his fist and met the attack.
Their fists collided, releasing a violent shockwave. The force tore outward, and the arena beneath them shattered into countless chunks in an instant.
GT Vegeta was blasted dozens of meters back.
Light flared around him again as he stopped himself in midair, breathing hard, his face twisted with strain. That single exchange had shown him how terrifying Goku's power really was.
Goku still stood calmly in place.
Even the ground beneath his feet remained intact.
That one clash made the gap clear.
"Hmph. Super Saiyan Blue isn't so impressive," GT Vegeta said, refusing to back down.
"Then I'll change my hairstyle again." Goku grinned, and the blue light around him vanished.
GT Vegeta froze.
Another hairstyle?
What was this bastard trying to do?
Starlike radiance flowed around Goku's body.
Ultra Instinct.
GT Vegeta stared, stunned. "What… what is that?"
"Is that a transformation too?" GT Goku asked, eyes wide.
"No," Vegeta said through clenched teeth. "That is not exactly a transformation. It is a divine technique."
"A divine technique? Like your God of Destruction technique?" GT Goku asked, turning to him.
"Not the same. His is Ultra Instinct. Mine is Ultra Ego."
"Only one word different," GT Goku murmured thoughtfully.
Vegeta said nothing more.
"A divine technique?" GT Vegeta clenched his fists. "So what?"
"I'm attacking now, Vegeta," Goku said with a smile.
"Hmph. Come on, then. No matter what form you take, you will never be my opponent."
Goku calmly punched through the air from a distance.
High above the ring, GT Vegeta immediately felt a crushing pressure rush toward him. His face changed, and he crossed his arms in front of himself to block it.
The invisible force struck with a thunderous boom.
GT Vegeta's guard was blown open.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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