In any case, a breakthrough doesn't happen overnight.
After Bardock calmed down, he wandered around the world of the Gods of Destruction.
His eyes drifted up toward the top of a huge waterfall.
There, sitting cross-legged in mid-air, was none other than Beerus, the God of Destruction.
A faint purple glow covered Beerus' body, and the divine pressure coming off him rippled through space itself. The power was so concentrated that even Bardock was shocked.
"Damn… I thought this guy would be sleeping forever, but he's actually training?" Bardock smirked as he looked up at him.
Normally, after using that much energy, Beerus would have slept for a hundred years. But instead, he was forcing himself into new training.
"Since the last fight with you, Lord Beerus hasn't slept at all. He's been training nonstop." Whis suddenly appeared beside Bardock, without a sound.
Even Bardock hadn't noticed. The gap in their levels was just too big.
"Oh? So he's worried I'll steal his throne." Bardock grinned smugly.
"Perhaps," Whis replied with a smile. "Your arrival lit a fire inside Lord Beerus. Without you, he may have never taken his training seriously again."
Beerus had long since reached Ultra Instinct, becoming the strongest of the Gods of Destruction. But afterward, his arrogance and laziness grew. He abandoned his training, wasting his talent on food, sleep, and pride.
Now, Whis was glad to see him pushed again.
"Well, if he grows stronger, I'll enjoy our rematch even more. The last fight ended too soon, and I wasn't satisfied." Bardock clenched his fists. His own progress had been insane — his power had already doubled or tripled in just a month.
Even without fully mastering the laws inside those crystals, he was confident. Even if Beerus combined Destruction and Space itself, Bardock wouldn't flinch.
Whis chuckled. "Yes… the next fight will be much more exciting."
After a pause, Bardock asked, "Whis, where's that prophecy fish I've heard about?"
Whis tilted his head, thoughtful. "The Prophecy Fish? I've heard of them. They can foresee great disasters across the universe… but they haven't appeared yet. Not even I know much."
Bardock's eyes narrowed. Maybe Whis was hiding something… maybe it was just timing. Either way, the Prophecy Fish hadn't shown themselves.
Meanwhile, in another galaxy…
In the dark Konark star system, the evil sorcerer Babidi landed on a dead world. His ambition hadn't faded since Majin Buu betrayed him. This time, he wanted a new warrior — one even more controllable than Buu.
He followed his black magic to an ancient skeletal palace. Here, he tried to summon a demon from another dimension. But his power wasn't enough to break the barrier.
"Damn it!" Babidi roared. "Another failure!"
He thought back to Majin Buu's betrayal. He couldn't risk that mistake again. If he ever summoned another demon, he would carve his magic deep into its soul from the start.
But since he failed, he turned to another plan. A black vortex appeared in his hand, showing the image of Bardock.
"The Saiyans…" Babidi smirked. "Strong, proud, and with darkness in their hearts. Perfect for my control. And Bardock… yes, you'll be mine."
Back in Beerus' world…
Half a year passed.
Under Whis' training, Bardock's power skyrocketed. He mastered the energy of law crystals, breaking past the limits of the 11th dimension and stepping into the 12th. His soul, bloodline, and even his Saiyan potential evolved. He now stood on the edge of Super Saiyan 5.
As he meditated, a vortex of law energy spun behind him. When he opened his eyes, the vortex vanished.
"I did it… I finally mastered it!" Bardock shouted with joy.
Whis appeared, smiling. "Faster than I expected. You're ready, Bardock. Strong enough to withstand the storm of time itself. You can finally return to the future world."
Bardock smirked. "I've been waiting for this moment."
"Good," Whis replied. "But to travel through time, there's one more step. You'll need the Time Ring — and for that, you must temporarily become an apprentice Supreme Kai."
"What?!" Bardock frowned. "I don't want to be some Supreme Kai."
"Don't worry. It's only temporary," Whis assured. "Without the Time Ring, you can't travel. Once you use it, you can step down whenever you want."
Bardock clenched his fist. "…Alright. If that's what it takes."
"I remember… more than half a year ago, I asked Supreme Kai about the Time Ring. He said the ring can bring me to the future, sure… but going five million years ahead? Impossible!" Bardock muttered, frowning.
If Whis said otherwise, there had to be something deeper. Maybe the Time Ring wasn't as simple as he first thought.
Whis chuckled. "I didn't expect you to hear about the Time Ring from Supreme Kai himself. He was right—an ordinary ring can't take you that far. Even a special one can't do it so easily."
He smiled calmly. "But limits only apply to most people. Your power already surpasses that limit. With my help as an Angel, we can open the corridor of time and send you forward—even a million years."
Bardock's eyes widened, then he smirked. "So that's how it works…" He finally understood. Whis could cross time whenever he wanted. Bardock couldn't—not without strength and a tool to help.
"So, Bardock," Whis asked, narrowing his eyes, "have you decided? I already contacted Supreme Kai. He's ready. Once we go to his world and you take the role of apprentice Supreme Kai, you'll be able to use the Time Ring and return to the future."
The chance to go back was right in front of him. But Bardock didn't rush.
"Not yet. Before I leave, there are things I need to do. It's been a while since I left Planet Sadala… I need to see what's happened there first. Once I've settled things, I'll become an apprentice Supreme Kai and use the ring."
Whis nodded. "Of course. Settle what you must. I'll wait."
"Good. I'll head to Planet Sadala now. Before I leave for the future, I'll come find you." Bardock locked Sadala's energy and vanished instantly using Instant Transmission.
The moment Bardock disappeared, Beerus stepped out from the shadows, arms crossed. "So, he's finally gone." His expression was complicated. He no longer glared at Bardock with pure dislike—something inside him had shifted.
He muttered, "That Saiyan… he's the reason I've been pushing myself harder."
Whis chuckled lightly. "Oh? Lord Beerus, are you admitting Bardock made you stronger? Aren't you the least bit worried he'll surpass you?"
Beerus snorted. "Hmph! Don't make me laugh. That brat could train for 20,000 years and still wouldn't defeat me. At best, he'd force a tie!" He sounded confident—too confident.
In truth, Beerus had regained his drive. His training pushed Ultra Instinct to perfection. Even he wasn't sure how strong he had become now. If Bardock in Super Saiyan Blue Full Power had faced him before, Beerus believed he could crush him in under ten blows.
Whis smirked. "Then I look forward to your rematch. It'll be spectacular."
Beerus' tail swished as he sneered. "It'll happen soon enough. The humiliation he gave me will be erased. Next time, I'll show him what a true God of Destruction is." His grin turned sharp and dangerous.
Yet, right after, his jaw cracked open with a massive yawn. "But first… I need sleep." Rubbing his eyes, Beerus strolled toward his chambers.
"For now, don't bother me unless it's urgent. Ever since that Saiyan came here, I haven't had a proper nap. Time to make up for it."
Whis only smiled knowingly as Beerus disappeared into his palace. "Yes… when Bardock returns from five million years in the future, it may be decades for us. But that's nothing for a God of Destruction."
Planet Sadala
Half a year after Bardock's battle with Beerus, the Saiyan race had returned to peace. But shadows never stayed silent for long.
Whispers spread among traitors hiding in the dark: The King of Saiyans, Bardock, never returned. Maybe he's dead.
They thought their time had come. Without Bardock, even Super Saiyans would be easy prey. They dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty he built.
But they didn't realize Bardock was very much alive. And he intended to use their rebellion to expose every rat hiding in the dark.
At the Royal Palace, King Aimo sat on the throne. He looked sharper, sterner, more kingly than before. In the months since Bardock left, he had faced countless uprisings. His ruthlessness crushed them all.
"Your Majesty!" A Saiyan warrior knelt before him. It was Quill, one of Bardock's trusted Super Saiyan lieutenants. "We've captured the traitors behind this riot. What are your orders?"
"Well done," Aimo said coldly. "Throw them in the deepest cell. I'll question them myself."
Quill bowed and left.
Just then, from the shadows of the hall, a familiar voice echoed. "You've done well, my son. Better than I expected. You've become a real king."
Aimo froze. His eyes widened, then filled with joy as he turned. "Father!!"
From the darkness, Bardock stepped forward.
"Long time no see," Bardock said with a proud smile. "You've grown stronger." He could feel Aimo's new power. His son's normal strength alone had reached tens of billions. With Super Saiyan, he could step into the next realm.
Aimo scratched his head, embarrassed. "It's all thanks to you, Father. I just followed the training method you gave me."
Bardock laughed. "Good. Now tell me… how does it feel, being king?"
Aimo's smile faded. His expression turned serious. "It's heavier than I imagined. I still have much to learn. But there's one thing I must ask you."
"Go ahead."
"Since your disappearance, many veterans of the old wars have started moving in the shadows. Father… how should I deal with them? They fought beside you once. Should I really cut them down?"
Bardock's eyes hardened. "Compassion doesn't rule soldiers. Mercy doesn't rule a kingdom. You're king now. If they obey, keep them. If they rebel, kill them. That's all there is to it."
Aimo clenched his fists. His eyes flashed cold. "…I understand, Father."
For the first time, he would rule with no hesitation.