Whis gazed ahead, his voice calm, but to Gran's ears, his words sounded like a clap of thunder.
The Senzu beans, the Ultra Divine Water, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber—every artefact on Korin Tower and the Lookout was extraordinary. It was now clear that Mr Popo was the one behind them all.
And as for Popo himself... Gran remembered the stories from his past life. In the original series, Popo taught Goku that his mind must be as tranquil as the sky and his movements as swift as lightning.
That was the very essence of Ultra Instinct that Whis was currently teaching Gran. How could someone who understood Ultra Instinct be a weakling?
"I thought he was some hidden powerhouse, but it seems we just let our imaginations run wild," Beerus muttered. He and Champa weren't nearly as shaken as Gran, mainly because they never sensed a high power level from Popo to begin with.
"Lord Beerus is right; we were biased," Vados added. "That tower and the Lookout are so ancient and mystical that we instinctively assumed the guardian must be a titan."
Whis nodded. "In reality, what we sensed is exactly what he is. He isn't hiding some secret, dormant power. By the standards of our Universe 7, his power level is, at most, 1,000."
"One thousand?" Gran's eyes widened. That was weaker than Raditz when he first arrived on Earth. Was that truly the extent of the mysterious Mr Popo's strength?
Seeing Gran's disbelief, Whis asked, "Still struggling to accept it?"
"It's definitely hard to wrap my head around."
"It's understandable," Whis said with a self-deprecating smile. "When I stepped onto that Lookout, even I was struck by how terrifyingly calm his emotions were. I fell into the same mental trap, assuming such tranquillity belonged to a grandmaster. It's a dangerous bias when even an Angel like me trips over it."
Vados reached out and patted Gran's head. "But that is his true strength. Otherwise, how could you have destroyed him with a single punch?"
Gran went quiet. It was a logical point. If Popo were truly powerful, a single strike from a boy—even a talented one—wouldn't have vaporised him. One by one, the group accepted the reality that Popo was, physically, a weakling.
"So you're saying he's just an ordinary person?" Beerus frowned, finding the logic inconsistent. How could an ordinary person possess such divine artefacts? And Whis had mentioned the crime of time manipulation earlier.
"You're mistaken again, Lord Beerus." Whis's expression shifted, becoming uncharacteristically stern. "I never said he was an ordinary person."
The group blinked, caught off guard by the sudden reversal.
"If his strength is that low, how is he not ordinary?" Gran asked, mirrored by the confused nods of the Supreme Kais.
"Whis, you're killing me with the suspense," Champa snapped. "Just finish the thought!"
Whack! Vados's staff came down on Champa's head. "Watch your tone with my brother." Champa winced and fell silent.
Whis ignored the bickering and looked at Gran. "I want you to think back, Gran. When you attacked that man, did you notice anything about his reaction? Did he seem to possess Ultra Instinct?"
The realisation hit them like a physical blow. Among the Destroyers, only Beerus had mastered Ultra Instinct. Now Gran was learning it too. They were geniuses, so it made sense—but why would a 1,000-power-level attendant have it?
"Wait!" Beerus interjected. "When Gran hit him, I did sense a faint, ethereal ripple. I assumed it was just Gran's own energy rubbing off on the guy. Are you saying that was his spirit?"
Whis looked back at Gran, waiting for his confirmation.
"Now that I think about it..." Gran squeezed his eyes shut, replaying the moment. "When I moved, he actually tried to dodge using pure instinct. He failed only because the gap in our speed was so astronomical that his body couldn't keep up with his mind."
The revelation sent another shockwave through the group. Champa looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. If a "weakling" could master the Technique of the Gods, what did that make the rest of them?
"Exactly," Whis continued. "The Senzu beans are essentially healing magic in solid form. The rooms are tools for time manipulation. He has eternal life and perfect Ultra Instinct. When you put all those pieces together, what does it remind you of?"
"An Angel!" Gran blurted out.
The thought exploded in everyone's minds. It made perfect sense. Only an Angel could check all those boxes.
"Precisely. He is an Angel," Whis confirmed, looking at Gran with pride.
Gran was stunned into a murmur—an Angel. No wonder. It explained everything—the training, the temperament, the immortality.
"But Whis," Beerus asked, "why is an Angel that weak?"
Vados took over the explanation. "I don't know him personally, but I remember my father mentioning a very peculiar Angel from his generation. This Angel couldn't utilise angelic powers directly. Instead, he had to craft physical objects to manifest his abilities—Senzu for healing, chambers for time. That dark-skinned fellow is likely the one Father spoke of."
Finally, everything clicked. Despite the bizarre nature of a "weak" Angel, the mystery was solved. Gran looked at his hands, a cold sweat breaking out. He had technically "killed" an Angel, even if Vados had brought him back.
A few minutes later, the group arrived back at the Sacred World of the Kai. The air was thick with the lingering shock of their discovery.
"Gran," Whis said, breaking the silence. "Earth has Korin, the beans, and that Angel. He is clearly curating a cradle for martial arts. Though no one of note has appeared there yet, the foundation is being laid. One day, a truly remarkable warrior will emerge from that planet."
The Supreme Kais and Beerus looked thoughtful. A legendary warrior from Earth? It was an intriguing prospect. Gran, however, already knew who Whis was talking about: Kakarot. Everything was falling into its predestined place.
"Interesting," Gran remarked.
"What? Feeling the pressure?" Beerus teased.
Gran smirked. "Pressure? Not a chance. That guy hasn't even shown up yet. And even when he does, if he can even manage to see my taillights, I'll consider it my loss."
Beerus and the Old Kai rolled their eyes. The kid was talented, but he was certainly getting cocky. Champa and Vados sighed in unison, once again envious of Universe 7's incredible potential.
"I'm done playing around for now," Gran said, waving a hand as he walked toward a massive tree. "I need to consolidate my state of mind."
After a month of distractions—seclusion, travel, and instant noodles—it was time to get back to work. Gran sat cross-legged, entering a deep meditative state. He needed to lock in his "State of No-Self" and stabilise his base power, which had climbed to 1.2 billion. According to Whis's plan, once his foundation was perfect, they would begin "Dimensional Training" to push him into the realm of true godhood.
Beerus watched his disciple with satisfaction. He then turned to Champa. "You came here to find out why my universe's mortal level was soaring. You've seen the reason, you've met my disciple, and you've eaten your fill. Isn't it time you left?"
The mention of the "Dong-Dong bird eggs" (which were now a mark of shame compared to the noodles) made Champa turn bright red. "I admit your food is good, but Universe 6 will eventually find something better than those 'instant'—" His voice trailed off. He knew he was lying.
"Better than what?" Beerus prodded.
"Shut up, Skinny! You're so annoying!" Champa roared.
"If I'm so annoying, why are you still in my universe? Get out!"
"I'm not leaving! Make me!"
"GYAAAHH!"
Champa's scream echoed through the Sacred World of the Kai as the brothers began another round of "affectionate" bickering. Whis had already placed a protective barrier around Gran, ensuring the noise wouldn't disturb his meditation.
As Gran refined his spirit, the Old Kai took Shin under his wing, travelling across the universe to manage the recovery of various planets. This was the golden age of Universe 7's development, and the Old Kai wasn't about to waste it.
Beerus stayed behind, ostensibly to watch Gran, but mostly because he didn't trust Champa and Vados. They had stayed in Universe 7 far longer than usual, their eyes constantly lingering on Gran. Beerus was terrified they might try to poach his prized pupil.
A month passed in quiet meditation. Gran finally opened his eyes, his "State of Selfless" now as solid as a mountain. Next was his physical power. His base form was reaching its peak, nearly ready to transition from mortal energy to divine energy.
"He's almost there," Whis noted from his lounge chair. "Once his power is fully stabilised, he will be ready to cross the threshold into a true Godly Dimension."
"He's just a hair's breadth away," Beerus agreed, leaning back.
Suddenly, Whis's expression went cold. He stood up, his staff glowing. "Lord Beerus, someone is manipulating time."
Beerus's lazy demeanour vanished instantly, replaced by a murderous chill. "What are we waiting for? Take me to them. I'm going to end that criminal personally."
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Want more chapters? Support my Patreon/Razerizz