"But what about Gran? Are we really just going to leave him all alone on the Sacred World of the Kai?"
"Stop overthinking it! You said yourself that those two nuisances, Champa and Vados, have already left our universe. Who's left in Universe 7 who could even lay a finger on Gran? Let him stay here and focus on his training!"
"Fair point. Lord Beerus, we're off!"
"Step on it, Whis! I want to see exactly which brave soul thinks they can mess with the laws of time!"
A streak of prismatic light shot into the sky as Whis whisked Beerus away from the planet. At that exact moment, down by the lakeside, young Gran finally finished stabilising his power. He was ready to begin his transition into a Godly Dimension.
Just as he turned around to ask Whis for the next step in his training, he blinked in confusion. "Huh? Where did Lord Beerus go?"
He had been so focused on his meditation that he hadn't even noticed them leave. He scanned the area—not only were Beerus and Whis gone, but Champa and Vados had vanished as well. "That's weird. Where did everyone go?"
Gran walked back toward the large tree, but no sooner had he reached it than a voice boomed from the sky. "Hahaha! Looking for us, kid?"
A flash of light descended, revealing Champa and Vados. Each of them was holding a large sack—one pink and one black. If Beerus and Whis were still there, they would have been floored. Whis's senses had clearly told him that his sister had left the universe.
Evidently, Vados had masked their presence and then manipulated the timeline within Universe 7 just enough to trigger Whis's internal alarms, drawing the two of them away. Now, both Champa and Vados were looking at Gran as if he were a rare, priceless jewel.
"Lord Champa," Vados asked, "are you sure you aren't worried about Lord Zen-Oh finding out we've been meddling with time?"
"Pfft! Why should I be? This multiverse is crawling with people messing with time. Scientists are trying to build time machines every other day! Compared to those serious criminals, what we're doing is a minor prank." Champa glanced at her and huffed. "Besides, you use Temporal Do-Overs a dozen times a year. Technically, you're always manipulating time."
Vados's mouth twitched. Is it really the same when an Angel does it? She sighed. "Fine. But if Lord Zen-Oh gets angry, you're the one going to the execution block, Lord Champa."
"You...!" Champa gritted his teeth, then pointed at Gran. "Quit yapping! I know you're just as greedy for this kid's potential as I am. Now, move!"
Vados turned her gaze toward Gran. As she watched him, she actually began to drool slightly.
"Wipe your mouth! Get the sack ready!" Champa cackled, unfurling his bag as he closed in on the boy.
Gran finally realised what was happening. These two "godly kidnappers" had planned this from the start. They had lured Beerus away to snatch him for Universe 6. He knew he couldn't take on a Destroyer and an Angel at once. He didn't know whether to be flattered by his own talent or frustrated by his current predicament.
"Lord Champa, wait!" Gran shouted, half-laughing in disbelief. "I'm the Candidate for Destruction for Universe 7! Even if you take me, I can't just take over the job in Universe 6, can I?"
"It's just a title! As long as you haven't officially ascended to a full God of Destruction, Vados can switch your candidacy to my universe with a snap of her fingers!"
"But I'm Lord Beerus's disciple! Don't you think he'll be just a little bit furious?" Gran had no desire to move. He hadn't even wanted the job in Universe 7 at first, mostly because it meant his life would be tied to a Supreme Kai. But Beerus had forced his hand, and over time, he'd grown fond of the grumpy cat and his polite attendant.
"Furious?" Champa shuddered at the thought of an angry Beerus, but he steeled his resolve. "So what? Your talent is too high! No one could see you and not want to steal you away. I'm his brother—the most he'll do is give me a little bit of a thrashing. Now, stop stalling! I've got two colours here; pick a sack!"
As they drew closer, Gran looked at the pink and yellow bags and felt his soul leave his body. I'm a Saiyan warrior! Are you really going to stuff me in a pink bag? "I choose..." Gran's voice sounded hopeless, but he suddenly pressed two fingers to his forehead. Instant Transmission!
"Not so fast!"
A massive surge of Hakai energy erupted from Champa, instantly destabilising the space for miles around. Gran remained rooted to the spot; his teleportation had failed. Damn it, even Champa is this terrifying?
"Hahaha! Where do you think you're going?" Champa grinned mischievously. "That little trick might work on mortals, but you're facing a God and an Angel. The gap between us is still a literal universe apart. Now, be a good boy and come to Universe 6!"
Champa didn't waste any more time. He released a crushing pressure that paralysed Gran completely. "Vados, bag him!"
"With pleasure."
Gran struggled, his aura flickering with the silver light of the Ultra Instinct omen, but he couldn't break the divine restraint.
"WHIS! HELP!" Gran yelled at the top of his lungs.
But Whis was nowhere to be seen. The pink sack was pulled over his head, and the world went dark.
"They've probably noticed by now. We need to move!" Vados said excitedly. She tucked the "Gran-sack" under her arm and tapped her staff. In an instant, they vanished.
Somewhere in the deep void of space...
"Lord Beerus, I sensed a massive temporal disturbance right here," Whis said, looking out at the empty expanse. There wasn't a planet in sight—just endless black.
"Really? I don't see any time-travelling criminals," Beerus grumbled, scanning the area.
"It is strange..." Whis began, but then his eyes widened. His staff pulsed, and a desperate cry echoed through it: "WHIS! HELP!"
Whis's face went pale. Being lured away by a fake time signature only for Gran to call for help immediately? He realised the play. "Lord Beerus, we've been tricked!"
"What?"
"Lord Champa and my sister never left Universe 7! They used a decoy to lure us away so they could kidnap Gran!" Whis gritted his teeth.
"They're heading for the border. If they make it to Universe 6 and officially register him as a Candidate there, getting him back will be a diplomatic nightmare!"
"HE DID WHAT?!" Beerus's eyes burned with a murderous purple fire.
BOOM!
The surrounding space collapsed under the weight of Beerus's fury. He never imagined his own brother would have the guts to poach his prized pupil. "That fat slob! I'll kill him! Whis, get us there now!"
"I'm trying, but Vados is fast! If we fly, we might not catch them before they cross the line!"
For once, the usually unflappable Whis looked genuinely stressed. He had finally found a once-in-a-billion-years prodigy, and his devious sister was trying to steal the fruit of his labour.
"Think of something, Whis! Move!"
"Wait... I've got it!" Whis's eyes lit up. He had almost forgotten about the three "passengers" they'd left behind. "Lord Supreme Kai! To me, now!"
With a shimmer of light, the Old Kai, Shin, and Kibito appeared instantly beside them. They had been busy observing a civilisation when the call came.
"Lord Beerus? Lord Whis? What's happened?" the Old Kai started, but Whis cut him off.
"No time to explain! Take us to the edge of the universe, in the direction of Universe 6! Now!"
The Old Kai saw the sheer panic on their faces and didn't ask questions. In the realm of the universe, even an Angel's flight couldn't beat the "Kai Kai" (Instantaneous Movement) of a Supreme Kai. He grabbed their shoulders and—zip—they were gone.
Near the invisible border of Universe 7, a silver Cube was hurtling through the vacuum.
"Hahaha! Vados, we've hit the jackpot!" Champa shouted inside the Cube, eyeing the pink sack wiggling on the floor. With this kid, Universe 6 was going to dominate the next tournament.
"Don't celebrate yet, Lord Champa. We haven't crossed the border," Vados warned. The closer they got, the more nervous she became. Please, little brother, stay lost just a few minutes longer.
"You're being too cheap, Lord Champa! Miss Vados!" Gran's muffled voice came from the bag. "You can't just kidnap people!"
"Call it whatever you want, kid! Your talent is just too scary to leave with Beerus," Champa laughed, leaning against the sack. "Those two spent two months guarding you like hawks, and I still snatched you right from under their noses!"
Suddenly, Vados stiffened. "Lord Champa... we're out of time."
"What?"
"YOU FAT SLOB! DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?!"
"Sister, it's been a while. I think a 'sparring session' is long overdue!!"
The roars of Beerus and Whis shook the very fabric of the cosmos. The stars seemed to tremble under the weight of their combined rage.
"It's Lord Beerus!" Gran's voice turned from hopeless to ecstatic inside the bag.
Champa's face went pale. "No way! How did they get here so fast? I thought the decoy would keep them busy for an hour!"
"It's their Supreme Kai, Lord Champa!" Vados sighed, stopping the Cube as she saw the group waiting for them at the border. She looked at the sack at her waist and felt a pang of regret. So close, yet so far.
Across from them, the Old Kai was fuming. "Lord Beerus, I don't care if he's your brother—you give that fat pig the thrashing of a lifetime! Trying to steal our golden boy? The nerve!"
Beerus stepped forward, his body wreathed in dark violet flames. "Champa... put the bag down. Now."
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