Over in the Universe 7 spectator stands, Shin watched as Gran unveiled his full strength. He had been excited initially, but as Gran's counter-offensive turned into a systematic slaughter, the Supreme Kai grew visibly anxious.
"Lord Beerus... is it really alright for Gran to go this far?" Shin asked tentatively.
"What kind of question is that?" Beerus snapped, dismissive as ever. "If Gran didn't have the strength to do this, he'd be the one lying dead in the dirt. Did you think those guys were planning to show him any mercy?"
Beerus leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "Not a chance. They wanted Gran dead from the start, just so I'd have to face Zen-Oh's punishment. If they came here to kill, they'd better be prepared to be killed. As for 'offending' the other universes... who the hell cares?"
Old Kai and Champa remained silent, though Champa looked particularly impressed—and relieved.
"Enough talk," Beerus waved a hand. "The match is almost over. Just sit back and enjoy the show."
...
Back on the stage, the air screamed with the sound of repeated impacts.
BOOM!
BOOM!
With every thunderous collision, another Destroyer Candidate fell. Some were ancient beings; others were powerhouses who had ruled their respective universes since the current Gods of Destruction first took office. Against Gran's full power, however, none could last even a single exchange.
The arena was now 90% destroyed. Only a small stretch of the northern ice plains remained relatively intact, though even that was now cracked and jagged, resembling a shattered mirror under the pressure of the warring energies.
"How can this be happening?!"
Lambert watched in horror as Belock and the others were systematically erased. He had tried to intervene, but he couldn't even get close. Gran, shrouded in that ethereal silver radiance, moved like an Angel—visible, yet impossible to touch. Lambert began to suspect that Gran hadn't just mastered the Power of Destruction, but the martial arts of the divine attendants themselves.
"Dammit, what do we do?!" Lambert glanced at the two men beside him: Primo, the muscular titan from Universe 10, and Jiren, the Pride Trooper of Universe 11. They were the last three standing.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Gran walked across the ice, his body shimmering with silver light. Every step, every casual movement seemed to contain the essence of a supreme martial art. He was a complete enigma—mysterious, untouchable, and lethal.
Gran stopped a few paces away and looked at the trio. "Your turn."
The three candidates tensed, their bodies coiling like springs. Behind Gran, Hit's eyes widened. He realized that Gran had no intention of leaving anyone alive.
"You truly are worthy of being called the candidate for the strongest God of Destruction," Lambert said, his voice steady despite the circumstances. He tightened his fists and stepped forward. "After this battle, that title will belong to you alone."
He turned his back to Jiren and Primo. "You two should leave. Jump off the stage. You can still live."
Jiren and Primo exchanged a shocked glance. Even Gran paused, intrigued by the sudden display of self-sacrifice.
"I am the strongest of Universe 1, the pride of my home," Lambert said with a faint, bittersweet smile. "Lord Ivan chose me, and I promised to protect our glory. It seems I can't do that anymore. But I still want to try... even if it costs me my life."
He looked over his shoulder. "If you don't want to die, run. I'll hold him back."
Jiren remained silent for a long moment before shaking his head. "A noble offer, but I don't rely on others. I am no coward."
Primo didn't speak, but he didn't move toward the edge either. Seeing their resolve, Lambert felt a brief moment of pride. At least they had backbone.
"How touching," Gran laughed softly, his tone playful yet biting. "But you didn't actually think this 'final stand' drama would make me let you go, did you?"
"I don't expect mercy," Lambert replied firmly. "From the moment I stepped onto this stage, I was prepared to die for Universe 1. However, I have one request. I hope you'll grant it, Mr. Gran."
Lambert bowed deeply.
"A request?" Gran narrowed his eyes. "Let's hear it. I might be in a generous mood."
"When you kill me... please, use your full power."
Lambert stood tall, his eyes burning with the resolve of a man who had already accepted his end. Hit, Jiren, and Primo all felt a jolt of respect. This was a true martial artist.
"Using full power as a sign of respect for an opponent, huh? Fine. I'll grant you that."
Gran shook his head slightly. He could tell the man wasn't posturing. He reminded Gran of a certain battle-obsessed Saiyan back on Earth. Gran glanced at the date in his mind—Age 759. According to the original timeline, Raditz would invade Earth in Age 761. He wondered if that would even happen now.
"Thank you, Mr. Gran."
Lambert backed away, and his aura underwent a violent transformation.
BOOM!
The energy release was like nuclear fission. A hurricane of power erupted, accompanied by rolling thunder. On this final patch of ice, it looked like the end of the world. Jiren and Primo also stepped back, focusing every ounce of their ki into a final, desperate charge.
In the stands, the Gods and Kais of Universes 1, 10, and 11 looked on with grim faces. They knew it was over, but they felt a flicker of pride that their candidates hadn't turned tail and run.
On the stage, the energy fluctuations became terrifying. Lambert, in his human form, glowed with a golden light, his hair whipping in the wind. He was channeling 7th-stage power. Beside him, Jiren and Primo flared like miniature suns.
In contrast, Gran's energy seemed to vanish. His hair flickered from silver back to its natural black. The shimmering silver aura disappeared completely. The watching Gods were confused—wasn't he going to use his full power? Why drop Ultra Instinct now?
However, while the Gods were baffled, the Angels saw the truth. Gran had entered his peak state: Angel-level Ultra Instinct, where the technique is maintained in the user's natural form. He had reached the threshold of the third realm of the heart.
"Here it comes!" Beerus shouted, his voice cracking with excitement.
The three candidates are charged.
Gold, red, and yellow streaks of light—one 7th-stage and two 5th-stage powerhouses—tore across the ice with world-breaking force.
Gran moved. He took a single step, and his figure began to flicker across the battlefield. His movements were so refined that even the Gods of Destruction couldn't track him. Only Quitela seemed to realize the terrifying truth, his jaw dropping in horror.
BOOM!
The four collided.
"AAAAHHH!"
"So... this is the 7th stage... I have no regrets...!"
Jiren's fist met Gran's. The sheer, overwhelming force transferred through the impact twisted Jiren's arm into a grotesque ruin. A moment later, the 7th-stage energy washed over him, vaporizing his body until not a single cell remained.
Then came Primo. He was a legendary hero of Universe 10, a man who had been sealed in ice for eons to save his life. But against Gran's ki wave, his 5th-stage power was like paper against a blowtorch. Primo was gone in an instant.
"RRAAAHHH!"
Lambert screamed as he managed to trade two blows with Gran. Unlike the others, he wasn't immediately erased. But on the third strike, a fist punched clean through his chest.
"Lord... Ivan... forgive me... I couldn't protect the glo..."
Lambert never finished the word "glory." His body was swept away by the 7th-stage energy, vanishing into the void.
The Great Battle of the Destroyer Candidates was over. Silence reclaimed the last shard of ice. Not just the stage, but the entire World of Void fell into a chilling quiet. The Gods of Destruction had spent ten years preparing for this, only for their candidates to be wiped out in a single afternoon.
This meant they had failed. They would have to face Zen-Oh's judgment.
Slowly, the silence was broken by the frantic cries of the Supreme Kais.
"We lost! We lost everything!"
"What now? Will Zen-Oh erase us?!"
The other candidates who hadn't been chosen but were brought along to watch whispered in awe.
"Unbelievable... Universe 7 was ranked so low, yet their God and Candidate are both monsters."
"Beerus is the strongest God, and now his apprentice is the strongest Candidate. A pair of legends!"
The Gods of Destruction looked bitter. It was bad enough that they couldn't beat Beerus; now they had to live with the fact that their successors were just as outmatched.
Beerus and Champa, however, were having the time of their lives.
"Did you see that, you fat flea?!" Beerus barked at Quitela. "Gran won! We're off the hook!"
"I saw it!" Champa cackled. "I saw Gran win, and I saw Belmod and the others looking like they just swallowed a bucket of sewage! This is hilarious!"
Their loud taunts made the other Gods' faces turn even more sour. They wanted to argue, but they had no ground to stand on. Might made right, and they had lost everything.
On the stage, Gran stood alone on the ice. He listened to Beerus's bragging with a faint smile.
"Lord Gran, it's finally over. You were incredible!" Hit said, walking up with uncharacteristic excitement.
"Over?" Gran looked up, his gaze locking onto the Universe 4 spectator stand. Quitela was staring back at him with pure, unadulterated venom. "Not quite..."
Gran was about to challenge Quitela directly when the Grand Minister (Daishinkan) suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a soft but commanding authority:
"And just how much longer do you two plan on watching?"
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Want more chapters? Support my Patreon/Razerizz