Chapter 39: The Fifth Universe — Natural Ultra Instinct
The moment Tachibana Kyūjō crossed the boundary between universes and arrived in Universe 5, he immediately sensed a stark difference compared to any other universe he had visited before.
Compared to Universes 7 and 6, the sheer number of living beings in this universe was on an entirely different level.
More than that, the entire universe felt noticeably more "young." It was as if space itself—along with every planet drifting within it—possessed a sturdier, more resilient structure.
On top of that, the auras of powerful warriors in Universe 5 clearly surpassed those found in Universes 7 and 6.
Perhaps only Universe 7 during the era of the Tournament of Power—when Son Goku and Vegeta truly began to awaken—and Universe 11, Jiren's homeland, could rival the overall level of strength present here.
Was every universe with a Mortal Level of Seven truly this formidable?
Or was this some kind of direct gift bestowed by Zeno himself?
Filled with curiosity, Tachibana Kyūjō began his exploration of Universe 5.
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Kyūjō spent a full ten years within Universe 5.
In this highly advanced Mortal Level Seven civilization, he witnessed technologies he had never seen before—things he had never even imagined.
Here, planets were no longer the primary hubs for intelligent life.
Artificial satellites linking multiple planets together served as living spaces for billions of beings from countless interstellar races.
Even celestial bodies such as stars and black holes were harnessed as energy sources through their technology.
Thanks to astonishing medical advancements, the average lifespan of intelligent beings in this universe had skyrocketed—reaching thousands of years.
Among conglomerates and elite figures, lifespans spanning tens of thousands of years were not uncommon.
What truly surprised Tachibana Kyūjō was that technological progress had not weakened their martial world in the slightest.
On the contrary—it was as if the entire population of this universe had undergone a form of mass evolution.
Almost every individual Kyūjō encountered possessed a Power Level exceeding five hundred.
As for those whose Power Levels surpassed ten thousand—
There were many of them.
In the current Universe 7, strength at that level was more than enough to dominate an interstellar sector, or at the very least rule over dozens of ordinary planets.
Yet in Universe 5, that same level of power was merely the minimum requirement for specialized professions such as security officers, police, or soldiers.
What puzzled Tachibana Kyūjō the most was this—
Despite the widespread presence of mid-tier strength, the highest levels of power in this universe did not experience the dramatic leap he had expected.
The number and quality of elites at the very top were indeed superior to those in Universe 7, but not to an overwhelmingly conspicuous degree.
They were roughly comparable to the fighters who stood at the forefront during the Tournament of Power.
This discrepancy stirred Kyūjō's curiosity.
And so, he decided to pose the question directly to the God of Destruction of Universe 5—
Arak.
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Tachibana Kyūjō encountered Arak purely by chance during his travels through Universe 5.
From the perspective of an Earth human, Arak's appearance could easily be described as terrifying—his form resembled that of an alien creature.
But his personality…
It could only be described as gentle.
Yes—truly gentle.
A trait that should never be associated with a God of Destruction, and yet, that was exactly what he was.
Despite wielding immense power, Arak always carried out his duties according to a principle he called "Rational Destruction."
Whenever destruction was necessary, he conducted thorough evaluations beforehand, striving to minimize damage and guide that destruction toward unlocking new potential for the universe's growth.
Perhaps it was precisely because of Arak's existence that Universe 5 stood out among the Twelve Universes, eventually developing into one of the four universes with a Mortal Level of Seven.
However, when Tachibana Kyūjō raised his question, both Arak and his accompanying female Angel—Cukatail—fell silent.
Truthfully, it was something they had never seriously considered before.
But after a brief moment of reflection, they began to realize that something about it did feel off.
In the end, Cukatail, the Angel, voiced her thoughts.
"Perhaps true warriors aren't born simply from large populations."
"The factors that truly forge strength are unwavering resolve, an unyielding spirit, and a heart vast enough to embrace the entire universe… Even though our civilization is highly advanced, Universe 5 has long existed in peace and stability."
"In such conditions, it becomes extremely difficult to produce individuals with extraordinary character."
Hearing her explanation, both Arak and Tachibana Kyūjō nodded in agreement.
Although their time together was not long, the relationship between Tachibana Kyūjō and the two divine beings grew remarkably warm.
They frequently engaged in deep discussions about the two known Instincts—Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego—continuously refining their understanding.
Eventually, their conversations evolved into speculation about the existence of a third Instinct—one that remained shrouded in mystery.
Natural Ultra Instinct.
A power of creation that, in theory, only Supreme Kai were meant to possess.
It could also be referred to as the authority of a Creation Deity.
Why was it merely speculation?
Because although Supreme Kai and Gods of Destruction were both guardians of cosmic balance, the fundamental divide between Creation and Destruction had always kept their relationship distant.
While the raw power of a God of Destruction far exceeded that of a Supreme Kai, the laws of the universe forbade them from harming one another. If one were to die, the other would perish as well.
Supreme Kai respected the destructive power of the Gods of Destruction, yet felt no fear, knowing they could not be harmed.
On the other hand, Gods of Destruction—having mastered destructive power—generally had little interest in the Supreme Kai's Creation Power, which held no combat capability.
Because of this, communication between the two was rare.
Even Angels, who remained neutral and served as attendants, seldom interacted with Supreme Kai.
However—
Arak, the God of Destruction of Universe 5, was an exception.
One day, driven by their shared curiosity toward Natural Ultra Instinct, the three divine beings—
Tachibana Kyūjō, Arak, and Cukatail—
Decided to pay a visit to the Supreme Kai of Universe 5—
Ogma.
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