Another year passed.
The calendar turned to Age 757, leaving only few years until the battle for the Candidate Gods of Destruction.
During this year, Son Goku and Chi-Chi's eldest son—Son Gohan—was finally born.
Unfortunately, Beerus and the other gods had already returned to the Kaioshin Realm, so they missed the birth of the one who would later be hailed as the strongest individual of his era.
Otherwise, Champa and Beerus would have inevitably clashed again, locked in another absurd rivalry.
Beneath the World Tree of the Kaioshin Realm
Gran sat cross-legged with his eyes closed before the Old Kai.
Nearby stood Beerus and the others—and among them, one figure was especially eye-catching.
He stood over two meters tall, his physique massive and bull-like. A long scar ran across his face, and a tail swayed behind his waist.
This was Broly—now fully grown.
He was also wearing a God of Destruction's outfit, the same one Beerus had forced him into years ago when Broly was made to pretend to be a candidate God of Destruction.
As Beerus had put it back then:
"You're already wearing it. No point taking it off."
Of course, in Universe 7, there was only one true Candidate God of Destruction.
That person was Gran.
Broly merely wore the clothes—he possessed none of the authority of a candidate.
"Whis," Beerus frowned, "do you know what this guy is doing?"
"I'm not sure," Whis replied, gripping his staff as he studied Gran.
"But I have a feeling… he's about to do something big."
Something big?
The group exchanged puzzled looks.
Gran was in the middle of a potential-unlocking ritual. He couldn't even move—what big thing could he possibly be doing?
"You lot are unbelievable."
The Old Kai sat before Gran, switching hands when his arm grew tired.
"You spent three whole years on Earth, stuffing your faces with good food—did any of you spare a thought for me?"
Gran was the hope of two universes.
The Old Kai was personally unlocking his potential—he was practically a hero.
And yet—
Not a single bite of good food brought back.
Not even a magazine.
Not even a little something.
Did these people have any respect for an old man?!
Just as the Old Kai simmered in resentment, Shin suddenly produced a bundle of books from a pocket dimension.
"Ancestor, please don't be angry. This is a humble offering from your descendant."
He quickly placed the stack in front of the Old Kai.
The Old Kai glanced at the top cover.
A slender young woman with fair skin stared back at him.
"Shin! What do you think you're doing?" the Old Kai snapped.
"Bringing me this kind of low-class material—do I look like that sort of person?!"
Despite his righteous scolding, his hands moved faster than lightning.
With one hand, he snatched the entire bundle and hugged it to his chest—
like priceless treasure.
Everyone else: "..."
Right.
Definitely not that kind of person.
"Enough nonsense," Beerus said.
"Just focus on unlocking his potential."
He studied Gran for a moment.
Three full years had passed, yet Gran showed no visible change at all.
With nothing else to do, Beerus and Champa lay down beneath the tree.
With only two years left until the candidate battle, tension was steadily rising.
They had no interest in returning to Earth anymore.
All they could do now… was wait for Gran to awaken.
The Old Kai glanced sideways at the two sleeping Gods of Destruction, then back at Gran.
"I really wonder… just how strong he'll become in another three years."
He knew better than anyone how terrifying the power within Gran already was.
As for the upcoming battle—
He wasn't worried in the slightest.
Even without unlocking Gran's potential, Gran could effortlessly crush the candidates from the other universes.
Now that he was unlocking it?
The Old Kai couldn't help but wonder—
Would he surpass…
He shuddered violently.
No.
Better not think about that.
"Only two years left… we're almost there."
He switched arms again. Thankfully, he had spent years conditioning himself—otherwise, his stamina would never have lasted this long.
Time passed quietly.
The Old Kai secretly read his books.
Beerus and Champa slept lazily.
Whis and Vados drank tea at a nearby table.
Shin monitored the state of Universe 7.
Broly crouched faithfully beside his Brother Gran, standing guard.
Inside Gran's Meditation World
Gran's consciousness continued walking forward.
His illusory face was filled with confusion.
"Ultra Instinct = selfless state of mind + bodily instinct."
"If bodily instinct alone can't keep Ultra Instinct active at all times… then there's only one explanation."
"It's a problem of mindset."
A flash of insight streaked through his meditation world.
The confusion vanished.
As his understanding shifted, the entire world grew brighter.
"I've been obsessing over bodily instinct this whole time…
but the true key lies in the state of mind!"
Gran's consciousness sat down firmly on the ground, his resolve unwavering.
When Whis had first brought him to the Realm of Destruction, the very first thing he taught Gran was mindset.
Whis had said there were two levels.
The first was "self-forgetfulness."
Mastering it granted one the right to wield Destruction Energy, and to comprehend the Self-Centered Ultra Instinct of a God of Destruction.
The second was "no-self."
Only by mastering no-self could one truly activate bodily instinct and enter Completed Ultra Instinct.
Yet over three years of contemplation, Gran realized—
Even mastering the second level was not enough to maintain Ultra Instinct permanently.
Which meant—
There were more than two levels.
Whis had claimed there were only two, but Gran now understood—
Those two levels belonged to the God of Destruction tier.
Above them…
there must exist an Angel-level state of mind.
Only by mastering that could one maintain Ultra Instinct as a natural state, just like an angel.
"Was he trying to stop me from reaching too far too soon…?"
Gran murmured to himself.
Back then, he hadn't even reached the level of a Candidate God of Destruction.
Angel-level mindset would have been pure fantasy.
That must be why Whis insisted there were only two levels.
"Ha…"
Gran exhaled deeply.
Now that everything had finally clicked—
What exactly was this third level?
This Angel-tier mindset?
And so
For the very first time, Gran began researching martial arts at the level of the Angels.
END OF CHAPTER
Disciple of Beerus - MrBehringer's Secret
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