"Hm?"
Gran came to an abrupt halt. The force of his sudden stop rippled across the grassland—then exploded outward.
Smoke billowed. Dust surged. Visibility vanished in an instant.
"I remember—you're from the Fourth Universe."
Like a phantom, Gran appeared behind Light.
"So… so fast!"
Light's pupils contracted violently. His claws dug into the earth as he twisted around in a hurry.
"Weren't you all talking about ganging up on me? Why is it that you're coming at me one by one to throw your lives away?"
Gran walked toward the wolf-shaped creature step by step, his gaze ice-cold.
If there was one universe among the twelve that absolutely had to be destroyed—
It was the Fourth.
"Mr. Gran, wait. I didn't come here to fight you. I bear you no hostility."
Light's wolfish body crouched low. The pressure radiating from Gran was terrifying—so overwhelming that Light couldn't stop himself from retreating.
"What do you mean?"
Gran paused, surprised.
The Fourth Universe belonged to Quitela. And his candidate was claiming he had no hostility toward him?
Interesting.
Gran stopped walking.
From his perception, Hit's aura wasn't in immediate danger yet. He could afford a brief delay.
"Mr. Gran, I saw your confrontation with Quitela earlier. I know both you and the God of Destruction of the Seventh Universe are openly hostile toward him."
Light exhaled slowly when Gran stopped advancing.
"To be honest… I'm not on good terms with Quitela either. Even if I return safely to the Fourth Universe after this, he'll destroy me."
Destroy him?
Gran immediately understood.
This ancient creature must have been awakened by Quitela specifically to participate in this candidate battle.
But judging by the nauseating aura clinging to him, Light had clearly committed atrocities in the Fourth Universe—acts so heinous they defied heaven and humanity alike.
Use him… then erase him.
That was entirely in line with Quitela's treacherous personality.
"I'm curious," Gran said, lips curling faintly. "What exactly did you do in the Fourth Universe?"
Light fell silent.
From his expression, the answer was difficult to speak aloud.
"You came here intending to negotiate something, didn't you? If you can't even tell me what I want to know, then there's no point discussing cooperation."
Gran's tone cooled once more. A wave of energy rolled across his body.
"I'll tell you!"
Light gritted his fangs and confessed everything.
He had ravaged tens of thousands of star systems. Slaughtered countless mortals. The mortal level of the Fourth Universe had even dropped by a decimal because of him.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Gran burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. Tears welled at the corners of his eyes.
Back then, when he killed Orma—Quitela's envoy—Quitela had been punished by the Omni-King.
Quitela hated Beerus. Hated Gran. Hated the entire Seventh Universe to the bone.
But the Omni-King had imposed two restrictions: one governing conflicts between Gods of Destruction, and another between Gods of Destruction and their candidates.
Whether openly or covertly, Quitela couldn't act directly.
This candidate battle was his opportunity.
Of course he would send the strongest being in the Fourth Universe.
And yet—
The very candidate he selected had turned around and devastated his own universe first.
"You… are truly a talent," Gran said, wiping the corner of his eyes, barely suppressing his laughter.
Light clenched his fists tightly. He desperately wanted to strike Gran.
But if he did, any chance of cooperation would vanish.
"Mr. Gran. Are you done laughing?"
"Not yet. Give me a moment."
Gran steadied himself and finally suppressed his mirth.
"So. What exactly are you planning?"
"Quitela ordered me to kill you," Light admitted. "But I won't do that now. I want to cooperate."
He glanced toward the Fourth Universe's viewing platform.
"Let's join forces. Eliminate the other candidates. Afterward, have Lord Beerus protect me."
During his journey from the Fourth Universe to the World of Void, Light had been lost.
He had no idea how to escape Quitela's destruction.
Especially after witnessing the earlier battle among the Gods of Destruction—only then did he realize how terrifying divine power truly was.
Escape was impossible.
But that same battle also revealed a sliver of hope.
Beerus of the Seventh Universe was Quitela's mortal enemy—and the strongest among the Gods of Destruction.
If he defected to the Seventh Universe…
If Beerus agreed to shield him…
Then Quitela could do nothing.
And so
He needed to cooperate with the Seventh Universe's candidate first.
"Join forces to eliminate the others?"
Gran examined the ancient creature carefully.
"And do you think you're qualified?"
Light suddenly threw his head back and laughed.
"Mr. Gran, do you know how long I've lived?"
Without waiting for a reply—
"Two hundred million years. I am immortal. Time is the one thing I do not lack—and neither is power."
Boom!
An utterly terrifying aura erupted from Light's body.
Black smoke expanded outward in concentric waves. Within it echoed the screams, wails, and whispers of humans.
This power was born from fear—the fear he harvested through massacre.
It was profoundly evil.
Where it passed, flowers withered. Lakes dried. The bright sky darkened, turning into a hellish abyss.
Boom!
The entire arena trembled.
All candidates turned toward the disturbance.
"Mid–Sixth Stage power!!!"
"Damn it! Aside from the Seventh Universe's monster, there's another this strong?!"
"That revolting aura—it's the Fourth Universe's candidate!"
Shock spread across the battlefield.
On the viewing platforms.
The First Universe's God of Destruction, Iwan, clenched his fists.
"Mid–Sixth Stage… he's even slightly stronger than Beerus's candidate."
The Second Universe's Heles bit her lip.
"With someone like that, my Rosa is in trouble."
The Fifth Universe's Arak narrowed his eyes.
"That aura is pure evil. Quitela dares send such a creature? Isn't he afraid the Omni-King will erase him on the spot?"
Even the other Gods of Destruction were shaken.
Quitela himself cautiously glanced toward the Omni-King's platform.
Fortunately, the Omni-King and the Grand Priest merely frowned before saying nothing.
Quitela burst into laughter.
"Beerus! I admit your candidate's talent is frightening—but he hasn't trained long enough!"
"Light feeds on human fear. As long as fear exists, he cannot die!"
"He's lived two hundred million years—longer than even I have! His power surpasses that brat Gran. What can you possibly use to fight me?"
His laughter echoed throughout the World of Void.
Yet not a single expression changed on the Seventh Universe's platform.
They all knew Gran's true strength.
Mid–Sixth Stage?
Even peak Sixth Stage would not be enough.
Still
This ancient being was undeniably impressive. For a mortal body to cultivate such power was astonishing.
"Quitela."
Beerus rose from his seat, hands behind his back.
"Have you misunderstood something?"
Quitela blinked.
"HAHA! Haven't you realized? Your candidate has no intention of fighting mine."
Thanks to Whis's explanation, Beerus already understood Light's purpose.
Protection.
Nothing more.
"What?!"
Quitela immediately ordered Cognac to replay Light and Gran's conversation.
Only then did he realize—
Light intended to betray him.
The other Gods of Destruction roared in outrage.
"Quitela! What is your candidate trying to do?!"
"You think betraying us will spare your universe from punishment?!"
"Champa is Beerus's brother! They've already allied. You think they'd give you a slot?"
Rage surged through Quitela's veins.
He wasn't angry at their accusations.
He was furious at Light's betrayal.
"I knew you were unstable—but I never expected open treachery!"
He leaned forward and shouted toward the arena.
"Light! I awakened you. Is this how you repay me?"
"I'll give you one last chance! Join the others and attack Beerus's candidate. As for what you said earlier—I'll pretend I never heard it!"
On the ravaged grassland.
Black smoke coiled around Light's body, laced with the echoes of human fear.
He looked like a wolf returned from hell.
"Mid–Sixth Stage power. Interesting."
Gran glanced up toward the viewing platforms.
"You heard Quitela. Do you still wish to cooperate?"
Light shifted into human form—wearing the attire of a God of Destruction candidate, black hair falling over eyes brimming with malice.
"You know how deceitful he is better than anyone. Do you truly believe his promises?"
He spread his arms arrogantly.
"So, Mr. Gran. Am I qualified now?"
Gran fell silent.
Mid–Sixth Stage.
Far beyond Hit.
If he joined forces with Light—
"Heh. There is no 'if.'"
Gran's smile deepened.
"Chubby Lord Champa is adorable. And he has shown me kindness. There are no hypotheticals."
Light felt a chill crawl down his spine.
"What do you mean?"
"My only ally is the Sixth Universe."
Gran began walking toward him again.
"As for you…"
Light instinctively stepped back.
"You became the Fourth Universe's candidate the moment you accepted the role."
Gran's expression turned utterly indifferent—cold, divine, disdainful of all life.
As he advanced, his appearance changed.
His black hair rose sharply, leaving only a single lock hanging over his forehead. His features grew sharper. His physique leaner and more refined.
Handsome. Composed. Invincible.
He had entered the Mystic State.
Divine Dimension + Mystic State.
His aura surged.
Sixth Stage of the Divine Realm—Peak.
"What… what?!"
"He jumped from early Sixth Stage to peak Sixth Stage instantly?!"
"How is that possible?!"
The Gods of Destruction stared in disbelief.
Quitela recalled Gran's earlier words.
Don't be frightened by my power.
"Beerus! What kind of monster is your candidate?!" Quitela screamed hysterically.
Beerus laughed gleefully.
"Afraid already? Wait until Gran comes for you."
Even the Angels were shaken.
"It resembles a transformation… yet it carries none of the usual drawbacks."
"Calm emotions. Balanced power. No strain whatsoever…"
"This is a perfect state—like a natural form."
"How is he doing this?"
All Angels turned toward Vados and Whis.
END OF CHAPTER
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