"Tsk, I bet that guy Beerus is causing trouble again, which is why the Grand Minister summoned us," Quitela, the God of Destruction of Universe 4, stole a glance at Beerus. Two veins popped on his forehead as he muttered under his breath. He and Beerus had never gotten along, and he always felt that whenever something happened, Beerus was involved.
Just then, the Grand Minister suddenly turned toward Universe 11 and asked, "Oh, Mr. Belmod."
"Yes! Grand Minister!" Belmod, the God of Destruction of Universe 11, responded immediately, leaning forward slightly with a respectful tone.
"The one behind you is..." The Grand Minister's gaze landed on Toppo, who was standing behind Belmod, his eyes showing a hint of curiosity.
"Grand Minister, his name is Toppo. He is my chosen candidate for the next God of Destruction," Belmod introduced him quickly. "Actually, I'm considering retiring soon and letting Toppo take over the position. When I heard about the Meeting of the Gods, I thought it would be a good chance for him to gain some experience, so I brought him along."
"I am Toppo. It is an honor to meet you, Grand Minister, and all of you, my Lords!" Toppo stepped forward and bowed deeply to the Grand Minister and the gathered gods, his tone full of respect.
"Is that so? Well, good luck to you then. I hope you become a full-fledged God of Destruction soon," the Grand Minister said with a nonchalant smile. His tone was flat, as if he were discussing something perfectly ordinary.
"Thank you very much for your encouragement, Grand Minister..." Toppo quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
What the hell was that 'good luck becoming a God of Destruction soon'? Is that really how the most powerful god in the universe speaks? Talk about casual!
"Toppo, long time no see! I didn't expect to run into you here!" Son Goku suddenly waved at Toppo with a warm, overly familiar greeting.
Toppo: "..."
Toppo's face instantly darkened, and he ignored Goku. The last time Goku's companions had gone to Universe 11 to challenge them, they had beaten them to a pulp. Even though Goku hadn't fought, Toppo didn't have a good impression of him. You're pretty damn familiar, aren't you? Don't you know our universe still holds a grudge from last time?
Just then, the voice of Korn, the Angel of Universe 8, rang out from his scepter again. "Grand Minister, we are ready. The Supreme Kai has returned to the group."
"Excellent. Then, please join us," the Grand Minister said with a gentle wave of his hand, and a soft power spread out once more.
SHING!
Korn, the Angel of Universe 8, Liquiir, the God of Destruction, and the Supreme Kai—who had just finished in the restroom—instantly appeared in their empty seats. However, that Supreme Kai was still holding up his pants, not even having had time to fasten his belt. He had clearly run straight from the toilet, and his face was full of embarrassment.
"Sorry... sorry to keep everyone waiting. There was a bit of a situation," the Supreme Kai of Universe 8 said as he hurriedly fastened his pants and bowed in apology to the other gods, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.
"Now that everyone is here, all the gods of the universes are accounted for." The Grand Minister placed his hands behind his back again, a smile on his face as his tone grew solemn. "Now, I shall announce an important notice from the Grand Zen-Oh. Please listen carefully."
The scene instantly fell into a pin-drop silence. The gathered gods pricked up their ears, and even their breathing grew shallow. A notice from Zen-Oh was undoubtedly a major event for the entire multiverse.
"This is somewhat sudden, so please forgive us," the Grand Minister announced loudly. "Starting five Kics from now—more specifically, at the 157th hour of the 3,135,500,603rd day of the Royal Calendar—a Tournament of Power will be held for the entire multiverse! Each universe will select their strongest warriors to form a team and compete in a contest of strength and martial arts!"
The gods were stunned, and for a moment, they were all completely baffled. Holding a multiversal martial arts tournament? This is so sudden!
Beerus silently wiped his sweat. So he really is going to hold a multiversal tournament! Goku really has some serious pull to get the Grand Zen-Oh to personally issue the order.
Champa: "..."
Champa understood immediately. It had to be Son Goku's idea! He remembered that during the tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7, Goku had been exchanging glances with Zen-Oh and talking about holding an even bigger multiversal tournament. He hadn't expected it to actually happen! He'd heard that the kid had stayed in Universe 6 for a few days recently and had scared King Sadala so much he didn't dare return to his palace. The problem was, if they really held this tournament, who could possibly be a match for Son Goku? Wouldn't Universe 7 be a guaranteed winner? Whatever, I'll see how it goes first. Maybe the other universes have some hidden powerhouses too.
Just then, Mosco, the God of Destruction of Universe 3, let out a series of mechanical "beep-boop" noises, his tone sounding somewhat dissatisfied.
"Lord Mosco, please don't say such rude things in front of the Grand Zen-Oh!" The Supreme Kai of Universe 3's face changed rapidly as he let out a cry of alarm, fearing that Mosco's words might offend Zen-Oh.
"What is it? Supreme Kai of Universe 3, does Lord Mosco have a question?" The Grand Minister turned toward Universe 3 and asked in a calm tone.
The Supreme Kai of Universe 3 was shaking all over, cold sweat pouring down his face. He waved his hands frantically and replied, "Ah... nothing! It's nothing at all!"
"Eh? Are you unhappy?" Zen-Oh narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure as his gaze swept over the Supreme Kai of Universe 3. Although Zen-Oh couldn't understand the mechanical noises, he could feel Mosco's emotions.
"Ah... no! Absolutely not!" The Supreme Kai was panicked, waving his hands so wildly he was almost incoherent. "Lord Mosco was just..."
"No, Grand Zen-Oh, you misunderstand," Camparri, the Angel of Universe 3, stepped in and explained with a smile. "Lord Mosco said that being able to hold such a grand tournament so soon is a wonderful proposal. He is already eager to see the powerhouses of each universe compete!"
"Is that so? I knew everyone would love it!" Zen-Oh finally broke into a smile, his tone full of joy.
Camparri nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of respect. The Supreme Kai of Universe 3 quietly wiped his sweat, letting out a secret sigh of relief. Thank goodness Camparri is quick on his feet, otherwise we'd be in trouble today.
"Sometimes, a well-placed lie is an art form, Lord Supreme Kai. You should learn to be a bit more flexible in the future," Camparri whispered to the Supreme Kai, his tone carrying a hint of a warning.
"Haha... yes, yes. You are truly brilliant, Lord Camparri," the Supreme Kai nodded repeatedly, his face full of gratitude.
"Grand Minister, since we are holding a Tournament of Power, how exactly will it be conducted? Are there clear procedures and rules?" Helles, the God of Destruction of Universe 2, couldn't help but ask.
"There are no detailed rules yet, but they will be established soon," the Grand Minister smiled, then shifted the topic. "How about this? To let the Grand Zen-Oh feel the atmosphere of the tournament in advance, we shall hold a simple exhibition match first. We will use this match to establish the corresponding rules, and in the process, let the Grand Zen-Oh appreciate the strength of each of you. How does that sound?"
"Yes! That's a great idea!" Zen-Oh immediately nodded in agreement, his eyes full of expectation as he began to imagine the scene of the match.
"Eh? We're starting now? Right here?" Goku paused, and an excited light instantly ignited in his eyes.
"That's right. It's very spacious here; it can serve as the ring," the Grand Minister said, and he snapped his fingers.
SNAP!
With a light sound, the ground in the center of the hall suddenly rose up, quickly forming a massive square ring. The surface was smooth and hard, and a faint light barrier shimmered around it. At the same time, thirteen floating, top-shaped platforms appeared above the ring. Twelve smaller platforms corresponded to the twelve universes, while the largest platform steadily held Zen-Oh and the two guards behind him, hovering at the highest point.
"Oh my... how did I get sent here?" Goku found himself suddenly on the Universe 7 platform. He couldn't help but laugh and looked down at Beerus below. "Lord Beerus, you're here too!"
"Goku! You bastard!" Beerus gritted his teeth, his eyes full of helplessness. "I knew it was you who got the Grand Zen-Oh to hold this tournament! Do you have any idea how much trouble this is going to cause for all the universes?"
"Well... it was something Zen-Oh and I agreed on, after all. I couldn't just break my word," Goku grinned, looking completely unbothered, totally failing to sense Beerus' frustration.
"Now, would the Gods of Destruction please step into the ring? The exhibition match will be conducted by the Gods of Destruction first, to let the Grand Zen-Oh see your power," the Grand Minister's voice rang out again, echoing through the hall.
At those words, the gathered Gods of Destruction were all stunned. They looked at the Grand Minister in shock, their eyes full of disbelief. The exhibition match requires the Gods of Destruction themselves to fight?
"We... we have to fight too?" Rumsshi, the God of Destruction of Universe 10, opened his mouth wide in shock, his tone full of disbelief.
"Wait a moment... do the Gods of Destruction have to participate in the Tournament of Power too? Shouldn't it be the warriors from each universe who compete?" Gowasu couldn't help but ask, his tone carrying a hint of doubt.
"The Gods of Destruction are also residents of their respective universes. It's only natural for them to participate as representatives of their universes, isn't it?" The Grand Minister smiled slightly. "Besides, the Grand Zen-Oh is very eager to see a contest of strength between the Gods of Destruction."
"Really? The Gods of Destruction are going to fight?" Goku was incredibly excited, his hands clenched tight and his eyes wide. Finally, he'd get to see a battle at the God of Destruction level with his own eyes; just the thought of it was thrilling.
"A contest between the Gods of Destruction... this truly is a rare sight," Iwan, the God of Destruction of Universe 1, remarked, his eyes full of expectation.
"I don't want to fight!" Champa suddenly clutched his head, his tone full of resistance.
"Since Lord Champa doesn't usually train and spends all day eating sweets, his strength is probably at the bottom of the rankings among the Gods of Destruction, isn't it?" Vados covered her mouth and giggled, her tone full of teasing.
"Hurry up and start!" Zen-Oh sat on the highest platform, swinging his little legs. He urged them on, his tone full of expectation and his eyes fixed on the ring below. He couldn't wait to see the Gods of Destruction fight.
The gathered Gods of Destruction all felt their hearts tighten in fear. They didn't dare delay any longer and leaped one by one onto the massive ring. Faint ripples of energy began to surface around them, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.
"Grand Minister, what rules will we be fighting by? Is it one-on-one, or can it be a battle royal?" Quitela, the God of Destruction of Universe 4, was the first to ask.
"The rules haven't been established yet. We will consider the corresponding rules based on your performance after watching this exhibition match," the Grand Minister hovered above the gathered gods, his tone flat. "So please, let loose and fight. Don't hold anything back. Additionally, it is said that the Grand Zen-Oh is considering preparing a special reward for the final winning God of Destruction."
The Gods of Destruction let out a small sigh of relief upon hearing that, and looks of joy appeared on their faces. If there was a reward to be had, this battle would be much more meaningful!
"On a side note," the Grand Minister's tone shifted, instantly becoming solemn as his gaze swept over every god with a heavy threat, "if any God of Destruction deliberately takes it easy or gives a lackluster performance during the battle, the universe that God belongs to will be erased on the spot."
The Gods of Destruction all turned pale, and the energy around them began to tremble.
They weren't afraid of a fight, but they were terrified of Zen-Oh erasing their universes. That would be an absolute catastrophe!
Beerus silently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Goku didn't know a thing; he had no idea just how terrifying the Grand Zen-Oh could be! It was that "erase you if you look at me wrong" kind of ruthlessness. This time, Goku had really screwed him over!
"I see. This is the perfect chance to find out who the truly strongest God of Destruction is!" Quitela looked at Beerus with a smirk. "Beerus, haven't you always been called the strongest by everyone? Let's have a real contest today and see if you actually deserve that title!"
"Quitela, don't go looking for trouble on purpose! I never said that; you guys were the ones who spread that rumor. It has nothing to do with me," Beerus snorted, his eyes full of disdain. He had no interest in fighting over some empty title like "strongest" with these guys.
"I clearly beat you once before, so why won't you admit I'm stronger than you?" Quitela said with a laugh.
"That time I lost was just arm wrestling! It wasn't real combat! When it comes to fighting techniques, I'd never lose to you!" Beerus barked back, his tone full of indignation. Losing at arm wrestling was just an accident; how could that count as a measure of true strength?
"Go for it, Lord Beerus! You have to beat them and prove you're the strongest God of Destruction!" Goku shouted at the top of his lungs from the Universe 7 platform. His tone was full of excitement, as if he wished he could jump down and join the fight himself.
Hearing Goku's voice, Beerus felt a surge of pure rage. Wasn't it nice and peaceful sleeping on Planet Beerus? It's all because of you, kid, insisting on some multiversal martial arts tournament. Dragging me here for this pointless match... what a nightmare!
"Goku! Who do you think caused this whole mess? How can you sit there and talk so casually!" Beerus couldn't help but turn back and roar at Goku, his tail bristling with anger.
"If you really can't handle it, I can fight for you? I wouldn't mind sparring with them myself!" Goku laughed, his tone full of eagerness. He'd been wanting to test himself against other Gods of Destruction for a long time.
"Get lost! Mind your own damn business!" Beerus gritted his teeth, his face turning iron-blue. "Every bit of trouble today was caused by you!"
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, Beerus realized something was wrong. By blaming Goku in front of all the other Gods of Destruction, wasn't he basically admitting that Universe 7 was the cause of this whole tournament? Now he'd definitely be the target of everyone's wrath!
"That guy is a human from Universe 7. I've seen him before," Belmod, the God of Destruction of Universe 11, hummed.
"Are you saying this whole situation only happened because of that human?" Liquiir, the God of Destruction of Universe 8, asked with a frown.
"Universe 7 is always causing trouble. Every time something big happens, it's always connected to you guys!" Helles snorted, her eyes full of hostility.
"So it was trouble stirred up by Beerus' universe! It looks like we need to give Beerus a proper lesson today and show him what we're made of!" Iwan said with a cold smile, his gaze unfriendly.
"Hahaha, Beerus, you've really gone and added fuel to the fire now!" Quitela crossed his arms, looking like he was enjoying the chaos. "This is perfect. You're everyone's target now. Not that anyone liked you much to begin with, right?"
Beerus: "..."
Beerus was completely speechless, filled with silent regret. He should have known better than to argue with Goku. Now, everyone was pointing their fingers at him; he'd really gone and shot himself in the foot.
"Beerus, don't forget what happened during that Hide-and-Seek Tournament!" Belmod snorted, his tone full of resentment. "That emergency summons almost got the entire multiverse erased because of you. You owe us an explanation!"
"Did something like that really happen? How come I didn't know?" The Supreme Kai of Universe 7 quietly turned and whispered to Whis.
"That was before you became a Supreme Kai, many years ago," Whis explained with a smile, his tone full of nostalgia. "Long ago, the Grand Zen-Oh held a multiversal Hide-and-Seek Tournament and had all the Gods of Destruction participate."
"A... Hide-and-Seek Tournament? Zen-Oh actually likes playing games like that?" Goku pouted, looking baffled. Zen-Oh's hobbies were certainly unique.
"Halfway through that tournament, Lord Beerus hid in a cave on a certain planet and fell asleep. He slept for fifty years," Whis said with a smile. "Because Lord Beerus never came out, the tournament was forced to end. This made the Grand Zen-Oh, who had been looking forward to it, very angry! To calm him down, the Gods of Destruction from the other eleven universes had to put in an incredible amount of effort—performing shows, preparing delicacies—just to barely get his forgiveness. Because of that incident, every single one of them hates Lord Beerus."
"Eh? Eh? Something like that actually happened... Lord Beerus really can sleep, can't he?" The Supreme Kai was speechless, silently wiping his sweat.
"Man, Lord Beerus really is a sleeper. Fifty years in one go," Goku remarked.
"Besides that, Lord Beerus has friction with the other Gods of Destruction too," Whis said with a smile. "After all, at some point, the rumor started that Lord Beerus was the strongest God of Destruction. The others weren't happy about that and have been looking for a chance to test themselves against him for a long time."
"I think Lord Beerus is definitely strong. When I sparred with him last time, I almost lost," Goku noted with a thoughtful nod.
On the ring, the gathered Gods of Destruction were now completely fueled by rage. They glared at Beerus, the energy around them growing thicker as they prepared for battle, waiting only for the Grand Minister's command.
"Let's start by taking down Beerus! Once he's defeated, we'll be the strongest Gods of Destruction!" Liquiir was the first to propose, his voice full of battle intent.
"Fine by me! I've wanted to have a real fight with Beerus for a long time!" Helles immediately agreed, her hands already beginning to condense energy.
"Hehehe! Today we're going to show Beerus that we aren't to be trifled with!" Quitela's smile grew even wider, his eyes full of excitement, as if he could already see the scene of Beerus being defeated.
Even Champa joined their side, looking at Beerus with a mischievous smirk. Even though they were brothers, he wanted to take this chance to give Beerus a lesson too.
"Hey, Lord Champa, aren't you Lord Beerus' brother? You're actual brothers, so why are you ganging up on him too?" Goku couldn't help but shout to Champa on the ring, looking confused.
"Kid, stay out of it! This is between us Gods of Destruction; it has nothing to do with you!" Champa barked at Goku, his tone full of impatience. If it weren't for Goku, he wouldn't have been dragged into this brawl in the first place.
"Well, good luck then, Lord Champa! Try your best to beat Lord Beerus!" Goku laughed, completely unaware of how much his words stung.
Beerus: "..."
Beerus was almost spitting blood from Goku's words. I thought you were going to trick Champa into standing on my side, but you're actually cheering him on! Whose side are you on anyway?
"Hmph, go ahead and gang up on me. Do you really think I'm afraid of you just because there are more of you? How naive!" Beerus snorted, ignoring Goku. He spread his feet slightly into a combat stance, and destruction energy began to surge wildly around him, his aura instantly skyrocketing.
"Now then, time is short. Please be ready; the exhibition match is about to begin," the Grand Minister's voice rang out again, his tone carrying a hint of gravity. "Remember: go all out. Do not hold back."
The gathered Gods of Destruction stopped their chatter and adjusted their breathing. The energy around them became even more violent, their eyes full of vigilance and battle intent as they fixed their gazes on Beerus, as if they were ready to pounce at any second.
"Let the match begin!" At the Grand Minister's command, the atmosphere on the ring instantly exploded. In an instant, the Gods of Destruction charged toward Beerus like arrows from a bowstring. Various colors of energy bloomed on the ring, the wind from their fists howling, and the shockwaves of energy making the entire hall tremble slightly.
To be continued…
Guys, do support me on Patreon; It helps me a lot!
Advance 70 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus