Time flew by, and before anyone realized it, another year had passed, bringing the calendar to Age 754. With only five years remaining until the Destroyer Candidate Battle Royale, the various universes remained locked in intense preparation.
Some universes were busy drilling their candidates in secretive martial arts, while others had even begun covertly searching for primordial, ancient beings to bolster their ranks.
In contrast, Universe 7 showed not a hint of tension. It wasn't because Beerus and the others weren't concerned—it was simply that being anxious was useless.
Their star candidate, Gran, had left Earth and hadn't set foot back on the Sacred World of the Kai since.
On this particular day in the Land of the Kais, a sudden hum resonated through the air. A divine aura erupted from the Old Kai, expanding outward.
This energy felt saturated, complete, and brimming with vitality—a clear sign that he had reached the absolute peak of his condition. Sitting behind the Great Tree, the Old Kai slowly opened his eyes.
"Ancestor, you're awake!" Shin, the Supreme Kai, had been waiting nearby for this moment.
"Mhm." The Old Kai rose slowly, his joints popping like crackling beans. Surprisingly, his once-shriveled, gaunt frame appeared slightly more robust and rejuvenated.
"Have you finished adjusting your state, Ancestor?" Shin asked tentatively. Ever since the Grand Minister announced the tournament, the Old Kai had been refining his spiritual condition. It had taken nearly five years of focused meditation.
"I'm ready." The Old Kai stretched, his eyes flashing with newfound sharpness. "Has Gran returned yet?"
"No."
"What on earth is that brat doing?!" The Old Kai grumbled, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked toward the lake. There, he found Beerus and Whis leisurely fishing.
"Lord Beerus—" The Old Kai began.
"Quiet," Beerus interrupted, his eyes glued to his bobber. "You'll scare the fish."
The Old Kai stood there, speechless. The student had vanished after leaving the time chamber, and the master, seemingly unbothered, was passing the time by fishing. This pair was truly a headache.
"Lord Beerus, I've finished my preparations. I can unlock Gran's potential the moment he steps foot here," the Old Kai whispered.
"Whis," Beerus muttered, glancing at the Angel.
Whis nodded and checked his staff. "Lord Beerus, Gran is currently in the Other World. He is also... sitting by a lake, fishing."
The Old Kai nearly tripped. Like master, like disciple—even their choice of recreation was identical. Beerus's mouth twitched at the news; he felt a mix of exasperation and a strange sense of pride. That was his student, all right.
"Lord Beerus, time is running out. Gran clearly isn't in a hurry to return. Aren't you worried?" the Old Kai asked, frowning.
"Worried?" Beerus suddenly jerked his rod, pulling up a massive fish. "If he isn't worried, why should I be?" He handed the fish to Whis to keep it fresh, intent on having Gran cook it upon his return.
"So you're just going to wait him out?" The Old Kai sighed. "Awakening his potential will take several years. If we miss the start of the Battle Royale, we're finished!"
Beerus paused. He tossed his rod to Whis and stood up. "Gran knows his own limits better than anyone. If his mind isn't right, your ritual wouldn't work anyway. Panic is useless. Besides..." Beerus's voice grew solemn as he walked away from the water. "I suspect he might not even need your help anymore."
The Old Kai's eyes widened. He understood the implication: this scrawny cat believed Gran was already strong enough to handle the tournament on his own.
"Are you serious? You know how strong he is now?" the Old Kai asked excitedly.
"No, it's just a hunch. My point is, don't worry. That kid never does anything without a plan. If he hasn't come back, he has a reason for it." Beerus lay back down on the grass, ready for a nap. "Now, I'm going to sleep. Don't bother me unless—"
"Lord Beerus," Whis called out from the lakeside.
Beerus snapped upright instantly. Ignoring the laws of space, he appeared beside Whis in a blur. "Is it Gran?! Is he back?!"
His frantic voice echoed across the plains. The Old Kai stared, deadpan. And he told me not to worry? Look who's panicking now.
"Mr. Whis! Is he back?!" The Old Kai came scurrying over as well. Soon, the entire group—Beerus, the Old Kai, Shin, and little Broly—were huddled around Whis with bated breath.
Whis stayed silent for a moment before shaking his head. "No."
"Then why did you yell for me?!" Beerus barked, turning to leave in a huff. The others followed suit, their faces falling with disappointment.
Watching them walk away, Whis spoke calmly. "Lord Beerus, there is an order from my father. All Gods of Destruction are to report to the World of Void immediately."
The air went deathly still.
"The Grand Minister is summoning us to the World of Void?" Beerus spun back around, his voice trembling slightly.
"Mr. Whis, did your father say why?" the Old Kai asked, panicked. This was far too sudden. There were still five years left—why summon the Destroyers now?
"Yes, my father has summoned everyone. As for the reason, he did not say."
The Sacred World of the Kai fell into a heavy silence. Everyone except little Broly was racing through possibilities. Even Whis seemed curious about his father's move.
"Lord Beerus, you should go quickly. You don't want to keep him waiting," the Old Kai urged.
"Indeed. We will find out what's happening once we arrive," Whis added.
There was no choice. No one disobeyed the Grand Minister. As Beerus prepared to leave, he suddenly reached out and scooped up little Broly.
"Lord Beerus, what are you doing?" The young boy kicked his short legs in the air, trying to break free from the Destroyer's grip, but his strength was no match for Beerus.
"Since we won't be here, I can't leave this ticking time bomb behind," Beerus said simply.
Broly, aware of his own volatile power, tilted his head. "Then where am I going?"
Beerus's eyes narrowed, and a mischievous glint appeared. "How about I take you to the World of Void?"
The Kais stared in shock. The Grand Minister had summoned the Destroyers—he hadn't said anything about bringing guests. Was Beerus really willing to risk the Great Priest's ire? Moreover, if Broly went there, he would be right under the noses of every God of Destruction in the multiverse.
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in the Old Kai's head. He caught the drift of Beerus's plan. "You want Broly to deceive the other Destroyers?"
Whis chuckled behind his hand. He had clearly reached the same conclusion.
"Deceive? No," Beerus grinned, showing off his sharp teeth. "I'm going to troll them."
His plan was to present little Broly as Universe 7's "official" Destroyer Candidate. Given Broly's current level of control, the other Destroyers would undoubtedly heap ridicule and scorn upon Universe 7 for fielding such a "weak" child. They wouldn't realize that the real candidate was elsewhere. When the actual tournament began, Gran would step out and shatter their expectations in the most overwhelming way possible.
"It's a bit wicked, but I have to admit, Lord Beerus... that sounds hilarious," the Old Kai admitted, already imagining the shocked faces of the other gods.
"Hahaha! You get it, don't you, old man?" Beerus laughed, setting Broly back down.
"It's a great plan, but can Broly really pull off the act?"
"Of course he can!" Beerus looked at the boy. "With Broly's talent and physical gifts, he'd be considered a prodigy candidate in any other universe." He wasn't lying. In terms of raw potential, Broly was a freak of nature. In the original timeline, he had managed to hold his own against the likes of Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza.
"I'll just tell them he's my new apprentice. They'll have no reason to doubt it." Beerus barked with laughter, and the Old Kai joined in. They looked like two scheming villains.
After a moment, Beerus signaled to Whis. The Angel tapped his staff, and a shimmering light enveloped Broly. When it faded, the boy was dressed in the traditional, Egyptian-inspired regalia of a Destroyer's apprentice.
"Whoa! I'm wearing the same clothes as big brother Gran!" Broly chirped, excited by his new outfit.
"Whis, let's move!" Beerus hoisted the excited toddler onto his shoulder. With a flash of rainbow light, the trio vanished, leaving only the two Supreme Kais behind.
"Ancestor?" Shin nudged the Old Kai, who was still chuckling to himself.
"What? I'm enjoying the moment!" the Old Kai snapped playfully.
Shin pointed to the sky. "Lord Beerus left a while ago. You can stop laughing now."
The Old Kai glared at his junior. "Mind your own business!"
As Shin scurried away, the Old Kai's mischievous cackle echoed through the trees once more.
Meanwhile, on the Grand Kai's Planet in the Other World...
This massive world, even larger than Earth, was the dwelling place of legendary martial artists who had been allowed to keep their bodies after death. By a large lake, a lone figure sat peacefully fishing. A crowd of deceased warriors had gathered at a distance, whispering amongst themselves.
"Who is that guy? Doesn't he know those fish belong to the Grand Kai?"
"He's got guts. If the Grand Kai finds out someone is poaching his prize fish, he's finished!"
"Finished? We're already dead. But if he makes the Grand Kai angry, he might get his soul erased!"
"I want to see what happens when he gets caught!"
The spirits continued their gossip, unaware of whom they were looking at. Just then, five figures approached from a distance. At the lead was the Grand Kai, followed closely by the four Quadrant Kais. The crowd of spirits perked up, expecting a brutal punishment for the "thief."
However, as the five deities reached the man, they stopped and bowed deeply in unison.
"Our respects to you, Lord Candidate!" Their voices boomed, echoing across the planet.
The crowd of spirits froze in sheer terror.
"What... how is this possible?"
"He stole the fish, and they're bowing to him?"
"Lord Candidate? What does that mean? Is he a god higher than the Grand Kai?!"
The Grand Kai heard the murmurs and broke into a cold sweat. He turned and barked at the crowd, "All of you, shut your mouths this instant!" One did not simply gossip about a Destroyer Candidate unless they wanted to be erased from existence.
King Kai and the others were trembling slightly. They were terrified that the young man might take offense. Gran slowly reeled in his line and turned his head, casting a calm gaze over the crowd that had been mocking him just moments ago.
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