The World of Void hummed with nervous energy. Conversations filled the impossible space—warriors sizing up opponents, gods exchanging tense pleasantries, speculation about what was to come rippling through the assembled multiverses.
Then, without warning, rainbow light erupted in the void.
Miraculous power manifested, illuminating the World of Void's infinite darkness with prismatic radiance. There remained a gap in the ring-shaped viewing platform—a space deliberately left empty for the arrival of the multiverse's supreme authority.
The Omni-Kings materialized.
Two small, childlike figures appeared on the platform, their simple forms belying the absolute power they wielded. Their guards flanked them immediately, and the Grand Priest took position beside them with perfect poise. Only beings of the Omni-Kings' stature could command such reverence, such careful protocol.
Every god and warrior across all eight universes immediately dropped to one knee. "LORD ZENO!" The unified shout echoed across the void.
"Hello! Wow, there are so many people here! This is so exciting!" Zeno's cheerful voice rang out, his hands clapping together with childlike enthusiasm. He seemed to be in excellent spirits. One of his guards carried a manga volume—Dragon Ball Heroes—suggesting Zeno had been reading right up until this moment.
The Grand Priest bowed deeply to his charge. "This is the tournament venue, Lord Zeno. Please, take your seat and make yourself comfortable. I will oversee the competition itself." He gestured to a floating device. "This is your GodPad—it displays information about all contestants from every universe. There's also a slow-motion replay function that will allow you to see every fighter, every technique, every detail of the combat with perfect clarity."
"That's wonderful!" Zeno's steps were light and bouncy as he moved toward his throne, his expression one of pure delight.
After settling into his seat, Zeno picked up the GodPad and began scrolling through the interface, examining the symbols representing each of the twelve universes. Suddenly, he paused and turned to the Grand Priest. "Oh! Is Raditz here? I wanted to talk to him about the next manga chapters."
"He's right there, Lord Zeno." The Grand Priest pointed to Universe Seven's contingent below.
"Good! After the tournament, I want him to come play with me. Those toys he brought last time were really fun too."
The Grand Priest's expression flickered with surprise. "However, Lord Zeno, if Universe Seven loses and is erased, Raditz will disappear along with everything else in that universe."
"Eh?" Zeno's face fell slightly, showing genuine disappointment. "That would be sad. Okay, give him permission not to disappear! I still want to read his stories and play with those toys. He can't be erased."
When the Omni-King spoke, the Grand Priest naturally complied without hesitation. He silently granted Raditz a special exemption—a divine protection that would spare him from erasure even if Universe Seven fell.
Down in Universe Seven's area, Raditz caught the Grand Priest's eyes briefly. There was something knowing in that gaze, a small smile that suggested something significant had just transpired. Raditz frowned slightly, puzzled, though he assumed it related to the manga he'd provided during his previous visit to Zeno's palace.
While the Grand Priest communicated with Zeno, every other being in the World of Void remained frozen in respectful silence, waiting for permission to move or speak. The tension built with each passing second. Some warriors were already sweating despite the tournament not having begun—the sheer pressure of standing before the Omni-King was overwhelming.
Many had never seen Zeno in person before. The reality of the Omni-King—small, childlike, almost whimsical—contrasted sharply with what they'd imagined. But not a single individual dared underestimate this supreme being. After all, even their own Gods of Destruction had prostrated themselves in absolute deference.
Finally, the Grand Priest turned to address the assembled multiverses. He cleared his throat gently, and the sound carried with perfect clarity across the void.
"Everyone, I know the tournament rules have been explained thoroughly. However, Lord Zeno would benefit from seeing the combat format demonstrated before the main event begins." His smile remained pleasant, but his next words sent shockwaves through the crowd. "Therefore, we're adding a preliminary exhibition match. This will also provide an opportunity to showcase the pinnacle of each universe's divine power—to witness the true majesty of Gods of Destruction in combat."
The majesty of gods?
Confusion rippled through the assembled warriors. What exactly did that mean?
Raditz felt his instincts screaming warning. A strong premonition crystallized in his mind: the next announcement would involve an exhibition match between the Gods of Destruction themselves. The atmosphere in the World of Void shifted instantly, becoming heavy with tension as the implications sank in. Gods of Destruction from every universe began glancing at each other warily, combat stances subtly assumed.
"For this first exhibition match," the Grand Priest continued smoothly, "the Gods of Destruction from all competing universes will engage in combat. The rules remain the same as the main tournament—ring-outs only, no killing. Please fight with your full capabilities and ensure Lord Zeno finds the spectacle appropriately entertaining."
That final reminder—the gentle suggestion that Zeno should find this "entertaining"—made every God of Destruction present go rigid with dread. If the Omni-King became bored or disappointed, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Damn it!" Beerus's face went pale, his usual confidence evaporating in an instant. His expression shifted from lazy contentment to genuine panic.
But the mortal warriors reacted very differently. Goku's eyes lit up with excitement, Vegeta leaned forward with intense interest, and even the usually stoic fighters found themselves eager to witness this spectacle. For true martial artists, the opportunity to watch twelve Gods of Destruction clash represented an unprecedented learning experience—a glimpse into combat at the absolute highest level.
"Lord Beerus looks extremely nervous," Whis observed with his characteristic smile.
"Be quiet!" Beerus snapped. "I'm already stressed enough without your commentary!"
"If you hadn't antagonized so many other Gods of Destruction over the years, you wouldn't need to be quite so panicked. And skipping that hide-and-seek game Lord Zeno organized certainly didn't help your reputation. Really, the consequences of past actions have a way of catching up with you."
"Stop being sarcastic! I'd rather not get destroyed here!"
The problem was painfully clear to Beerus: he'd accumulated too many grudges. His personality clashes with other destroyers, his tendency to sleep through important events, his general aloofness—all of it had created resentment. In a free-for-all battle royale between Gods of Destruction, he would inevitably become a priority target. Fighting any single God of Destruction one-on-one? That he could handle. But facing multiple opponents of equal power simultaneously? That was terrifying even for someone of his capabilities.
Across the arena, Champa was having similar thoughts. "I haven't seriously trained in decades... the only real fights I've had recently were those sparring matches with Raditz..." His voice carried genuine worry.
Nearby, Quitela's face had split into a vicious grin, his hands flexing in anticipation. His eyes locked onto Beerus with predatory hunger.
"Now then," the Grand Priest announced, "all fighters except the Gods of Destruction, please move to the spectator platform."
He didn't wait for them to comply manually—divine power simply transported everyone to their appropriate positions instantaneously. One moment the arena was crowded with over a hundred beings; the next, only twelve remained.
Twelve Gods of Destruction, standing in a rough circle, all assessing each other with the wariness of apex predators forced into the same territory.
Beerus surveyed his eleven peers, his vigilance rising to maximum levels. The lazy contentment that usually characterized his expression had been completely replaced by sharp, intense focus. He knew what was coming. The moment combat began, he would become a primary target. Not everyone would attack him simultaneously—but several would, and that would be more than enough to put him in genuine danger.
"BEGIN!"
The Grand Priest's command echoed across the World of Void like a thunderclap.
All twelve Gods of Destruction vanished instantly.
Their movements transcended mortal perception entirely. To most of the watching warriors, the gods simply disappeared—their forms moving so quickly that tracking them became impossible. Only the immense, crushing pressure of their combined divine power remained visible, rippling across the arena like heatwaves.
"This is incredible!" Goku couldn't contain his amazement, eyes wide as he tried desperately to follow the combat.
"It's impressive certainly, but Lord Beerus may be in serious trouble," Raditz said quietly, shaking his head.
BOOM!
As if punctuating Raditz's words, a tremendous impact struck the central pillar of the arena. The bombardment sounded like a continuous storm, energy detonating in rapid succession—and at the center of that storm stood Beerus!
The God of Destruction who had accumulated too many grudges found himself under immediate assault from multiple directions. Quitela from Universe Four and Liquiir from Universe Eight led the charge, their attacks coming with vicious intent. Other Gods of Destruction followed behind them, adding their own devastating techniques to the barrage. Overwhelming destructive energy poured toward Beerus from all angles.
"HAAA!" Beerus roared amidst the bombardment, his body somehow transforming into something sharp and precise. He broke through the energy blockade with explosive force, tearing a path through attacks that should have been impossible to escape!
He'd actually tanked and redirected the combined assault from multiple Gods of Destruction. The attackers froze briefly in surprise—that shouldn't have been possible—and in that microsecond of hesitation, Beerus seized his opportunity.
Giin, God of Destruction from Universe Twelve, found himself directly in Beerus's path. A devastating punch sent him flying backward, purple destructive energy still crackling around his body from the impact.
Heles from Universe Two immediately reacted, rushing toward Beerus with a powerful strike of her own. But Beerus didn't even look at her attack—his body simply moved, flowing around the punch with impossible precision before delivering a crushing kick to Rumsshi from Universe Ten!
A streak of light burst from the encirclement, and Beerus escaped the coordinated assault, repositioning himself on the opposite side of the arena.
In the spectator area, many of the weaker fighters hadn't even processed what they'd witnessed. But those with sufficient power to track the combat stood in stunned silence.
"Was that Ultra Instinct just now?!" Goku exclaimed.
"Indeed," Whis confirmed with obvious pride. "Lord Beerus's version isn't perfected—he hasn't achieved the complete state like you or Raditz. However, his degree of mastery is quite high, and he ranks among the most skilled Gods of Destruction in utilizing the technique."
"Amazing... Lord Beerus can handle that many opponents at once..."
Raditz nodded slightly. Beerus had always been exceptionally powerful among Gods of Destruction—his combat capabilities were genuinely elite. But fighting eleven equals simultaneously? That was unsustainable. He might manage in short bursts, but extended combat would inevitably wear him down, and a single mistake against that many opponents would be catastrophic.
If only I could participate myself...
The thought crossed Raditz's mind unbidden, but he pushed it aside. This was the Gods of Destruction's exhibition match. His time would come soon enough.