The battle on the arena had reached its conclusion. Champa, Iwan, and Anato had all been thrown from the platform by Raditz in quick succession. Belmod had engaged briefly with Raditz before strategically retreating to the spectator stands, recognizing a losing fight when he saw one.
"Lord Belmod, let me heal those injuries," Marcarita said, raising her staff with angelic grace.
"Hmm?" She examined him more closely, noting the minimal damage. "You're barely hurt at all. Could it be..."
Belmod's smile carried a hint of cunning satisfaction. "I was about to be eliminated anyway—why exhaust myself pointlessly? Besides, I'm genuinely not Raditz's equal. Better to let the others wear themselves out." He shrugged with theatrical nonchalance. "Self-preservation is the first rule of survival."
"Viewed that way, you're remarkably pragmatic," Marcarita laughed, the sound like silver bells.
"Hmph. The most foolish one was Quitela—he suffered tremendously for his stubbornness."
Belmod reclined against the steps with calculated leisure, appearing completely unconcerned about his technical "defeat." When he glanced toward Jiren and Toppo, his expression carried smug superiority—as if to say I at least survived to see the main event.
On the battlefield itself, only Quitela remained as a God of Destruction still resisting—falling increasingly into a disadvantaged position under Beerus's relentless assault. The two had originally been similar in strength, but Beerus's recent training had elevated him slightly above Quitela's level. The prolonged confrontation gradually expanded this advantage, creating genuine suppression.
"DAMN IT! How can I be inferior to YOU?!" Quitela roared with desperate fury, attacking in a frenzy like a torrential storm. His compact body slammed against Beerus repeatedly, each impact driven by pure rage.
BOOM!
A ki blast struck Quitela's head from the side, disrupting his aura instantly. Beerus seized the opening, thrusting his palm forward and releasing a concentrated energy bomb.
The explosion engulfed Quitela completely. His eyes went wide with shock as the blast's force sent him tumbling backward, rolling across the damaged arena floor before sliding dustily toward the platform's edge.
"Hey, Raditz!" Beerus turned toward the source of that intercepting blast, his tone carrying mock annoyance. "I told you not to interfere!"
"Apologies," Raditz said, slowly approaching with cold light gleaming in his eyes. "I couldn't help myself. After all, besides my grudge with Lord Beerus, I have unfinished business with him specifically."
The last confrontation in Universe Four had been interrupted. If the Grand Priest hadn't appeared unexpectedly during their battle regarding Frieza, Raditz would have thoroughly taught Quitela a lesson then. This time, he had no intention of letting the rodent-like destroyer escape consequences.
"You bastards! Both of you... BASTARDS!" Quitela lay sprawled on the ground, half his body already hanging over the edge. His eyes blazed with impotent fury, teeth grinding against the arena floor until fragments chipped away.
As Raditz drew closer, everyone throughout the World of Void held their breath. This blow would end the exhibition match.
But Quitela suddenly moved.
He'd been feigning weakness. The moment Raditz came within range, his arm shot out like lightning, trying to grab Raditz's ankle!
SWISH!
His palm closed on empty air—Raditz had vanished!
Quitela froze in confusion, seeing a shadow churning across the ground. He looked up reflexively to find Raditz suspended directly overhead, having leaped at an impossible angle to avoid the desperate grab.
No—counterattack now!
Quitela lurched upright, his eyes blazing with desperate determination. He released every remaining fragment of power in his body—his absolute final energy, channeled into one devastating blast.
Because Raditz's body was currently airborne, and the rules prohibited flight, a frontal shockwave at this exact moment would definitely connect! Moreover, Raditz had already passed over Quitela's position and now hung above the arena's edge. If struck, he'd be knocked out of bounds!
"NOT GOOD! RADITZ, WATCH OUT!" Beerus screamed the warning the instant he recognized the trap.
But Quitela had already unleashed his attack. Energy erupted from his hands like a coiling dragon, crackling with destructive force, lightning flashing violently as it roared forward!
The beam of light flew perfectly on-target, enveloping Raditz before he could land. The tremendous attack blazed brilliantly, reflecting blinding white light throughout the World of Void.
Quitela's face split into a triumphant grin—
"BROTHER!" Goku's anguished cry rang from the spectator stands.
"RADITZ!" Beerus's voice behind Quitela carried genuine alarm.
Then Quitela felt something inexplicable. Pressure—building from above. He raised his head in confusion and saw something impossible.
Raditz was surfing on a small ki sphere, sliding along the surface of Quitela's massive energy beam like it was a ramp! Sparks flew continuously from the point of contact, brilliant light illuminating Raditz's silhouette as he approached with terrifying speed.
How is this POSSIBLE?!
Quitela's mind screamed the question, but his body had no energy left to vocalize it.
Raditz reached him, fist already cocked back. The punch connected with Quitela's face, launching the diminutive destroyer from the arena's edge all the way back to its center.
WHOOSH!
Raditz's figure vanished. When he reappeared, he'd already grabbed Quitela's tail and begun beating him with systematic brutality.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
The tremendous, continuous impacts echoed throughout the World of Void. Zeno clapped his hands enthusiastically, clearly entertained. Nobody else dared speak. Even if Raditz killed Quitela outright, if the Omni-King found it interesting, every god present would be obligated to approve.
Raditz ultimately showed mercy—after thoroughly pummeling Quitela, he tossed the battered destroyer toward Beerus like discarded garbage.
Quitela was unrecognizable. His entire body had swollen grotesquely out of shape, eyelids drooping, vision swimming in and out of focus.
Beerus looked down at Quitela sprawled at his feet, clearly unimpressed by the pitiful sight.
"Hmph. This beating was yours, Raditz. Next time, I'll defeat him myself." Beerus raised his foot and kicked Quitela off the platform with almost casual disdain.
Quitela, eliminated at last, collapsed in Universe Four's spectator area as if he'd been granted merciful release. He couldn't even speak, body too damaged to form words.
Jiren suddenly opened his eyes, staring at the devastated, fragmented arena with newfound intensity.
Silence gripped the assembled multiverses, everyone processing the outcome. Universe Seven had won—two fighters genuinely defeating eleven Gods of Destruction from other universes! Although the battle had devolved into chaotic free-for-all toward the end, the coordinated assault at the beginning had been explicit. And then Raditz had eliminated nearly half the remaining Gods of Destruction alone!
Too strong! Raditz's performance had shocked the entire multiverse and completely subverted conventional understanding of Supreme Kai capabilities.
The Grand Priest consulted with Zeno briefly, then cleared his throat twice before addressing the crowd. "Everyone, the divine exhibition has concluded. The victor is Universe Seven. Lord Zeno has observed the rules and format thoroughly. The Tournament of Power may now proceed."
He paused, smile widening slightly. "However, before we begin, Lord Zeno wishes to reward the winning universe."
Interest rippled through every spectator area.
"Raditz," the Grand Priest continued smoothly, "you will receive a special privilege: even if Universe Seven is erased, you will not disappear."
Shock detonated across the assembled gods. Multiple Gods of Destruction visibly sagged with regret—they hadn't realized the reward would be so extraordinarily valuable! If they'd known, they should have coordinated to eliminate Beerus and Raditz immediately, consequences be damned!
Quitela, still sprawled in defeat, slammed his fist against the spectator platform to vent his frustration and anguish.
Beerus witnessed the announcement with profound gratitude, nearly bursting into ecstatic laughter. Avoiding erasure even if they lost? That was the best possible news!
But the Grand Priest, after building Beerus's hopes magnificently high, continued without pause. "Additionally, all participating Gods of Destruction—please help restore the arena to proper condition for the tournament."
"Eh? Wait..." Beerus's panic was instant and palpable. "M-Mr. Grand Priest, what about me? Didn't Lord Zeno mention me specifically?"
"No." The Grand Priest's response was beautifully, devastatingly blunt. "You have no special privileges."
The supposed "privilege" had always been an excuse to rationalize Zeno's particular fondness for Raditz and his manga updates. Since Raditz had been the focus of the Omni-King's interest, the Grand Priest announcing only his exemption was perfectly logical. Beerus simply hadn't been mentioned.
Beerus stood frozen on the platform, attracting immediate mockery from other Gods of Destruction. The ancient proverb proved accurate: people don't resent scarcity, they resent inequality. Since no other Gods of Destruction received privileges either, everyone felt psychologically balanced.
Only poor Beerus's mood had plummeted from euphoric peak to abyssal trough in seconds. His entire demeanor became listless, shoulders slumping with profound disappointment.
"Cheer up, Lord Beerus," Whis said with his characteristic smile, clearly enjoying his charge's misfortune. "At least you won't be erased if we triumph. That should be motivation enough, don't you think?"
"That's not the point!" Beerus wailed, though his protest lacked real conviction.
The real Tournament of Power was about to begin.
And now, Universe Seven held one secret advantage nobody else possessed: their Supreme Kai was functionally immortal.