"Should we ask Jiren-san to enter the selection?" Marcarita sighed softly and shook her head. "I'm afraid he's unlikely to agree. He refused to become a God of Destruction's disciple back then… so the office itself doesn't interest him."
"You've got a point. Looks like it'll have to be Toppo," Belmod said through gritted teeth. "This is a headache. If he's chosen… my disciple I've trained so long will go to another universe as its God of Destruction. What happens to our universe then?"
"Then we'll simply choose a new God of Destruction disciple," Marcarita suggested.
"Fine. Contact Toppo. Have him come by and get ready," Belmod ordered.
"Understood, Belmod-sama," Marcarita nodded.
A brief silence passed.
"Still, we should at least ask Jiren. Maybe he's changed his mind. Refusing before doesn't mean he'll refuse now," Belmod decided.
"Shall we go meet Jiren-san in person?" Marcarita asked gently.
"No need. A question like this can be settled with a call," Belmod said, shaking his head.
"Very well. I'll contact Jiren-san now." Marcarita lifted her staff, and the crystal atop it linked to Jiren.
…
Universe 11, Pride Troopers' Planet.
This world served as the Pride Troopers' base.
Jiren was a member, not the captain.
The Pride Troopers' captain was Toppo; the vice-captain, Dyspo.
Toppo was Belmod's disciple and Universe 11's trainee God of Destruction.
Jiren had no interest in being captain, so he remained an ordinary member of the team.
But every Trooper knew who their true pillar was.
It was Jiren.
Rumor had it his power rivaled a God of Destruction.
Jiren lived in a mountain village—a serene place of moonlit pines and murmuring brooks.
He sat in his courtyard, eyes closed, resting his mind.
For Jiren, this too was training.
A voice sounded in his mind.
He didn't startle. He slowly opened his eyes, calm as ever.
"Marcarita-sama?" Jiren asked.
"Yes, Jiren-san," Marcarita replied, and explained the Universe 18 God of Destruction selection.
"Apologies. I'm not interested," Jiren refused without hesitation.
"My, my… after all this time, you're still not interested in becoming a God of Destruction?" Marcarita said with a small smile.
Jiren didn't answer, but his gaze made it clear.
"Understood. I'll inform Belmod-sama. Pardon the disturbance," Marcarita said politely.
"Thanks," Jiren said—for once.
He knew very well how special this woman's identity was.
Best not to provoke her unnecessarily.
After the call ended, Marcarita lifted her shoulders toward Belmod.
"I figured… Fine, contact Toppo. Have him come to the God of Destruction Realm at once," Belmod said.
"Understood." Marcarita reached Toppo, briefed him on the selection, and ended the call.
Toppo fell into thought, a trace of conflict in his eyes.
Looking at his fellow Pride Troopers, he felt reluctant to part.
If I go to Universe 18 as its God of Destruction… what about my adorable teammates?
"Captain, what happened?" Vice-captain Dyspo asked.
"Universe 18 is selecting a God of Destruction from across all universes…" Toppo sighed. "Belmod-sama wants me to enter… If I'm chosen, I'll be an entire universe away from you."
"Captain, go for it. Once you become Universe 18's God of Destruction, I'll be the official captain of the Pride Troopers!" Dyspo laughed.
"You… can't wait to shove me out the door, huh?" Toppo rolled his eyes.
"Just kidding," Dyspo grinned. "But really, don't overthink it. If you do become a God of Destruction, the Pride Troopers can proudly say our former captain is a great God of Destruction! And when we truly need you, we call—you won't help us?"
"You're right," Toppo nodded thoughtfully.
The others chimed in, agreeing with the vice-captain.
"Besides, Captain, don't forget—we still have Jiren," Dyspo added with a sly smile, dropping the other name.
Toppo: "…"
You didn't have to say that.
As if even as a God of Destruction I'd still be weaker than Jiren.
"All right, I'll give it a try!" Toppo declared with a confident smile.
"I wonder what the other universes will send. No way they're stronger than Captain."
"Captain is Belmod-sama's disciple and a trainee God of Destruction. No one will be his match!"
"Captain, good luck! Become a true God of Destruction—wasn't that your goal all along?"
The Pride Troopers cheered him on.
…
Universe 3, God of Destruction Realm.
"What? Universe 18's God of Destruction selection?" Mule snarled, teeth clenched. "If someone hadn't killed my son, he would have become Universe 18's new God of Destruction! Damn it—who did this?"
Angel Camparri said nothing.
"Hey, Camparri, you really can't find who did it?" Mule pressed.
For the record, Mule had wandered Universe 7 for a long time—even going to the Other World to investigate.
Unfortunately, his son's soul had already been cleansed and reincarnated.
There was nothing Mule could do.
When King Yemma heard Mule was a God of Destruction from another universe, it finally clicked.
No wonder the Book of Life and Death listed "unknown."
So that's why.
King Yemma had immediately turned and glared at a staffer.
That fool said the God of Destruction's son was "unimportant," so they hadn't even bothered to record his life story and cause of death.
You idiot…
You almost got me killed.
Luckily, Mule didn't dare act too wildly in the Other World.
It belonged to Universe 7 and wasn't under his authority.
He slapped King Yemma flat with one hand and stormed off in a fury.
After a thorough, fruitless search of Universe 7, Mule returned to Universe 3.
"Lord Mule, I truly don't know," Camparri shrugged.
"Hmph. I'm certain the trainee God of Destruction serving that trainee Angel did it… My son dies, and half a year later there's a Universe 18 selection? It reeks," Mule said coldly, resting a hand on a massive robot.
That robot was Mosco.
"So… shall we enter?" Camparri asked.
"Enter? Of course!" Mule snorted. "I strongly suspect that trainee Angel's God of Destruction will compete. This time, I'm demanding answers."
Camparri: "…"
"Camparri, I know you Angels have… special ties. You don't want to sell him out—I get it," Mule said earnestly. "But at least don't block my investigation. You watched Muse grow up, didn't you?"
"What do you need from me, Lord Mule?" Camparri asked, helpless.
"When the time comes, just draw the trainee Angel away. I'll handle the rest," Mule said, face set.
"I'll see what I can do…" Camparri hesitated, then nodded—but added, "No guarantees that Merus will leave, you know."
Mule eyed Camparri.
And you expect me to believe that trainee Angel's God of Destruction wasn't the killer?
Universe 7's mortals who could kill my son are few.
And to cover it this cleanly? It has to involve that trainee Angel's trainee God of Destruction.
That trainee Angel must have helped bury the truth.
Right—there was also a trainee Supreme Kai with him.
A trainee Supreme Kai, a trainee God of Destruction.
They're the same race!
Maybe the trainee Supreme Kai was in on it, too.
Just you wait.
Think you can keep this buried?
"By the way, those Super Dragon Balls—can they really grant any wish?" Mule asked, excited.
"Yes," Camparri nodded.
"So if I obtain them, I can resurrect my son, right?" Mule's eyes lit up.
"You can," Camparri said. "Provided you're chosen as Universe 18's new God of Destruction."
"Got it." Mule's eyes turned.
"So… who should we send, Lord Mule?" Camparri asked.
"Send Maji-Kayo," Mule decided after a moment.
Maji-Kayo was a modified warrior—his body a fully metallic blue shell, essentially a living metal man.
His capabilities were formidable, akin to the liquid-metal T-1000 from Terminator.
How he'd truly measure up would have to be tested in the field.
…
Universe 6, on a certain planet.
Champa was feasting.
The planet looked unremarkable; the food was even rougher.
Basically boiled meat—probably without salt.
Even so, Champa was having a blast.
Vados's voice chirped from the pocket of his robe.
Champa, cheeks shiny with grease, fished out a communicator, set it on the table, and pressed the button.
"Vados, what is it?" Champa grunted, then added quickly, "Have those two little monkeys gone home yet?"
"Still dwelling on losing to them, Champa-sama?" Vados giggled.
"Hmph. I just didn't go all out. If not for his special status, you think those two could defeat me?" Champa groused, gnawing loudly.
"Ken and Broly know you held back. They appreciate it," Vados said on Ken's behalf.
"Hmph. That's more like it. Sounds a bit like a trainee Angel," Champa smirked. "So? Did you call just for that? Are they offering a formal apology? I'll say it now—I don't forgive easily."
"No, it's something else," Vados replied.
"What?" Champa took another huge bite.
"It's the Universe 18 God of Destruction Selection Order issued by the Grand Priest. We need to… accompany the bid—mm, participate," Vados nearly slipped.
"What? Universe 18's God of Destruction Selection Order?" Champa swallowed and looked baffled; he missed the nuance.
He went silent for five seconds.
"Didn't Universe 18 get erased ages ago? Zeno-sama wiped it out. That terrifying scene… I can still see it," he muttered, shuddering. Suddenly, the meat didn't taste so good.
"Originally, yes. But recently it restored itself," Vados explained.
"Restored on its own? Was the erasure not thorough?" Champa mused.
"My, my, I wouldn't know," Vados shook her head.
Champa fell quiet. Thorough or not—none of his business.
Pity, though: that universe's God of Destruction and Supreme Kai vanished with it.
He remembered: that universe's Angel was stubborn, vowing to live and die with Universe 18.
In the end, she vanished with it.
She even offered up her Angelic Power.
"What was Universe 18's Angel called again?" Champa asked quietly.
"Amarella," Vados answered.
"Right. Angel Amarella—spirited," Champa said in appraisal.
"Champa-sama, better think of a suitable entrant," Vados suggested. "One more thing: if someone from a given universe is chosen as Universe 18's new God of Destruction, the Grand Priest will award seven Super Dragon Balls."
"Super Dragon Balls? What's that?" Champa blinked.
"They can grant any wish," Vados said.
"What? Something that good exists?" Champa yelped, both startled and pleased.
"Do you have a wish in mind, Champa-sama?" Vados smiled.
"Of course. I want an exquisite gourmet planet!" Champa huffed, stating his dream outright.
It had been his greatest wish for ages.
He'd tried hard—casting a net across Universe 6 in search of such a world.
Alas, no suitable planet existed.
"Then let's work for it together. It's my wish as well," Vados said with a light tap to her temple. "Whom shall we send?"
"Hit. What do you think?" Champa pondered, then named Hit.
"That's fine," Vados agreed.
At Hit's current level, he might still fall to Broly.
That kid was growing too fast.
After the call, Vados looked toward Ken and Broly.
They were still training, pushing for the selection in three days.
Ken hadn't cared much at first.
But when Vados said Universe 18's Angel was a beautiful, yellow-skinned woman, he grew curious.
A yellow-skinned Angel?
Since when is there an Angel with that complexion?
I have to see.
Besides, it's about time for a change of scenery.
And a good chance to test Broly's power.
Broly's eyes were full of expectation; he was training to become Universe 18's God of Destruction.
Time passed day by day.
Three days flashed by.
Champa returned with someone.
Purple skin. A dark purple coat.
Most striking of all was his peculiar head—split slightly at the top.
The moment Broly saw that head, he scratched at his hair, certain he'd seen it somewhere before, frowning as he tried to recall.
Ken was unfazed.
It was his first time seeing a head shaped like that in real life.
In manga and anime it looked like…
In person, it looked even more like it.
All right, the image is—
"My, my, Champa-sama is back… Hello, Mr. Hit," Vados greeted with a smile.
"Hmph. I'm not late, am I?" Champa snorted.
"Not at all," Vados shook her head. "It'll take a bit over two hours to reach Universe 18 from here. The selection begins in two and a half, so leaving in thirty minutes is perfectly fine."
"What's this? Is Broly entering too?" Champa glanced at Broly's eager face and immediately understood.
Broly ignored Champa and stared straight at Hit…
Rather, at Hit's head.
Why does it look so familiar?
Hit frowned.
Why are you staring at me?
"What? What's with that look? You want to spar with Hit?" Champa huffed.
Broly scratched his head, pulled a book from his chest, and handed it to Champa.
Champa: "???"
He blinked, took the book, and looked at the cover.
"Sunflower Manual?" Champa murmured, baffled. Under the title was a line—Under Heaven's martial arts, speed is unbreakable.
What is this?
"It's for you," Broly said cheerfully.
"What does it do?" Champa frowned.
"Ken's gift," Broly explained.
Champa looked at Ken.
"Uh, I found it ages ago when I was traveling the cosmos," Ken smiled, then lowered his voice at Champa's ear. "Know why I'm so strong?"
"Hmph. 'Strong,' you? I've just never gone all out," Champa sniffed, rolling his eyes.
"Do you know how old I am? I've been properly training for less than two years," Ken said with a grin. "I'm only five. I started working on Ultra Instinct when I was four—just the simplified version Whis gave me."
"What? You've trained for less than two years?" Champa was floored.
"Same for Broly," Ken said, pointing.
Broly nodded helpfully.
Champa felt a dagger to the heart.
These two little monkeys have trained for less than two years… and they're already this strong?
"You're telling me… you understood Ultra Instinct so deeply because of this book?" Champa looked from the manual to Ken and Broly.
"That's the idea," Ken nodded.
Champa didn't doubt it.
Ken's growth was too fast.
Even if he were the Grand Priest-sama's secret love child, he shouldn't be this fast.
And leaving Ken aside, that kid Broly was impressive too.
Maybe it really did have something to do with the book.
Curious, Champa opened the Sunflower Manual to the first page.
"To master divine skill, one must first… cut off desire."
Complete this step to unlock page two.
Champa: "…"
He looked up at Ken and Broly, stunned, silent for a long moment before asking, "You two… already practiced it?"
Ken sighed helplessly.
Broly nodded earnestly.
"I have to admire your courage, you two little rascals," Champa said, giving them a sympathetic look.
Do you realize how useful that part is later?
Kids. They don't cherish what they have.
"'Under Heaven's martial arts, speed is unbreakable,'" Ken said. "If you push speed to the utmost, even Ultra Instinct won't save you. That's what the book says—and it's not wrong, is it?"
"No… no, it's not wrong," Champa nodded.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]