"Where do you think you're going?"
Beerus' cold voice sliced through the air like a blade.
Gran's small body trembled instinctively, his hands immediately clutching his backside as if in premonition.
Whis' lips twitched. Oh, so the kid knows he's about to get spanked again, huh?
"Oh! Lord Beerus! Lord Whis! You're back already?"
Gran turned around with a flattering grin, bowing deeply. "Welcome home, the most revered God of Destruction and the noble Angel of the universe!"
Beerus: "..."
Whis: "..."
Did this little brat really think groveling like that would save him from what's coming?
"A-anyway, to celebrate your glorious return, I'll go make you both a feast!"
Without another word, Gran spun around and bolted — faster than a rabbit in front of a hawk. Now wasn't the time to talk. Now was the time to run.
But
"Huh? Why am I moving backward?!"
Before Gran even realized it, his body was yanked back through the air. Within seconds, he was floating right in front of Beerus — the Destroyer's single raised hand exerting an irresistible pull before casually lowering it again.
Beerus cracked his neck and said coldly, "Kid… You've got some nerve. Wearing that gravity suit and sneaking into the Sumī Realm? You must have a death wish."
Gran's back went cold. He stammered, "L-Lord Beerus, p-please, let me explain—"
"No need to explain. Come."
Beerus' eyes gleamed with predatory amusement. "Let's see just how much your 'training' in the Sumī Realm has improved you. And pray that your results can withstand my attacks—because if not, you're dead meat."
"N-no, wait!"
BOOM!!
Beerus stomped the ground. A massive crater formed under his feet as he shot forward like a living cannonball, space itself collapsing in his wake.
Whis sighed, his expression darkening. "He's really mad this time. Poor kid…"
"Damn it! Don't think I'll just take it lying down, Lord Beerus!"
Gran's pupils constricted as the air in front of him shattered like glass. He swallowed hard.
So this… this is the power of the strongest God of Destruction?!
But to submit without fighting back? Impossible.
"HAH!!"
BOOM!!
Gran's aura didn't flare outward — no visible flames, no burst of ki. Yet within him, the terrifying power level of one billion erupted in silence.
Here he comes!
The fragmented void rushed toward Gran — and then Beerus appeared before him.
BANG!!
Their fists — one small, one immense — collided. The resulting shockwave instantly vaporized the entire lake beside them.
Gran could tell Beerus had pulled his punch, yet it still felt like smashing into the hardest stone in the universe.
"It hurts!!"
The raw force distorted the muscles in his arm.
"What's wrong, kid? That all you've got?"
Beerus looked almost disappointed.
Gran's growth had been monstrous — a jump to one billion power in half a year was beyond absurd, even by divine standards. But his fighting instincts...
Then, in the next instant — Beerus' disappointed expression changed to one of delighted surprise.
He felt it.
Gran was redirecting the force — dispersing impact through his body.
He was learning to fight!
"You little brat!"
Beerus laughed out loud and threw another punch.
BOOM!!
Gran absorbed most of the force through subtle motion, but the remainder sent him flying backward.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Beerus pursued instantly.
Gran grinned, excitement burning in his eyes. He could feel his blood boiling, every cell screaming in exhilaration.
"Come on, Lord Beerus—keep it coming!!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
Two streaks of light danced across the sky — colliding, entwining, tearing the heavens apart. Each impact unleashed waves of scorching energy that reduced the entire landscape below to dust.
Watching from afar, Whis tightened his grip on his staff.
"To think… I thought it was terrifying enough for him to reach one billion in just half a year. But now—he's actually developed combat instincts!"
"Technique, awareness, control of force… He's not perfect yet, but this is the first stage — the First Stage of Bodily Instinct."
"I only gave him a gravity suit… could he have learned all this just from training in the Sumī Realm? In just six months…?"
Whis' calm expression finally cracked — awe gleaming in his eyes.
"If this is truly his own understanding, then this boy…"
"Damn this feels good!!"
Gran was knocked back ten meters, but he refused to stay down. He threw himself forward again, fists blazing with life.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Their battle expanded — from hundreds of miles to thousands. The clash reached its peak.
Beerus appeared behind Gran, both fists raised high before slamming down with deadly precision
But
Gran's First Stage of Bodily Instinct triggered. His body moved on its own, predicting the attack before it landed.
He released all his power in an instant, the force erupting outward and blasting Beerus away.
He had defended successfully!
"Not bad, kid! Let's see you block this one!"
Beerus lunged again.
"RAAAH!!"
Gran twisted midair, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He managed to disperse most of the impact with an uncanny motion — yet even so, the sheer might tore through his body.
"Gwah!!"
Gran spat blood, his body trembling violently.
But Beerus didn't stop. He wanted to see just how far the boy could go.
BOOM!
They clashed again — Gran activating the Ultra Instinct (Imperfect Form) to survive.
At the final stage, when even that wasn't enough, he unleashed the Prince's Combat Style—a desperate, refined offensive technique.
BOOM!!
The sky rained energy.
The earth below cracked apart.
Gran threw everything he had into the fight.
Had his opponent been any ordinary warrior with one billion power—or even Lightning Cell himself—Gran would have utterly annihilated them.
But against Beerus—the most powerful God of Destruction—even suppressed to equal strength—there could only be one result.
After half a year of brutal training…
Gran still lost.
Yet…
The battle wasn't truly over.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Soon, the sound of repeated smacks echoed across the Realm of the Destroyer.
"AAAH! My butt! It hurts! Lord Beerus, please stop!"
"Did you learn your lesson?"
"I—what lesson?!"
"You dare talk back?!"
"AAAH! I was wrong! I was wrong about everything!!"
"Hmph. You think I don't know? With that little bit of strength, and you had the nerve to enter the Sumī Realm wearing a gravity suit? Were you trying to die?"
"S-sorry! I'll never do it again!"
"There'll be a next time?!"
"N-no! No next time!"
And thus, throughout the vast God of Destruction's realm…
Gran's agonized cries echoed long into the horizon.