Goku's eyes blazed like fire. "Zeno, next tournament, I want to fight the gods!"
"Aaaah! Insult! That's pure insult!"
"How shameless! He dares challenge us gods!"
"Suicidal! A mere mortal, what is he even worth, to make such an absurd request?"
"An ant is still an ant. Does he not understand we could erase him with a single finger?"
The gods, especially the Gods of Destruction, looked ready to tear that arrogant Saiyan apart on the spot.
"But…" Zeno hesitated on his throne.
The Grand Priest seemed to understand what Zeno was thinking. "Your Majesty, rules can be amended. We can hold the tournament in the Divine Realm. That way, even if Gods of Destruction fight each other, it won't endanger the lower realms."
"Okay! Let's do it!" Zeno beamed. "Goku, I approve your request!"
Goku clenched his fist, thrilled. "Yes! Zeno, then I've gotta hurry up and train when I get back. Getting to fight so many strong people… that's exciting!"
The gods' feelings could no longer be described as merely "complicated."
For them, this was not good news at all.
"If Gods of Destruction can compete as fighters… the universe with the best odds is still Universe 7!"
"This is a blatant conspiracy! Son Goku, I've never seen a more cunning villain!"
"From the very beginning, we've been toyed with by this man called Son Goku…"
The Grand Priest smiled faintly. "Then… it is time to announce the results."
"This exhibition tournament has concluded successfully. The champion is Universe 7!"
"And the defeated Universes 6, 9, and 10 will be erased, according to the rules established before the tournament!"
The faces of the three losing universes turned deathly pale.
But the Grand Priest's tone shifted. "Of course, if the gods of your universes are willing to participate as fighters in the next official tournament, the date of punishment will be adjusted accordingly."
At those words, Champa and the others finally breathed again, hurriedly declaring they would participate.
Kusu, the angel of Universe 10, frowned. "Grand Priest, if Lord Rumsshi and Lord Gowasu were still alive, they would also agree to compete."
"I understand, Kusu." The Grand Priest nodded. "Angels must remain neutral, but…"
"This time, I will grant you special permission to revive those two on the condition that they agree to join the tournament."
Joy flashed across Kusu's face. "Yes, Grand Priest!"
Then the Grand Priest continued, announcing the victor's reward.
"As the winners, Universe 7 may make one wish as their prize."
A wish?
No one expected the tournament to come with a bonus like that.
Before this, they'd all thought simply not being erased was the greatest reward possible.
The other universes burned with envy.
But Universe 7's team lit up with smiles.
Frieza, sprawled on the ground and looking half-dead, suddenly perked up. He wriggled slightly. "My wish is "
Before he could finish, Puar slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Y-you're not going to say something weird!"
Frieza's expression twisted as if his deepest secret had been exposed. He glared at Levos like he wanted to murder him on the spot.
Levos rolled his eyes and sent a message directly into his mind. Relax, Your Majesty. I didn't tell anyone about our deal. Puar doesn't know either. Someone once made a dumb wish first and stole the moment she probably just remembered that experience…
The explanation didn't seem to ease Frieza's suspicion. His face stayed sharp and wary.
With Frieza "disqualified," the group immediately began discussing what wish they should make.
Goku said he personally didn't have anything he wanted.
Piccolo and Puar felt the same.
As for Buu, he only wanted tasty food and fun toys hardly worth wasting a once-in-a-cosmic-lifetime wish.
So everyone's gaze naturally fell onto Levos.
"Levos, this wish is yours," Piccolo said, patting his shoulder. "Without you, Universe 7 would've been finished a long time ago. Ask for whatever you want."
Goku urged from the side, "Hurry up and say it, so we can go home and get back to training."
The others chimed in as well.
Seeing how eager they were, Levos let out a quiet sigh.
"If that's the case… then I'll make a small wish."
His eyes shifted to Vados.
"Grand Priest, please restore Miss Vados's body."
Everyone froze.
No one expected Levos to ask for that.
But the more they thought about it, the more it felt right.
For Levos, Vados had stepped beyond an angel's strict neutrality and helped Universe 7 again and again risking complete erasure in the process. A debt like that had to be repaid.
Even with the Grand Priest as a safety net, it was better not to force her to gamble with that kind of risk at all.
After all, in the Moro incident, Merus had returned after being erased… but lost his angelic power and became mortal. The cost of that kind of "revival" was far too great.
Whis suddenly made an exaggerated, horrified face. "Mr. Levos… d-don't tell me you have thoughts about my sister?"
The other angels immediately turned their heads, all wearing the exact same "oh?" expression.
Especially the Grand Priest Levos was certain he saw the corner of that man's mouth twitch upward.
Levos explained calmly, "It's not that I have 'thoughts' about her. It's that she saved Universe 7."
There was no reason to hide it. What happened had already been stated before the tournament, so Levos spoke without the slightest guilt.
Whis's face brightened with understanding. "Ooooh, so that's how it is~~"
The other angels nodded in unison, equally enlightened.
"Ah, so that's how it is~"
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