Whis stared straight ahead. His voice was calm, yet in Gran's ears, it boomed like thunder.
Senzu Beans, Ultra Divine Water, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber…
Everything on Korin Tower and in the Heavenly Realm was mysterious.
And all of these things, clearly—were created by Popo.
As for Popo himself…
Setting aside the question of his lifespan, even in the anime, he once taught Son Goku that his heart must become as calm as the sky, and his strikes as swift as lightning.
That was exactly the Ultra Instinct that Whis was teaching Gran now.
Someone who could use Ultra Instinct—how could Popo possibly be weak?
"I always thought he was strong… looks like we were the ones who jumped to conclusions."
Beerus and Champa weren't as shocked as Gran. They never believed Popo was all that strong to begin with.
"Lord Beerus is right. It was just our own assumptions," Vados added. "That tower and the entire Heavenly Realm are so ancient and so miraculous that, naturally, we assumed the one guarding it must be powerful."
Whis nodded. "In truth, the strength we sensed from him on the surface is exactly the strength he possesses."
"He didn't hide some unknown power. Judging by the battle standards of Universe Seven… at most, he had a power level of 1,000."
1,000?
Gran's eyes widened. That was even weaker than Raditz during the invasion of Earth. Was that truly the power of the mysterious Popo?
Seeing Gran's expression, Whis spoke faintly: "What? Still don't believe it?"
"It's just… hard to accept."
"No wonder."
Whis sighed softly. "When I first stepped into that Heavenly Realm, I sensed how unnervingly calm he was. I instinctively assumed he was a formidable warrior."
He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "The danger of preconceived notions… even an angel like me fell into that trap."
Beside him, Vados reached out and gently rubbed Gran's head. "But that is his true strength. Otherwise, how could you have blown him apart with a single punch?"
The moment her words fell
Gran froze.
Right.
If Popo were truly powerful, how could he have died from a single punch?
At that moment, not only Gran but even the Elder Kaiōshin trio finally accepted it:
Popo was weak. Truly weak.
"Whis… so by your explanation, he was basically just an ordinary person?"
Beerus frowned. Something still didn't sit right with him.
How could an ordinary person possess so many miraculous items?
And according to Whis earlier, that man had even committed the grave crime of tampering with time.
"No, Lord Beerus—that part is wrong."
Whis' expression shifted instantly. He became serious.
"I never once said he was an ordinary person."
"???"
Everyone froze, blindsided yet again by another twist.
Gran blinked. "Didn't you say his power was weak? Then how is he not an ordinary person?"
The Elder Kaiōshin trio nodded vigorously in agreement.
Champa snapped, "Whis, you're dragging this out too long! Can't you just say it all at once?"
BAM!
Vados' fist smashed down on Champa's head.
"Watch your tone when you're speaking to my little brother."
Champa clutched his head, instantly silenced.
The scene should've been funny, but Gran had no mind to laugh—his attention never left Whis.
"His strength is indeed weak. But I never said he was normal," Whis continued. "If he were truly just a normal being, how would he possess things like Korin Tower and Senzu Beans?"
His gaze swept across Gran and Beerus.
Both nodded heavily—this was exactly what had been bothering them.
"Gran, let me ask you something."
Whis fixed his eyes on him. Under that gaze, Gran tensed up.
What was Whis about to ask?
"When you struck down that black-faced man… did you sense that he, too, possessed Ultra Instinct?"
BOOM!
Everyone except the two angels trembled inwardly.
Among all the Gods of Destruction, only Beerus had mastered Ultra Instinct.
And now Gran.
Both had monstrous talent. Them mastering it made sense.
But that black-faced weakling—why would he know it?
"Wait!"
Beerus suddenly spoke up. "When Gran blew him apart, I also sensed a faint… almost indetectable divine aura."
"I thought his body had simply picked up Gran's aura from the impact."
"But based on what you're saying, Whis… that faint aura belonged to him?"
Whis didn't answer. He continued staring at Gran.
Everyone turned their eyes toward him.
Gran hesitated, then nodded hard.
"I… think so."
"When I struck him, I remember being stunned. But looking back, he really did try to avoid my attack on instinct—like he was using Ultra Instinct. He just wasn't strong enough to dodge it."
BOOM!
Gran's confirmation struck everyone like lightning.
Especially Champa—veins bulged on his forehead.
Beerus and Gran having talent was one thing.
But how could that guy—weak and unremarkable—master a divine technique like this?
"Exactly," Whis continued. "Senzu Beans equal healing magic. The Time Rooms equal manipulation of time. He had eternal life. He mastered perfect Ultra Instinct…"
Then he swept his eyes across everyone.
"When you combine all of that—what conclusion do you reach?"
Gran didn't even need to think.
"An angel!!"
The moment the word dropped
A golden flash lit up everyone's mind.
BOOM!!!
Thunder exploded in their heads.
Yes. Only angels could accomplish all of this.
They felt their minds buzzing—Popo was actually… an angel?!
"Correct. That man was an angel," Whis said, looking at Gran with approval.
Gran didn't even hear him. He stood frozen, murmuring "No wonder…" over and over.
No wonder Popo could teach Son Goku how to calm his heart like the sky and strike like lightning.
If Popo was an angel—everything made sense.
"Whis, you're saying he was an angel. But why would an angel be that weak?" Beerus asked.
The Elder Kaiōshins also turned toward Whis.
"That angel… we don't know him," Vados said. "But I do remember Father mentioning once that among the angels of his generation… one was extremely strange."
"That angel almost never used true angelic powers. Instead, he had to create tools to replicate angel abilities."
"Just like what Whis said earlier—Senzu Beans for healing magic, the Time Rooms for time manipulation…"
"Perhaps that pitch-black man was the one Father spoke of."
Hearing this, everything finally clicked.
So that was the truth behind Popo.
Even knowing the answer, everyone's hearts were still unsettled.
A weak angel… such a thing was unheard of.
Gran felt just as shaken.
He looked at his own hands.
He… had just killed an angel.
END OF CHAPTER
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