"Invincible."
The word hung in the air like a sacred promise, and Vegeta felt his breath catch as Whis spoke it with such casual certainty. Perhaps it was merely the angel's tendency for exaggeration—yet the scene unfolding before his eyes left no room for doubt. This was the true power of Ultra Instinct. This was the true power of Raditz.
And he had only comprehended half of it.
Goku was being utterly crushed. Every strike Raditz landed seemed effortless, every dodge perfectly timed. The combined might of godly ki and the Kaioken's explosive amplification meant nothing before that silver aura. Goku's breathing had become ragged, his movements a fraction slower with each passing second. His body trembled with exhaustion, barely holding together under the strain.
Vegeta's fists clenched involuntarily. This is the gap between us now.
In the Universe 6 stands, Hit's expression remained impassive, but his words carried absolute finality. "Goku is going to lose."
As a warrior who'd reached the pinnacle of martial mastery, Hit could read the flow of battle better than most. He understood better than anyone that the explosive energy of Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken surpassed even his own peak power—and yet Raditz moved through it like morning mist. The Saiyan had transcended that level entirely, operating on a plane Hit could only glimpse.
Frustrating, Hit thought, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. But undeniable.
Champa's entire body trembled. "Vados... did he really achieve it? That technique..."
"Indeed, Lord Champa." Vados's smile carried a hint of mischief, though her eyes gleamed with genuine awe. "You should be developing quite the crisis of faith right about now, shouldn't you? Though Raditz hasn't fully mastered Ultra Instinct, his rate of progression is simply extraordinary. If he continues developing at this pace..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Even Gods of Destruction may find themselves surpassed."
"That's impossible..." Champa's voice came out as a strangled whisper, but the unease in his chest wouldn't dissipate.
From their first meeting, Champa had sensed something different about Raditz—something that defied the natural order. Every subsequent encounter had only deepened that instinctive recognition. Battle after battle, transformation after transformation, Raditz had shattered every ceiling placed before him. And now, watching that figure dominate the arena with godly grace...
He's already comparable to a deity, Champa realized with growing dread. And he might actually surpass us.
In the arena, Goku had been pushed to the absolute limit.
His body screamed in protest with every movement. The Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken combination was destroying him from within—muscles tearing under the strain, bones creaking beneath the impossible pressure, ki pathways burning with overuse. Where Raditz moved with inexhaustible fluidity, Goku felt his energy hemorrhaging away with each exchange.
This was far more exhausting than any previous battle. The constant assault left no opening for recovery, no moment to catch his breath. Every muscle fiber ached with accumulated damage, his bones grinding together under the relentless load.
I'm at my limit, Goku acknowledged, his vision beginning to blur at the edges. But I can't give up now! Not yet!
"BROTHER!" Goku's roar echoed across the arena as he raised both arms to block Raditz's next strike. The impact sent shockwaves through his bones, but he used the momentum to create distance, already drawing his hands to his side. "KAMEHAME—"
His entire body blazed blue as he poured everything into the technique.
"—HAAAA!"
The massive beam of azure energy erupted from his palms, tearing through the air toward Raditz with devastating force.
Raditz could have dodged. With Ultra Instinct guiding his movements, evading the Kamehameha would have been trivial. Instead, his lips curved into a small smile. "A beam clash? Very well." He brought his own hands together at his side, ki gathering between his palms with brilliant intensity. "Let's settle this!"
"KAMEHAME—HAAA!"
The twin beams collided in an explosion of light and fury.
Blue and white energy spiraled together at the point of impact, neither giving ground. The friction between the opposing forces generated terrifying waves of power that rippled outward in every direction. The protective barrier around the arena shattered like glass, fragments of energy scattering into the void. The spectators in the stands erupted into panic as the shockwave reached them, many scrambling backward in terror.
Only the presence of the Gods of Destruction prevented total chaos.
At the center of the maelstrom, muscles bulging beneath his blue aura, veins standing out like cords across his skin, Goku gritted his teeth hard enough to crack them. His joints popped audibly under the strain. "KAIOKEN TIMES TEN!"
His aura exploded outward, the crimson energy of the Kaioken wrapping around his godly blue ki like flames. The Kamehameha surged forward, momentarily pushing Raditz's beam back.
But Raditz simply increased his own output, silver light intensifying around his form. "Ten times it is!"
The white energy washed forward like a tidal wave, immediately overwhelming Goku's technique and driving it back toward him.
"Hnnngh... ghhh..." Goku's arms trembled violently, his strength failing rapidly. The feedback from the beam clash was tearing him apart. Every second felt like an eternity of agony.
In the brilliant chaos of colliding energies, their shadows stretched long across the broken arena floor—sharp as blades, dark as midnight. One shadow stood firm and unwavering. The other wavered, twisting and bending, growing increasingly unstable.
"Brother... you really are incredible." Goku's voice came out barely above a whisper, but somehow carried across the arena. A weak smile crossed his face even as his body gave out. "Haha..."
His blue hair flickered once, twice—then reverted to black in an instant.
Goku collapsed.
With no resistance remaining, Raditz's Kamehameha surged forward unimpeded, racing toward the fallen Saiyan and the edge of the arena beyond. The beam carved through the ground, its destructive potential immeasurable.
Vados moved in a blur of divine speed, her staff glowing as she intercepted both energy waves. With a graceful gesture, she dissolved the competing Kamehamehas before they could cause further destruction. In the same moment, Raditz blurred forward, catching his unconscious brother before he could hit the ground and pulling him to safety.
The arena fell silent for a heartbeat.
Then everyone released the breath they'd been holding—relief flooding through the spectators in waves.
"Holy... I thought we were done for!"
"That power was absolutely terrifying! I never want to witness something like that again!"
The crowd erupted into excited chatter, their fear quickly transforming into awe. For Vegeta and Hit, however, there was no relief—only a profound sense of shock mixed with burning envy. They'd glimpsed the true nature of Ultra Instinct, seen its overwhelming superiority with their own eyes. That knowledge filled them with equal parts reverence and determination.
I will reach that level, both warriors thought simultaneously, their competitive spirits already blazing.
Whis moved gracefully to Goku's side, healing his injuries with a gentle touch while simultaneously restoring the destroyed arena to its pristine condition. The crater-filled battleground reformed as though nothing had happened, the protective barrier reconstructing itself around the space.
Because this demonstration hadn't been an official match, the tournament results still needed to be formally announced. But the spectators remained lost in the afterglow of what they'd witnessed, unable to process anything beyond the incredible battle between Raditz and Goku. That clash had been too shocking, too magnificent to simply move past.
The host had to call for attention several times before finally managing to reclaim the crowd's focus. Raising his microphone high, he proclaimed in a ringing voice: "In the martial arts tournament between Universe Seven and Universe Six, the ultimate victor is... UNIVERSE SEVEN!"
Though everyone had known the outcome, the official announcement still triggered an explosion of celebration. The Universe 7 section erupted into cheers and applause. Beerus practically levitated with smugness, his grin stretching from ear to ear as he basked in victory.
Meanwhile, the Universe 6 stands had fallen into gloomy silence. Champa's expression could curdle milk, while his team members hung their heads in dejection.
Then, without warning, both Vados and Whis straightened. Their playful demeanors vanished instantly, replaced by absolute gravity. In perfectly synchronized voices laden with reverence, they announced: "His Majesty is arriving."
"Z-Z-Zeno?!" Beerus's eyes went wide as dinner plates. "LORD ZENO?!"
Both Gods of Destruction scrambled toward the arena entrance with undignified haste, all pretense of divine composure abandoned. The Supreme Kais quickly followed suit, taking their positions and bowing deeply. Even Raditz, standing on the arena floor, lowered himself in respect.
"Zeno?" The other spectators exchanged confused glances before following the direction of everyone's gaze.
A small, child-like figure descended from above, flanked by tall, slender guards. He had a round head with colorful markings, innocent eyes, and an almost adorable appearance. Yet every god at the apex of the universe—Gods of Destruction, Supreme Kais, even the angels—knelt before him without hesitation.
For beings who'd never witnessed a God of Destruction show fear before, the message was unmistakable: this "Zeno" occupied a level of authority beyond their comprehension.
"Lord Zeno stands at the absolute pinnacle of all existence," Whis explained with an gentle smile, though his tone carried unprecedented solemnity. He floated down to the arena floor and took a knee alongside everyone else. "He is the Omni-King, sovereign of all twelve universes."
Stunned silence gripped the crowd. Even the concept seemed impossible—a single being who ruled over everything, to whom even angels showed deference. The tall guards flanking Zeno had bizarre appearances and radiated quiet menace, their serious expressions and steady gazes making even Gods of Destruction shift uncomfortably.
"We humbly apologize for not greeting Your Majesty upon arrival!" Beerus and Champa shouted in perfect unison, their voices cracking slightly with barely suppressed panic. Sweat poured down their faces.
If the Gods of Destruction were terrified, the Supreme Kais were nearly paralyzed. Shin's face had gone completely white, his entire body trembling so violently he could barely maintain his prostrate position. Even the Old Kai, with all his eons of experience, looked pale and shaken.
One of Zeno's guards spoke in a flat, authoritative tone: "You organized this tournament without official sanction. Lord Zeno wishes to remind you about proper protocols..."
"Yes! We're deeply sorry!" Both Gods of Destruction pressed their faces harder against the ground, their voices overlapping in desperate apology.
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