"Ahem let's table the other timeline for later," Future Trunks said, face a little hot. "For this ritual, we need Mr. Levos too."
Goku was intrigued by the "I'm a grandpa?!" bombshell, but the lure of getting stronger was stronger still.
"Levos, you done eating yet?"
The relentless refueling had finally dulled that bottomless Saiyan hunger clawing at Levos' gut.
"Not yet but I've got enough in the tank," Levos said. "I should be fine to help with the ritual."
A chorus of tiny sighs rippled through the onlookers more disappointed that the gossip was being cut off than relieved the ritual could proceed.
Levos wiped his hands with a napkin, reluctantly tore himself from the table, and walked over to the five waiting Saiyans.
"So who's up first?"
They all hesitated. The Super Saiyan God rite wasn't something they could spam; afterwards, the form would need either another ritual or real training to wield at will. In the original timeline, Goku first reached it via the rite; Vegeta later attained it under Whis' tutelage.
"In that case, let Future Trunks go first," Levos decided.
Trunks had been born without a tail meaning SSJ4 was basically a dead end for him. Better to let him anchor the first SSG and spike the team's overall power. Future Trunks' base power wasn't below Goku's anyway; the choice wasn't outrageous. Goku and Gohan, and even Puar, still had a (painful) path back to tails if they ever needed the SSJ4 route.
As for "SSJ4 vs. Super Saiyan God"… Levos personally figured SSJ4 could square up to Blue, with Golden Great Ape and the red God form as transitional rungs below them. Aesthetics? Heated debate at best. Levos liked SSJ4's look, but he had no plans to give up either path.
"Me? First?" Future Trunks checked.
Levos nodded. "You."
"Do your best, Trunks," Goku grinned.
Future Trunks took a long breath and stepped to the center.
"Everyone, join hands and form a circle. Close your eyes. Listen to your heart quietly."
They followed his lead.
As seconds stretched, each of them felt their feet leave the ground. A strange pulse rippled out from the ring of six. One by one, a gold aura wrapped each body; hair lifted and flashed to Super Saiyan on its own.
Even Puar snapped into a Super Saiyan state and so did Levos though the two of them shone a distinctive yellow-green instead of pure gold.
They cracked their eyes open; their minds were calm as still water.
Whis and Vados exchanged a look. "That is indeed divine ki," Whis murmured.
The sky poured down rosy light. The world wavered as if half dream, half waking.
And then it ebbed.
Everyone but Future Trunks drifted back to the ground and returned to base form. They turned to him.
His sea-blue hair had gone crimson; his frame looked a touch leaner. A cloak of scarlet flame wrapped him; his irises were a dusky red-black. He looked… younger, lighter.
"We did it," Levos breathed then promptly sat back down and returned to the food.
"I can't feel Trunks' ki," someone whispered.
"That's because it's divine," Whis said. "Ordinary senses won't catch it."
Goku bounced on his heels. "How's it feel, Trunks?"
"It's… strange. Hard to describe. My heart's very still. It doesn't feel like any Super Saiyan stage," Trunks answered honestly.
"That's the mark of stepping into a godly realm," Vados smiled.
"So… the same tier as Zamasu? The color's a bit different, though," Goku muttered.
"Reaching the divine isn't just a different aura or palette," Whis said lightly. "Your bearing, your mind, your power everything shifts."
"I understand," Trunks said, nodding.
"Then let's spar!" Goku said, already rolling his shoulders.
Before Trunks could accept, the sky tore open with a shriek. Two brutal shockwaves spilled out and Piccolo and Beerus tumbled free.
Both looked wrecked. One of Beerus's ears hung limp; his body was crosshatched with shallow cuts. Piccolo had it worse his gi was in tatters, pale purple blood slicking his frame, his left arm severed at the shoulder.
Piccolo clenched his jaw. "As expected of a God of Destruction. I lost this one."
Beerus snorted, unsatisfied, no triumph in his eyes.
"You lost to me, yes but don't get the wrong idea. I'm not your average Destroyer. Even without using my best, you did well to push me."
He flicked his wrist. A massive sphere of annihilation screamed toward Piccolo.
Levos vanished.
He reappeared in front of Piccolo, body already surging into Perfect Cell Max an inferno of crimson ki roaring off him. He thrust both hands forward.
"Ultimate Kamehameha!"
Beerus's eyes narrowed; he raised a palm.
The world buckled. The Hakai sphere collapsed but the beam of pure destruction didn't stop. It lanced past, punched through the sky, and faded into space.
A breath later, Levos and Piccolo were back in Capsule Corp's garden.
"Trunks cover me," Levos said, dropping back to his base and diving for the plates again.
"I've got it," Future Trunks said.
"Don't overdo it. If you can't hold, yield immediately," Levos pressed.
"O-okay!"
"Puar transform into a greatsword," Levos added. "Let Trunks feel what a Destroyer's really like."
People blinked. Puar… as a weapon?
Well… why not? Given her lack of combat polish, it might even be the best way to leverage her new body.
"Got it!"
With a soft pop, the blue-haired girl became a broad, keen blade floating in midair. Trunks stepped up, gripped the hilt with both hands and his aura climbed again, steady and sure.
"Lord Beerus," Levos called up, voice carrying, "here's the 'Super Saiyan God' from your dream. How about a friendly round with him first?"
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