The entire battlefield had devolved into absolute bedlam.
Energy blasts and shockwaves sprayed everywhere like shrapnel. Space rifts split open across the arena, and if either side slipped up for even a second, they could be dragged into one and swallowed whole.
But once Hit joined the fray, the tide began to shift. It was no longer Kale crushing everyone by herself.
The intensity climbed to another level.
Kale was monstrously strong, but Frieza and the others were also top-tier fighters, each with their own strengths. With coordinated teamwork, the situation gradually turned against Kale.
Hit's Time-Skip–derived techniques were already difficult enough, but his Time Freeze-like "Time Cage" (Toki-Tome / "Time Lag") made Kale's life miserable. Under constant pressure and disruption, she was forced into a defensive, increasingly passive state.
As time dragged on, Kale's continuously rising power reached the point where her body simply couldn't handle it anymore. Her aura started to destabilize in waves. Wounds appeared across her body, one after another.
Even with all her rage, she finally began to decline.
Her attacks lost precision.
Lost threat.
The moment everyone saw Kale falter, their spirits lifted.
Only Caulifla felt irritated. She had placed enormous hopes on Kale, and she genuinely wanted her junior to crush everyone completely.
"Kale, hold on! Beat them all flat!"
Levos reminded her, "At a time like this, we should be thinking about getting her rationality back making sure she can participate in the next round properly."
"…You're right." Caulifla scratched her head, immediately changing her tune. "Kale, don't let anger control you! I believe you can come back to yourself!"
Kale had already proved her strength in front of everyone. Now, her safety and whether she could regain her mind mattered most.
But Kale didn't listen.
She kept roaring, howling, and attacking Frieza like a berserk beast.
Caulifla's panic deepened.
"Um…" She stared hard at Levos, eyes blazing. "Levos, that stinking fat cat said you're the person who understands Saiyans the most. Do you have any way to help Kale regain her sanity?"
"Uh…" Levos searched his memory, thinking through what he knew about Kale's situation.
"You definitely know, don't you?" Caulifla pressed. The hesitation only convinced her more. "Please. Tell me."
She clenched her teeth. "As long as I can get Kale back to normal… I'll do anything you ask!"
Levos nearly stumbled.
This conversation was starting to sound like he was some sleazy villain cornering a heroine.
"I do have a way…"
Levos had never intended to sit there and watch Kale burn herself to death under her own swelling power. So he told Caulifla the method without delay.
"So you mean… first clear up the misunderstanding, then have the person she treasures most persuade her talk her down, pull her back?" Caulifla asked.
Levos nodded. "Exactly. And it has to be you. The person Kale cares about most has always been you."
"Mm!" Caulifla's eyes shone with gratitude. "Levos… you're really a good guy!"
"…I'm alright." Levos rubbed his nose.
Caulifla glanced at the arena with a hint of reluctance. "Then… we'll settle who wins next time. And when that time comes, you're not allowed to hide your strength again!"
With that, Caulifla immediately declared she was forfeiting the match and flew straight toward Kale.
"The winner of this round is Levos," the Grand Priest announced calmly, seeing the situation.
Levos sighed. Caulifla was too straightforward. She could've shouted all of this from the ring.
Up in the sky, Kale despite being restrained by multiple elites grew even more frantic.
There wasn't a single uninjured patch left on Frieza. If this continued, he truly wouldn't be able to hold on anymore.
"Kale, stop! I'm totally fine! That ki blast from Levos wasn't meant to kill me he shared his energy with me. It helped me recover and break through!"
Kale froze.
Her assault slowed.
Caulifla seized the opening. "Do you know how I felt when I saw how strong you are? I was happy. I was excited. You've already proven yourself to everyone!"
Kale's expression shifted. The murderous aura eased.
"S-Senpai…"
Seeing the effect, Frieza secretly exhaled in relief. "Hmph! This time I won't hold it against you. Next time I'll teach you a lesson."
The others also withdrew at the right moment.
"My junior is this strong…" Caulifla flew right in front of Kale. "I'm seriously proud of you!"
That sentence softened Kale further.
"I… I don't want to be alone," Kale rasped. "I'm really scared you'll leave me…"
Caulifla laughed, bright and unforced. "How could I leave you? You're my beloved junior!"
The whiteness in Kale's pupils faded. Clarity returned.
Her chaotic aura dispersed at the same time, and her overdrawn body shrank back to normal almost instantly.
Frieza's heart finally dropped back into his chest.
This entire nightmare had been placed on his shoulders. The physical pain was one thing what nearly drove him insane was the double torment of his mind and pride.
Kale's lips curved into a faint, blissful smile… and she fell from the air.
Caulifla caught her immediately, pulling her into her arms.
Kale forced her eyes open. "Senpai… we have to be together forever."
And then she passed out.
"Of course, Kale." Caulifla's eyes were full of tenderness.
Watching the scene, Levos couldn't stop the involuntary "auntie smile" tugging at his lips.
Good. Good. Good.
Once things calmed down, Levos immediately asked Buu to heal Kale.
A moment later…
When Kale woke up again, she found herself at the center of a heated argument.
"There's no need for Kale to fight the final round."
"Agreed. She's already proven she can overwhelm every contestant here."
"Our Universe 9 fighters refuse to share a stage with a monster like that!"
"Universe 10 feels the same!"
"Just declare her and Universe 6 the winners."
"Exactly. There's no point going up there anymore everyone else will just forfeit the moment the match begins."
The Grand Priest listened patiently to all opinions.
When no one spoke again, his gaze fell on Puar.
"Contestant Puar. Universe 9 and Universe 10 have already forfeited the next round. What is your decision?"
Puar looked up at the Grand Priest, trembling. Her voice was small and weak.
"I… I won't forfeit. Even if it costs my life, I'll win the match."
The other universes stared, dumbfounded.
"Does this kid… not look very smart?"
"After that brawl, who would dare step onto the ring to challenge Kale?"
"And she looks so soft and fragile she'd probably cry for ages after one punch."
"I watched her in the free-for-all too. Other than transforming into tools, she didn't show anything special."
But people quickly realized why she was insisting.
"Beerus, have you no shame?! Forcing her up there against her will what's the point?!"
"So you can't accept losing? You don't even have the dignity of a God of Destruction anymore?!"
Beerus flatly denied it.
No one believed him.
"Puar, right? Don't be afraid. Tell us what you really think. We'll all back you up!"
Puar's expression stayed earnest. She repeated herself carefully, as if afraid they hadn't heard.
"I… I will not forfeit. I want to fight."
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