Beerus fixed his intense, golden gaze on the figure.
Although he sensed the divine aura radiating from the Grand Kaioshin, his memory remained blank. There was no flicker of recognition.
All Beerus registered was the distinctive clothing, the undeniable attire of a Kaioshin.
Beerus casually dug a finger into his ear, utterly unconcerned, before replying,
"I don't recall you. Are you the current Kaioshin?" He yawned and stretched his arms as he spoke. "I slept for a few decades this time around. I thought the East Kaioshin was that little runt. So, are you the new one?"
"Oh, and speaking of that kid, I wonder if he did his job properly while I was sleeping."
Beerus's response was languid, bordering on bored.
The Grand Kaioshin narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew exactly who Beerus was referring to:
Supreme Kai Shin, the one to whom he had entrusted the final hope of the Kaioshin lineage before Majin Buu absorbed him all those centuries ago.
The Grand Kaioshin let out a soft, knowing chuckle and spoke.
"Haha, it seems Lord Beerus hasn't changed a bit. You still value your sleep above all else. But perhaps you should take a closer look at me. Do you truly not remember who I am?"
He persisted in trying to jog Beerus's memory, though his eyes subtly flickered toward Goku and Vegeta behind him.
At that moment, Goku and Vegeta were still struggling desperately to free their hands from the enormous energy sphere pressing down on them.
Beerus's eyes sharpened instantly, a flicker of cold annoyance flashing across them.
"Hey, you. Listen closely. I am a God of Destruction. I am currently carrying out official duties. If you are truly a Kaioshin, then you should be well aware of the role and limitations of a Kaioshin when a Destroyer is at work."
The Grand Kaioshin understood this perfectly.
But having gradually awakened within Majin Buu over the years, he had pieced together the stark truth: Universe 7 had plummeted to near the bottom of the twelve universes ever since the Majin Buu crisis, centuries ago.
Its decline was due to two fundamental flaws:
First, Beerus, the Destroyer, was perpetually asleep.
The other was Kaioshin Shin, who lacked the will to interfere and the strength to guide the universe's development.
Beerus had the ability to rule, yet he neglected it. He left management to Frieza, who acted ruthlessly according to his own savage whims.
This monumental failure caused the universal quality index to plummet dramatically.
Now, Beerus has only just awakened, oblivious to the state of the universe.
Yet, the first thing he intended to do was to cause chaos and destroy the one planet that held one of the last remaining high-quality civilizations in Universe 7: Earth.
The Grand Kaioshin exhaled softly before continuing.
"Lord Beerus, you are correct. However..."
Before he could finish, Beerus's demeanor darkened, and his patience wore thin.
"A newly appointed Kaioshin thinks he can interfere with the execution of my duties?"
The Grand Kaioshin's eyes snapped open.
He sensed the unmistakable presence of hostility emanating from Beerus. Perhaps it wasn't true killing intent as Beerus simply felt his pride challenged and intended to deliver a forceful intimidation.
The Grand Kaioshin merely smiled again.
"Lord Beerus, surely you realize we share a symbiotic relationship. If I were to perish, then you would too."
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone's eyes flew wide open in shock. Goku and Vegeta felt as though they had just heard an impossible secret. Goku froze, stunned by the revelation.
"Kakarot! Don't lose focus!" Vegeta barked, though he, too, had faltered for the briefest instant.
Of everyone present, only Gohan, consumed by his mission, continued to channel his full power.
"Hurry... Dad... Vegeta Oji-San..."
Goten and Bulla watched like bewildered spectators, unable to comprehend the divine politics at play.
The next moment, Goku violently pulled his attention back to the sphere.
"Right!"
Beerus spoke with complete, chilling indifference:
"So what you're saying is that you actually believe I can't touch you?"
"I remember, who knows how many centuries ago, using a sealing sword on a Kaioshin. He was so weak that to keep him from getting killed, I had no choice but to seal him away."
"I'm thinking... perhaps I should seal you, too. What do you think?"
The Grand Kaioshin still wore his pleasant smile. But beneath that smile, his resolve was absolute.
Beerus's arrogance and tyranny were legendary—stories the Grand Kaioshin had heard since childhood. Seeing it firsthand today confirmed every terrible account.
The very next second, a blade materialized silently in the Grand Kaioshin's hand. No one had seen him draw it.
With a crisp metallic whisper, the sword slid from its sheath, and he placed the sharpened edge directly against his own throat.
Beerus froze instantly.
"Y-you! What in the hell are you doing?!"
The Grand Kaioshin simply smiled in silence, meeting Beerus's glare with a single meaningful look.
That minuscule gesture contained such a potent threat that Beerus immediately channeled his Destruction Energy to neutralize the blade before it could cause any harm.
"You dare threaten the God of Destruction?" Beerus roared, his face contorted in a terrifying mix of fury and disbelief.
Seeing Beerus so flustered, the Grand Kaioshin maintained his calm, polite smile.
Beside them, Bulla and Son Goten couldn't help but exchange small, satisfied smirks. This scene was far too gratifying to witness.
The Grand Kaioshin finally spoke. His tone was measured and almost apologetic:
"Hehe... Lord Beerus, how could I possibly threaten you?"
"Besides, do you really not remember me?"
Do you recall the Hide-and-Seek Tournament hosted by Lord Zen'ō, the King of All? We met briefly then, though I was much younger at the time."
"I am not the current Kaioshin. The 'little guy' you mentioned—Shin—is the one who currently holds the position."
As for me, I am the former Grand Kaioshin.
Millions of years ago, during the Majin Buu crisis, before I was absorbed, I passed my divine role to the East Kaioshin—the 'little one' you speak of."
"At that time, you were also fast asleep. In other words, if I hadn't entrusted the position to Shin, you would have died quietly in your sleep."
His tone was mild, but every sentence was a precise, cutting accusation, a stark reminder of Beerus's centuries of negligence.
Meanwhile, the Grand Kaioshin's peripheral vision kept returning to Goku and Vegeta, who were still struggling against the energy sphere.
As long as he kept Beerus occupied, distracted, and off-balance, the sphere would not continue to expand.
And that meant that Goku and Vegeta's fusion plan would succeed.
After observing Earth's remarkable warriors for so many years, the Grand Kaioshin firmly believed in their abilities and character.
They were undeniably the ones best suited for the task of maintaining peace in the universe.
Therefore, he absolutely could not allow Beerus to destroy Earth.
He knew he couldn't stop Beerus by force. A God of Destruction's decision is absolute, and he couldn't defeat Beerus in a fight.
If killing himself would stop Beerus, he would have done so without hesitation.
However, the person tied to Beerus's life was not him.
Someone else held that unbreakable bond.
From Beerus's own words, the Grand Kaioshin had confirmed a piece of lore: long ago, Beerus had sealed a Kaioshin. If that sealed Kaioshin had died, Beerus likely would have died as well.
In any case, Beerus's life was tied either to the sealed Kaioshin or to the current Supreme Kai, Shin.
It had nothing to do with him, the predecessor.
Everything the Grand Kaioshin had done, was simply to buy Goku and Vegeta the time they needed to fuse.
(End of this chapter)
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