The air around us shifted as Beerus casually raised his hand. The power he radiated wasn't something you could measure with mere numbers or energy readings—it was an oppressive force that seemed to warp reality itself. His presence alone was enough to make the ground beneath our feet tremble as if the world recognized him as its ruler.
I could feel the intensity of it, but rather than being intimidated, something inside me welcomed it. This was the kind of challenge that would push me to the edge of my potential. But I wasn't just here to fight. I wasn't just here for the rush of battle. There was more to this universe, more to me, than I could see.
Vegeta stepped back a little, still on alert. "Lord Beerus," he started, his voice tight, "you can't be serious about fighting this person, can you? He—"
"Be quiet, Vegeta," Beerus cut him off, his voice calm but filled with an undeniable authority. "I don't need your input. I want to see for myself if this newcomer has what it takes."
I could feel the playful yet dangerous energy of Beerus swelling. He was testing me, probing me to see what I could do, but I knew this was more than just a casual sparring match. This was a test to see if I could stand as an equal—or if I'd crumble under the weight of a god's will.
"Well then," I said, pushing my energy to the forefront, letting it spread out in a wave. My power was limitless, but there was something about Beerus that felt different. It was the same feeling I had when I first met Rimuru—a sensation that there were levels to this world I didn't understand yet. But I wasn't afraid. "Let's see what happens when we mix things up, Lord Beerus."
The tension in the air thickened. For a brief moment, everything stood still. Then, without warning, Beerus moved.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of me, his fist aiming straight for my chest. There was no time to think—only to act. My instincts screamed at me to dodge, but I didn't. Instead, I raised my hand, a shimmering field of energy forming in front of me like a translucent barrier. The moment his fist collided with it, a shockwave of power exploded outward, but my barrier held.
Beerus paused, his eyes widening ever so slightly. "Hmm… impressive," he said, withdrawing his fist, his grin widening. "It seems you have some tricks up your sleeve after all."
I stood my ground, feeling the pressure of his energy push against my own, but I wasn't budging. I knew I could fight back if I needed to, but something told me that this wasn't about raw power alone. This was about adaptability.
"Not bad," I said, giving a slight nod. "I can feel the pressure you're putting on me. But I don't think it's enough."
With that, I activated Predator. The air around me shimmered as I tapped into the technique, drawing on the vast energy reserves of the world itself. In an instant, I absorbed some of Beerus' raw power—the tiniest fraction—but it was enough to make my own energy surge even further.
I wasn't just copying his power—I was adapting it. And in that moment, I realized something crucial: I wasn't just Rimuru Tempest, a being of incredible strength. I was a force of nature, capable of absorbing, modifying, and transcending limits.
Beerus' eyes flicked to me, his expression unreadable. "Interesting," he mused. "You're not like the others. You actually learn on the fly."
"Well, I've always been one to adapt quickly," I said with a grin, letting my energy rise even higher. The temperature around us seemed to spike as my aura flared.
For the first time since we'd met, Beerus looked… intrigued. The playful glint in his eyes turned into something sharper, something more calculating. "You're not a typical mortal, that much is clear. But let's see just how far you can take this."
Before I could even react, Beerus raised both hands, and with a flick of his fingers, the ground beneath us split open. Massive beams of purple energy shot up from the rift, aiming directly at me.
I barely had time to react, but my body responded on instinct. I phased out of reality, my spatial movement shifting me through time and space in the blink of an eye, dodging the first few beams. However, Beerus wasn't done.
With a flick of his wrist, the beams changed direction mid-flight, coming after me with unnatural precision.
"Not bad," I muttered to myself. The challenge was real now. But I was built for challenges like this. I could feel my mind working at hyper-speed, analyzing the patterns, predicting his next move.
I knew I couldn't just dodge forever. It wasn't about surviving. It was about winning.
Absorb, I thought.
I reached out with my mind, activating Predator again, and before the beams could even hit me, I absorbed them—each one disappearing into the void within me, their energy flowing into my own.
Beerus blinked, his eyes flashing with a hint of surprise. "What...?"
I grinned as I felt the power of his attacks merge with my own. "I told you—I'm not from this world. But I'm not here to destroy it either."
Then, with a snap of my fingers, I unleashed the energy I had absorbed back at Beerus, not in a raw blast, but a controlled, focused stream. The energy rippled with such precision that it barely even disturbed the air around us, traveling directly toward him.
Beerus, still grinning, raised a hand to deflect the blast. The energy collided with his palm, sending out a shockwave of power that cracked the air itself.
"Hah. This is getting fun," Beerus said, as he effortlessly neutralized the blast. "But you've barely scratched the surface. You think you can keep up with me, little one?"
I wasn't fazed. "I don't think I can keep up," I replied, my tone cool. "I know I can."
For a split second, Beerus' grin faltered. His eyes widened slightly, and I could sense it—he was now taking me seriously. But he wasn't angry. No, Beerus was entertained.
"You're definitely interesting," he said, lowering his hands. "I like you, kid. I think we'll get along just fine."
I raised an eyebrow. "We'll see. But I'm not looking for friends. I'm here to figure out this world—and my place in it."
Beerus' eyes gleamed. "Ahh, I see. So you've got more on your mind than just fighting. How curious." He stepped closer, his energy slowly dissipating. "Very well, then. Show me what you've got. You may just be the most interesting being I've met in a long time."
The atmosphere around us was heavy, but not with animosity. It felt more like… a mutual recognition. We both understood the game, the stakes, and what we stood to gain.
I wasn't here just to fight gods. I was here to reshape the future.
But even as my confidence grew, one thing was clear: Beerus was just the beginning. The universe was full of powerful beings, and I wasn't going to stop until I'd tested my limits against every single one of them.
---