After Vados and Champa of Universe 6 finally left, Beerus turned back to Whis.
Beerus: "Whis… can you tell me now? Why can't I destroy this Saiyan?"
Whis didn't dodge the question.
Whis: "Because this is an order… from the Grand Priest."
Beerus' face shifted instantly—first confused, then shocked, and finally frozen stiff.
Even Bardock raised his brows. "The Grand Priest? He actually noticed me?"
The Grand Priest was second only to Zeno—the supreme god above all Gods of Destruction and Angels. For someone like Bardock, a mere Saiyan, to draw his attention was almost unthinkable.
Beerus (sweating, muttering): "Tch… why would the Grand Priest take notice of Universe 7…? This could be bad… If he thinks I've screwed up, I might lose my position as God of Destruction…"
Whis leaned closer and spoke to Beerus in thought, their divine senses connecting. Bardock couldn't hear the details, but his instincts told him something serious was being discussed.
Bardock's thoughts:"The Grand Priest has noticed me… Did he discover who I really am? If he wanted me erased, he could've just ordered Whis. Since that hasn't happened, maybe I'm safe… for now. But still… what are those two talking about?"
Minutes later, Whis and Beerus' private exchange ended.
Beerus: "So… the Grand Priest wants to summon Bardock? Hmph. That's… troublesome. Even I rarely get to stand before him, and now a Saiyan has caught his eye…"
He clenched his fists. But even Beerus couldn't disobey. Orders from the Grand Priest were absolute.
Whis only smiled faintly.
Whis: "Yes, Lord Beerus. We won't know the details until we see him directly."
Beerus (gritting his teeth): "Fine. If he's being summoned, then I'm going with him. I need to know what this is about."
Both Beerus and Whis turned to Bardock.
Whis smiled kindly.
Whis: "Bardock-san, you must have heard part of our talk. Please come with us. The Grand Priest wishes to see you."
Bardock sighed, letting his Blue aura fade as he powered down.
Bardock: "Do I even have a choice?"
Whis chuckled.
Whis: "You understand quickly. Don't worry—neither I nor the Grand Priest have any malice toward you."
Whis rested his hand on Bardock's shoulder, Beerus placing his own hand behind Whis. The Angel's staff glowed, and in an instant, divine power engulfed them.
Bardock's eyes widened.
"This power… it's not like a God's, not like Destruction… it's something even deeper. Angel power… if I can grasp even a fraction of this feeling, it could help me break through in the future."
With a flash, the three vanished from Universe 7.
Meanwhile, in the empty space they left behind, a rift opened—Vados and Champa reappeared.
Champa (furious): "Tch! That damn Beerus! I came here out of curiosity, even offered to help, and he pushed me away. And that mortal—how dare he try to intimidate a God of Destruction?!"
Vados (calm): "Lord Champa, staying here is dangerous. If Whis reports us to Father, it could cause real trouble."
Champa growled, but smirked.
Champa: "Heh, I'm not leaving just yet. Since I'm here, I might as well stir up some chaos in Beerus' universe."
Vados only sighed softly, shaking her head.
At the Temple of Zeno—the realm beyond the twelve universes—the Grand Priest himself stood waiting outside the great gate. Hands behind his back, smiling gently, he looked calm and approachable… but the pressure of his presence was overwhelming.
With a shimmer of light, Whis, Beerus, and Bardock arrived.
Immediately, Whis and Beerus bowed.
Whis: "Greetings, Father."
Beerus (sweating, bowing at ninety degrees): "L-Lord Grand Priest!"
Their fear and respect were clear. But Bardock? He only crossed his arms, standing tall.
Beerus (hissing): "Idiot! Bow down! This is the Grand Priest!"
Bardock (cold): "He's not my master. I'm no god. Why should I bow?"
Beerus nearly fainted from panic. Sweat poured down his face. If the Grand Priest was angered, even the Seventh Universe could be erased.
But the Grand Priest only chuckled.
Grand Priest: "It's fine, Beerus. I invited him here as a guest. There's no need for such formalities."
Beerus let out a shaky sigh of relief. Bardock simply smirked.
Then the Grand Priest's expression turned serious as he looked at Beerus.
Grand Priest: "Beerus. I saw everything that happened in Universe 7. Your strength has improved, but as a God of Destruction, you must learn control. Don't act so recklessly, or you risk upsetting the balance of your universe."
Beerus bowed again, trembling.
Beerus: "Y-Yes, Lord Grand Priest. I understand. I'll… think twice before acting."
He was just grateful to be scolded and not erased on the spot. After all, everyone knew—the Grand Priest stood above all Angels and Gods of Destruction. Even whole universes had vanished before under his judgment.
Grand Priest: "This matter is settled. Universe 7 still needs you to handle the aftermath, Whis. The universe cannot remain in chaos forever. I leave this to you."
After giving the order, he looked at Beerus and Whis again.
Grand Priest: "You may return now."
Beerus (bowing nervously): "Y-Yes, Grand Priest… I'll make sure to handle everything properly."
Whis (smiling calmly): "Understood, Father. We will take our leave."
Since the Grand Priest had dismissed them, they could only obey. With a flash of divine light, Beerus and Whis vanished from the Zeno Temple, returning to Universe 7.
Now, only Bardock and the Grand Priest remained at the great gate of the temple.
Bardock had overheard everything just now, but he still didn't know why the Grand Priest wanted to see him.
Bardock (thinking):What's his real goal? Why call me here of all people?
The Grand Priest turned his head, smiling warmly, though his presence still carried overwhelming pressure.
Grand Priest: "Bardock, Saiyan warrior of Universe 7… welcome to the Temple of Zeno."
When Bardock heard his name spoken so casually, his guard went up. That meant the Grand Priest had been aware of him for a long time.
The Grand Priest's expression was calm, unreadable. Bardock couldn't tell what was really on his mind.
Bardock (serious): "You're the one everyone fears… Beerus and even Whis obey your every word. I don't get it. Why would someone like you… waste time on me?"
The Grand Priest chuckled softly.
Grand Priest: "Don't sell yourself short. You've already become very powerful. Across the twelve universes, there are few who could rival you. But let me make something clear—I am not the master of this temple. I only serve Lord Zeno."
At the mention of Zeno, Bardock frowned. He remembered what he had heard from Goku and the others—Zeno looked like an innocent child, but with a single thought, he could erase whole universes.
The Grand Priest's gaze sharpened.
Grand Priest: "Bardock… you're not truly from this world, are you? To be precise… not from this timeline."
Bardock's heart sank. The Grand Priest had seen through him completely.
Bardock (tense): "Tch… As expected from you. Nothing can be hidden from your eyes."
The Grand Priest only smiled.
Grand Priest: "I'm not as omnipotent as you think. I simply noticed your… uniqueness. That's why I wished to meet you."
Bardock let out a low sigh.
Bardock: "Fine. Then I won't hide it. I come from the future… five million years ahead."
The Grand Priest's calm expression didn't change, though his eyes narrowed slightly.
Grand Priest: "Five million years… a span even the Supreme Kai cannot reach. Interesting."
He paused, then said:
Grand Priest: "The truth is, there are very few warriors like you across all parallel worlds. That is why I summoned you. Your strength… and your existence itself… are special."
Bardock (bitter laugh): "Special, huh? To you, I'm still just a mortal. If you wanted, even one Angel could erase me instantly. So tell me, Grand Priest… why help me at all? What do you gain from this?"
The Grand Priest's smile never wavered.
Grand Priest: "You appearing here may not be an accident. A small change in one world can create a huge change in the future. Think of this as… an experiment. Whether I help you or not, with your potential, you may eventually find your own way back."
Bardock stayed silent for a moment, then clenched his fists.
Bardock: "Then let me ask you directly. Can you send me back to my own time?"
Grand Priest: "With my help, yes. You may be able to return to the future you came from."
Bardock narrowed his eyes. He knew there had to be more to it.
Bardock: "And the catch? Nothing's ever free. Why do you really want to help me?"
The Grand Priest chuckled softly again.
Grand Priest: "Perhaps I simply wish to see how far you can grow, Bardock. Whether you can change the flow of fate itself. Consider this… a test."
Bardock's expression hardened. So that's it… I'm just a subject in his game.
Bardock: "...Fine. I'll play along. Do what you want. Just send me back."
Grand Priest (smiling): "Good. Then our agreement is made. For now, return to Universe 7. In time, Whis will guide you further under my instructions."
He raised his hand, and a mysterious power far beyond Bardock's comprehension surged through the space.
Bardock (thinking, eyes widening):This power… it's different from anything I've felt. Not destruction. Not creation. Something far beyond… If I can grasp even a little of this feeling, it might be the key to surpassing my limits.
Before he could think more, the divine energy engulfed him, and in an instant, Bardock was gone—teleported away from the Zeno Temple.
The Grand Priest stood alone, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Grand Priest (to himself): "Now then… let us see how far you can go, Saiyan."