Chapter 436: As Expected, Overwhelmingly Strong
Seeing Beerus accept his challenge, Goku was thrilled.
However, he didn't attack rashly. Instead, he said seriously, "It would be rude to fight you in my current state."
As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a Super Saiyan.
His power increased dramatically, catching Beerus slightly off guard.
"Oh? So you're a bit stronger than before. Is this the form you used to defeat Frieza?"
"That's right."
"Then let's begin."
Beerus clasped his hands behind his back, his expression calm and composed.
The sight felt oddly familiar to Goku.
He instinctively glanced at Uchiha Dali — when they'd sparred earlier, the man had worn that same unruffled expression.
No way his strength is on par with Lord Beerus, the God of Destruction… Wait, that's not right. There's no way Lord Beerus is merely as strong as him, right?
Thinking that, Goku launched his attack.
He darted forward and threw a testing punch at Beerus, but it was clearly ineffective.
Beerus easily sidestepped the blow — effortlessly, almost lazily.
Everyone watching, including Vegeta, was astonished.
Now done testing, Goku began to accelerate his strikes.
He threw punches and kicks in rapid succession, trying to land a hit, but no matter what he did, none of his attacks connected.
Beerus, who had looked eager at first, gradually began to look disappointed.
"So that's all? Is this your limit?"
He still kept his hands behind his back, not even showing the slightest desire to strike.
Seeing this, Goku immediately transformed again — from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 2.
At that moment, Uchiha Dali spoke up. "And what exactly is different about this form from before?"
His voice drew Goku's attention. Turning toward Dali, Goku's expression grew even more serious.
Then, as expected, he transformed again — this time into Super Saiyan 3.
His golden hair flowed down to his waist, and blue lightning crackled around his body in explosive bursts.
His aura had multiplied many times over compared to his base state.
Feeling the surge of power, Beerus finally showed a faint trace of interest.
"Oh? So you can transform more than once."
"This form is indeed stronger than before. But what does it have to do with this 'Super Saiyan God' I heard about? Don't tell me you're hiding an even greater power?"
Beerus asked curiously.
But Goku took his words as an insult.
"This is my strongest form!"
"Lord Beerus, I'm going to attack now! You shouldn't just dodge forever — how else will we know who wins?"
He sounded a little frustrated.
Just like when he'd fought Uchiha Dali earlier — no matter how hard he attacked, Dali hadn't fought back, and he'd never managed to land a hit.
It was infuriating.
"If you want me to strike back," Beerus replied, "you'll first need to show me power worthy of that."
"Then here I come!"
Without another word, Goku charged again.
A flurry of strikes followed — fast, fierce, and unrelenting.
But to his shock, he still couldn't touch Beerus.
Goku grew more and more agitated.
The opponent before him felt unfathomable — just like Uchiha Dali earlier.
Unwilling to give up, Goku's fighting spirit blazed even higher as he powered up once more.
Sensing the change in Goku's aura, Beerus finally extended a single hand to block his attacks.
For the first time, their bodies made contact, and Goku finally felt the feedback of Beerus's strength — giving him a rough sense of the God's true power.
That glimpse of power filled him with confidence, and his attacks grew even faster.
But Beerus continued to fight with just one hand, utterly calm.
After a while, he spoke, sounding bored. "Is that all? You're still far from enough."
Then he leapt lightly away from the battlefield.
"Whis, it seems he's not the one we're looking for. Let's go back."
"Wait, Lord Beerus!"
"I'm not done yet!"
Goku refused to give up. As he shouted, he began to gather energy.
"Kamehameha!!"
A blue energy wave burst from his hands and shot toward Beerus.
It struck him head-on, exploding in a flash of light.
But when the smoke cleared, Beerus stood there completely unharmed — and he had blocked Goku's full-power blast with just one finger.
Everyone watching was stunned speechless.
Goku froze too.
"As expected, you're incredible!"
"Not just incredible — unbelievably so! Lord Beerus, you really are just like him!"
Saying that, Goku charged forward again.
But just as he was about to reach Beerus, his body suddenly flew backward.
"What—!? My body… moved on its own? What's going on?" he exclaimed in shock.
Watching from the sidelines, Uchiha Dali's eyes flickered slightly.
Beerus also looked surprised.
"You backed off? Interesting. You're no god, yet you managed to dodge my attack even though you can't sense my energy. You truly are a born combat genius."
"I was about to strike you just now — if you hadn't dodged, you'd already be down."
Beerus said it casually.
"Damn it! Kakarot…"
Hearing Beerus praise Goku like that, Vegeta clenched his fists, gritting his teeth hard.
To be personally praised by a God of Destruction — and called a fighting genius — it was like a slap to his face. Was the gap between him and Goku just going to keep widening?
"Lord Beerus, you're embarrassing me when you talk like that," Goku said with a sheepish grin.
But a moment later, he noticed Beerus narrowing his eyes.
"Well then, I think that's enough. Let's end this."
"Let me show you what a God of Destruction is truly capable of."
In the blink of an eye, Beerus appeared right in front of Goku.
He casually raised a hand and flicked Goku's forehead with one finger.
Thud!
Goku saw the attack coming but couldn't dodge at all.
In an instant, his transformation faded, and his body was sent flying uncontrollably.
Beerus flashed beside him, placed his palm on Goku's shoulder—
Boom!
Goku's body was slammed straight into the ground, knocking him unconscious.
"!!"
Everyone — Vegeta included — was completely dumbstruck.
They hadn't imagined that Lord Beerus, the God of Destruction, could possess such terrifying power.
"He… he took down Kakarot in just one move! D-Damn it…"
Vegeta's whole body trembled as he clenched his teeth furiously.
At that moment, Beerus turned his gaze toward him.