Chapter 438: Evenly Matched Opponents
The destructive energy shot straight toward Uchiha Dali, though its speed wasn't particularly fast.
Seeing that Uchiha Dali didn't even try to dodge and instead stood still, waiting for it to come, Beerus was both surprised and intrigued.
He fixed his gaze firmly on Uchiha Dali's every move, watching as the latter slowly raised a hand and aimed his palm toward the incoming destructive energy.
Beerus's eyes flickered slightly.
"This guy… is he planning to take it head-on?"
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly sensed a faint, nearly imperceptible suction force coming from Uchiha Dali's body.
It was a strange sensation—one Beerus had never felt before.
Curious, he continued to watch closely. The destructive energy soon reached Uchiha Dali.
Sure enough, Uchiha Dali blocked the energy sphere with one hand.
Not only that—the glowing orb seemed to be firmly stuck to his palm, unable to move.
Even more bizarre was that the destructive energy, which should have exploded upon contact and annihilated everything it touched, showed no sign of detonating.
Beerus's eyes sharpened.
"So he's blocked my attack again!"
"It seems that even if his power isn't equal to mine, the gap between us isn't that large anymore… Damn it!"
As the most powerful god in the universe, the God of Destruction Beerus felt not only that his supremacy was being challenged, but that he was being provoked right to his face.
Before he could vent his anger, however, the situation changed again.
The destructive energy in Uchiha Dali's palm began to tremble violently.
The tremors grew stronger and stronger, and within mere seconds, the entire cosmic space around them quaked violently—as if the heavens were collapsing and the end of the world had come.
As the God of Destruction, Beerus immediately recognized what was happening.
The destructive power had been compressed to its absolute limit and was beginning to rebound.
If it weren't stopped, once it exploded, the entire Milky Way would be utterly annihilated—completely and irreversibly obliterated in an instant.
"What's he trying to do?"
Beerus narrowed his eyes, watching Uchiha Dali's every move.
The commotion quickly drew Whis's attention.
He appeared not far from Beerus and Uchiha Dali, looking at the scene before him with a hint of surprise.
"Is that not allowed?"
Uchiha Dali himself was slightly stunned.
His Divine Devour and Refine Technique was said to be capable of consuming all things under heaven—no matter the type of energy, it could be instantly devoured and transformed into a power suitable for his own use.
Yet now, when facing Beerus's destructive energy, Uchiha Dali found that he couldn't achieve that effect at all.
Though the destructive orb seemed small and unremarkable, it was as if it possessed a will of its own, resisting the pull of his devouring force.
"It's true… there's a difference in the laws between lower and higher dimensions."
"If I could directly absorb a God of Destruction's energy, I'd be invincible."
Thinking that to himself, Uchiha Dali gave up on the attempt.
He knew that the destructive energy in his hand was becoming increasingly unstable.
If he didn't suppress it or cut off the absorption, once it reached its limit and exploded, everything—except for himself, Beerus, and Whis—across the Milky Way and beyond would be reduced to ashes.
That wasn't an outcome he wanted.
Although he couldn't absorb Beerus's energy, he could neutralize it.
In the next instant, Uchiha Dali released his own destructive energy.
The two forces collided in the void and canceled each other out.
But there was one flaw. From the very beginning of their clash, Uchiha Dali had already noticed it.
To perfectly neutralize Beerus's destructive power, he had to use his own true energy—meaning that every time he blocked Beerus's attacks, he was forced into a one-for-one trade.
It was a taxing and disadvantageous way to fight.
The destructive energy he expended would take a long time to replenish.
That meant both he and Beerus would end up weakened after such a battle.
Although Uchiha Dali had no intention of replacing Beerus as a God of Destruction, there were plenty in the universe who'd gladly seize the chance to kill one.
"Lord Beerus, let's end it here, shall we?"
"Continuing this fight won't get us anywhere."
Uchiha Dali gave a faint, knowing smile as he made his suggestion.
Beerus flicked his tail.
"I refuse."
After a two-second hesitation, he actually said it.
Even Whis was surprised by that. "Lord Beerus, you must realize that continuing this serves neither of you."
But Beerus's fighting spirit wouldn't be swayed.
At that moment, he was like an enraged lion, eyes locked squarely on Uchiha Dali.
"No. Today, one of us will win."
"Otherwise, no one's leaving."
"Now fight seriously, Uchiha Dali."
As his words fell, Beerus's body began to radiate a purple glow.
The faint violet hue deepened until it turned into a dense, purplish-black aura.
At the same time, Beerus's ki skyrocketed to an astonishing level.
He looked like a living nebula, containing infinite destructive energy—a being whose mere gestures could annihilate stars, shatter galaxies, and make the entire universe tremble.
"Lord Beerus," Whis said, closing his eyes with one hand folded behind his back, "if you truly insist on fighting, then let me remind you—if you destroy the universe by accident, I won't be held responsible."
Beerus didn't respond. He kept his unblinking stare fixed on Uchiha Dali.
It was clear that unless a winner was decided, he wouldn't stop.
Just as Uchiha Dali was about to respond to Beerus's challenge, a sudden beam of seven-colored light pierced through the dark void.
In an instant, it appeared before the three of them.
The radiant energy converged rapidly, forming a humanoid figure.
"The Grand Priest?"
Both Beerus and Whis were visibly startled at the sight.
Even Uchiha Dali felt a shock in his heart.
"Things are getting lively, aren't they?"
"I've come to deliver the orders of the Grand Zeno."
The Grand Priest didn't waste words; he simply turned his gaze toward Uchiha Dali.