The battle had indeed been spectacular. While Son Gohan in his Beast form fought Kratos, Axis had arrived at the battlefield and carefully observed the power both combatants displayed.
"That was a super exciting fight, Gohan. You finally found yourself again," Piccolo said, giving his foster son a thumbs-up.
"Father, Gohan is strong! Truly super strong," Kratos said as he stretched his limbs and stood up.
Having eaten the fruit of the Tree of Might, his stamina and injuries had fully recovered. The same was true for Gohan on the other side; the regenerative capabilities of the Tree of Might fruit were even better than a Senzu Bean.
Axis nodded in agreement.
No one could say Son Gohan was weak. The guy was only 'weak' when he neglected his training. If he actually trained, even Jiren would have to kneel.
"Uncle Axis... thank you! Thank you for letting Kratos spar with me. It allowed me to attain new power," Gohan said with sincere gratitude.
This battle had unlocked a brand-new transformation for him, the power to protect his family, the power to protect Earth.
Frieza's recent invasion had dealt a heavy blow to his confidence, and the subsequent tournament against the God of Destruction from another universe made him realize that Earth was far from safe.
Now, having unlocked Beast mode, Gohan was even stronger than his father, Son Goku. He had surpassed his father once again.
Axis nodded, his gaze sweeping over both of them before landing on his son.
"Well done, Kratos. And you, Gohan, you have proven your potential. Beast form... it is a very interesting power."
Beast form surpassed Super Saiyan Blue and even Super Saiyan 4. According to official lore, this form was comparable to Goku's Ultra Instinct, which spoke volumes about how formidable Beast Gohan truly was.
This state was not an evolution of God Ki, nor an evolution of the Super Saiyan line, but a power Gohan had developed entirely on his own.
"However, the battle ends here. You both need time to digest what you have learned," Axis continued. "Especially you, Kratos. You should be well aware of the costs and risks of forcibly fusing your forms.
"You haven't completely mastered that fusion power yet. As for Gohan, regarding your Beast form, ask your dad to help you practice when you get back. I think he has more of a say when it comes to transformations."
"Leave it to me," Goku chimed in. "I'll make sure Gohan masters this power. Gohan, once you're rested up, fight me too! I'm really looking forward to it!"
Gohan sighed helplessly but nodded. To be honest, even if his father used Super Saiyan Blue or stacked Kaio-ken times twenty on top of Super Saiyan 4, he would still not be Gohan's match right now.
The power of the Beast form was far beyond Goku's imagination unless his father could fuse Super Saiyan 4 and Super Saiyan Blue together just like Kratos.
"Kakarot, you aren't qualified to fight the kid right now," Vegeta interjected. "His power has completely surpassed both you and me. If this kid had been willing to train hard back then, we wouldn't have struggled so much against Majin Buu. He could have ended that battle alone."
Vegeta had watched Son Gohan grow up with his own eyes. From the time he was a brat transforming into a Great Ape and heavily injuring him, to the terrifying talent he displayed during the battle against Frieza, where Frieza even evaluated him as the being closest to a Super Saiyan, Gohan had always been exceptional.
After returning to Earth and training with Goku in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for just one year, Gohan had mastered Super Saiyan Full Power.
In the duel against Cell, he transformed into Super Saiyan 2, completely surpassing everyone else.
At that time, Vegeta had thought that although Kakarot was dead, his son would become a new rival.
Yet, over the next seven years, the guy's strength actually regressed. Vegeta had mastered Super Saiyan 2, but the kid hadn't improved at all. However, during later battles, Gohan received the latent potential unlock from Old Kai.
He turned directly into a state similar to Axis. In Vegeta's view, the power Axis used now was actually quite similar to Mystic Gohan from back then.
The difference was that Axis's form was more perfect and incorporated divine energy, allowing him to unleash power far beyond transformation without actually transforming.
After the battle with Majin Buu, Gohan's power was already above both his and Kakarot's. Yet, in the subsequent battles against the God of Destruction, the kid slacked off again because of his marriage, and his strength plummeted once more.
Vegeta had thought that after mastering Super Saiyan Blue and Super Saiyan 4, he had left the kid in the dust. He hadn't expected Gohan to surpass them yet again.
Vegeta felt a myriad of emotions. If Gohan had such potential, why didn't his own son, Trunks, have it? It wasn't that he hadn't trained the Future Trunks, but the boy's talent could only be described as average.
Truly average. Trunks had a great advantage in bloodline, transforming into a Super Saiyan at a very young age, but the improvement in his base combat power was incredibly weak.
"Let's train hard, everyone together. By the way, Goku, I'm speaking hypothetically, if I have a chance to travel to other worlds and face masters from other dimensions, would you be interested in coming along?" Axis rubbed his chin and looked at Son Goku.
Traveling to other worlds to explore was the plan, and if the opportunity arose, he could take Kakarot away directly to let him fight masters from other universes.
"Really? That sounds awesome! I couldn't ask for anything better," Goku said excitedly. "Axis, whenever you go, just give me a shout and I'll be there right away."
Compared to living a domestic life with his family, fighting excited him much more. That was the true hobby of a Saiyan.
"If I go to other worlds, you can take me too, Axis. My strength isn't any worse than Kakarot's," Vegeta added.
"No problem! But since both of your power levels are extremely high, I estimate you would be considered top-tier powerhouses in many worlds. I'll have to pick a suitable universe," Axis replied.
Currently, the only beings capable of fighting Goku and Vegeta in this era would be the comic book versions of Superman or true deities. I should find a way to get to DC Universe, he thought.
After chatting for a while longer, Axis took Kratos and bid farewell to Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and the others.
"Father! That home world was truly powerful. I discovered that the physical fitness of some ordinary humans in that world is barely weaker than a Space Marine," Kratos lamented as he flew beside Axis.
It was true. During his time there, Kratos had observed Earth and found that the physical constitution of some martial artists far exceeded that of the Astartes.
Axis smiled at this. Leaving aside Dragon Ball Z, even in the original Dragon Ball when Goku was small, there were incredibly absurd characters.
For example, General Blue of the Red Ribbon Army jumped from a height of a thousand meters down to Kame House and was completely fine. Yet, Mercenary Tao killed him instantly with just his tongue, after performing a display of pillar-surfing flight.
Even when climbing Korin Tower, Goku literally ran up it, completely violating the laws of physics.
Then there was the "tank-build Yasuo," Yajirobe. Was he strong? He carried young Goku up Korin Tower, fell off, smashed a crater into the ground, dusted himself off, and stood up as if nothing happened. That durability was comparable to Kaido of the Beasts; falling from ten thousand meters with zero damage. Yajirobe even climbed the tower for days and nights with Goku on his back without eating or drinking. That stamina was simply inhuman.
If you put someone like that in the Warhammer universe, they would be a definitive superhuman, possessing a physical constitution even stronger than a Primarch. It was absolutely freakish.
Earth in the Dragon Ball world, even excluding the alien monsters and the gang of Saiyans, and looking only at the Earth of Goku's childhood, was incredibly potent.
In terms of pure combat power, it wasn't much lower than the One Piece world; in fact, it was likely higher, given that they had a planetary Kami and the Dragon Balls.
"That world is indeed powerful, filled with magical treasures and opponents. When we return to our world this time, you can settle down and train properly for a while. After that, Dad will take you to venture through the myriad heavens," Axis promised.
As the saying goes, father and son soldiers, brothers in arms against the tiger. He intended to take Kratos with him.
"Understood, Father. But I have something I want to ask. That person called the Zeno mentioned something earlier. The Grand Minister went to our world. He won't cause any destruction to our universe, will he?" Kratos asked.
He was quite worried about this. Any casual master from this world would be an invincible existence in their own.
If a God of Destruction went there, they could instantly kill the four Chaos Gods. Kratos dared not imagine what the Grand Minister, who was even stronger than them, could do.
"I'm quite worried too, so let's go back and take a look right now," Axis nodded to Kratos.
Taking a deep breath, he pointed his palm toward the Null Realm and activated his enhanced world-traversal ability for the first time.
A spatial vortex expanded. Axis and Kratos passed directly through the rift, returning to the Warhammer universe.
The moment they arrived back in the Warhammer universe, a figure appeared before them.
It seemed the figure had been about to enter the closing spatial rift, but upon seeing Axis, he stopped.
The person had a halo floating above his head and wore a blue uniform. His appearance bore a striking resemblance to Whis, about seventy or eighty percent similar.
It was the Grand Minister. The moment Axis opened the dimensional tunnel, the Grand Minister had detected the aura of his home universe and immediately rushed over, intending to return.
"You must be Axis, correct? Nice to meet you. My name is the Grand Minister," the figure said.
Since Axis had returned, he wasn't in such a rush to leave.
Axis's ability allowed him to open a tunnel connecting the two universes at any time.
When he first discovered the passage to another world, the Grand Minister had actually been quite excited. Having stood at the pinnacle of his own universe for so long, he wanted to explore new realms.
However, after arriving in this universe, he was disappointed. The intensity of this universe was lower than his own, and it was filled with foul miasma everywhere.
After observing for only a short time, the Grand Minister had grown weary of this universe.
Fortunately, Axis had opened the inter-dimensional channel in time; otherwise, the Grand Minister felt that even he might have been affected by the pervasive dark energy if trapped here too long.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Grand Minister. Your son, Whis, taught me a great many things in the other world," Axis said, bowing politely to the Grand Minister.
Although this being did not possess the ability to traverse worlds, his combat power was beyond anything Axis could imagine. He was one of the true ceilings of the Dragon Ball universe.
"Hahaha! So Whis guided you? It seems you have already mastered the energy of a God of Destruction. Congratulations," the Grand Minister said with a nod after glancing at Axis.
This kid's potential is strong, he thought. He could already serve as a qualified God of Destruction, and he was still improving. He would likely comprehend Ultra Instinct before long.
"About your return, Lord Grand Minister... after you came to our world, Lord Zeno was very anxious. He specifically asked me to use the Super Dragon Balls to enhance my world-traversal ability to bring you back," Axis explained.
"Lord Zeno, huh? It seems a lot happened while I was away. Axis, your world is in a very bad state. If you wish, you can bring your family to live in our universe. At least our universe isn't as choked with smog and filth as this one," the Grand Minister offered.
Since Axis was born in his own world, the Grand Minister considered him 'one of them.' He would find it acceptable if Axis wanted to return.
"Thank you for your kindness, Grand Minister. But this universe has become my home now. I will make it better. I intend to clear out the Warp and contain it," Axis said.
As the saying goes, East or West, home is best. Although the Warhammer universe was grim and dark, Axis had grown up here and had deep feelings for it.
Moreover, this universe was the foundation of his future; it was a masterless land, whereas the Dragon Ball world had an owner. That was the key difference.
"Hmm! Well, do as you please, Axis. Our world welcomes you anytime. However, those filthy creatures are not included. I hope you do not bring the dirty things of this world into ours, is that acceptable?" the Grand Minister said with a smile.
The Warp in this world possessed incredible corrosive properties and was filled with malice.
Fortunately, his divine power was high enough that he was unaffected by the Warp. However, the Grand Minister estimated that ordinary Kais or planetary gods coming to this world would very likely be corrupted by this dark power.
He had even considered suggesting to Axis to simply bring Lord Zeno over to erase this universe entirely. But after careful thought, the Grand Minister decided against it. It wasn't his world, after all.
Furthermore, Axis possessed the ability to travel between worlds. Such talent was worth cultivating a friendship with, rather than offending. Who knew if breaking through his current limits would depend on Axis in the future? Infinite worlds represented infinite hope; surely Axis would eventually find a world even more perfect than their own.
"Rest assured, Grand Minister. The Warp will disappear completely before long. I will create a specific land for demons to survive. At the same time, I plan to reconstruct the Sea of Souls to resemble the Hell of our world," Axis outlined his plan.
With Shenron now available, many things that were previously impossible could now be easily accomplished.
He had wanted to clean up the cesspool that was the Warp for a long time.
"Oh! You even created your own Dragon? That is an excellent idea. The power of the Dragon God Zalama is truly potent. In that case, Axis, I wish you good luck. Now, could you please send me back?" the Grand Minister asked.
He had been away for some time and needed to return to handle matters. Otherwise, leaving Zeno alone might result in all the universes becoming a complete mess.
"No problem, Lord Grand Minister!" Axis nodded and activated his spatial traversal ability once more, opening the channel to the Dragon Ball world.
"Many thanks, Axis. Before I leave, let me give you a gift! This is a crystal containing a portion of my divine power. I hope you develop this universe well. You should also properly train those two intern Supreme Kais. I left some gifts for you over there."
Before leaving, the Grand Minister tossed a blue divine crystal to Axis. He then stepped into the spatial tunnel and returned to the Dragon Ball world.
"Thank you very much, Lord Grand Minister!" Axis caught the crystal and bowed.
This was a crystal from a deity who truly transcended the universal level! He wondered what the other gifts left behind were.
Only after the Grand Minister had completely gone did Axis let out a sigh of relief. It seemed his world hadn't been destroyed by the Grand Minister. After all, the man wasn't a God of Destruction.
Having bid farewell to the Grand Minister, Axis immediately used his spatial ability to instantly return to the Domain of Life.
Knowing Axis had returned, the Emperor and Khorne, along with the two Life Goddesses including Isha, arrived at Axis's side immediately. Their backbone had finally returned.
"Axis, you're finally back. Did you know a ridiculously strong guy came to our world? He was strong beyond reason," the Emperor said.
"You mean the Grand Minister, right? What happened?" Axis asked. It seemed the Grand Minister had done something during his stay.
The two Life Goddesses, the Emperor's will, and Khorne looked at each other, then spoke in unison.
"Come and see for yourself."
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ps?