"How did you figure it out?"
"And what do you mean by meeting again? Have we met before?"
"Oh, right… I'm Jiren, not this 'Zamasu' person you keep talking about. You've got the wrong guy."
Zamasu-Jiren slowly rose from the crater with a sinister smile spreading across his face.
At this point, no matter how much he tried to deny it, Son Goku wasn't going to believe a single word.
"You can't fool me. Your aura… no, not yours… all you Zamasus' auras. I'll never forget them. You took Jiren's body, didn't you?"
"I'm already used to this. You, Zamasus, love stealing other people's bodies. We've run into plenty of you before."
Hearing Goku's words, Zamasu-Jiren looked mildly surprised, though he didn't appear overly shaken.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"And what happened to them?"
Goku answered honestly.
"Some were killed. Some were sealed away."
Just as Son Goku and Zamasu-Jiren were speaking, a broadcast announcement suddenly interrupted their conversation.
And instantly drew Zamasu-Jiren's attention.
『Universe 10 — Toppo has been eliminated.』
...
Plain Sector - Vegeta's Location
Just like Goku, Vegeta had noticed the same familiar aura coming from Toppo. A gust of wind swept across the plain, carrying a strip of black cloth past him. It was the very same black garment that had been covering Cabba's eyes earlier.
Vegeta snatched it from the air and examined the black robe carefully.
He stared at it silently for several seconds, deep in thought.
The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together in his mind.
He had always been wary of Zamasu, even if Beerus insisted the guy was a good person…
Vegeta didn't buy it.
As far as he was concerned, not one good person could exist among a thousand Zamasus.
A redeemed Zamasu?
What a ridiculous fantasy.
Because of that, he had been paying special attention to Universe 10's group.
Every single one of them had been wearing black robes.
Vegeta unfolded the robe and compared it against Toppo's body lying battered inside the crater ahead.
The size matched perfectly.
This belonged to Toppo, and combined with the unmistakable Zamasu aura coming from him…
Based on the behavior patterns of every Zamasu they had encountered before, Vegeta could state with certainty…
The man before him was not Universe 11's Toppo. This was Toppo after Universe 10's Zamasu had stolen his body.
"Heh… what a coincidence." A mocking smile curled across Vegeta's lips. "To think that after all this time… I'd run into you again, Zamasu."
The moment the words fell, Vegeta locked his blazing gaze onto the battered and ragged Zamasu-Toppo before him.
Without hesitation, he strode forward.
Every step carried crushing pressure, as if the very air around him were solidifying.
"Oi, Zamasu!"
Vegeta stopped directly in front of him, glaring down coldly, his eyes filled with anger and contempt.
Caught off guard by the shout, Zamasu-Toppo froze.
His body involuntarily stepped back twice as shock flashed through his mind.
'How could he be this sharp?'
'How did he see through the disguise so easily?'
"Y-You… How did you discover me?" Zamasu-Toppo asked, his voice trembling slightly, a hint of fear hidden in his eyes.
Vegeta let out a disdainful laugh.
"Heh. I'd recognize that disgusting aura of yours even if I'd been reduced to ashes."
After a brief pause, he corrected himself.
"No… more accurately… I know the aura of every single Zamasu far too well."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes slightly, momentarily sinking into thought, as memories of past battles against countless Zamasus resurfaced.
After a few seconds, he shook his head impatiently.
"Now let me think… How many Zamasus have already shown up in front of me?"
"Are you the fifth one?"
"…Or the sixth?"
"Forget it. The exact number doesn't matter to me anyway."
Vegeta hooked his thumb toward himself and declared with absolute confidence:
"Because no matter how many Zamasus show up… the ending is always the same… Every last one of them gets crushed by me!"
...
Zen'ō's Viewing Area
Zen'ō stared wide-eyed at the screen showing Vegeta and Toppo. He tapped his head, clearly confused, then turned toward the Grand Priest.
"Grand Priest… what does this mean?"
The Grand Priest patiently explained.
"Lord Zen'ō, the situation is like this. This Toppo is not Universe 11's Toppo, and that Jiren is not Universe 11's Jiren either. They are members of Universe 10's team. However… the ones inside those bodies appear to be Universe 10's Supreme Kai… Zamasu."
Zen'ō tilted his head, only half understanding.
"Zamasu?"
"Yes, Lord Zen'ō." The Grand Priest continued calmly. "These Zamasus are most likely helpers recruited by Universe 10's Kaioshin Zamasu. As for what methods were used, the investigation has not yet determined the details."
"According to the tournament rules, gods are forbidden from participating."
"So… Lord Zen'ō, shall we execute Universe 10's Kaioshin Zamasu?"
The Grand Priest awaited Zen'ō's decision.
Zen'ō thought for a moment before looking back at the screen.
"No, Grand Priest. I think this is pretty fun."
"It's interesting."
The Grand Priest seemed to have anticipated that answer long ago.
He merely smiled faintly.
"As you wish, Lord Zen'ō."
...
Meanwhile - Universe 11
Dyspo was finally catching up to what was happening.
"WHAT?! That guy isn't Jiren?!"
His expression turned dramatically exaggerated as it was only now that he finally understand why Marcarita had earlier asked him how well he knew Jiren.
She had meant it literally.
The person below, battling Son Goku so fiercely… wasn't the real Jiren at all.
The realization made him breathe a sigh of relief.
If that had truly been Jiren… he would've been seriously disappointed.
"Whew… thank goodness, Lady Marcarita. That isn't Jiren, and Toppo was fake too? I knew something felt strange back then. Why would Toppo even be here? Shouldn't he have…"
Before he could finish, Marcarita cut him off.
"You should've realized that sooner, Dyspo."
"And besides… You were the first one eliminated."
"Have you thought about how you're going to explain that to Lord Vermoud?"
Marcarita's cold eyes swept toward him.
The normally talkative Dyspo instantly fell silent.
As the Pride Troopers' third-strongest fighter… being eliminated first was humiliating enough that the entire Universe 11 would laugh at him for it.
"Uh… I… I'm sorry!" Dyspo bowed deeply.
"Enough, Marcarita." A low voice sounded from behind her.
"After all, Dyspo was willing to trade his own life to forcefully take out that guy called Vegeta."
"That at least proves his loyalty."
Hearing the voice, Marcarita turned around.
She said nothing further, simply returning her attention to the match unfolding before them.
(End Of This Chapter)
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