Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the entire plateau.
At the center of it, a brilliant golden pillar of ki erupted into the sky like a blooming lotus, painting the heavens in dazzling gold.
The once-peaceful plateau trembled violently. Dust billowed into the air, rocks shattered, and the ground shook as though an earthquake had struck.
The source of it all was Gohan, who had transformed into Super Saiyan 2.
Golden light blazed around him. His hair stood straight up, flickering like burning flames, while an overwhelming aura poured from his body in endless waves. Wherever it spread, fierce winds howled, sand and stones swept into the air, and even the atmosphere itself seemed to glow gold.
Despite the tremendous surge of power, Piccolo remained perfectly calm, his eyes half-closed as if the violent storm around him didn't concern him at all.
Jiren was equally unmoved, standing like an immovable mountain. The raging shockwaves crashed against him, yet he didn't even furrow his brow.
Not everyone handled it so easily.
A short distance away, Kahseral was in a miserable state. The overwhelming pressure was so intense that he couldn't withstand it. Crossing both arms in front of his chest, he desperately raised his own aura to resist the storm, but it was useless. His body shook violently in the gale, looking as though he would be blown away at any moment.
At last, his arms gave out and fell away from his chest, no longer obeying him. His feet left the ground, floating helplessly into the air as the shockwave carried him backward.
"What... what terrifying power..."
Cold sweat streamed down Kahseral's face as he stared at Gohan in horror.
Earlier, he had watched Gohan and Piccolo effortlessly eliminate Ribrianne and the others from Universe 2. At the time, he had assumed they were only a little stronger than Ribrianne's group.
He had never imagined that this Saiyan could transform just like Ribrianne had, or that Gohan had defeated her while still in his base form, even after she had bulked up.
Fear completely overwhelmed Kahseral. He desperately tried to steady himself, but his body refused to respond. The raging aura battered him like an unstoppable tidal wave, pushing him closer and closer to the edge of the arena.
"D-Damn it... I can't fight back at all..."
Despair filled his voice. He knew that falling off the stage meant it was all over, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't escape the force driving him backward.
Just as Kahseral resigned himself to elimination, a broad figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
Jiren.
Without a word, Jiren placed a hand against Kahseral's back. The overwhelming pressure vanished instantly, and Kahseral's body steadied as though nothing had happened.
His eyes widened, his mouth hanging open. "Jiren?!"
Kahseral never expected Jiren to come to his rescue. The old Jiren would never have done something like this, he had always been a lone wolf who cared little for teamwork. Among the Pride Troopers, the only person he truly respected was Toppo. As for everyone else, they were beneath his notice. Saving a teammate was something no one would have expected from him.
"...Sorry, Jiren. I'm too weak." Kahseral lowered his head.
Jiren's expression didn't change. "General. We're teammates. You don't need to apologize. Saving you is only natural."
Kahseral froze.
'Jiren... he's changed. Was this the result of his training? It seems Lady Marcarita's guidance really helped him let go of the burdens he's carried all these years.'
A satisfied smile spread across Kahseral's face. Being saved by someone like Jiren... he had no regrets.
Looking at him, Kahseral spoke calmly. "Jiren... this tournament isn't my battlefield anymore. I can't contribute to a fight at this level. My original plan was to deal with the fighters from Universe 2, but Universe 7 already took care of them. So... you don't have to worry about me anymore. Go all out. If I stay here, I'll only hold you back."
He smiled, completely at peace, before turning to walk toward the edge of the arena.
His words left Jiren silent.
After a long pause, Jiren finally spoke. "No, General. Every extra person increases our chances. The rules say the universe with the most surviving fighters wins."
Kahseral simply waved him off. "Jiren... ever since you joined the Pride Troopers, you've always fought alone. But seeing how much you've changed... it makes me happy."
At that moment, Kahseral looked less like a warrior and more like an elder watching the next generation surpass him. His smile was warm and full of pride.
"Don't lose sight of what's important. Don't throw away the watermelon just to pick up a sesame seed," he spoke earnestly, every word carrying weight. "My elimination won't be meaningless. If I leave now, you'll be able to focus entirely on the battle ahead."
He looked Jiren straight in the eye. "Remember... sometimes sacrifice is what leads to the greatest victory. The responsibility you're carrying now isn't just your own, it's the fate of all of Universe 11. As long as you win, our universe will survive. So go. Fight without worrying about me."
Kahseral's words struck Jiren deeply. For a brief moment, it felt as though something inside him had clicked into place, as if he had suddenly understood truths that had eluded him for years.
Then, without another word, Kahseral leaped from the arena.
(End Of This Chapter)
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