And just like that, Gran became Universe 6's God of Destruction Candidate.
Everyone in the Destroyer Realm was beaming with joy.
Meanwhile, Gran sat off to the side, leisurely sipping tea, not bothering to interrupt their celebration.
When dinnertime arrived, he was just about to prepare some food when Vados called out to him.
"Gran, when are you planning to go back?"
"Go back?"
Champa immediately raised his chin.
"Why would he go back? Gran is already Universe 6's God of Destruction Candidate now."
Fuwa nodded vigorously.
"That's right! We've already accumulated quite a few unqualified planets in Universe 6. We can leave those to Gran."
Gran was speechless.
These people were really treating him like free labor.
Shaking his head, he replied,
"I won't be training for the time being, so the planetary cleanup can wait."
"As for staying in Universe 6…"
He paused.
Champa and Fuwa instinctively swallowed nervously.
Gran continued,
"Normally, unless there's something important, I won't stay in Universe 6 permanently. I'll remain here for a few more days and then head back."
Nearly a month had already passed.
The Namek Saga was about to begin.
And the promise he had once made to the Grand Elder of Namek would soon come into play.
The moment they heard that Gran would be leaving soon, disappointment immediately filled Champa's chubby face.
Gran ignored their reactions and began grilling meat on a barbecue rack beside the lake.
While he was cooking, however, Vados walked over.
"What is it?"
Gran turned over a large piece of meat and glanced at her.
Vados smiled.
"It just feels surreal."
"After all the twists and turns, you've still ended up becoming Universe 6's God of Destruction Candidate."
"Yeah."
A smile appeared on Gran's face as well.
"By the way, Gran."
Vados suddenly said,
"Now that you're technically my disciple too, would you still like me to guide your training?"
A faint blush appeared on her face.
After all, Gran's strength had already surpassed every God of Destruction.
She couldn't help feeling that she was asking this a little too late.
Gran paused and looked her over.
With her high ponytail, mature figure, and elegant aura, Vados exuded the charm of a refined older sister.
Back then, Champa had even tried using her to tempt him.
"So, Teacher Vados, what areas would you guide me in?"
Gran's gaze remained respectful and serious.
Seeing how earnestly he was consulting her as a student would his teacher, Vados felt unexpectedly happy.
"Let me take a look."
She carefully examined him.
Gran didn't interrupt and continued grilling the meat.
After a while, Vados sighed helplessly.
"You're still just as monstrous as ever."
"As Whis said, nearly all of your abilities have either reached a bottleneck or have only recently broken through. Before those foundations fully stabilize, the best direction for your training is still the Law of Destruction."
"I see."
Gran shook his head.
"It's alright, Teacher Vados. The fact that you were willing to take a look already makes me happy."
Vados fell silent.
The surroundings also grew quiet.
Gran was just about to transfer the grilled meat onto a plate when Vados suddenly spoke.
"I know what you still need to train."
"What is it?"
Gran paused.
Excitement flashed through Vados's eyes.
"Ultra Instinct."
"Ultra Instinct?"
Gran frowned.
His Ultra Instinct had already touched the Angel Realm.
However, he still couldn't achieve the same state as a true Angel.
"That's right."
Vados nodded.
"Ultra Instinct is the fusion of mental state and bodily instinct."
"Your bodily instinct has already reached the early stage of the Fourth Tier."
"But your mental state has only just touched the Third Layer."
"That's why you still can't function exactly like a true Angel."
"But both my mental state and bodily instinct only broke through recently."
Gran shook his head.
"Even if I want to improve them, I won't gain much in the short term."
That was exactly what Whis had said.
Otherwise, Whis wouldn't have advised him to focus on cultivating the Law of Destruction.
"I know that."
Vados smiled knowingly.
"But do you know what the Third Layer of Mental State actually is?"
"..."
Gran fell silent.
He remembered that:
The First Layer was Selflessness Through Forgetting the Self.
The Second Layer was No-Self.
As for the Third Layer...
Back when he was unlocking his potential, he had accidentally touched it while cultivating his mental state.
The sensation it gave him was...
No sensation at all.
"It seems you've already realized something."
Vados looked at him.
"That's right."
"The Third Layer is Nothingness."
"But this isn't the 'No-Self' of the Second Layer."
"It is simply... Nothing."
"In the Third Layer, you can feel joy. You can feel sorrow."
"Just look at us Angels. We have emotions too."
"Then how do I truly step into the Third Layer?"
Gran's eyes lit up.
He had always felt that something about his condition was strange.
In theory, Ultra Instinct should leave him perfectly calm at all times.
Yet during his battle against Quitela, he had experienced anger and emotional fluctuations.
"During the cultivation of the First Layer, absolute calmness is required."
"During the cultivation of the Second Layer, you must forget everything."
Vados spoke seriously.
"But to cultivate the Third Layer…"
"You can think of it as reversing the process."
"Reversing it?"
Gran was startled.
"What do you mean?"
"It means that while maintaining absolute calmness and forgetting everything…"
"You must rediscover your own heart."
The moment those words left her mouth, Gran's eyes widened.
Why did that method sound so similar to attaining Super Saiyan 4?
But after thinking carefully, he realized they were fundamentally different.
One involved reclaiming oneself from a state of extreme rage.
The other involved reclaiming oneself from a state of absolute calmness and complete detachment.
Gran fell into deep thought.
Vados had no idea what was going through his mind.
If she did, she would probably tell him that all martial paths ultimately lead to the same destination.
Their essence was always a return to simplicity and one's true nature.
Similarities between different paths were only natural.
At that moment, Gran stood completely motionless.
Something about his state suddenly became unusual.
"Gran, why isn't the meat ready yet—"
Champa walked over from the lakeside.
Just as he was about to interrupt Gran—
Thwack!
A staff struck his chubby head.
Champa wanted to cry out in pain.
But for some reason, no sound came from his throat.
Who dared attack him?
Covering his head, he angrily looked up, intending to find the fool responsible.
The moment he raised his head—
His eyes met Vados's.
"Gulp."
Champa swallowed hard.
The anger in his heart instantly vanished.
So it was his own Angel.
How could he possibly dare complain?
END OF CHAPTER
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