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"Dyspo, do not let this weigh on your heart. We, and everyone across the expanse of Universe 11, bore witness to your valor," Toppo said, his voice resonant with a commander's firm but compassionate authority.
"I understand, Captain," Dyspo replied, though a bitter, strained smile tugged at his features. "But it feels... hollow. Unfair."
In his mind, the logic was undeniable. He had the advantage; Gohan and Frieza were struggling to track his superluminal movements. Their defeat had been an inevitability, a matter of seconds. Yet, Gohan had resorted to a crude tactic of mutual destruction.
For Universe 7, it was a bargain—Gohan's power was respectable, but in the grand hierarchy of this war, he was a secondary piece. Universe 11, however, had lost its third-strongest pillar. Dyspo felt he could have cleared the field of their remaining combatants had he not been dragged into the void.
The surrounding Pride Troopers fell silent, unable to find the right words. They shared his frustration. To see a elite warrior like Dyspo taken out by a 'dispensable' opponent from Universe 7 felt like a strategic tragedy.
"At the very least, neither you, Captain, nor Jiren will fall for such cheap tricks," one Trooper remarked, regaining his composure. "Universe 7 lacks the raw power to force a one-for-one trade with our absolute strongest."
"Exactly," another chimed in, pride swelling. "If they think they can drag Jiren or the Captain down with them, they are sorely mistaken. The final victory belongs to Universe 11!"
As the Pride Troopers bolstered their confidence, the multi-dimensional viewers watching the broadcast analyzed the move through a more tactical lens.
Sengoku, the former Fleet Admiral, nodded in approval. "Gohan's decision was tactically sound. Had he hesitated, Dyspo would have dismantled both him and Frieza in short order. He traded a knight to neutralize a queen."
"It's strange, though," Duanmu Yan observed, his eyes narrowed. "Weren't Gohan and Frieza bitter enemies on Planet Namek? To see them as comrades, fighting in perfect sync... it's surreal. Does this mean Goku and Vegeta might eventually team up with Frieza as well?"
Zhang Chulan chuckled dryly. "The way things are going, it's a distinct possibility. They might have to form a desperate trinity just to stand a chance against Jiren."
"Never! Impossible!" Vegeta's voice boomed from the sidelines, his Saiyan pride flaring. "The day I align myself with that lizard is the day the stars fall!"
"Oh ho ho ho!" Frieza's chilling laughter echoed through the feed. "It seems the monkey and I finally agree on something. Teaming up with you and Mr. Goku? I would rather rot."
Despite their protestations, the grim reality of the battlefield remained. Kurosaki Ichigo reminded the room, "Don't forget Toppo. His strength is monstrous in its own right."
"Indeed," Kakashi added, his visible eye scanning the power levels. "It is entirely possible Jiren could eliminate Vegeta and Goku alone, then move on to wipe out Frieza and 17. The gap is still vast."
Tien Shinhan sighed, his brow furrowed. "Unless Universe 7 can conjure a miracle, there is no path to victory."
Daigo agreed, "Gohan did well to take Dyspo with him, but trading with Jiren or Toppo? That's beyond them. If Goku or Vegeta manage to take Toppo down with them, the survivors will still be left facing Jiren—and facing Jiren means facing absolute slaughter."
Yet, even as the odds stacked against them, a flicker of hope remained among the viewers. Then, the video feed shifted.
With Dyspo eliminated, Toppo sought out Frieza. Jiren was occupied with his own transcendent duel, leaving Toppo to handle the "trash." At first, Android 17 joined Frieza to contest the Captain of the Pride Troopers. Through a masterclass of coordination and 17's infinite energy barriers, they actually began to suppress Toppo.
After a devastating concentrated blast from Frieza, Toppo fell to one knee. The chance to eliminate him was right there—one final blow would have shifted the balance. But Frieza's arrogance proved to be a double-edged sword. Instead of finishing the job, the Golden Emperor stood over him, mocking.
"Oh ho ho ho! Is this the 'Justice' you prattle on about?" Frieza sneered, his eyes full of malice. "It's nothing but garbage. And garbage belongs in the bin where it can rot."
Frieza's words didn't just insult Toppo; they shattered the final chain holding him back.
"Justice..." Toppo whispered, his voice trembling before turning cold and hollow. "I have no more need for it."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. A violent, purplish-black aura erupted from Toppo's pores, an energy so dense it felt like the weight of a planet. His physique expanded, his muscles swelling until his previously oversized arms looked proportional to his massive, towering frame. His uniform shredded under the pressure, revealing a glowing purple rune etched upon his chest.
Toppo looked at Frieza with eyes that no longer held the warmth of a hero, but the cold indifference of an end-bringer. Frieza, sensing the danger but not yet understanding its source, launched an attack. Toppo didn't even flinch; he countered with a flick of his wrist. Frieza dodged instinctively, and the energy projectile struck a massive boulder behind him.
The rock didn't shatter. It didn't explode. It simply ceased to be—vanishing into tiny specks of light before dissipating into nothingness.
Across the arena, Lord Beerus's face went pale, his usual nonchalance replaced by genuine alarm.
"That energy..." Beerus muttered, his voice shaking. "That is Hakai. Destroyer Energy."
The observers stared in shock. "But isn't that...?"
"Yes," Beerus confirmed, his expression grim. "Toppo has ascended. He is no longer just a candidate. That is the power of a God of Destruction."