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Inside the video, a heavy silence fell over the arena as the dust from the massive blast began to settle. Everyone watching across the dimensions thought Vegeta had finally perished in that golden inferno. But just then, a defiant voice rang out from the haze. "Don't just casually assume I'm dead," Vegeta grunted.
From the depths of the crater carved into the stage, his figure slowly emerged. He clutched his left arm, his armor shattered and his body covered in deep wounds. But he was breathing. After unleashing a self-destruction technique that should have erased him, the Prince of Saiyans still stood.
Piccolo observed that Vegeta had survived because his raw power had increased significantly during the fight. His masterful control over the Super Saiyan Blue Evolved transformation allowed him to contain the blast just enough to spare his own life.
This meant that while Toppo was eliminated, Vegeta remained on the field. It wasn't a one-for-one trade; it was a massive strategic victory for Universe 7.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ruins, Son Goku and Android 17 were locked in a desperate struggle against Jiren. Through their seamless combined efforts, they finally managed to inflict visible injuries on the titan of Universe 11.
However, the cost was high. Their own injuries were far more severe, especially for Goku. Having pushed his body past every limit, his Ki was flickering, and he was on the absolute verge of total collapse.
Vegeta soon limped back into the fray, joining the assault against Jiren. Even though Universe 7 now held the numerical advantage, the situation was grim. All three fighters were battered, their movements slowed by pain and exhaustion.
In sharp contrast, Jiren stood tall. While he bore a few scratches, he looked as though he hadn't even begun to break a sweat. With a sudden burst of speed, Jiren sent both Vegeta and Goku crashing to the ground. Their stamina was gone, their bodies refusing to move.
Only Android 17 remained standing. As an Android equipped with a permanent energy reactor, his stamina was infinite; he would never tire, even if his body was breaking. Seeing Jiren prepare a final, crushing blow, 17 stepped in front of the fallen Saiyans.
He deployed a series of green energy barriers, providing a momentary sanctuary for Goku and Vegeta to catch their breath. Then, with a look of calm resolve, he decided to fight Jiren to the death. He blocked Jiren's massive energy surge and, in a flash of blinding light, detonated his own internal power source.
Android 17 had followed Vegeta's example, using a self-destructive explosion to try and halt Jiren's advance. When the smoke cleared and the thunderous roar of the blast faded, 17 had vanished from the stage. The sacrifice had only caused Jiren minor discomfort—it didn't even qualify as a serious injury. Since 17 had chosen to self-destruct, his disappearance was not counted as a kill, meaning Jiren had not violated the rules against lethal force.
Vermoud sneered from the spectator stands. "Why do the guys from Universe 7 all like to self-destruct so much? What a pity, such a dramatic gesture is useless against Jiren!" Beerus shot back with a fierce grin. "Hmph! It was useful enough to erase Toppo! And since Vegeta survived his blast, it was a zero-for-one trade in our favor!" Vermoud simply crossed his arms, unimpressed. "So what? Against Jiren, being eliminated is only a matter of time!"
The fact that Vegeta survived clearly annoyed Vermoud, as it meant Toppo had been removed without taking anyone down with him. But to the God of Destruction of Universe 11, it was a minor setback. With Goku and Vegeta severely injured and their stamina depleted, Frieza's whereabouts unknown, and 17 gone, the remaining strength of Universe 7 couldn't match Jiren's shadow. Vermoud refused to believe his universe could lose under these circumstances.
Across the multiverse, reactions poured in. Uzumaki Naruto frowned at the screen. "I don't know why, but Jiren seems weaker now. Before, he instantly defeated a nearly full-power Goku. Now, 17 and the others can actually hurt him.
His strength feels like it's diminished." Zhang Chulan agreed, noting that the "previous" Jiren would have ended the fight in a second. Sengoku offered a more tactical perspective. "Jiren hasn't weakened; it's the coordination of Universe 7. Their combined efforts are finally creating openings in his defense."
Natsu Dragneel cheered at the display of teamwork. "That's right! Fighting alongside your comrades unleashes a power that raw strength can't match!" The members of the Fairy Tail guild knew this better than anyone, having overcome countless gods through the bonds of friendship. For them, seeing Jiren bleed was a testament to the trust between Goku and his allies.
In the Universe 11 stands, Vermoud and the Pride Troopers fell silent. They knew Jiren's greatest flaw: he was a solitary warrior. While he would protect his teammates, he never truly fought alongside them.
Teamwork and emotional bonds were alien concepts to him, a result of the trauma in his past. In contrast, Goku had spent his entire life fighting with his friends. Whether it was against Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, or Buu, he was never truly alone.
Vermoud finally spoke, his voice unusually soft. "I admit their coordination is impressive. It's a miracle they've even injured Jiren. But the power gap is simply too vast. No matter how well they move together, they are no match for Jiren's inherent strength.
" This time, Beerus didn't argue. Looking at the screen, Akira realized the tactical situation was hopeless. With Goku and Vegeta broken, Frieza likely unconscious, and 17 presumed dead, how could they contend with a Jiren who was still at 90% power?