???
Large question marks flashed in Gran's eyes.
He wants me to become the God of Destruction Candidate for this universe? In other words, he wants me to become Beerus's disciple?
"Hiss!"
Gran drew a sharp breath.
This was all too sudden. He knew he wouldn't die as long as he had his supreme culinary skills, but who could have predicted that Beerus would go so far off-script and suddenly ask him to become the God of Destruction Candidate?
Whis, for his part, had no objection to Beerus's suggestion; in fact, he was all for it. Teaching Gran over the past year had shown him the boy's truly terrifying potential. If you were to compare Beerus's talent to Gran's—to put it bluntly—Beerus could only look up to him. For Universe 7 to have such a God of Destruction Candidate was absolutely wonderful.
"Kid, didn't you say your Saiyan race has a history book?" Beerus said calmly. "Since you know so much, you should also understand what a God of Destruction Candidate being implies."
Of course, Gran knew what it meant. If he became the candidate for Universe 7, he would be second only to one being and above all others. Furthermore, if Beerus were to die or retire, he would become the next God of Destruction.
But!!!
The lives of a God of Destruction and a Supreme Kai are linked!
Gran had no desire to possess such a weakness.
"I'm sorry, Lord Beerus, but my strength is still too weak. I'm not able to take on this responsibility. It would be better if you found someone else," Gran refused directly.
What Gran said wasn't untrue. In the year-plus he'd been in the God of Destruction's world, he had either been mastering his power or training his state of mind. He had never specifically trained his strength, allowing it to increase naturally. In terms of power level, he was currently only at 500,000.
To Beerus, a power level of 500,000 was indeed far too weak.
"Weak?" The corner of Beerus's mouth twitched. "You're only seven, right? Your current power is nearly on par with Frieza's first restricted form. You still think that's weak?"
The form Frieza used while in his hover pod wasn't his true form; he used it to control his immense power better. Frieza's true final form was the small, sleek one. When Frieza unlocked his transformations and reached that form, his ultimate power level could reach 120 million.
"..."
Gran fell silent.
Seeing Gran's silence, Beerus said playfully, "Perhaps you don't yet realise what you've accomplished. The only reason I woke up ahead of schedule was that I was startled by what you achieved."
"..."
I see. So that's why Beerus woke up so suddenly. It was my fault! Gran finally understood.
"With your talent, you will one day reach my level, and it's even possible you will surpass me!"
Beerus said this without the slightest hint of embarrassment, but Whis rolled his eyes. At seven years old, this boy has reached the peak of the Kai plane, completely mastered his power, and cultivated his mind to the 'Semi-State of No-Self'. Once he trains his body's instincts to a deeper level, he will completely master Ultra Instinct. Could you, Beerus, have achieved such a feat at his age?
Whis found it amusing but didn't expose Beerus. After spending over a year with Gran, he also wanted the mysterious little one to become the God of Destruction Candidate for Universe 7.
"Your talent is so high, you are more than qualified to become the God of Destruction Candidate," Beerus said to Gran, his expression suddenly serious. "What do you say?"
Beerus had never negotiated so politely with anyone in Universe 7, which showed just how much he valued Gran.
What do I say? Of course I don't want to! Gran was a million times against it in his heart, but he didn't dare say it out loud. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Lord Beerus, I..."
The moment Beerus heard the word "sorry," his eyes turned ice-cold. "Kid, I have never negotiated with anyone so politely. Don't push your luck!"
This was the proper demeanour of a God of Destruction. When Beerus wanted something done, absolutely no one dared to defy him. If anyone had, the grass on their grave would be half a meter tall by now. Just ask King Vegeta.
Killing intent flooded the air!
Gran felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern, the cold, murderous aura making him tremble. He had anticipated that his refusal would infuriate Beerus and had prepared a backup plan. If Beerus were to try to destroy him, he would whip out his trump card: instant ramen! Then he would use the excuse of the universe's mortal level, arguing that killing him would be a great loss for Universe 7. With a two-pronged approach, Beerus should back down.
But could he risk it? This was an unpredictable God of Destruction, the strongest one at that. Could he really take that gamble?
"Lord Beerus, I... I accept!"
In the end, Gran didn't dare to take the risk. His little face fell. He truly... had no other choice.
"Hahaha, smart kid!" Beerus was delighted. He glanced at Whis.
Whis smiled and waved his staff.
The next second, the little Gran was instantly clad in a set of ancient Egyptian-style clothing. A sleeveless robe, golden armbands, a sapphire necklace... Gran's outfit was identical to Beerus's. On this day, Universe 7 had a God of Destruction Candidate. It was a cause for celebration!
Whoosh!!!
Sacred music reverberated throughout the entirety of Universe 7!
Meanwhile, in the World of the Supreme Kais.
Supreme Kai Shin and Kibito had returned.
Shin said gravely, "Strange. A moment ago, I clearly sensed a dense aura of destruction. Why has it disappeared?"
Kibito shook his head. "I don't know. I also thought Majin Buu had broken his seal."
Suddenly, the sacred music reached their world!
"What's happening?" The expressions of both Shin and Kibito changed drastically.
The Z Sword, embedded in a stone pillar in the centre of the lake, suddenly trembled. The Elder Kai, sealed within, spoke in disbelief, "A God of Destruction Candidate? Unbelievable! With that skinny cat's lazy personality, why would he ever take on a disciple?"
North Kai's Planet.
North Kai was cowering in his little house. He had felt Beerus awaken earlier and was afraid he had come to destroy his planet again. But the next second, the sacred music began to play.
"What is this?" North Kai's eyes widened. He ran out of his house and looked up at the sky. The music continued, but unlike the Elder Kai, North Kai was not knowledgeable enough to understand what it signified.
Zeno's Palace.
Zeno, who was playing a gem-matching game, briefly lifted his eyes before looking back down. Beside him, the Grand Priest narrowed his eyes, his gaze directed toward Universe 7.
The God of Destruction's World.
"I can't believe I'd wake up from a nap and get such a disciple!" Beerus laughed heartily by the lake. Having recruited a prodigy like Gran as his candidate, he found it hard not to be in a good mood.
Beside him, Whis rolled his eyes. Seeing Beerus so happy, you'd think the kid became his disciple willingly, not because he was forced!
However...
"Ohohoho~~~" Whis also threw his head back and laughed. With Gran as the candidate, he was now a member of the God of Destruction's world. That meant Whis could eat Gran's delicious food forever. It was hard not to be happy!
Unlike the other two, little Gran's face was a picture of grief. He looked down at his small body dressed in the God of Destruction's attire. What a miscalculation!
He had only come here to have Whis train him. Who could have guessed that the commotion from his training would awaken Beerus? And who could have guessed that Beerus would take a liking to his talent?
What do I do now? If Beerus accidentally dies, or if Supreme Kai Shin dies, I'll have to take over as the new God of Destruction! Then my life will be linked to the new Supreme Kai's. What am I going to do?!
"Hey kid, aren't you happy to be the God of Destruction Candidate of Universe 7?" Beerus asked, lifting Gran by the scruff of his neck.
Gran looked at him with a pained expression. "Lord Beerus, is there a way to solve the issue with a God of Destruction's life?"
"What do you mean?" Beerus was taken aback.
Whis suddenly understood. "Are you talking about the problem of a God of Destruction's life being linked to a Supreme Kai's?"
"What? You even know about that?!" Beerus was flabbergasted.
Whis, however, wasn't surprised. This kid seemed to know many secrets; it was normal for him to know about this not-so-secret secret.
"Yes!" Gran nodded, looking as pitiful as could be.
Beerus dropped him back on the ground, realising belatedly, "So that's why you refused me earlier!"
"Obviously! If we Gods of Destruction didn't have this weakness, I would have been thrilled to become your disciple!" Now that he was the candidate, the little Gran was no longer afraid of Beerus, and the respectful tone in his voice had vanished.
"You little brat!" Gran's tone didn't anger Beerus. He sat down on the grass as well and chuckled. "I don't know how you found out about this, but you don't need to worry about our lives being in danger."
"?"
"Perhaps you don't know, but as long as one Supreme Kai remains alive, we Gods of Destruction will not die!"
"..." The corner of Gran's mouth twitched. He knew this, of course. He also knew that Beerus, fearing death, had sealed away the Elder Kai himself.
As expected...
"As long as we seal away one of the many Supreme Kais, we Gods of Destruction cannot die," Beerus said, a reminiscent look in his eyes. He wondered how that old geezer was doing now.
Gran had guessed Beerus would say this. He said helplessly, "But what if the Supreme Kai you sealed away also dies?"
"How is that possible? Who could break my seal?"
Can no one break it? You have no idea how fragile your seal is. In a few years, when Gohan and his father go to the Sacred World of the Kais, the Elder Kai will be released!
Of course, Gran wouldn't say this. He tilted his round little head up at the sky. "I'm just saying, what if? What if someone breaks your seal?"
"Then... our lives would be left to fate!" Beerus's expression turned extremely grim. This was the weakness of a God of Destruction. Even as the strongest, he couldn't change this fact. Thinking of this, Beerus suddenly felt a pang of guilt. With Gran's talent, he would one day surpass him, yet he had now saddled him with such a weakness.
"Is there really no other way?" Gran asked, unwilling to give up.
"There is," Whis said suddenly.
Beerus and Gran were instantly overjoyed, exclaiming in unison, "What is it?"
Whis smiled. "Rules are made to be broken. When you are powerful enough, you can naturally break this binding rule."
Beerus: "..."
That's the same as saying nothing! Besides, even you, an Angel, can't break the rule of neutrality. How can a mere God of Destruction like me possibly manage it?
Suddenly, Gran stood up, his small face extremely serious. "I've decided!"
"?" Beerus and Whis looked at each other, confusion in their eyes.
"Lord Beerus has caused me to have this weakness. Since it's already a fact..." Gran paused, his eyes firming with resolve. "Then in the future, I will be the one to break this rule!"
Zeno set the rules. Gran's ultimate goal in the Dragon Ball world was to punch Beerus and kick Zeno. Therefore, breaking the rules and kicking Zeno were not mutually exclusive!
BOOM!
The seven-year-old Gran was still very short, but his bold declaration sent a tremor through the hearts of both Beerus and Whis.
"I'm going back to my training!" Without looking back, Gran returned to his original spot. He still wasn't familiar with the "State of No-Self," so he resumed his training.
Watching Gran's small figure, Whis felt a lump in his throat. "Lord Beerus, it seems... we've taken on quite the disciple."
Beerus clenched his fists. "This kid..."
With Gran becoming the God of Destruction Candidate, Beerus no longer lazed around. Especially since he had burdened Gran with a weakness, Beerus felt somewhat indebted and took on the responsibility of teaching him.
Time passed, and half a year went by. During this period, Beerus and Whis continuously taught Gran, who finally became proficient at entering the "Semi-State of No-Self." Although it was only a partial state, it gave Gran the beginnings of Ultra Instinct.
What Gran lacked now was foundational strength, combat techniques, and a deeper combat awareness. Once he experienced various battles and developed stronger bodily instincts, allowing his movements to become as swift as lightning, and then combined that with the "Semi-State of No-Self," Gran would be able to step into Ultra Instinct Sign—the first stage of Ultra Instinct.
As for the completed Ultra Instinct, that would have to wait until Gran's state of mind fully entered the "State of No-Self" and his combat instincts were trained to an even higher level.
And in these six months, Beerus and Gran had become close. It turned out that what Whis had said was true; the kid's culinary skills were at the absolute peak. The food he made was completely worthy of the title "the most delicious in the universe," which made Beerus like the little one even more.
Given their current relationship, even if Gran were to stand on his head and... relieve himself, Beerus probably wouldn't get angry.
"Hey, you little brat, you're not actually thinking of standing on my head and doing that, are you?"