Everyone assumed their positions as the Universe Tournament prepared to commence. Whis and Vados simultaneously tapped their angelic staffs—faint luminescence radiated outward as a hemispherical dome enveloped the entire arena, creating a completely enclosed battlefield.
This protective barrier, shaped jointly by two angels, ensured spectator safety while imposing reasonable limits on the competitors' destructive capabilities.
Vados appeared highly satisfied with the arrangement. She gracefully stepped forward to announce the regulations:
"This tournament represents competition between the two universes governed by Lord Champa and Lord Beerus. We will utilize a one-on-one battle format. Both teams determine their own appearance order. When a fighter is eliminated, they're disqualified and replaced by the next competitor—continuing until only one warrior remains standing. That universe claims victory. Elimination occurs through opponent surrender, ring-out, or incapacitation. Killing is strictly forbidden."
Her smile widened as she delivered the ultimate stakes. "The victorious universe claims all Super Dragon Balls, granting one wish of their choosing. I expect everyone to fight with maximum effort."
Vados concluded her announcement with elegant formality, transferring remaining duties to the designated host.
Competitors from both universes grew serious, anticipating battle's commencement while discussing appearance order internally. On Raditz's side, despite everyone possessing exceptional strength, Tapion would serve as their opening warm-up fighter.
"Please send your number one competitors to the ring!" The host—a seasoned professional who'd witnessed countless cosmic events—still felt unprecedented excitement. Though he'd overseen numerous grand spectacles, an actual interdimensional tournament represented a career first. His voice trembled slightly with barely contained enthusiasm.
"You're up! Show them what you've got." Raditz clapped Tapion on the shoulder with encouraging force.
"Crush him, Botamo!" Champa raised his fist and bellowed with theatrical aggression.
Both sides had finalized their selections. The chosen warriors leaped simultaneously onto the arena platform.
Botamo revealed himself as a tall, burly yellow bear-like creature wearing only a red vest. A stubby tail protruded from his rear, his overall appearance suggesting bloated clumsiness. His features seemed harmless rather than vicious—but Tapion knew better than to underestimate opponents based on appearance alone.
Raditz suddenly felt confident he'd chosen correctly. The fundamental difference between Tapion and typical Saiyans lay in his refusal to underestimate enemies. Saiyans, more or less, possessed considerable combat confidence that occasionally evolved into dangerous overconfidence. Tapion was different—his inherent seriousness ensured he approached every opponent with maximum effort.
BANG! BANG!
Botamo slapped his rotund belly twice, issuing provocative challenge. "Come on, attack freely! I'll let you play for 10 minutes before getting serious!"
"You..." Tapion hadn't expected such blatant disrespect. His brow furrowed with restrained irritation.
From the stands, Champa laughed boisterously. "That's it, Botamo! Excellent psychological warfare!" Regardless of actual combat effectiveness, those words "let you play for 10 minutes" generated tremendous face for Universe 6. The momentum shift was palpable.
From the opposite side, Raditz stood and shouted toward Tapion, "If he wants a spanking that badly, hit him hard!"
Tapion raised the mystical ocarina to his lips, producing a hauntingly beautiful melody. Everyone froze in confusion. What kind of strategy is this—playing music during a tournament? This was combat competition, not a recital!
But within seconds, white mist materialized across the ring. A colossal monster possessing only a lower body suddenly manifested—the massive form nearly crushing the arena floor beneath its weight, threatening the protective barrier's integrity.
Hirudegarn had arrived!
Botamo recoiled involuntarily, stumbling backward in shock. "That's cheating! You're using external help!"
"This is my technique!" Tapion's cold declaration carried offended pride. His dissatisfaction with Botamo's earlier contempt transferred directly to Hirudegarn, making the demon considerably more violent.
"Hold on, Vados! Isn't this a foul? There are two combatants now!"
"Lord Champa, that creature connects through soul communion. It represents a sealing and summoning ability—or perhaps a manifested 'weapon.'" Vados shook her head calmly, clearly ruling this legitimate. "No violation has occurred."
The host and referee stood momentarily paralyzed with uncertainty. Should this be called as a foul? He glanced toward the presiding deities—Whis smiled with knowing amusement while Vados shook her head in denial. Very well, we'll continue. The host made his determination, allowing combat to proceed unobstructed.
Center ring, Hirudegarn charged forward with berserk fury, hammering Botamo with overwhelming physical assault. The bear-creature's body possessed rubber-like properties, rendering him nearly immune to physical attacks—and Hirudegarn specialized exclusively in physical combat.
Devastating explosive blows hammered Botamo repeatedly, producing no obvious damage—merely forcing him backward across the arena.
"That guy actually withstood such tremendous force without injury!" Krillin expressed genuine shock. If Hirudegarn had struck him with equivalent power, he'd be paste. Yet Botamo survived, even laughing!
"Perhaps. But Hirudegarn has already established complete dominance." Raditz observed dismissively. "Once Tapion identifies his opponent's weakness, this battle concludes instantly."
Botamo relied primarily on his unique physiology—his actual combat strength remained unimpressive. Any attack capable of destabilizing his footing could throw him from the ring, ending the match immediately.
In reality, Botamo barely resisted Hirudegarn's relentless assault, possessing zero capacity for counterattack. Sweat poured down his frame as he maintained a facade of relaxation, but internally, shock dominated his thoughts. I underestimated Universe 7's strength. I was far too arrogant.
The phantom-like strikes continued their fierce bombardment, creating rippling shockwaves that forced Botamo toward the arena's edge!
"No! I have to fight back!" Though purely defensive tactics prevented immediate defeat, getting forced from the ring meant elimination. The situation was growing desperate—he needed offensive action.
At that critical moment, Hirudegarn's tail whipped around with sledgehammer force, connecting squarely with Botamo's legs as he attempted an evasive leap.
CRASH!
Botamo crashed down with unsteady footing. His bloated body proved difficult to raise once grounded—Tapion had discovered the critical weakness.
"I thought you possessed genuine strength, but you're nothing special after all." Tapion accelerated the melody's rhythm—like swords suddenly unsheathed from their scabbards, flashing with dazzling intent.
"Wait, wait, wait! Give me another chance!"
Hirudegarn's tail swept again with devastating finality. This time Botamo had nowhere to retreat—his elastic body bounced off the arena's edge, tumbling downward, falling headfirst toward the void below.
"What? It turns out beyond his physical gimmick, he has no real strength."
"He had me worried for nothing."
"Hahaha... Way to go, Tapion!"
Universe 7's section erupted with celebration, victorious cheers thundering across the neutral zone.
The host took several seconds to process what he'd witnessed before making the official announcement: "Universe 6's Botamo—ring-out! ELIMINATED!"
After a mere three minutes, the first competitor had departed with bitter disappointment. Champa's raised fist hung frozen mid-gesture, nowhere to direct his fury. His eyes burned with volcanic rage. "YOU LOST ALREADY?! Botamo, didn't you boast about letting him play for 10 minutes?! WORTHLESS!"
The God of Destruction's wrath proved so terrifying it nearly fractured reality itself, pressure waves making spectators' minds reel.
"Hahaha, Champa! Show some grace in defeat!" Beerus taunted with perfect timing, offering condescending advice with his winning attitude fully displayed.
"Don't celebrate prematurely, Beerus!" Champa ground his teeth audibly, pointing sharply at Magetta. "You're next! Don't you dare lose again!"