The battlefield was devastation incarnate. Rubble scattered across floating platforms. Not a single fighter remained standing. The fierce arena had fallen silent—oppressive, suffocating quiet after such tremendous chaos.
Every eye remained fixed on Goku and Jiren. Both warriors struggled to rise, determined to deliver one final blow—but neither could summon the strength. Time passed in tense silence as the pillar continued its descent.
Then it stopped.
The Grand Priest's voice rang clear across the void. "The Tournament of Power has concluded."
The announcement broke the spell. Everyone's gaze turned toward the arena's center where the pillar—the tournament's timer—had sunk to its absolute lowest point, level with the crumbled battlefield floor.
It was over.
The final battle had been thrilling beyond measure. Jiren had nearly eliminated two fighters consecutively, securing victory for Universe Eleven. But Goku had achieved Mastered Ultra Instinct in that desperate moment, reversing the outcome at the last possible instant.
Universe Eleven's God of Destruction hung his head in frustration. Beerus laughed with unreserved joy.
"The final surviving universes," the Grand Priest continued, smile serene as ever, "are Universe Seven, Universe Eleven, Universe Six, and Universe One." His eyes settled on Universe Seven's section. "However, the victor—determined by most remaining fighters and most eliminations achieved—is Universe Seven."
The declaration echoed across the void.
"They have earned the right to use the Super Dragon Balls as their final reward."
Across the shattered battlefield, fragments of Majin Buu began gathering from various platforms. Pink pieces flowed together, reassembling into a cohesive form. The reformed Buu immediately expelled two figures from his body—Android 17 and Piccolo materialized, both looking slightly disoriented but unharmed.
Universe Seven's final count had increased dramatically.
Simultaneously, in Universe Six's section, Cabba and Renso—who'd been hiding desperately throughout the final phases—emerged from their concealment. Both Saiyans appeared before their teammates, battered but alive.
Champa's face split into a massive grin. He seized both warriors in a crushing hug, laughing wildly with relief.
With a gesture from the Grand Priest, broken platforms flew together, reforming into a rough but functional small arena. The elongated spectator stands compressed into a narrower, more intimate arrangement. Under the power of divine intervention, every contestant's injuries healed—energy restored, wounds sealed.
Jiren rose to his feet. His eyes found Goku across the battlefield. "You are strong."
"Haha!" Goku's laugh remained as hearty as ever despite everything. He raised his fist in acknowledgment. "We tied in the end though. And if we hadn't used fusion, I'm pretty sure we'd have been eliminated." His grin widened. "I'm going to train harder. One day, I'll defeat you without needing help."
"Is that so?" Jiren paused, something approaching respect flickering in his eyes. "I'll be waiting."
He turned and walked back toward Universe Eleven's section. The other warriors from his universe watched him go—his vigorous stride like a warrior walking into the setting sun, unbowed despite defeat.
Cabba and Renso threw themselves into Universe Six's stands. Champa praised them effusively, hugging both Saiyans while laughing with almost manic relief.
"It's only second place," Beerus snorted dismissively from nearby. "What's there to be proud of?"
The shortened distance between stands meant even quiet voices carried clearly. Champa's head whipped toward his twin brother. "WE relied on TACTICS! Unlike you brutes who only know how to punch things!"
"Brute force?!" Beerus shot back. "We have SIX fighters remaining! That's strategic brilliance! TRUE wisdom!"
"Hmph. The results are the same either way."
The twin Gods of Destruction bickered like children, neither willing to concede. Yet beneath the argument lay genuine relief—venting depression, releasing joy at survival in one cathartic burst.
Grand Zeno sat on his elevated platform, giggling with delight. The Tournament of Power had satisfied him completely.
Yet despite his pleasure, looking at the emptiness of the void—only four universes where twelve had existed—people couldn't help but feel profound sadness. Eight entire universes erased. Countless lives ended. The desolation was overwhelming.
"That was so cool!" Zeno's voice cut through the melancholy. "Hey, where's Raditz? I want him to come here!"
The Grand Priest acknowledged the command immediately, summoning Raditz with a gesture.
Hearing Zeno's call, Raditz knew he couldn't avoid this anymore. The Omni-King had been fixated on him since the Gods' Tournament. He approached with a diplomatic smile. "What can I do for you, Your Majesty?"
"You promised to come play with me again!"
"Didn't the Tournament of Power count?" Raditz ventured carefully.
"But Raditz, you're really interesting!" Zeno's expression grew slightly downcast, as if sensing Raditz's reluctance. "I like you a lot."
The Grand Priest cast an unmistakably "friendly" look toward Raditz—the kind of attention that made ice form in one's veins. The feeling was akin to being appreciated by an emperor but knowing the price would be permanent servitude.
Raditz's mind raced. He needed to deflect without offending. "I still want to finish writing Dragon Ball Heroes for you," he said, adopting a coaxing tone suitable for children. "After I complete that series, I'll come keep you company. Is that acceptable?"
"Really?" Zeno considered this, tiny face scrunched in thought. Finally, he nodded. "Okay!"
Raditz had successfully postponed the inevitable. He'd deal with future complications when they arose.
"Grand Priest, sir?" Goku suddenly raised his head. "Can we make our wish now?"
"Of course." The Grand Priest nodded graciously. "This is the victor's reward."
He raised his hand and gestured broadly. Seven Super Dragon Balls—each the size of a planet—materialized in the void. They hung suspended in space, radiant light emanating from their cores.
"Woooow!" Zeno's eyes went wide with childlike wonder.
Those who'd never witnessed Super Dragon Balls before stared in amazement at their impossible scale. This was the ultimate reward—Dragon Balls capable of granting any wish.
Champa gazed at the Super Dragon Balls with undisguised longing. He'd come so close to claiming them twice now. But who could complain when they'd been outmatched?
The Grand Priest smiled and called forth the dragon in divine language—syllables that resonated with fundamental reality. Dazzling light overflowed with magnificent colors, flooding the entire World of Void. Chaos was illuminated. Golden brilliance blazed instantaneously.
Within the radiance, the dragon ascended.
Its massive form was wrapped in galaxies. Wings, claws, and the profile of its head all gleamed with faint white luminescence. Its scales shone crimson—clear and flawless as gemstones. The divine dragon's presence made the Super Shenron from Earth seem like a garden snake.
"So!" Zeno leaned forward with excitement. "What wish will you make?"
Goku's voice rang clear and unwavering. "I want all the erased universes to be restored!"
Shocked silence gripped every spectator.
No one had expected that wish. They'd won the championship. Their universe had survived. And Goku was wishing to revive the universes that had been eliminated? Didn't that make their entire struggle meaningless?
But Raditz understood. This was quintessentially Goku—kind to his core, incapable of accepting such tremendous loss of life. He'd fought desperately to win precisely so he could make this wish.
The Grand Priest regarded Goku with surprise that transformed into a knowing smile. "Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"Very well." The Grand Priest's smile widened. "In truth, His Majesty Zeno had predetermined an outcome. If the victorious universe made a selfish wish, they would also face erasure." His gaze swept across Universe Seven's section warmly. "It seems the people of Universe Seven have not disappointed us."
The Grand Priest cast a genuinely kind smile toward Universe Seven. Beerus and Supreme Kai Shin looked flattered, almost overwhelmed. Whis and Raditz simply smiled knowingly—they'd suspected something like this all along.
Finally, the moment of restoration arrived.
The Grand Priest turned toward the colossal dragon, speaking in divine tongue that resonated with creation itself:
"Super Shenron—restore the eight universes that were erased from existence!"