The Grand Priest had made his astonishing arrangement—adopting the posture of final battle. The enemy approached with overwhelming force. They could no longer remain passive. To preserve balance while destroying corruption, this confrontation was inevitable.
What Raditz hadn't expected was being appointed to manage all of creation in their absence. The others shared his shock—the decision seemed incomprehensible.
According to qualifications and experience, Raditz had served as King of the World for barely any time at all. He was completely outranked by Arak and the other ancient deities.
"There is no doubt." The Grand Priest's tone allowed no argument. "Raditz, you must shoulder this burden. Among those remaining, you are the strongest and most likely to protect existence itself." His gaze shifted toward the Super Dragon Balls hanging in the void above. "These wish orbs have been relocated here as well. Use them if necessary. I know you possess considerable ingenuity." His smile was gentle but carried weight. "I'm entrusting this world to you."
"I understand." Raditz nodded, accepting the responsibility despite its crushing magnitude.
"Very good." The Grand Priest placed his hand on Raditz's shoulder, smile warm despite the circumstances.
The atmosphere suddenly gained a funeral quality—as if those departing for war would never return. Like elders explaining final wishes to younger generations, entrusting everything before dying with honor.
But with Zeno present, no matter how powerful the enemy, defeat was impossible... right? Raditz clung to that thought as he watched the Grand Priest and angels form a neat procession.
He'd never witnessed such tremendous scale. This might be the strongest lineup in universal history—perhaps in any history.
"Let's go." The Grand Priest positioned Zeno respectfully at the formation's center, guards flanking both sides. He raised his arms, channeling divine power to transport everyone from the palace.
In moments, the vast throne room stood empty—only the four surviving universes' contestants, Gods of Destruction, and Supreme Kais remained.
"Whis is gone too." Beerus sighed deeply, staring at the vast light and shadow spinning overhead. Despair colored his voice as he sank to the floor. "I have a terrible feeling about this. Is this really... the end?"
Champa had no energy for their usual arguments. Something hammered against his chest—anxiety that couldn't be voiced.
Raditz looked into the distance, seeing only emptiness. Unable to predict the outcome.
The Grand Priest used divine power to reach the ancient ruins. From there, he broke through the barrier separating the present world from the negative realm—entering the source of black corruption itself.
Endless space filled with negative energy. Overwhelming darkness covered everything. Within the shadows, only faint light emanated from the angels themselves—tiny stars in infinite night. Nothing else seemed to exist except chaotic dark fog.
"There are structures." The Grand Priest closed his eyes, then opened them with renewed focus. "Palaces. They constructed them."
He sensed the buildings through divine perception, leading everyone forward through oppressive darkness.
Finally, dim light appeared ahead—but even that illumination seemed sickly, wrong. It reflected the outline of a massive palace. A single character adorned the entrance.
全 (Zen/Omni)
Zeno's Palace?
The angels exchanged shocked glances.
Suddenly, tremendous chill descended from above. The entire space seemed enveloped by hostile force—a trap closing around them. Black shadows materialized before the palace gates. Robes, halos, and divine staffs looked disturbingly familiar.
"Mirto. Muter. Avani..." The Grand Priest's eyes blazed as he announced the names one by one.
"As expected of the Grand Priest." Mirto was tall and powerful—the strongest among all ancient angels. His eyes glowed with scarlet luminescence, utterly unlike any angel should appear. "You still remember our names."
The other corrupted angels mirrored his appearance. Though their clothing remained identical to Whis and his siblings, their eyes burned crimson. Black auras surrounded them completely. Their fundamental nature had been twisted beyond recognition.
"You have fallen," the Grand Priest stated.
"We accepted this willingly." Mirto's voice carried conviction twisted into something dark. "Only by embracing negative energy's erosion could we avenge the First King and return the world to zero."
Mirto regarded the Grand Priest and angels with cold indifference. Then his eyes—filled with corrupted hatred—fixed on Zeno. The fallen angels behind him radiated hostility.
Originally, angels possessed no such emotions. They were neutral, pure, selfless. But during the ancient ruins' dormancy, the negative world had continuously intersected with their sealed dimension. Though unable to break the barrier, corruption had polluted the angels within.
Mirto was mistaken. They hadn't voluntarily accepted negative energy—the darkness had invaded and transformed them. It added thoughts of revenge and destruction to their nature. It had even stimulated their premature awakening.
And they weren't alone.
"Behold," Mirto gestured grandly. "The gods of all eras!"
Countless black shadows appeared like specters. They stood suspended in darkness, wearing eerie smiles. Every figure possessed cold light in their eyes—like predatory beasts preparing to strike.
These were dead gods. Originally buried, their remains sealed away. But now they stood resurrected before everyone through dark power.
"Ah—that's the previous generation's God of Destruction from Universe Two!"
"Yes! And over there—isn't that the ancient Supreme Kai of Universe Four?"
Recognition rippled through the angels' ranks. Gods from countless past eras had gathered here, negative energy reshaping their corpses into these corrupted forms.
The Grand Priest shook his head slowly. "How ugly you've become."
Now that the culprits stood revealed, the Grand Priest was unwilling to waste words. He understood the situation was irreversible. Only one solution remained: eliminate all the corrupted!
He raised his hand. Extraordinary power emerged, shattering the energy that surrounded them. Even within the negative world, the Grand Priest's strength remained unquestionable—absolutely overwhelming.
Mirto seemed to have anticipated this outcome. The Grand Priest's casual negation of their binding energy didn't disturb his confident smile.
The Grand Priest's attack pierced through space, streaking directly toward Mirto—
Another angel—Muter—materialized instantly before Mirto from behind. He gripped his staff with both arms, forming an invisible circular shield. The Grand Priest's devastating strike was rendered into nothingness.
"What?!" The uncorrupted angels felt shock paralyze them.
The Grand Priest's power operated an entire tier above ordinary angels. Such a gap should allow him to eliminate them effortlessly. Yet the attack had been blocked.
The Grand Priest's expression darkened. His suspicions were confirmed. Though powerful, Mirto and the others had absorbed tremendous energy from eight universes. They didn't fear him anymore. Muter alone could offset his attacks. The other angels likely stood no chance against these corrupted beings.
Fortunately, Lord Zeno was present.
"Your Majesty," the Grand Priest said quietly. "Please eliminate them."
"Okay!" Zeno's voice carried childlike enthusiasm mixed with lethal intent. "Let's get rid of you all!"
He raised one small arm. The power of Law manifested in the void.
Zeno's authority differed fundamentally from all others. The Law power he wielded transcended the scope of mere strength. Suddenly, mysterious waves spread outward—ancient, majestic, sacred. Like the endless universe from birth through explosive expansion to ultimate annihilation. It contained supreme destructive power, sufficient to erase anything.
The negative world itself trembled under Zeno's pressure. The uncorrupted angels showed their highest reverence, bowing their heads before creation's absolute sovereign.