Vincent watched the two machines, eyes steady.
He could crush them one on one. No question.
But now both had finished charging their ultimate moves and were about to fire in sync.
For Universe 3, this was as lethal as it got.
"Look, that kid Vincent just ran into trouble."
Beerus rose without meaning to, staring down at the arena. In the next instant, Vincent would be facing the strongest finishers of two Universe 3 fighters at once. Even the usually languid Destroyer found himself tensing up.
Whis glanced once and smiled. "Relax. Vincent has more than you have seen."
"Does he now?"
At that, Beerus let his shoulders drop a fraction. Not just anyone earned Whis's approval.
On the stage, Vincent flooded his body with Armament Haki and drove the Byakugan to its limit. Movements across the field slowed into clean lines. Even so, he did not underestimate the pair. His Danger Sense had pulsed a warning a moment ago. Faint, but there.
The Tournament of Power, by Universe 7's clock, lasted just over forty minutes. No breaks. No recovery windows. Get hurt early and the spiral only got worse.
Boom.
Without a hint of windup, the two beams slammed out together. Barrel-thick lances of light braided across the floor. The backlash alone chewed the tiles to dust.
Vincent's Danger Sense spiked. He planted and blasted sideways.
Boom.
He cleared it. The trio brawling behind him did not. Two were hurled from the platform. The third vanished into a cloud of fragments.
"What a hit."
Vincent tracked the damage and ran the math. Those beams would not break through his guard, but anything that erased a fighter outright mattered in this chaos.
"The Universe 4 fighter Damon has been killed by the combined attack of Universe 3's Katopesla and Narirama. All three are disqualified."
The Grand Priest's voice rolled out. The arena's noise hitched. Already a death?
Light speared down and wrapped Katopesla and Narirama, lifting them toward Universe 3's stands.
"Damn it."
Katopesla's glow dimmed. He glared down at Vincent, whole and unharmed. "It is because of him. We aimed for him and slipped."
Every eye in Universe 7 swung toward Vincent at once. Beerus stamped a foot on the rail and snapped back, "Your kill, your fault. That is the fact."
"If not for Universe 7's meddling, Universe 4's fighter would still be alive," Universe 3's Destroyer shot back. The aim was obvious: if two of theirs were gone, dragging a Universe 7 ace with them would even the board.
The Grand Priest glanced toward the dais. A simple exchange of looks with the Omni-Kings. Then he faced the ring again.
"Regarding Universe 3's accidental killing of a Universe 4 fighter, Universe 7's Vincent bears no responsibility. In addition, given the conduct of the two involved, they will be erased."
He lifted a hand and closed his fingers.
Light flared around the two machines, bright as a newborn sun. When it dimmed, nothing remained. Not even dust.
"Continue."
The pronouncement fell like a bell. Vincent blinked once. He had only dodged. The result was a dead fighter from Universe 4 and two erased from Universe 3. His pressure eased at once, not just because his attackers were gone, but because the crowd around him hesitated. Whether they feared his strength or his luck, no one wanted to be the next example.
Across the ring, the rest of Universe 7 found their rhythm, pairing off and forming trios to work the field. Goku's earlier grandstanding had drawn enough grudges that they did not lack for opponents.
"You are fighters of Universe 7?"
A voice drifted through the smoke. A figure stepped out. Then a second. Then a third.
By the end, more than a dozen blocked their path.
"This universe-culling tournament exists because of you. We will start by ending you."
The alliance surged in together, every one of them firing at full power.
"Damn it. They teamed up."
Piccolo saw it without needing a guess. At least two or three universes had coordinated to wipe Universe 7 first.
"Then we go with the plan."
Krillin vaulted high, fingers braced at his temples, eyes shut.
"Solar Flare."
A sheet of white washed a quarter of the arena. The charging wall of fighters howled as their eyes burned and watered.
Universe 7 had prepared. They fished sunglasses from their pockets and slid them on.
With the opening made, they poured energy downrange and carved a path.
"You go. We will hold them."
Android 17 and 18 did not join the retreat. They turned to face the still-blinded front.
"You… fine. Be careful," Krillin said, glancing back. There was no room for fussing now. Without him up front, there was no Solar Flare to open the way. Goku and the others were top tier here, but for the rest of them, calling their strength middle-to-low would be generous.
"Got it. Move," 18 said with a little wave. She looked at the mass of enemies finding their sight again, then at her brother. "Ready?"
"Do it."
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The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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