"And that includes your remaining three years of life," the Grand Supreme Kai added. "If you perform well enough, we can find a way to extend your lifespan. Restoring Planet Cereal to the way it used to be is possible too."
"The planet isn't necessary," Granolah replied. "We can rebuild it ourselves."
"Suit yourself," Beerus said. "But none of those promises mean anything unless you help us with what we need first."
Granolah looked between them curiously. "What exactly do you want me to do?"
The Heeters immediately began listening more carefully as well. Whatever these gods wanted from Granolah had to be important if they were willing to resurrect his parents and even restore his lost lifespan in exchange.
Was this really what true gods were capable of?
"It's simple," Beerus said. "A little over forty hours from now, there's going to be a tournament. You represent Universe 7 and help us win. Do that, and we'll make good on those promises."
"A tournament?" Granolah raised an eyebrow. "What kind of tournament?"
"The Tournament of Power." The Grand Supreme Kai briefly explained the rules, the participating universes, and the consequences of losing.
By the time he finished, Granolah and all four Heeters were staring at him in disbelief. They had spent their lives thinking Universe 7 was all there was, only to learn that numerous other universes existed alongside it.
For Elec and his siblings, the revelation was particularly embarrassing. They called themselves the greatest information brokers in Universe 7, yet somehow they hadn't even known there were other universes.
Elec needed a moment to process the rest of what he'd heard. "And every universe that loses will be personally erased by Zeno-sama?"
Granolah looked at Beerus. "Are you entering this Tournament of Power too?"
"Gods of Destruction and Supreme Kais aren't allowed to compete," the Grand Supreme Kai explained.
"God of Destruction?" Granolah repeated, clearly unfamiliar with the title.
"This is Beerus, the God of Destruction."
Granolah stared at the purple feline again, while Elec and the others looked just as confused. None of them had ever even heard of a God of Destruction.
"You can think of the God of Destruction as the most powerful god in our universe," the Grand Supreme Kai explained.
Granolah's expression changed immediately. After seeing Beerus stop his full-powered attack with one finger, he had no trouble believing that claim, and his attitude became noticeably more respectful.
Beerus smiled. "So, are you in?"
"I... yes. I'll do it."
"Oh, and one more thing," Beerus added casually. "Frieza will be one of your teammates."
Granolah stiffened immediately.
"As for what really happened to your planet..." Beerus's gaze shifted toward Elec. "I'm the God of Destruction. Of course I know who was actually responsible."
Granolah followed his gaze. "You mean... Elec and the others?"
Beerus had no interest in explaining the whole story himself. "Grand Supreme Kai, you tell him."
"The Sugarians' original planet became uninhabitable, so they hired the Heeters to find them a new home," the Grand Supreme Kai explained. "The Heeters chose Planet Cereal, then paid Frieza to seize it. Frieza ordered the Saiyans to carry out the invasion, and that's how the destruction of your people began."
"In other words, the Heeters used both Frieza and the Saiyans to do their dirty work," Beerus said with a cold smile. "And here's the part you'll really want to hear. Your mother—and you along with her—were actually saved by Bardock, Goku's father. Elec was the one who later shot your mother and killed her."
Whis had briefed Beerus on Granolah's history before they came to the Heeters' headquarters, so he already knew exactly how the events on Planet Cereal had unfolded.
Granolah slowly turned toward Elec, fury flooding his face as his fists clenched hard enough to tremble.
"Elec..."
He had no reason to believe a god as overwhelmingly powerful as Beerus would invent a lie about his past. Everything he had just heard had to be true.
Elec's face went pale. Of all the ways this meeting could have gone wrong, he had never imagined Beerus would expose what happened decades ago right in front of Granolah.
Worse, fighting his way out was impossible. The Heeters couldn't defeat Granolah anymore, never mind Beerus.
Elec's eyes darted rapidly as he searched for a way out, and then an idea came to him. Before Granolah could move, Elec dropped to his knees before Beerus. Gas, Oil, and Macki quickly followed his example.
Granolah stepped forward with murder in his eyes, but Elec hurriedly spoke before he could attack.
"Beerus-sama, please hear me out! Give me one chance to explain. If you're not satisfied afterward, you can kill me then!"
Beerus raised one hand, stopping Granolah for the moment. "Talk."
"We want to participate in the Tournament of Power too!" Elec declared.
Beerus looked down at him with open contempt. "With your strength? You'd get thrown out the moment the tournament started."
"Gas is the strongest among us!" Elec pointed toward his brother. "Beerus-sama, what if we use the Dragon Balls to make Gas the strongest in the universe too? Then Universe 7 would have two fighters at that level. Your chances of winning would be much higher."
Beerus's eyes immediately brightened.
Annoying as Elec was, the idea wasn't bad. Granolah was already stronger than Goku because of his wish. If Gas could become another strongest warrior in the universe, Universe 7 would enter the Tournament of Power with an enormous advantage.
With two fighters at that level, their chances of surviving suddenly looked much better.
"We're mortals of Universe 7 too," Elec continued when he noticed Beerus wavering. "We want to do our part to save our universe."
Beerus finally smiled. "Fine. Just make sure you don't disappoint me."
"Thank you, Beerus-sama!" Elec bowed again, relieved that his gamble had worked.
Granolah wasn't nearly as pleased. His hatred hadn't diminished in the slightest, and the way he stared at Elec made it obvious he still wanted to kill him where he knelt.
Beerus placed a hand on Granolah's shoulder before he could act.
"Your parents can be brought back. There's no need to let your hatred control you right now."
"Beerus-sama is right," the Grand Supreme Kai added gently. "Saving Universe 7 has to come first. Once the Tournament of Power is over, whatever happens between you and the Heeters is your business. We won't interfere."
[End of chapter]