.....
『How should I know?!』
Rumsshi rolled his eyes at Belmod.
At that moment, Bulma tugged on the hem of Gran's clothes.
『Lord Gran, are they talking about Krillin and the others?』
『Yes.』
The corners of Gran's mouth lifted slightly.
The reason these Angels felt such a sense of familiarity was actually because Krillin and the others were all disciples of the Turtle School.
(Tien had never formally become a disciple, but he had ultimately abandoned his former path and embraced the right way.)
The Turtle School was a martial arts discipline that Master Roshi had comprehended on Korin Tower.
And Korin Tower itself inherited its teachings from the Heavenly Realm.
There was also a mysterious Angel residing in the Heavenly Realm...
Mr. Popo!
So, indirectly speaking, they had all come into contact with the martial arts philosophy of the Angels.
However, Angels like Margarita had no idea about this, and the other Gods of Destruction knew even less.
Only Whis, Vados, Beerus, Champa, Old Kai, Shin, and Gran himself knew these secrets.
After all, they had all once ascended to the Heavenly Realm together!
『What I can tell you is that these people are actually martial artists from Earth.』
Whis had no intention of telling them about the mysterious Mr. Popo.
『Earth?』
The Angels and Gods of Destruction all widened their eyes.
They were quite familiar with Earth.
Before the Universal Martial Arts Tournament began, all of them had spent some time living on Earth.
Earth had countless delicious foods.
It also had Vegeta and Son Gohan, whose talents alone were enough to leave people speechless.
But now they were being told that Earth also had these interesting martial artists?
『Could Earth actually be a sacred land of martial arts?』
The Angels exchanged glances, their expressions becoming somewhat solemn.
Little did they know...
Their guess was completely correct.
Earth's martial arts was constantly accumulating and developing.
Sooner or later, it would shine brilliantly throughout the Omni-King's universes!
After this little interlude, the Universal Martial Arts Tournament continued.
The Beginner Division had almost finished determining its winners, and now the Intermediate Division was entering its white-hot stage.
Across the various arenas, waves of energy surged like tsunamis!
Anyone who had been selected for the tournament's final roster possessed at least 1 million battle power.
One million battle power...
That was roughly equivalent to Frieza's Second Form.
If this had been during the early stages of the Dragon Ball storyline, the Seventh Universe would never have produced so many powerful warriors.
At that time, Frieza's 530,000 battle power had already made him the strongest being in the universe!
But the timeline had now reached Age 766.
And in Age 767, the Android Saga would begin!
On top of that, news of this Universal Martial Arts Tournament had already spread throughout the universe, awakening countless hidden powerhouses!
For example...
The people of Planet Metamor!!!
They worshipped peace, but they also revered martial arts.
Their entire lives were devoted to studying martial arts!
Especially their famous Fusion Technique.
That technique was something their race had developed through generations of research.
When Gran was nine years old, he had once trained on Planet Metamor.
He had even challenged 30,000 powerful warriors from Planet Metamor.
In the end, it was only through sparring with the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor that his bodily instincts broke through to the Second Order, allowing him to enter the realm of a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
『The Grand Elder of Planet Metamor!』
From the spectator stands, Gran really did notice a small, elderly man.
It was none other than the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor.
Sure enough, with a tournament of this scale taking place, the people of Planet Metamor wouldn't miss it.
『Gran, you know him?』
Champa followed Gran's gaze.
『Yes. I actually owe the people of Planet Metamor a favor.』
Gran smiled.
『Someone actually managed to make you owe them a favor? Now that's interesting.』
Champa also looked toward the old man.
Under the gazes of everyone present.
The old man possessed only 5 million battle power.
Yet his opponent was a fat praying mantis with 10 million battle power.
Every strike from the fat mantis seemed capable of slicing space apart.
Its blades were absolutely lethal!
But despite facing such fierce attacks, the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor showed no panic whatsoever.
Instead, he handled everything with ease.
『His bodily instincts have actually reached the peak of the Second Order!』
Liquiir, the fox-like God of Destruction, was somewhat surprised.
『His strength is only 5 million battle power. How did he train his bodily instincts to this level?』
Rumsshi also found it incredible.
『Exactly. Quitela, despite being a God of Destruction, only has bodily instincts at the initial Third Order. If this old man breaks through again, wouldn't he be almost on the same level as Quitela?』
Belmod teased.
Quitela, the gray-skinned mouse:
『...』
Faced with such blatant mockery, Quitela could only swallow his anger.
He didn't dare say a word.
『Although that fat mantis has 10 million battle power, its bodily instincts haven't even reached the First Order. The gap between it and that old man from Planet Metamor is simply enormous. How is it supposed to fight?』
Beerus completely ignored Quitela and shook his head.
He also knew the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor.
After all, when Gran was young, Beerus had often asked Whis to play recordings of Gran's training and adventures for him.
So he recognized the old man.
Sure enough!
Once the old man's bodily instincts reached the Second Order and he condensed a Martial Arts Heart, he could be called a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
And the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor was precisely such a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
Although he possessed only 5 million battle power, he could unleash power equivalent to 15 million battle power!
That was a threefold increase.
And it came with absolutely no side effects.
This alone demonstrated just how terrifying his Martial Arts Realm was!
Under such circumstances, the fat mantis simply couldn't withstand him.
Down in the arena.
『N-No... Impossible!!』
『You damn old man! Don't you only have 5 million battle power?! How could you possibly possess such incredible strength?!』
『I don't believe it!!』
The fat mantis activated its mantis arms and charged toward the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor like a truck.
BOOM!
Its incredible speed created a terrifying sonic boom!
『You don't know a single proper technique. All you know is brute force. And your control over your own power is unbelievably crude.』
The Grand Elder of Planet Metamor stood with his back toward the fat mantis.
He knew that the fat mantis was charging straight toward him, but he remained completely calm.
The aura of a Martial Arts Grandmaster left the surrounding spectators amazed!
『Die!!!』
The fat mantis reached the Grand Elder's back.
It had completely lost its reason.
Its eyes were bloodshot as its two enormous mantis blades swung downward.
SHRAAAK!!
The mantis blades tore through the air, seemingly about to cleave the Grand Elder's head in half!
『Your entire body is riddled with weaknesses. Here's one!』
The Grand Elder of Planet Metamor casually shifted to the side.
His Second-Order bodily instincts allowed him to effortlessly evade the opponent's lethal attack.
The...
He raised one hand and lightly tapped the fat mantis's armored forearm.
The mantis arm was covered by a layer of incredibly hard armor.
Yet with that single tap from the Grand Elder...
CRACK!
The fat mantis's entire arm instantly exploded apart!
He had compressed his power into a single point and then detonated it.
The resulting explosive force easily reached 10 million battle power!
『AAAAAAHHHH!!』
The excruciating pain caused the fat mantis to scream.
『Here's another weakness!』
The old man's figure suddenly blurred.
In the next instant, the fat mantis's chest caved inward.
『AAAAAAHHHH!!』
『And here's another.』
『AAAAAAHHHH!!』
『...』
The fat mantis was struck again and again.
More and more injuries appeared across its body.
Its screams gradually weakened.
Finally...
THUD!
It collapsed onto the arena floor.
The machine beside the arena quickly announced:
[The Fat Mantis contestant has been unconscious for more than ten seconds. The winner of this Intermediate Division match is the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor!]
[The Seventh Universe receives 3 points.]
As the mechanical announcement ended, the surrounding spectators immediately erupted into cheers.
The Grand Elder of Planet Metamor scanned the surroundings.
Finally, he raised his head.
His eyes met Gran's from the spectator stands.
『So Gran and the others really are gods!』
The Grand Elder recognized Gran at a glance.
Although Gran had only been nine years old when they had first met, his appearance hadn't changed all that much as he grew older.
He had simply grown several sizes larger, while his features had become more mature!
He remembered that two figures had accompanied Gran back then.
There had been one whose aura he couldn't sense at all.
At the time, the Grand Elder had wondered whether Gran and the others might be legendary divine beings.
And now that he was seeing them again...
It turned out he had been right!
The Grand Elder of Planet Metamor hadn't merely seen Gran in the spectator stands.
He had also spotted the very same divine being who had accompanied Gran back then.
Shin.
『No wonder he possessed such terrifying talent!』
The Grand Elder's voice was filled with emotion.
He had spent time with Gran before, so the boy's talent had left an unforgettable impression on him.
After all, Gran had broken through and become a Martial Arts Grandmaster right in front of him.
A nine-year-old Martial Arts Grandmaster...
Even the greatest ancestors in Planet Metamor's history couldn't compare to such talent!
And then...
A voice suddenly entered the Grand Elder's ears.
『Grand Elder, long time no see.』
『Hmm?』
The Grand Elder froze.
He looked around, but couldn't see anyone calling out to him.
『It's me, Gran.』
『Gran?!』
The Grand Elder suddenly raised his head.
Sure enough, he saw Gran nod toward him from the spectator stands.
At that moment, the Grand Elder's emotions became complicated.
He had never expected that a divine being like Gran would still remember him.
『Grand Elder, there's no need to be so polite. Back then, my breakthrough to Martial Arts Grandmaster was only possible because of the people of Planet Metamor. I left too hurriedly at the time and forgot to tell you.』
『I, Gran, owe the people of Planet Metamor a favor. If Planet Metamor ever encounters trouble, you can come to me. As long as you call Whis, I'll know.』
Gran looked down at the old man below.
Back then, he had left in such a hurry because he had been preparing to find Vegeta and settle an old score.
『Lord Gran, there's no need to be so formal. I told you back then that your breakthrough was entirely due to your own talent and hard work.』
The Grand Elder shook his head.
『You don't owe us anything.』
The two continued their conversation secretly.
Meanwhile, the surrounding spectators were becoming increasingly puzzled.
『What's wrong with that old man? Didn't he win? Why isn't he coming down?』
『Why do I feel like his mouth keeps moving? Is he talking to someone? But there's no one in front of him.』
What these spectators didn't know was that the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor was actually refusing Gran's offer of a favor.
If they knew what was happening, they would probably have wanted to kill the Grand Elder themselves.
This was a favor from a legendary divine being!
Even if they didn't need it themselves, they could preserve it for their entire race!
With a divine being's promise behind them, their entire race would have a guaranteed path to prosperity!
『Whether you want to accept it isn't up to you. You can choose not to care about the favor I owe you, but I will keep my word.』
Gran's voice continued.
『...』
How domineering!
Was this really how gods conducted themselves?
The Grand Elder couldn't help clicking his tongue.
Since Gran had already put it that way, the Grand Elder no longer argued.
At the same time, his heart began to fill with joy.
In the end, he was still just a mortal.
How could he possibly remain completely unaffected after receiving such a promise?
...
Spectator Stands
Beerus crossed his arms and looked toward Gran.
『You were talking to that old man?』
『Yes.』
Gran smiled faintly.
『Back when I was traveling through the universe and undergoing trials, I actually owed several people favors.』
『The first was the Grand Elder of Planet Yardrat. I sought him out to learn Instant Transmission.』
『The second was the Grand Elder of Planet Namek. I sought him out because I wanted to see the legendary Dragon Balls.』
『The third was the Grand Elder of Planet Metamor. I sought him out to break through my bodily instincts.』
『The fourth was North Kai. I sought him out to learn the Kaioken and Spirit Bomb.』
『Alright.』
Beerus knew a little about the favors Gran owed.
He didn't say anything more.
However...
In the eyes of the other Gods of Destruction, Gran was somewhat strange.
They were Gods of Destruction, beings who stood high above all mortals.
Since when did they ever owe favors to mortals?
『Big Sis, the potential of the Seventh Universe is truly terrifying!』
On the other side, the Angels paid no attention to Gran's debts.
Korn, the Angel of the Eighth Universe, held his staff in his hand, his expression extremely solemn.
『The Sixth Universe is stronger than the Seventh Universe in both the Beginner and Intermediate Divisions. Yet the Seventh Universe still has quite a few martial artists capable of winning. And they're all accomplishing it by defeating stronger opponents!』
Martinu, the Angel of the Twelfth Universe, nodded.
『The reason the Seventh Universe can win is because their Martial Arts Realms are extremely high. From this alone, we can see that the martial arts culture of the Seventh Universe is much stronger.』
Cukatail, the Angel of the Fourth Universe, sighed.
『This Universal Martial Arts Tournament has already spread throughout the Seventh Universe. The martial arts culture there will undoubtedly become more and more prosperous. The future of the Seventh Universe is already impossible to predict.』
All the Angels sighed as they contemplated the future of the Seventh Universe.
As the person most directly involved, Whis said nothing.
But he raised his chin slightly, wearing an unmistakably proud expression.
Vados curled her lips.
If it weren't for Gran, would you have achieved all this today, you brat?
Of course, she didn't say those words aloud.
She knew that the moment she did, Whis would definitely fire back at her.
END OF CHAPTER
Disciple of Beerus - MrBehringer's Secret
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