...
Time flowed onward at a rapid pace.
Another year passed in the outside world, bringing the timeline to Age 753.
One year in the outside world translated to more than three hundred years inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Universe One
"How is it going?"
"For beings like you, mastering Destruction shouldn't be difficult, right?"
"Lord Iwan, Destruction energy itself truly isn't hard for us to comprehend. I've already cultivated it. But bringing it to the rule level…"
"Forget about the rule level," Iwan interrupted coldly.
"Even if I gave you ten thousand years inside a time chamber, you still wouldn't reach it."
"Huh?!"
"To elevate Destruction to the rule level, you must destroy—constantly."
"Tell me, is there anything inside the time chamber for you to destroy?"
"..."
"Even if I filled that space with countless stars, without several hundred years, don't even think about touching the rule level."
"Th-this…"
"Enough. For now, being able to wield Destruction is already sufficient."
"Next, I'll teach you a state exclusive to Gods of Destruction."
"What state is that?"
"Self-Mastery."
...
Universe Twelve
"Lord Giin, what should we train next?"
"Next, I will teach you Self-Mastery as well.
This is a martial path governed by will—the stronger your will, the more terrifying your power becomes."
"Please, Lord Giin, you must teach us this state!"
"If I wasn't going to teach you, why would I even bring it up?"
"Enough chatter. Begin training. This time, Universe Twelve must take first place."
"Yes!"
...
Universe Five
"Lord Arak, aside from Universe One and Universe Twelve, I don't consider the others worth worrying about."
"That, I know," Arak replied calmly.
"But I want first place. All of you—take this seriously."
"Yes!"
...
Universe Eight
"Lord Liquiir, you want me to join forces with other universes' candidate Gods of Destruction to attack Universe Seven first?"
"Exactly."
"That scrawny cat is absolutely intolerable."
"When the time comes, focus all your firepower on Universe Seven's candidate God of Destruction."
"Lord Liquiir… is this really necessary?"
"Universe Seven ranks second from the bottom in the entire Omni-King's multiverse. What kind of powerhouse could they possibly have?"
"You know nothing."
"You wouldn't seriously think Universe Seven is easy, would you?"
"Why do you say that, Lord Liquiir?"
"Hmph. Universe Seven may rank near the bottom, but as long as that scrawny cat exists, his universe can never be underestimated."
"After all—he is Beerus."
...
Over the past year, every God of Destruction had been making preparations.
A tense atmosphere spread throughout the entire Omni-King's multiverse.
Some weaker gods didn't even understand why—they only knew that an inexplicable anxiety weighed on them, day after day.
Yet on Earth of Universe Seven, humanity remained blissfully unaware.
During that same year, Earth hosted the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament.
Gran had barely intervened in Earth's affairs, so history unfolded with little deviation.
The champion of the 22nd tournament was Tien Shinhan, while Son Goku took second place.
Not long after the tournament concluded, King Piccolo appeared.
To defeat him, Son Goku climbed Korin Tower, drank the Ultra Divine Water, and ultimately slew King Piccolo with the Heaven-Piercing Fist.
Just like in the original timeline, as King Piccolo died, he spat out Piccolo Jr.
At the time, Son Goku was unaware of this—but after ascending to the Lookout, he learned the truth from Kami.
Whether to guard against Piccolo Jr., or to prepare for the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament three years later, Son Goku was determined to grow stronger.
And so, he began three years of training under Mr. Popo at the Lookout.
"Your ki is too chaotic."
"Your emotions are too restless."
"You waste too many movements."
"Your heart must be as still as the sky—
and your strikes as fast as lightning…"
On the Lookout, a small child relentlessly attacked a dark figure.
Yet no matter how fierce the boy's assault, the dark man blocked every strike with ease.
"So… so strong!"
The child—none other than young Son Goku—dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
Standing opposite him, Mr. Popo showed no signs of fatigue, not even the slightest change in expression.
"Beyond what I just mentioned," Popo said calmly,
"you rely far too much on your eyes."
"Come. I'll take you somewhere else to train first."
Popo turned and walked toward the temple interior.
"Mr. Popo, where are we going?" Goku hurried after him.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Popo led Goku into the temple, down a staircase, and into a long corridor.
The corridor was lined with many rooms, each sealed behind a massive door.
If Gran had been there, he would have recognized it instantly—
one of those rooms housed the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
As Popo passed that door, he suddenly stopped.
Didn't that kid say he was only going in for one year?
It's been a year already—why hasn't he come out?
"Could it be…"
"Is he planning to train until the candidate God of Destruction battle begins?"
Popo murmured inwardly.
"Mr. Popo? What's wrong?" Goku asked curiously.
"Nothing."
Popo turned away and stopped in front of another room, opening the door.
"In a moment, I'll teleport you to another place. Your task there will be to retrieve the Sacred Crown."
The room was pitch-black, though a machine could faintly be seen inside.
"I understand, Mr. Popo!" Goku nodded earnestly, even though he had no idea what the Sacred Crown was.
Just as Popo was about to guide Goku inside—
Suddenly!
Crack!
The sound of space shattering echoed behind them.
Popo's eyes—normally as calm as still water—flashed with sharp light as he spun around.
Goku, confused, turned as well.
Moments later—
A spatial rift opened before the door of the neighboring room.
From within stepped a figure clad in a bulky gravity suit.
It was Gran—
the one who had entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber one year ago.
"Lord Gran… you've finally come out."
Popo examined him carefully.
Gran's expression was perfectly calm—
no exhilaration from a breakthrough,
no frustration from stagnation.
Nothing at all.
Even his aura was flawlessly concealed.
There was no way to tell what level he had reached after over three hundred years of training.
In Popo's eyes, Gran could now be described with only two words—
Unfathomable.
END OF CHAPTER
(Some chapters in patreon are double chapters)
5 IN 1 - BE A MEMBER, GET 5 ONGOING STORIES!!
35 CHAPTERS AHEAD!!
Disciple of Beerus - MrBehringer's Secret
👉 patreon.com/MrBehringer