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Beerus let out a sharp huff, his golden eyes scanning the dimensional chat with newfound arrogance. "Haters, keep talking! Who was it that wanted to eliminate Son Goku?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the divine realm.
"If it wasn't for his suggestion to hold the Tournament of Power, Grand Zeno would have wiped out eight of our universes without a second thought! Because of Goku, those eight universes actually have a fighting chance to survive."
The God of Destruction puffed out his chest, feeling the weight of guilt lift from his shoulders. Initially, he had felt responsible; after all, Goku was a mortal from Universe 7. If the Saiyan hadn't piqued Zeno's interest, the threat of total erasure might never have surfaced. But now, guilt was replaced by a surge of pride.
Without Goku's intervention, they would have been erased in an instant, blissfully unaware of their own demise. Now, they had a path to salvation. It was a brutal hope, with only one universe destined to remain, but it was better than the cold silence of non-existence.
The other seven Gods of Destruction remained silent, unable to find a retort against Beerus's logic. Meanwhile, the deities of Universes 1, 12, 5, and 8 let out collective sighs of relief. Their high mortal levels granted them exemption, allowing them to watch the impending carnage from the safety of the sidelines.
"So, in a way, these eight universes should be kowtowing to Son Goku," remarked Duanmu Yan, his voice laced with the tactical observation of an experienced warrior. "Without him, there wouldn't even be a sliver of hope." Zhang Chulan chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Honestly, those Gods of Destruction owe Goku a massive debt of gratitude!"
Kurosaki Ichigo, however, frowned as he processed the data. "Wait, Universe 7 has powerhouses like Goku and Vegeta, yet they didn't even make the top four? Just what kind of monsters live in those exempt universes?"
Kakashi, ever the analyst, adjusted his headband. "No, the ranking isn't about peak power; it's based on the average power level of all inhabitants. Goku and the others are anomalies. The vast majority of Universe 7's population must be significantly weaker, which drags their score down."
Zhang Chulan added bluntly, "To put it simply, Goku and Vegeta just can't carry the dead weight of an entire universe on their backs."
Across the stars of Universe 7, a wave of profound guilt washed over the mortal populations. The realization hit them hard: their own stagnation had forced their champions into this life-or-death gamble. A fire was lit within the hearts of countless civilizations. From distant planets to Earth, a silent vow was made—they would train, they would grow, and they would never again be the reason their universe faced extinction.
"It's haunting," Daigo whispered, staring at the screen. "The fate of billions rests on the shoulders of just ten fighters." Shinjo nodded solemnly. "In a struggle for survival, those ten must be the absolute pinnacle of their respective worlds."
Akira, watching with the keen eyes of a transmigrator, began calculating the odds. Beside him, Tien Shinhan looked thoughtful. "Speaking of which, who will Universe 7 actually send?" Li Haotian began naming the obvious choices. "Goku and Vegeta are locks. Gohan and Majin Buu should be there too. But that leaves six spots. Does Universe 7 have anyone else at that tier?"
Uzumaki Naruto scratched his head. "I don't know... Krillin and Yamcha's Ki can't really keep up with Super Saiyan levels anymore. They probably won't make the cut." Uchiha Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Frieza is powerful enough. His Golden form can contend with Super Saiyan Blue. But the tyrant is dead, and even if he weren't, he'd never cooperate."
Deep in the depths of Hell, Frieza let out a chilling sneer. He would never dream of fighting alongside Saiyan monkeys. In his mind, if Universe 7 was to be destroyed, he would relish the thought of Goku and Vegeta being erased along with him.
Back on Earth, the Z-Fighters were equally uncertain. "Goku and Gohan are in," Krillin muttered, "and Piccolo is a given. But the rest? I can't imagine who would be strong enough. It couldn't really be us, could it?" Yamcha shook his head. "There have to be other powerful aliens out there. We've been outclassed for a long time." Tien Shinhan agreed, wondering if hidden masters remained undiscovered in the vast cosmos.
While other universes, like Universe 11 with its legendary Pride Troopers, felt confident in their roster, the Gods of Destruction were scrambling. They were deities of ruin, not scouts; many had no idea who their strongest mortals were.
The video feed shifted, showing Goku and Gohan returning to Earth after the Zen Exhibition Match. The core four—Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Majin Buu—were confirmed. After a brief strategy session, they reached a decision on the remaining six: Piccolo, Master Roshi, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Android 17, and Android 18. These were the warriors they trusted, the ones with the battle instinct to survive a battle royale.
Gohan initially hesitated at the mention of Krillin, fearing his friend's raw power wouldn't suffice against multiversal threats. However, after a sparring session, Gohan found himself outmaneuvered. He hadn't lost to a higher Ki output, but to superior tactics and decades of combat experience. It was a stark reminder that in the Tournament of Power, raw strength wasn't the only way to win—and Uncle Krillin was still a master of the craft.