Crack!
Amidst the sharp sound of a shattering nasal bone, Granolah's blood sprayed outward. He was sent hurtling backward like a kite with its string cut. Ultra Ego Vegeta seized Granolah by the collar and spun violently, slamming him into the ground with brutal force. Granolah collided with a massive boulder, the impact letting out an earth-shattering roar as he carved a furrow hundreds of meters long into the earth.
However, Granolah quickly leaped from the pile of debris. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his gaze grew even more vicious. Ultra Ego Vegeta flickered like a ghost, appearing directly above him. With his fists clenched tight, he struck down with the force of ten thousand tons.
BOOM!
The earth shook violently as a crater a hundred meters wide appeared in the ground, debris spraying in all directions like a meteor shower.
Whoosh!
Ultra Ego Vegeta vanished once more. When he reappeared, he was in mid-air, delivering a kick to Granolah's side. Granolah was sent flying toward a distant mountain like a cannonball. Yet, a second later, he charged out from the smoke and dust, his eyes crimson as he lunged at Ultra Ego Vegeta.
Ultra Ego Vegeta's grin only grew wider. His violet-red hair fluttered in the energy currents, and his eyes shimmered with excitement. However, just as he was thoroughly enjoying himself, Granolah's gaze sharpened. He shot forward like an arrow from a bow and landed a heavy punch squarely in the Saiyan's abdomen, the force of it tearing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Ultra Ego Vegeta's body doubled over like a boiled shrimp, yet the grin remained on his face. He maintained that smug, triumphant smile as if the force of the punch meant nothing to him. On the contrary, it was Granolah who was huffing and puffing, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
"Right now, the more my fighting spirit burns, the stronger I become!" Ultra Ego Vegeta chuckled. He took a step forward and slammed his hand onto Granolah's head, his palm locking on like an iron pincer.
Granolah's expression shifted rapidly—from shock to rage, and finally to a flicker of fear—as his feet kicked futilely at the ground. Ultra Ego Vegeta dove toward the earth with Granolah in tow, the two of them plummeting like a meteorite with a piercing roar. Granolah's pupils shrank as the ground rushed up to meet him. His face turned ashen, and he instinctively tried to block with his hands.
Just before they hit the ground, Ultra Ego Vegeta snapped his wrist, slamming Granolah into the ruins as if tossing out a piece of trash.
BAM!
Granolah crashed heavily into the debris, a massive crater forming beneath him. Stones flew everywhere. He lay in the pit, feeling as if his entire body was falling apart. A moment later, as he struggled to push himself up, Ultra Ego Vegeta descended from the sky. His toes were wrapped in violet-red energy as he delivered a kick with lightning speed.
BOOM!
Granolah's body skidded through the city ruins like a broken kite, smashing through countless walls. He flew for thousands of kilometers before finally coming to a halt. Ultra Ego Vegeta's grin was wider than ever, the violet-red aura swirling around him like dancing flames.
Watching from the sidelines, Vegeta was struck dumb. His eyes were wide as saucers as he stared fixedly at the figure that looked exactly like himself. If I could transform like that... then I would definitely defeat Kakarot! I'd show him who the strongest Saiyan really is! Super Saiyan 6? There's no way it's as powerful as this. This level of power is simply inconceivable.
Main Timeline.
Sacred World of the Kai.
The sparring match between Goku and Merus continued. Their figures were nothing but a blur in the sky, and the sound of their fists colliding rang out incessantly. They had been fighting for ten minutes now, their energy blasts exploding in the sky like brilliant flowers of light. They seemed perfectly matched.
Goku grew more excited as the fight went on, his aura steadily rising. He felt as if he hadn't had such a satisfying battle in ages; every cell in his body was screaming with joy. Merus felt the same, his gaze carrying a hint of admiration. This Mr. Goku is so strong. Even though he's just a human, he's forcing me to use my full power.
To the side, the Supreme Kai and Kibito were completely dumbfounded. Their mouths were hanging open wide enough to fit an egg, and their faces were masks of pure shock.
"Ancestor... I never imagined there was someone this powerful in the Galactic Patrol." The Supreme Kai's mouth twitched as he forced a strained smile, wiping cold sweat from his brow. "If I'd known there was someone this strong in the Galactic Patrol, wouldn't it have been much easier to ask him to deal with Majin Buu? We wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble."
"Indeed. I never expected the Galactic Patrol to be this strong. It completely shatters my understanding of the universe," Kibito sighed, shaking his head.
The Old Kai shot a side-long glance at the Supreme Kai, his teeth grinding in irritation. He tapped his fingers on the ground, seemingly looking for something to hit him with. If I don't give this kid a good thumping, I'm never going to feel better. How can he be so obnoxious? His reaction time is way too slow.
"Ancestor, why are you angry again?" the Supreme Kai asked, sounding perplexed as he scratched his head. "Did I say something wrong? I feel like I was making a lot of sense."
"You idiot! Can't you see it by now?" The Old Kai looked around, searching for a suitable weapon, before finally settling on a small pebble and making a move as if to throw it.
"See what?" the Supreme Kai asked with a blank look, his eyes blinking. He was completely unable to follow the Old Kai's train of thought.
"You moron! He's a god! Haven't you realized that yet?" the Old Kai finally snapped, shouting at the Supreme Kai and spraying spit all over his face.
The Supreme Kai looked even more bewildered. He opened his mouth, but for a long time, no words came out. He wiped the spit from his face with his sleeve. Merus is a god? You've got to be kidding me. Isn't he a Galactic Patrolman?
"I don't see it," the Supreme Kai said, scratching his head. "But even if he is, what kind of god is he? He doesn't look like us at all."
"An Angel," the Old Kai whispered, leaning into the Supreme Kai's ear as if afraid of being overheard.
"An Angel? You mean an Angel like Whis?" the Supreme Kai asked in shock, his eyes widening like copper bells and his voice trembling.
The Old Kai didn't want to deal with him anymore. He rolled his eyes and turned his head away. Your reflex arc is too long—longer than the very ground of the Sacred World of the Kai. I have to explain everything to you. It's exhausting.
Broly also watched the sparring match between Goku and Merus with a look of shock, his fists unconsciously clenching. This Merus is truly strong. Goku hasn't been able to defeat him even now; they're fighting to a draw. It looks like my position as the 'perpetual number two' is in jeopardy. I might be ranked third from now on. Broly fell into deep thought, his chin resting on his hand. He was almost tempted to run over and fuse with Goku into Kakaroly.
Goku and Merus sparred for a few more minutes, the fighting spirit in their eyes never wavering. They both lunged forward, throwing a punch at each other.
Flash!
Whis flickered and appeared between them, his movements as light as a feather. He raised two fingers on each hand and precisely caught their incoming fists. The move seemed casual, yet it contained immense power.
"Whis?" Goku blinked, pulling back his fist and looking at Whis in confusion. Merus also raised an eyebrow and quickly withdrew his force, nodding slightly to Whis.
"That's enough for today," Whis said with a smile, his expression as gentle as ever.
"Ah, alright." Goku nodded obediently, quickly pulling back his energy. He looked at Merus with a burning gaze, his eyes still full of fighting spirit.
Pop!
The red aura around Goku vanished, and he instantly reverted to his base form, his black hair falling over his forehead. Merus also smiled politely at Goku and straightened his clothes.
"Merus, you're really strong! I never imagined there was someone as powerful as you in the Galactic Patrol," Goku exclaimed, his tone full of admiration. "I guess I've been too arrogant lately. I thought I was already the strongest among humans, but it seems there's always someone stronger."
Merus' mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't say anything. A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes. Technically speaking, Merus wasn't human—he was a true god. Goku saying he was the strongest "human" was technically correct.
"It looks like I still need to train hard," Goku said with a smile, his chin in his hand as his eyes filled with resolve. "But speaking of which, what Merus was using just now... that was Ultra Instinct, right? That ability to automatically dodge attacks is incredible."
"Yes," Merus nodded, admitting it frankly.
"It really is amazing. If I could truly master that skill, my strength would definitely reach a whole new level," Goku grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "This is great! I finally have a goal and a motivation to train. Now I won't feel bored."
"How long do you think it would take for you to master Ultra Instinct, Mr. Goku?" Whis asked with a chuckle.
"It's hard to say. It doesn't feel easy at all," Goku scratched his head, laughing sheepishly. "At the very least... I probably won't be able to master it before the tournament against Universe 6. That's just too difficult."
Whis: "..." Whis covered his face and shook his head helplessly. The tournament against Universe 6 is only five days away. If you could actually master Ultra Instinct in five days, that would be truly absurd.
"By the way, is Merus going to participate in the tournament too?" Goku asked with excitement, rubbing his hands together. If Merus joined them, their chances of winning would definitely be higher.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Goku, but I have other business and won't be able to participate," Merus said with a guilty look, his gaze shifting away. How could I participate in a tournament like that? If I did, my identity would be exposed instantly.
"Ah... Vegeta was sucked into another timeline, so we're short one person. This is a bit of a problem," Goku said, his brow furrowing as he began to calculate.
"The participants will be Mr. Goku, Mr. Broly, Gohan, Goten, and one person from Lord Beerus' side," Whis said with a smile, counting them off on his fingers. "That makes five—exactly the right number. There's no need to worry."
Goku counted them on his fingers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It really was five people, no more and no less.
"Well then, Mr. Goku, stay here and train hard. I'll take Merus back now," Whis said calmly, nodding to Goku.
"Eh? You're leaving already? Stay for a meal!" Goku suggested warmly. "I'll have the Supreme Kai get us some food. He must have plenty of good stuff here."
Supreme Kai: "..." The Supreme Kai's mouth twitched. You really don't treat yourself like a stranger, do you? This is my place!
"We won't eat. I still prefer the meals Mrs. Chi-Chi makes; they suit my palate much better," Whis laughed, waving off the invitation.
"Alright then. When are you coming to my house to eat?" Goku asked, his face full of anticipation.
"After the tournament," Whis replied firmly.
"No problem! I'll have Chi-Chi prepare in advance and make a huge table of delicious food," Goku nodded solemnly, as if this were a matter of grave importance.
"Well then, I'm off." Whis waved goodbye. A brilliant, star-like aura erupted around him, and the space nearby began to ripple. Merus placed his hand on Whis' back and waved to Goku. "Good luck, Mr. Goku! Try to master Ultra Instinct as soon as possible!"
"You too, Merus! Let's have another fight next time. Fighting you is a lot of fun—it was a real blast!" Goku grinned, showing his pearly white teeth. Merus nodded slightly, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Whoosh!
Whis and Merus turned into a streak of brilliant, star-like light. With lightning speed, they left the Sacred World of the Kai and shot into the vast starry sky, vanishing from sight.
"Merus, what do you think of Mr. Goku?" Whis asked with a smile as they flew.
"He's a very interesting person. I enjoyed his company," Merus replied sincerely. "And his heart is so pure—his personality is innocent, without a trace of evil. I haven't met a human like that in a long time. He's as pure as a blank sheet of paper."
"Indeed. Mr. Goku is exactly that kind of person," Whis agreed.
"However... if Mr. Goku really does master Ultra Instinct... I'm afraid I won't be his match anymore," Merus said with a sigh, sensing the infinite potential within Goku.
"Well then, you'd better work hard too, Merus. You can't let a human surpass you," Whis teased.
"By the way... Vegeta being sucked into another timeline... that wasn't your doing, was it, Brother Whis?" Merus guessed, his gaze searching.
"Ho ho ho..." Whis let out a mysterious chuckle, neither confirming nor denying it.
Merus: "..."
Merus shook his head helplessly; it seemed his guess had been correct.
"Can he still come back?" Merus asked again, a hint of worry in his voice.
"I don't know." Whis shook his head, his gaze deep. "That will depend on his own destiny."
Merus covered his face. It seemed Vegeta's fate could only be left to the heavens.
"If he dies there, it can only be considered bad luck, but also a form of tempering for him," Whis said with a smile, his tone relaxed. "However, if he can return from that timeline, I believe his strength will reach an even higher level. He might even surpass his current self."
"Can he surpass Goku?" Merus inquired, a spark of curiosity in his eyes.
"Unlikely," Whis spoke slowly, uttering the single word with a tone of certainty.
...
In another timeline.
Granolah hid behind a giant boulder, only his eyes peeking out. His expression had become exceptionally grave as he stared fixedly at the Ultra Ego Vegeta not far away.
This guy was like a completely different person compared to just a moment ago; his aura was more than a level stronger.
"Does he get stronger the more damage he takes?" Granolah muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed. "Power of a God of Destruction? What does that even mean? I've never heard of such a power."
"In this universe, there is a great deity known as the God of Destruction." Ultra Ego Vegeta stood atop the giant boulder, looking down at Granolah from his height. His violet-red gaze was like a sharp sword. "This is a technique he taught me—the power of Destruction."
Granolah was startled. His body lurched backward several steps, bumping into the rubble behind him, his eyes filled with shock.
The other Vegeta (the observer) also raised an eyebrow, feeling a surge of annoyance.
This guy really did train with Beerus!
Dammit! I haven't even trained with Beerus yet!
That guy Beerus won't teach me!
Wait, why should I train with Beerus?
Isn't it better to learn from the other me?
If he can do it, I can definitely do it too!
"You're saying... a god gave you this power?" Granolah turned pale with shock, his voice trembling slightly.
"No, this is my own power," Ultra Ego Vegeta said with a smile. Violet-red Ki condensed into a sphere of light in his hand. "Through my battle with you, I have awakened this unique power of mine for the first time. I should actually thank you."
"You're saying... I triggered your power?" Granolah was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief. Had he actually become a stepping stone for his opponent to grow stronger?
"Exactly. So, I really must thank you properly," Ultra Ego Vegeta gave a smug smile, his expression carrying a hint of provocation.
"Don't be ridiculous! No one stronger than me exists! I am the strongest in the universe!" Granolah roared. His pride was completely shattered. He spread his hands, and golden streams of energy erupted from his palms.
The golden light shot toward Ultra Ego Vegeta at extreme speed, the air burning in its wake.
Ultra Ego Vegeta immediately clenched his fists, energy gathering around them. He intended to take the attack head-on, a look of disdain on his face.
Granolah was dumbfounded, his eyes wide. He hadn't expected the opponent not to dodge.
The observing Vegeta also widened his eyes.
You idiot!
At least dodge a little! That attack wasn't even that fast; you could have easily avoided it!
BOOM!
The powerful energy exploded against Ultra Ego Vegeta, forming a massive golden mushroom cloud. The light was so blinding it was almost impossible to keep one's eyes open.
"Hahaha! This is truly exhilarating and thrilling!" Ultra Ego Vegeta laughed maniacally. Violet-red Ki surged around his body. Blood mixed with sweat trickled down from his forehead, and the fires of battle burned in his eyes.
Granolah was furious, his chest heaving violently. The energy blasts he condensed shot toward Ultra Ego Vegeta like a rainstorm, each streak of light making a sharp, air-tearing sound.
Ultra Ego Vegeta continued to tank the attacks head-on, letting the energy explode against his body amidst clouds of dust.
After enduring for a while, Ultra Ego Vegeta felt a stinging pain in his arms. He grinned and immediately took to the air. His violet-red figure shot toward Granolah like an arrow from a bow, the resulting air pressure sending rubble flying from the ground.
Granolah turned pale with shock, his pupils shrinking. He crossed his hands in front of him and hastily opened a pale green protective barrier, energy ripples flowing across its surface.
Ultra Ego Vegeta dove down from the sky, his palm glowing with violet-red flames as he slammed it against Granolah's barrier with a dull, thunderous thud.
CRACK—
The barrier twisted and deformed. Granolah was slammed directly into the earth by the immense force, forming a human-shaped crater where he was half-buried by rubble.
"You... why didn't you dodge?" Granolah struggled to poke his head out of the crater, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He asked in confusion, "Isn't it different from that other guy's automatic dodging? Your fighting style is too strange!"
"Are you talking about Kakarot's Ultra Instinct?" Ultra Ego Vegeta chuckled, looking down at him with a hint of contempt in his voice. "Don't lump me in with such a boring technique. My power doesn't rely on instinct."
"You... what did you say?" The observing Vegeta was stunned, his eyes wide as he instinctively clenched his fists.
What did the other me say?
Kakarot's Ultra Instinct?
Has the Kakarot of this timeline already mastered Ultra Instinct?
And yet, the me of this timeline... was only at Super Saiyan Blue Evolved just a moment ago.
Just how big is the gap between you two?
BOOM!
Violet-red flames erupted from Ultra Ego Vegeta's body once more. His aura surged abruptly, clearly stimulated.
"If Kakarot uses Ultra Instinct, then I am the center of my own universe, a combat will that controls everything. I call this—Ultra Ego." Ultra Ego Vegeta revealed a confident smile, his violet-red pupils flashing with a sharp edge.
"Ultra Ego?" The observing Vegeta paused, repeating the name under his breath and nodding thoughtfully.
Actually, that's not bad. This name is quite interesting. It sounds even more imposing than Ultra Instinct.
"Self? Ultra Ego?" Granolah was momentarily dazed, chewing over the words, his eyes filled with confusion.
To be continued…
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus