"I believe I've heard rumors," the Angel Cognac remarked, his hand resting on his scepter. As an Angel, he kept in regular contact with his siblings across the multiverse, and whispers of such things tended to travel.
"Then do you know the name of the disciple Beerus took on?" Quitela asked.
"I'm afraid I don't. I only know that Lord Beerus and Whis have indeed taken a student. Beyond that, the details are quite sparse."
Cognac wasn't lying. While the Angels communicated, the specific identity of Universe 7's Destroyer Candidate hadn't been shared. His talent and power remained a mystery—a secret kept under tight wraps.
"And that clash between Universe 7 and Universe 6 eight years ago... do you know what that was actually about?" Quitela took two steps forward, staring up at the sky with narrowed eyes.
Eight years prior, the two brother-universes had experienced a violent collision so intense that even the Angels had been forced to intervene. Afterward, the divine community was abuzz with speculation, yet neither universe had leaked a single word of explanation. It was unnerving.
"I have no idea," Cognac admitted. Rumor had it his eldest sister, Kusu, had been present, but whenever he asked her, she remained as silent as a grave.
The Realm of the God of Destruction fell into a heavy silence as both master and attendant sank into their own thoughts.
"Lord Quitela, I also heard that Universe 11 has appointed a Candidate—"
Quitela waved a hand dismissively, his eyes cold. "I don't care about that failed clown, Belmod. I'm far more interested in who Beerus is hiding."
During the legendary All-Destroyer brawl eons ago, Belmod had been the only one to emerge unscathed. But Quitela knew better—the clown had simply played dead. Such a coward didn't deserve his attention.
Cognac studied Quitela's expression, his voice turning somber. "Lord Quitela, I know there is no love lost between you and Lord Beerus, but surely you aren't planning to move against Universe 7's Candidate?"
Cats and mice were natural enemies, a biological fact that reflected perfectly in the relationship between Beerus and Quitela. Years of accumulated grudges had turned them into bitter rivals. Of course, from Beerus's perspective, he merely saw Quitela as a nuisance—perhaps because a cat sits higher on the food chain, or perhaps because of his own absolute strength.
But for Quitela, the yellow mouse, the feeling was different. If he had a chance to eliminate Beerus, he wouldn't hesitate for a second.
"Lord Quitela, if you personally interfere with a Candidate, you will spark an inter-universal conflict," Cognac warned. "If the Grand Zen-Oh finds out, there will be nowhere for you to hide."
Cognac left the second half of his thought unsaid: if Quitela tried to move personally, Cognac would be forced to stop him.
"Who said I was going to bully a mere Candidate?" Quitela sneered. "In this entire multiverse, is there any Destroyer other than Beerus worth my personal attention?"
"Then what exactly are you—"
Before Cognac could finish, his scepter erupted in a blinding flash of light.
"What... what is this?" Quitela's face went pale. He broke into a cold sweat, his reaction even more frantic than Beerus's had been.
"Lord Quitela, a direct order from the Grand Zen-Oh," Cognac read aloud. "All Gods of Destruction are to report to the Omni-King's palace immediately. No delays."
"What?! Not another game of hide-and-seek!"
"That remains to be seen," Cognac said, his own expression one of shock. "We must depart, My Lord. We cannot keep the King of All waiting."
"Wait!" A sharp glint returned to Quitela's eyes.
A gathering of all Destroyers meant that Beerus and Whis would be leaving Universe 7. The dragon would be away from the nest.
"Cognac, give the Cube to Omar immediately. Tell him—"
"Have you lost your mind, Lord Quitela? Omar is a warrior of the Third Tier of the God Realm. Do you truly wish to provoke a war between universes?"
"Please," Quitela scoffed. "I'm not the one fighting. This is simply a personal challenge from Omar to the Candidate of Universe 7. What does that have to do with me?"
Quitela knew exactly where the Angelic "neutrality" line was drawn. He wasn't worried.
"..." Cognac lowered his voice. "Are you absolutely certain about this?"
"Do it! And hurry, we have to leave!"
"Fine," Cognac sighed. "If this causes a rift between universes, you shall be the one to answer for it. It's not like I can die, anyway."
As an Angel, Cognac was bound to neutrality, but he was also tasked with preventing unauthorized combat between Destroyers. However, Quitela wasn't going to fight Beerus personally. He was essentially doing what he did in the Dragon Ball Super manga—inciting a proxy to do his dirty work. Since Quitela wasn't technically violating a direct command from Zen-Oh himself, Cognac was duty-bound to obey his Destroyer's logistics.
"He's just a Candidate, and I'm not touching their Supreme Kai. It'll be fine," Quitela added, though he let out a mock sigh. "Just let me have my way this once."
Cognac said nothing more. He waved his scepter, and a silver light enveloped a Transport Cube, which shot into the sky at impossible speeds.
"It is done as you commanded, My Lord. Now, to the Palace."
"Let's go!" Quitela smirked. You want to surpass me in every way, Beerus? Keep dreaming.The Grand Gathering
At the highest point of the multiverse, pillars of rainbow light descended one after another. Angels and Gods of Destruction from every corner of existence were arriving.
Universe 10 arrived first, then 7, then 6... Universe 4 was the last to touch down.
As Quitela landed, he saw Kusu and Rumsshi of Universe 10 at the front. He gave Kusu a nod before his gaze drifted to the corner where Beerus was crouching. Predictably, none of the other Destroyers were talking to him. In the eyes of the other gods, Beerus was the ultimate pariah.
"Lord Beerus, it seems we've been isolated," Whis whispered, hiding a giggle behind his hand.
"Hmph. A pack of mongrels. Who cares what they think?" Beerus grumbled. Squatting in the corner alone, he looked less like a fearsome god and more like a victim of cosmic bullying.
"Lord Beerus, Quitela is staring at us," Whis noted.
"I see him!" Beerus stood up and marched toward the mouse. As he moved, the other Destroyers instinctively parted to make a path—until he reached Belmod of Universe 11. The clown didn't move.
"Step aside. Thanks," Beerus said with mock politeness, giving Belmod a shove. The sheer power of the strongest Destroyer caused the clown to stumble back.
"You're asking for it, Beerus!" Belmod hissed.
Beerus ignored him entirely, coming face-to-face with Quitela. A purple cat and a yellow-green mouse, eye-to-eye. The air around them practically solidified. Belmod, seeing the tension, let his anger vanish in favor of a wicked, expectant grin. Everyone knew these two were the ultimate grudge match.
"Hey, dead rat. Why are you staring at me?" Beerus asked coldly.
"If you weren't looking at me, how would you know I was staring?" Quitela countered smoothly.
Beerus opened his mouth, then closed it. He had no comeback, but he felt an itch in the back of his mind that something was wrong.
"It's time. Everyone inside," the tiny Angel Kusu announced, leading Rumsshi into the palace. The others followed.
Quitela broke eye contact, took two steps, and then looked back over his shoulder. "Beerus... after the meeting, interested in another arm-wrestling match?"
"Hmph. You only won that one time because I wasn't trying," Beerus scoffed.
"Oh? So you're scared?"
"Scared? You think one fluke victory means you can win forever?" Beerus cracked his neck, his joints popping like gunfire. Whis remained expressionless; he knew exactly how stubborn his Destroyer could be.
"Then it's a date. Don't go running off!" Quitela turned away, a cold light flashing in his eyes. I hope your Candidate is still alive when you get back.
Back on Earth
Half a day had passed since Beerus and Whis departed.
Gran finished his lunch and took a quick flight over Master Roshi's island. He saw that Kid Goku had already met Krillin and found Launch. Satisfied that the timeline was moving along, he turned and flew toward the heavens. He was starting to get anxious about the gods' long absence.
The Lookout.
"What is he doing here again?" Mr. Popo wondered, standing at the edge of the sanctuary. His stoic, unreadable eyes flickered with a hint of helplessness.
Thud.
Gran landed on the tiles. This was his second visit. Kami was also there, drenched in a cold sweat. He had been watching the lower world for days and had seen Gran's power.
"Who... who are you?" Kami asked. The pressure radiating from Gran was so immense that the Guardian of Earth felt his knees buckling.
"Kami, this is a deity far above a Lord Kai," Popo said softly.
Above a Kai? Kami, who could communicate with the Other World, knew the legends of the Kais. He sucked in a sharp breath and bowed deeply. "My humblest greetings, Great Deity!"
"You can just call him 'Lord Destroyer Candidate,'" Popo added.
"Greetings, Lord Destroyer Candidate!" Kami stammered. He didn't know what a "Destroyer" was, but "Lord" and "Candidate" sounded plenty terrifying.
"No need for formalities," Gran waved him off. He wasn't looking at Kami; he was staring at Mr. Popo.
Sensing he was in the way, Kami bowed again and beat a hasty retreat into the temple.
"Mr. Popo... My name is Gran. I apologize for the trouble I caused last time," Gran said, offering a respectful bow.
Popo remained expressionless. "It is of no consequence." He didn't say another word.
Gran felt a bit awkward. Did Popo know he had technically died once? Likely. According to Whis, Popo was an ancient, Angel-like figure; he probably knew exactly what had transpired.
"Why have you come?" Popo finally asked.
"The Grand Zen-Oh called a Meeting of the Gods today. Do you have any idea what it's about?"
Popo's stoic face finally showed a flicker of surprise. "The Omni-King has summoned the Destroyers?"
"Yes. Half a day ago. Whis and Lord Beerus left Universe 7."
Popo went silent for a moment, then shook his head. "The King of All is unpredictable. I cannot say what his whim might be."
Gran slumped slightly. He had hoped the ancient attendant might have some inside info. "Well, if you don't know, then I guess I'll—"
Suddenly, Popo's head snapped upward, his eyes widening. "Someone has breached Universe 7!"
"What?"
"They are traveling in a Transport Cube," Popo said, his voice tightening. "They are not from our universe. Their power... It's at the Third Tier of the God Realm."
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