Gohan immediately fell into sync with Piccolo.
The two moved as one, one in front and one behind, trapping Jiren between them.
Jiren slowly raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on the pair as Kahseral's words echoed in his mind.
'You represent Universe 11.'
His breathing steadied, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes.
The next instant...
"RAAAAH!!"
Veins bulged across his forehead as his power exploded. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, reappearing directly in front of Piccolo.
His speed had reached an entirely new level.
Piccolo didn't even realize what had happened before a crushing blow slammed into his stomach.
'BAM!'
A mouthful of bitter fluid burst from his lips as his body was sent flying, smashing straight through mountain after mountain.
'BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!'
"AAAAAHHHHH!!"
His agonized screams echoed across the battlefield.
Gohan shot into the sky at full speed, racing toward him. "Uncle Piccolo!"
But before he could reach him, Jiren appeared in his path, cutting him off.
Gohan gritted his teeth, eyes locked on Piccolo.
At last, Piccolo's body came to a stop, embedded deep within a rocky cliff. Every bone in his body felt shattered; just one punch had nearly taken his life.
'Pfft!'
Another mouthful of blood mixed with stomach acid sprayed from his mouth, leaving a crimson mist hanging in the air.
Fortunately, Dende and Kiru were still inside him. He could have used their power to heal himself, but... he had no intention of doing that.
Instead, Piccolo summoned every ounce of strength he had left and let out a heart-wrenching scream.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The cry pierced the heavens, carrying for miles until it reached Gohan. It was a scream of unbearable agony, almost as if he wanted Gohan to hear it.
And Gohan did.
His eyes instantly turned crimson as the beast within him finally awakened.
"UNCLE PICCOLO!! AAAAAAH!!"
He stopped holding anything back. His aura erupted without restraint, his white hair shooting upward with a single long bang falling over his forehead. His eyes burned with pure fury.
Without another word, he lunged straight at Jiren. A punch carrying enough force to shatter stars roared toward Jiren's face.
Jiren met it head-on without hesitation.
'BOOM!!'
Their fists collided once again. For an instant, time itself seemed to freeze as their overwhelming powers canceled each other out.
But the stalemate lasted less than a second.
Veins bulged across Gohan's forehead as Piccolo's agonized scream echoed through his mind. Pouring even more power into his fist, Gohan forced Jiren backward.
The ground beneath Jiren's feet caved in, smoke and crackling bolts of electricity bursting from the collapsing earth.
Jiren stared wide-eyed at Beast Gohan. He hadn't expected the young Saiyan to possess such terrifying power.
And at that moment... his fist finally gave way to Gohan's.
Gohan forced his fist forward, driving it straight toward Jiren's eye.
At last, Jiren had no choice but to give ground. He pulled back his own punch and raised both arms to shield his face, but Beast Gohan's fury still broke through his defense.
Gohan bent his legs and suddenly launched himself into the air, coming down a heartbeat later with a devastating axe kick aimed directly at Jiren's head.
Jiren managed to block it, but the sheer destructive force and explosive power behind the kick were overwhelming.
'BAM!!'
Jiren was blasted away, his body flying completely out of control before slamming into a distant mountain.
'BOOM!!'
He was buried deep inside the mountainside, just like Piccolo had been moments earlier.
Feeling dizzy, Jiren quickly shook his head to clear his vision. But by the time his eyesight cleared, Beast Gohan was already standing right in front of him.
Gritting his teeth in rage, Gohan drew back his arm and unleashed another full-powered punch straight at Jiren's head.
Jiren glared back. If that punch landed, he'd lose control of his senses completely.
At the last possible moment, he tilted his head aside.
'WHOOSH!'
Gohan's fist missed Jiren's head by less than an inch, punching deep into the mountain behind him.
When the punch missed, Gohan simply decided to throw another. He yanked his arm free from the rock.
'RUMBLE!!'
The entire mountain trembled. As his fist came out, huge cracks spread across the cliff face, and the mountain began collapsing. Countless rocks and clouds of dust rained down over Jiren, obscuring his vision.
Then Jiren felt another gust of wind whip past his face, Gohan was already throwing another punch.
Jiren instantly focused all of his attention. 'This guy... he's actually this strong?'
In a flash, Jiren tucked in both legs before driving one foot upward into Gohan's chest.
'BAM!!'
The kick finally created some distance between them, but only barely, Gohan was pushed back less than a meter.
Like glue, Gohan refused to let Jiren escape, determined to stay on him until one of them fell.
---
The same scene played out on the monitors in both Universe 7's and Universe 11's Observation Rooms.
### Universe 11 Observation Room
For the first time, Dyspo looked uncertain. He could hardly believe what he was seeing: Jiren was actually on the defensive.
And he wasn't the only one worried. Every eliminated Pride Trooper wore the same anxious expression.
Clenching his fists, Dyspo muttered, "How is this possible...? That's Jiren..."
Just then, the door opened. Marcarita walked in, with Toppo right beside her.
"Lady Marcarita! Toppo, you're back!" Dyspo greeted them respectfully before his eyes immediately returned to the screen. "Lady Marcarita, Jiren's being pushed back! Are the Saiyans of Universe 7 really that powerful?"
The confidence that had filled his face at the start of the tournament was gone.
Marcarita, however, remained perfectly calm. Without the slightest hint of panic, she asked, "Do you really think Jiren will lose?"
She gave Dyspo a meaningful look, letting him think it over himself.
Dyspo fell silent. Before today, he would have said Jiren was unbeatable. But now... Jiren was the one being overwhelmed.
At that moment, Kahseral spoke up. "We have to trust Jiren."
Marcarita kept her eyes on the screen. "You all have to trust Jiren."
Then she glanced over her shoulder at Toppo.
"And Dyspo... it's time you started addressing him differently."
(End Of This Chapter)
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