Far away from the cheers, the noodle cups, and the tournament arena, something watched.
Not a god of destruction.
But something higher.
A small blue flew with legs dangling over the ground.
Zeno.
Beside him stood two identical attendants, motionless as statues, staffs resting lightly in their hands.
On the Nameless Planet below, the Tournament of Destroyers had just ended. But Zeno's wide, innocent eyes remained fixed on the scene.
"Hmm," he said softly. "That was very fun"
The attendants nodded silently, because nodding was safer than speaking near the Omni-King.
....
On the tournament platform, Champa's patience finally snapped.
He stomped his foot, cracking the ground.
"This is ridiculous, I lost because of cheap tricks, Time powers are illegal, and you know that, This whole thing was stupid!"
Beerus stretched lazily, clearly enjoying Champa's meltdown.
"You lost because your fighters were weaker," Beerus said. "it's that simple."
Champa's eye twitched.
"I will erase your universe's team myself!"
Divine energy gathered around Champa's body, purple and volatile. Beerus's expression sharpened instantly, his own destruction aura flaring in response.
"Try it," Beerus said quietly. "And I'll erase yours first."
Whis and Vados both raised their staffs, prepared to intervene before their masters destroyed everything around them.
Goku, standing nearby, scratched his cheek.
"…do we leave?"
Piccolo answered without looking away.
"Yes."
Vegeta muttered.
"Unfortunately, hey brat teleport us away"
The air between Beerus and Champa warped, space bending under the weight of two Gods of Destruction preparing to fight.
And then...
A small voice echoed across reality.
"Hiiiii."
Everything froze.
....
A bright ring of white light opened in the air above the arena. From it stepped Zeno, accompanied by his attendants.
The moment Beerus and Champa saw him, all divine auras vanished instantly.
Beerus straightened like a soldier caught sleeping on duty.
Champa's anger evaporated into pure terror.
Both fell to one knee.
"L-Lord Zeno," Beerus and Champa stammered.
Even Whis and Vados bowed respectfully.
The Z Fighters stared.
Goku waved.
"Hi!"
Everyone else wanted to strangle him for it.
Zeno floated down gently until he stood on the arena floor between Beerus and Champa. He looked around, curious.
"I came because I heard you two weren't doing your jobs properly."
Beerus stiffened.
"Of course we are, I destroy when necessary"
Zeno tilted his head.
"Your moral level is too low, and why is that?"
Beerus opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Whis cleared his throat delicately.
"Lord Beerus has been… very devoted to sleeping lately."
Vados smiled sweetly.
"And Lord Champa is obsessed with food to an unhealthy degree. He calls everything I cook 'terrible,' yet eats all of it anyway."
Champa gasped.
"You didn't have to say that part out loud"
Zeno blinked slowly.
"…So you're both bad at your jobs."
Beerus and Champa turned pale.
"If that's true," Zeno continued, "then I should get new Gods of Destruction."
Silence.
Vegeta felt sweat run down his temple, as he started to back away slowly.
Piccolo's eyes widened slightly, as he followed.
Even I stiffened, as this wasn't supposed to happen.
Because if Zeno decided to replace them, will the universes be erased casually in the process too.
Beerus and Champa both bowed so low their foreheads nearly touched the ground.
"PLEASE DON'T FIRE US!"
Zeno stared.
Then suddenly smiled.
"Just kidding."
....
Everyone exhaled so hard.....
Whis and Vados exchanged amused glances.
Before anyone could recover, Goku walked forward with his usual fearless curiosity.
"Hey Zeno! I'm Goku! Nice to meet you!"
Beerus's eyes widened.
"GOKU DON'T-"
Too late.
Goku grabbed Zeno's tiny hand and shook it cheerfully.
Zeno giggled.
"weeeeeee"
Beerus froze in horror.
Champa whispered.
"He touched the Omni-King… without permission…"
Whis smiled politely while inwardly preparing for universal annihilation.
But Zeno just kept smiling.
"You should visit my palace someday."
Goku grinned.
"Sure, anything"
Beerus's soul left his body for a moment.
Zeno turned to his attendants.
"Okay! I'm done visiting."
The attendants opened a glowing door of light.
Zeno waved.
"Byeeeee"
And just like that, he vanished.
The moment he was gone, Beerus grabbed Goku by the shoulders.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DANGEROUS THAT WAS?!"
Goku blinked.
"…He seemed nice?"
Vegeta rubbed his temples.
"We're going to die because of this idiot someday."
Piccolo sighed.
I just patted Goku's shoulder.
"Next time, maybe don't handshake reality's delete button, okay."
Goku laughed awkwardly.
"Heh… noted."
....
Soon after, Whis transported us all back to Earth. The sky above Capsule Corp glittered with evening light. Bulma already had a party prepared, food tables, music, and pudding.[RIP BUU]
Beerus was already eating.
Goku was telling Bulma, about shaking Zeno's hand and how he smelled like fish.
Vegeta drank quietly.
Piccolo stood with arms crossed near the edge of the lawn, cape moving in the wind.
Gohan arrived late from work, apologizing as usual.
Then.....
A sound split the sky.
Everyone looked up.
A broken time machine crashed through the clouds, spiraling wildly, trailing sparks and smoke. It slammed into the ground near Capsule Corp with an explosion that sent dust and debris flying.
The party stopped instantly.
Vegeta stepped forward.
"…The time machine."
Bulma's eyes widened.
"...Trunks…"
The cracked metal shell hissed. The door burst open.
And a figure rolled out.
Bloodied. Bruised. Clothes torn. Breathing shallow.
Future Trunks.
....
He pushed himself to his knees, eyes scanning wildly with Desperation.
Then he saw me.
His face twisted with relief.
"Ben…!"
He stumbled forward, legs barely holding him. He collapsed at my feet, bloody hands gripping my pant legs like a lifeline.
"Please… help me…"
His voice was hoarse. Broken.
Everyone rushed forward.
Bulma screamed his name.
"TRUNKS!"
Vegeta's eyes hardened, as he flew over.
"…What the Hell happened?"
Trunks tried to speak again, but his strength gave out. His eyes rolled back. His grip loosened.
He collapsed unconscious in my arms.
....
He hit the ground. His body was dangerously cold. Too much blood lost. Too many injuries.
I laid him gently flip him of his back.
Hands glowing with healing light, I placed them over his chest and wounds. God ki flowed carefully, and stabilizing him, sealing broken flesh, knitting fractures, keeping his life tethered to this moment.
Vegeta knelt beside us, shaking.
".....Trunks"
As Vegeta's fists clenched.
Minutes passed.
Finally, Trunks's breathing steadied. His pulse strengthened. Color returned slowly to his skin.
I leaned back, exhaling.
"He'll live, now Someone Give me a Senzu Bean"
Everyone exhaled at once.
Bulma hugged her son tightly, tears falling freely.
Vegeta turned away, hiding his expression, but his hands trembled slightly.
Goku scratched his head.
"…So… another future problem?"
Everyone turned to Goku
"…Read the Room, man." i said.
Ben's power level: Boo Saga Super Saiyan 3 Goku x [god ki x175,010,000]