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Duanmu Yan's voice trembled with disbelief as the footage played: "Jiren's power... it's actually on this level?!"
"Is he the one Toppo mentioned?" he continued, "The being in Universe 11 who stands even above a candidate for the God of Destruction?!"
Zhang Chulan nodded grimly, his eyes fixed on the screen. "It has to be him. He neutralized that berserk Kale in an instant. That's a feat even Son Goku couldn't manage in his current state."
Jiren's opening move sent a ripple of shock through the countless viewers across the myriad realms. Previously, the audience had witnessed the clash between Toppo and Goku during the Zen Exhibition Match.
Though that battle ended without a clear victor, Toppo's strength had left a searing impression. To trade blows with Super Saiyan Blue Goku and hold his own was a testament to his terrifying Ki. Yet, Toppo himself had admitted he was only the second strongest in his universe.
Now, Jiren had validated that claim. Kale, in her Legendary Berserk state, had been a force of nature. She had tanked Goku's Kamehameha head-on, walking through the planetary-scale energy blast as if it were a light mist. Yet, against Jiren, that same monstrous power was snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane. With a single, casual glare and a flick of his power, Jiren had ended the rampage. It was a glimpse into a bottomless abyss of strength.
In the divine realm of Universe 11, Vermoud let out a boisterous laugh. "Hahahaha! Do you see? That is the absolute power of Jiren! With him on the battlefield, Universe 11 is invincible!"
The God of Destruction beamed with pride. He knew better than anyone that Jiren hadn't even begun to get serious. In this Tournament of Power, he doubted anyone could even force Jiren to warm up properly.
Super Saiyan Blue? In Vermoud's eyes, Goku in that form wasn't even fit to stand in Jiren's shadow. Perhaps only if the Saiyan fully stepped into the realm of Ultra Instinct would Jiren even bother to take notice. Vermoud was essentially ready to pop the champagne; he simply could not envision a scenario where Universe 11 could lose.
While the inhabitants of Universe 11 cheered for their savior, the Law of Conservation of Smiles took effect. The grins vanished from the faces of the Gods and warriors of the other remaining universes. The stronger Jiren appeared, the closer their own destruction felt. Only the erased residents of Universes 9 and 10 remained indifferentâthey had already faced the void, and Jiren's power could no longer haunt them.
Floating in the vacuum of Universe 7, Lord Beerus's face was a mask of grim frustration. "Damn it! This Jiren is a monster. With Goku's current output, he doesn't stand a chance."
Beerus, despite his own mastery of a rudimentary, incomplete Ultra Instinct, could see the staggering gap. Even in Super Saiyan Blue, Goku wouldn't last more than a few exchanges. Jiren was a mountain that seemed impossible to climb.
"Whis," Beerus muttered, "if Goku manages to tap into Ultra Instinct again, could he actually take him down?"
Whis, the Angel of Universe 7, remained characteristically calm but offered no certainties. "I can only say there is hope, My Lord. I cannot say for sure how deep Jiren's well of power goes, nor how far Goku can push into the divine state. But one thing is certain: without Ultra Instinct, Goku doesn't even have the qualifications to stand on the same stage as Jiren. He would be crushed instantly."
As the other universesâ2, 3, 4, and 6âprayed for a miracle or a hidden trump card, the video continued to roll. Following the erasure of Universe 10, the battlefield became a meat grinder.
Universe 7 began to take its first losses. Krillin, after a clever tactical display that eliminated two fighters from Universe 4, was caught off guard by the treacherous Frost of Universe 6 and knocked out of the ring. He was the first of Goku's team to fall.
Not long after, the legendary Master Roshi followed. After exhausting his Ki to eliminate several threats, he fell victim to Frost's underhanded tactics. Though Vegeta intervened to save his life, the Prince of Saiyans told the old master to retire from the front lines.
Roshi, acknowledging his limits, accepted his elimination. However, his sheer tenacity earned him the rare respect of Beerus, who went so far as to ask for the human's nameâan honor Roshi could boast about for a lifetime.
Tien Shinhan was the next to go, but true to his warrior spirit, he ensured he didn't go alone, dragging a dangerous opponent down with him in a mutual elimination. Universe 7 was losing numbers, but they were trading efficiently.
Meanwhile, the "Evil Emperor" Frieza was busy proving why he was the most dangerous man on the field. He struck up a mock alliance with Frost, his Universe 6 counterpart.
Frost, who shared Frieza's biology and penchant for transformation, felt a kinship with the tyrant. Frieza even "helped" Frost by showing him how to access his 100% Full Power muscular form, though he noted that a Golden transformation was likely beyond the smaller Frost's reach.
Just as Frost began to bask in the glow of his newfound "ally's" approval, Frieza delivered a cold, final lesson: "Never trust anyone, especially me."
Before Frost could even process the betrayal, Frieza blasted him point-blank, sending him tumbling out of the arena and into the spectator stands. The Emperor of Evil merely smirked, his elegant golden aura flickering with malice as he cleared another obstacle from his path.