Guilt.
It was a feeling that Beerus had never felt since he became the God of Destruction. An emotion he highly believed that is unnecessary for someone like him, a burden, an uncomfortable and annoying feeling that could distract him and his thoughts from his proper duties as a God of Destruction. For five million years, he had been destroying lives, entire races of useless mortals, planets and even whole galaxies without much of a remorse. He saw and caused a lot of death and destruction his entire life and he never once flinched on it. He was cold and ruthless whenever he bestow his divine punishment to the mortals he deemed as unnecessary to exist in this world. Yet, despite that, Beerus believed himself to be a merciful god, thus he would give second chances to mortals if he felt like it. Just so he could not live to regret any of his decision to destroy them and spare himself from guilt.
Never did Beerus fail on this. He never felt any guilt or remorse about those lives he had destroyed.
Until, recently.
Since the unexpected summon from the King of All, Beerus couldn't sleep a wink at all. While he did fulfill the promise he made with Vegeta to teach him the powers of Destruction and to support him with his goals of wanting vengeance from Freeza and surpassing the gods, deep inside him, he wanted to avoid Vegeta as much as possible. He noticed the Saiyan tensed and clearly jumpy whenever he was around him, perhaps, Vegeta was thinking that he was mad about what happened in King Zen's Palace and that he would berate him for the humiliation he caused him in front of the King of All upon announcing that he never wanted to become a God of Destruction. Truthfully, Beerus never blamed him for that.
Beerus blamed himself.
Guilt, the feeling he had never once felt since he became a God of Destruction, gnawed at his chest whenever he saw Vegeta.
Beerus never actually regretted what he did for letting Freeza destroy the Saiyans. It was a game he enjoyed. It had nothing to do with Vegeta becoming an orphan after losing everything he once had as an heir to the throne of Planet Vegeta. Beerus didn't feel guilty about those things, nor the seeds of rage, hatred and bitterness he had implanted into Vegeta's young heart.
What he was actually feeling guilty about was something else.
The contract itself.
When Vegeta made the contract with him, the price of his wish's fulfillment should have been his soul, that in his death, Beerus must destroy his very existence. But since Beerus saw the potential of a great destroyer within the Saiyan Prince, Beerus decided to change that and told Vegeta to become the next God of Destruction. Beerus was bored of his life, and especially exhausted, having lived for more than five million years, only seeing and causing nothing but death and destruction in his wake. He wanted to find a suitable replacement in his mantle and finally have his peace of mind. He wanted rest. And after he met Vegeta, the mortal whom he chose to fulfill that long awaited wish of his, he was relieved to know that his life of loneliness will soon be over.
Yogengyo had already foreseen this on the day Vegeta was born, that Beerus' time as a destroyer will end as a new mortal destined to the take up the mantle of God of Destruction has been born, the one who would one day surpass all of the deities.
But after Vegeta has openly declared his disinterest to the position, claiming that he only agreed to the contract due to his pursuance for greater strength, Beerus thought that he had taken things far too much from the Saiyan.
If Vegeta indeed becomes a God of Destruction, it would mean that Beerus will take away the only thing that made Vegeta who he is. That proud Saiyan warrior prince.
And if that happens, Vegeta will never be the same.
Because of this, Beerus made a critical decision.
A decision to set the Saiyan Prince free.
But...
The Legend of the God of Destruction (Part X)
Fate
While Vegeta was busy looking for the Dragon Balls wherever they were blown away by his furious battle with Freeza earlier, Beerus told Whis.
"I have three wishes. First is to have Porunga make use of his powers to make it appear that Vegeta and I never had any contract at all. I want him to completely abrogate the contract we have. Second is for him to erase Vegeta's memories about us and the other gods he met so it would look like he has never met us once. My last wish is for Porunga to fill the missing pieces of Vegeta's memories with everything that would have make him happy, peaceful and satisfied. I would have allowed the destruction everything he once had but in exchange, he shall be blessed more than what he lost. I will talk to Shin about this later, as a fine reward for what he did to rid that rotten Freeza off this world."
"Are you really sure about this, Beerus-sama?" Whis asked. "I mean, Vegeta might become the next Freeza if that happens."
"Yes." Beerus responded with a nod, determination in his eyes. "We have nothing to worry about. He will never become like Freeza. In his heart, Vegeta knows the difference between right and wrong, and what should exist and what should be destroyed. He will be a great and better ruler of this Universe than Freeza or Cold ever was."
"Of course, I never doubted Vegeta's heart. It's such a shame. I'm sure the King of All would be greatly disappointed when he finds out about this."
"..."
"If he learns about this, then this Universe might-"
Suddenly, Whis and Beerus felt a massive divine power appear close to them. This caused both of them to feel absolute terror and without any second thoughts, both of them quickly flew to where Vegeta was busy looking for one of the Dragon Balls and grabbed him by his arms, while Beerus cursed "Shit! Shit! Shit!" repeatedly. A confused Vegeta dropped the Dragon Ball he just found and was unable to say anything just as Whis used his hyperspace flight ability to warp the three of them back to their planet.
Vegeta couldn't understand why Whis and Beerus just dragged him back to their world as if they were in a hurry or being chased. He was confused even more when he realized that both Whis and Beerus were terrified about the ki they just sensed on Namek. Their reactions were even worse than when they met with the King of All.
Both the God of Destruction and his guide angel were paling and trembling even after they're back home. Vegeta watched at them in complete disgust as he asked, "Hey, are you two alright?"
Beerus grabbed the sides of his head, teeth chattering as he whined, "Wha-Wha-What is he do-doing in here-?" he stammered. "Out of all Universes... Why here..?"
"Perhaps... Perhaps, King Mu has heard of your lazy reputation that's why he's-"
"That cannot be! This has never happened before!"
"Or maybe he heard us about-"
"That's even more impossible!"
Vegeta just watched at both Beerus and Whis as if they're the craziest people around.
"Hey, just who the hell is that?" Vegeta demanded.
Beerus was instantly on his face, yelling at him. "Shut up, brat! Don't you dare open that mouth of yours and ask questions!"
Whis shook his head in disapproval and he explained, "That ki we sensed back on Planet Namek belongs to the King of Nothingness, King Mu, the counterpart of King Zen. Just as how each of the Universes has a Creator and a Destroyer, King Zen and King Mu are the two sides of the same coin."
"So there is also a destroyer in the multiverse level?" Vegeta asked.
"Yes. Unlike a Universe level destroyer who were once a mortal who ascended to godhood and immortality, King Mu is a literal god that existed since the beginning of time along with King Zen himself. He is able to destroy entire universes on a whim. He is also responsible of the erasure of the other 6 universes. We used to have 18 Universes before."
Vegeta couldn't believe what he just heard. "He did what..?"
"Aside from that, he also supervises the works of the deities of the Universes. If he finds anyone unworthy of the position, or if anyone isn't doing his duties properly, he will erase that deity without any question. He is known to be extremely ruthless and a berserker god. He is even more feared than King Zen because of this. I guess he is a prime example of what mortals usually say as 'let sleeping gods lie' in its literal sense." Whis said, shifting his eyes over to Beerus with a knowing look.
Vegeta cackled. "I think you really did it this time, Beerus-sama!"
Beerus screamed at him, harshly grabbing Vegeta's collar and snarled at him, "Shut up, Saiyan! There must be another reason!"
Vegeta smirked back at him, slapping Beerus' hand away from him as if silently telling the god not to touch him with his disgusting hands. "What else could be the reason, hm? I mean, aren't we the lowest universe with the mortal level? It's because you're always eating and napping all the time. Now, you'll be in big trouble for this."
Beerus shook him, "What the hell, Vegeta?! How dare you talk to me like that?!"
Vegeta shrugged, darting his eyes on the side with a silent snort. "Just saying the truth." he grumbled with a frown.
A sudden, powerful gust of wind blew around them and it effectively halted Beerus' screaming at Vegeta's face, sparing the Saiyan Prince the tantrum.
Beerus and Whis stood in attention, obviously tensed. Vegeta turned to the direction where the wind came from and finally saw what this King of Nothingness looked like.
He was incredibly massive, standing nearly ten feet, and burly. He wore some kind of full body medieval armor from his head to his toe, that's red and black in color, with a character that meant "Nothingness" painted on the center of his chest plate. He seemed to be wearing a creepy looking red Kishin noh mask where Vegeta could see a pair of glowing yellow eyes from the holes in his eyes. He looked nothing like King Zen at all.
And just like how Whis described him, Vegeta could sense an intense destructive godly power within him that's even more powerful than what he has seen from Beerus and Whis. No wonder why both Whis and Beerus were so terrified of him.
"Good day, King Mu! How can we help you?" Beerus asked, squeaking out of his fear. He was sweating and visibly shaking. Behind him, Vegeta rose from the ground and simply stood there in silence, peeking from behind the Hakaishin.
Because he was wearing a mask, Vegeta couldn't really tell King Mu's expression at all. The King of Nothingness seemed to regard them in silence before finally speaking in a very deep but powerful voice. "The Destined Strong One... Bring him to me."
"Huh?" Beerus blinked.
"Destined... Strong One?" Whis repeated, blinking his pale violet eyes in confusion.
"Bring me the destined strong one... I wish to fight him..." King Mu ordered them.
"Who is that?" Vegeta asked Whis and Beerus in a low voice.
"Our apologies, your Majesty but we have no idea who this 'Destined Strong One' is." Beerus said.
A low animalistic growl seemed to emanate from King Mu's throat. "Bring him to me!" he roared. The air started to crackle around him, causing the three to step back.
"But... But we-!"
"I said 'Bring him to me!' NOW! Or I will destroy you all!"
Beerus staggered, turning his head to his comrades. "This is bad! While I am glad this isn't because of me, if we do not bring him what he wants, we're still going to be destroyed!" he hissed at Whis and Vegeta.
"What are you waiting for?! Bring me the destined strong one!" King Mu demanded once more.
"I have no freaking idea who he's looking for?!" Beerus whined frantically, looking like he was about to go crazy from the stress.
"He's getting more agitated by the second. I can feel his lust for battle, it's quite similar to that of a Saiyan but much intense it's uncontrollable. You should hurry or else he will start rampaging." Vegeta warned. "Or maybe I should-."
"No! Stop, Vegeta!" Beerus hissed at him. "He won't fight you even if you challenge him in battle!"
Vegeta scowled at Beerus, feeling offended by him stopping him from a fight. "Why? Is he going to destroy me that easily?" he asked.
"King Mu will never do that. He cannot harm mortals. It is outside of his duty to bestow destruction upon mortals alone as it is the job of a God of Destruction." Whis explained.
"But didn't you mention that he could destroy an entire universe? That should includes mortals, right?"
"Well... That's not directly done. Remember when I told you about the balance of the Universe-"
"Where is he?! Where is the destined strong one! Bring him to me now!" roared King Mu, cutting Whis' explanation. Suddenly, his ki skyrocketed, causing a powerful shockwave to blow the three of them away.
"What the?!"
King Mu, his patience running thin, started to go into a rampage. With a mere burst of his energy, he began to destroy things around him.
"This is bad!" Beerus gritted his teeth together as he watched King Mu go into a berserk rampage. "Whis!"
"Yes, milord?" Whis squeaked.
"Take Vegeta with you and make your preparations. I will try to hold him off until it is time! Go, now!"
"Wait, are you really serious about fighting him alone?" Vegeta asked, grabbing Beerus by his arms.
Beerus pulled his arms away from Vegeta's grasps and pushed him towards Whis. "Go!"
Beerus and Whis gave each other knowing looks and Whis grabbed Vegeta as if the Saiyan was just a rag doll toy, then carried him over his shoulders like Vegeta was a sack of rice, effectively pulling him away from the God of Destruction. Like a child being forcefully separated from his parent, Vegeta tried to pull away from Whis and grab Beerus with him, but Whis started to run in the opposite direction.
"Wait... Wait! Whis! What the hell?! Beerus! Are you both crazy?! Why?! We cannot leave him to fight that bastard alone! He's going to be-!" Vegeta screeched.
"Vegeta-san! Calm yourself and forget about Beerus-sama for now. What matters is your survival."
"Who the hell cares about that?! We should go back and fight that bastard together! I am no coward! I won't run away like this! Let me go!"
Vegeta was wildly struggling to get himself free from Whis' grip, screaming and crying like a child. He was punching and kicking desperately to let himself go but Whis was unfazed by his tantrums.
Once they were inside the castle, Whis finally dropped Vegeta to the floor and for the first time, the guide angel slapped the Saiyan hard across the face. This effectively shut the prince up. Vegeta's fierce glare softened when he found Whis' intense gaze leering down at him.
"Now, Vegeta-san." Whis told him firmly, his usually gentle gaze now glaring at Vegeta hard. "If you wish to save Beerus-sama out there, listen to me well. Beerus-sama is trying his best to hold off King Mu out there for your sake, to buy time for you to make your preparations. The time of your training is done. It is time for you to take up the mantle of the Seventh Universe's God of Destruction. "
"..."
Vegeta lowered his eyes, biting his lower lip in his hesitation. What? Is it that soon? He certainly didn't expect this coming. He frowned, feeling aggravated. He never wanted to do this. He didn't want this. He has not made his decision to become a God of Destruction yet. He was feeling angry about this sudden turn of events.
Thank goodness Whis didn't see this hesitation as Yogengyo came in. The Oracle Fish's bowl floated towards them, "Huh? Is it that time already? I'm sure I will miss Beerus around here!" she said.
"It seems so, Yogengyo." Whis told her as he turned towards her direction.
There was a shocking explosion sound near them and then they heard a familiar voice screaming and ranting as the owner came closer to them.
"Oh what a surprise, Champa-sama is here." Whis said.
Champa, the God of Destruction of Universe 6 who looked like a fat version of Beerus, entered the hallway, led by his guide angel, Vados. "Hey Whis! What the hell is happening here? Why did King Mu appear on Universe Seven, huh?! And where the hell is Beerus?!" he demanded.
"We're not sure of the details but King Mu was looking for someone, a certain 'destined strong one', he mentioned." Whis replied.
"Destined Strong One? What the hell is that?" Champa asked.
Whis shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? Anyways, Beerus-sama is currently fighting King Mu as we speak."
"What?! He's fighting King Mu?! He's crazy! Just what the hell is he doing?! He cannot do that?! Is he an idiot?!" Champa was screaming.
Vegeta frowned upon hearing Champa's words, he wanted to defend Beerus' honor but Whis spoke for him.
"Relax, he's just buying time, Champa-sama." Whis tried to assure the Universe 6's God of Destruction.
"Don't you dare tell me to relax when Beerus is out there about to be destroyed!" Champa yelled.
Vados chuckled beside Champa. "Look at you, Champa-sama. You worry about your twin brother too much."
As if Champa just realized he was doing something he should be doing, he turned around with a pout and his chin raised in the air, huffing, "Don't get the wrong idea, Vados! I'm not worried about him! I'm just worried that our universe may get into a crossfire and be destroyed as well if he gets destroyed out there!"
"Worry not, Champa-sama. It will be safe once Vegeta takes up the mantle. We are making our preparations now." Whis assured once more.
"Hm?" Champa shot his eyes towards the Saiyan who was looking at Whis as if the guide angel has just lost his mind. "Really?"
"Wait a minute-! I don't remember agreeing to any of this!" Vegeta retorted furiously.
"Don't tell me that you haven't made your decision yet?!" Champa demanded him.
Vegeta turned his angry eyes at Champa and told him nonchalantly. "No."
"What?!" Champa screamed in disbelief. "Oh shoot! Now we're done for!" he suddenly went up to Vegeta's face, grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. "Just what the hell is wrong with you, Saiyan?! Are you crazy?!"
"Take your filthy hands off of me, you bastard!" Vegeta warned him.
"How dare you talk to me that way, Saiyan?! Do you wish to be destroyed?!" Champa threatened. "Why you, selfish, impudent, prideful little shit! Do you even know what you're doing?!"
"If I were you, I will not talk to him like that, Champa-sama." Vados suggested. "You won't be able to convince him that way, else you'll only worsen the situation."
"Tch! I know that." Champa sneered, pushing Vegeta off him. He turned his fierce glare to the mortal. "Listen to me, Saiyan. Your pride would mean nothing if everything gets destroyed here. And if everything gets destroyed just because of this damn indecision of yours, I will never forgive you! Do you understand?"
Vegeta gave Champa a puzzled look, "Huh?!"
Whis cleared his throat, "To explain, Champa-sama was saying that if Beerus-sama is destroyed by King Mu out there without a proper replacement to his position as a God of Destruction, the balance of this Universe will fall, and so this Universe will be destroyed along with him. And since Champa-sama's Universe 6 is the parallel world that is mirroring Universe 7 like a twin, if Universe 7 gets destroyed, so as Universe 6. This is exactly how the 6 other universes were destroyed."
Upon hearing Whis' words, Vegeta shouted in complete disbelief, "What?!"
"Now do you understand how crucial your indecision is?" Champa said. "Look around you, Saiyan! Beerus is out there, sacrificing his life to buy you the time and yet here you are wasting it with your doubts and indecision because of that damn pride of yours! Snap out of it, would you?! Like I said, your pride would mean nothing if you and everything around you gets destroyed! Do you want that to happen?!" he shouted.
Vegeta's scowl deepened, his dark eyes narrowing into slits of anger. He gritted his teeth together and closed his hands to tight fists on his lap. Once again, his pride and personal ideals are being challenged by the desire to survive - or rather, exist in this world. He was sure he was determined not to accept the role of God of Destruction as soon as possible. He doubted he's ready enough to take on the mantle since he's not yet willing to give up his mortal Saiyan heritage and pride for the power of immortality.
Just as he told Beerus earlier after his battle with Freeza.
Vegeta darted his eyes to the side and snorted. "Hmph! Then that's just fate."
"What?!" Champa sneered, looking like his butt was just pricked by a needle. Whis exhaled in exasperation and Yogengyo let out a whine.
Beside Champa, Vados sighed as she shook her head. She saw that look of pure determination and anger on the Saiyan and she knew that Champa was only making things even worse. She stooped closer to Champa and whispered, "I told you, you won't be able to convince him that way, milord. You'll only agitate him even further."
Champa fumed furiously. His fists were shaking on his sides. He couldn't believe how prideful, stubborn and selfish this damn Saiyan could be!
"Fate, you say?!" Champa seethed. "Fate?! This isn't supposed to be your fate! Whis! Didn't you say your pet fish has foreseen this Saiyan taking up Beerus' place one day and becoming the strongest among us?! Is that all a lie to save your asses from King Zen's wrath?!"
"Hey! That was uncalled for!" Yogengyo screamed.
"Oh my goodness!" Whis gasped. "Champa-sama, you weren't supposed to say that in front of the subject!" he scolded.
"Who cares? It was all a lie anyways!" Champa retorted.
They found Vegeta staring at them with wide eyes, "What did you just say?" he asked breathlessly.
Vados and Whis gave Champa a knowing look before Whis explained, since there's no way they could lie about it any further. "Remember I made an assurance to the King of All about your decision to take the position of the Seventh Universe's God of Destruction? I showed him the prediction the Oracle Fish told me about."
"And if I don't follow through that prediction? Does that mean that Beerus is going to be destroyed by that bastard?"
"It's simply his fate." Yogengyo said. "It is also your fate to rise up after him, to become stronger than him and everyone else."
"Me? Stronger than... everyone else?"
Whis and Yogengyo turned to each other. The Oracle Fish nodded at the guide angel as of giving him the permission to continue.
"Of course, but that would eventually change if you do not make a decision soon." Whis said. "Your choice is crucial for this prediction to happen. That's why the Oracle Fish's prophecy are very subjective to changes."
Vegeta lowered his eyes, contemplating about his choices. He considered Champa's earlier words about how his pride wouldn't matter if everything gets destroyed here. If it is true that the Oracle Fish saw him become the strongest among all, then that means..?
He turned his head towards where he could sense King Mu and Beerus' battle was happening. "Hey... I think I know who exactly this bastard's looking for."
Beerus was sent flying backwards for several miles after he took King Mu's punch head on. Despite finally using his full power against the multiverse level deity, he was completely outmatched. Beerus was badly beaten and he knew that he won't last much longer. Just what the hell is taking Vegeta and Whis so long?
King Mu appeared and sauntered towards him. The King of Nothingness kept on demanding him about the 'destined strong one' which Beerus admitted so many times that he had no knowledge about. King Mu was already blinded by his desire to fight this person and he couldn't even think straight.
"If you cannot bring me the destined strong one, then it is time for you to be destroyed." King Mu said in his deep, bored tone. He raised his massive, armored arms and begins to charge a sphere of Destruction.
Beerus chuckled to himself. Perhaps, this was truly his end. He felt honored to be destroyed by none other than the King of Nothingness himself. He stood his ground, his fear gone with the wind the powerful sphere was giving off. He was ready.
Just as King Mu fired the destructive orb of energy, Vegeta teleported right in front of Beerus and caught the sphere with his hands. King Mu was taken by surprise by this and he decided to pull the energy back, causing it to explode into heaps of energy but not enough to harm the mortal.
"What the hell are you doing here, Vegeta?!" Beerus demanded him.
Vegeta ignored Beerus as he addressed the King of Nothingness directly, declaring with the imperious tone of a royal crown prince destined to become a powerful King.
"Calm down, Mu. The Destined Strong One you are looking for will come to you soon. I know exactly how you are feeling right now. You wanted to fight this person in order to satiate your own lust for battle, right? In order for you to test your unfathomable strength against this person, you wish to have a good fight with him. Fine. I understand you well. I will bring this person to you. Just you wait a little more and leave Beerus or anyone in this Universe alone.
"I promise you that I will be that person you are looking for. The destined strong one! If a fight with the strongest is what you truly want, then I will give you the fight you are craving for! Yes... The strongest one you seek is standing right before you! Just you wait... I will rise and become the new God of Destruction of this Universe! Then and only then we could go all out with each other and you will get what you want."
King Mu stared at the mortal, pondering, observing him and probably trying to sense his power to gauge it.
"You are the destined strong one?" he asked.
"That's right! I will become the strongest among all!" Vegeta responded confidently.
King Mu didn't answer for about ten seconds, considering before finally calming down. "I see." he said. "What is your name, destined strong one?"
"Vegeta Yonsei! Make sure you remember it well."
"Vegeta Yonsei, huh? I see. Very well. Go on and proceed to the ritual. I will be waiting."
Vegeta nodded in agreement. He turned to Beerus and assisted him back to the castle.
"Vegeta made the perfect plan. He knew that King Mu doesn't directly harm mortals so he used that knowledge to his advantage." Whis commented. "Did you predict this too, Yogengyo? That is why you chose to reveal to him the prophecy?"
"I did." Yogengyo said, giggling. "If puffing up Vegeta's pride would help save the universe then why not?" she winked.
"So you have made your decision?" Beerus asked Vegeta as they entered the castle.
Vegeta lightly snorted back, "Don't get the wrong idea. Between being destroyed from existence or throwing away my pride and my principles as a Saiyan Warrior, I'd rather keep my existence if it meant that I would get a chance to one day redeem what I have lost by fulfilling the oath I made to myself. It has nothing to do with you or this entire universe being threatened to be destroyed. Plus, I was curious about just how strong that bastard truly is."
"You should know that if you do not satisfy King Mu at all, you will still get destroyed, and this universe will too if you do not have anyone to pass the torch to."
"Hmph! Like I would let that happen. I wouldn't be destroyed without a fight. Just as how you almost did." Vegeta told him with a crooked, determined smirk. "Even if we get destroyed in here, at least we fought with everything we had. I'm proud of being a protégé of someone who understands what pride and honor meant to a warrior. Thank you, Beerus-sama."
"I'm going to have Kaioushin-sama to come over." Whis said when Vegeta and Beerus finally arrived to the door outside the sacred pantheon where Whis, Yogengyo, Champa and Vados waited. "Beerus-sama, please prepare Vegeta for the ritual. I have already assembled the set up on the sanctuary."
"Yeah." Beerus said. "Champa, what are you doing here? Were you just seriously worried about me and you miraculously decided to come over and visit me?"
"I came to watch your ass get destroyed by King Mu! Hmph!" Champa said. "Too bad the Saiyan got in the way of a good show."
"Hmph! Says the one who was about to cry earlier just to beg me to make my decision." Vegeta muttered.
"Shut up, Saiyan brat! Nobody is asking for your opinion!" Champa yelled.
Vegeta stuck out his tongue and Champa returned it. The two teased each other like they're little children. Vados sighed. For some reason, she could see Beerus in Vegeta's childish antics in relation to Champa.
"To tell you the truth, we came here because Champa-sama was so worried about you, Beerus-sama." Vados said.
"Not you too, Vados!" Champa shouted.
"What? Are you expecting me to believe that you are just worried about our Universe when you knew exactly what Vegeta-san would do? You are worried about Beerus-sama, that's all."
Champa grumbled in annoyance. Vegeta laughed at his face.
Beerus chuckled. "I'm glad to know this, Champa. Thank you." he said with a smile. Champa continued to grumble as a response. Beerus turned to Vegeta, "That's enough, Vegeta. Come with me."
Vegeta ran behind Beerus, giggling. Beerus told Vegeta to follow him inside a room.
"Take all your clothes off." Beerus instructed. Vegeta removed his armor first, and then his gloves, his boots, his long sleeved shirt, his pants and his underwear without any word. While Vegeta was doing that, Beerus was telling him what he must do during the ritual.
"When you step into the ritual platform, you must make a declaration that you are willing to take on the mantle of God of Destruction. After the divine contract is made, the divine powers of the God of Destruction will enter your body. This is going to be an agonizing process as your mortal shell will be transformed into an immortal and godly body. Your powers would surge out of control as this happens but do not worry about this, just keep your mind focused on destruction alone and nothing else. Shin will be standing right behind you as both your energies and existences will be bounded together. Do you understand?"
Vegeta nodded. "Yeah."
There was silence between the two as Beerus simply gazed down at the Saiyan Prince. In his heart, he felt bad for Vegeta. He knew the Saiyan was being forced to do this. And he knew that Vegeta could have been free from all of these problems if not for King Mu's unexpected appearance.
"Very well. Let's go." Beerus said. Before he step out of the door, Beerus turned his head over his shoulder and gave Vegeta a smirk. "Oh, and I'm sure that the sacred garment of the Hakaishin would look great on you."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. Of course, it would good on him given his sexy, muscular build and overwhelming confidence. What else would Beerus expect from Saiyan royalty anyways? "Pfft... Let's just get this over with before I change my mind." he huffed.
Beerus opened the door leading to the pantheon. Inside the pantheon was dark, the place was only lit up by a few torches lit up with purple colored flames that were attached to ten pillars surrounding a circular platform in the center. Within the platform, a lone but small purple flame burned like a fireball. This is the place where the ritual to transfer the position of a God of Destruction is done. On the side of the platform waited Whis, Shin, Champa and Vados.
"Everything is complete. It is time for the ritual to begin." Whis declared. "Beerus-sama, you may please step within the platform and announce your resignation."
Beerus nodded to Whis and he stepped into the platform. He allowed the ball of fire touch him and it immediately engulfed him with dark purple flames. Shin followed him from behind, but he didn't step into the platform. He stood right behind Beerus and held up his right hand so he could touch Beerus' back.
"I'm ready when you are, Beerus-sama." Shin said.
"I, Beerus, the current God of Destruction of the Universe Seventh, is declaring my renunciation to the position and is willing to transfer all of my divine powers of destruction and immortality to my successor, Prince Vegeta the Fourth of Planet Vegeta. It is my greatest pleasure serving the Seventh Universe for more than five million years but it is time for me to step down and allow a much worthy heir and more powerful warrior than I ever was to this glorious position."
The flame blazed larger, signifying the acceptance to Beerus' abdication. Not long after, Beerus stepped out of the platform, completely naked. His divine garments gone. Whis attended to him, heading over a fresh set of white robes.
"Vegeta, you may proceed." Beerus said, tilting his head towards the blazing purple flame in the platform, burning bigger and brighter than earlier.
Vegeta nodded in silence and he finally made his way to the platform. He stopped next to Shin, staring at the burning flame before him.
This is where is mortal life as a Saiyan Warrior Prince would end and a new journey as an immortal deity responsible for death and destruction would begin. He closed his eyes and for the last time, tried to remember every detail of his mortality, his life as a Saiyan Warrior, the battles he had won, his pride and honor as the last Crown Prince. He tried to remember every time he felt his Saiyan blood coursing through his veins, pumping with excitement at the thrill of a fight. The flow of his powers and the ecstacy it brought him. The wild Oozaru metamorphosis, the electrifying and violent legendary Super Saiyan transformation, the calm and warm Super Saiyan God and the combination of both legendary and divine powers into Super Saiyan Blue. The intensity of his Evolved Super Saiyan Blue form during the battle with Toppo and his self-indulging Ultra Ego form that allowed him to get a taste of godly destructive powers while satisfying his own primal desires as a Saiyan warrior. His desire for greater power has brought him into a series of misfortunes, like losing everything he once had and cared about, changing a supposed protector into a destroyer of worlds. He couldn't help but think that perhaps, becoming a God of Destruction was truly his fate, because everything led up to this point no matter how much he tried to run away from it. But considering Beerus' involvement with the strings of his fate, he wondered what could have happened to him if he never met Beerus after all.
He thought that perhaps, he'll still choose this path to power. A true Saiyan only thrives for greater strength and nothing else. There's nothing more important to a Saiyan Warrior but power itself, to become the greatest and to test out his might against his opponents. A quest to prove his superiority in this Universe.
And here he is now, about to become the most superior being in this cosmos. Everything he ever wanted is right before his eyes. And while he never wanted to become a God of Destruction in the first place, he had no other choice but to do it.
For the sake of his pride and his own existence.
He stepped into the fire and he felt Shin put his hand over his back.
"I'm ready when you are, Vegeta-san." Shin said.
Vegeta straightened himself and confidently declared in an imperious tone. "I, the Crown Prince of the Saiyans of the Seventh Universe, Vegeta the Fourth, is hereby making an agreement to take up the mantle of the God of Destruction following Beerus' abdication of the position. Take thy mortality and allow thee to contain the divine powers of destruction! I hereby make thy contract at this moment, at this time! Let the new God of Destruction rise within thee!"
The flame engulfed him from his feet upwards as soon as he was done declaring these powerful words. And after he let go of all thoughts, only focusing his mind on destruction and nothing else, that's when the transformation happened.
It was unlike anything Vegeta had experienced before. The pain was even more intense than any of his previous transformations. It bewildered him, so much that he was unable to stop himself from screaming and crying out in extreme agony. It felt as if he was being pierced by an infinite number of ki beams, ripped apart, burning, shattering, breaking, all at the same time. Through his veins could be flowing the most concentrated acid, scorching throughout every inch of him and set every cell of his ablazed. In his chest, the dark purple fire ignited, intensifying every sensation with each powerful beat of his frantic heart.
His heart pounded rapidly and loudly inside his chest, and it felt as if it would burst out of his ribs at any given moment. It was more severe than the initial Oozaru transformation or his Ultra Ego transformation. The force of his heartbeat was causing him to convulse so hard his eyes rolled at the back of his head and arched his back, levitating him off the ground as if his heart was pulling him upwards.
The fire blazed hotter and Vegeta's destructive powers surged out of control. The dark purple flames burst out from his every pore, a spiraling maelstrom of fire surrounded him that swelled upwards into the sky, completely obliterating the roof and causing a violent shockwave to rock the entire world. Up above them, the dark clouds swirled, fearsome lightning rapidly strikes from them into the quaking ground below. His menacing ki spiked and the clouds departed from the pillar of devastating energy.
Outside the God of Destruction's home world, entire planets trembled, several stars erupted and a few galaxies got swallowed by blackholes that appeared from the explosion of the stars. Both the mortal world, the underworld, heaven and hell, and even space and time that's within this universe, shook violently. The entirety of the Seventh Universe shuddered as every single core of each and everything that existed within it pulsed in recognition of its new destroyer. Vegeta felt this happening within him. His connection with all that consist this Universe was established, giving him power above them all, power to destroy everything.
His heart pounded even greater than before as the heat intensified into bewildering levels. The acidic feeling he had caused by the energy flowing within him slowly left his veins, only for it to be collected in his already blazing heart, causing its already frantic beat to go even faster and louder. Vegeta couldn't help the cries he was letting out. He thought he had an exceptional pain tolerance. He was completely wrong. He couldn't take it anymore. This agony's just too much even for him to endure. He tried to ignore the pain, focusing his mind on destruction alone, but doing so only intensified this torture. He only hoped for this to end as soon as possible.
Beerus, Shin, Whis, Champa and Vados watched as Vegeta's body abruptly glowed a deep purple light and they heard his heart pound in a single sustained note until it gradually it galloped to his final beat.
Vegeta descended into the floor, the glow of his body faded to reveal a new destroyer deity. He was now donning Beerus' previous clothing, the sacred garment of a God of Destruction. The golden earring on his left ear, the thick necklace around his neck, the armlets and bracelets around his muscular arms, the sky blue and black Egyptian wesekh collar over his chiseled pectorals, the sky blue baggy pants, navy blue sash around his slim waist and below his stony abdominal muscles, the black drape with golden rims hanging in front of his waist and the brown loafers in his feet. Between his legs, his brown furred, monkey-like Saiyan tail waved lazily.
Vegeta looked down at himself for a moment, checking every part of him, silently thanking he wasn't burned into ashes or became as dark as charcoal from all that agony of burning he just experienced. He looked very much the same as he did as a mortal Saiyan, and he was glad when he found that his tail had fully regrown.
He turned his eyes to those who witnessed his ascension and gave them a proud smirk.
A new God of Destruction has finally risen!