The second round of the battle of gods had begun. With renewed vigour, Gohan had risen into the air, the metamorphosis of the Super Saiyan God transformation having healed the critical wound the Hakaishin Beerus dealt to him, and was yet again staring down the God who threatened to end his world. Beerus, in response to Gohan's bold declaration, had adopted a stance for the first time properly since their battle had begun. His body was immersed in a soft, purple aura. In kind, Gohan adopted a stance typically used by his father, Gokū. The aura of the Super Saiyan God burned delicately around his body, giving off its reddish-orange glow.
In a single instant, Beerus crossed the distance between himself and Gohan, bringing his hand down in a sweeping motion. Gohan's response was immediate. His eyes widened, perceiving Beerus' movements with all of his awareness; his arm swung upwards to meet Beerus' own blow. In a stunning shockwave that spread across the planet, Beerus' attack was deflected. His claws, however, did graze Gohan's arm, and blood spurted from the wound, before fizzling out just as quickly — he was still regenerating. The Hakaishin's eyes grew round in surprise, as Gohan brought up his left hand, coating it in godly ki. The blow struck home, indenting Beerus' stomach, blowing the deity backwards.
With an invisible bundle of ki, Beerus steadied himself before he flew too far, his golden eyes focusing on Gohan. "What was that just now?" He inquired. "In that moment...it seemed as if you perceived my moves. Don't tell me you've been holding out on me, Super Saiyan God."
"I can't really explain it myself," replied Gohan. "I feel reinvigorated...it's as if the Super Saiyan God power isn't done changing me just yet." The soft features Gohan had inherited from his mother hardened as his eyes narrowed. "Lord Beerus. You said that this was a worthless world with an equally worthless protector, didn't you? I'm going to make you see otherwise!"
Beerus' large, feline ears twitched. He knew he'd heard this correctly. Large ears weren't simply for show, after all. "Do you mean to tell me that you still have room to grow, even now?"
"That seems to be it," Gohan nodded. He could feel it. He'd never felt this way when relying on his standard Super Saiyan transformations. Yet the Super Saiyan God strength was something different. "It's telling me...I can still climb higher!"
The Hakaishin felt his mouth curl into a grin. It was instinctive, and Beerus felt something he hadn't in thousands of years. Excitement. The idea that this young man — this Saiyan — could reach even loftier heights, spurred his desire to fight further. He'd been stepping his game up gradually during their fight, but Beerus knew his restraint was slipping now. He spread his arms wide, almost as if in welcoming. "Then show me just how much higher you can climb! I'm waiting for you here at the top, Super Saiyan God!"
This statement, far from merely a boast, was also an open invitation. Beerus was still in complete control of the battle, the Hakaishin far from having exerted himself. If Gohan wanted to keep his planet in one piece, then this would be the biggest uphill battle he'd ever fought in his tenure as a martial artist. The Super Saiyan God clenched his fists, bringing his arms up to his sides, His face contorting, Gohan let out a massive bellow, his ki beginning to rise, the vibrant flames of his godly aura burning brighter than they'd ever had.
Taking a breath, Gohan was the fighter who moved first. Closing in with unfathomable speed, Gohan's leg whipped forward in a powerful kick that struck Beerus across the chest. Contrary to his punch previously that hadn't fazed Beerus in the slightest, this was a marked difference — he wasn't all talk. Vanishing from sight as Beerus moved to counter, Gohan's next blow — a crushing kick from his right leg — struck Beerus behind his head. Launching the deity from his spot in the air, the exchange of blows had created shockwaves of ridiculous intensity. The half-Saiyan pursued his quarry, yet Beerus was ready for a counterstrike. With his tail, he grabbed Gohan by the ankle, throwing him with great force higher into the sky.
The wind pressure aside, Gohan tried to collect his bearings, when Beerus gave the impression of materialising in front of him due to his own speed. The Hakaishin raised both clawed hands forward, forming a purple sphere of ki between them both. Gohan countered in kind, forming an crimson orb between his palms. The blasts expanded and then detonated; the result being a cacophony of noise and a brilliant display of explosions between the two deities, a trail of individual eruptions of ki blazing behind them.
Ripping through the flames, deity and deity clashed together. Rising ever higher, Gohan was beginning to match Beerus blow for blow. The half-Saiyan's rushing fist collided with Beerus' stomach, while Beerus' collided with Gohan's jaw. Their expressions contorted in pain, being pushed apart ever so slightly. Gohan's leg shattered sound, rushing towards the Hakaishin's head. Beerus inclined his body backwards, and the kick soared over him. Wind pressure erupted from the blow, bursting clouds apart before fizzling out. With his free leg, Gohan spun around and landed a solid crushing strike to Beerus' side. It sent Beerus flying, yet with a burst of invisible ki, he steadied himself easily.
Diving through the air, the Hakaishin replied in kind. Using far more grace than Gohan's own strikes, Beerus' blow struck hard. Gohan raised his wrist up to block the attack, but Beerus struck from his other side. He unleashed a repeated onslaught, which Gohan struggled against deflecting. Each consecutive attack bombarded Gohan's defences, shockwaves bursting forth from the both of them. Each shockwave spread outward, enveloping the entire planet. Lesser structures were demolished, the oceans shook, the ground quaked, and Gohan finally caved. Feeling like his stamina was shattered, the Saiyan God felt the last of Beerus' kicks slammed into his jaw. He staggered backwards, trying to keep himself aloft. Beerus' next blow packed for more power than any previous, lifting himself above Gohan and slamming his fist down onto the latter's face.
The burst of force from this attack was immense, travelling down past Gohan's body and striking the planet itself. It ripped the ground apart, causing the land to rise upward and create cliffs where none existed, uprooting trees and forcing the planet to bend to Hakaishin's will. His next blow — an incoming sledgehammer meant to send Gohan hurtling to the ground — was surprisingly parried when the deified Saiyan eyes made contact with Beerus'. Using both hands, Gohan gripped Beerus' own, forcing his arms in a separate direction. The burst of pressure shook the sky, but Gohan was saved again.
"You're putting on quite a good show, Super Saiyan God," noted Beerus. "But this ends here." His lavender aura pulsating, the Hakaishin's emerald eyes stared through Gohan. Despite still exuding the aura of a Super Saiyan God, he was beginning to look haggard. Beerus was noticing it. Whatever his regeneration had been, whatever had healed his earlier wounds, was slowing down. To test this theory, he raised his hands and vanished, using speed that Gohan couldn't even detect, and once again dragged his claws across the man's body. They sliced into his shoulder, and blood erupted from the wound, Beerus appearing behind him.
Gohan spun to face Beerus, and the Hakaishin received his confirmation. The blaze of ki that had healed him only moments ago were barely manifesting, resembling a fire from dying coals as it tried and failed to patch this new wound. "The Super Saiyan God was something else, truly. But you can't put up more of a fight."
Tenkaichi Budōkai, Papaya Island
Watching the battle through Whis' projection, it wasn't long before the Earthling's and the Dragon Team saw the true state of the battle - the rift between Gohan and Beerus' strength had grown too vast. Gohan was taking immense amounts of damage, even as a God.
"What's happened?!" Piccolo watched in horror.
Equally aghast, Erasa could only choke out the words, "He's losing ground...he can't even fight back...Gohan!" .
"At this point, I don't think there's much hope," replied Whis matter-of-factly. He was watching the fight intently, his face stern. "The metamorphosis has finished. And your friend - Gohan, was it? - has reached his peak. I can't speak for Lord Beerus, but this fight is finished." There was neither malice nor ill intent conveyed in his voice. Merely a man who had seen everything stating an irrefutable fact.
"That can't be true!" replied Erasa fiercely. It was as if hearing Whis state things so plainly had reignited a fire in her heart. "Gohan's pulled himself out of tough situations before! He's no stranger to battles like this!"
"That's where you're wrong," said Whis. "What you say may certainly be true of mortal battles. Having watched Gohan battle Lord Beerus in the Kaiōshin Realm, I witnessed his power. Suffice to say, he may very well be the strongest mortal in this Universe. I haven't seen a mortal with his level of strength in all of my time here. However..." His purple eyes stared meaningfully at Erasa. "The realm of gods is not something you climb up into, but something you fall into. Mortals can try as hard as they want, but climbing up to the summit of mortal power only means being able to lay witness to the vast skies of the godly realm above that can never be touched. It is something remarkable for a mortal to make the leap into the godly realm, and that is to be commended, but Gohan has made a massive error in thinking that alone would be enough to fight Lord Beerus. In the end, it boils down to a single deciding factor: experience. No matter what Gohan tries or plots, it will be born of a mortal's mindset. It may be done with godly ki, but if the "mind" behind it is still mortal... it will not even so much as faze Lord Beerus."
It was this statement, spoken in such solid terms, that shook the resolve of the entire group. Gohan was losing in every regard — strength, speed, endurance, and experience — and there really was nothing he could do. But even then, they couldn't completely give up. Erasa felt a firm hand on her shoulder, and looked to her side to see Gokū, grinning broadly.
"You don't think Gohan would give up just like that, do ya?" Gokū shook his head firmly. "The rest of the planet didn't see the end of the Cell Games, right? Gohan showed more determination than I've seen in anyone. Keep watching him. He's still got his fighting spirit."
"F-Father..." Erasa's eyes widened, realising that Gokū's boundless optimism was infectious. "You're right...he hasn't given up, has he? Gohan's giving it everything...so let's support him! Go, Gohan!"
Earth's Skies
The battle rose higher into the sky, Beerus pushing Gohan ever further to his limits. Each and every blow felt like an attempt to shatter his body; Gohan deflected each and every blow to the best of his ability, yet found his guard full of holes. Beerus' fists struck his chest, his stomach, his ribs, forcing the air out of his body time and time again. The surface of the planet became ever further away, and Gohan could finally see nothing that was actually constructed on the planet.
Beneath the two of them, the blue sphere that was Earth brightly left off its glow. It seemed so small, and insignificant, but that small little orb contained everything that Gohan held dear. It had seen threats to its existence time and time again, but each and every time, Gokū or Gohan had been there to defend it. And even now, against the odds of the Hakaishin itself, Gohan fought against fate. To avoid an incoming strike, Gohan tiled his head to the left; Beerus' fist brushed by him, slicing his cheek open due to the force.
The two deities cocked their fists back, thrusting them forward, crashing their fists together. Screams emitted from the contact of knuckle against knuckle of the two godly warriors. Like ripples of water propelled by erratic depth charges in space, shockwaves distorted the visual spectrum of all the observing parties as it pulsed across planets, moons, asteroids and the Sun alike. The farther these rivulets of cascading folds of spacial fabric went, the more monstrous they became. Flares of the Sun vanished, planetoids became grounded into dust and living organisms crumbled into sand as the surface of their worlds were vaporized under the pressure.
This was it. The dying scream of the Universe under the sheer pressure of a divine Saiyan and a Hakaishin.
Reeling back from the blows, the two spun backwards through space, forcibly coming to a stop by expelling ki from their entire bodies. Rebounding easily, Beerus and Gohan rushed forward. In that instance, Gohan's godly aura dissipated. The red burning vigor of the Super Saiyan God completely, his crimson hair and eyes returning to their normal onyx colouration. This sudden change took Beerus' aback, Gohan rushing forward and striking Beerus with a quick palm blow, followed by a sharp kick, striking the Hakaishin in the shoulder. The two crashed forward, their hands locking together in an attempt to throw back the other.
Gritting his teeth, Gohan felt ki well up within his core, a burst of yellow ki surrounding his body, sparks of ki snapping. His hair, free-flowing in its natural state, turned rigid, the ends flaring up as Gohan's power dyed it a brilliant golden white. His eyebrows flashed to match, the ebony of his eyes flashing with emerald hue. His muscles bulging, Gohan forced Beerus' arms downward, and flexed his fingers, lifting his hands forward. From the palms of his hands, invisible bundles of ki bombarding the deity.
Angrily, Beerus' erupted in an explosion of ki, disrupting the kiai bursts with his own detonating ki spheres. Weaving in an out of the spheres, Gohan brought himself in close, dashing directly into Beerus, using his body to strike. It lacked finesse but it accomplished Gohan's goal, throwing Beerus' off his balance. Purple and gold pushed against each other, assaulting the other party violently. Gohan's fist struck Beerus' face, Beerus' fist indented Gohan's chest, but he did not falter. Be it adrenaline or something else, Gohan was managing to keep up with Beerus. Bursting away from Beerus, Gohan ripped through the mesosphere, ricocheting around and striking Beerus from behind, striking him in the back.
The confusing and brief second exchange created by the loss of Gohan's outwardly appearance had finally worn off, and Beerus prepared for Gohan's incoming follow-up attack. While Gohan was rushing forward blindly, Beerus read through Gohan's movements and pulled him in by the wrist. Releasing him to the pull of the planet's gravity, Beerus' foot implanted itself firmly into Gohan's stomach, forcing a gasp and stumbling the Super Saiyan.
Gohan and Beerus' previous clash notwithstanding, the Hakaishin was remarkably unmarred. None of Gohan's fierce attacks had found purchase. The Hakaishin's yellow eyes narrowed bitterly. "I am finally certain after exchanging blows with you, Saiyan... Super Saiyan God no longer dwells inside you. What you are using now are the lingering dregs...the embers left after you passed it on. A feeble light that will go out without even being blown on."
A single glance at his body told Gohan that Beerus' statement held no falsehoods. Yet, this wasn't enough to shake his motivation. Beneath him was the Earth. Even if he was no longer a God, even if Beerus was worlds above him in strength...Gohan was the only thing standing between the Hakaishin and this planet. "Call it whatever you like...lingering dregs...dying embers. That's all meaningless now, Lord Beerus. I've staked my very life on this battle. I'm no longer a Super Saiyan God? So what?" Gohan moved his hands in a circular motion, resting them at his side in a familiar stance. "Ka...Me...Ha...Me..."
The disappointed look on Beerus' face was fixed, yet this did not travel to his eyes. Light reflected wanly in those eyes, and when he spoke, it was slowly. "I see...the weak embers that are going out without even being blown on are resisting, huh? They're desperately resisting to keep from going out until they fulfill their duty...how unsightly!" Between his palms, a burning light began to grow. The Hakaishin brought his arms above his head, expanding the small sphere into a massive orb — a miniature sun. With a shout, Beerus released the sphere towards Gohan...and the Earth.
Witnessing the incoming blast, Gohan, now bathed in a mixture of blue and orange light, let loose his technique with a final cry of "HA!" The Super Kamehameha erupted from both palms, truly gargantuan, even surpassing the size of the Masenkō he'd released on Earth. Blue and orange collided, their energies mixing in a violent struggle against each other. Within moments, however, Beerus' blast began to swallow the Super Kamehameha, and for Gohan, it was an uphill battle to even keep the sphere at pay, pouring all of his ki into his attack.
"You were a god, for even a moment, so I'm sure it still resonates with you," said Beerus, watching the struggle from on high. "Your friends and family are calling your name. Even amidst your struggle against life and death, with the fate of that insignificant little world hanging in the balance, they are telling you to fight! Praying for your victory! If this is how you wish to die, Saiyan...as the voice of the powerless! The weak! For those who wouldn't be able to breathe without you...then fight! Keep your head up...and breathe your last!"
Inevitably, the Super Kamehameha was devoured by Beerus' own attack, the sphere left with nothing to collide with but Gohan's palms. In a vain effort, he tried to fend it off, using brute force to keep the sphere away from the Earth. In the end, it merely slowed the descent, but Gohan knew this wouldn't last. Even now, the sphere was beginning to wreak havoc by its sheer presence; it burned red in the sky, making oceans churn, land crumble away, and massive, storm-like winds blew fiercely.
He's...overwhelming...! thought Gohan, realising for the second time the immensity of Beerus' strength. How truly wide the gap between them was. In his attempt to delay the inevitable, contact with this sphere of pure godly ki aroused a new sensation within Gohan's body. He could feel it. Burning brightly within his core. Not a fading ember. A blazing fire. The Super Saiyan God strength...is coming back? This...could be my chance...I just need to gather every bit of this strength I can muster! If that isn't enough, I'll draw everything out! He felt the familiar red fire ignite around his body for the second time, ripping through the sphere he was trying to fend off. The realisaton quickly hit Gohan; this burst of godly ki wasn't something Gohan could easily control; it was ephemeral at best, and would barely last a minute. I don't even need a minute! All I need is one second! Beerus' kikōha ruptured, but Gohan pushed forward, his fist slamming solidly into the Hakaishin's jaw.
Even with all of his strength, the blow stunned Beerus, and he was sent careening backwards through the mesosphere. And in that instant, Gohan's power gave out again; everything he'd had was put into that one punch, and the red fire of Super Saiyan God petered out. Gohan felt his body go weak, and black threatened to swallow his vision. Looking at Beerus, who had recovered with ease, he was surprised to see the god smiling. Then he knew nothing.
Tenkaichi Budōkai, Papaya Island
The battle had concluded. Erasa, Gokū, and the entire stadium gaped in horror, Gohan's defeat broadcast through Whis' hologram for them all to see. Landing onto the platform was Beerus, carrying an unconscious Gohan by the wrist. Gently, the Hakaishin placed him onto the stadium, and Erasa rushed towards her husband, cradling his unconscious form in her arms. Erasa shot a glare at Beerus, who merely looked bemused. Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Videl, Trunks, Goten, Piccolo, and Gokū all put up fighting stances at Beerus stretched his body out.
Whis dematerialised and rematerialised next to his deity, "Well then, Lord Beerus. It's time, isn't it?"
"Yes, as a Hakaishin, I must keep my word," Beerus agreed. The familiar purple aura began to waft around his body, and he raised his palm towards the surface of the planet. A pulsating purple orb formed in front of his hand, Beerus breathing deeply. The kikōha burst forward, ripping into the MatterWave arena, barreling towards the planet...before exploding on contact with the surface, barely making any damage. The deity looked curiously at his palm, before turning his gaze towards a shocked and surprised Dragon Team. Well isn't this a surprise? It would appear the lot of you have been pardoned."
Trunks blinked rapidly, being the first to speak. "I'm sorry...what?"
"It would appear my battle with your friend was worn down a large amount of my strength," replied Beerus casually. "Never fear, I'll be back in due time to send this world to oblivion...perhaps after I've sampled a few more of this planet's delicacies." Placing a hand on Whis' shoulder, the Hakaishin was ready to leave. "Let's go, Whis. I've been awake far too long already."
"As you wish, Lord Beerus," nodded the attendant. As golden light began to envelop the lot of them, the Hakaishin had some final parting words directed towards Erasa.
"When he awakens...tell the Saiyan that it was indeed a good battle."
In an instant, the duo were enveloped by the golden light, and a pillar rushed into the sky, both of them vanishing from sight. It was then, and only then, that everyone had one, single, collective thought.
We survived!
Clean-up after the debacle of Beerus, compared to enduring his presence, was almost a breeze. Despite the threat to their lives, the spectators — those of whom had remained conscious for Whis' broadcast anyway — had considered it to be the best thing they'd ever seen, and were more than happy to be denied reimbursement for the threat to their lives. The Dragon Team, meanwhile, had yet to vacate the premises. They'd made their way towards the stands, and were simply basking in the sensation of being able to breathe.
When Gohan had woken up, he was, naturally, surprised, to see that the entire planet was still intact. Erasa was quick to inform him that their survival was more than likely a gift from Beerus, who had complimented Gohan for his efforts during their battle. The Saiyan-half took the news better than he had taken his previous loss, but still found himself slumped against one of the seats, exhausted. The look on Pen's face, who had looked to be on the verge of crying when her father's unconscious body, blossomed into a vibrant flower of a smile when the man opened his eyes; even with his wounds, Gohan happily embraced his only child.
"I really did give it everything," Gohan admitted, only the faintest hit of dejection in his voice. "Even with everyone's strength, the most I could do was slow Lord Beerus down." Placing a hand on his daughter's head, he ruffled her spiked blonde hair. "If I want to keep you safe, I'm going to have to get stronger with my own power now, aren't I?"
"So Papa will become the strongest?" asked Pen brightly, her smile only widening at her father's affectionate gesture.
Not wanting to give the girl false reassurances, Gohan could only reply, "I'll become as strong as I can."
"That's neither correct nor fair, is it, Gohan?" asked Erasa, interjecting her husband's attempts to soothe their daughter's worries. "When I saw you fight with Lord Beerus...I couldn't help but feel like you'd gone somewhere I couldn't reach. I don't know where this new power will take you, but I'm going to walk that path with you. No matter how strong you become, I'm going to stand by your side." With a motherly gaze towards their only child, Erasa's bright blue eyes shone vibrantly. "Sweetie, Mama and Papa will become stronger together. However strong we can become...and we'll protect you so you don't have to see something like this again."
God is only a stepping stone... Gohan mulled these words over, the words Erasa had told him after his first loss to Lord Beerus. These would be the words, the ideology, that Gohan and Erasa founded their new personal training method on. He had tasted the realm of the gods in that battle with Lord Beerus...and now he would climb back up.
One hectic day was finally winding down, however, a big question that remained on the table. "Hey, Dad," Goten caught his father's attention quickly. "You've still got over twenty hours left, right? How are you going to spend it?" It was a question that made those of a more human mindset actually turn their heads towards Gokū; the man was back on Earth with a free pass he wasn't supposed to receive for another hundred or so years, with a family that very much wanted to see him.
"What am I gonna do?" Gokū repeated the question, scratching the back of his head. "My first thought, honestly, was having a go at Gohan. He's just become so strong, I really want us to have a good fight! But, I was talking with Chi-Chi...and I'm going to spend some time with her." The aforementioned woman of questionable widowed status — she was certainly in the most unique predicament as far as 'widows' went — slipped her arm into her husband's with a smile. "This really is the last time, after all...by the time I see any of you, you'll have passed on already."
His eldest son was beaming. "Alright then...you two have a good time...but Dad, before your time is up, can you spend some time with Pen as well? She's only had stories of her Grandpa Gokū before this."
Gokū's face broke out into his familiar grin, one that could absolve the fear in anyone's heart. "Of course!" He crouched down to face Pen at eye-level. "You just wait with your Papa an' Mama, OK? Grandpa Gokū will spend a whole bunch of time with you before I go!"
The young Saiyan nodded, her smile equaling Gokū's. "OK!"
Taking in a deep breath, Gokū shouted towards the heavens, "KINTO'UN!" His voice spread through the sky, and, as if answering the call of its first and oldest master, Kinto'un came rushing to the Tenkaichi Budōkai arena. It settled in front of Gokū, remaining absolutely still. "It's been awhile, hasn't it, old friend? Wanna take us for one last ride?" Kinto'un wasn't capable of speech, but the cloud and master existed on a wavelength other people couldn't understand, and Gokū understood it well. He stepped into the cloud, extending his arm to Chi-Chi, who took it gratefully, resting onto Kinto'un with her husband for the first time in years.
"You know...I can't help but see myself and your father when I look at you two," noted Gine, smiling. "I'm glad I was able to see this...Kakarrot, you've made your mother so proud."
For a moment, the Earth-raised Saiyan's eyes warmed and his smile shifted from a carefree one to a kind that showed a rare kindling of thoughtfulness. "Thanks...Mom. I don't know why but, I'm happy to hear you say that to me." It was a moment, a connection between mother and son renewed, that spurred Gokū's spirit on. "Go, Kinto'un!" The cloud bursting into the air, Gokū and Chi-Chi waved down to their family and friends, before turning the horizon.
"Where do you want Kinto'un to take us, Chi-Chi?"
"We can go anywhere."
Capsule Corporation, Basement Laboratory
As hard to swallow as some might find it to be, the Earth had escaped what seemed like an inevitable destruction yet again. The idea of a Hakaishin — an opponent that was a true and outright God — threatening their world was something that just seemed too far out there. Outside the context of their reality, even. Earth had its fair share of threats before, and each one had seemed like something beyond the reasonable human limit — Piccolo Daimaō, with his ability to wipe cities off the face of the map. His son, Majunior, who exceeded even Gokū at times. The brother of Gokū, Raditz, whose arrival was completely unforeseen, and had forced Gokū and Piccolo to team up for a battle in which they hardly came out of unscathed. The unstoppable Saiyans, Nappa and Vegeta, who had pushed the warriors of Earth to the brink, killing all but a few. The bio-threat Cell, who had cost Gokū his life in an attempt to defend the Earth. And lastly Majin Bū, who had taken Vegeta and Kuririn from them. — but Beerus was beyond even that.
Bulma mulled over these thoughts, seated in a dark room lit only by the light emanating from an eerie Capsule. Built into the ground, akin to a bed, and a relatively recent construction at that, the device resembled the storage capsules that the Red Ribbon Army had used to contain their mechanical menaces. The brilliant scientific mind of Bulma was spending an inordinate amount of time waxing melancholy over the state of her planet, the state of her family and the losses she'd sustained only a decade ago, in relation to the apocalypse they'd only so neatly avoided.
She stood up, walking over to the capsule, and pressed a button on the side. It opened with a violent hiss!, and the glow that had only shone from the glass now illuminated the entire room.
It's time.
The Universe, Nebula of God, Beerus' Planet
It had been centuries, millennia even, since the Hakaishin had felt as lively as he did now. Disembarking from Whis' back, he landed neatly onto the pale grass of his planet, feeling properly at home for the first time in quite a long time. This wasn't lost on his retainer, the latter of whom was smiling. "You slept well on your way back, my lord. I take it that the battle with the Super Saiyan God, Son Gohan, was satisfying?"
Making a lithe leap onto a rock formation, the Hakaishin sat down, glancing at the whole of his planet. "I wouldn't go as far as to call it that. But I haven't been able to stretch my muscles that well. He may be young, but that boy gave me quite a workout." Placing a clawed finger to his chin, the Hakaishin mused. "And yet, I still don't think I edged anywhere past half of my power. Still, to push me even that far...he's come closer than anyone else has, to the man that pushed me to my limit. If he gets a bit of training, the Oracle Fish may not have been too far off about becoming my arch rival."
Whis didn't bother to hide his surprise at this statement, and openly questioned it. "You're banking that much on him, are you Lord Beerus? Did you see it then as well?"
Beerus nodded. "During our last exchange...the fragment of the Super Saiyan God power I thought of as nothing but a dying ember...was reignited into a blazing inferno. He doesn't know it yet...but that power is his now. He's completely absorbed the godly ki of Super Saiyan God into himself. How he evolves from here is anyone's guess, but suffice to say he won't be like any Saiyan we've seen before."
"An interesting mortal indeed," agreed Whis. "I had no idea someone like him existed in the lower realms. Who knows, I might try and get him to take over as Hakaishin when you kick the bucket, Lord Beerus."
A bold statement from his attendant earned nothing but a sour look from Beerus. "H-Hey! Don't make me regret my mercy, Whis! I'll go right back to Earth and wipe it off the cosmic map!"
Nothing but laughter escaped the throat of the amused attendant, who seemed to get his kicks out of messing with the Hakaishin. For someone who appeared to be at the beck and call of a temperamental God, he was allowed to make far more jokes at his superior's expense than one would expect of a simple assistant. "I know you wouldn't, Lord Beerus. Not yet, anyway. Now, why don't we have a feast? I was able to obtain quite a few of the Earthling recipes! I'd love to try a dish called 'curry'!"
Large ears twitched, reacting quicker to the sound of an offered dish than Beerus had during his battle with Gohan on Earth. The Hakaishin grinned. "Curry, you say? That sounds absolutely delicious, Whis!"
To Beerus' delight, Whis had acquired more than a few recipes, and had laid out a platter of various specialty items from Earth. The afterglow of a fantastic battle with an up-and-coming deity, combined with an absolutely scrumptious feast containing what the Hakaishin now firmly believed to be the greatest food in all of this Universe, if not all of creation, had the Beerus feeling as if he was on top of the Universe. Taking in large mouthfuls of what he was informed is a dish called udon, the Hakaishin downed an alcoholic beverage he found pleasurable to the palate. He took a breath, and leaned backwards for a moment, allowing himself to savour the dishes' flavours in their entirety.
Reclining, relaxed as he was in one in one of his floating chairs, Beerus noticed as Whis walked back into the darkened dining room, wearing the most peculiar expression. Beerus, used to Whis' sardonic nature, was surprised, and put down his fork. "What's the matter, Whis?"
"Well, the strangest thing has happened, Lord Beerus," said the attendant, gesturing his staff towards the door. "We have a guest...and they're curious about the Super Saiyan God."
A/N: Yo! It's me, LastationLover5000! This chapter was a work in progress, but I can finally say that, as of now, the Advent of the Hakaishin Beerus arc has concluded! Let's review the arcs before I get into what I have to say:
"That Girl From Seven Years Ago" Arc — Chapters 1-14
"Tenka-Ichi Budōkai" Arc — Chapters 14-23
"Prince of Destruction" Arc — Chapters 24-37
"Majin Bū" Arc — Chapters 38-54
"Peaceful World" Mini-Arc — Chapters 55-57
"Advent of the Hakaishin" Arc — Chapters 58-83
This has been my longest arc yet, at twenty-five chapters of content — some of varying size, mind you — but the fact remains, as far as chapter count, I certainly exceeded myself. I hope you all enjoyed my forray into what could be considered the "second half" of my story, the "Erased Chronicles: Super" if we must split it. I've been at this for nearly five years, and I am very grateful that you all have allowed me to bring a story like this to you! To cover a few things but quickly, the first thing of note is Beerus' strength. While I'm sure it is obvious by this point, the Beerus in my story is stronger than either in Super or in the God and God film. It isn't that Gohan is weaker than Gokū — I assure you that isn't the case — but that my Beerus is simply that much stronger. Secondly, the references that can be seen from My Hero Academia are certainly intentional. It's a fantastic show and I can't help but say I was inspired in this moment, hence why I adjusted a few things to fit. As always, let's thank Demod20 for proofing as he has.
Now...this will be the final chapter of 2018, and I would like to wish you all two things — Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, I'm not a religious person, so the religious aspect of the holiday doesn't mean much to me. However, the feelings stirred within the human soul during this time of year — compassion, friendship, love, a desire to do good and see good done to others — are beautiful things in and of themselves, and to be honest, something we need to see more of in the world. It hit me earlier this wee how many people will be spending Christmas alone, or outside in the cold without a home, and not all of us can do anything to help. It crushes the spirit to see these sorts of things, especially for me, to know that I'll be enjoying time with my family while there are others who simply...can't.
To wit, this Christmas, appreciate everything. Your family, your friends, your life, your love, and the memories they make that you will cherish. Not everyone is so fortunate, and the tears this brings to me does nothing to make a situation better. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, or celebrate it earlier or later than today, take this with you. From me to you, from the depths of my soul to the depths of yours...have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and above all — do good.
See you in 2019.