Training, Training

"Very good. Since you've come to this realization, I think it's time you returned to the Nutrient Pod." After crushing the sphere in his hand, Ebony Maw slowly pointed in the direction of the sanctuary and announced that this test had officially ended.

"Starting tomorrow, you must be wary of everything in the sanctuary. Remember, everything—including me. Or your father, Thanos."

"No one will help you again. Everyone who appears before you will be your enemy. The Nutrient Pod will no longer be your safe haven. You must always be on guard against attacks that may come at any time. Because if you're careless, you will die."

Ebony Maw's final warning echoed in his ears. After removing his tattered Battle Suit and putting on a specially made respirator, Beckett immersed himself in the green Nutrient Fluid for the last time, enjoying the quiet time he would find difficult to enjoy over the coming year.

Vast life energy continuously flowed into Beckett's exhausted body, and his Saiyan cells rejoiced. As the most special infant on Planet Vegeta—the first infant in a thousand years who was not of royal blood yet possessed the potential of an elite warrior—Beckett's potential was beyond doubt.

Beckett's existence had also been an important reason why King Vegeta had once been willing to grit his teeth, take the risk, and secretly plot a rebellion in an attempt to overthrow his superior. Unfortunately, word had leaked through carelessness. Before the rebellion could even be set in motion, Frieza, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, wiped out everyone on Planet Vegeta.

It was precisely because Beckett was so special that, at only three months old, he had firmly remembered the Cosmic Emperor Frieza, whom his mother often anxiously murmured about.

After witnessing his mother's murder and Planet Vegeta's explosion with his own eyes, the seed of hatred had naturally been planted in little Beckett's extraordinary heart. After Thanos picked him up, it gradually took root and sprouted with the passage of time.

Especially since Thanos had been Beckett's guardian throughout his childhood.

"In the world of the strong, there is never a place for the weak."

Those were words Thanos had once spoken, and they had deeply resonated with Beckett as he grew. If Planet Vegeta had possessed someone strong enough to make Frieza wary, how could Frieza have destroyed his home?

A blazing fire burned in his young chest as chaotic thoughts filled his mind with visions of the future. Beckett's Saiyan nature meant that he not only felt no fear toward the unknown life that would begin tomorrow, but instead held an extraordinary sense of anticipation for the growth that awaited him.

When the Nutrient Pod informed Beckett that his body's energy had reached saturation, he finally removed the respirator and stepped out of the pod, dripping wet. His red tail swayed from side to side, while his fair, scarless skin was gradually covered by a pure black specially made Battle Suit. His unscarred body was one of the results of soaking in Nutrient Fluid for so many years.

"His Highness Beckett, under General Ebony Maw's orders, starting tomorrow, Gates will no longer provide you with information consultation, household management, or other services until your assessment period ends."

That night, after Beckett enjoyed Artificial Intelligence's service for the final time, the blue cat-like upright intelligent mechanical life-form that Thanos had created specifically for him left behind a declaration of strike and quietly departed on its two short little legs.

"Ebony Maw?"

Beckett raised an eyebrow in surprise. Ebony Maw actually had permission to access Gates's backend. That was something Beckett had not expected. Still, did that mean Gates might also become one of his enemies starting tomorrow?

Licking his lips, little Beckett made sure all his supplies were prepared before returning to his room and drifting into sweet dreams.

Early the next morning, when Beckett awoke, his vigilance instinctively rose to its highest level. Yet he discovered nothing unusual within the sanctuary. Everything was exactly as it had always been.

When he arrived at the dining room, intending to make his own breakfast, Beckett unexpectedly found Gates there—the robot cat that was about the same height as him.

"Gates?"

"Good morning, His Highness Beckett."

With a pink apron tied around its waist, the little robot turned its round body. Upon hearing Beckett's greeting, it raised a hand to greet him as usual, while the bell tied around its neck jingled with its movements.

"Didn't you say yesterday that you wouldn't provide me with any more services during my assessment period, Gates?"

"..."

The cheerful atmosphere Gates had brought to the dining room instantly vanished without a trace. Gates stared wide-eyed at Beckett, who regarded it with puzzled wariness. Three seconds later, the sky-blue Tanuki Robot disappeared from Beckett's sight before it even had time to untie the pink apron around its waist, still carrying a plate.

"So Ebony Maw hadn't altered Gates's authority. He had merely given a verbal order?" Little Beckett glanced at the food on the table, his expression suddenly turning dazed.

Power erupted from his body as he used Superman's perception to evade the attacker's strike. The dining room's illusion silently shattered beneath that overwhelming force.

"I told you yesterday that every living being appearing in the sanctuary would be your enemy."

Ebony Maw's voice sounded along with the shattering illusion. Beckett did not see Ebony Maw, but he did see a hulking brute wielding a massive axe—Cull Obsidian, Ebony Maw's strength-focused partner.

"Your hesitation, your confusion, even your indecision, could cost you your life."

"Want to taste this axe, Beckett?"

Ebony Maw's unseen voice echoed as Cull Obsidian weighed the massive axe in his hand. Facing two of Thanos's strongest four generals, Beckett crouched low, his eyes gleaming with an excited smile. Power burst forth, and in the next instant, his small figure had already appeared before Cull Obsidian. A powerful whipping kick swept directly toward the brute's face.

"Too weak, Beckett." With no intention of dodging, Cull Obsidian took Beckett's whipping kick squarely in the face, grabbed the boy's lower leg, and hurled him forward with force, throwing him out of the sanctuary like a weapon.

"Far too slow."

"Is this your limit?"

"If this is all you can do, then you will die."

Cull Obsidian pulled the massive axe embedded in the ground free, then leaped into the air. His enormous body followed Beckett's trajectory, and the gleaming axe blade split a bottomless fissure through the ground.

If Ebony Maw's fighting style leaned toward bizarre magical attacks, then Cull Obsidian was purely about a direct contest of strength.

"You're still far from being able to kill me."

Beckett answered Cull Obsidian with an energy blast descending from the sky. A milky-white pillar of energy washed over Cull Obsidian's massive body, officially marking the beginning of Beckett's year-long training.

Starting today, there can be two updates a day~ The second update will probably, maybe, possibly be around eleven or twelve at night~ Please forgive the slow writing speed~

Thanks to "Gone With the Wind INI" for the recommendation-ticket red packet for this book~ I took a look, and it seems no one grabbed it lol