"That... um..." Toppo tried desperately to catch Jiren's eye.
Jiren ignored him.
"Jiren, I called you here because I want you to spar with this Apprentice God of Destruction from Universe 10, Vegeta," Belmod said, hurrying over to him.
As he spoke, Belmod pointed at Vegeta.
Jiren calmly turned his gaze to Vegeta.
A brief silence followed.
"Not interested." Jiren shook his head and flatly refused.
Belmod: "..."
Belmod immediately felt awful.
Did this guy Jiren not even care about sparing me the embarrassment?
"Defeat him, and name whatever reward you want," Belmod said in a lowered voice.
"You know my greatest wish is to bring my master, Gicchin, back to life," Jiren replied.
"Fine. As long as you defeat him, I'll find a way to revive your master," Belmod said thoughtfully.
"What way?" Jiren asked.
Belmod: "..."
"Don't make this difficult for me, all right? I'll find a way. Leave it to me," Belmod promised.
"If I defeat him, you'll find a way to bring my master back to life?" Jiren asked again.
"That's right." Belmod nodded solemnly.
"All right. I believe you." Jiren drew a deep breath and agreed.
Since Lord Belmod was willing to help bring his master back to life,
then the chances should be much better.
I'll help him win this match.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Just then, Kusu and Marcarita appeared on the scene in a flash.
Marcarita had just contacted Jiren through her Scepter.
That was why Jiren had hurried over from afar.
"Oh my, oh my... Looks like the competition's going to continue," Kusu said with a smile.
"Lord Belmod, how many more years are you planning to compete?" Marcarita asked with a smile.
"Hmph. Another thousand years. If Jiren loses this time, I'll work for Rumsshi for a thousand years!" Belmod snorted.
"And if he wins?" Marcarita asked.
"If he wins, I'll call off the hundred years from before." Belmod ground out the words through clenched teeth.
Marcarita: "..."
"So no matter whether Lord Belmod wins or loses, he doesn't come out ahead..." Marcarita sighed helplessly.
Belmod felt a pang in his heart.
Marcarita, could you please not be so blunt?
Honestly...
It seemed like I wouldn't benefit at all, even if I won.
"Lord Belmod, actually, if Mr. Jiren wins, you could try a different kind of competition," Marcarita whispered in Belmod's ear.
"Oh? Like what?" Belmod's eyes lit up.
"For example, I've heard that the Supreme Kai of Universe 10 has a disciple," Marcarita said with a smile. "You could have the Supreme Kais' disciples compete against each other."
"But... the Supreme Kai of Universe 11 is still in his prime. He hasn't taken on any disciples yet," Belmod said, shaking his head.
"It's not too late to take one now," Marcarita said with a smile. "For example, Mr. Dyspo down there would make a fine disciple."
Belmod's eyes shone.
That was a good idea.
I'll have that guy, Kai, the Supreme Kai, take Dyspo as his disciple, and then have Dyspo fight the Supreme Kai of Universe 10's disciple.
That might let me win back what I lost.
Never mind. I can't worry about all that right now.
First, I need Jiren to win this match as soon as possible.
"You two... you may begin," Belmod said with a smile.
With Jiren fighting, that little brat Vegeta wouldn't be able to make waves.
"Go, Jiren!" Toppo cheered him on.
Jiren gave Toppo a long look.
That little guy had actually beaten Toppo.
That was quite impressive.
But compared to me, he still had a long way to go.
"We can start now. Come on," Jiren called to Vegeta.
Vegeta still had his hands in his pockets and showed no sign of taking them out.
"Begin!" Belmod shouted.
Rumsshi drew a deep breath.
A new round of fighting was about to begin.
I wonder if Vegeta can win me a thousand years.
"Let me try this move." As Vegeta spoke, his tail twitched slightly, its tip aimed at Jiren from a distance.
Jiren looked at Vegeta expressionlessly.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The next moment, streaks of light shot from Vegeta's tail.
They roared toward Jiren.
As the fiery red streaks sped toward him, Jiren gave a cold snort and slapped each one away, sending them flying in every direction.
Jiren easily dispersed the beams Vegeta had fired.
"Whoosh!"
Vegeta blurred and vanished from where he stood.
In an instant, he appeared behind Jiren.
"Thud!"
Vegeta sprang up and kicked toward the center of Jiren's back.
Jiren seemed to have sensed it coming. He calmly raised his right hand and leaned slightly, blocking Vegeta's kick.
"Smack!"
Jiren reached forward and grabbed Vegeta's ankle.
Then he swung Vegeta around by the ankle.
Once!
Twice!
Three times!
"Smack!"
Jiren had barely completed three spins when he suddenly felt his grip loosen, as if something had flown away.
Jiren froze for a moment, then looked closely—and his eyes widened.
To his shock, all he had left in his grasp was a leg.
Vegeta's body was gone.
What was going on?
"Thud!"
Vegeta dropped rapidly from above and kicked at the crown of Jiren's head with one foot.
Jiren reacted just as quickly. Sensing the attack from above, he raised his arm and blocked Vegeta's kick.
"Thud!"
Jiren immediately swung his other hand around and slapped Vegeta, sending him flying backward.
"Smack!"
As he flew backward, Vegeta used regeneration to grow back his severed leg.
Jiren frowned slightly.
"Oh my, what kind of bizarre fighting style is that?" Marcarita exclaimed.
Kusu covered her forehead, looking utterly helpless.
"This fighting style may look unusual, but it's completely useless," Belmod snorted from the sidelines.
Rumsshi said nothing.
He had also realized that this guy, Jiren, was no pushover.
Vegeta had been fighting him for several minutes and hadn't gained the upper hand once.
Also, Vegeta, hurry up and take your hands out of your pockets.
You're still keeping both hands in your pockets after all that!
"Not bad. You're even stronger than I expected," Jiren said with a smile, looking at Vegeta.
"I think so too," Vegeta replied with a smile.
"Now you can take your hands out, right?" Jiren said with a faint smile.