Vegeta was eliminated, something no one had expected, though they felt a little sorry for him.
It was already over before it had even begun. That was pretty awkward!
"Hey, Vegeta! You're way too impatient! How are we supposed to do this?" Goku complained.
Vegeta's expression darkened. He snorted, "Hmph! So what? It's just a written exam. I'm not interested!"
With that, he rose into the air and flew straight over to the others in the audience.
Of course, Bulma gave him an earful. Faced with this woman, who could even slap a God of Destruction, Vegeta was completely cowed. For all his pride, he didn't dare so much as let out a peep!
"Now, the written exam begins!" Vados suddenly announced.
At once, everyone began answering the questions.
Luya glanced at the serious expressions on everyone's faces and couldn't help finding it funny. What the hell, they call this culture? This is hilarious! Anyone who'd had nine years of compulsory education could get a perfect score!
He shook his head and said nothing. Though his arrival had changed the story from the original, things hadn't really turned out all that differently!
Luya quickly filled out one whole sheet of paper, adding some of his own insights as well.
Before long, time was up.
After collecting the contestants' answers, Vados carefully checked them.
Then her gaze settled on one page. She held it up and announced, "I declare Universe 7 the winner of this written exam!"
Fair and impartial!
"Pfft! Wh-what?! How is that possible?!" Champa, who had still been looking smug a moment ago, suddenly turned pale. He rushed over to Vados and protested, "Hey, Vados! Are you kidding me?! How could Universe 6 possibly lose? Universe 7's cultural level is so low—how could they beat Universe 6? Are you joking? Are you a spy sent by the other side?"
"Uh... Lord Champa, I..." Vados broke out in a cold sweat. Damn, she'd only announced the result of the match. How had she offended this God of Destruction?
Waaah! Poor me, my heart is breaking!
"Hey! You're just refusing to accept the result, aren't you? How is my Universe 7 weaker than your Universe 6?" Beerus suddenly appeared in front of Vados and took the sheet of paper. His eyes widened as he looked it over. "Oh, oh! You can do it like this..."
"Oh?" Champa was taken aback. Beerus's reaction made him forget his anger for the moment. He leaned in for a look, and his expression turned just as interesting.
"Whose answer is this?" Champa asked.
Luya raised his hand. "Mine!"
Champa looked at Luya, sizing him up with his big and little eyes, puzzled. When he noticed Luya's tail, he froze. "You're a Saiyan?"
Luya nodded. "That's right!"
A trace of surprise showed in Champa's eyes. What's going on? Have Saiyans become so cultured these days? Aren't Saiyans supposed to be a bunch of savage warriors who only know how to fight?
"Good! Very good! As expected of a Saiyan from my Universe 7! Hahaha!" Beerus showered him with praise, completely forgetting how he'd threatened Luya earlier. As far as Beerus was concerned, as long as Luya made him look good, nothing else mattered!
Champa gritted his teeth, then could only give in. "Hmph! Fine, then. Universe 7 wins!"
As he spoke, he discreetly put the answer sheet away.
Beerus looked smug.
Goku and the others cheered excitedly, praising Luya enthusiastically once more!
"The second round will be a battle between the contestants from both sides. This round will use a continuous-battle format. Whoever defeats their opponent may proceed to fight the next opponent, continuing until one side wins the match!" the referee explained.
"There's one more thing: the first contestant in this match will be decided by drawing lots."
After speaking, the referee somehow produced two bamboo tubes, each containing five bamboo slips.
Luya raised an eyebrow, then felt a little conflicted. That wasn't how he remembered things going, but it made sense. He figured his arrival had changed the original course of events.
"Contestants, come draw lots. Whoever draws number one will be the first to compete!" the referee called.
Goku and the others began drawing lots.
"Oh, oh, oh! Great! I'm first!" Goku exclaimed, delighted.
"Tch!" Vegeta glanced at Goku, then at the blank bamboo slip in his own hand, gritting his teeth.
He'd wanted to go first, too! He couldn't believe Kakarot had gotten so lucky!
The first contestant from Universe 6 was Golden Bear.
The two teams faced each other from opposite sides.
In the ring, Goku and Golden Bear stood barely ten meters apart, staring intently at one another.
"Since Goku's going first, who's going second?" Beerus asked casually.
Vegeta was about to speak when Luya quickly cut in, "I'll do it!"
Everyone turned to look at Luya. He smiled faintly. "Let me take the second match."
"No! I'm taking the second match!" Vegeta said, his expression dark.
Luya looked at Vegeta.
Vegeta's expression was sour. "If Kakarot's first, then I have to be second!"
Luya's expression turned a little strange. A phrase suddenly came to mind: the perennial runner-up...
"What? You got a problem with that?" Vegeta crossed his arms and looked at Luya.
Luya really wanted to teach him a lesson, but he couldn't do that right now. Anyway, Vegeta would lose to Hit, so he might as well let him have his turn.
So Luya nodded. "If you want to go, then go ahead."
Vegeta was satisfied.
Beerus glanced at Luya and said nothing. "Then Vegeta will go second, Luya third, Buu fourth, and Monaka... last!"
"Lord Beerus, I'm afraid Buu can't compete. He fell asleep during the written exam!" Goku suddenly raised his hand.
"What?!" Beerus choked and quickly turned to look.
Would you look at that? Buu really had fallen asleep, snoring like a pig!
"Damn it!" Beerus gritted his teeth. Since the contestants' roster couldn't be changed once it was set, Buu had basically been eliminated by default!
"Wake him up!"
Goku said awkwardly, "Once Buu falls asleep, ordinary people can't wake him up, you know!"
Everyone fell silent...
At that moment, Monaka sat upright like an elementary school student, watching what was happening in the ring with a timid expression.
"By the way, are those the Saiyans from Universe 6? Why... do they look so thin and weak?" Krillin asked curiously.
As soon as he said that, everyone looked over at the Saiyans from Universe 6.
It had to be said, it was true. The Saiyans from Universe 7 were all muscular, while those from Universe 6 were different. They looked thin and frail, with no apparent strength.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes slightly, then said calmly, "Their energy isn't weak. In fact, it's even stronger than yours. So don't underestimate the Saiyans!"
At that, Krillin and the others sheepishly shut their mouths. Sure enough, being around Vegeta was like standing at the mouth of a volcano!
As if remembering something, Vegeta looked at Luya. "Hey! You've been training with Kakarot for so long. Have you still not managed to transform into Super Saiyan Blue?"
Luya shook his head. "Not yet."
P.S. Don't ask me why Supreme Kai hasn't appeared. I'm not going to focus on him. The important thing is the fighting!