The God of Destruction's Astonishment

He understood now. The other man's power was not simply growing stronger—it was copying, adapting.

Every blast of "destruction" he endured became fuel for evolution, as though battle itself were the soil in which he grew.

Broly rolled his neck, his vertebrae cracking sharply twice.

He clenched his fists and could feel his blood roaring like a torrent through newly reforged vessels. Waves of power surged through his body one after another, with no sign of stopping.

Every heavy blow his body took, even when he was nearing his limit, brought a silent, drastic transformation—his muscles grew denser, his energy circulated faster, and his battle instincts became ever sharper.

This was the most terrifying aspect of the Legendary Super Saiyan bloodline.

It was not how strong it was at the start, but its near-endless rate of growth—its constant evolution in battle—that inspired true fear.

He raised his head and looked at Beerus, his emerald eyes locking tightly onto him, calm yet blazing fighting spirit burning within them.

"Continue."

Broly's voice was as steady as iron, cutting through the planet's rumbling with startling clarity.

Beerus froze for a moment.

Then he revealed a genuinely delighted smile. His previous lazy air vanished completely, and his whole body became like a blade drawn from its sheath.

"Good!"

Beerus raised his voice, sounding utterly exhilarated. "Then we'll continue—until you can no longer stand!"

The moment he finished speaking, his figure vanished.

There was no afterimage, not the slightest sound, as if he had merged with space itself.

But this time, Broly's eyes flashed! He caught it—not a clear image, but a vague, almost invisible trajectory rushing toward him at unimaginable speed!

This was not a reaction born from conscious thought, but an instinct forged through countless brushes with death! His body moved faster than his mind, violently twisting to the right!

Rip!

Beerus's fist, wreathed in purple destruction energy, skimmed past Broly's cheek.

The mere force of the punch carved a bloody gash across his bronze skin and tore a strange black rift through the air between them, so fast it was terrifying.

"Oh?"

For the first time, genuine surprise appeared in Beerus's eyes.

He could actually keep up?

Broly gave him no chance to catch his breath.

Even as he evaded, the power of his entire body erupted at once—the recoil from beneath his feet, the twist of his waist, the savage thrust of his shoulder and arm, all wound together into a violent torrent!

His right fist rose from below, trailing green aura like a tiny green star, and slammed viciously into Beerus's slightly raised chin!

Bang—!!!

The dull, thunderous impact sounded like two small planets colliding.

A shockwave exploded outward, sweeping all the lava and boulders from the bottom of the crater clean.

That punch had landed squarely.

The instant fist met chin, a drumlike boom rang out. The air was compressed into visible ripples that spread outward in rings.

Beerus's head snapped back under the force, his neck bending into an unbelievable arc.

The rocky layer beneath his feet cracked sharply, fractures spreading like a spiderweb.

He took two involuntary steps backward.

Each step was as heavy as an earthquake, dust rising from the cracks.

On the surface of that dead-silent planet, those two steps seemed to stretch on forever.

The air had frozen solid. Only distant rubble continued to roll, its faint clattering making the battlefield feel even more empty and silent.

The God of Destruction had been forced back.

Only two steps, and Beerus had not assumed a defensive stance from beginning to end. He had even remained somewhat nonchalant—but those two steps meant that, in this seemingly one-sided battle, Broly had for the first time truly made contact with the body of this supreme deity.

Beerus slowly lowered his head.

He raised his white-gloved hand and lightly touched the chin that had just been struck, moving with a slowness that was almost strange.

He could feel a faint tingling numbness, barely enough to count as pain.

Yet that nearly meaningless sensation was like a pebble shattering the layer of laziness and arrogance on his face.

Surprise rippled through him.

But it was swiftly replaced by another emotion, hotter and purer—the excitement of discovering a new toy, the wild joy of finally encountering an opponent who could let him enjoy himself after such a long slumber.

The corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably. His smile widened, becoming increasingly dangerous as sharp fangs gleamed coldly beneath the dim sky.

"You hit me."

His voice no longer carried the detached calm from before. It held a trace of disbelief, along with excitement and laughter he could not suppress. "You actually... really hit me."

Not far away, Broly was down on one knee, supporting his nearly collapsing body with one fist as he gasped for breath.

Every breath tugged at the countless wounds covering his body, the pain making his vision go black.

Blood mixed with sweat dripped from his green hair, sharply defined cheeks, and muscular body, spreading into a dark crimson stain across the rock beneath him.

His combat suit had long since been torn to rags, and his skin was covered in burns and gashes.

Yet compared to those injuries, what was more shocking was the look in his eyes.

There was not a trace of retreat in them, not a shred of fear—only blazing fighting spirit, fiercer and more unyielding than the dim star hanging overhead.

He raised his head. His bloodstained lips parted slightly as he uttered two words:

"Come again."