The Unfathomable Candidate God of Destruction

Champa suddenly sounded as if someone had stepped on his tail, his voice shooting up at once.

He abruptly turned his bulky body sideways, as though displaying some precious treasure, fully revealing Qi Heng, who had been standing diagonally behind him all along.

He waved his thick, stubby arm, his voice brimming with pride and confidence. "Open your eyes and look carefully! This is Universe 6's candidate God of Destruction—Qi Heng!"

Beerus's lazy, faintly mocking gaze naturally fell upon Qi Heng as Champa moved.

At that moment, the fingers resting on Beerus's knee stopped moving.

His golden slit pupils, always half-lidded and seemingly uninterested in anything, narrowed slightly.

What entered his eyes was not the typical warrior, not even one in Super Saiyan form.

Instead, it was merely a black-haired young man who looked extraordinarily calm.

He stood straight, yet not at all tense. There was neither the habitual vigilance of a fighter nor the aura of energy poised to erupt.

Yet Beerus was still caught by an indescribable feeling.

What he sensed... was unfathomable depth.

It was not the kind of unfathomability Whis possessed, where immense divine power was perfectly concealed beneath a gentle exterior, nor was it the obscure feeling of someone deliberately hiding their strength.

It was more natural, more vast—like standing before a boundless ocean, tranquil and windless, unable to fathom the sheer scale and depths hidden beneath its surface. Its stillness itself carried a weighty pressure.

For the first time, Beerus's usual lazy, arrogant expression visibly shifted.

A flash of surprise and curiosity swiftly passed through his eyes.

"Oh?"

Before that soft exclamation had even faded—

"Oh my? A Saiyan?"

Another clear, pleasant voice, carrying a distinctive rhythm, suddenly pierced the frozen air within the temple.

The instant the voice sounded, even the light in the temple seemed to become softer and more lively.

At some point, a tall, slender figure had quietly appeared just behind and to the side of Beerus's stone platform.

It was as though he had always been there, only becoming visible now.

His short silver-white hair was impeccably groomed, his features handsome and gentle, and an eternally faint smile rested on his lips.

He wore the standard attire of an Angel—a fitted black underlayer beneath a pristine white, wide-sleeved robe, the contrast striking.

A massive sky-blue halo hung around his neck, softer and more mysterious than a God of Destruction's.

In his hand, he held a staff similar to Vados's, its tip set with a magical crystal that lightly touched the floor.

Whis, the guiding Angel of Universe 7, Beerus's mentor and overseer.

His azure eyes rested on Qi Heng. His smile was gentle, but deep within his gaze flashed a probing light, like the scan of a precision instrument.

"How interesting."

Whis tilted his head slightly, the gesture elegant and natural.

He examined Qi Heng from head to toe, not as though looking at a powerful warrior, but rather as though admiring a rare cosmic marvel that had suddenly appeared and overturned every known law.

"As far as I know, the Saiyan civilization of Universe 7 became history long ago. I never expected Universe 6 to be hiding someone so... special. And—" He paused deliberately, his smile deepening into a meaningful curve, as if he had glimpsed some secret. His voice was soft, yet everyone in the temple heard it clearly.

"This 'sense of presence' is far more than what a Saiyan should possess."

The air seemed to freeze, every speck of dust suspended motionless beneath the pressure.

Whis stood nearby, the crystal orb atop his staff glowing faintly and reflecting his thoughtful expression.

He turned to Champa, curiosity gleaming in his purple eyes. "Lord Champa, just where did you find this dust-covered gem?"

"He wasn't hidden—I discovered him!"

Champa immediately puffed out his round belly and jabbed forcefully with a stubby finger, making the gems on his divine robe jingle.

"This kid was originally from Universe 7. I—"

"You stole him."

Beerus interrupted coldly, his voice like an icy blade scraping across metal.

He still reclined against his throne, one hand supporting his chin. His purple cat ears twitched faintly in the shifting light and shadow, while Qi Heng's figure reflected in his slit pupils.

"What do you mean, stole him?!"

Champa retorted indignantly. His plump face flushed red with agitation, and veins faintly throbbed at his temples.

"I recognized talent! You slept for decades in Universe 7 without taking care of anything, leaving such an unpolished gem buried in the dust, and now you won't let someone else recognize its worth?"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, spittle flying through the beams of light.

"Do you know how much effort I put into training him in Universe 6?"

"Talent?"

Beerus slowly rose to his feet.

That simple movement made the light throughout the temple dim by several shades.

He rose slowly, with the languid grace unique to felines. His slender purple body cast a twisted shadow across the floor.

When his feet touched the ground, a visible ring of purple ripples spread soundlessly across the floor.

He began walking toward Qi Heng.

His pace remained slow, every step casual. His bare feet stepped on the temple floor, smooth as a mirror, yet made no sound at all.

But the closer he came, the pressure in the air increased geometrically.

This was not an aura deliberately released, but something that naturally seeped from the essence of a God of Destruction—just as a star could not hide its radiance, nor the deep sea conceal its weight.

The pressure came like tangible tides, wave after wave.

The temple walls trembled faintly, and fine cracks surfaced across the floating stone pillars.

A faint scent drifted through the air, like ionized ozone.

This pressure was enough to stop an ordinary mortal's heart outright, to make even Super Saiyan-level warriors' knees go weak and instinctively kneel—an absolute suppression on the level of life itself, the insignificance and despair of an ant facing the heavens.

But Qi Heng did not move at all.

He stood where he was, his posture even relaxed, his hands hanging naturally at his sides. His black combat suit fluttered gently in the invisible currents.

When Beerus's pressure crashed down like a tsunami, a thin layer of golden radiance silently emerged around Qi Heng—not like an explosive aura, but more like light flowing beneath his skin.

His golden eyes calmly watched the God of Destruction approach step by step, without the slightest emotional ripple.

No fear, no tension, not even the excitement or fighting spirit a warrior ought to feel when facing a powerful foe.

There was only an unfathomable indifference, as still as an ancient well.

Beerus stopped before him.

The two were about the same height, but standing face-to-face, their presences were worlds apart.

Beerus lowered his head slightly, looking Qi Heng over from above.

The temple's daylight slanted down, drawing a band of light and shadow between them as dust danced wildly through the beam.

A flicker of genuine surprise passed through Beerus's eyes—this was not the contempt a God of Destruction showed toward a mortal, but more like the astonishment of an artist discovering an uncut gem that defied all reason.

"Interesting."

A cryptic smile curved Beerus's lips, mixed with curiosity, probing intent, and a nearly imperceptible... excitement.

He raised his right hand, as casually as if brushing away a fly.

His slender fingers flicked lightly through the air—his nails struck together with a crisp tap.