[Reborn as Son Goten] Chapter 221 - 225

Chapter 221: The Power of the Great Goddess

"That’s true!" Goten said with a grin. "Champa, I still need to visit other universes. I’ll leave this task to you."

"Ok!" Champa replied with a reluctant nod.

"Whis, let’s move on to the next universe," Goten said.

"Understood, Lord Goten," Whis replied, tapping his staff on the ground. A vibrant beam of colorful light enveloped them, whisking the pair away from the Realm of the God of Destruction.

Universe 4, Realm of the Destroyer

At that moment, Quitela, the God of Destruction of Universe 4, was lying leisurely on the grass, staring up at the sky. Suddenly, two figures descended from above, landing softly on the ground.

The newcomers were Goten and Whis.

"Goten!" Quitela exclaimed, leaping to his feet.

Nearby, Cornic, the angel of Universe 4, approached and greeted Goten with a polite bow. "Lord Goten!"

Goten nodded in acknowledgment before turning his gaze to Quitela.

Quitela gritted his teeth and muttered, "Lord Goten."

Goten smirked, satisfied.

"Lord Goten, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?" Cornic inquired.

"I’m here to discuss the upcoming war and preparations for Universe 4," Goten replied.

"War?" Quitela asked, his expression skeptical.

Goten patiently explained the same details he had shared with Champa in Universe 6. Initially resistant, Quitela eventually relented after Goten’s persuasive arguments, agreeing to disseminate the news of the impending war throughout his universe.

With Universe 4 informed, Goten and Whis departed to continue their tour of the other universes.

Universe Zero – The Experimental Universe

Unlike the other universes, Universe Zero was a smaller, experimental realm. On one of its planets stood a grand crystal palace, glimmering under a pale, otherworldly sky.

Inside the palace, the Great Goddess sat regally on a white stone throne, her flowing blue robes shimmering softly. She stared into a crystal ball embedded in her staff, observing an image of Goten.

Her serene face betrayed a hint of concern. The Grand Priest and his forces didn’t worry her—but Goten, a mortal elevated to godhood, was an anomaly she couldn’t ignore.

As she pondered his unexpected rise, Towa, Mira, Xicor, Lila, and Tarble entered the palace, their footsteps echoing softly on the crystal floor.

"Great Mother Goddess," Towa and Mira said in unison, bowing deeply.

The Great Goddess acknowledged them with a nod. "Who are these two?" she asked, her voice calm but commanding.

Towa gestured toward Xicor and Tarble. "This is Xicor, the son of Goku, and Tarble, Vegeta’s younger brother. Both are Saiyans with extraordinary potential."

"Oh?" the Great Goddess murmured, her interest piqued.

Towa continued, "These two are already quite powerful. With your guidance, they could become formidable assets in the fight against Goku and the others."

The Great Goddess stood gracefully, her movements fluid and deliberate. She approached Xicor and Tarble, her sharp eyes appraising them.

"In that case, transform into your strongest forms and show me your power," she commanded.

"Transform?" Tarble asked.

"Yes," the Great Goddess replied with a nod.

"Understood!" Tarble clenched his fists, and an incredible surge of Ki radiated from his body, shaking the palace to its core.

"Ahhhhh!!!" With a thunderous roar, Tarble transformed into Super Saiyan 5.

The Great Goddess turned her gaze to Xicor. "And you?"

Without hesitation, Xicor channeled his energy. His Ki erupted like a storm, golden hair standing upright as his pupils turned a piercing green.

The Great Goddess smiled faintly. "Now, attack me with all your strength."

"Ahhh!!!" Both warriors roared and charged, their fists aimed at her with immense force.

In a blur of motion, the Great Goddess effortlessly sidestepped their attacks, her figure a flash of light. Before they could react, she appeared behind them and struck, sending both sprawling to the ground.

The entire battle lasted mere seconds.

Towa and the others stood stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. Had the Great Goddess been serious, Xicor and Tarble wouldn’t have survived even her first move.

"The Great... The Great Goddess!" Towa stammered.

The Great Goddess turned to them, her expression composed. "They have potential. With training in another dimension, they could reach the level of quasi-angels."

"Quasi-angels?" Mira repeated, astonished.

The Great Goddess nodded. Her gaze returned to Xicor. "What is this younger Saiyan’s name?"

"Your Highness, his name is Xicor," Lila replied.

"Xicor," the Great Goddess mused, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "His father is Goku, correct?"

"Yes," Lila confirmed.

"And you?"

"I am his mother," Lila said.

The Great Goddess nodded. "Very well. You will remain here and wait for Galion and the others to return. I will assign a master to train them both."

"Yes, Great Mother Goddess," Lila said with a bow.

Universe 7, Realm of the Destroyer

Back in Universe 7, Goku, Vegeta, and the others were continuing their rigorous training under Whis’s guidance.

"One thousand and one… one thousand and two…" Goku grunted as he performed one-finger push-ups, sweat dripping from his brow.

Suddenly, two figures descended from the sky: Goten and Whis.

"Goten! Whis!" Goku called out, springing to his feet.

"Lord Goten," Merus greeted with a respectful bow.

Goten nodded. "Merus, I need to discuss something with you."

"Discuss something?" Merus asked curiously.

"Yes," Goten said. "Whis has been training my father and the others for a long time. Since you’re now following me, I think it would make sense for you to assist Whis by alternating between tasks. That way, Whis can continue training them while you manage other duties with me."

Merus hesitated, glancing at Whis for confirmation.

"It’s a reasonable arrangement," Whis said calmly. "Think of it as a shift rotation, similar to mortal work schedules."

Merus nodded. "Very well, Lord Goten. I’ll follow your instructions."

"Good," Goten said. "For now, Whis can stay here while you accompany me back to Earth."

"Understood," Merus replied, stepping to Goten’s side.

"Are you leaving already?" Goku asked, looking at Goten.

"Yes, Dad," Goten said. "Keep up the training!"

"Will do!" Goku said with a confident grin.

Merus turned to Goku, Vegeta, and Whis. "I’ll be leaving for now. Take care, everyone."

With that, Goten and Merus ascended into the sky, heading back toward Earth.

Chapter 222: The Best in the World Should Be Worthy of the Best in the World

Earth

When Goten and Merus arrived, Trunks was waiting for them. Noticing Merus, he immediately asked, "Goten, where’s Whis? Didn’t you say he’s following you now?"

"I told Whis to stay with Lord Beerus," Goten replied casually.

"Why?" Trunks asked, tilting his head.

"Whis is Dad and the others’ teacher," Goten explained. "I want him to continue training them. Besides, when he’s with me, all he does is take me places!"

Trunks nodded in understanding.

"Trunks, do you want to train on Lord Beerus’s planet too?" Goten asked.

"Well..." Trunks hesitated. "I think I’d better not. Mom’s already annoyed that Dad’s gone there. If I go too, there won’t be anyone to take care of her and Bulla!"

Goten smiled and said, "Fair enough. Then let’s train together!"

"The two of us? Won’t I just slow you down?" Trunks asked nervously.

"How could you slow me down when we’re training ourselves?" Goten replied confidently.

"No... Should we go to the Gravity room?" Trunks said sheepishly.

"The gravity room has its limits," Goten explained. "Eight hundred times gravity doesn’t do much for me anymore. I thought we could have Merus help us train instead."

"Merus?" Trunks repeated, his interest piqued.

"Yeah, Merus is an angel," Goten said. "He can create things out of thin air, right, Merus?"

"Of course," Merus replied with a small smile. "For us angels, creating something out of nothing is trivial."

"So, Goten, are you two going to train here?" Merus asked.

"Of course not," Goten replied. "If we trained here, we’d end up tearing Trunks’ house apart!"

Turning to Trunks, Goten said, "How about we head to Mount Paozu to train?"

"Good idea!" Trunks agreed eagerly.

With that, Merus used his staff to teleport them to a vast, open area on Mount Paozu.

Once they arrived, Goten turned to Trunks. "This spot should work, right?"

"Um!" Trunks nodded.

Merus stepped forward and swung his staff, conjuring two enormous stone weights onto the ground.

"Lord Goten, Trunks, you cannot transform into Super Saiyans for this exercise," Merus instructed. "You’ll lift these stone weights and carry them around the mountain."

"Got it!" Trunks said.

Goten crouched down and lifted one of the stone weights with ease. "Merus, this is too light!"

"Too light?" Merus raised an eyebrow. "That weight is 200 tons."

"Two... two hundred tons?!" Trunks exclaimed, his jaw dropping.

Trunks quickly did the math in his head. When training in the 800-times-gravity room, he had only managed a total weight of 48 tons. Compared to that, 200 tons was astronomical.

"Fine," Merus said, waving his staff again. The stone weight increased to 225 tons. "Lord Goten, how about this?"

"This feels about right," Goten said, nodding as he lifted the new weight with ease.

"Uh... Mr. Merus, could mine be a bit lighter?" Trunks asked nervously.

"Of course," Merus replied. "Yours is only 50 tons."

Trunks sighed in relief. If he were a Super Saiyan, 200 tons wouldn’t be an issue, but in his normal state, even 50 tons was daunting.

Lowering his body, Trunks gripped the stone weight and, with great effort, lifted it off the ground.

Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye. Every day, Goten and Trunks trained diligently at Mount Paozu.

One afternoon, as they sparred on a grassy field, three familiar figures descended from the sky: Piccolo, Pan, and Bulla.

"Uncle Piccolo, Pan, Bulla!" Goten greeted, halting his movements.

Piccolo nodded in acknowledgment.

"Pan, Bulla, what brings you here?" Trunks asked with a smile.

"Uncle Trunks, Bulla and I want to train with you too!" Pan declared, her small frame exuding determination.

"Yeah!" Bulla added enthusiastically.

Trunks chuckled and pointed to a stone weight nearby. "Alright, Pan. If you can lift that stone weight, I’ll let you train with us."

"Deal!" Pan said confidently, marching over to the weight. She gripped it with both hands and tried with all her might to lift it, but it didn’t budge.

Seeing her struggle, Piccolo quickly approached, ready to intervene if needed.

"Ahhh..." After a while, Pan gave up and fell backward onto the grass, panting heavily.

"Pan, are you okay?" Piccolo asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I’m fine, Grandpa Piccolo," Pan replied, blowing on her red and swollen hands.

Trunks chuckled. "Well, Pan, how’d it go?"

Pan stood up, pouting. "I’m still little now, but when I grow up, I’ll definitely be able to lift it!"

"Alright," Trunks said with a grin. "I’ll be waiting for that day."

Goten, knowing their training was done for the day, walked over to Pan. "Pan, where’s your dad?"

"Dad’s practicing at home," Pan replied.

"At home?"

"Yeah, he got off from work recently. I wanted to train with him, but he said I’m just a girl and should focus on studying instead."

Goten smiled. "Your dad’s probably right."

"What’s right about that?" Pan retorted. "Mom’s a girl, and she’s been training since she was a kid!"

"Your dad’s just looking out for you," Goten said gently.

"I don’t care," Pan huffed. "I’m going to train and become the best female martial artist in the world!"

"The best martial artist?"

"Yeah! Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I can’t compete to be the best!"

"Of course you can," Goten said with a laugh. "But if you become the best in the world, who’s going to marry you?"

Pan raised her chin defiantly. "That’s easy! I’ll marry the best male martial artist in the world. The best in the world deserves the best in the world!"

Goten burst out laughing. "Fair enough! The best in the world should be with the best in the world."

Pan frowned. "What’s so funny, Uncle Goten?"

"Nothing," Goten said, still chuckling. "Tell me, Pan, is this your idea or your Grandpa Satan’s?"

Chapter 223: Goten vs. the Two Guards of Zeno

"This... of course it’s what I want!" Pan exclaimed.

"You hesitated," Goten teased with a playful grin.

"I didn’t!" Pan protested, her face turning red.

Goten chuckled but said no more, leaving Pan flustered.

"Uncle Goten, can you teach me some powerful moves?" Pan asked, quickly changing the subject.

"What do you want to learn?" Goten replied.

"Teleportation!" Pan said with excitement.

"No, teleportation is hard to learn," Goten replied. "It might take you a long time."

"Uncle Goten, you’re the best! Please teach me," Pan said, putting on her best pleading expression.

Seeing her determination, Goten smiled and turned to Merus. "Merus, do you know any Yardratians who might be willing to teach her?"

"Yes, I do," Merus replied. "But you want one of them to teach Pan teleportation?"

"Yeah," Goten confirmed.

"Hmm... I’m not sure if they’ll agree, but I can ask for you."

"Would that work for you, Pan?" Goten asked.

Hearing this, Pan immediately stopped her act and nodded eagerly.

"Uncle Goten, are the people you mentioned really Yardratians?"

"Of course," Goten replied. "But they look a bit unusual. If you’re scared, it’s okay to change your mind."

"Who’s scared?" Pan said confidently. "I’m not even afraid of Grandpa Piccolo, so why would I be afraid of the Yard... La... Tians!"

Piccolo, standing nearby, sighed. "Why do I always get dragged into these conversations?"

Goten couldn’t help but laugh at Piccolo’s exasperated expression.

"Brother Goten, can I learn teleportation too?" Bulla, who had been quietly observing, suddenly asked.

"Of course!" Goten said with a smile.

The group chatted for a while longer before Pan and Bulla finally left with Piccolo.

As the dust settled, Trunks let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, some peace and quiet!"

"Yeah," Goten agreed, chuckling.

Suddenly, Merus’s staff glowed brightly, catching their attention.

Merus lifted the staff and examined it. A moment later, he turned to Goten. "Lord Goten, it’s my father. He’s calling us to The Grand Zeno’s palace."

"Understood," Goten said. He turned to Trunks. "Trunks, I have to go to The Grand Zeno. You should head home for now."

"Alright, take care," Trunks said with a nod.

With a quick nod, Goten placed a hand on Merus’s shoulder, and the two teleported away.

The Palace of The Grand Zeno

Moments later, Goten, Merus, and Supreme Kai Shin arrived at the grand palace.

"Greetings, Grand Zeno!" Supreme Kai Shin immediately knelt in respect.

Goten and Merus remained standing, bowing politely.

"Um!" The two Zenos nodded in acknowledgment.

Goten turned to the Grand Priest. "Master Grand Priest, you called for me?"

"Yes," the Grand Priest said. "It’s time to begin your training."

"Training?" Goten repeated, intrigued.

Merus, standing nearby, was visibly surprised. It was unheard of for the Grand Priest to personally train a mortal.

"Before we begin, I want to assess your current strength," the Grand Priest continued.

"You want to fight me?" Goten asked, raising an eyebrow.

The Grand Priest smiled faintly. "No, Goten. While you are strong, you are not yet my match. Instead, you will fight the two guards of The Grand Zeno."

Goten’s gaze shifted to the two imposing figures standing behind the Zenos. He knew their power was immense. Facing one of them would be a challenge; facing both would push him to his limits.

"The battle will take place in the same arena as before," the Grand Priest said, tapping his staff.

The ground beneath them shifted, descending into a massive arena surrounded by four towering stone pillars.

"Astrion, Celion, step forward," the Grand Priest commanded.

The two guards nodded and leaped onto the arena.

"Come on, Astrion! Celion!" the Zenos cheered.

Goten followed, jumping down to face them.

"Are you ready, Goten?" the Grand Priest asked.

"Yes," Goten replied confidently.

"Very well," the Grand Priest declared. "Let the battle begin!"

"Ahhhh!!!"

Goten’s Ki erupted like a storm, shaking the arena violently. His hair turned white, flowing to his waist, with its lower half shimmering pink. Pink patterns resembling bookends appeared on his forehead, and red slanted marks adorned his cheeks. His entire body radiated golden energy streaked with lightning.

This was Super Saiyan Seven.

"Wow, Goten’s hair has grown so long!" the Future Zeno exclaimed in awe.

"Um!" The present Zeno nodded.

"What is this transformation?" Merus asked, astonished.

"This is Super Saiyan Seven," Supreme Kai Shin explained. "It’s Goten’s most powerful form—at least for now."

"His most powerful form?"

"Yes," Shin confirmed. "But who knows? Perhaps there will be a Super Saiyan Eight or Nine in the future."

On the arena, Astrion and Celion wasted no time, charging at Goten with lightning speed.

Goten roared and met their charge head-on. The three clashed in a flurry of blows, their fists moving faster than the eye could follow.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sound of their strikes echoed like thunder across the arena. Dust clouds rose around them as the ground trembled under the intensity of their battle.

Despite his immense power, Goten struggled to keep up with the combined assault of Astrion and Celion. Alone, he could have handled either one, but together, their synchronized attacks pushed him back.

From the stands, The Zenos watched eagerly, though the battle was too fast for them to follow.

"Grand Priest, who’s winning?" the present Zeno asked.

"Astrion and Celion currently have the upper hand," the Grand Priest replied.

"Really?"

"Yes," the Grand Priest nodded, his expression thoughtful.

Chapter 224: Goten Stays in the Palace to Practice

As the dust settled, Goten’s body shot out of the massive crater in the arena, his silver-white aura blazing. He hovered in mid-air, gasping for breath, his energy taxed from the relentless battle.

Below, Astrion and Celion stood at the edge of the crater, their gazes fixed on Goten.

“Still standing,” Astrion muttered, his frustration evident.

Without hesitation, the two guards teleported skyward, appearing before Goten in an instant.

Goten’s eyes widened as they launched their coordinated assault. Using his Flash Time Power, he narrowly evaded their strikes and ascended higher into the air.

The guards pursued him, their fists flying at blinding speed. Goten parried and blocked, his movements fluid yet strained. Suddenly, one of their combined attacks struck him, and his body plummeted to the arena like a meteor.

BOOM!

The impact raised a massive cloud of dust, leaving a bottomless crater in the arena floor.

“Go… Goten!” Supreme Kai Shin exclaimed in alarm.

Astrion and Celion paused, hovering over the crater’s edge. They scanned the hole intently, waiting for any sign of movement.

Moments later, a brilliant silver-white figure surged from the depths, soaring into the sky.

It was Goten, now fully embracing Ultra Instinct.

His calm yet imposing demeanor sent a ripple of unease through Astrion. "He’s using it now?" Astrion grumbled, visibly annoyed. The last time they fought, Goten refrained from using Ultra Instinct, and now he seemed to have held back until the fight had dragged on. To Astrion, it felt like an insult.

Fueled by indignation, Astrion rushed at Goten with all his strength.

"Astrion, wait!" Celion called, but quickly followed suit.

Goten closed his eyes, his body relaxing as the two guards charged toward him.

“Close his eyes?!” Merus exclaimed, watching intently from the sidelines.

"Yes," Supreme Kai Shin replied. "Closing his eyes allows Goten to focus on his instincts rather than his vision. It makes him calmer, but… this approach has its risks."

The three clashed in mid-air, their movements too fast for most to follow. Each strike created shockwaves that shook the arena, and the resulting storms of energy tore through the air.

The Grand Priest quickly formed a barrier to shield the Zenos, and Merus followed suit with his own protective shield.

“HA!!”

With a roar, Goten struck Astrion’s abdomen with blinding speed, sending him crashing into the palace wall with immense force.

The impact caused the entire palace to tremble.

“It looks like the battle is nearing its end,” the Grand Priest said with a small smile.

“Ending?” Zeno asked, tilting his head.

"Yes," the Grand Priest confirmed.

As if on cue, Celion was launched like a meteor into another wall, landing beside Astrion with a thunderous crash.

Ding!
Congratulations to the host for defeating Astrion. Reward obtained…
Ding!
Congratulations to the host for defeating Celion. Reward obtained…

Hearing the system’s voice in his mind, Goten exhaled heavily, his energy flickering. "Are you two going to keep coming?" he asked, his tone calm yet firm.

Bruised but determined, Astrion and Celion rose from the rubble and prepared to charge again.

Seeing this, Goten smirked. "In that case, I’ll beat you into submission this time!"

In a blur, the guards rushed at Goten. The three fighters clashed again, exchanging blows with incredible speed and force.

“Bang!”

Goten delivered a powerful knee strike to Celion’s abdomen, sending him flying. Astrion attempted to counter with a fierce punch, but Goten deftly dodged and retaliated with a devastating punch to Astrion’s midsection.

Astrion let out a pained scream as he was hurled into another wall.

“Enough!” the Grand Priest’s voice echoed, halting the battle.

Despite their unwillingness, Astrion and Celion stopped in their tracks and stood down.

The Grand Priest descended onto the arena and began healing the two guards with his staff. Their injuries vanished in moments, restoring their strength.

Merus approached Goten and healed his wounds as well, his staff glowing softly.

“Shall we return to the palace?” the Grand Priest asked once everyone was healed.

The group nodded, and the Grand Priest waved his staff. The arena platform floated upward, carrying everyone back to the palace.

Back in the King’s Palace, Goten turned to the Grand Priest.

“Master Grand Priest, thank you for the opportunity,” Goten said respectfully.

The Grand Priest nodded. "Goten, your power is remarkable. If you continue to refine your Ultra Instinct, you may one day surpass even me."

“Surpass you?” Merus exclaimed, stunned.

The Grand Priest’s words carried significant weight. The Realm of Transcendence of Ultra Instinct was the highest level achievable, a level even Whis had yet to attain despite living for countless millennia.

The Grand Priest turned to Goten. "From today onward, you will remain here in The Grand Zeno’s palace to train and master your abilities."

"Understood," Goten replied after a moment’s thought.

"Merus, you may return for now," the Grand Priest instructed.

"Yes, Father," Merus replied, bowing.

Supreme Kai Shin also prepared to leave. "Lord Zeno, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave as well."

The two Zenos nodded in unison.

With that, Merus and Supreme Kai Shin departed, leaving Goten with the Grand Priest and the two Zenos.

The Zenos immediately descended from their thrones, their eyes shining with excitement.

“Goten, since you’re living here now, can you play with us?” one of the Zenos asked eagerly.

“Yeah, yeah!” the Future Zeno chimed in.

Goten glanced nervously at the Grand Priest, unsure of how to respond. He had come here to train, not to spend his days playing.

Chapter 225: The Eve of War

"Grand Zeno, if Goten is free, he will play with you!" the Grand Priest said with a smile.

"All right!" the two Zenos cheered in unison.

Thus, Goten officially began his training at the Palace of Zeno, settling into his new routine.

Earth

Upon returning to Earth, Merus gathered Trunks, Gohan, and the others to share the news about Goten’s training under the Grand Priest.

"The Grand Priest is personally training Goten?" Gohan asked, his tone a mix of surprise and admiration.

"Yes," Merus replied. "Lord Goten is a once-in-a-lifetime genius, someone rarely seen even in eternity."

"That’s incredible," Gohan muttered.

Merus nodded. "Even though Goten is training in the Grand Zeno’s Palace, he has instructed me to stay here and assist with your training."

Trunks stepped forward, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "When will Goten return to Earth?"

Merus hesitated for a moment before answering. "That… I cannot say for certain. The level he’s striving for—The Realm of Transcendence of Ultra Instinct—is currently the highest achievable. Only my father, the Grand Priest, has ever reached it."

"I see," Gohan said, a look of determination crossing his face. "Trunks, we have to push ourselves harder. If Goten is working this hard, we can’t afford to fall behind!"

Trunks clenched his fists and nodded. "You’re right, Gohan! Let’s train even harder!"

Universe 6 – Planet Sadala

News of the upcoming war had reached every corner of Universe 6. On Planet Sadala, the Saiyan homeworld, warriors trained relentlessly in preparation for the battle three years away.

Meanwhile, on Planet Frost, another figure had begun preparing—but with far different intentions.

Inside a lavish palace, a figure who bore a striking resemblance to Frieza lounged on a plush sofa. This was Frost, the ruler of Planet Frost. Known throughout Universe 6 as a benevolent leader, Frost’s true nature was far darker—much like his Universe 7 counterpart, Frieza.

As Frost rested, enjoying his deceptive peace, a figure entered his palace unannounced. The man had blue-green skin and wore a black angelic uniform.

Before Frost could react, one of his soldiers burst into the room, shouting, "Lord Frost, there’s—"

Before the soldier could finish, Frost extended a single finger and fired a thin purple ray, piercing the soldier’s chest.

The soldier collapsed lifelessly to the floor. Frost smirked. "I don’t tolerate interruptions."

The blue-green figure chuckled lightly at the display. "How ruthless, Frost," he said, his voice smooth and cold.

Frost narrowed his eyes. "Who are you, and what business do you have here?"

"My name is Ceres," the man replied. "I am an angel from the original 14th Universe."

"14th Universe?" Frost repeated, confused. "I wasn’t aware there were universes beyond the twelve."

"There are many things you don’t know," Ceres replied cryptically.

Frost’s curiosity was piqued. "So why are you here?"

"I assume you’ve heard of the war that’s about to engulf the universes?"

"Of course. What of it?"

Ceres smirked. "We were the ones who initiated this war."

"You?"

"Yes. As with any war, there will be victors and losers. I’ve come to offer you a choice—join us and secure your place as ruler of Universe 6, or oppose us and face annihilation."

Frost’s expression hardened. "Is that a threat?"

"Think of it as a proposition," Ceres replied smoothly. "The choice is yours, but choose wisely. Neutrality is not an option—when the dust settles, there will be no place for those who stood on the sidelines."

Frost fell silent, weighing his options. He was tempted by the promise of ruling Universe 6, but he was also wary of the risks.

After a long pause, Frost spoke. "I’ll join you."

"Excellent," Ceres said with a sly smile. "A wise decision, Frost. Together, we will reshape this universe."

Across the Universes

Ceres was not the only one recruiting. Angels under the command of the Great Mother spread across the multiverse, targeting powerful individuals with dark hearts and immense influence. Their efforts were calculated, ensuring they swayed key players who could tilt the balance of power in their favor.

The angels of the twelve universes were aware of these actions but remained powerless to intervene. Bound by their divine rules, they could not interfere in mortal affairs, leaving each individual to make their own choices.

Two Years Later

Over the next two years, Goten dedicated himself fully to his training in the Palace of Zeno. Occasionally, he would return to Earth for brief visits, but most of his time was spent under the Grand Priest’s rigorous guidance.

Through intense effort, Goten advanced his Ultra Instinct to the second level, Realm of Control. His strength had grown exponentially, yet he knew there was still much to achieve.

One day, after an especially grueling session, Goten collapsed onto the palace floor, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

The Grand Priest approached, his staff in hand. "Goten, you’ve made remarkable progress for someone so young. You’re only twenty, yet your strength rivals gods who have trained for millennia."

Goten smiled weakly. "Thank you, Master Grand Priest."

The Grand Priest tilted his head thoughtfully. "You’re twenty now, yes? Have you found a partner yet?"

Goten blinked in surprise. "I… have."

"Oh?" The Grand Priest raised an eyebrow. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Marron. She’s three years younger than me and… well, she’s mortal."

The Grand Priest nodded knowingly. "A mortal’s lifespan is fleeting—only about a hundred years. Have you ever considered marrying someone divine?"

"Divine?"

"Yes," the Grand Priest said. "I have three daughters. Would you consider one of them?"

Goten’s eyes widened. "Your daughters? You mean Vados and…?"

The Grand Priest nodded. "Vados, Kusu, and Marcarita. Although they are older than you, angels have eternal lifespans. They would make suitable companions."

"Eternal lifespans," Goten murmured.

"Indeed," the Grand Priest said. "Even if you choose Marron, she will age and pass on in a century. My daughters could wait for you if you prefer. A hundred years is but a moment to an angel."

Goten let out a nervous laugh, unsure of how to respond. "I… will think about it."

"Very well," the Grand Priest said with a nod.

Eight Months Later

With only three days remaining until the war, Goten’s training had intensified to unprecedented levels. In a separate dimension, he sparred with the Grand Priest, their battle shaking the very fabric of space.

"Ha!!!" Goten roared, his fists blazing with energy as he sent the Grand Priest flying.

The Grand Priest slowed his momentum, landing gracefully. In an instant, he charged back, dodging Goten’s barrage of energy waves and appearing directly in front of him.