A massive cloud of sand and dust erupted from the crumbling stone pillar. Supreme Kai Shin's eyes remained fixed on the chaos, but suddenly, Goten's figure reappeared on the competition stage, standing firm and unshaken.
Astrion snorted coldly, his expression sharpening. In a flash, he rushed toward Goten with a speed surpassing the speed of light.
In mere moments, Astrion closed the gap between them, unleashing a flurry of punches faster than the eye could follow. Goten's instincts kicked in, and he activated his Flash Time Power to evade the devastating assault.
The Grand Priest's eyes narrowed as he observed the scene. "This is..." he murmured, a spark of recognition in his tone.
"This seems to be Hit's Flash Time Skill," he continued, his voice tinged with surprise. "But when did Goten learn it?"
As the fierce battle raged on, their movements became too rapid for The Grand Zeno to follow.
"Goten and Astrion are moving so fast, I can't see anything!" The Grand Zeno exclaimed, visibly frustrated.
.
On the competition stage, Goten continued to dodge Astrion's relentless attacks. Yet, despite his agility, Astrion managed to land a powerful blow, sending Goten hurtling backward.
Recovering swiftly, Goten skidded to a stop on the ground, a determined smirk playing on his lips.
"Interesting!" Goten said with a chuckle as he clenched his fists tightly.
"Ahhh!!!"
A massive surge of Ki erupted from Goten, engulfing the entire area in an awe-inspiring display of energy. The entire palace of The Omni-King trembled violently under the sheer intensity of his power.
"What… what is this?!" Supreme Kai Shin exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
Super Saiyan 6 had already seemed incomprehensibly powerful to him, and yet, Goten's Ki continued to climb to unimaginable heights.
The Grand Priest and Whis both turned serious, their expressions tense as they sensed the monumental shift in Goten's energy.
"Could it be…?" Whis murmured, a sudden realization dawning on him.
With another earth-shaking roar, Goten underwent a stunning transformation. The hair covering his body fell away, and the hair on his head turned pure white, cascading down to his waist. The upper half remained white, while the lower half shifted to a vibrant pink hue. His pupils turned pink, and two symmetrical patterns resembling bookends appeared on his forehead. Red slanted lines formed on either side of his face, radiating power. His entire body glowed with golden Ki, interspersed with arcs of golden lightning.
This was Super Saiyan Seven.
"What… what is this?" Supreme Kai Shin stammered, his eyes wide with shock.
"This is Super Saiyan Seven!" Goten declared confidently, his voice resonating with newfound strength.
"Super Saiyan Seven…" Whis repeated, stunned. Memories of their past battles flooded his mind. Back then, Goten had achieved Super Saiyan 6, yet now he had surpassed even that. Had Goten been holding back during their fight, or had he grown even stronger since then?
Before Whis could delve further into his thoughts, Goten's body blurred into motion, transforming into a streak of golden light as he charged toward Astrion.
Astrion, momentarily taken aback, quickly raised his fists in defense.
"Ha!" Goten roared, meeting Astrion's fists head-on with blows delivered at lightning speed.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"
The arena trembled under the earth-shattering impact of their clash. Each collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air, forcing The Grand Priest to conjure a translucent shield around The Grand Zeno to protect him from the fallout.
The force of their battle tore the fabric of space itself, creating cracks in the surrounding dimensions. Whis immediately intervened, using his staff to repair the dimensional rifts.
"Astrion!" one of The Grand Zeno's guards called out in alarm. Watching the fight unfold, his composure began to falter. Goten, a mortal, was holding his own against Astrion—an unprecedented feat.
As the battle continued, the competition stage crumbled beneath their feet. Dust and debris flew everywhere, obscuring the view of the intense combat.
"It seems Goten is far stronger than I anticipated," the Grand Priest remarked, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
At that moment, Astrion's body crashed heavily into a stone pillar, shattering it into rubble. The collision sent a plume of dust into the air.
"Huff…" Astrion panted heavily as he staggered back onto the ruined stage.
Supreme Kai Shin watched in astonishment. "Wow… Goten actually knocked him back!"
Whis, however, remained silent. He had seen the fight clearly, and it was apparent that Goten had been in control since transforming into Super Saiyan Seven. Moreover, Goten hadn't even activated Ultra Instinct. If he had, Astrion likely wouldn't have stood a chance.
Unaware of Whis's thoughts, Goten stood tall, his mind focused entirely on his newfound power. This was his first time transforming into Super Saiyan Seven in battle, and he was eager to test its limits. Astrion, formidable as he was, had become the perfect opponent for this test.
"Ha!"
With a powerful shout, Goten prepared to launch another attack. But before he could strike, the Grand Priest's voice rang out.
"Alright, Goten, that's enough! Let's end this battle."
Hearing the command, Goten froze mid-motion, retracting his fist.
Astrion, still reeling from the fight, turned to the Grand Priest, his expression filled with confusion and frustration.
"Master Grand Priest, why are you stopping this fight?" Astrion asked.
The Grand Priest regarded him calmly. "Astrion, Goten's strength has already surpassed yours. Continuing this battle would serve no purpose."
"No… that's impossible!" Astrion protested, his pride wounded. "I haven't even used my full strength yet! I can still win!"
The Grand Priest shook his head. "Astrion, there is no shame in acknowledging strength greater than your own. Goten's power is extraordinary, far beyond what you have faced before."
Turning to The Grand Zeno, the Grand Priest asked softly, "Grand Zeno, would you like the battle to continue?"
The Grand Zeno considered for a moment before speaking. "Astrion, please stop for now."
Though reluctant, Astrion bowed his head. "Yes, Master Omni-King."
With the fight officially over, Goten let out a breath, his body reverting to its normal form.
The Grand Priest approached Goten with a smile. "Goten, your power is remarkable. Have you ever considered becoming a god?"
"A god?" Goten asked, tilting his head.
"Yes," the Grand Priest replied. "As a god, you would gain a lifespan thousands of times longer than that of mortals."
"What kind of god are you talking about?" Goten asked curiously.
"A Saiyan God," the Grand Priest said.
"A Saiyan God?"
"Indeed. Not a transformation like those of your kind, but a priesthood—a divine role that grants you authority over eight universes."
"Eight universes?" Goten repeated, his eyes widening.
"Yes," the Grand Priest confirmed. "As a Saiyan God, you would oversee all beings within these universes, including the Gods of Destruction and the Angels under their command."