"Jiren!"
The unified cry of alarm echoed across the battlefield, filled with desperation and disbelief. The Pride Troopers stood frozen as they watched their strongest warrior succumb to the enemy's control.
"It's useless; he's already under Abura's control!"
The Great Villain's laughter boomed ominously, reverberating through the shattered remains of Planet Taza. His expression radiated satisfaction as he glanced at Jiren, now a puppet of his will.
"Damn it!"
Toppo, fueled by anger, erupted into motion. His aura flared, surrounding him in a glowing shroud of purple light. In an instant, he propelled himself toward Jiren, his fist clenched with resolve.
In a blur of speed, Toppo appeared directly in front of Jiren and swung his fist with all his might. "Jiren, wake up!" he roared, his voice carrying both authority and desperation.
Abura's sinister grin deepened. With a casual motion, he raised his hand and intercepted Toppo's punch with unnerving ease.
"What?!"
Toppo's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't expected Abura to deflect his strike so effortlessly.
Before Toppo could react, Abura unleashed a devastating kick, striking him squarely in the waist. The force of the blow sent Toppo careening through the air, his body crashing into the rocky terrain.
"Captain!"
Dypso, alarmed by the scene, darted toward Toppo and caught him before he could hit the ground.
"Abura, shall we leave now?" the Great Villain asked, his tone laced with arrogance.
Abura nodded, his eyes glowing with malice. Their mission had been clear from the start: seize control of Jiren and escape before the Pride Troopers could mount an effective counterattack.
In the distance, Belmod, the God of Destruction for Universe 11, observed the unfolding chaos with mounting frustration. His clenched fists trembled as he resisted the urge to intervene. Despite his immense power, divine laws forbade him from interfering in the affairs of mortals.
"Damn it!" Belmod growled. "Jiren, of all people… how could this happen?" His voice was thick with a mixture of anger and regret. Jiren had been his pride, a warrior groomed to protect the universe. Now, that very strength was being weaponized against them.
Elsewhere in the void of Universe 11, Amarula, the enigmatic angel of Universe 15, stood with her staff in hand. The black cloth over her eyes seemed almost alive, pulsating faintly as she focused on the events on Planet Taza. Her lips curled into a sly smile as she observed the Pride Troopers' plight.
"Everything is proceeding perfectly," Amarula murmured to herself. Losing a few troops was insignificant compared to the prize they had secured. Controlling Jiren's body would shift the balance of power in their favor.
On Earth, Merus watched the events unfold through his mystical scrying orb. His expression darkened as he took in the sight of Jiren, the indomitable warrior, now under Abura's control.
"Jiren has been completely possessed," Merus muttered grimly.
Son Goten stood beside him, silent but resolute. His eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. He didn't need words to convey his seriousness.
Meanwhile, the Pride Troopers regrouped on the battlefield. Toppo, now standing despite his question, addressed his team. "We cannot allow this defeat to demoralize us! We are the Pride Troopers, defenders of justice in the Universe 11! Jiren wouldn't want us to crumble now. Stay strong and prepare for the battles ahead!"
His words reignited a spark of hope among his teammates. They stood taller, their resolve hardening.
However, far from the battlefield, Abura and the Great Villain had teleported to a distant, desolate planet.
"Why did we leave so quickly?" Abura demanded, his tone laced with irritation. "With Jiren under my control, we could've finished them off!"
The Great Villain sighed and shook his head. "You underestimate the Pride Troopers as a whole. Even without Jiren, their combined strength is formidable. Besides, both you and Jiren are injured. We can't risk overextending ourselves in this state."
Abura grumbled but reluctantly conceded the point. "Fine, but next time, I won't be so cautious."
Their conversation was interrupted by a voice. Calm and confident, it cut through the air like a blade.
"Oh, really?"
Both Abura and the Great Villain turned sharply toward the source of the voice. A lone figure stood in the shadows, his silhouette outlined by the planet's eerie glow.
"You… who are you?" the Great Villain demanded, his tone edged with unease.
The figure stepped forward, revealing his face. His black hair shimmered with silver streaks, and his piercing silver-gray eyes seemed to glow.
"The name's Son Goten," he said, his voice steady.
"Son Goten?" Abura frowned. "Are you with the Pride Troopers?"
"No," Goten replied. "But Jiren and I… we're friends."
Abura's expression darkened. "If you're here to save Jiren, you won't leave alive!"
With that, the Great Villain charged at Goten, his fists glowing with dark energy. Goten's expression remained calm as he effortlessly dodged the attack, his movements fluid and precise.
"Ultra Instinct…" the Great Villain muttered, recognizing the technique.
Fueled by desperation, the Great Villain unleashed a flurry of attacks. His fists and feet moved like blurs, each strike aimed to incapacitate Goten. Yet, no matter how fast he moved, Goten evaded each blow with ease.
"Damn it!" the Great Villain roared in frustration. Channeling all his remaining energy, he threw a devastating punch.
Goten sidestepped effortlessly and countered with a single, precise strike to the Great Villain's abdomen. The impact sent him hurtling backward, crashing into a mountain with a deafening explosion.
Abura, unwilling to lose, commanded Jiren's body to attack. Despite Jiren's resistance, his movements were swift and lethal. But Goten danced around the attacks, his every motion a masterful display of Ultra Instinct.
With a calculated punch, Goten struck Jiren's abdomen, sending him crashing into another mountain. The force of the blow reverberated across the desolate landscape. Though Goten had held back, the impact was enough to weaken Abura's control over Jiren.
Amarula, watching from afar, frowned. "Who is this Goten?" she murmured, her tone filled with unease.
As Jiren's consciousness began to resurface, Abura's grip on him faltered. The strain of maintaining control was evident, and for the first time, Abura felt fear.
Far away in Universe 15, Amarula contacted the Great Goddess. "Our plan to conquer Universe 11 was proceeding smoothly, but a new warrior has appeared. He's powerful—too powerful. He's defeated both the Great Villain and Abura!"
The Great Goddess paused, her expression serious as she used her staff to examine the events.
"Goten…" she whispered.
"Who is he?" Amarula asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
"A human aligned with the Grand Priest. He recently defeated Galion, a warrior of immense power," the Great Goddess explained.
Amarula's eyes widened in shock. "If he defeated Galion, then his strength rivals that of an angel!"
"Precisely," the Great Goddess replied. "If we confront him directly, it could ignite the War of the Gods prematurely. But if we allow him to continue interfering, our plans to overthrow Zeno will be in jeopardy."