As soon as the Tournament of Power began, the entire stage descended into chaos.
Eight universes, eighty contestants, and an all-out melee broke out instantly. Ki blasts and energy waves flew in every direction, bombarding the indestructible arena crafted by the Grand Priest himself. Even with its divine craftsmanship, cracks and signs of damage quickly appeared.
"Wow!"
Zeno's eyes widened in excitement, watching the battlefield descend into madness.
Compared to the exhibition match, this was far more thrilling. As he had hoped, the Tournament of Power was turning out to be an exhilarating spectacle.
On the battlefield…
As soon as the battle started, Goku and Vegeta couldn't hold back.
They weren't concerned about which universe their opponents were from—if they saw a strong fighter, they charged straight in.
Gohan and Piccolo were quickly targeted by warriors from Universe 3, but with their teamwork and Gohan's improved strength, they easily held their ground.
Android 16 and Android 17 also rushed into battle, engaging opponents across the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Kahn, Android 18, Bardock, and Shin stood near the central pillar, refraining from taking action.
But just because they stayed put didn't mean trouble wouldn't find them.
"Kahn, fight me!"
A confident, playful voice rang out as a bright energy blast hurtled toward them.
Shin stepped forward and swatted away the attack with ease.
"Hey! I just want to see how strong the Saiyans from Universe 7 are!" Caulifla grinned, her sharp white teeth flashing.
A moment later, Kale silently appeared beside her, standing at her side.
Kahn crossed his arms and smirked. "Shin, take care of this."
Shin raised an eyebrow. "I don't like this type."
"Oh, you will," Android 18 teased with a knowing smile. "Go get 'em."
Shin sighed.
"Don't get distracted while fighting!"
Before Shin could react, Caulifla lunged forward and landed a clean punch to his face.
"Ha! Gotcha!" she declared proudly.
Shin barely flinched, rubbing his cheek. "That didn't hurt at all."
Grabbing her wrist, he twisted his body and delivered a solid punch straight to her gut.
Caulifla's eyes widened as the force of the hit sent her flying.
"Nice one, son."
Kahn chuckled, clearly pleased with Shin's performance.
Shin, still in fighting stance, suddenly heard his father's voice in his mind through telepathy.
"Be firm but leave an impression. That's how I won over your Aunt 18 back in the day."
Shin nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Is my dad seriously giving me advice on picking up girls in the middle of a battle?!"
He was only twelve! And Caulifla was definitely older than him!
Before he could fully process the absurdity, Kale entered the fray, forcing him to refocus.
Meanwhile…
"Kahn," Bardock spoke, his tone serious.
Kahn turned his attention back to his father, noticing that they were now surrounded—Jiren, Toppo, and Dyspo had appeared, forming a loose perimeter around them.
Their intentions were clear.
"Jiren, will you need my help?" Toppo asked.
Jiren shook his head. "No need."
His red eyes locked onto Kahn.
"I heard you defeated Belmod."
Kahn shrugged. "Yeah. And?"
Jiren's expression remained unreadable. "Come at me."
Bardock stepped forward without hesitation, transforming into Super Saiyan 4 Full Power in an instant. Without a word, he charged straight at Jiren.
His speed was terrifyingly fast—one moment he was still, the next, his fist was already hurtling toward Jiren's face.
WHAM!
But just before it landed, Jiren caught Bardock's punch with a single hand.
The force from the impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, but Jiren remained unmoved.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiren countered, driving a fist deep into Bardock's abdomen.
BOOM!
The sheer force sent Bardock skidding back hundreds of meters, his feet carving a trench into the stage before he managed to regain his footing.
In the stands…
Beerus' expression darkened. "This isn't good."
Despite the brief exchange, he could already tell—Jiren's strength far surpassed Bardock's Super Saiyan 4 Full Power form.
Vados raised an eyebrow. "It seems Universe 11 isn't lacking in talent."
Nearby, Belmod smirked. "Jiren is the strongest mortal in our universe. Even I'm no match for him. That guy isn't worth Jiren's time."
Beerus' scowl deepened.
Whis, observing with interest, remarked, "Oh my, I didn't expect such a powerful warrior to exist outside of Universe 7."
While Bardock's Super Saiyan 4 Full Power was comparable to Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta, against Jiren, it seemed nearly ineffective.
However, Vados suddenly chuckled.
"Whis, you may be underestimating Bardock. He was merely testing Jiren's strength. That's not his final form."
Beerus' ears perked up. "Wait, what?! He's got something stronger?"
Back in the arena…
Despite being knocked back, Bardock remained composed.
Instead of retreating, he launched himself back into the fight.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
His strikes were aggressive and precise—each punch aimed at a weak spot. Most fighters wouldn't be able to withstand such an onslaught.
But Jiren wasn't most fighters.
With minimal movement, he effortlessly dodged each attack, twisting his body out of harm's way. And then—he countered.
Another devastating blow sent Bardock crashing backward.
"You're wasting your time," Jiren said. "You can't win."
Bardock smirked. "Is that so?"
He exhaled slowly, then cracked his knuckles.
"Kahn, to fight Jiren, Super Saiyan 4 isn't enough. It's time to show him what I'm really capable of."
Kahn grinned. "Go for it, Dad."
Bardock planted his feet firmly and clenched his fists.
Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of power erupted from him like a tidal wave.
BOOOOM!
The entire battlefield trembled violently under the force of Bardock's transformation.
Jiren's normally emotionless expression finally shifted—his red eyes narrowing slightly.
Something huge was coming.
Bardock had finally unleashed his power beyond limits!