Chapter 221: Zeno's Compromise

(Just now, Zeno wanted to stop it from happening.)

(But he suddenly realized-he couldn't.)

(He couldn't prevent Goten from killing his guards.)

(It was as if Goten's rule power was even stronger than his own.)

(As Zeno and the Grand Priest watched, the two guards vanished without a trace.)

Zeno: "You... what did you do? Do you even understand the consequences of your actions? How dare you kill my guards right in front of me?!"

(Zeno's face twisted in anger.)

(No one had ever dared to be so presumptuous in his presence.)

(Violence before him was utterly unforgivable-let alone killing his own guards.)

Goten: "So what? Do you think you can kill me? Let me be blunt-neither you nor the Grand Priest, not even the two of you together, can kill me. Besides, those two lacked the respect I deserve. Killing them shouldn't be a problem!"

(Goten tilted his neck, a rebellious smirk on his face, addressing both Zeno and the Grand Priest.)

(Isn't this what their so-called gods do all the time? Now that he was doing the same, they suddenly found it unacceptable? What a joke.)

(In this world, strength determines everything.)

(And right now, Goten had the power to make the rules.)

Grand Priest: "Goten, don't take things too far. Don't think that just because you have some power, we can't do anything to you! We simply don't want to be your enemy."

(The Grand Priest's gaze was cold, his words a final warning.)

(Since the moment he met Goten, this mortal had shown no regard for him whatsoever.)

(And now, he had gone so far as to kill Zeno's guards in front of Zeno himself.)

(That was outright defiance-completely unacceptable.)

(Such a person had to be erased!)

Goten: "Oh? Is that a threat? Let me make something clear, Grand Priest. In another timeline, I already killed all of you. That includes you in your True Angel form and Zeno in his Omni God form."

(Goten's eyes turned ice-cold.)

Goten: "If you want to disappear too, go ahead and keep threatening me."

(Zeno and the Grand Priest were instantly horrified.)

(Their hearts trembled.)

(Unbelievable. Absolutely impossible!)

(Goten claimed to have killed them in another timeline?)

(How could that be?)

(They were the supreme gods of the universe.)

(No one could kill them.)

(Even if Goten had Zeno's erasure ability, it shouldn't be possible!)

Grand Priest: "Enough with the nonsense, Goten. I won't deny that you're strong, but to spout such arrogant drivel... Do you really think we'll believe you?"

(Grand Priest scoffed, his voice ice-cold.)

Grand Priest: "Even if there were ten-no, a hundred thousand of you, you still couldn't kill us! We are the embodiment of the rules. Unless the entire universe collapses, we will always exist."

(Or-Goten would have to obtain a power of rules even greater than Zeno's to erase them.)

(But that was impossible.)

(A mortal could never grasp such power!)

(Though the Grand Priest was skeptical, Zeno's expression grew solemn.)

(Goten knew about his Omni God form and the Grand Priest's True Angel form.)

(That meant he knew far more than he should.)

(Was it possible that what he said was true?)

(More importantly, Goten's rule power seemed stronger than his own.)

(Otherwise, he should have been able to stop him from killing his guards.)

(If that was the case, this was a serious problem.)

(A being stronger than them appearing in the universe was a dangerous situation.)

Zeno: "Enough, Grand Priest. It doesn't matter whether Goten has power greater than ours."

(Zeno suddenly interrupted.)

Zeno: "A fighter this powerful shouldn't be wasted."

(Zeno had his own plan.)

(While he doubted Goten's words, part of him also believed them.)

(Goten knew about their strongest forms, yet he remained this arrogant.)

(That meant one of two things-either he was a fool, or he truly had the power he claimed.)

(And Zeno did not believe he was a fool.)

Grand Priest: "But Lord Zeno, this guy is far too arrogant!"

(The Grand Priest frowned deeply.)

(Never had a mortal spoken to him with such disrespect.)

Zeno: "Enough, Grand Priest. This matter doesn't concern you."

(Zeno snapped.)

(Gone was his usual childish demeanor.)

(In its place was something else entirely-a cold authority that had always been there, merely hidden beneath a facade of innocence.)

(Perhaps, after all, even the supreme ruler of a universe needed a way to entertain himself in his otherwise dull existence.)

(Seeing Zeno's firm tone and stance, the Grand Priest fell silent, though his eyes burned with fury as he glared at Goten.)

(At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear Goten apart.)

(This mortal had crossed every boundary of arrogance, showing no respect for the supreme gods.)

(But with Zeno's decree, he had no choice but to restrain himself.)

(Still, he hoped that Zeno wouldn't yield so easily-that Goten would be put in his place, made to understand that a supreme god was not to be humiliated by a mere mortal.)

Goten: "Grand Priest, you'd better not look at me like that!"

(Goten's voice was ice-cold.)

Goten: "Unless, like those two guards just now, you want to disappear completely!"

(With his current strength, erasing the Grand Priest was as effortless as breathing.)

(One mere thought, and he'd be gone.)

(If the Grand Priest continued with this attitude, his fate would be sealed.)

(The Grand Priest's expression darkened further, but he said nothing.)

(Not out of fear, but because Zeno had already ordered him to stand down.)

(Zeno spoke again, his tone noticeably softer.)

Zeno: "Goten, I don't care if what you said before is true or not. I can overlook your disrespect because your strength is undeniable. You are a genius unlike any before you, and it would be a shame to see such talent go to waste."

(Zeno paused before continuing.)

Zeno: "If you agree, I will grant you the highest divine rank below myself. But on one condition-you must revive my two guards."

(Clearly, Zeno had chosen to compromise.)

(With the guards gone, completing his Omni God form was impossible.)

(Even if he achieved that transformation, its power would be greatly diminished.)

(If what Goten had claimed was true-that he had killed an alternate Zeno and an alternate Grand Priest-then he was indeed capable of destroying them in this timeline as well.)

(Zeno couldn't afford to take that risk.)

(And beyond that, there were other threats looming.)

(He had been searching for powerful warriors across the universe to prepare for an impending crisis.)

(Goten's strength was unprecedented; he was a rare talent.)

(If he could be persuaded to fight alongside them, he might prove invaluable.)

Goten: "Oh?"

(Goten smirked.)

Goten: "The great Supreme God of this dimension is compromising with me? How interesting. Since you're showing sincerity, I'll forgive your previous recklessness."

(For all his arrogance, Goten knew there was no real need to kill Zeno or the Grand Priest.)

(They no longer posed a threat to him.)

(Besides, he had one concern-if another battle broke out and destroyed this timeline as well, where would he end up? Until he found a way back, it was better to play along.)

Grand Priest: "Tch..."

(The Grand Priest gritted his teeth in frustration.)

(Goten's arrogance was unbearable.)

(But there was nothing he could do.)

(Zeno had chosen to yield, though he couldn't understand why.)

Zeno: "Then, revive my guards first."

(Zeno said.)

(Goten nodded.)

(A single thought was all it took.)

(Before everyone's eyes, Zeno's two guards began to reappear, as though time itself were reversing.)

(In mere moments, they stood there, fully restored.)

(But their expressions were completely different from before.)

(The arrogance they once carried had vanished.)

(Their eyes now reflected nothing but pure terror.)

(Goten sneered.)

Goten: "Remember this, you two. If you ever dare speak to me like that again, I'll make sure you disappear for good-without any chance of resurrection."

(The two guards trembled, nodding hastily.)

(This time, they wouldn't dare defy him.)

(For the first time in history, Zeno and the Grand Priest had been utterly humiliated.)

(Their once unshakable dominance over the multiverse had been shattered.)

(With a dismissive wave, Goten turned.)

Goten: "Alright, unless it's something truly important, don't bother me again."

(With that, he swaggered out of the Zeno Temple.)

(The air remained heavy in his wake.)

(Zeno and the Grand Priest stood in silence, their expressions grim.)

(Shame. Absolute shame.)

(Never before, in the history of the universe, had they been treated like this.)

(Never had they suffered such humiliation.)

(And this humiliation would not be forgotten.)

(After leaving Zeno's temple, Goten headed straight for the Supreme Kai's world.)

(The moment he arrived, Supreme Kai and the Elder Kai paled, their expressions frozen in fear.)

Elder Kai: "G-Goten... what are you doing here?"

(Elder Kai stammered, his voice trembling.)

(He was terrified.)

(This was the same Goten who had easily defeated Beerus, the God of Destruction.)

(The same Goten who had shown no fear in front of the Grand Priest himself.)

(To them, Beerus and the Grand Priest were like nightmares.)

(Supreme beings beyond comprehension.)

(Yet this man had faced them without hesitation... and returned completely unscathed.)

(There was no doubt about it-Goten's power was beyond reason.)

(Goten chuckled.)

Goten: "Relax, Lord Supreme Kais. In another timeline, we actually had a pretty good relationship. You guys helped me a lot."

(His voice was calm, even friendly.)

Goten: "So don't worry. I won't hurt you."

(There were some beings he held contempt for.)

(Some he would destroy without a second thought.)

(But Beerus and the Supreme Kais?)

(They were different.)

(Without them, he might never have reached this level of power.)

(And for that, he owed them respect.)

[To Be Continued...]