"This is impossible..."
"Absolutely impossible!"
"How could this bastard possess the power of destruction?"
Looking at the destructive energy in Katakana's hand, God of Destruction Vermut was completely stunned.
He couldn't understand what was happening.
Even though this guy might be Beerus disciple, he never felt any destructive energy from him before.
And during the fights with Jiren or even Toppo, who had already begun using destructive energy, Katakana never displayed anything of the sort.
"Macarita, what the hell is going on here?"
"Is this the mysterious energy you sensed in him?"
God of Destruction Vermut couldn't be bothered with his shock and immediately turned to question Macarita, practically shouting.
But even Macarita was frozen in shock from Katakana's sudden display of destructive power.
How had he mastered it? And without her even noticing?
Even more alarming, it wasn't fatal or unstable.
But most terrifying of all… this destructive power wasn't even the energy she had sensed before!
"This Mortal.. could he be hiding more than just the power of destruction?"
Macarita didn't answer Vermut and instead murmured to herself.
Because even though Katakana had just used destructive energy, she still felt that same strange attraction from him, meaning the true power he held was something entirely different.
Maybe something even more mysterious than the power of destruction…
"Macarita! Macarita! What are you doing!? Answer me!"
Vermut, growing more enraged, snapped at her again.
But Macarita simply shook her head.
"Tch..."
"No matter what, there's no way this guy truly possesses the power of destruction."
"It has to be some kind of trick!"
Vermut, seeing her silence, stopped asking questions.
"Whether it's a trick or not… we'll find out right now."
Katakana looked at Vermut calmly.
"You… I'll prove whether it's real or not!"
Vermut gritted his teeth and launched his own destructive energy ball straight at Katakana.
Seeing the purple orb speeding toward him, Katakana smirked slightly and extended his palm, firing his own orb of destruction.
Whoosh!
The two destructive energies met. No explosion, no sound.
Instead, they slowly neutralized each other in the air, until they completely vanished.
"Just as I thought."
Katakana nodded, knowing very well that only destructive energy can cancel out destructive energy.
But Vermut's jaw nearly dropped.
He could feel it clearly, the energy Katakana released was indeed destruction. A little less pure than his own, perhaps, but undeniably real.
This meant… it wasn't a trick. Katakana had truly mastered the power of destruction.
Because nothing but destructive energy could cancel out another.
"Impossible!"
"That really was… the power of destruction!?"
Vermut was shaken to his core.
But it was clear. He couldn't deny the truth anymore.
"What's wrong, Vermut?"
"You don't look so good. Maybe it's the stress from seeing the power of destruction?"
"But like I said… it's not yours alone, Vermut!"
Katakana spoke lightly, amused at Vermut's stunned face.
He had expected this reaction. After all, that power was supposed to be Vermut's ultimate trump card.
Now that Katakana could use it too, Vermut had far fewer options.
"You arrogant bastard..."
"Don't get cocky! So what if you've awakened destruction?"
"Your control over it is no more than a candidate God of Destruction's level."
"Whereas I… I'm a true God of Destruction!"
"My control over that power is leagues beyond yours!"
Though clearly frustrated, Vermut wasn't willing to admit defeat.
And when Katakana unleashed his power earlier, Vermut could tell, Katakana hadn't mastered destruction to the level of a true God of Destruction.
Which meant… he still had a chance.
He had to win. No matter what it took.
"You can try."
Katakana replied coldly.
What Vermut said was true. His control of destructive power was only about 50%.
Better than Toppo's, yes, but still far from Vermut's level.
But Katakana … had other cards up his sleeve.
"die!"
Vermut roared, his body surging with devastating energy, making the entire realm shake.
He looked like a reaper made of destruction.
"Let me show you… what real destructive power is!"
Vermut's body vanished.
In an instant, he reappeared in front of Katakana.
"Huh?"
Katakana's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Vermut's speed to suddenly spike.
He couldn't dodge. He could only cross his arms and brace for impact.
Boom!
Vermut's punch landed hard, sending Katakana flying like a missile into the protective barrier, which groaned from the impact.
Katakana managed to steady himself, but his arms were numb.
"Vermut's full power is definitely impressive."
"My 50% destruction isn't enough..."
"But… what if I add this?"
Katakana's gaze sharpened, locking onto Vermut.
And Vermut, seeing Katakana knocked back, smirked sinisterly.
His guess had been right.
Katakana's mastery of destruction might be better than Toppo's, but still nowhere near his own.
And that gave him confidence.
"You damned brat. Now I'll show you what happens when you cross a God of Destruction!"
The moment the words fell, Vermut charged again.
This time his speed was even more terrifying.
He was like a completely different being now, this was why Gods of Destruction were considered the apex of the universes.
But even as fast as Vermut was…
Katakana could still see it.
"Gave up? haha!"
Vermut smiled coldly, his punch just five centimeters away from Katakana's chest.
But at the last second, Katakana's body slid sideways, narrowly dodging the strike.
Without thinking. Without planning.
His body simply reacted on its own.
"Wha-!?"
"He dodged it? From that close? How!?"
Vermut was stunned.
He had never seen someone react from such close range, especially not to his punch.
"Maybe… maybe it was just luck…"
He tried to calm himself.
But on the sidelines, Macarita's expression was locked in stunned silence.
"That movement…"
"No doubt about it."
"So that's what I was sensing!"
"But… how can a mortal reach that state…!?"
The angel stared at Katakana in disbelief.
There was only one possible explanation for what she just witnessed.
And apart from that realm…
There was no other answer.