The Grand Priest said, "Mr. Gohan, do you still remember the wish you made to the Super Shenron during the Tournament of Power a few years ago?"
Gohan nodded and replied, "Of course I remember. I asked the Super Shenron to restore the lost universes. Is it related to that?" Gohan frowned, sensing something ominous.
The Grand Priest nodded and continued, "That's right. Mr. Gohan, you may not know this, but a long time ago, there weren't just 12 universes in Zeno's realm. There were 18 universes..."
"Wha-what?" Gohan was momentarily stunned, his mind struggling to process this revelation.
Beerus and Whis both visibly trembled at the mention, recalling vague rumors they had heard in the past.
"And then what happened?" Gohan asked, an uneasy feeling settling in his chest.
The Grand Priest explained, "Yes, with your wish, the six universes that were erased by Lord Zeno long ago were restored by the Super Shenron."
Gohan's heart skipped a beat. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Was he about to be held responsible for this?
The Grand Priest continued, "This, in itself, isn't the problem. The number of universes simply returned to 18. However, some unfortunate events have occurred recently."
"Unfortunate events?" Gohan echoed, his concern deepening.
"Indeed," the Grand Priest said gravely. "The six universes that were wiped out in ancient times were destroyed because the original Gods of Destruction in those universes committed grave offenses, which angered Lord Zeno."
He continued, "After your wish, the six universes were restored. Naturally, the Gods of Destruction who were supposed to remain erased were also resurrected. While Lord Zeno chose to let bygones be bygones, these resurrected Gods of Destruction harbored resentment. Rather than being grateful, they secretly plotted rebellion, fearing they would be erased once more. In their desperation, they fled to the Dark Demon Realm."
"They... escaped?" Gohan's eyes widened in shock.
Beerus and Whis exchanged worried glances. This was far worse than they had imagined.
"Yes," the Grand Priest affirmed. "These gods, fearing for their lives, fled to the Dark Demon Realm—a place of great danger and corruption. Their escape and defiance have complicated matters."
At that moment, Lord Zeno, who had been quietly eating his cake, looked up and said, "Yes, they aren't very obedient. I want to erase them."
"But since they escaped to the Dark Demon Realm, it's a bit tricky to get rid of them. So, the Grand Priest said this happened because of you, Gohan. He suggested you handle it..."
"Uh..." Gohan glanced at the Grand Priest, who met his gaze with a calm smile.
The Grand Priest elaborated, "Originally, I thought this task might be too difficult for you, Mr. Gohan. However, seeing your growth today, I'm confident that you can succeed."
Confident... Gohan thought to himself. But what if he hadn't grown? Would this have been a suicide mission?
Gohan was at a loss for words, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders.
He asked, "What are the power levels of these six Gods of Destruction?"
The Grand Priest smiled gently. "There are both strong and weak among them. The strongest is Torres, the God of Destruction from Universe 18. His power is comparable to that of Lord Beerus. The second strongest is Reebus from Universe 13, though the gap isn't large. As for the other four, you should be able to handle them with relative ease."
Gohan's heart sank further. The Grand Priest's confidence was reassuring, but the task ahead seemed monumental. He was just a trainee God of Destruction, after all.
He asked cautiously, "Can I enlist help for this task?"
To his surprise, the Grand Priest nodded. "Of course. It would be wise to seek assistance. While angels cannot interfere directly in mortal affairs, you are free to seek the aid of other Gods of Destruction."
Before Gohan could speak, Beerus, who had been silently absorbing all this, suddenly patted his chest. "Gohan, let me help you."
Gohan looked at Beerus, genuinely surprised by his loyalty. The gesture touched him deeply, considering the dangers involved.
"Thank you, Lord Beerus," Gohan said sincerely.
Beerus simply chuckled, but said nothing more.
Gohan continued, "Okay, but I need to learn more about the Dark Demon Realm and the specifics of these six Gods of Destruction. I also need time to prepare. There's no strict time limit, is there?"
The Grand Priest nodded approvingly. "Of course. That's only fair. I will compile all the necessary information and have Whis deliver it to you. As for the time limit, you have ten years to complete this task."
Ten years. Gohan breathed a sigh of relief. Ten years was more than enough time, considering everything he had achieved in the past decade.
For gods, ten years is but a moment. For mortals, it's a significant stretch of time.
The Grand Priest added, "Naturally, you won't be doing this without reward. Upon completing the task, Lord Zeno will grant you a reward. As for what it is, that will remain a surprise for now."
"Thank you, Grand Priest. Thank you, Lord Zeno," Gohan said, bowing slightly in gratitude.
The Grand Priest concluded, "I wish you success, Mr. Gohan. The longer those six rogue Gods of Destruction remain in the Dark Demon Realm, the greater the risk to our universe and beyond. Their existence there is a stain on the honor of our cosmos."
Turning to Whis, the Grand Priest added, "Whis, please return to Universe 7 with Mr. Gohan and Lord Beerus. Once the information is ready, I will send it to you."
Whis bowed slightly. "Yes, Father."
"Lord Zeno, Grand Priest, we will take our leave now," Gohan said.
"Goodbye," Lord Zeno waved, still enjoying his cake.
"Bon voyage," the Grand Priest echoed.
Whis, Beerus, and Gohan left Zeno's temple, all with different thoughts swirling in their minds.
As they departed, Lord Zeno turned to the Grand Priest and asked, "Do you think Gohan can really complete the mission? Those six Gods of Destruction are formidable."
"You mentioned that Torres's strength is comparable to Beerus, but that was a long time ago..." Lord Zeno's tone was unusually thoughtful.
The Grand Priest smiled gently, his eyes shining with a deeper understanding. "Time will tell, Your Majesty. As for the candidates for the role of God of Destruction in these six restored universes, I have some ideas. But that's a matter for another day."
Lord Zeno nodded, his attention drifting back to his cake. "Yes, we'll see."
...