"Angel?"
"Yes," the Grand Priest replied with a calm demeanor. "You may also choose Whis. If you do, I will assign an intern angel to replace him."
Hearing this, Goten pondered for a moment before speaking. "In that case, I'll choose Whis."
"Very well," the Grand Priest agreed. "Whis, you will follow Goten from now on."
"Understood, Father," Whis replied, nodding respectfully.
"Master Grand Priest," Goten said, "you mentioned earlier that you would guide me in my training?"
"Indeed," the Grand Priest affirmed. "Although your strength is remarkable, your mastery of Ultra Instinct likely does not yet surpass Whis's. I intend to guide you further in refining this ability.
"Ultra Instinct is the foundation of an angel's normal state, but even this state can evolve further. There are three realms of mastery: the Realm of Perception, the Realm of Control, and finally, the Realm of Transcendence."
"Realm of Transcendence?" Goten repeated, his interest piqued.
"The level of Ultra Instinct currently mastered by Whis and the others is the second realm, the Realm of Control," the Grand Priest explained.
"And you've reached the third realm?" Goten asked.
"That's correct," the Grand Priest replied with a nod.
"There's no rush," he continued. "I will guide your training in due time. For now, your priority should be to prepare the eight universes for the war that will erupt in three years."
"Understood," Goten said. "Then, Grand Zeno and Master Grand Priest, if there's nothing else, I will take my leave."
Zeno and the Grand Priest nodded. With their approval, Goten departed the palace with Whis and the others.
Back in Universe 7, Shin Kai shared the news of Goten's ascension to godhood with Old Kai. Upon hearing this, Old Kai turned to Goten, scrutinizing him with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
Seeing Old Kai's reaction, Goten smirked and cleared his throat. "Old Kai, shouldn't you be addressing me more respectfully now?"
"What do you mean by that?!" Old Kai retorted, visibly irked.
Goten chuckled. "As a Kaioshin, it would be rather rude not to address me properly, wouldn't it?"
Old Kai's face flushed with frustration, but he begrudgingly complied. "Lord Goten," he muttered through clenched teeth, clearly irritated by the turn of events.
Living for millions of years, Old Kai never imagined he'd one day have to address a mortal youth as "Lord."
Supreme Kai Shin, standing nearby, was equally stunned. "Old ancestor…" he began, his voice trailing off.
Turning his gaze to Supreme Kai Shin, Goten smirked. "Little Shin!"
The Supreme Kai winced at the nickname. His name, Shin, was now reduced to "Little Shin," a clear jab from Goten.
Although Supreme Kai Shin complied and addressed Goten as "Lord Goten," his dissatisfaction was evident.
Satisfied, Goten turned to Whis. "Shall we head back to Earth?"
"Of course, Lord Goten," Whis replied. With a wave of his staff, a radiant light enveloped them, transporting them back to Earth.
As soon as they departed, Old Kai muttered under his breath, "The villain succeeds again!"
"My lord, isn't that a bit harsh?" Supreme Kai Shin asked, uneasy about Old Kai's words.
"What's harsh about it?" Old Kai huffed. "Goten becomes a god and immediately starts throwing his weight around!"
Supreme Kai Shin sighed, choosing not to argue further. Deep down, he understood that Goten's ascension was no mere fluke. If The Grand Zeno and the Grand Priest entrusted Goten with such a monumental role, it was because his abilities truly warranted it.
Back on Earth, Whis informed Goten that he would temporarily leave to train his replacement, the intern angel.
Meanwhile, in the northern Milky Way, on a massive planet, a blue-green-skinned man with a mushroom-shaped hairstyle knelt before Whis. This man was none other than Merus, a Galactic Patrolman whose true identity was a trainee angel—and Whis's younger brother.
"Merus," Whis began, "Father must have informed you of your permanent appointment."
"Yes, Brother," Merus replied. "But why has this come about so suddenly? My internship isn't even over yet!"
Whis's expression turned serious. "The Great Mother Goddess has been released from her seal."
"The Great Mother Goddess?" Merus repeated, his face pale with shock.
"That's correct," Whis confirmed.
"But what does this have to do with my becoming a full-fledged angel?"
"Father assigned Goten to oversee the eight universes, and Goten selected me to accompany him," Whis explained.
"Goten? You mean the one who defeated Moro?"
"Precisely," Whis replied.
"But he's just a mortal! Why would Father entrust him with managing eight universes?" Merus asked, bewildered.
"Merus, don't underestimate Goten just because he's mortal," Whis warned. "His strength now surpasses even ours. Perhaps even our sister would struggle against him."
Merus's eyes widened in disbelief. "Goten… is that powerful?"
"Brother," Merus pressed, "who is Goten, really? Why do you and Father hold him in such high regard?"
Whis smiled faintly. "He may be mortal, but he's far from ordinary."
"Not ordinary?"
"Have you ever heard of a mortal whose power surpasses that of angels?" Whis asked.
Merus shook his head.
"Merus, your time with the Galactic Patrol has been valuable, but now you must leave and serve as Lord Beerus's new attendant."
"I understand, Brother," Merus said reluctantly.
Whis placed a hand on Merus's shoulder. "I know leaving your mortal comrades is difficult, but life is a cycle. What you're experiencing now, I have endured before."
Merus nodded silently, absorbing his brother's words.
Meanwhile, in an alternate timeline within the Dragon Ball AF universe, a Saiyan with white hair streaked with black sat aboard a massive spaceship alongside a pink-skinned woman. She had long white hair, pointed ears, and wore a red Kaioshin uniform over a pink dress.
The woman, named Lila, was the former West Kaioshin. Though presumed dead in her battle with Kid Buu, her body had drifted through space until she was rescued by King Cold, Frieza's father.
Her encounter with Kid Buu had left her deeply scarred, both physically and mentally. Consumed by a thirst for revenge, she obtained a drop of Goku's blood and used it to create the evil Saiyan known as Xicor—the very man standing beside her now.