Chapter 89: Substitute vs. Substitute, Underestimated
"Combat, huh!" Quitela beamed with overwhelming confidence, pointing at Lin Qi. "My substitute!"
"Oh... it's been years, and now you have a substitute too?" Belmod's expression grew more disdainful as he glanced at Lin Qi.
"Doesn't seem like much... though he does look kind of familiar!"
"Marcarita, go call those two little guys over!" Belmod remained lazily slumped on the sofa.
"Belmod, I think you misunderstood. It's my substitute who will be fighting yours!" Quitela's small tail swayed behind him.
"My substitute is someone who can easily crush Beerus!"
"Tch..." Belmod was unconvinced. He couldn't trust this rat's bragging. "Let them beat those two little guys first, then we'll talk!"
The wait wasn't long—less than five minutes—before Kai brought in a younger Jiren and Toppo.
Toppo still had the same signature handlebar mustache, not much different from how he appeared during the Tournament of Power.
"Lord Belmod!" In their trademark black-and-red uniforms, Toppo and Jiren bowed respectfully to Belmod.
"Why did you summon the Pride Troopers? What's your command?" Toppo kept his gaze forward, completely ignoring Quitela and his group sitting nearby.
Belmod didn't explain. He turned to Quitela and asked, "Here, or somewhere else?"
"The Null Realm," Quitela blurted without hesitation, recalling Lin Qi's last battle with Beerus. He was scared, absolutely scared!
"Tsk... do we really have to go there? It's just a kids' scuffle..." Belmod grumbled, but he still stood up from the sofa.
"Fine, I'll come along for the show. I've got nothing better to do anyway!"
The group soon appeared in the endless expanse of the Null Realm.
"Let's get started quickly!" Belmod glanced behind him at Toppo. "Go defeat him, and do it fast!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Toppo!" Lin Qi smirked coldly. It was still too early. Toppo's combat power at this point was at best comparable to Super Saiyan 3.
"You know me?" Toppo looked at the floating Lin Qi across from him, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
He couldn't believe the Pride Troopers' fame had already spread beyond Universe 11, reaching the whole... multiverse!
"Is he already your substitute?" Lin Qi ignored the question and turned to ask Belmod, who was watching with his group.
"Sort of..." Belmod responded nonchalantly. In his eyes, all those who upheld justice were his substitutes!
Lin Qi frowned slightly, which only deepened Belmod's disdain. Was he getting cold feet?
In truth, Lin Qi was annoyed. Belmod, whose strength wasn't even on par with Beerus, was acting so high and mighty...
No wonder the proud Quitela disliked him. Then again, no God of Destruction wasn't arrogant... actually, no Dragon Ball character wasn't arrogant!
"Lin Qi, take it easy on him, will you?" Quitela sneered provocatively at Belmod, then cupped his hands around his mouth to shout.
Toppo's strength might be decent, but in Quitela's eyes, it was nothing worth mentioning.
If Lin Qi fought him, it would be a guaranteed one-shot victory!
"You first. Otherwise, you might not get the chance to attack," Lin Qi said indifferently, gesturing politely with his hand.
He found it hard to muster any real interest since his actual target was Belmod.
Even the current Jiren didn't particularly intrigue him!
Toppo was visibly irritated by Lin Qi's dismissive attitude and superior demeanor.
As the Pride Troopers' vanguard and a future God of Destruction candidate, he was accustomed to being respected and revered.
But the person before him utterly disregarded him!
"I don't need your mercy!" Furious, Toppo lunged at Lin Qi with a swift punch.
"You said it. Let's end this!" Upon hearing Toppo's words, Lin Qi also threw a punch.
Their fists collided almost simultaneously, but as soon as they connected, Toppo was sent flying by Lin Qi's immense force.
"Boom!"
Toppo's body was blasted backward, disappearing into the distance as a tiny black dot in mere moments.
Seeing this, Quitela grinned smugly at Belmod, standing with hands on his hips and laughing heartily. "Haha... my substitute is the strongest!"
"Interesting..." Belmod's eyes narrowed dangerously. He turned to Jiren and commanded, "Your turn. Test him out!"
Meanwhile, Marcarita had already flown off to retrieve Toppo.
"Heh... so weak, yet so arrogant," Lin Qi chuckled, turning his attention to the now-approaching Jiren.
"Go ahead. I'll let you make the first move."
"Damn it..." Back on the sidelines, Toppo—brought back by Marcarita—watched the distant confrontation between Lin Qi and Jiren with a dark expression.
He hadn't anticipated that this boy would possess such terrifying strength.
And it had only taken a single punch...
In the void's center, the two figures stood facing each other, their auras flaring like sparks from a struck match.
Jiren stared at Lin Qi expressionlessly. The way his opponent floated so effortlessly made him seem utterly flawless.
Lin Qi gazed back coldly at the vigilant Jiren. "Let me be clear: I won't hold back."
"Neither will I!" Jiren's expression grew even graver. His words sounded confident, but he could feel the overwhelming strength of his opponent!
Even in their base forms, Lin Qi's combat power was several times higher than his own!
After a brief pause, Jiren finally made his move. With a light step, he charged at Lin Qi.
His speed was leagues above Toppo's!
"Whoosh!"
Jiren's punch missed entirely as Lin Qi dodged with a mere tilt of his head, without moving his feet.
Another punch, same result.
Jiren, usually stoic, began to crack under the strain of his failed attempts. "Damn it..."
"Raaahhh!"
Frustrated, Jiren's punches grew faster than ever before, yet they still failed to land on Lin Qi.
"Heh... I told you, my substitute is the strongest!" Quitela taunted Belmod again, seizing the opportunity.
"Tch!" Belmod's face twitched, annoyed by Quitela's constant jabs. He scoffed coldly, "What's the rush? This is only the beginning. Jiren hasn't even gone all out yet!"
"Is that so?" Quitela sneered, focusing back on the fight, eagerly awaiting Belmod's humiliation.
After several failed attacks, Jiren realized he was no match for Lin Qi. Ultimately, Lin Qi's punch sent Jiren flying backward as well.
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