Yes, I know that it's been months since I last updated, especially when everything in this world changed, especially with how this year has progressed. I'll admit: I miss being able to leave the house to go to work in the mornings (despite how early I would have to get up).

No, I still have my job, but doing it remotely isn't the same as being at work. The last week I went to work was draining both physically and mentally in order to quickly readjust.

Yes, I know that this no excuse for keeping you waiting, but this transition was pretty difficult, and I have a feeling that it won't change anytime soon.

Well, time I put aside the depressing stuff and for y'all to get into the shameless escape into reading this chapter.

Did I leave some characters out last time? Yes I did, but don't worry, I haven't forgotten that there's something going on between Frost and Frieza. Or Goku's desire to fight Jiren. Or Hit and Jiren and...

Lord help me. I am going to start taking this story into MY direction already 'cause I ain't gonna keep it all the same. Especially since you're wondering where and when Vegito's going to come back. Let me just say that it's coming. I have it all planned out, but it's not going to be in this chapter in case you're wondering.

Maybe he'll make another random one-sided talk with our guys. Or maybe he'll finally start teasing Jiren mentally and making him wonder how this is all possible. No, then he might just jump out of the ring and ruin my inner musings.

Whatever the case might be, I can only tease you all for so long before he appears once more. With that said, enjoy the story peeps!

#abusepotaranerf #chibisatitagain #bringvegitoback

Frost followed Frieza almost like a shadow, seeming to question what the former despot plans to do first. As they landed out of range of the others, it seemed that he was finally ready to reveal his plan.

"Do you see those three over there?" Frieza pointed to Krillin, Tien, and Master Roshi. "I want you to take those three out."

"What? But they are your teammates, aren't they?" Frost was bewildered. What kind of logic was this that he would allow the doppelganger from Universe 6 to attack Frieza's own teammates like that?

"They are, but that doesn't mean I care that much about them," Frieza frowns in a disgusted voice. "Taking those three out will ensure that there is less competition."

"Ah, I think I understand," Frost finally realized the Universe 7 fighter's intentions. It seemed that Frieza wanted them gone so he could lessen the odds of someone hindering their plans. "Alright, I'll deal with them."

"Good, go now," Frieza walked away to cause trouble elsewhere while Frost lunged forward. He made up his mind on who he would take out first.

The short bald one.

_______

Toppo from Universe 11 decided to lead an assault with Dyspo on Goku. It seemed that he had a personal grudge against the Saiya-jin, especially after what transpired recently that led them down this path. Regardless, the young man did not seem bothered being double-teamed and had transformed into a Super Saiya-jin just to spite them.

"He's pretty good," Dyspo noted as he managed to keep up with the Universe 7 fighter blow to blow. "Thought he would be a pushover, but he seems to be keeping up with my attacks."

"Dyspo, be wary, he still has that blue transformation in his pocket," Toppo warned, his eyes glancing over at the other Pride Trooper.

"You shouldn't hold back against us," Dyspo snarled, not pleased by the Saiya-jin holding back on the duo.

"I want to save my strength to fight against the strongest one here!" Goku blocks the blows that are thrown, at times narrowly dodging the speedster's lightning fast jabs. As he prepared to counter, Goku's fist went through an afterimage that Dyspo left behind.

"You're too slow, fool!" He mocked the slower warrior. The Universe 7 fighter kept trying to hit him, but each time, he was just hitting nothing but air. "You'll never be able to fight Jiren if you can't even hit me!"

Toppo was amused at the idea of the Saiya-jin not being able to keep up with their speed. It was rare anyone other than Jiren could without much effort. Then again, Jiren made Dyspo look like a glass cannon due to the rabbit-like creature's only main advantage being his extreme speed. It would be bad if someone who could match his speed easily get the upper hand, but it appeared that no one could without much effort.

'If we can knock out the others, then Jiren can get his wish...' Toppo thought silently to himself. He was a bit stunned when at first, the strongest Pride Trooper had refused to even take part in this tournament, but when the Super Dragon Balls were mentioned, Jiren hesitated slightly.

While he had no idea why Jiren had eventually agreed with reluctance, he knew that there was a past with the gray alien that only Belmond seemed to be mostly aware of that he had yet to share with them. Truth be told, it could be the reason that Jiren had agreed to become a Pride Trooper: to avenge his late master's life.

It was something that plagued the gray-skinned alien for the longest time, ever since he had lost his parents at a young age. The horrid villain not only took their lives, but also hurt Jiren when he found a father in a man that took him in and trained him to become stronger. Before the old man died, Jiren wanted the late master to acknowledge his strength, but that day never came to be despite his training.

Despite everything he had worked for. It was taken away, just like his parent's lives before that.

Toppo saw that the Saiya-jin was still missing, still struggling to land one blow on Dyspo who easily evaded the warrior's attacks.

"You'll never hit me in a thousand years!" He boasted proudly.

Goku was clearly frustrated, and yet, he kept trying.

And failing.

_______

Krillin was preparing to attack one of the fighters from Universe 6, the universe that was similar to their own when he was suddenly and unexpectedly knocked out of the ring, courtesy of Frost.

"What in the hell?!" Beerus yelled at Krillin. He had not even taken down one fighter in his time in the ring.

"I didn't expect to be knocked out of the ring too easily!" Krillin mutters, clearly not happy with his predicament. He glanced down and realized that Frieza was nearby.

With Frost.

"Tien! Watch out!" Krillin yelled, but his cry was too little, too late as the three-eyed warrior was next to be booted out of the ring. In moments, he too joined Krillin in the area where Universe 7 was seated.

This wasn't good.

"Goku! Protect Master Roshi!" Tien yelled down to the ring. "Frieza's turned his back on us!"

Goku, who had been trying in vain to hit Dyspo, quickly teleported right when Frost turned his attention on the old man. He quickly came to Master Roshi's aid and stopped Universe 6's despot from even getting close.

"You can't protect the old man forever," Frost snorted.

"Why don't you fight the others?" Goku frowns, clearly not pleased by the despot's cowardly attacks. He even frowns at Frieza for turning on their universe, but he seemed to look away displeased.

"Come on Frost, it seems we'll thin the numbers elsewhere since this monkey has intervened with our fun," Frieza snorted in disgust before they both flew off.

"Maybe Vegeta's right... maybe this was a bad idea..." Goku mumbled to himself.

'You think?' Vegito sarcastically questioned.

If Frieza did really turn on them, then they would have to watch their backs since their worst enemy was among them.

And then, there was still concern about Jiren since he had not even attempted to fight just yet.

_______

Frost followed Frieza until they were among the other fighters, most of them hailing from Universe 10. The despot from Universe 7 just studies his protege carefully as he analyzes the fighters ahead of them.

"Can you power up further than this?" Frieza asked Frost.

"I can, though it can wear me down after some time," Frost admits honestly.

"Don't worry, just take them out and once you do, I'll carry out the rest."

A smile appears on the fighter of Universe 6. "Good. I'll make sure to take out as many as I can."

_______

The fighting continued to rage in as each universe was pitted against one another. Fighter against fighter. The only shared goal they have is to survive.

Survive this living nightmare and return to their normal lives. Their homes.

The wish itself was an afterthought, especially after seeing one fall the way they did.

The fighters pause as they see the tyrant from Universe 6 hold nothing back as he knocks off whoever he can, his body strained as he attempts to take down as many opponents as possible. It was maddening: why would he fight with all of his strength so recklessly like this?

Still, his efforts paid off. Frost was winded by all of this.

"Alright, I kept up my end of the bargain," Frost boasted to Frieza. "Are you ready to finish them?"

"Of course," Frieza smirked in amusement. "However, there is one more thing you should know..."

"What is it?" Frost questioned.

"You shouldn't trust anyone..." Those four words were spoken in malice as Frost suddenly found himself getting knocked out of the ring by an energy blast by Frieza. The Universe 6 fighter did not have the strength left to fight or even catch himself before he fell into the very void that he had sent most of the other warriors.

In seconds, Frost found himself on the sidelines, the despot was too stunned at first to realize what had just happened. He mostly ignored Champa yelling at him as the stunned expression shifted into frustration. Then anger. The Universe 6 fighter had just been bitterly betrayed by Frieza.

OF ALL !

"You tricked me!" Frost angrily roared from the stands.

"Did you really think I would join forces with you and help your universe win the tournament?" Frieza mockingly answered before he casually started to walk away. "I'm sorry, but I only look after my own interests... not a second rate fighter's..."

"You... YOU!" Frost grew infuriated by the humiliation he suffered at who he thought was an ally's hand. That he thought he could trust. "How dare you call me a second rate fighter?!"

Frieza continued to walk away, totally unbothered by the spectator that Frost had just become. This only angered the Universe 6 fighter even further.

"Hey! You get back here! Treat me like I'm below your station will you?! I'll show you!!" Frost prepares a blast to snipe Frieza from behind.

However, it seemed that Frost's actions had sealed his fate in the eyes of the Omni Kings watching from higher up.

"No!" Both child-like voices cried out in retaliation, their hands glowing with a familiar destructive light as Frost was suddenly consumed by it and immediately erased. It seemed that they were displeased with what Frost was about to do and took this matter into their own hands.

Champa was immediately mortified, wanting to grovel at their feet for what the despot had nearly done. He turned his attention to the twin Lords of the Omniverse, praying that their universe was spared from their wrath.

"No attacks from outside!" One of the Omni Kings chided.

"Do it again and we'll erase all of Universe 6!" The other agreed immediately.

The realization that they meant this threat forced Champa to prostrate himself on the ground immediately. "I'm very sorry!"

Not far away, a satisfied grin was on Beerus' face.

"At least we know now that Frieza's on our side and had no intentions of betrayal."

"Of course my lord," Whis agreed wholeheartedly.

Still, the balance of their universe was still not restored despite that underhanded method. There were still improbabilities in this fight.

Improbabilities that still have yet to come up despite how well they were doing compared to the other universes besides Universe 11.

Beerus glanced over at the empty bench. Save Belmond, his angel assistant, and their Supreme Kai, none of their fighters have yet to get knocked out of the ring.

How would Universe 7 truly fare against them?

_______

There was a fighter from Universe 10 that was fighting for a selfless reason: he had a family waiting for him back home.

Obni found himself fighting valiantly against Gohan while Piccolo attacked Rubalt. Obni saw his ally knocked out of the ring. Realizing that he was the only one left, he knew that he had the fate of Universe 10 on his shoulders.

He could not...

No. He not lose. His wife and young son were depending upon him. He roared as he lunged at Gohan with more strength, fighting as hard as he could as the young fighter from Universe 7 found himself struggling against this powerful fighter.

Soon, it was apparent that it was in vain as Gohan knocked Obni out of the ring. In the process, the locket's charm snapped off and hit the ground. He found himself among the others who had fallen and suddenly realized in horror that he had lost. His family, his universe. He had fought as hard as he could, but in the end, it was not enough.

Obni noticed that the young man who knocked him out paused and looked at the charm. Did he... did he have a family that he was fighting for as well?

Sadly, the answer was lost to him as the last conscious thought and everything that he was made of happened to be erased from existence without a trace. Even the very picture that was torn from his grasp.

It was a reminder to the other fighters that there was more at stake here than ever.