This is a non-profit fan work created purely out of love for the anime universes I grew up with. All characters and settings from the Dragon Ball franchise belong to Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation. This chapter is part of a multiverse what-if collection—no copyright infringement intended.
Please support the official releases.
Also, don't take this too seriously. Nero's just vibing through universes.
The Tournament of Power was never meant for outsiders.
Twelve universes. Dozens of warriors. All watched over by the twin gods of erasure—Zeno and Zeno.
But then… something changed.
Reality bent, just slightly. The very air grew still. Even the Void trembled, though none could explain why.
A silent figure stood near the edge of the arena, beside him—of all things—a smug-looking chicken perched on his head, utterly unfazed.
He hadn't made an entrance.
He hadn't even moved.
But the moment he appeared—something about reality itself felt wrong. The kind of wrong that makes even gods glance over their shoulders.
"Who… is that?" Whis whispered, his staff vibrating faintly.
Beerus narrowed his eyes. "He doesn't belong to any timeline. I don't like this."
The Grand Priest's smile faltered for the first time in eons. "He's not interfering. Not yet."
The figure simply watched. Calm. Curious. Like a man passing through a museum—only the exhibits were divine powerhouses.
Then Goku noticed him.
With a grin too big for his own good, he flashed beside the stranger. "Hey! You look strong! Wanna fight?"
Beerus's jaw dropped. "Goku, you IDIOT—!"
Whis moved to stop it. So did Jiren. Even Hit twitched.
But it was already too late.
The stranger—Nero Angelo—turned his head ever so slightly. His eyes didn't glow. His aura didn't rise. He simply looked at Goku.
"I'm only here to watch," he said softly. No echo. No pressure. Yet the sound hit harder than a god's decree.
Still, Goku grinned. "Just one spar! I promise I'll go all out!"
Nero nodded once. "Very well."
And then everything fell apart.
Goku launched forward with instinct honed over countless battles. Ultra Instinct shimmered around him. The arena warped from the force.
But not a single punch landed.
Not one.
Nero didn't dodge.
He was simply... never where the blows would hit.
It wasn't speed.
It was inevitability.
Goku panted, stunned. And then Nero raised a single hand and touched his forehead.
Time stopped.
Visions flooded Goku's mind.
Everyone he loved. Dying. Again. And again. And again.
Because of battles he picked. Because he always ran toward power without thinking.
He saw Chi-Chi scream.
Gohan fall.
Even Vegeta... erased.
Goku dropped to his knees, eyes wide with unshed tears.
Nero knelt beside him, whispering words only Goku would remember.
Then he stood and turned. Clucknor ruffled his feathers smugly.
They left without another word.
And on the godly dais, one Zeno leaned toward the other.
"He's fun. Let's keep him."
"No," the other replied. "He's scary.