18 died beneath Jiang Ling's attack, his body and soul annihilated.
A wisp of golden hair drifted down from the sky.
Jiang Ling glanced at it. It was curled, so he paid it no mind.
He turned his gaze to the battle between Trunks and Android 17.
Android 17 had gone berserk. He no longer cared about anything, unleashing an endless torrent of energy.
Jiang Ling called out, "Trunks, can you handle it? Want me to help?"
"No!"
Trunks immediately refused.
Whether he could do it or not was something Xiao Wu knew.
But more importantly, he had to defeat an android himself!
It had always been his goal!
The androids had ravaged Earth, leaving it devastated and its people suffering. They had slaughtered Earth's warriors, including Brother Gohan.
Whatever else, for Earth, and for Brother Gohan—
He had to avenge them!!
If Jiang Ling killed both androids, how could he ever face his dead friends and family?
"All right. Hurry up. A real man knows when to be fast and when to take his time!"
Jiang Ling spread his hands and flew some distance away.
He set up a table and chairs.
A teapot and some pastries and other refreshments sat on the table.
Tea fragrance curled through the air, steam rising from the pot.
Jiang Ling had actually settled in to enjoy his tea.
The energy pouring from Android 17's hands faltered. His face twisted with fury!
That bastard!
He'd killed my sister, and now he still had the nerve to sit there drinking tea!!
Android 17 immediately unleashed a barrage of Energy blasts!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Trunks flashed into motion, intercepting most of the blasts. Only a few slipped past.
Sipping his tea, Jiang Ling casually flicked the Energy blasts away.
He didn't give them a second thought.
"I'm your opponent!"
Trunks snorted, drew the Great Treasure Sword from his back, and charged forward.
One slash!
Raging Dragon Severing Sky Slash!
Caught off guard, Android 17 was sent flying.
Then came Trunks's fists, moving so fast they left afterimages.
Boom, boom, boom.
Android 17 endured the barrage of punches, then suddenly powered up!
Boom!!
A massive blast of energy erupted around him, blasting a huge crater into the ground!
Trunks had no choice but to retreat some distance as well.
Android 17 wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were sinister, his expression dark.
"Heh. Very good, Trunks. I never imagined you'd become this powerful in just a few days."
"I admit I can't beat you. But I can make sure you all join me and 18 in death!"
"Ha ha ha!! Gah gah gah!! Heh heh heh!!"
Android 17 laughed maniacally, completely losing his mind.
He raised both hands. A gigantic purple orb of light appeared above his head!
It radiated an overwhelmingly oppressive force!!
"Die, all of you!!"
Android 17 thrust both hands down. The purple orb slammed toward Trunks!
He was going to destroy Trunks along with Earth! Then Jiang Ling, the one who'd killed his sister, wouldn't escape either!
The purple orb reflected in Trunks's eyes, growing larger and larger.
Trunks's expression was grave.
He'd long since anticipated this worst-case scenario.
So he was fully prepared!
"Take this!"
Trunks barked.
"Phantom! Sword! Dance!"
Gripping his greatsword with both hands, he repeatedly swung it at the purple orb.
Energy transformed into sword slashes, layering up in front of him!
He swung hundreds of times in an instant, filling the air with a dense web of sword energy!
"Go!"
Trunks swung again. A massive sword slash, joined by all the energy he'd built up, slammed into the purple orb!
Bang!!
Rumble!!
A blinding light erupted where the two attacks met!
Energy surged, and the air trembled.
The tremendous force flattened what remained of the ruined city!
Android 17 stared blankly at what lay before him.
He couldn't believe it!
That had been his strongest attack!
And Trunks had blocked it!!
Trunks didn't even look like he'd exerted much effort!
"How can this be... How can this be..."
Android 17 stood dazed, muttering to himself.
Trunks looked at him coldly and said,
"Now it's time for you to answer for the lives you've taken!"
"Extreme Ghost Sword Technique: Storm Style"
Trunks vanished.
Countless swords appeared around Android 17.
They formed a strange sword formation,
trapping Android 17 within it.
Whoosh!
A flash of sword light streaked past.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Two flashes of sword light streaked past!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Three! Five! Nine!!
Clang—!!!
Countless sword cries rang through the heavens and earth.
In the formation, Trunks could just be made out, wielding his greatsword as he darted back and forth!
Countless sword lights slashed toward Android 17!
In an instant, a razor-sharp sword intent swept across the battlefield, setting countless three-foot-long swords humming and trembling.
Even the air seemed to ripple.
"No!!"
Android 17 roared, his body covered in countless sword wounds.
Blood streamed from them without end!
Then every sword around him surged forward, hurtling straight at him.
A rampaging energy that crushed everything in its path swept across the battlefield. The ground split apart inch by inch, its color changed by the devastation.
On the battlefield,
only one person remained.
Trunks gripped his greatsword and stared blankly at the sky.
For a moment, it seemed Gohan's weathered face had appeared in the heavens.
Two streams of tears ran down his cheeks.
"Brother Gohan, I've finally avenged you..."
"You can see this from up there, can't you?"
"Cough, cough... Pui Pui Pui!"
Jiang Ling climbed out of the ground and spat out several mouthfuls of dirt.
"Trunks, could you try to control the power a little? You hit your own father with that."
Jiang Ling brushed the dirt off his clothes and grumbled.
"Next time, for sure."
Trunks smiled faintly. For once, he didn't object to Jiang Ling calling himself his father.
He glanced at the battlefield, then took out a flask of wine.
He poured it onto the earth.
A toast to Earth's rebirth.
The age of the androids—
was finally over!!
Trunks and Jiang Ling returned to the base.
They noticed that the atmosphere seemed strange.
A little somber...
Jiang Ling frowned, stepped forward, and grabbed someone. "What's going on today?"
The person kept his head down and said sadly, "Lord Trunks sacrificed himself fighting the androids."
"???"
"Who said that?"
Trunks wore a bewildered expression.
"Lady Xiaowu said so... Sigh, leave me alone. I'm grieving..."
"Look up. Do you know who I am?"
At his words, the man looked up.
His face instantly filled with terror. He collapsed to the ground, scrambling backward as he shouted,
"You... you... are you alive or dead!?"
His shout immediately drew everyone's attention inside the base.
They all turned to look.
"Holy crap."
"Lord Trunks!?"
"You're alive?? Thank goodness!!"
"Holy crap, Lord Trunks survived against all odds! He's bound to have good fortune ahead! I'm going to marry my little sister off to him!"
"Give it a rest. Your sister looks like that—don't embarrass yourself. Only Lady Xiaowu and Lady Videl are worthy of Trunks!"
The person who'd said that was immediately kicked to the ground by a petite girl with short hair.
The girl had a spirited look about her. She snorted. "I'm not interested in him."
Jiang Ling was slightly taken aback by what was happening.
Videl was here too!?
She was still alive??
That was something he hadn't expected.
Trunks stepped onto the platform, where a woman with long black hair and straight bangs was waiting for him.
Xiao Wu looked embarrassed. Facing Trunks, she hid both hands behind her back and gave an awkward laugh.
"I... I didn't mean to. I thought you might not come back..."
"Fool."
Trunks poked her forehead, his face full of affection.
Just then, he noticed Xiao Wu's hands clasped behind her back and asked curiously:
"What are you holding back there?"
At that, Xiao Wu shook her head like a rattle drum. "Nothing... nothing at all!"
"Let me see."
As he spoke, Trunks wrapped his arms around Xiao Wu and reached behind her to take something from her hands.
He pulled it out and took a look.
It was a memorial tablet!
"Good grief, you actually prepared a memorial tablet!?"
Before you continue