Hero Tapion Appears; He Yi Slips Away

After a brief complaint, people turned their lights back on and returned to their work.

The reason they were not the least bit panicked by this abnormal sight was due to Bulma's foresight.

In the past, she had seen many times that whenever the Dragon God was summoned, the sky would turn pitch black regardless of whether it was day or night, making it impossible to see one's own hand.

Furthermore, the massive body of the Dragon God was prone to attracting the attention of other Earthlings.

Therefore, she came up with a solution: she publicly claimed that she was conducting a groundbreaking, era-defining experiment, and that the darkness was normal, telling the public not to panic if they saw it.

That is why the ordinary people now believed this explanation as if they were fools, thinking that Capsule Corp was truly conducting some heaven-defying experiment.

However, sometimes ignorance is a blessing for them.

If the truth about the Dragon Balls, which could grant any wish, were to spread, the Earth would have descended into an era of chaos long ago without the need for any foreign invasion; there would be no such peaceful and prosperous scene as there is today.

The scene shifts back to Bulma's super villa.

After the Dragon God emerged, it struck a pose in the air for two seconds before delivering its classic entrance line.

"Lucky one who has gathered the seven Dragon Balls, state your wish."

"I can grant you any wish, but you only have three!"

Hearing this, Trunks and Son Goten below were not afraid at all; instead, their faces were full of excitement.

"Dragon God, please help us open this box and rescue the Hero Tapion!" Trunks pointed at the silver box in Son Goten's hands and shouted.

Son Goten cooperated by holding the box up: "That's right, Dragon God, it's the box in my hands, please help us open it!"

Upon hearing this, the Earth Dragon God glanced at the box, already having a grasp of the situation, but still asked according to protocol: "Are you sure you want to make this wish?"

The two little ones nodded their heads frantically.

"Yes, yes, that's the wish!"

"That's right, please help us open it!"

After confirming the wish was correct, the Earth Dragon God said in a steady and majestic tone: "This wish is very simple; I can grant it for you right now."

As soon as the words fell, a flash of red light flickered in its scarlet eyes.

The next second.

The silver box in Son Goten's hands was suddenly enveloped by a mysterious halo of light and slowly floated into mid-air.

"Click!"

With a crisp, short sound, the box slowly opened.

However.

The moment the box opened, a thick smoke billowed out from within.

For a moment, everyone became vigilant, their eyes fixed on the smoke that had appeared and refused to dissipate.

Furthermore.

At the same time the box opened, he was surprised to discover that the old guy had vanished in an instant.

Tarble's attention was not on the smoke.

From beginning to end, his perception and gaze had never left that Demon Cultivator He Yi.

Seeing that old guy suddenly disappear, Tarble couldn't help but frown slightly.

How could this be?

He vanished in an instant without a single sound!

But I have already memorized your energy signature; you won't be able to escape!

Thinking of this, Tarble pushed his perception to full power.

In just a split second, he caught the energy signature of the Demon Cultivator He Yi and immediately sneered: "Found you!"

The next moment.

With a "whoosh," he also vanished from sight.

At this time, Vegeta, Son Goku, and Rix also noticed the anomaly here.

Almost simultaneously, they turned their heads to look at the spot where Tarble and the Demon Cultivator He Yi had been.

Seeing no one there, they immediately realized that the old guy definitely had a problem.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to disappear silently right under their noses.

In an instant, Vegeta and Rix flashed to Son Goku's side.

"Kakarot, do you know when Tarble and that old geezer left?" Vegeta asked with some irritation.

He believed that the old man's sudden departure was definitely because Son Goku had exposed his strength just now.

Hearing this, Son Goku spread his hands, his expression a mix of confusion and innocence: "I don't know either. I only turned around to look after I noticed Tarble's energy signature had vanished."

"I didn't expect that old grandpa to be gone, too."

"That old man must have seen your strength and slipped away!" Vegeta accused him bluntly. "Hmph, that old geezer was definitely hiding something from us. To be able to escape without a sound, he is certainly no ordinary person!"

Son Goku seemed to agree that he had scared the man off, scratching his head in embarrassment. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the startled cries of Trunks and Son Goten.

"Goten, look, is there a silhouette in the smoke?"

"Ah—Trunks, I, I see it too!"

Immediately after, they heard Son Gohan's panicked voice.

"Goten, Trunks, get back here quickly!"

Hearing this, the three of them—Son Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan—felt a jolt of alarm and whipped their heads around to look.

To their surprise, they discovered that the outline of a figure was indeed emerging from within the smoke.

In an instant, they all grew vigilant. While keeping their eyes locked on the figure becoming clearer in the smoke, they all prepared themselves for battle.

"Trunks, protect your mother!" Vegeta shouted quickly at Trunks, his expression grave.

Because he could not sense the strength of this mysterious person in the smoke at all.

Upon hearing this, Trunks immediately replied, "I know, Father."

He then flashed over to Bulma's side.

By this time, the figure in the smoke had become very clear.

As a gentle breeze blew by, the person's true appearance was completely revealed.

A young man wearing clothes somewhat similar in style to the Kaioshin stood fully displayed before their eyes.

With long, fiery red hair in a mohawk style and a long sword strapped to his back, he exuded a unique aura from head to toe.

Could he be... the Hero Tapion?

This was the only thought in the minds of Son Goku and the others at this very moment.

Tarble had been sealed in a dark box for years. Although the sky was still overcast with thick clouds, the light emitted by the Dragon Balls was still bright enough to make him unable to open his eyes.

Closing and squinting his eyes subconsciously was a self-protective instinct of his body.

At the same time, his thoughts gradually began to clear.

The moment his consciousness sharpened, he realized something was wrong!

How could there be light inside the box?!!

Oh no!

In an instant, he had a bad premonition, and in his panic, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.

The scene that met his gaze left him stunned and uncertain.

He saw a colossal entity beyond his comprehension hovering in the air, a pair of intimidating crimson eyes seemingly looking down at him.

"Wh-what... is this thing?"

Faced with the unknown, he displayed the fear a normal person would have, subconsciously taking a step or two back.

While terrified, his face was also full of wariness.