Goku took a deep breath and rallied his spirits as he followed behind. He knew he had to stay calm and find a way to deal with Android 17. Gohan stayed close beside Goku, his little hands clutching the hem of his clothes. He suppressed his anger, turning it into a firm resolve.
The lights inside the base shone a stark white, as if mourning this tragedy. Bulma went to the control console and quickly worked the complex instruments, pulling up the information they had gathered on the Androids and trying to find a clue that might help them break out of this desperate predicament. Meanwhile, the outside world had descended into an unknown terror. The fate of the Earth seemed shrouded in a thick gloom, waiting for them to dispel it.
Bulma worked quickly at the instruments, her gaze focused and resolute as her fingers flew over the complex buttons and dials, as though she were racing against time. Various complicated data and diagrams flashed across the screens, accompanied by a faint hum, as if the machines were responding to her urgent commands. A table nearby was piled high with scattered papers covered in dense calculations and notes, bearing witness to all the effort she had poured into this moment.
Suddenly, the instruments blared a rapid alarm. Bulma furrowed her brow slightly, but a look of determination soon flashed in her eyes. She swiftly pressed several emergency buttons, muttering to herself as she seemed to recalibrate the instruments. In the tense atmosphere, a bead of sweat slid down her forehead, but she didn't lose focus for a moment, devoting herself entirely to stabilizing the machines. When she finally pressed the Enter key with all her strength, the alarm gradually stopped and the data on the screens began to stabilize, revealing a set of unprecedented results. At last, a relieved smile appeared on Bulma's face. She knew she was one step closer to success.
Outside
It was already very dark.
But by the light of the moon, they could still make out severed limbs everywhere, shattered buildings, broken streets and mountaintops, and countless cracks in the ground. Android 17 and Android 18 stood atop an extremely tall building. The two of them were talking, and 17 asked 18, "Want to see who can kill more people tomorrow?"
18 let out a disdainful chuckle, crossing her arms and turning to look at 17. "Hmph, fine by me. But what's the point of killing more of these frail humans?"
17's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Haha, at least it'll pass the time. These humans are utterly helpless against us, but it's still fun to watch them look terrified now and then."
With that, 17 raised his head and gazed at the moon, dimly veiled by smoke. Moonlight fell across his stern face but did nothing to warm it. "I can't wait for tomorrow's 'game.' I wonder how desperately they'll run."
18 leaped lightly onto the edge of the building, letting the night wind blow through her long hair. "Then let's see who can reduce this city to complete silence first." Her gaze held a cold indifference, as if the hell on earth below had nothing to do with her, and were merely a playground for her to wreck at will.
As the two traded remarks, a low rumble suddenly came from far away, like the earth groaning in pain. Android 17 and Android 18 exchanged a glance, suspicion and wariness flashing in their eyes.
"Something's not right. That sound doesn't seem natural," 17 said quietly. His body tensed slightly, ready to face whatever might come.
18, however, looked unconcerned. "Maybe it's some little trick by the humans. What's there to worry about?" Even so, she couldn't help looking toward the source of the sound. A cloud of dust was slowly rising beneath the moonlight, spreading wider and wider.
"Whatever it is, it can't ruin tomorrow's killing spree." 17 clenched his fist, a potent killing intent radiating from him. "Anyone who stands in our way will be utterly destroyed."
18 nodded slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Then let's see who has more fun killing in all this chaos."
But as the rumbling drew closer, an oppressive feeling filled the air, as if some invisible force were quietly approaching. It seemed to be warning the two merciless killers that they were about to face more than just helpless humans.
Night
Chunting City
In countless homes, people clung tightly to one another as they watched the wreckage and devastation of another city on their television screens. The thought alone terrified them. The footage captured on the TV showed two people wreaking havoc across the city, and even the military couldn't hurt them.
Inside, people huddled together, trembling. Every tiny sound made their hearts suddenly race.
The dim yellow light wavered in the darkness, while the television screen flickered with a cold glow. The ruins of the city on-screen were horrifying. Crumbling walls, shattered streets, billowing smoke, and an eerie silence like that of the apocalypse—all of it struck every viewer like a heavy blow. Fear and helplessness filled their eyes. Tears welled up, but they dared not let them fall, as if crying would plunge them into an abyss from which there was no return.
As they watched the two figures dart through the ruins, shattering the earth and toppling skyscrapers with their every move, the fear in people's hearts grew without limit. It was a helplessness that seeped into their bones. Faced with such destructive power, they felt as small as ants. The military's artillery fire seemed utterly insignificant before those two. The flashes of exploding missiles were no more than faint decorations in the disaster, unable to harm them in the slightest.
Someone began to sob quietly. The sound seemed contagious, and before long the entire room was filled with despairing cries. Everyone knew that this disaster might soon reach their own city, and yet they had no power to fight back. In that long, agonizing night, every second felt like waiting for the verdict that would announce the end of the world. Fear and helplessness surged over them like a tide, drowning them completely and leaving not a glimmer of hope.
A child hid in their parents' arms, eyes wide with fear and confusion. In a small voice, they asked, "Mommy, Daddy, are we going to die soon?" The parents could only hold the child tightly, their throats constricted, unable to answer. They simply shielded the child more fiercely with trembling hands, as though they could keep the coming doom away.
The elderly sat in corners, gazing blankly ahead and murmuring prayers for divine protection, but their faint voices soon faded in the oppressive atmosphere. The young clenched their fists, anger and fear mingling on their faces. They tried to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation, but their minds were blank. They couldn't think of any way to fight back against this disaster.
Before you continue