The Mysterious Figure

Just as Piccolo approached again, Goku erupted with another powerful shockwave, knocking Piccolo back once more.

Piccolo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze firm. "Goku's completely out of control. We have to find a way to break Red Moon's influence," he said quietly. Since they couldn't sever it, all they could do was destroy his tail. At that moment, Gohan saw what was happening and exchanged a nod with Piccolo. Piccolo quickly formed hand signs while Gohan gathered energy, a powerful ki building in his palms. "Special Beam Cannon!" (Kamehameha Wave) Blazing beams shot toward Goku's tail. Just as they were about to hit it, a mysterious force suddenly appeared and blocked the attack.

Immediately afterward, a pitch-black figure appeared in the sky, surrounded by an evil aura. "Did you really think you could disrupt my plans so easily?" the Mysterious Person sneered. Gohan and Piccolo exchanged a glance.

Their eyes were filled with vigilance and fury as they quickly adjusted their stances, readying themselves to fight. Piccolo gave a cold snort. "I don't care who you are. If you stand in our way, you won't get what you want!"

Gohan shouted too, "We'll save Dad, and we won't let your scheme succeed!" With that, Gohan clenched his fists. Golden ki blazed around him, making the surrounding air shimmer with heat. He flashed forward, charging at the Mysterious Person first. He raised his right fist high, the wind whistling around it as he slammed it toward the Mysterious Person's head.

The Mysterious Person remained calm, simply raising one hand with his palm facing forward. A black energy shield instantly sprang up. Gohan's fist struck it with a dull thud, and the powerful rebound sent him stumbling back several steps, his arm tingling.

Seizing the opportunity, Piccolo rapidly swept his hands through the air, forming several green energy spheres in front of him. Then, with a shout, he fired them at the Mysterious Person in quick succession. The spheres flew toward him like cannonballs, colliding and fusing as they traveled, growing ever more powerful.

The Mysterious Person's eyes showed a hint of disdain. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, then thrust them outward. A surging wave of black energy burst forth and collided with Piccolo's energy spheres.

In an instant, dazzling light and a violent surge of energy erupted in the sky. The surrounding clouds were blown away, leaving a vast, gaping hole.

Under cover of the light, Gohan and Piccolo exchanged a glance and nodded. They decided to change tactics and attack the Mysterious Person from both sides at once.

Gohan and Piccolo shot out from either side like lightning. Piccolo gathered all his strength at his fingertips, sending a sharp blade of energy slicing toward the Mysterious Person's neck. Gohan leaped high into the air, his legs wreathed in golden ki as he kicked hard at the Mysterious Person's back.

But the Mysterious Person seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He dipped slightly, easily dodging Gohan's attack, then sidestepped so Piccolo's energy blade skimmed past his shoulder. In the same instant, he rapidly formed hand signs, and a huge black energy sphere took shape in his hands. He hurled it toward the city below, a sinister grin on his face. "Since you're so determined to save Son Goku, let's see if you can spare a thought for these ants!"

Gohan and Piccolo were horrified. Without hesitation, they changed course and chased after the energy sphere.

Gohan reached it first. He crossed his hands in front of his chest and poured all his strength into releasing a golden energy barrier, trying to withstand the sphere's impact.

Piccolo helped from the side, continuously pouring his energy into the barrier to reinforce its defenses.

Gohan and Piccolo gritted their teeth, doing everything they could to hold back the Mysterious Person's surging attacks, which came like a rising tide.

Each black energy beam that struck their barrier made their bodies shudder violently. Their arms gradually grew weak and heavy.

Sweat soaked their backs and streamed down their cheeks, dripping into the endless void beneath their feet.

"Ah!" Gohan and Piccolo screamed almost simultaneously, their voices filled with frustration and despair. They were already nearing their limits, and cracks had begun to spread across the barrier. It could collapse at any moment.

"We have to hold it back!" Piccolo's eyes widened, the last of his fighting spirit burning bright. He poured what little energy remained in his body into the barrier, trembling from the strain. Gohan gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He raised both hands high, trying to hold the crumbling line through sheer determination.

But the Mysterious Person's attacks were simply too powerful. Their resistance seemed futile.

More and more cracks appeared in the barrier, growing wider as the dark power gradually ate away at their last line of defense.

The evil energy spread across the barrier like ink, hissing as it corroded the surface. Gohan and Piccolo could feel their strength draining away. Their legs began to tremble uncontrollably, as if they might be swallowed by the endless darkness at any moment.

Their breathing grew labored and heavy. Every effort to hold the attack back felt like struggling against a mountain.

Pain showed on Piccolo's face. Was today really going to be the day I died? No. I absolutely can't give up! He turned to Gohan and shouted, "Gohan, hold on! Think of everyone!"

Gohan's face was flushed, and sweat blurred his vision. He stared at the darkness closing in, determination still flickering in his eyes. "I won't let Dad down, Uncle Piccolo!" As he spoke, he forced himself to take a deep breath and tried to gather his strength to reinforce the barrier once more. But his body was already near its limit, and the energy he could release had grown weak and unsteady.

Just as despair was about to overcome them, the light shining from the ruins of the city below grew brighter. It seemed to hold some mysterious power, and was rapidly approaching them. It was the last faint glimmer of hope they had.

The light below sped up, streaking across the sky like a falling meteor as it rushed toward the battle raging overhead.

As it drew closer, a figure gradually came into view. It was an old man carrying a turtle shell on his back and holding a staff. He moved with surprising agility, reaching Piccolo and Gohan in just a few bounds.

The old man was Master Roshi. He looked determinedly at the faltering barrier and the dark attack raining down from all sides. His expression was grave, but he showed no fear. "Hang in there, kids!" Master Roshi called, his voice calm and strong, carrying a reassuring power.

He quickly held his staff horizontally in front of him. The gem at its tip glimmered faintly. Then Master Roshi took a deep breath, and a gentle yet resilient aura began to emanate from him. It spread slowly like ripples on water, actually slowing the dark power's erosion of the barrier to some degree.