The Shocked Crowd

Master Roshi could no longer hold his ground. The Mysterious Person's lips curled into a cold, cruel smirk before he snapped his fingers.

In an instant, a blood-red energy sphere materialized out of thin air. Reeking of death, it whistled toward Master Roshi like a burning meteor.

Goku and the others were frantic, yet powerless to intervene. Gohan clenched his fists, his eyes rimmed with red, and shouted, "Grandpa Roshi!" Goku fought through his body's exhaustion, attempting to muster a sliver of strength to help, but his legs felt as heavy as lead; every attempt brought him to the brink of collapse.

Piccolo stood to the side, silently blaming himself. If only he were stronger, perhaps he could have prevented all of this.

Feeling the immense pressure bearing down on him, Master Roshi knew he might die here today, yet his gaze remained steady, devoid of the slightest fear.

In this life-or-death moment, he suddenly recalled the past lessons he had taught his disciples. The convictions of courage, justice, and protection burned fiercely within his heart.

He snapped his eyes open. The once-dim light in his gaze flickered back to life—a resolution that looked death in the eye without flinching.

No longer wasting effort resisting the blood-red sphere, he drew all his strength inward, his hands moving in a rapid sequence of seals before his chest as he chanted under his breath.

As he moved, his body began to emit a faint golden glow. Though not dazzling, this light was filled with resilience.

Just as the blood-red energy sphere was about to strike, Master Roshi let out a thunderous roar. The golden light expanded instantly like a solid shield, colliding with the sphere and unleashing a deafening boom.

Light and darkness intertwined and clashed, locking in a stalemate that caused the surrounding space to warp under the sheer force.

The deadlock between the energy sphere and the golden light did not last long. As the Mysterious Person increased his output, the blood-red sphere gradually gained the upper hand, inching closer to Master Roshi.

Master Roshi's face turned deathly pale, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. Beads of sweat the size of rice grains rolled down his forehead, dripping into the endless void beneath his feet.

Yet, at the critical moment when Master Roshi was about to be swallowed by the sphere, a familiar yet strange aura arrived at lightning speed from the distant horizon.

The group squinted to see that it was the late Tien Shinhan. Tien was wreathed in a peculiar light that seemed to contain some mysterious and powerful energy. His eyes were firm and cold as he flew straight toward the battlefield.

Tien reached Master Roshi's side without a word, his hands immediately dancing to weave complex and intricate hand seals.

Following his movements, beams of blue energy shot from his hands, weaving into Master Roshi's golden light to jointly resist the blood-red sphere.

With the two working in unison, the sphere's advance finally slowed. Seeing this, Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo felt a spark of hope reignite in their hearts.

Goku struggled to his feet, pressing his palms together to gather his remaining strength, preparing to deliver a lethal blow to the Mysterious Person at the critical moment.

Gohan and Piccolo followed suit, mobilizing every last bit of energy within them. Though exhausted, they chose to grit their teeth and hold on to protect the Earth and those around them.

Seeing Tien appear, the Mysterious Person looked surprised for a moment before returning to his cold, callous expression. He snorted, his hands dancing again as he prepared to launch an even more powerful attack.

As the Mysterious Person's hands moved, the dark aura around him grew increasingly dense, powerful energy crackling like black lightning around him. He let out a fierce roar, and a thicker pillar of dark energy erupted from his hands, surging toward Master Roshi and Tien like a roaring black dragon.

The power was beyond imagination. Under the impact, the light gathered by Master Roshi and Tien dimmed rapidly, and the two were sent flying backward by the massive force, blood spraying from their mouths.

Even so, they did not abandon the thought of resistance, forcing their bodies to stabilize in mid-air, their eyes revealing an unyielding and resolute spirit.

Seeing this, Goku was incensed. Ignoring his own weakness, he poured every ounce of his remaining energy into his hands. A golden energy sphere slowly took shape, emitting a dazzling and pure light.

This sphere gathered Goku's love for his family, friends, and his desire to protect the Earth. Though its light was not as violent as the Mysterious Person's dark energy, it possessed an indestructible strength.

Gohan and Piccolo also transferred their remaining power to Goku. As the three forces merged, the golden sphere became even more brilliant, the air around it hissing from the sheer intensity of the pure energy.

"Ah!" Goku roared, throwing the golden sphere at the Mysterious Person with all his might. The golden sphere and the dark energy pillar collided in mid-air, instantly erupting in a light so intense it illuminated the entire sky. Wherever the light touched, space was torn into tiny fissures, and powerful energy ripples spread outward. The ground below was shattered, mountains collapsed, and rivers were diverted by the force.

Amidst the blinding light and violent energy fluctuations, the Mysterious Person's figure flickered in and out of view. He seemed to be under immense pressure, his body trembling slightly, yet his face still wore that hideous, cold smirk, as if mocking their futile efforts.

Goku and the others stared intently at the Mysterious Person within the light, their eyes filled with vigilance and determination. They knew this battle had reached its climax; no matter the cost, they had to defeat him.

Watching the incoming sphere, the Mysterious Person's lips curled slightly into a sneer of disdain.

Without haste, he reached out a single hand and caught the energy sphere—which held all the hopes of Goku and his friends—with steady ease.

In that moment, the world seemed to be muted, and time itself appeared to stop. Goku and his companions widened their eyes, their faces etched with disbelief. Their bodies froze as if struck by a binding spell. Goku's lips trembled as he muttered, "How is this possible... how could this be..." Gohan's hands hung limply at his sides, the light in his eyes instantly fading into despair and shock.

Piccolo gritted his teeth, his fists clenching until they creaked, but he could only watch it all happen, a deep sense of powerlessness washing over him.

After gripping the energy sphere, the Mysterious Person gave it a light squeeze. The once-brilliant sphere shattered like broken glass, dissolving into countless tiny fragments of energy that vanished into the air.

He then looked up, his eyes revealing an arrogant and cold superiority, as if declaring his invincibility to them all.