The Shocked Crowd

Master Roshi could no longer hold out. The Mysterious Person's lips curled into a cold smile, and then he snapped his fingers.

In an instant, a blood-red ball of energy appeared out of thin air. Brimming with the stench of death, it hurtled toward Master Roshi like a blazing meteor.

Goku and the others watched in desperate panic, but they were powerless to help. Gohan clenched his fists, his eyes reddening as he shouted, "Master Roshi!" Goku fought through his weakness and tried to summon even a shred of strength to save him, but his legs felt as heavy as lead. Each attempt brought him close to passing out.

Piccolo blamed himself in silence. If only he had been stronger, perhaps he could have stopped this from happening.

Master Roshi felt the immense pressure bearing down on him and knew he might die here today, but his gaze remained firm, without a trace of fear.

At this life-or-death moment, he suddenly remembered all the things he had once taught his students. The ideals of courage, justice, and protecting others blazed in his heart.

He suddenly opened his eyes. A light began to shine once more in his formerly dim gaze—a resolute determination to face death without flinching.

He stopped making a futile attempt to resist the blood-red energy ball and instead drew all his strength inward. His hands rapidly formed a seal before his chest as he murmured an incantation.

As he moved, a faint golden glow began to emanate from his body. It was not dazzling, but it was filled with resilience.

Just as the blood-red energy ball was about to hit Master Roshi, he let out a shout. The golden light expanded instantly like a sturdy shield and collided with the energy ball, producing a deafening roar.

Light and darkness intertwined and clashed, locked in a stalemate. The surrounding space warped under the force of their power.

The stalemate between the energy ball and the golden light did not last long. As the Mysterious Person poured in more power, the blood-red energy ball 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 rolled from his forehead and fell into the endless void below.

However, just as Master Roshi was about to be swallowed by the energy ball, a familiar yet strange aura came speeding from the distant horizon.

The others looked closely and realized it was Tien Shinhan, who had already passed away. A strange glow surrounded him, seemingly imbued with some mysterious and powerful force. His gaze was firm and cold as he flew straight toward the battlefield.

Tien Shinhan quickly reached Master Roshi's side. Without a word, he immediately began moving his hands, forming intricate and precise hand seals.

As he moved, streaks of blue energy shot from his hands and joined with Master Roshi's golden light, together opposing the blood-red energy ball.

With the two of them resisting as one, the energy ball finally began to slow. Seeing this, Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo felt a spark of hope rekindle in their hearts.

Goku struggled to his feet, pressed his hands together, and began gathering the power he had left, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to the Mysterious Person at the crucial moment.

Gohan and Piccolo followed suit, drawing on every last bit of energy they could muster. Though they were utterly exhausted, they gritted their teeth and persevered to protect Earth and those around them.

The Mysterious Person looked surprised to see Tien Shinhan, but quickly returned to his cold expression. He gave a derisive snort and began moving his hands again, preparing to launch an even more powerful attack.

As the Mysterious Person moved his hands, the darkness around him grew more intense. Powerful energy coiled and crackled around him like black lightning. He let out a fierce shout, and a thicker pillar of dark energy burst from his hands, surging toward Master Roshi and Tien Shinhan like a roaring black dragon.

The force was beyond anything they could have imagined. The light Master Roshi and Tien Shinhan had gathered quickly dimmed under the impact, and the tremendous force sent them flying backward, blood spraying from their mouths.

Even so, neither of them gave up. They forced themselves to steady their bodies in midair, their eyes filled with defiance and resolve.

Goku watched, his eyes blazing with fury. Ignoring his weakness, he poured every last bit of his energy into his hands. A golden energy ball slowly took shape between them, radiating a dazzling, pure light.

The energy ball embodied Goku's desire to protect his family, his friends, and Earth. Its glow was not as savage as the Mysterious Person's dark energy, but it carried an unbreakable strength.

Gohan and Piccolo also transferred the rest of their power to Goku. The three forces merged, making the golden energy ball shine even brighter. The air around them crackled under the power of its pure energy.

"Ah!" Goku roared, using every ounce of strength to hurl the golden energy ball at the Mysterious Person. It crashed into the pillar of dark energy in midair, unleashing a burst of light powerful enough to illuminate the entire sky. Fine cracks tore through the space wherever the light reached, while waves of energy surged outward. The ground below was shattered by the impact; mountains collapsed, and rivers changed course.

Amid the blinding light and raging waves of energy, the Mysterious Person's figure flickered in and out of sight. He seemed to be under immense pressure, his body trembling slightly, yet a sinister, cold smile remained on his face, as if mocking them for overestimating themselves.

Goku and the others stared intently at the Mysterious Person within the light, their eyes full of vigilance and resolve. They knew the battle had reached its most critical moment. No matter the cost, they had to defeat him once and for all.

The Mysterious Person watched the energy ball flying toward him, his lips curling into a contemptuous smile.

Then, without the slightest haste, he reached out with one hand and caught the energy ball containing all of Goku and the others' hopes.

At that moment, it was as if the world had been muted and time itself had stopped. Goku and the others stared wide-eyed, disbelief written across their faces. Their bodies froze as though they had been struck by a binding spell. Goku's lips trembled as he murmured, "How is this possible... How can this be..." Gohan's hands fell limply to his sides, the light in his eyes fading as despair and shock filled his heart.

Piccolo clenched his jaw, his fists tight enough to creak, yet he could only watch helplessly as it all unfolded. A deep sense of powerlessness welled up inside him.

After catching the energy ball, the Mysterious Person gave it a light squeeze. The once-radiant orb shattered like glass in his hand, breaking into countless tiny fragments of energy that vanished into the air.

Then he raised his head. His eyes held an arrogant, cold disdain, as if declaring that he could never be defeated.