Goku stared blankly at the Mysterious Person. The fire of his fighting spirit, which had never gone out despite facing countless powerful foes, now flickered as if about to die. Gohan bit his lip, tears welling in his eyes, his heart filled with resentment and helplessness. His body trembled slightly, and in this desperate situation, even standing seemed difficult.
Piccolo's expression was frighteningly grim. His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing thin trickles of blood, but he felt no pain. His heart was full of helplessness and indignation at the situation before him.
Seeing them like this, the Mysterious Person burst into wild laughter. The sound echoed through the ruined landscape, grating on the ears.
He slowly walked toward them, one step at a time. Each step seemed to land on their hearts, bringing an overwhelming sense of pressure.
At that critical moment, a strange flash of light streaked across the sky. Right after it, a figure raced toward them like lightning. The group looked closely and saw that it was Krillin. His arrival stirred the despairing atmosphere, if only slightly. His eyes were filled with resolve, and he had clearly prepared to fight the Mysterious Person to the death.
Goku looked at Krillin and shouted anxiously, "Krillin, hurry back and hide! This is more than you can handle!" Krillin shook his head slightly, meeting Goku's eyes with a steady gaze. Without hesitation, he said, "Earth is my home too. How could I back down? I'm willing to protect it with you!" With that, he tightened his Wu Gi and stood tall beside Goku, shoulder to shoulder. He fixed his gaze on the Mysterious Person, utterly fearless.
Looking at the short, bald man before him, the Mysterious Person mused, So this is Krillin? The Mysterious Person knew that in the original Dragon Ball story, there was a saying: "Krillin dies, and Goku's power knows no bounds." I wonder if it's true. I'll see for myself today.?
At the thought, a wicked grin crept across the Mysterious Person's lips. The black aura around him grew ever more intense, as if he would swallow the two men before him at any moment.
Feeling Krillin's resolve beside him, Goku was both moved and worried. He took a deep breath, turned to Krillin, and said, "All right, buddy. Then let's fight side by side!" Krillin nodded firmly, clenched his fists, and silently gathered his ki, ready to face the storm of attacks about to come.
The Mysterious Person slowly raised both hands. Dark energy rapidly gathered in his palms, forming two enormous black vortices. The air around them twisted under the force of the energy.
He watched Goku and Krillin coldly, seemingly considering which of them to strike first. Goku and Krillin, meanwhile, focused all their attention on the Mysterious Person, watching his every move.
The Mysterious Person looked at the stubborn group resisting him, a hint of irritation showing in his eyes. He moved his hands faster, and the black energy wave he was unleashing swelled dramatically once again. Its surging power seemed capable of swallowing the entire sky.
With a sudden thrust, the energy wave burst forth, rushing toward Goku and the others like a bolt of black lightning. In its wake, black fissures tore through space, and the overwhelming pressure made the earth below tremble.
Seeing this, Goku immediately sprang into position. He rapidly gathered golden energy at his waist and shouted, "Kamehameha!" A dazzling blue beam shot from his hands, charging forward with unstoppable momentum in an attempt to halt the black energy wave.
The Kamehameha lit up the gloomy sky, and the air filled with tension and murderous intent.
Gohan was not to be outdone. He closed his eyes and focused on sensing the energy within him. A moment later, he snapped them open, a flash of golden light in his eyes, and thrust both hands forward. A powerful energy wave followed right behind Goku's Kamehameha, merging with his attack to counter the Mysterious Person's black energy wave. Gohan's face was set with determination. Beads of sweat, no bigger than grains of rice, rolled down his forehead, but they did nothing to shake his focus or resolve.
Piccolo let out a shout. A strange light shimmered over his dark green skin. He held his palms facing each other in front of his chest and rapidly formed an emerald energy sphere, then hurled it at the black energy wave with all his might. The sphere grew larger as it flew, surrounded by rings of swirling air and emitting a buzzing sound, as if it contained the power to destroy the heavens and earth.
Krillin took a deep breath. He knew his strength was weaker than the others', but now he too poured every last bit of his ki into the fight.
He pressed his palms together and muttered an incantation. A moment later, a white beam of energy shot from his hands. It looked small beside the others' attacks, but it carried Krillin's determination to protect Earth and raced fearlessly toward the black energy wave.
Their attacks converged and collided with the Mysterious Person's black energy wave in midair. For a moment, the light was so blinding that no one could keep their eyes open. Deafening explosions rang out one after another as powerful shockwaves spread in every direction. The surrounding mountains instantly collapsed under the force, crumbling into countless boulders that tumbled into the valleys and raised clouds of dust. The whole world seemed to plunge into chaos.
After a tremendous explosion, the air filled with the pungent smell of smoke. As the blast gradually faded, Goku looked around at the ruins. Broken stones and drifting dust were everywhere.
His eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Oh my god, this..." he murmured. He frantically searched for his friends, but all he could see was desolation and ruin.
When his gaze finally landed on the Mysterious Person, his heart sank. Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Master Roshi were all suspended in midair, their necks tightly gripped by black energy waves. Their faces were contorted in pain as their limbs struggled weakly.
Goku's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. Fury surged through his chest like a raging tide.
"Damn you!" Goku roared. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, his body trembling with rage.
He glared at the Mysterious Person, his gaze as if it could tear him apart. Goku had only one thought now: save his friends and defeat the demon before him, no matter the cost.
The Mysterious Person paid no attention to Goku's fury. Instead, he burst into a triumphant laugh. "How does it feel, Son Goku? Watching your friends struggle in pain while you're powerless to help—isn't it hopeless?" His voice echoed over the ruins like the screech of a night owl, full of malice and mockery.
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