Jiang Che Appears

"Damn it..." He growled under his breath, his voice dry and trembling. He gritted his teeth so hard that the muscles in his face bulged and veins stood out.

Sweat mixed with blood slid down his temple, dripping into the rubble-strewn ground.

Baby descended slowly, the stones beneath his feet shattering into fine dust the moment he touched them.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked down at Son Goku from his superior position, a mocking sneer curling his lips.

His black cloak snapped in the wind, casting a long shadow that engulfed Son Goku entirely.

"Is this Son Goku?" Baby scoffed, his tone light and biting. "I am utterly disappointed. Your body isn't even as valuable as Vegeta's."

He tilted his head, his gaze as cold as a blade. "With strength this pathetic, how dare you call yourself a Saiyan?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right hand and flicked his index finger.

A hair-thin energy beam erupted, moving so fast it tore through the air. A sharp, piercing whistle assaulted the eardrums as it struck Son Goku squarely in the chest.

"Pfft—" Son Goku spat out a mouthful of blood, the crimson mist scattering and dotting the rubble.

The impact sent him flying, his back slamming hard against a protruding rock that shattered upon contact. He rolled across the ground several times before coming to a rest in a crater like a broken ragdoll, a shocking, bloody gash carved into his spine.

He struggled to flip over, propping himself up with his hands. Painful gasps tore from his throat, his chest heaving violently.

"We can't let this continue, or Son Goku will die!" Kibito Kai said, his voice strained. He clenched his fists until they trembled, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he stared fixedly at the growing cloud of dust in the distance.

Old Supreme Kai stood beside him, arms crossed, his expression grave.

He squinted, his white brows furrowed, and remained silent for a moment before slowly turning to look at Jiang Che.

He stroked his long beard with withered fingers, his voice low. "Jiang Che, your Instant Transmission is quite well-mastered now, isn't it?"

Jiang Che had his hands in his pockets, his expression indifferent.

He nodded slightly, a casual smile touching his lips. "No problem."

"Very well. I have a task for you." Old Supreme Kai looked earnest, his words carrying an unquestionable weight. "Go to Earth immediately and bring Son Goku back."

Jiang Che raised an eyebrow, a flicker of light in his eyes as he spoke with a hint of mockery. "Not going to finish off Baby directly?"

He flexed his wrists, his knuckles cracking.

"Now is not the time." Old Supreme Kai shook his head, his gaze distant. "Your mission isn't over yet, but Son Goku cannot die. I have a hunch that if he is guided properly, he might become the key force to oppose Baby."

He paused, pressing his palm onto Jiang Che's shoulder with a firm grip. "Go quickly, kid. Don't delay."

Jiang Che was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Old Supreme Kai's face before he finally nodded. "Fine."

With that, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, sensing for that familiar energy in the universe.

A few seconds later, his brow arched—he had found it.

The next moment, his figure was swallowed by a faint light, vanishing as if he had suddenly evaporated.

On the Earth battlefield.

Baby hovered in mid-air, a sphere of dark blue energy coalescing in his right hand. The light pulsed, its pressure causing the surrounding rubble to vibrate.

A bloodthirsty grin played on his lips as he prepared to deliver the final blow, but suddenly his pupils constricted—a strange, powerful energy had appeared beside Son Goku.

Baby whipped his head around, his form freezing as he saw Jiang Che appear silently next to Son Goku, one hand resting firmly on the Saiyan's shoulder.

His clothes snapped in the battlefield winds, and the ground beneath his feet buckled slightly, kicking up dust.

"You!" Baby's eyes narrowed, his face instantly contorting with shock and rage. Veins bulged on his forehead as he gritted his teeth in hatred. "You aren't dead yet?"

Jiang Che swept a casual glance at him, his expression calm and a confident smile playing on his lips. "Did you think you could kill me?"

He gave Son Goku's shoulder a light pat, though his eyes remained locked on Baby, a coldness hidden deep within his gaze.

Baby ground his teeth, his hands clenching into fists until his knuckles turned white.

He was about to lash out, a low growl rising in his throat, when he suddenly noticed that the energy radiating from Jiang Che had changed—it was deeper and more unfathomable than it had been half a month ago.

That energy was like a bottomless abyss; even though it was right there, it made Baby feel as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into an endless, dark void.

The air seemed to stagnate, dust hung suspended, and even the wind was brought to a dead halt by this pressure.

"You..." Baby's voice trembled uncontrollably. He instinctively took half a step back, his pupils shrinking as his heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand.

He had never felt this kind of pressure, not even when facing Son Goku at his peak.

He fought to steady himself, but his legs felt numb, a chill racing down his spine.

"I don't have time to play with you." Jiang Che's tone was flat, as if he were commenting on the weather.

As soon as he finished speaking, his and Son Goku's figures blurred simultaneously, then vanished like mist, leaving not even a lingering afterimage.

Only a faint ripple of air remained, which quickly settled into silence.

Baby stood there, his eyes unfocused and his mouth slightly agape, unable to process what had happened.

After a long while, he suddenly looked up, scanning the empty surroundings. His rage erupted like a volcanic explosion.

He slammed a fist into the ground, the force of the blow shattering the earth into a web of cracks. Rubble scattered and dust billowed up like a golden dragon.

"Bastard—!" His roar echoed through the air, startling the birds in the distance, but only the echoes of the valley answered him.

Supreme Kai World.

The sky was bright and clear, and the Kami's Lookout in the void cast a faint golden radiance.

Jiang Che's figure streaked across the sky like a meteor before landing steadily, cradling Son Goku, who was covered in wounds.

Son Goku's combat uniform was tattered, his body riddled with deep claw marks and bruises. The blood had dried into dark red scabs, though some wounds were still oozing.

His eyes were half-closed, his breathing weak and rapid. His consciousness was fading, and his lips twitched slightly as if he wanted to say something, but not a sound could escape.

Kibito Kai hurried out from the palace, his face etched with anxiety, sweat beading on his forehead.

He took Son Goku with extreme care, his movements as gentle as if he were handling fragile porcelain, before quickly placing him onto a stone platform that emitted a faint glow.

The surface of the stone was smooth, with a pale blue light flowing beneath it, as if it could resonate with the pain of the wounded.

Old Supreme Kai leaned on his vine-patterned staff and slowly stepped forward.

His gait was unsteady, each step heavy with the weight of years. His hair was white as snow and his wrinkles were deep as ravines, yet his hawk-like eyes remained sharp.

He leaned over, extended a withered hand, and lightly touched Son Goku's wounds with his fingertips before checking his breath. His brows locked tightly together, his heart sinking. After a moment of silence, he said in a deep voice, "He is heavily injured... but he will not die."

Having said this, he took a deep breath and opened his palm, from which a soft golden light rose, as warm as the first ray of dawn.

The light spread out, gentle as a tide, enveloping Son Goku.

It was almost a miracle—the wounds on Son Goku's body healed rapidly, the torn skin knit together, the bruises faded, and the color slowly returned to his complexion.

His breathing became steady, his nostrils flared, and a long-lost flush gradually returned to his cheeks.