First Encounter_2

The energy sphere hovered in Jiang Che's palm, neither hot nor explosive, yet it carried an energy fluctuation that made one's heart skip a beat—as gentle as spring water, yet as deep as a cold abyss.

Light and shadow illuminated half his face, casting a faint golden shadow on the ground.

The air began to emit a subtle hum, like a thousand summer cicadas beating their wings in unison.

Vegeta and Gohan's pupils contracted simultaneously.

Vegeta's eyes held only needle-tip-like light.

He leaned back slightly, as if struck by an invisible force.

He felt that this energy had long surpassed the level of an ordinary Super Saiyan.

It was like an iceberg beneath the sea, with only the tip visible above the water, the submerged part so vast it was unimaginable.

Indeed, it was deeper, older, and purer than any energy they could sense.

Gohan's breathing lightened, his fingers slightly curled, a fine sheen of sweat already on his palms.

The light from the energy sphere illuminated his face, suddenly reminding him of a memory from long ago—the sense of power that permeated the air when his father first transformed into a Super Saiyan.

But this energy now was stronger, belonging to a different category entirely.

Vegeta's lips slowly curved into a dangerous smile, a mixture of three parts admiration, three parts curiosity, and four parts ambition.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening like a hunter who had discovered a worthy prey, "You said you were special, and it seems you are indeed quite interesting."

Jiang Che retracted the energy sphere.

With a gentle clench of his right hand, the pale golden light shattered like bubbles in sunlight, dissipating, and even the hum in the air gradually subsided.

He and Vegeta gazed at each other quietly, their eyes calm, neither high nor low, like two mountain peaks on the same body of water.

The air was filled with the scent of gunpowder.

Invisible, intangible, yet more potent than any smoke.

Their gazes collided in the air, striking invisible sparks.

Gohan stood between them, like a shield between two ferocious beasts, the sole barrier.

He sighed helplessly, his voice carrying the weariness of youth and the calmness of an elder, "Uncle Vegeta, don't be so eager to fight."

Gohan stepped forward, blocking the aura that was gradually forming between them.

"Since Mr. Jiang Che has appeared on Earth, let's first notify Mom Bulma and figure out how he got here." He raised his left hand, his fingertip already on the portable communicator, the screen flashing with a dial icon.

Vegeta snorted coldly, a low sound erupting from his nostrils, as if he were forcefully suppressing his urge to fight.

He slowly relaxed his clenched fist, his knuckles cracking.

Finally, his gaze lingered on Jiang Che's face for two seconds, then he turned, letting the wind whip his black hair as he turned his back on them.

Jiang Che let out a quiet breath.

His heartbeat returned to normal, and the muscles that had been tense slowly relaxed.

At least, the first hurdle had been cleared.

After speaking, Gohan turned and led the way.

His steps were light, leaving shallow indentations in the soil beneath his feet, and the air still carried the lingering scent of the recent battle.

A few old trees in the distance, broken by the shockwaves, lay toppled on the ground, their bark peeled away to reveal pale wooden stubs.

But before he had walked a few steps, a violent surge of energy erupted from behind them.

Like an invisible palm slamming down on the ground.

Pebbles flew, dust swirled, and fallen leaves spun into vortexes, circling in the air.

Cracks spread across the turf like a spiderweb.

"Wait!" Vegeta's voice was low and dangerous, like a beast's roar squeezed from the depths of his throat.

His feet sank slightly into the ground, the rocks beneath them emitting cracking sounds, the fissures spreading along the soles of his shoes like a dried riverbed.

Jiang Che frowned slightly, sensing the opponent's energy soaring.

The air grew heavy, as if an invisible hand were clenching his chest.

Vegeta's internal energy surged wildly, like magma roaring and surging in a volcano, expanding every second, rushing towards a suffocating peak.

He slowly turned around.

The sunlight was obscured by the golden energy overflowing from Vegeta, casting distorted shadows.

Jiang Che saw Vegeta clench his fists, his knuckles white, veins like vines coiling on the back of his hands.

Golden aura burned fiercely around him, piercing the air with a sizzling sound, the heat skyrocketing.

Dust was swept up by the airflow, dancing and swirling in the air, forming pale golden halos.

"Uncle Vegeta!" Gohan cried out in alarm, immediately stepping between them.

He spread his arms, leaned forward, trying to place himself between the invisible battle line, "What are you doing?"

Gohan's voice was filled with anxiety and panic, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and splashing onto the cracked ground, creating tiny water droplets.

"Move aside, Gohan." Vegeta spoke coldly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

He stared fixedly at Jiang Che, his dark eyes as sharp as blades, as if trying to see right through him.

With the corners of his mouth pulled down and his jaw set tight, every inch of his muscles radiated hostility and vigilance. "This brat makes me very uncomfortable. A Saiyan of unknown origin, suddenly arriving on Earth, and carrying that kind of strange power... I absolutely cannot just let him walk away."

As Vegeta spoke, he slowly reached his right hand behind his back, his fingers splaying open before clenching into a tight fist.

The air emitted a low, explosive crackle, as if the very void were being crushed in his grip.

Wind whipped around him, fluttering the hem of his black vest and revealing the tightly cinched belt beneath.

Jiang Che's expression remained calm, his gaze as still and unrippled as water.

He gave Gohan's shoulder a light pat, a gentle gesture that nonetheless caused Gohan to involuntarily take half a step back.

Jiang Che's lips curled slightly into a faint, elusive smile, his voice flat yet as sharp and cold as a freshly honed steel needle. "You want to fight?"

"Fight?" A mocking arc formed on Vegeta's lips, the amusement in his eyes laced with contempt.

He tilted his head and lifted his chin, letting his hair sway in the wind. "I just want to see exactly what you're worth."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he slammed his fist shut.

In that instant, the very heavens and earth shuddered.

A golden aura erupted like a volcanic explosion, surging straight into the clouds and tearing scorching ripples through the air.

Vegeta's hair stood on end within the aura, transforming into a spiked, golden mane, each strand distinct and shimmering with a metallic luster under the light.

His eye color changed as well; his pupils shrank to pinpricks, his icy green irises radiating the fierce light of a wild beast.

Super Saiyan.

The ground beneath his feet collapsed with a roar, cracked stones tossed into the air by the shockwave before crashing back down, kicking up even more dust.

Wind howled around him, causing distant trees to shake violently, their branches snapping and leaves falling like rain.

Gohan was forced to raise his hands to shield his eyes, his footing unsteady as he stumbled back three steps before barely managing to stand his ground.

Jiang Che remained where he stood, not moving an inch.

The hem of his clothes whipped about in the currents stirred by the golden flames, and his long hair danced wildly in the wind, yet his body remained as motionless as a reef facing a tidal wave.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, piercing through the blinding radiance to meet Vegeta's gaze head-on.