The moment the long sword came down, Jiang Che's wrist suddenly flicked. The blade turned with the motion, and its spine smacked straight into Great Ape Baby's head.
With a thud, Baby flew several meters like a kicked ball, landing in a heap. He rolled across the ground several times, raising a cloud of dust.
His head rang, and stars danced before his eyes. He lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath, like a beast struggling on the brink of death.
Jiang Che sheathed his sword and said coolly, "I didn't kill you because you're still useful. Besides, I have a mission to complete. Why would I kill you?" By "mission," he meant the system task in his mind: kill Great Ape Baby and earn fifty thousand exchange points.
But letting Baby die so easily would have been far too good for him.
What's more, Jiang Che knew that a remnant of Vegeta's soul still remained inside Baby.
Although he didn't care much for that arrogant Saiyan Prince, he had no intention of letting Vegeta disappear completely.
The "kill" in the system's task actually meant destroying Baby, the parasitic evil spirit, not killing his host. Jiang Che had figured that out long ago.
Great Ape Baby struggled to his feet, his face twisted as black veins throbbed beneath his skin.
He gritted his teeth. "You bastard... How dare you toy with me like this..."
Jiang Che casually put away his long sword, folded his arms across his chest, and stood there lazily, his eyes full of mockery. "So what if I toy with you? What can you do about it?"
Baby completely lost control, his eyes filled with nothing but murderous fury.
He spread his arms, and black energy erupted from his whole body like a volcano. He turned into a black meteor and charged desperately at Jiang Che.
The ground cracked beneath his feet, and shattered rocks blasted in every direction.
Jiang Che shook his head with a sigh. "What a pain." He raised his hand, spread his fingers, and aimed his palm at Baby.
"Super Saiyan God: Pressure Field."
Nothing appeared, but the air seemed to bear down like an invisible mountain, pinning Great Ape Baby to the ground.
Baby's limbs sprawled out, his chest pressed to the earth. He couldn't move at all. His heavy breathing sent dust billowing into the air before it settled again.
Jiang Che approached and looked down at the giant, snarling face, without a trace of pity. "A parasite dares to act so arrogant in front of me? You've had your fun. I'll send you on your way." As he spoke, he raised his right hand and pointed his index finger at Baby's forehead. A crimson light gathered at its tip.
The light grew brighter and fiercer, like a tiny sun about to explode, pinched between his fingers.
The air around it twisted and burned, humming loudly.
This time, Jiang Che wouldn't miss.
At that critical moment, the air suddenly rippled strangely.
Baby's body stiffened, and an icy-blue beam of light burst without warning from the center of his chest!
Golden light surged from within him, like a slumbering sun suddenly awakening, bathing the sky in dazzling radiance.
The light pierced the clouds. The earth shook, loose rocks tumbled down the cliff face, and dust swirled through the air.
Baby's body began to convulse violently, like a massive mountain rocked by an earthquake.
His muscles spasmed, and his bones cracked with a harsh, grating sound.
"Ugh... Aaaah!"
He threw his head back and let out a bloodcurdling scream that seemed to make the whole world vibrate.
His right claw dug into the ground, all five fingers sinking deep into the rock and gouging out five furrows as the earth churned.
Fine cracks began to spread across his skin—over his shoulders, chest, arms, waist, and abdomen—covering him like a piece of porcelain on the verge of shattering.
Blinding golden light shone through every fissure, illuminating everything around him.
Jiang Che stood some distance away, the rocks beneath his feet rising slightly.
The wind whipped at his robes, making them snap loudly.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at the Great Ape's body as it tore apart. The corner of his mouth twitched as he murmured, "Is this... Vegeta's refusal to yield?"
Jiang Che released his perception, sending invisible tendrils into the chaotic mass of energy.
He could feel it clearly: deep in Baby's consciousness, the tenacious soul of the Saiyan Prince was awakening in a frenzy, like a trapped beast breaking free of its chains and fighting Baby for control of the body.
Each struggle stirred the tides of energy, making even the air tremble.
A strange light suddenly flashed in Great Ape Baby's left eye. The blood-red eyeball turned a clear blue in an instant, like a patch of clear sky breaking through a storm.
Vegeta's voice came from that eye, faint and hurried, as if he were using the last of his strength. "K... kid... While you can... finish him... quickly!"
Though weak, his voice was unmistakably resolute.
Jiang Che fell silent for a moment, staring into the blue eye. Then he slowly shook his head, his tone calm and slightly teasing. "I want to save Baby for the mission. I never planned to take you out along with him." He paused, rubbing his chin lightly as his gaze deepened. "Your life won't be easy to take."
As soon as he finished speaking, the golden light inside Baby erupted!
It didn't just surge forth—it exploded completely.
The light shot skyward like a volcanic eruption, splitting open the Great Ape's body as its muscle fibers were torn apart with loud snaps.
The energy warped the air, opened huge fissures in the ground, and sent howling winds and flying rocks everywhere.
"BOOM—!"
The explosion shook the heavens, as if it had shattered the sky itself.
A figure burst out of Great Ape Baby, tearing through the golden curtain of light. Blood and chunks of flesh flew with him as he slammed into the ground in the distance, plowing a deep trench through the soil and sending dust billowing into the air.
It was Vegeta.
His whole body was drenched in blood. His Battle Suit had been reduced to shreds, and his exposed chest and arms were covered in wounds. Drops of blood fell onto the dirt one by one.
His hair was disheveled, his face pale, and his lips cracked. Yet his eyes still burned with an undying flame, like steel will tempered in fire—stubborn and proud.
He braced one hand against the ground and tried to stand, but his knees buckled, and he nearly fell again.
Jiang Che watched the scene, a rare look of approval crossing his face. He nodded. "Well done, Vegeta."
With that, he turned, raised his hand, spread his fingers, and aimed at the bloodied, broken body of the Great Ape. His gaze darkened as he shouted, "Super Saiyan God: Energy Purification!"
In an instant, crimson energy surged from his palm like a tide and swept toward the Great Ape's remains.
The energy seemed alive. It burrowed into every inch of muscle and every blood vessel, stripping Baby's soul away bit by bit.
The air sizzled from the heat, the grass withered instantly, and even the rocks were scorched black.
"No—!"
Baby's soul let out a terrible shriek, like a wail from the depths of hell.
Black mist struggled free of the Great Ape's remains, twisting and changing shape in the air. One moment it formed a hideous face; the next, it scattered into smoke, desperately trying to escape the crimson energy's grip.
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