The Call of Fate

"Young man, you must have sensed it long ago."

Old Supreme Kai spoke. His voice was quiet, but it sounded unexpectedly clear in the empty halls of Kami's Lookout. Every word sent ripples of echoes through the air. "The God Ki inside you isn't simply that of a God of Super Saiyans."

Jiang Che furrowed his brow and finally turned his gaze from the murals on the wall to Old Supreme Kai. He didn't rush to reply. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and carefully sensed the energy within him.

Indeed, this power was nothing like that of an ordinary God of Super Saiyans. It was heavier and more ancient, like some primal force that had existed since the birth of the universe, now lying dormant in the deepest parts of his cells.

But he merely looked at Old Supreme Kai calmly, his expression so indifferent that it seemed as if everything was within his expectations.

"What do you mean?" he asked casually.

"A God of Super Saiyans does possess God Ki, but the energy inside you..." Old Supreme Kai tapped his fingertips against the stone platform, making a dull "thunk, thunk" sound. He seemed to be turning through memories buried for hundreds of millions of years, his gaze passing through the mists of time.

"It's deeper and more ancient than anything I know. It feels like a power that existed even before the Initial Star Domain was born. I've lived for millions of years, and I've never sensed anything like it."

A faint ripple stirred in Jiang Che's heart. He guessed it had something to do with the energy his system had bestowed upon him. It had long since seeped into his blood and bones, becoming part of him.

But he said nothing. His face remained emotionless as he simply asked, "And?"

"I have to warn you: this universe is about to face an unprecedented calamity."

Old Supreme Kai's gaze suddenly darkened, his expression so grave it seemed to drip with gloom. He slowly raised a hand and pointed toward somewhere beyond Kami's Lookout.

"The shadow of the forces of darkness has spread across several galaxies. Even the farthest corners of the universe can no longer be defended. I can sense countless lives crying out, stars going dark. Even the divine realm isn't safe. Kibito Kai has reported strange attacks on six territories."

"So what?" Jiang Che still looked as if it had nothing to do with him. He crossed his arms and leaned against a stone pillar.

The ancient runes where his shoulder touched the pillar immediately began to hum softly. Ripples of golden light spread across them, as if they were awakening.

"I hope you'll help fight back against that darkness in the future." Old Supreme Kai looked at Jiang Che, his eyes alight with a flame that had yet to die—the hope the old man had clung to for millions of years. He leaned forward slightly as if to draw closer, but ultimately stopped, gripping his staff tightly.

"Given your potential, you're more than qualified—"

"That's enough."

Jiang Che raised a hand and cut him off, flicking his palm as if snipping some invisible thread. His expression remained unchanged, but a chill entered his eyes. "I came here for one mission. Destruction, calamities—all of that has nothing to do with me. I owe this universe nothing, and I have no reason to let anyone use me as a weapon."

Old Supreme Kai froze for a moment, then gave a helpless smile. There was reluctance in it, but also understanding, and even a hint of admiration. He shook his head, his beard swaying. "You young people..." He had been about to say more, but in the end, he only sighed and tightened his grip on his staff.

Just then, the floor outside Kami's Lookout suddenly began to shake violently. At first it was just a slight tremor, but then came a thunderous roar, as if the entire hall were about to split apart. The golden runes on the pillars blazed with light as though they had gone mad, desperately trying to stabilize the Lookout, but the shaking only grew more violent. Pebbles rained down from above, pattering against the floor as dust billowed up, filling the air with the smell of dirt.

Kibito Kai suddenly appeared at the entrance. He arrived so quickly that the wind seemed to shriek in his wake. His face was panicked, his forehead slick with cold sweat, and his robe still fluttered behind him.

Breathing hard, he raised his voice. "Old Supreme Kai, something terrible has happened on Earth!"

"What happened?" Old Supreme Kai stared at Kibito Kai, his brow furrowed and unmistakable worry in his eyes.

"Baby... Baby has been resurrected!" Kibito Kai's voice trembled. "And this time, it's not just a resurrection. He's taken control of every human on Earth! He used a strange black liquid to infiltrate their minds and link the life force of all Earthlings together. By absorbing their life force, he restored his power in an instant. Baby's energy is now far beyond anything I can sense. And this darkness is spreading rapidly to other planets. Its first target is Namek!"

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Che's eyes.

At that moment, the power that had been dormant inside him erupted as if whipped into action. His blood throbbed wildly in his veins, and the air around him seemed to tighten, laden with pressure. The candles in the hall flickered, trembling as if caught in a storm.

"Kibito Kai, take me to Earth."

Jiang Che's voice wasn't loud, but every word landed like an iron block striking the floor. He was direct and resolute.

"But—" Kibito Kai hesitated and looked toward Old Supreme Kai.

"I said, take me to Earth."

Jiang Che left no room for argument. He stared straight at Kibito Kai, a cold light in his eyes. Pale blue flames of energy began to rise uncontrollably around him, as if igniting his fighting spirit.

Old Supreme Kai let out a long sigh, his voice echoing through the hall. "Go. You can wait until everything is over to think about some things."

He waved a hand, his eyes filled with countless conflicting emotions.

Kibito Kai had no choice. He hurried over to Jiang Che and placed a hand on his shoulder. His hand was a little cold, and Jiang Che could feel it trembling faintly—perhaps he was afraid, or perhaps he was simply nervous.

"Get ready," Kibito Kai said quietly.

"Mm." Jiang Che nodded.

The next second, a white light burst forth, brighter than the sun. Everything was swallowed up. Jiang Che felt as if his body had been dragged into some frenzied vortex. Time, sound, and smell vanished all at once, leaving only the howling wind and the thunderous roar of blood rushing through his veins.

The light disappeared, and everything fell silent. The two of them had vanished from Kami's Lookout, leaving behind only the quiet hall and the golden runes slowly settling down. Jiang Che's God Ki still lingered in the air, like incense burning down to its last ember, fading away slowly.

Old Supreme Kai stood motionless for a long time, gazing toward the place where they had disappeared. At last, he gave a slight nod toward the Divine Axe in the distance, as if speaking to someone unseen, and murmured, "Perhaps this is fate."

Earth.

The sky had turned crimson, like a torn wound bleeding despair. Dark clouds churned as if some evil force were stirring within them, twisting the entire sky into a vortex. Blood-red light clawed through the clouds, staining the earth. The air reeked of scorching heat and rot. The wind swept up dust and debris, carrying a wailing howl with it.

The instant Jiang Che returned to Earth, his pupils contracted.

He hovered in midair, and the sight below made the Earth he remembered seem impossibly distant. The cities had completely collapsed. The skyscrapers of old were now nothing but shattered ruins, their exposed steel beams like pale bones. Broken glass reflected an eerie, blood-red light from the ground.

Looking up at the sky, he saw countless black spores suspended in the air. They drifted down slowly as if alive, crackling softly when they hit the ground as they devoured the ruins.

The ground was crawling with the living dead under Baby's control. Their eyes were vacant, their skin ashen, black mist spilling from their mouths as they wandered aimlessly. Their limbs were wrapped in dense black fungal threads, as if they had become a permanent part of this hell.