Return and Resolve

Dende had sensed that familiar yet powerful presence long ago.

He hurried out of the palace, the hem of his white robe fluttering in the wind. His steps were quick, and his face held a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

When he saw Jiang Che, he immediately bowed slightly, clasping his hands in front of his chest. His manner was both respectful and cautious. "Lord Jiang Che, you're back."

His eyes traveled over Jiang Che, and he asked tentatively, "Baby... has he been eliminated?"

"Mm. It's taken care of."

Jiang Che nodded. Before he could finish speaking, he had already drifted lightly down to the plaza in front of Kami's Lookout, like a falling leaf.

The flagstone floor rumbled softly beneath him. A few dead leaves were swept up by the air currents and slowly spun away.

Jiang Che came to a stop and brushed nonexistent dust from his shoulder. Looking calmly at Dende, he said, "Dende, there's something I need to tell you."

Dende's expression tightened at once.

He sensed something unusual in Jiang Che's tone and hurriedly said, "Please, go ahead." He took an unconscious step forward, his hands gripping the edges of his robe.

"The Black Star Dragon Balls have disappeared. The Earth will be destroyed in a month."

Jiang Che spoke calmly, as if he were talking about the weather, though a trace of heaviness flickered in his eyes.

Dende's face turned pale, his pupils widening as his lips trembled. "What?! How could something like that happen?"

His voice rose sharply. Shock and panic showed plainly on his face, and he lifted both hands, his fingertips shaking violently.

"I don't know the details either, but it's the truth."

Jiang Che raised a hand to calm him. "You need to notify Son Goku and the others right away. Tell them to hurry and find the Dragon Balls." His tone was firm and left no room for argument. His gaze forced Dende to accept the cruel news.

Dende took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. When he opened them again, the panic had subsided, leaving only a heavy sense of responsibility.

He nodded decisively. "I understand. I'll notify them at once." His voice was a little hoarse, but firm.

Jiang Che turned to gaze at the distant horizon. The last of the evening glow was slowly fading, and night was creeping in.

He was silent for a few seconds before suddenly speaking. "Also, I need somewhere to stay." He turned back to Dende. "Would it be all right if I stayed here for a while?"

Dende froze, but quickly relaxed and smiled. "Of course, Lord Jiang Che. Please, follow me." He stepped aside and gestured invitingly, the hem of his robe tracing an arc in the wind.

Candles had been lit on the distant stone steps of the palace. Their dim golden glow wavered in the night, offering a moment of peace in this world beset by danger.

Dende nodded readily, a genuine smile on his lips. "Of course. You eliminated Baby and saved the Earth. You could ask to stay here—or even take the entire Heavenly God's Palace—and I'd gladly hand it over without a second thought." His voice brimmed with heartfelt respect, and his eyes shone brightly, as if Jiang Che had already become an immortal monument in his heart.

"There's no need to exaggerate."

Jiang Che waved a hand, his gesture casual and his voice as calm as deep water.

He glanced sideways at the pillars inside the palace, their shadows interweaving. "Just give me a quiet room." His voice was steady, and he left no room for debate.

Dende nodded immediately, then turned and signaled to Mr. Popo. Pointing to a secluded corner of the palace's side wing, he quietly gave a few instructions.

Mr. Popo blinked his dark eyes, then vanished down the corridor in a flash. His footsteps were almost inaudible; only the faint rustle of his robe against the stone floor could be heard.

It wasn't long before the room was ready.

Mr. Popo opened the door. The room was quiet, the stone bed neatly made, and white clouds drifted slowly past the window as gentle golden light filtered through its diamond-shaped panes.

Jiang Che went into the room and sat for a while before standing up. He walked out with quiet resolve, each step seeming to measure the weight of time.

He headed straight for Dende, his gaze sharp.

"Dende, I want to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."

He said it directly, without a hint of hesitation.

Dende was a little surprised. His brows rose slightly, like a lake ruffled by a breeze. "Lord Jiang Che, didn't you just finish training not long ago?" He sounded puzzled but concerned, his fingers rubbing together unconsciously.

"You can never have too much money, or too much strength."

Jiang Che spoke calmly as he looked toward the horizon, where clouds churned as though some hidden current was gathering.

He paused, then lowered his voice. "We dealt with this threat, but who knows what we'll face in the future?" His fingers tapped his belt with a soft chime, as if hinting at something.

After hearing him, Dende's eyes widened with even greater astonishment, then filled with deep admiration.

He bowed with his hands clasped and promised solemnly, "You're right. I'll open the door for you at once."

He walked to the stone tablet in the center of the palace. His fingertips glided over the ancient runes, and the carvings gave off a low hum, like an echo from the distant past.

A beam of white light rose from the center of the tablet, slowly taking the shape of an oval door. Through it came the faint sound of a desolate wind and the surging tides of time.

Jiang Che took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber closed behind him with a heavy rumble, like distant thunder. Soon, all was quiet.

The chamber was empty. In the distance lay only a haze of white mist, and the smooth, mirrorlike floor reflected his solitary yet steadfast figure.

He didn't begin training right away. Instead, he closed his eyes and concentrated for a while.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes and brought up the system panel in his mind.

A phantom screen appeared out of thin air, hovering before him. Its faint glow was like starlight falling into the darkness.

Options crowded the screen: bloodlines, skills, equipment, items... There was a bewildering variety, with lights and shadows interweaving as names and numbers flickered past, dazzling Jiang Che.

His gaze swept quickly over row after row of options, and he tapped here and there in midair. Occasionally, a clear chime rang out, like a diamond dropping into crystal.

He kept searching for what he needed.

His blood quickened, trembling along with his fingertips, and his heartbeat seemed to pound in his ears.

His gaze stopped on a line of text, as if pulled in by a magnet.

"Tenfold Kaioken, price: 50,000 exchange points."

Jiang Che's gaze fixed on the words, his pupils contracting slightly.

The golden text shone on the screen, its edges tinged with a faint red glow, as if waves of battle heat were surging from it.

He unconsciously licked his dry lips. In his mind, he pictured the Kaioken erupting: muscles swelling, energy exploding, and blinding light filling the air.

The Kaioken was a secret technique created by North Kai. It could multiply one's battle power several times over for a short time.

But its drawbacks were just as extreme. It put an immense strain on the body—tearing muscles and making bones ache as the user pushed himself to the very limits of life with every use.

Yet this Tenfold Kaioken from the system came with a line of small text that slowly appeared on the screen: "No side effects."

Jiang Che stared fixedly at those words. The corners of his mouth lifted, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He gently tapped the screen. A clear confirmation chime echoed throughout the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, silently sealing the deal.

Jiang Che's eyes lit up at once, and it seemed that starlight truly shimmered in his pupils.