Power and Mission

Fifty thousand exchange points—just enough to buy this.

He lowered his eyes to glance at the numbers on the panel, a ripple of excitement stirring in his heart.

Tenfold Kaioken, combined with the foundation he had now as a Super Saiyan God... just how powerful would he become?

He couldn't help closing his eyes as a scene appeared in his mind: golden flames entwined with dark-red stars, the air crackling as it shuddered and the earth trembling beneath them.

Every breath unleashed power, and every glance carried an overwhelming pressure.

Just imagining it made his heart tighten.

Jiang Che took a deep breath, tamped down his anticipation, and decisively tapped the air with his fingertip, pressing the exchange button.

"Exchange for Tenfold Kaioken."

The system's notification rang coldly in his mind—

[Exchange successful. 50000 exchange points consumed. Remaining: 0.]

[Skill: Tenfold Kaioken (side-effect-free version) unlocked.]

Before the voice had even faded, a warm current surged from his chest, like magma rushing through his meridians and into every limb.

Jiang Che's body trembled slightly. His muscles tensed and relaxed in an instant, and his bones gave off faint cracking sounds, as if each one were rearranging itself.

It wasn't that he had gained more strength. He had gained an entirely new way to use it.

He could feel the Kaioken's imprint gradually overlaying the solid combat instincts already rooted in his body.

It was like an unrivaled, deadly blade that had yet to be sharpened, finally about to reveal its edge.

"Shame my exchange points are gone." Jiang Che shook his head, though a smile tugged at his lips. "But Tenfold Kaioken—worth it."

He closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and sank his mind into his body, slowly attuning himself to the subtle changes.

The ki in his meridians, once steady, now seemed to possess a will of its own, growing more agile and fierce.

He could feel every muscle fiber pulsing, waiting—waiting for his command to activate.

He slowly raised his right hand and clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.

He knew that, whenever he wished, he could flood his entire body with ten times the power and push Kaioken to its limit.

The air seemed to freeze. Even the pale mist inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber stopped around him, as though time itself feared the power he might unleash next.

Outside, sunlight filtered through the gray-white walls, casting hazy patches of light.

Jiang Che sat cross-legged in the center, currents of air slowly swirling around him.

He began guiding the ki within him, adapting it inch by inch to the workings of Kaioken.

With every exhale, a faint golden flame seeped from his skin, then quickly faded.

This was adaptation, taming, control.

He was learning to become the master of this power.

Meanwhile, outside Heaven's Palace, Son Goku squatted on a flagstone, a blade of grass clenched between his teeth, looking carefree.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

A voice boomed in his mind. It was a telepathic message from Dende—

"Mr. Goku! This is bad!"

Son Goku sprang to his feet, the blade of grass slipping from his mouth as his eyes widened.

"What? The Black Star Dragon Balls are gone, and the Earth is going to be destroyed?!"

His shout frightened the little birds searching for food outside the palace, sending them flying into the distance.

The wind swirled around him, making his orange gi flap loudly and his belt flutter.

Dende stood in the middle of the palace, tense, his little fists clenched against his chest and sweat beading on his forehead.

He nodded, his voice urgent. "Mr. Jiang Che told me. He said the Earth will be destroyed in a month, and we have to hurry and find the Black Star Dragon Balls."

"Where did the Dragon Balls go?" Gohan hurried forward, his brow furrowed and his fists clenched.

Son Goku slapped his knee, fire flashing in his eyes as a long-dormant fighting spirit curled the corners of his mouth into a smile. "We'll find them wherever they are! Gohan, get ready to go!"

A heavy silence hung in the air.

The clouds beneath the palace churned, as if foretelling the storm to come.

"I don't know." Dende shook his head. The white hair on his forehead swayed gently, and his eyes held confusion and helplessness.

His hands hung at his sides, his fingertips curling slightly as if he were trying hard to remember something. But in the end, he sighed. "Still, Mr. Jiang Che specifically told me to pass on his message. He said this was important."

Son Goku frowned, folding his arms and tapping one against the other with his fingertips.

After a brief silence, he looked up. His gaze glimmered in the sunset as he spoke in a low voice. "I understand. Gohan, Goten, let's go investigate where the Dragon Balls are."

"Yes, Dad!" Gohan straightened, youthful determination in his eyes, and clenched his right fist against his chest.

Young Goten imitated his older brother, waving his little fists a few times as he muttered, "I'm coming too!"

Vegeta leaned against a stone pillar some distance away, arms tightly folded and lips pressed into a thin line.

He didn't interrupt or even look at them, but his gaze remained fixed on Heaven's Palace, perched among the clouds and bathed by the setting sun in a golden-red glow.

A faint flame burned in his eyes. Like a silent volcano, it surged in his chest, fueled by a single obsession—to fight Jiang Che again and shatter the calm with all his might.

Jiang Che pushed open the heavy door of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and a hot, dry wind rushed over him.

His boots made crisp sounds as he stepped onto the stone stairs, and the sweat on his temples hadn't yet dried.

Looking up, he saw Son Goku, Gohan, and Goten standing in the middle of the courtyard, their Battle Suits flapping in the wind and their backpacks packed with supplies for the journey.

"Jiang Che, we're going to find the Dragon Balls." Son Goku took two steps forward, his gaze serious. "Are you coming?"

Jiang Che shook his head, his arm resting at his side, his fingers gently rubbing the hem of his clothes.

"I have my own things to take care of." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, and a faint smile lifted his lips. "You can handle it."

Son Goku grinned, his white teeth flashing. "All right. When I get back, don't forget our fight."

"I won't." Jiang Che nodded, his voice low and steady, like an iron nail driven into wood.

Son Goku turned and left with Gohan and Goten, their silhouettes swallowed by the shadows of the tall trees.

Their footsteps crunched over the gravel, growing more distant until they disappeared around the corner.

Jiang Che turned away and returned to his room.

The room was dim, lit only by a faint golden glow.

He didn't turn on the light or rest. Instead, he went straight to the center of the room and sat cross-legged on the floor, his back straight and his hands resting lightly on his knees as his breathing gradually steadied.

Everything around him grew still. Even the wind stopped.

"Tenfold Kaioken..." he murmured, his voice echoing through the empty room, heavy with resolve. "I need to find a chance to test its power."

Outside the window, a streak of light cut across the sky and quickly disappeared into the distance, trailing a golden tail of fire—the direction Son Goku and the others had headed.

It seemed the warmth they had left behind still lingered in the air. The leaves in the courtyard rustled softly, as if whispering their farewell.