Golden Light from Beyond the Heavens, Old Shadows Across the Sky

The pitch-black Nether Soul-Severing Blade hovered in midair, its razor-sharp, annihilating edge mere inches from Lin Chen's heart.

The bone-chilling killing intent rushing toward him nearly froze his flesh and blood, but Gilos, who had launched the killing blow, could no longer bring it down. Every muscle in his body was taut as he stared up at the vast sky, his earlier arrogance completely gone. All that remained in his heart was an uncontrollable sense of dread.

The golden pillar of light piercing through the stars was blindingly brilliant. It tore through the atmosphere and clouds, carrying an immense pressure that shook the heavens and earth. The air currents throughout the forest were violently churned, and howling winds swept up broken rocks and snapped branches. The battlefield's oppressive stillness was utterly shattered by this sudden celestial apparition.

On the ground, Goku instinctively stopped struggling with his opponent. His little face was full of confusion and astonishment as he looked up at the sky. The Frieza elite warrior grappling with him was thrown into equal disarray; his tightly coordinated offense developed an obvious opening, and he could no longer maintain his earlier encirclement.

In the forest, Bulma's hand trembled slightly as she held the scouter. The red power readings that had been jumping wildly across its screen instantly went haywire. The dense strings of code lost all pattern, and every reading exceeded the device's upper limit. It could no longer determine the strength of the newcomer.

"What on earth is that..." Bulma murmured, startled and suspicious.

She had seen alien warships, witnessed the terrifying power of the Saiyans, and personally watched Lin Chen grow stronger after breaking through in dire straits. But this aura, which had crossed the universe to reach them, surpassed every kind of power she knew. It was vast and ancient, with an air of indifference that seemed to look down upon all the Heavens. In the presence of that figure, all things under heaven seemed insignificant.

Lin Chen managed to steady his swaying body. Blood still seeped from his wounds, and his overtaxed body throbbed with tearing pain. He suppressed the restless, chaotic energy in his blood and looked toward the golden light, his expression grave.

The system's earlier warning still echoed in his mind: a power level beyond its detection limit, and a Super Saiyan aura so pure and intense it had reached its absolute peak.

In this universe, there were few beings with such strength and bloodline potential. The Frieza Clan had an instinctive fear of the Saiyans' ultimate form. Even Gilos, captain of the emperor's personal guard, had lost his composure. That alone proved the newcomer's identity was no ordinary matter.

Gilos's Adam's apple bobbed. The Nether power gathered around him began to disperse, and his hand tightened around his blade before loosening again. He had been ordered to wipe out the Saiyan survivors on Earth, and with a power level of 9,500, he had been certain he could crush an opponent whose strength barely exceeded 5,000. But the aura descending from beyond the heavens now filled him with instinctive fear, deep in his soul.

After Planet Vegeta's destruction, the surviving high-ranking Saiyans had scattered and fled. Most were hiding in remote corners of the universe, barely scraping by. Under normal circumstances, no one should have paid any attention to this distant, low-level blue planet. So why had such a terrifying powerhouse appeared at the very moment he was about to kill his target?

"Which esteemed master is concealed up there? Why not show yourself?"

Gilos forced down his panic and called out toward the sky. His voice no longer carried any of its earlier arrogance, only wariness. He did not dare attack recklessly, afraid he might enrage this unknown top-tier powerhouse and bring disaster upon himself.

The pillar of golden light sped onward, piercing the thick clouds in an instant. Its dazzling radiance bathed the entire forest canopy. As the blinding light slowly faded, a tall, lean figure stood in the clouds, golden flames surging around him like a roaring sea. Tiny bolts of electricity crackled incessantly around his body.

His short golden hair fluttered in the wind, and his eyes had turned a deep, cold shade of green. Every trace of his aura radiated the sharpness forged through countless battles among the stars. His form was a flawless example of the complete Super Saiyan transformation.

Simply hovering there in silence was enough to stiffen every Frieza warrior below. They barely dared to breathe.

Lin Chen fixed his gaze on the newcomer, his thoughts churning.

This was the first time since arriving in the Dragon Ball world that he had seen a complete Super Saiyan with his own eyes. Compared to Lin Chen's current, half-formed Super Saiyan Prototype, the newcomer's bloodline refinement and control of power were more than a level above his own. The gulf between them was all but impossible to cross.

The golden-haired Saiyan above the clouds swept his indifferent gaze over the battlefield. His eyes first passed over Lin Chen, covered in wounds, then settled on Gilos, whose aura was unsteady, and the armored warriors. Finally, he glanced at Bulma, hidden among the trees, and the young Son Goku.

The golden flames around him rippled slightly. He did not attack or rebuke anyone. He simply examined the chaotic battlefield in silence.

"A Super Saiyan... It really is the ultimate form." Gilos clenched his teeth, a bone-deep chill spreading through his heart.

Emperor Frieza had spent his life fearing this power, which could overturn the balance of the universe. His orders were clear: whenever they encountered a fully transformed Super Saiyan, they were to report it immediately and never provoke them on their own. Now that he had run into a complete Super Saiyan all by himself, the mission to wipe out the Saiyan survivors had clearly taken a turn he had never anticipated.

"Why have you and the Frieza Force come to this remote planet to slaughter people?"

A cool, steady voice descended from the sky, devoid of emotion yet heavy with an irresistible pressure. It echoed through the forest.

Gilos suppressed his anxiety and bowed slightly, making sure not to show disrespect. "I am Gilos, captain of Emperor Frieza's personal guard. I was ordered to hunt down the fugitive Saiyan remnants. This man was hiding on Earth and repeatedly killed our reconnaissance troops, so we came to wipe him out."

He deliberately shifted all the blame onto Lin Chen, trying to draw a line between them and avoid a direct confrontation with the Super Saiyan.

The golden-haired Saiyan's gaze returned to Lin Chen. A hint of curiosity flickered in his green eyes. "A hybrid with an altered bloodline, forced to break through at the brink of death, and even unlocking the Super Saiyan Prototype. That's a rare talent."

In a single glance, he had seen through Lin Chen's bloodline and the foundation of his breakthrough. The depth of his knowledge was plain to see.

Lin Chen reined in his own aura and kept his mind taut, refusing to answer hastily. He did not know where this Super Saiyan stood or whether he was friend or foe. Speaking rashly would put him at a disadvantage. His injuries were severe, his energy nearly depleted, and he could not maintain the Super Saiyan Prototype for long. If a fight broke out, he would have no confidence he could handle whatever came next.

"Just some defective Saiyan who slipped through the net, yet Frieza sent an elite squad across the stars to hunt him down." The golden-haired Saiyan's voice was calm, but his words carried a faint note of mockery. "Your emperor fears Saiyan blood all his life, yet all he knows how to do is relentlessly hunt down the weak and young."

His words showed open contempt for Frieza. Gilos's face shifted from pale to flushed, but he did not dare utter a word of protest. With such a vast difference in strength, any argument would be pointless.

The battle that had been raging nearby came to a complete halt. The two surviving Frieza elite warriors stood back-to-back, tense and wary as they stared at the figure in the sky. They no longer dared to attack.

Goku gazed up curiously at the golden-haired figure, his big, innocent eyes wide. He quietly spoke to Lin Chen beside him. "Big brother, that guy is so strong. He looks a little like you when you transform, but his aura is way stronger."

"He's a complete Super Saiyan," Lin Chen replied quietly. "His strength is far beyond what we can handle right now."

Bulma slowly emerged from the forest. With the scouter completely out of commission, she set it aside and warily studied the powerhouse in the sky, silently weighing her options. If he sided with the enemy, Earth would face an even more terrifying crisis. But if he remained neutral—or was even willing to help—the hopeless situation could be completely turned around.

The arrival of the powerhouse from beyond the heavens had made the situation instantly unpredictable. The one-sided death match ground to a halt. Both sides were forced to stop their attacks, and control of the battlefield had fallen entirely into the hands of the Super Saiyan who had suddenly appeared.

Gilos's thoughts raced. He feared the newcomer's strength, yet was unwilling to abandon his mission. If he returned empty-handed without killing his target, Frieza's ruthless nature would ensure he faced a severe punishment. After weighing his options, Gilos steeled himself and spoke again.

"Senior, this man has repeatedly injured our people and affronted Frieza. We cannot simply let him go today. I urge you not to interfere in the affairs of the emperor's forces and spark an unnecessary interstellar conflict."

He tried to use Frieza's name to intimidate the other man and drive him away.

At his words, a faint, cold smile curled the golden-haired Saiyan's lips. His golden aura abruptly surged, and a tremendous wave of pressure crashed down, blanketing the entire battlefield.

"Frieza is nothing. He has no authority over my actions."

As the cold words fell, an invisible force bore down on Gilos. His body, with its power level of 9,500, suddenly felt as if it were bound by a mountain. Even moving his limbs became difficult. Gilos was shocked and immediately drove the Nether Killing Art to its limits to resist the pressure. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

The newcomer had barely exerted himself, yet Gilos was already struggling to withstand him. The difference in their strength was plain as day.

While the two sides were locked in a standoff, Lin Chen quietly drew upon the remnants of his Near-Death Repair talent, gradually soothing his damaged meridians and bones. The smaller wounds on his skin slowly stopped bleeding, and his exhausted blood and energy began to recover. He did not let down his guard. His eyes stayed on all three sides, ready to fight no matter whom the newcomer chose to support.

"Since you insist on stopping me, I have no choice but to try my best." Gilos's gaze turned vicious as he prepared to fight.

He would be punished whether he failed the mission or backed down. Rather than wait helplessly for his fate, he would risk everything. Dark Nether power gathered in his hands once more, and the thick aura of death began to spread again as he prepared to unleash his killing move.

The two surviving elite warriors immediately shifted their positions. Their energy gathered, and they resumed their encircling formation. The fighting, which had briefly died down, was once again on the verge of erupting.

Just as both sides were poised for battle and another clash seemed imminent, the Super Saiyan in the sky suddenly turned his head slightly toward the depths of space. A faint change passed through his green eyes.

Noticing his reaction, Lin Chen, Gilos, and the others all followed his gaze.

The once-calm, pitch-black edge of space now held faint glimmers of silver light. Their numbers kept growing as they crowded toward Earth's atmosphere. The cold, bloodthirsty presence of a fleet carried clearly across the vast distance. It was several times larger than the six warships already there.

"A huge fleet?" Bulma's heart tightened, and her face grew grim.

Gilos stared at the cluster of lights. He froze for a moment, then understood, and delight flashed across his eyes. "Those are the reinforcements the emperor sent!"

Frieza had noticed that the battle was at a standstill and sent a large fleet to Earth as reinforcements. The situation had now turned around; his side held an overwhelming advantage in numbers. With an army at his back, they had the strength to stand against even a complete Super Saiyan.

The golden-haired Saiyan watched the approaching fleet, still perfectly calm. He showed no trace of panic, though the golden electricity around him crackled more violently than before.

Lin Chen watched the enemy fleet streaming across the sky and furrowed his brow. They had yet to finish dealing with one wave of powerful enemies, and now a much larger force was closing in. The crisis facing Earth kept mounting, and the pressure on them grew exponentially.

He instinctively clenched his fists. The dormant Saiyan blood in his body stirred once more, and the aura of his Super Saiyan Prototype began to rise again. The situation was tangled and uncertain: the mysterious Super Saiyan's allegiance was unknown, the enemy's main force was bearing down on them, his own injuries were still unhealed and his strength limited, and Goku and Bulma needed his protection.

No one could predict whether they would join forces against their enemies or face another battle with multiple sides involved.

Just as the fleet's silhouettes grew clearer and tension in the forest reached its breaking point, the Super Saiyan who had descended from the sky slowly turned his head. He fixed his gaze on Lin Chen, then spoke in a low voice with a hint of hidden meaning.

"Hybrid descendant who survived the fall of Planet Vegeta, do you know that a sealed chapter of the past lies hidden deep within your blood—a chapter that could shake the fate of the entire Saiyan race?"

The instant those words fell, Lin Chen's mind reeled. His thoughts went blank.

A secret from the past, one he had never heard of, had suddenly been brought to light. All his previous understanding seemed to crack apart. The unknown secret buried in his blood had just revealed its first eerie, unfathomable veil.