Breaking the Seal

Buzz—

The silver-white longsword trembled violently, as though it had come alive.

Sharp, piercing wails poured from the blade—half weeping grievance, half furious roar, like a trapped beast and a shattered soul.

Fine cracks spread across the blade like a spiderweb. Every shudder sent out a metallic vibration that made even the air quiver faintly.

Chen Hao frowned and lightly placed his fingers on the sword.

He could feel an intense resistance surging out from within it.

That force was like an invisible giant python, urgently trying to coil around it, mend it, and reshape it—the cracks that should have shattered completely were actually slowly healing, as if some mysterious force were drawing them together bit by bit, like wounds scabbing over.

"Interesting." A cold smile curled Chen Hao's lips, and amusement flashed in his eyes. "No wonder Old Kai said this sword was hard to destroy. It even has the ability to repair itself."

He slowly raised his right hand, his fingertips brushing over the scars on the blade as though trying to sense the soul hidden deep within the metal.

He took a deep breath, his chest rising slightly. The surrounding air froze, as if all warmth had been drained from it.

He concentrated eighty percent of the ki within his body at his fingertips. In an instant, a crystalline glow appeared there—like silver, yet also like the purest power condensed from heaven and earth.

That ki swirled, compressed, and condensed at his fingertips, like a star on the verge of exploding.

With a flick of his finger—

Boom!

!

A terrifying blast of ki erupted from the sword, like a bomb suddenly detonating in a sealed chamber. The shockwave surged like a tide, sweeping through the entire temple.

Golden light exploded forth, as blinding as the blazing sun, illuminating every inch of the walls as all shadows were swallowed in an instant.

The ancient runes glowed hot beneath the light. The air was thick with the scorching scent of metal, mixed with shattered spiritual energy.

Shin and Kibito were sent flying outright by the shockwave, their bodies tumbling through the air like two dead leaves caught in the wind before slamming heavily into the walls.

Shin's back crashed into the stone wall with a dull boom, sending dust cascading down onto his shoulders. Kibito had it worse—his head struck a stone pillar at the corner of the wall, and he slid down like a puppet with its strings cut, a bloody gash instantly opening across his forehead.

Android 18 barely managed to steady herself. Her feet plowed two deep trenches into the floor as she gritted her teeth and raised one hand before her eyes, the golden light so dazzling she could barely keep them open.

Her long hair was swept up by the shockwave, dancing in the light like flames.

She could feel the floor trembling, as though the entire temple were growling low in response to the shattering blow.

Crack—rumble!

!

!

The silver-white longsword finally shattered, its fragments turning into a rain of silver that spun and danced through the air, every shard reflecting the golden radiance—like countless stars falling to earth.

The fragments collided with crisp clinks, scattering sparks as they struck the ground, like a ceremony marking the end.

At the very moment the fragments landed, a pillar of golden light shot skyward from the sword's remains. As thick as a giant tree and accompanied by deafening thunder, it instantly tore through the temple ceiling. Broken tiles rained down like droplets as the beam pierced the heavens, ripping apart even the gloomy clouds and bathing the entire temple in light.

"Hahaha—I'm out! Finally out!!"

A broad, powerfully built old man with a long beard stepped out of the pillar of light.

His steps were steady, and each time his foot touched the ground, the earth trembled faintly, as though the land itself were welcoming him.

His entire body radiated dazzling golden light, like the sun, cloaking the temple in strange splendor.

He wore ancient divine robes covered in intricate golden patterns, like primordial incantations flowing within the light.

A golden crown rested atop his head, set with a bright white gemstone at its peak. A flame flickered at the heart of the gem.

His beard reached his chest, drifting like silk in the golden radiance, every strand gleaming.

His eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as though they could see through all things.

Shin and Kibito stared blankly at the old man, their mouths hanging wide enough to fit a fist, their eyes filled with disbelieving shock and wild joy.

Shin's knees went weak, his body shaking violently as tears suddenly welled up in his eyes and rolled down his face.

Kibito stood frozen in place, forgetting even to breathe, as if someone had cast a binding spell on him.

"O-Old Kai..." Shin's voice trembled, the words nearly forced out of his throat. "You... really..."

The old man—Old Kai—looked at Shin with a beaming smile, warm and kind like a ray of winter sunlight.

His eyes curved into crescents, and every line at the corners of his mouth carried the weathered wisdom of age.

He slowly raised a hand and gently tapped Shin on the forehead, as though brushing away a speck of dust.

"Little Shin, it's been a long time."

His voice was deep and resonant, like an echo from an ancient bell tower, every word seeming to pass straight through the soul.

Shin trembled all over and jolted as though struck by lightning, then dropped straight to his knees. His knees slammed heavily against the cold stone floor with a dull thud.

He bowed his head low, his forehead nearly touching the ground, his voice choked with tears. "My lord... it really is you! I... I always thought you—"

Before he could finish, tears had already dripped onto the floor, wetting a small patch.

Dust and the scent of ancient stone artifacts drifted through the air. Fragments of the Z Sword lay scattered across the floor, their dim blue chill glimmering in the darkness.

"Did you think I was dead?" Old Kai's figure slowly emerged from the shattered blade.

He still wore ancient divine robes, his sideburns white, but his face bore a childlike grin.

He dusted off his robes, looked around at everyone, and said with a chuckle, "That's right, I was sealed away—thanks to that bastard Beerus, God of Destruction."

Chen Hao still held the pose of crushing the Z Sword, several bloody marks remaining on his palm.

He raised an eyebrow, his face full of confusion and a little disbelief. "A God of Destruction? Why did he seal you?"

"Heh, I've got a loose mouth. I said a few bad things about him." Old Kai spread his hands, the gesture as casual as an old street bum's.

He narrowed his eyes as though recalling those unpleasant memories. "That guy is petty as hell, narrower than a snake's guts! At a banquet, I said his fashion sense was terrible and his hairstyle looked like a drowned hen's. He rushed over and slapped me straight into the sword."

As he spoke, he even mimicked Beerus's tone and movements from back then—like stuffing a bug into a bottle.

He also imitated Beerus's threatening voice: "'Say one more bad thing about me, and I'll lock you in there forever.'"

Chen Hao: "..."

Android 18's blue hair fluttered in the wind. With her arms crossed, she watched Old Kai expressionlessly, as though looking at a noisy monkey.

Shin and Kibito exchanged a glance, their bodies stiff. Clearly, this information had left them completely stunned.

"But it's fine." Old Kai did not care in the slightest. He turned to Chen Hao, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy eyes as though he were admiring an uncut jade stone. "Kid, you actually crushed the Z Sword with your bare hands! This sword is an ancient divine artifact. Even Beerus would need to put in some effort to break it. With your strength... even if Beerus came in person, he might not be able to do it."

Chen Hao stood amid the shattered stone slabs, the hem of his clothes stirring without wind, a faint golden glow lingering around him.

He spoke calmly. "I've already reached full-power Super Saiyan 4. This sword is nothing to me."