Arrogance and the Gap

Chen Hao unhurriedly raised a hand and brushed at the dust that did not exist on his shoulder, as casually as if nothing had happened.

His eyes were as calm as an old well, but the faint curve of his lips carried an unreadable hint of amusement.

"Vegeta, I understand how you feel." His voice was not loud, yet it carried a steady, oppressive weight. "You're the proud Saiyan Prince. Running into a Saiyan stronger than you must be hard to swallow."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp gaze swept over Vegeta, and his voice instantly turned icy. "But in front of me, your pride means nothing. If you really want to prove something, then fight me. I don't mind showing you what a true gap in strength looks like."

Before his words had even faded, Chen Hao's aura surged violently like a crashing wave.

It was not simple anger, nor merely the release of power. It was more like a suffocating pressure that bore directly down on everyone's hearts.

The air seemed to form an invisible wall. The ground trembled faintly as dust and gravel were swept into the sky. Even blades of grass rose into the air, only to be shredded apart by the violent currents in an instant.

The trees in the distance suddenly swayed, their leaves rustling as they rained down.

Cold sweat beaded on Trunks's forehead. He instinctively took half a step back, his hands hidden beneath his cloak as he tightly gripped its hem until his fingers turned pale.

Android 18 could not help retreating two steps as well. Her blonde hair whipped wildly in the wind, and she bit down hard on her lower lip, a trace of fear spilling into her eyes—if even she, a cyborg, felt a chill run down her back, this pressure was enough to drive someone insane.

Vegeta stood at the very center of the storm, his expression so grim it seemed ready to drip water. Veins bulged across his temples, and his teeth ground together with audible cracks.

Yet he refused to retreat even if it killed him. His feet seemed nailed into the earth, and he did not move an inch.

Only his hands trembled slightly, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly sank into his flesh. His pride rooted him in place. His throat bobbed a few times, but he could not force out a single word.

"Damn it..." At last, he squeezed out two words through clenched teeth. His voice was hoarse, his breathing ragged, his chest heaving like bellows, yet his gaze remained fixed on Chen Hao like blazing fire.

Even though his entire body was on the verge of being crushed, a stubborn light still burned in his eyes.

Chen Hao had been watching Vegeta all along, and the edge in his gaze gradually softened.

Honestly, Vegeta's personality was infuriating, but he never yielded no matter how great the crisis—this truly was the most admirable quality of a Saiyan. The cold smile on Chen Hao's lips faded slightly, replaced by a flicker of appreciation.

"That's enough, Dad."

Just as the tension reached its peak, Trunks finally stepped forward. Though his steps trembled slightly and his face was tense, he still walked in front of Vegeta, took a deep breath, and gave Chen Hao a solemn bow. "Sir, thank you for saving us just now. My name is Trunks. I'm a time traveler from the future."

Chen Hao turned his gaze toward Trunks. The sharpness in his eyes gradually faded, and his tone softened as well. "I know who you are—Future Trunks."

Trunks froze, his face filled with astonishment. "You... know me?"

"I suppose you could say that." Chen Hao answered lightly, his gaze passing over the sword at Trunks's waist and his tattered yet neat cloak.

Then he turned to look at Krillin, who was lying in the distance and gasping for breath. Krillin was covered in dirt and sweat. He tried to get up, but his body was riddled with injuries, and he could only collapse back onto the ground.

"Is that bald guy still alive?" Chen Hao asked casually, a teasing note in his voice.

"Cough, cough..." Krillin struggled to push himself up, bracing both hands against the cracked ground. He rubbed the back of his head, then gave a wry shake of his head. "All right, I am bald, but it still kind of annoys me when you put it like that..."

His head shone blindingly beneath the sunlight, sweat rolling down from his forehead. Seeing him in such a bedraggled state, covered in dirt with his clothes torn and blood at the corner of his mouth, everyone felt the taut atmosphere loosen slightly. It was as though someone had plucked a string, and the air gradually grew lighter.

Android 18 was still standing nearby. She hesitated for a moment, her blonde hair swaying gently in the wind, her expression complicated. But she still walked over, bent down, and supported Krillin by the arm. Her fingertips trembled at first, but quickly steadied as she pulled him to his feet.

"Thank you for saving me." Android 18's voice was quiet, but her sincerity was unmistakable.

Krillin froze, staring blankly at her beautiful yet slightly weary face. After a few seconds, he suddenly broke into a wide grin. "I-It's nothing! It was what we should do!" His ears had turned red, and his voice was full of both joy and nervousness.

"All right, Cell has already run off. This area is safe now." Chen Hao clapped his hands, dusting off his palms, then turned and started to leave.

"Wait!" Trunks's voice immediately rang out behind him. He rushed over, panic written all over his face, his blue hair blown into a mess by the wind. "Sir, Cell's goal is to absorb Android 18. You're so strong—why not just kill Cell directly? What if he absorbs Android 18 and becomes perfect...?"

Chen Hao stopped with his back to them and slowly turned his face to the side. The setting sun glinted in his eyes, while a meaningful curve appeared on his lips.

"Who said I wouldn't be able to beat Cell after he became perfect?"

The words fell like a thunderclap, making everyone's hearts skip a beat. Even the wind fell silent. The leaves suspended in the air for a full second before slowly drifting down.