The Sovereign Arrives! A Lone Stand, A Glimmer of Hope in Despair

The black rift in the sky continued to expand, like a monstrous beast devouring heaven and earth. Pitch-black energy surged out like a tsunami, eroding Earth's atmosphere until it was riddled with holes. Ximen Qing hovered directly before the rift, the golden-red aura around him swelling to its limit. The energy sphere gathered in his palm grew ever larger, its dazzling golden-red glow fiercely clashing against the churning darkness within the rift. The sizzling of colliding energies was deafening, and even space trembled and warped slightly.

"Roar—!"

A world-destroying roar exploded from within the rift, far more terrifying than any before it. Carrying an overwhelming pressure capable of crushing everything, it instantly forced Ximen Qing's golden-red aura to shrink slightly. His entire body shook violently, his blood and qi churned, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. The little energy he had left was on the verge of falling into chaos, yet he still clenched his teeth tightly. The energy in his palm did not waver in the slightest. His gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed upon the depths of the rift, while the power of his spiritual veins circulated faintly around him, barely keeping him steady.

The next second, a colossal shadow, suffocating in its sheer size, slowly stepped out of the rift. It was entirely shrouded in dense black energy, its features impossible to make out. Only a pair of crimson eyes could be seen, like two blood-red suns, radiating a destructive savagery and an overbearing dominance over all things. The pressure around it was dozens of times stronger than that of the leading Dark Guardian. Simply standing in the void made heaven and earth lose their color, while every piece of rubble on the scorched ground was crushed into ash by its pressure.

The Dark Sovereign had descended upon Earth!

"You lowly insect, how dare you obstruct my descent?" A bone-chilling, emotionless voice rang out from within the shadow, echoing through heaven and earth. "I slumbered for ten thousand years, intending to use the power of the Twinborn Token to seize complete control of the universe. Yet you, an insect, ruined my plans and suppressed the Twinborn Token's fluctuations."

Ximen Qing drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil and weakness within him. His golden-red aura rose again as the power of his spiritual veins fused with the power of the Sovereign, barely withstanding the crushing pressure. Though the disparity in their strength was immense, he did not retreat even half a step. His voice was hoarse but resolute, piercing through the terrifying pressure and resounding across the world. "Dark Sovereign, don't be so arrogant! Earth—and the entire universe—is not a place you can trample at will! Today, I, Ximen Qing, will stop you right here!"

"Stop me?" The Dark Sovereign gave a mocking cold laugh, his tone full of disdain. "With strength as pitiful as yours, you dare boast before me? One finger is enough for me to crush you into ashes!"

Before his words had faded, the Dark Sovereign slowly raised his right hand. Black energy frantically condensed in his palm, forming an enormous black claw. Carrying world-destroying power, it slammed mercilessly toward Ximen Qing. Wherever the giant claw passed, space was completely torn apart, leaving behind a black scar. The golden-red aura was instantly crushed, and the icy aura in the air nearly swallowed Ximen Qing whole.

Ximen Qing's eyes narrowed. He did not dare show the slightest carelessness as he pushed the remaining power of the Sovereign and his spiritual veins to the limit. The golden-red energy sphere in his palm erupted at once, transforming into a massive [Evil-Burning Light Blade]. Carrying extreme heat and purifying power, it cleaved precisely at the black giant claw. This strike exhausted every ounce of his strength. It was both an interception and a desperate counterattack that staked everything on the line. Wherever the blade passed, even the cold dark energy in the air was instantly dissolved.

"Boom—!"

Golden-red and black energy collided violently, and the earth-shaking explosion resounded throughout the universe. Shockwaves erupted from the point of collision and swept madly in every direction. Earth's atmosphere shook violently, while countless meteors were swept along and crashed toward the planet. Ximen Qing was blasted away by the shockwave, falling like a kite with a broken string. He slammed heavily into a remaining mountain peak, which instantly collapsed. His body was covered in wounds, his clothes stained with blood, and his breath was weak but not extinguished. A faint golden-red aura still lingered in his palm, not yet completely snuffed out.

As for the black giant claw, it merely paused for an instant before once again striking toward Ximen Qing. Though its power had been weakened somewhat by the [Evil-Burning Light Blade], it remained unstoppable—the gap in their strength was simply too great. Ximen Qing's all-out strike had barely held it back for a moment, but the price he paid was grievous.

"Qing!"

On the scorched ground, Son Gohan, Nappa, and Gray Shadow were frantic with worry. They struggled with all their strength to rise and support him, but their injuries were too severe and their energy was exhausted. Even using their last ounce of strength, they could only barely prop up their upper bodies. They could do nothing but watch the black giant claw close in on Ximen Qing, their eyes filled with anxiety and unwillingness.

Ximen Qing slowly climbed out from the pile of rubble. Blood continued to spill from the corners of his mouth, and every bone in his body seemed shattered. Every movement sent piercing pain through him. He raised his head toward the Dark Sovereign in the sky. There was not the slightest fear in his eyes; instead, an even fiercer resolve burned there. He slowly gathered the last of his golden-red energy in his palm as the power of his spiritual veins silently nourished his exhausted body. Even with such a vast disparity in strength, even trapped in a hopeless situation, he would never give up. He would never allow the Dark Sovereign to harm his companions or trample Earth.

"I told you, insect—you are no match for me!" The Dark Sovereign's voice was cold enough to freeze bone as the black giant claw drew ever closer. "Since you insist on being so stubborn, I shall kill you first, then dispose of your companions, reclaim the Twinborn Token, and take complete control of the universe!"

At that critical moment, two golden-red streaks suddenly raced in from the distance, carrying powerful energy fluctuations as they smashed fiercely into the black giant claw. They were elite warriors sent to reinforce the Extreme Cold and Blazing Flame Star Systems. After receiving Son Gohan's urgent transmission and learning that Ximen Qing had faced the Dark Sovereign alone, they disregarded the safety of the nodes, pulled away part of their forces, and rushed back to Earth to provide support.

"My lord, we're here!" the elite warriors roared in unison. Their golden-red auras intertwined as massive golden-red energy spheres condensed in their palms. They launched a fierce assault on the black giant claw simultaneously. Countless golden-red energy blades tore through the air, sweeping densely toward the Dark Sovereign. Though they were not enough to seriously injure him, they successfully forced him to halt his attack and gather a black shield with his backhand, barely blocking the barrage. Their support was weak, but timely, buying Ximen Qing a chance to catch his breath.

"Oh? More insects have come to die?" The Dark Sovereign sneered, the savagery in his eyes growing ever thicker. "Fine. I'll kill you all together and spare myself the trouble!"

Before his words had faded, the black energy in his palm surged once more. With a vicious sweep of his hand, an enormous black energy wave surged toward the elite warriors. Their expressions changed drastically as they hastily used all their energy to form golden-red shields. But the energy wave was far too powerful. With a boom, the shields shattered instantly, and several elite warriors were blasted away, suffering severe casualties. Though the remaining warriors had chaotic breaths, they continued to stare fixedly at the Dark Sovereign without retreating in the slightest, stubbornly keeping him occupied.

Seeing this, Ximen Qing felt both warmth and intense anxiety. Though the elite warriors' aid had temporarily restrained the Dark Sovereign, they had paid a terrible price. If this stalemate continued, everyone would be killed one by one. He took a deep breath and, taking advantage of the opening created by the warriors, desperately mobilized the power of his spiritual veins to nourish his damaged body and recover a trace of strength, preparing to rejoin the battle and fight beside them.

Just then, the communicator suddenly rang with a call from the warriors sent to the Extreme Cold Star System, their voices carrying a hint of joy. "My lord! Good news! The remaining dark forces in the Extreme Cold Star System have been completely eliminated, and the energy node has been fully stabilized. We've already mobilized every remaining fighter and are rushing back to Earth to support you!"

Immediately afterward, a transmission from the Blazing Flame Star System came through as well. "My lord! We've also eliminated the remaining dark forces in the Blazing Flame Star System. The node is secure. All warriors are on their way to Earth and will arrive soon!"

A glimmer of light flashed in Ximen Qing's eyes, and hope reignited in his heart. The crises in both star systems had been completely resolved, and all the elite warriors sent as reinforcements were on their way. If they could just hold on a little longer, if all their companions could gather, they might truly have a chance to face the Dark Sovereign head-on. Drawing on the power of his spiritual veins, he slowly steadied himself, and the golden-red aura in his palm grew several shades brighter.

"Insects will always be insects. No matter how many there are, they cannot change the outcome!" The Dark Sovereign heard the voices from the communicator, and a cruel, mocking smile curled across his lips. The black energy around him swelled severalfold. "Since you are all so eager to die, I shall grant your wish and crush every last one of you at once!"

Before his words had faded, the Dark Sovereign slowly raised both hands. Black energy frantically condensed in his palms, forming a massive black energy sphere. It contained power capable of destroying heaven and earth. The pressure it emitted alone made heaven and earth tremble violently, while the ravines across the scorched ground spread madly once more.

Ximen Qing's gaze sharpened, and he immediately roared into the communicator, "Everyone, assemble as quickly as possible! Gather all your energy and work with me to block this attack! No matter the cost, we have to hold on! We have no way back! Behind us is Earth—everything we want to protect!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The remaining elite warriors, Son Gohan, Nappa, and Gray Shadow answered in unison. Giving everything they had, they drew out every last shred of energy within their bodies, condensing it into faint yet resolute strands of energy that flowed toward Ximen Qing. Son Gohan activated the last of his purifying power. Nappa and Gray Shadow gathered the last of their strength, while the elite warriors pooled all their golden-red energy. The strands intertwined, forming a massive golden-red energy barrier that firmly shielded Ximen Qing and all his companions.

Ximen Qing slowly raised his palm, completely fusing all the gathered energy with the remaining power of the Sovereign and the power of his spiritual veins. The golden-red energy sphere in his palm became dazzling once more. Though it was still weaker than the Dark Sovereign's energy sphere, it carried everyone's hope and determination, as well as purifying power not to be underestimated—enough to barely withstand the enemy's fatal strike.

"Go!" the Dark Sovereign roared, hurling the black energy sphere in his palm viciously toward Ximen Qing and the others. Wherever it passed, space completely collapsed, and all things were swallowed up.

"[Sovereign Purple Flame Break]—Full Power!"

Ximen Qing roared as he hurled the golden-red energy sphere gathered in his palm at the black energy sphere. This time, he was no longer fighting alone. This strike carried everyone's hope and bore their resolve to protect Earth and the universe. Golden-red and black energy met in their ultimate collision once more. Heaven and earth shook violently as this battle, which concerned the survival of all living beings, reached its blazing climax!

At the same time, deep in the universe, two enormous golden-red streaks raced forward at tremendous speed. They were the elite warriors returning from the Extreme Cold and Blazing Flame Star Systems. Their figures drew ever closer, their energy fluctuations growing increasingly clear. In the depths of despair, the faint light was growing brighter. Could Ximen Qing and the others hold out until the final reinforcements arrived? Could they withstand the Dark Sovereign's fatal strike and protect this last sliver of hope?