Danger to the Origin! Breaking the Desperate Situation, the Dominator Falls

An eerie red light flashed wildly in the Dark Sovereign's eyes. The violent black energy around him completely spiraled out of control, crashing about like an untethered tsunami. The terrifying energy fluctuations, far surpassing anything from before, instantly crushed the entire battlefield. Even space trembled violently, on the verge of collapse. Everyone could clearly sense the world-destroying power carried within that energy—once it detonated, Ximen Qing and the others would be reduced to ashes, and Earth, along with the surrounding starfields, would be utterly flattened and turned into cosmic dust.

"Not good! He's going to detonate his origin power and take us down with him!" Ximen Qing's expression changed drastically, his heart tightening as an overwhelming sense of danger swept through his body. He could clearly feel the origin power within the Dark Sovereign rapidly surging toward eruption. Its might far exceeded his imagination. Even if they gave everything they had, they had no chance of surviving an explosion of origin power.

On the scorched earth, Son Gohan, Nappa, and Gray Shadow stiffened, shock and despair churning in their eyes. Their energy had already been depleted, and they were severely wounded. Faced with the Dark Sovereign's imminent detonation of his origin power, they did not even have the strength to resist. They could only watch helplessly as the violent black energy continued to rise, gradually swallowing the entire battlefield. The remaining elite warriors also revealed terrified expressions, their auras thrown into utter chaos. Some were even on the brink of collapse—they were not afraid of dying in battle, but they feared that even after giving everything they had, they still would not be able to protect what they wished to protect.

"Hahaha! Are you scared now, insects?" The Dark Sovereign let out a crazed, sinister laugh, his voice filled with brutality and madness. "If I cannot have this universe, neither can you! Today, I will detonate my origin power and drag you, along with this insignificant planet, into the abyss of destruction! You will never be reborn!"

The black energy around him grew ever more violent, while the eerie red light intensified. The fluctuations of his origin power became increasingly fierce. Savage cracks split open across space, and countless frigid cosmic rays poured through them. Earth's atmosphere was on the verge of shattering, while the ground shook violently as though it would collapse completely the next second.

Ximen Qing's entire body tensed, veins bulging at his temples as blood continued to stream down his cheeks. The energy within him was nearly exhausted, and the stabbing pain in his meridians was as unbearable as blades cutting through him. Yet he never gave up. The determination in his eyes burned ever hotter as his mind raced, desperately searching for a way to counter the origin power—he could not die, his companions could not die, Earth could not die, and the hope of all living beings could not be extinguished here.

Just then, Son Gohan suddenly used the last of his strength to roar, "Qing'er! Origin power may be strong, but it has a weakness! Every living being's origin has a core nexus. As long as we can shatter his origin nexus, we can stop the origin power from detonating! The Dark Sovereign's origin nexus must be in his chest—that is where his energy is most concentrated, and also where he is most vulnerable!"

Son Gohan's words were like a glimmer of light in the darkness, instantly igniting everyone's hope. He had spent his life studying all forms of energy and the origins of living beings. Though he had never encountered an existence on the Dark Sovereign's level, he deeply understood the laws governing origin power—no matter how powerful an origin was, it possessed an untouchable core nexus. Once that nexus shattered, the origin power would instantly collapse and might even backlash against its master.

Ximen Qing's gaze sharpened as he instantly locked onto the Dark Sovereign's chest. The black energy there was the densest, yet it faintly emitted a weak fluctuation entirely different from the violent energy surrounding his body. Clearly, that was the origin nexus Son Gohan had mentioned!

"Everyone, heed my command!" Ximen Qing's roar pierced through the thunderous blast of violent energy and resounded through heaven and earth, carrying unquestionable resolve. "Give me every last bit of your strength! Gather all your remaining energy into my palm! I'll use our combined power to shatter his origin nexus and stop the origin power from detonating!"

"Yes, sir!"

Even in such dire straits, with their energy exhausted, everyone answered in unison. Their voices were loud and resolute, without the slightest hesitation. Son Gohan exhausted his last strength, condensing the remaining purification power within him into a faint white light that shot toward Ximen Qing's palm—though weak, this strand of purification power could barely neutralize the malice of the dark origin and clear a path for Ximen Qing. Nappa and Gray Shadow gritted their teeth and detonated the last remnants of battle power within their bodies, turning them into two streams of energy that flowed into Ximen Qing's palm. The remaining elite warriors gave everything without reserve. Though severely wounded and on the verge of death, they still used their last breath to gather every trace of golden-red energy left within them around Ximen Qing.

All the energy intertwined and fused, perfectly merging with the remaining Sovereign power and spirit vein power within Ximen Qing. It condensed into a brilliant, compact golden-red energy spike. Though this energy spike was not as massive as the previous torrent of energy, it carried everyone's hope and determination. It contained the purest power of purification and protection, sharp beyond compare and capable of piercing any darkness.

Ximen Qing's whole body trembled as he used all his strength to maintain the energy spike in his palm. The violent energy nearly tore apart his meridians, blood spurting from his body as his aura weakened to the extreme. Yet his gaze only grew sharper, fixed firmly on the origin nexus in the Dark Sovereign's chest. He knew this was their only chance—their final chance. If they failed, there would be no recovery.

"You insects still want one final struggle? Too late!" Sensing Ximen Qing's intent, the Dark Sovereign let out a furious roar and desperately accelerated the detonation of his origin power. The black energy around him surged several times over in an instant, crushing fiercely toward Ximen Qing and the others, trying to grind them to dust before the origin power exploded.

The black energy swept in like a tsunami. Wherever it passed, space collapsed and all things melted away. Ximen Qing's eyes hardened. No longer hesitating, he pushed every last bit of energy within him to the limit. His figure flashed as he activated [Crimson Flame Flash], transforming into a golden-red streak that broke through the obstruction of the black energy and charged straight at the Dark Sovereign's chest—he ignored the erosion of the black energy around him and the tearing agony within his body. Even if he were reduced to pieces, he would shatter that origin nexus.

"You seek death!" the Dark Sovereign roared, gathering a palm of black energy in his hand and slamming it viciously toward Ximen Qing in an attempt to stop him. But all his focus was on detonating his origin power, and the energy around him had already become chaotic. The force of this strike was far weaker than before.

Ximen Qing's eyes turned ruthless as he took the blow head-on. The black energy instantly swept across his body, burning his flesh and corroding his meridians. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body shaking violently as he nearly fell. Yet he did not stop. Instead, borrowing the impact of that strike, he accelerated once more. The golden-red energy spike in his palm blazed ever brighter as it stabbed viciously toward the origin nexus in the Dark Sovereign's chest!

Squelch—!

The golden-red energy spike pierced precisely into the Dark Sovereign's chest, breaking through the black energy surrounding him and violently shattering his origin nexus. An incomparably shrill howl echoed throughout the universe. The black energy around the Dark Sovereign instantly spun out of control and dissipated wildly. The eerie red light dimmed with it, and the fluctuations of his origin power rapidly weakened before vanishing completely.

With his origin nexus shattered, the Dark Sovereign trembled violently. His face turned as pale as paper, the black energy around him dissolving bit by bit as his body gradually became transparent. He lowered his head in disbelief and stared at the wound in his chest, his eyes filled with unwillingness and despair. "No—! I refuse to accept this! I slept for ten thousand years, only to truly be defeated by a group of insects! I failed to control the universe, and now I am about to perish..."

Ximen Qing slowly withdrew the energy spike from his palm and staggered back several steps. His body was covered in wounds, and his aura was so weak he was nearly unconscious. Looking at the Dark Sovereign as he gradually dissolved before him, a weak yet gratified smile curled across his lips—they had done it. They had stopped the origin power from detonating, shattered the Dark Sovereign's origin nexus, and preserved a sliver of life for Earth and the universe.

"Qing'er!"

Seeing this, Son Gohan, Nappa, and Gray Shadow forced themselves upright and slowly made their way toward Ximen Qing, their eyes filled with joy and concern. The remaining elite warriors also smiled in relief. Though covered in wounds and exhausted beyond measure, they still stood tall—they had won. They had defeated the arrogant Dark Sovereign and brought an end to this catastrophe that had swept across the universe.

The Dark Sovereign's figure grew increasingly transparent, and the black energy around him had completely dissolved. Only those scarlet eyes still carried unwillingness and brutality. He stared fixedly at Ximen Qing and released one final weak roar. "Ximen Qing... I refuse to accept this... If there is another life, I will surely... tear you into ten thousand pieces and completely... seize control of this universe..."

Before his words could fade, the Dark Sovereign's body completely turned into wisps of black smoke and dispersed into the void, leaving not a single trace behind. The Dark Sovereign, who had slept for ten thousand years, sought to control the universe, and brought endless catastrophe, had ultimately fallen at the hands of Ximen Qing and the others, on this Earth he had regarded with such contempt.

With the Dark Sovereign's death, the pressure and black energy around him vanished in an instant. The black rifts in the sky gradually contracted and closed, finally disappearing completely. The corroded atmosphere slowly repaired itself under the nourishment of Earth's spirit vein power. The collapsed mountains, cracked earth, and rivers flowing backward gradually returned to their former state. Rays of sunlight pierced the clouds and shone upon the scorched ground, bringing life and hope.

Ximen Qing looked upon everything before him, and the nerves he had held taut finally relaxed. All strength drained from his body at once, and he collapsed slowly. In the second before he lost consciousness, he felt Son Gohan, Nappa, and Gray Shadow rush to his side. He heard the elite warriors' cheers and concern—he knew that this catastrophe was finally over. They had won in the end.

Son Gohan hurriedly caught the fallen Ximen Qing and checked his condition, a relieved smile appearing on his face. "Don't worry. His energy is simply exhausted, and his injuries are serious, but his life is not in danger. As long as he rests properly, he'll recover soon."

Nappa and Gray Shadow nodded slightly, long-lost smiles appearing on their faces. The exhaustion and determination in their eyes were gradually replaced by relief and calm. The remaining elite warriors cheered together, their voices resounding through heaven and earth and spreading across the universe. It was the cheer of victory, the cheer of hope, the cheer of successful protection.

Sunlight bathed the land, driving away all darkness and chill. Tender green shoots gradually emerged from the scorched earth, symbolizing rebirth and hope. This catastrophe that had swept across the universe had finally come to an end. Ximen Qing and his companions had used their lives and perseverance to protect Earth, the entire universe, and the future of all living beings.

But just as everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, Son Gohan's brows suddenly drew tight, and his fingertips trembled slightly—he had keenly sensed a faint yet strange energy fluctuation quietly emanating from the depths of the universe. It carried a familiar chill, yet was more concealed and more bizarre than the Dark Sovereign's energy, as though it lurked in the darkest corner of the universe, silently watching this planet. A new crisis seemed to be brewing in the shadows, never truly having gone away...