Crisis Descends! Altar's Secret Shadow, Moment of Preparation

Nappa's urgent voice still echoed through the communicator when the air over the battlefield instantly froze. Bone-chilling cold seeped through every gap in the warriors' armor, and even the evening wind seemed tainted by deathly silence. As it swept over the scorched earth, it carried faint, eerie whimpers, like whispers from the dead. Everyone's faces turned pale. Though the energy around them had been condensed to its limit, it could not hide the tremor in their auras. Their eyes were fixed on the depths of space, their vigilance now tinged with instinctive fear—an eerie energy was rapidly approaching. The invisible pressure it radiated was even more suffocating than the Dark Sovereign's might at his peak. A new calamity was already at hand, leaving them no room for even the slightest lapse.

Ximen Qing suppressed the searing pain and dizziness within him. Supported by Son Gohan, he slowly straightened up. The exhaustion in his eyes was replaced by sharp resolve. The faint golden-red aura around him remained unstable, yet it carried an unyielding determination as it stubbornly resisted the chill spreading through the air. His gaze locked onto the strange fragment in Gray Shadow's hand, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably. The vague image of a black altar in his mind became clear once more: eerie energy swirled around the altar so densely that it seemed impossible to disperse, like a solid abyss of ink. Countless pitch-black figures knelt with hunched backs, their bodies twisted beyond anything living. Obscure incantations clung to his ears like maggots on bone, repeating over and over. That ancient, terrifying pressure surged through his body again along with the fragment's fluctuations, shaking his mind and making a trace of blood rise in his throat.

"Grandpa Gohan, Gray Shadow, take a close look at this fragment." Ximen Qing's voice was still hoarse, but there was an unmistakable gravity in it. Every word seemed squeezed out from between his teeth. "Its markings are exactly the same as the fragment at the center of the altar in my mind. And the fluctuations it gives off are not only echoing the eerie energy in the depths of space—they are also faintly drawing on the Twinborn Token. I can sense the suppressed energy within the Twinborn Token stirring, as though some strange force has awakened it. If this resonance continues, the other side may very well be able to lock onto the Twinborn Token's location."

Hearing this, Son Gohan immediately examined the fragment again while instinctively sensing the Twinborn Token's aura. Sure enough, the suppressed energy within the Twinborn Token was now showing a trace of strange agitation, forming a hidden and eerie resonance with the cold fluctuations on the fragment. The resonance was weak but stubborn, as if the two shared some inborn bond—or an inseparable curse. With every response, the chill in the air grew heavier.

"That's right. There really is a resonance." Son Gohan's expression grew increasingly grave. His fingertips lightly traced the fragment's markings, and an icy chill pierced through them. Deep wariness filled his voice. "This fragment is absolutely no ordinary energy fragment. It is more like a medium connecting the black altar in the depths of space, the strange energy, and the Twinborn Token in our hands. Its material is also extremely unusual. It does not belong to any planet we know of, and it carries an ancient deathly stillness. Clearly, it came from the darkest, most desolate unknown star region in the depths of the universe."

Gray Shadow held the fragment tightly in both hands. The shadow energy around him surged madly as he carefully isolated the fragment's eerie aura. Yet even so, the cold still pierced through the energy barrier and corroded his meridians, forcing him to knit his brows. His voice carried both confusion and gravity. "If the fragment is the medium linking all three, then their goal is probably more than simply taking the Twinborn Token. Perhaps they intend to use the fragment to draw out the Twinborn Token's energy, then use the energy nodes of the two great star systems to activate that black altar. As for why they want to activate it, I dare not think too deeply about it. But one thing is certain—it will be catastrophic. Perhaps even more terrifying than we imagine."

"Activate the altar..." Ximen Qing murmured, a bone-deep fear flashing through his eyes. A terrifying thought suddenly crossed his mind, and his hoarse voice nearly trembled. "I have a vague feeling that the altar may be an ancient sacrificial site. Those black figures kneeling there were not normal living creatures at all. They were more like puppets controlled by strange energy, carrying out a horrific ritual. The energy of the Twinborn Token is the central offering of that ritual. Once the ritual succeeds, not only will the Twinborn Token be completely devoured, but the energy balance of the entire universe will be utterly shattered. Then all living beings will be drained of their energy and reduced to sacrifices. The entire universe will fall into eternal darkness and deathly silence."

As soon as those words were spoken, Son Gohan and Gray Shadow turned even paler, and the energy around them rippled uncontrollably. Even the elite warriors working in the distance stiffened at his words. Their movements stopped, their eyes filled with undisguised fear. They had only just given everything to defeat the Dark Sovereign and protect Earth and the universe, yet now they had to face an even more terrifying and bizarre crisis—a ritual that concerned the survival of every living being in the universe. A trace of helplessness rose within them, but even more than that was unwavering resolve. They would never allow the hard-won peace to be swallowed by darkness again.

Just then, the communicator rang again. Nappa's voice was even more urgent, carrying a hint of unconcealed panting and trembling. Clearly, he was under immense pressure. "Grandpa Gohan, Lord Ximen Qing! The strange energy fluctuations are getting closer and closer. They've already reached the edge of the solar system! And we've discovered that there is more than one source of those fluctuations. It's like countless streams of strange energy are converging on Earth at extreme speed. Wherever they pass, even space itself slowly decays. They are expected to reach Earth's atmosphere in half a shichen!"

"Half a shichen!" Son Gohan's heart sank. His brows twisted together, and his voice was filled with anxiety. "That's too fast. Our warriors are still recovering. Most of them are seriously injured and out of energy. Qing'er hasn't recovered either. We simply don't have time to make full preparations for battle! And that strange energy is too bizarre. We don't even understand its nature, much less have any way to predict its power!"

Ximen Qing drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the pain in his body and the bloody taste in his throat. His voice was firm as he spoke gravely into the communicator, piercing through the cold aura with unquestionable authority. "Nappa, heed my command! Immediately lead all warriors remaining on Earth to construct three layers of energy barriers outside Earth's atmosphere. Use every last bit of golden-red energy we have left and hold the line at all costs. Buy us time to recover and prepare for battle! Remember, even if you must exhaust your final shred of energy, even if you fight until the last man standing, you must not allow that strange energy to set foot on Earth!"

After a brief pause, he continued his orders in an even graver tone. "Also, notify the investigation teams returning from the two great star systems. They do not all need to return to Earth. Leave some warriors behind to guard the energy nodes in the two star systems and closely monitor the strange fragments near those nodes. Prevent the enemy from taking the chance to activate the nodes' energy. If anything abnormal is discovered, report it immediately and stop them at all costs. The rest are to return to Earth at full speed and reinforce the defensive battle outside the atmosphere. Hold every line of defense. Do not give them any opening!"

"Understood, Lord Ximen Qing!" Nappa's voice was still urgent, but it now carried a trace of resolve. Though his tone still trembled, there was not the slightest hint of retreat. "I will defend the line to the death and use my last ounce of strength. I will not fail your trust, my lord, nor the hopes of Earth's living beings!"

The communicator disconnected. Ximen Qing slowly closed his eyes as the golden-red aura around him intertwined frantically with Son Gohan's purifying power. Like two entwined rays of light, they desperately nourished his damaged meridians and restored the energy within his body. Every second, he endured pain as though his meridians were being torn apart. The cold of the strange energy continued to erode his body, but he did not shrink back in the slightest. He knew that he had to recover his fighting strength as soon as possible. He had to lead everyone in defending Earth, in defending the entire universe. He could not allow that horrific ritual to proceed, nor allow all living beings to become sacrifices.

While driving his purifying power to help Ximen Qing recover, Son Gohan spoke to Gray Shadow in a deep voice, his tone urgent beyond question. "Gray Shadow, immediately lead all warriors responsible for collecting fragments and speed up the search. Do not just gather the fragments on the battlefield—search every corner of Earth, especially the location of the Twinborn Token. The moment you find a strange fragment, collect it and place it in a specially made container to completely isolate its fluctuations. We cannot allow the fragments to gather together, or they may resonate with one another and hasten the arrival of the strange energy and the altar's activation. Every additional fragment we collect gives us another chance of victory!"

"Understood!" Gray Shadow nodded slightly, his eyes full of determination. He immediately turned and carefully placed the strange fragment in his hand into a specially made energy container, isolating its fluctuations. Then he led the elite warriors and accelerated the collection effort. Their figures darted across the devastated battlefield. Though their bodies were covered in wounds and their auras weak, though the fragment's icy aura corroded them, none of them relaxed for even a moment. Every fragment they collected was like seizing a sliver of life from death.

Outside Earth's atmosphere, Nappa had already led the elite warriors stationed behind to begin constructing an energy barrier. Countless faint streams of golden-red energy intertwined, condensing into the first enormous defensive barrier. Its radiance was dazzling, but it could not hide its fragility. Most of the warriors were gravely injured and their energy was nearly spent. Every trace of power they mobilized brought pain like tearing meridians. The barrier's light flickered between brightness and darkness, as though it could be shattered by the strange energy at any moment. The chill in the air had already seeped silently through the gaps in the barrier, corroding the warriors' bodies.

In the depths of the universe, countless streams of strange black energy rapidly converged toward Earth. Like countless venomous black snakes, or wandering souls of the dead, they coursed through the empty cosmos. Wherever they passed, space trembled faintly and slowly decayed. Even starlight was completely swallowed, leaving only endless cold and deathly silence. That eerie aura grew stronger and clearer by the moment, crushing people until they could barely breathe, as if it intended to drag the entire solar system into eternal darkness and desolation.

Within the valley, Ximen Qing slowly opened his eyes. The sharpness in them had grown deeper, and the golden-red aura around him had recovered somewhat. Though it was still less than a tenth of what it had been at his peak, it was enough to support him in battle and resist the strange energy's corrosion. He gently pushed away Son Gohan's support and slowly straightened himself. Every step still sent piercing pain through him, and the sensation of his meridians tearing had never ceased. Yet his posture grew straighter and straighter, like a warrior who would never fall. His golden-red aura was weak, but unwavering, stubbornly resisting the cold around him and protecting everything behind him.

"Grandpa Gohan, let's go." Ximen Qing's voice was still hoarse, but it carried unquestionable determination. His gaze rested on the depths of space, his eyes filled with gravity. "We're going to the outer atmosphere to join Nappa and the others. We'll hold the line together, buy time, and wait for reinforcements. Also, I need to carefully sense the nature of that strange energy again, as well as the exact location of the black altar. Perhaps we can find a way to break this and stop this calamity—stop that terrible ritual."

Son Gohan nodded slightly. His eyes were filled with both relief and worry, and his tone carried a warning. "All right, we'll go together. But you must know your limits. Do not force yourself. Your injuries have not fully healed, and the cold of that strange energy is extremely corrosive. If you forcefully mobilize your energy, you will only worsen your injuries."

Ximen Qing nodded lightly without saying more, then took the lead toward the atmosphere. The golden-red aura around him slowly rose. Though weak, it was utterly resolute. Every step he took resisted the cold's corrosion, and every step reflected his determination to stand firm. Son Gohan followed closely behind. Purifying power quietly circulated around him, ready at any moment to support Ximen Qing should his strength fail or the cold begin to consume him. Under the moonlight, their figures appeared especially frail, yet especially steadfast, advancing step by step toward the battlefield and facing the unknown crisis head-on.

Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched long across the ravaged, scorched ground, intertwining with the busy figures of the warriors in the distance. Across the battlefield, the elite warriors each carried out their duties. Some gave everything to construct the defensive barriers, some carefully gathered strange fragments, and some desperately treated their injured comrades. Though covered in wounds and exhausted beyond measure, though invaded by the strange, icy aura, not a single one retreated or slacked off. Every one of them gave their all to protect this planet that had only just recovered from catastrophe, to protect this hard-won peace, and to protect the future of all living beings.

In the depths of space, the strange energy drew closer and closer. It had already reached the inner solar system. The first energy barrier outside Earth's atmosphere began to shake violently, its light growing dimmer as fine cracks gradually appeared across its surface. That cold and eerie aura had already seeped through the barrier in great quantities and descended upon Earth, causing the ground to tremble faintly once more. The fresh shoots of grass that had just emerged from the scorched earth instantly withered, blackened, and lost all signs of life. Newly born hope seemed to be shrouded in darkness once again. The deathly silence and cold in the air grew thicker, sending chills down everyone's spine.

Ximen Qing and Son Gohan finally reached the outer atmosphere. They saw the energy barrier on the verge of collapse, as well as Nappa and the elite warriors desperately holding it up. The warriors were covered in wounds, their clothes stained with blood and their auras chaotic to the extreme. Some were already on the brink of unconsciousness, yet they still desperately drove the last remnants of energy within them to sustain the barrier's operation. Their eyes were full of exhaustion, yet also full of resolve. Not one of them gave up. Not one of them retreated. Even knowing they might die in battle, they remained at their posts.

"Qing'er, you're here!" When Nappa saw Ximen Qing, a flash of joy appeared in his eyes before being replaced by solemnity. His voice carried a trace of despair, yet also a faint glimmer of hope. "The barrier is about to give out. The strange energy is too powerful, and there's more and more of it. Its corrosive power is incredibly strong. Our energy is being depleted rapidly, and many warriors can barely hold on any longer!"

Ximen Qing nodded and looked into the depths of space. Countless streams of black, strange energy were rapidly closing in, surging toward the barrier like a tide. That aura of desolation and deathly silence shook his mind, and the golden-red aura within him instinctively rippled. He slowly raised his palm. The small amount of golden-red energy he had recovered began to circulate quietly, intertwining with the barrier's golden-red energy as he tried to reinforce it and fend off the strange energy's erosion. Every trace of power he mobilized brought him immense pain.

"Hold on, everyone!" Ximen Qing's roar pierced through the cold aura and rang across heaven and earth. It carried unquestionable resolve and a trace of hope. "Reinforcements will be here soon. As long as we hold on a little longer, as long as we defend this line, there is still hope! No matter the cost, we must protect Earth and the future of all living beings. We cannot allow that black altar to be activated, and we cannot allow darkness to devour the entire universe again!"

"Defend Earth! Never retreat!"

All the elite warriors roared in unison. Their voices were loud and resolute, driving away the fear and helplessness in their hearts. Though covered in wounds and their auras weak, though the strange energy corroded them, they still gave everything they had and once again poured their remaining power into the defensive barrier. The barrier's radiance instantly brightened somewhat, and the spreading cracks were temporarily contained. Within the black universe, the golden-red glow was like a lamp of hope, stubbornly holding back the darkness's corrosion.

Yet the strange energy in the depths of the universe continued to gather and draw closer. Like a tsunami, the torrent of black energy carried the force to destroy heaven and earth as it slammed violently into the barrier. Every impact made the barrier shake violently, its radiance rapidly dimming as cracks spread madly across it. The warriors were all jolted into coughing blood, their auras growing weaker and weaker. Still, they did not give up. They held fast with all their strength, using their lives to protect the homeland behind them.

Ximen Qing clenched his teeth hard and desperately drove the energy within him. The power of his spirit veins began circulating quietly, nourishing his damaged meridians as he tried to force out more energy to reinforce the barrier and resist the strange energy's corrosion. In his mind, the image of the black altar became clear once more—the kneeling black puppets, the obscure and eerie incantations, and the fragment at the altar's center. It was as though they were telling him that this struggle had only just begun. And they had to win. They could only win.

Just as the first defensive barrier was about to shatter, several powerful golden-red energy fluctuations came from the distant depths of space. They drew closer and clearer—it was the reinforcement teams returning from the two great star systems. They had finally arrived! When the warriors saw those streaks of golden-red light, a glimmer of hope appeared in their eyes. Their roars became even more resolute as they used their last shred of strength to maintain the barrier and await the arrival of reinforcements.

A trace of hope flashed in everyone's eyes, but they all understood that this was only the beginning. The source of the strange energy had yet to appear, the secret of the black altar had yet to be uncovered, and the horrific ritual had yet to be stopped. This struggle, one concerning the survival of all living beings in the universe, was still filled with the unknown and with danger. They could only give everything they had and press forward without hesitation, using their perseverance and courage to resist the unknown darkness and strangeness, and to protect the hope of all living beings.