Volcano Showdown

Those deep red eyes, like two drops of extremely thick, destructive blood, stared intently at Qi Heng and the Nuova Shenron from a distance across the volcano, their chilling gaze sending shivers down one's spine.

Its mouth slowly parted, forming a bizarre arc that was completely inhuman.

Omega Shenron.

"Interesting..." Its voice was deep and hoarse, like rocks rubbing together deep within the earth, and could be heard clearly even in the loudest wind.

The tone was like a cat toying with a mouse, full of mockery and cruelty.

"To actually make Nuova Shenron bow down..."

It took one last look at the small, yet dazzlingly bright, golden figure against the backdrop of the volcano, then turned away.

It took a step forward, and the space rippled gently like the surface of water.

The next second, the figure had already disappeared into the dark summit of the solitary peak, vanishing without a trace.

Only its words remain, drifting away on the wind:

"Then let me see for myself... just how much trouble you, this pawn that suddenly jumped out, can cause."

He was like a shooting star that cleaved the sky, rushing straight into the roaring volcano.

The billowing smoke instantly engulfed his figure, leaving only distorted, scorching ripples in the air.

The Nuova Shenron stood blankly on the scorched earth, its dark purple scales reflecting a cold light under the dark red sky illuminated by the volcano.

It stared at the trail swallowed by thick smoke, a complex emotion flashing deep within its cold, vertical pupils—not fear, but more like the apprehension and weighing of thoughts one might have when encountering some incomprehensible monster.

"This madman..."

It gritted its teeth and muttered something under its breath, its voice almost drowned out by the roar of the volcano and the explosion of lava.

Finally, it suddenly flapped its membrane wings, creating a gust of hot wind, and its massive body turned and flew away into the distance without hesitation or the slightest reluctance.

It didn't follow.

The instinct for survival, along with a clear understanding of what lay deep within the volcano, overwhelmed all curiosity and the desire to fight.

It didn't want to die, or at least, it didn't want to die here meaninglessly.

--The inside of the volcano is another world.

Qi Heng broke through the thick, almost solidifying smoke barrier, his energy forcing away the magma that could melt steel.

He plummeted rapidly down a short passage he had violently carved out, surrounded by a churning, boiling sea of golden-red lava, the bubbles bursting with a loud bang like muffled thunder.

The intense heat distorted vision, and even the air (if this pile of sulfur and the aura of destruction could still be called air) crackled and popped.

Passing through the last layer of viscous lava curtain, the view suddenly brightened, and the oppressive feeling instantly eased.

He saw a huge underground cave.

The cave ceiling was so high that it was invisible, disappearing into the heat and shadows.

The ground beneath their feet was not solid ground, but a slowly rotating, bottomless lake of lava.

Above the center of the lake, there was a stable space suspended.

In the very center of the cave, a gray figure floated silently.

It crossed its arms, its posture indifferent and arrogant, as if it didn't care about anything.

Those dark red eyes, like two solidified blood crystals, locked onto the intruder through the air, devoid of any warmth, only exuding a sense of oppression and scrutiny.

Omega Shenron.

"Welcome."

Its voice was low and hoarse, like two rough meteorites rubbing against each other, echoing throughout the cave and even drowning out the roar of the lava, "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Qi Heng stopped a few dozen meters away from it, also suspended above the scorching air.

The golden glow that had not completely faded lingered on his body, creating a stark contrast with the dark red of the cave.

The golden eyes calmly met the two blood-red gazes, without any ripples.

Did you know I was coming?

"Certainly."

The Omega Shenron's lips slowly curled into a cruel, mocking smile, "There aren't many in this universe who can defeat Nuova Shenron head-on, making it not even dare to linger. I'm genuinely curious... what exactly are you?"

Qi Heng had no intention of paying attention to this issue.

He slowly closed his eyes, suppressing his visual perception of the outside world to a minimum, while his mental energy spread like a tide, meticulously sensing the most core and terrifying energy in this space—the gray figure opposite him.

That power was vast, dark, and so deep that it was as unfathomable as a sea of stars, like staring into a black hole that could devour everything.

Its solidity and vastness far surpassed that of Super 17, a fusion of machine and life, and was even more powerful than Super Saiyan 4 Son Goku, whom he had encountered before.

Qi Heng reopened his eyes, his golden gaze sharp and clear, as if he had seen through the opponent's power perfectly.

"Your power," he said calmly, "Is around two hundred trillion under normal conditions."

Omega Shenron's cold expression finally changed slightly. His brows furrowed, and a clear look of surprise flashed in his blood-red eyes. "You can sense my energy so accurately?"

"Able."

"Since that's the case," Omega Shenron's voice deepened, the oppressive aura intensifying, and the surrounding space began to distort, "You should understand the gap between you and me even more. You are no match for me."

Qi Heng's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Maybe.

The words had barely left his mouth--

Boom!

Like a sleeping sun exploding in a cave, golden flames burst forth from Qi Heng's body without warning!

No longer a faint halo, but a raging torrent shooting straight to the sky, fiery, violent, and full of fighting spirit.

The dazzling golden light instantly dispelled most of the darkness, turning the jagged rock walls, the churning lava lake, and even the gray figure opposite into a vibrant gold.

A hurricane formed by energy swept outwards from him, pressing a huge depression into the lava lake beneath his feet, causing the lake surface to surge with waves.

The heat ruffled his hair and the hem of his clothes; in the golden light, his voice was exceptionally clear and firm:

"But I still want to try."

The Omega Shenron's ferocious grin fully erupted, as if it had discovered some interesting toy; its blood-red eyes gleamed with excitement and savagery in the golden light.

"Interesting."

As soon as the last three words were uttered, its suspended gray form suddenly vanished without warning, like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser.

It's not high-speed movement, it's not afterimages, it's the purest form of disappearance!

Almost simultaneously, the golden aura surrounding Qi Heng suddenly contracted, then exploded out even more violently, causing the air where he had been standing to crackle under the immense force!

The battle erupted in a fraction of a second!