His bony hands clenched tightly around his wide sleeves, his knuckles turning white.
The faintly teasing or detached expression he usually wore had been replaced by utter exhaustion and helplessness. His wrinkles were as deeply carved as knife marks, heavy enough to make one struggle for breath.
"Gohan, Goten, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu... all those who once risked their lives for Earth have now had their minds controlled by Baby's seeds." His voice dropped, as though his throat were full of sand. "Even... ordinary people scattered across the world who inherited the spirit of martial arts, so long as they possessed enough ki, couldn't escape it either. Like an autumn wheat field, swath after swath falling into darkness."
Shin moved close to the floating crystal ball at once, his purple eyes wide with shock.
Within the crystal ball, scenes of devastation from all across Earth passed before his eyes.
His lips began to tremble uncontrollably. He opened his mouth several times, but in the end only managed a breathy whisper. "Then... then Earth has already—" The words caught in his throat. The conclusion weighed like a stone, and he could scarcely say it.
"It has already fallen."
Old Kai closed his eyes, as though he could not bear to look anymore—or as though he needed to summon the courage to utter those four words.
Each word was like a branding iron, scorching his throat and weighing upon his old, numb heart.
"According to the crystal ball's readings and the little remaining information we can still receive... over ninety percent of the entire planet has become puppets. Their eyes glow red as they wander through streets, fields, and ruins like sleepwalkers. The few traces of freedom left..." He opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon an empty distance, filled with pity.