Mercenary Tao...

The sky hung low as if it were about to crush the earth, and the waves crashed endlessly against the reefs, throwing up pale sprays as tall as a man.

Chen He sat cross-legged on a reef, the muscles throughout his body twitching almost imperceptibly every few seconds. The sixfold-gravity suit constantly compressed his muscles; even breathing now, he could feel his body continuously adapting.

Goku crouched nearby, poking at an unfortunate mangrove crab with a twig as he muttered, "Chen He, is that Dragon Ball really around here? Why did the red dot on the radar suddenly go dark?"

"The signal was blocked by the Red Ribbon Army headquarters' powerful electromagnetic interference."

Chen He opened his eyes, his pupils as cold as ice. He rose to his feet and unhurriedly slipped the Three-Star Dragon Ball into the hidden pouch at his waist.

"But there's no need to search anymore. They've delivered both themselves and the Dragon Ball right to us."

"Huh?" Goku rubbed his nose and looked up in the direction of Chen He's gaze.

Far away, the clouds were violently torn apart by a sharp current of air, followed by a shrill whistle that drew nearer and nearer. It wasn't the sound of an airplane engine. It sounded more like the sonic boom of some blade slicing through the air.

A few seconds later, the black speck rapidly grew in their vision.

It was actually a pink stone pillar.

The pillar flew through the sky at a speed that defied all common sense, and standing steadily atop it was a man with his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a long braid and a pink robe emblazoned with the words "KILL YOU." His expression was gloomy, and his eyes carried the detached indifference of someone who regarded human lives as worthless grass.

The world's greatest assassin, Mercenary Tao.

BOOM!

The stone pillar slammed heavily into the sandy beach, sending sand and gravel flying into the air. At the instant it landed, Mercenary Tao leaped lightly from its top and touched down without a sound less than ten meters from Chen He.

"You're the brat who turned the Red Ribbon Army upside down?" Mercenary Tao tucked his hands into his sleeves and gave Chen He a critical once-over before his gaze settled on the hidden pouch at Chen He's waist. "That useless Blue didn't die unfairly. The 'ki' on you is far purer than that of those so-called martial artists on Earth."

Chen He did not respond. He merely lowered his head and looked at his hands.

The moment he heard the title "world's greatest assassin," every cell in his body began to stir beyond his control. He could tell that the braided man before him had definitely surpassed a power level of 100, perhaps even approaching 150. For Earth's natives at this stage, that was indeed a crushing gap in strength.

But it was still far from enough.

"How much did the Red Ribbon Army pay you?" Chen He rolled his neck, his joints cracking sharply.

Mercenary Tao casually pulled out a cigarette from his sleeve, lit it, and exhaled a stream of smoke. "Dead men don't need to know the price. Commander Black said that if I bring back your head, the remaining Four-Star Orb will be my final payment."

Before his words had even faded, Mercenary Tao vanished from the spot without warning.

Too fast.

At least, from Goku's perspective, not even an afterimage remained in that instant.

BAM!

A muffled explosion erupted among the reefs.

Mercenary Tao's heavy fist smashed into Chen He's left cheek without holding back. The force of the blow shattered the reef beneath Chen He's feet, splitting it with countless spiderweb cracks.

Yet the cold smile on Mercenary Tao's lips froze at the moment his punch connected.

Chen He's head had only tilted a few centimeters to the side. The suppression of sixfold gravity had indeed slowed his reaction speed somewhat, but it was nowhere near enough to pose any threat.

"Not bad power."

Chen He slowly turned his head back. There was not even a bruise on the cheek that had taken the punch head-on. Looking at the horrified Mercenary Tao, a cruel smile flashed through his eyes.

"This is the strength of the world's greatest assassin? Then you can die."

SWISH!

Chen He shot out one hand, his five fingers clawing directly for Mercenary Tao's throat like steel hooks. This time, he did not use the Afterimage Fist. It was pure speed and force, locking straight onto Mercenary Tao's neck.

Mercenary Tao was worthy of being a renowned assassin. At the critical moment between life and death, he forcibly twisted his spine and slid backward across the sand for over ten meters, narrowly evading the claw. But the sharp burst of ki carried by Chen He's fingertips still tore five gashes so deep that bone showed through Mercenary Tao's pink robe.

"Monster..." Mercenary Tao steadied himself, a sheen of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

In that instant, he had felt as though he was not facing a brat barely over ten years old, but a ferocious beast that had emerged from ancient primordial times. That overwhelming strength and killing intent cold to the bone made even him, a professional assassin, feel chilled to the core.

"Goku, get back."

Chen He settled into an extremely open fighting stance. The ki within his body began to surge out wildly, as though it cost nothing, forcibly driving back the torrential rain and sea spray to a distance of three feet around him.

"The warm-up is over. Now, I'll have some real fun with you."