chsdbacks Page 173
Page 173
"certainly not!"
As the two chatted and laughed as they entered the dessert shop, on the rooftop of the Capsule Corporation, Bick was gazing at the sky. His green fingers tapped lightly on the tiles, his gaze fixed on the distant depths of space. He knew better than anyone the spacetime fluctuations that had just flashed within Lin Ye's body... a signal that a new storm was brewing.
"Master," Tien Shinhan walked over and handed him a bottle of water, "What are you thinking about?"
"It's nothing." Bick took the water. "The recruits' tactical training needs to be sped up. We'll start adding live-fire exercises next week."
"Yes." Tien Shinhan nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Are you worried about... the remnants of Kronos?"
Bick paused for a moment, then looked towards the training field: "No matter where they're hiding, we have to be prepared."
As the sun set, Lin Ye stood on the roof of Capsule Corporation, watching the Earth Defense Force's fighter jets sweep across the evening glow. In the distance, from the gravity chamber, Vegeta's roars and Goku's laughter echoed, occasionally punctuated by Bulma's scolding. Suddenly, a sharp bang ripped through the sky, and Android 18's energy cannon, which he was testing, exploded in the clouds, bursting into a dazzling display of light, like a grand fireworks display.
"What are you looking at?" Number 18 walked up to him, holding two half-eaten cake boxes.
“Look at our everyday moments that we’ve won.” Lin Ye took the box and threw it into the recycling bin, the golden afterglow shining on the two of them. “It’s ordinary, but it’s precious.”
Number 18 didn't speak, but quietly moved closer to him. The system interface flashed before Lin Ye's eyes; the notification that his cosmic reputation had surpassed one hundred million was still flashing, and the newly unlocked function icons were dazzlingly bright. But he no longer cared about any of that. The increase in power and the universe's recognition couldn't compare to the smiles on the faces of the people around him.
“Oh right,” Lin Ye suddenly remembered something, “the system said that the spacetime coordinates are very stable, so we can set off at any time.”
"Whatever." Number 18 looked up at the darkening sky, where the stars were beginning to twinkle. "But next time we go on an adventure, we have to finish the strawberry cake first."
Lin Ye smiled and put his arm around her shoulder. The evening breeze, carrying the scent of grass, brushed against their cheeks. In the distance, the city lights twinkled, and the shouts from the training field gradually subsided. Everything was gentle and just right.
He knew that new adventures could begin at any moment, and perhaps in some unknown time and space, enemies were sharpening their claws and waiting. But as long as he had these companions by his side, and this peace protected with faith and blood, there was nothing to fear.
The system notification sounded again, and the icon for "Inter-Cosmic Travel" flashed brighter and brighter, as if urging a new journey. Lin Ye looked down at the golden flames dancing in his palm, a confident smile playing on his lips.
Whatever awaits him in the next world, he is ready.
Chapter 385: New Coordinates
In Bulma's laboratory, the green light projected by the holographic star map cast mottled shadows on the metal walls, like the scales of some living creature writhing. Lin Ye's fingertip hovered in front of the virtual screen, the coordinate data refreshing three times per second, finally settling on a series of distorted star orbit parameters. This was the location of the "Devil Fruit Tree," which the system had spent three days deciphering, hidden in a sea world that even the Saiyan probes couldn't locate.
“The resonant frequency of the space jump has finally stabilized.” Bulma ripped off her oil-stained gloves and kicked aside the toolbox beside her. “See that broken metal box? It can only fit three people at most. If you don’t come back within 72 hours, you can expect to be torn to pieces by the spacetime turbulence.” She tapped the silver-white hull in the corner with a screwdriver, and a dense array of warning lines immediately appeared on the metal surface.
Before Lin Ye could turn around, he heard a soft, crackling sound of air bursting behind him. Vegeta stood at the laboratory door with his hands behind his back, his dark blue battle suit fluttering in the heat of the air, his tail swishing restlessly around his ankles, making the floor tiles crackle.
"Is this lowly world, which can't even sense energy, worth your personal trip?" Vegeta's voice was like ice, his eyes full of disdain as he swept his gaze across the star map. "The natives there probably don't even know what 'ki' is."
"Maybe we can find the weakness of the remnants of Kronos." A semi-transparent notification popped up in Lin Ye's system: [A "Rule Manifestation" energy body has been detected in the target world; its characteristics may inhibit time-space travel abilities.] He turned to look at Vegeta's tense jawline, a sudden smirk playing on his lips. "And there's that kid over there named Luffy, always talking about 'becoming the Pirate King,' so arrogant."
"The Pirate King?" Vegeta's pupils suddenly contracted, and his aura exploded half a meter high, shaking the screws on the lab table. "They're just a bunch of worms wallowing in sewage. They dare to call themselves 'King'?"
"Then you should go and teach him how to be a decent human being," Lin Ye said, raising an eyebrow.
"Hmph." Vegeta turned his face away, but the tips of his ears turned slightly red.
The lab's automatic door slid open with a "whoosh," and the moment Number 18 stepped in, the data stream on the robotic arm suddenly became erratic for half a second. She placed the strawberry cake on the lab table, her blue eyes gleaming coldly: "I'll go with you."
"What are you doing?" Vegeta frowned. "Don't get in my way."
"Lin Ye's system core developed seven cracks during the battle of Kronos." Number 18 pulled up the holographic physical examination report, and the data link wove a blue light net on Lin Ye's chest. "When you forcibly analyzed the spacetime coordinates last time, his heart rate soared to 210 beats per minute. You were only focused on getting the last hit and didn't notice at all."
Vegeta's arrogance subsided somewhat, and he muttered, "Who cares about this?" but subconsciously touched the energy detector at his waist.
Lin Ye suddenly laughed. As he walked towards the safe, the soles of his boots scraped against the gears on the ground, making a soft grinding sound. The moment the metal safe unlocked, a pale golden mist drifted out—scales from the Super Dragon, the residual energy from making a wish still slowly circulating.
“This thing can summon a phantom of a dragon in an emergency.” He stuffed the scales into a waterproof bag. “Although it only lasts for ten seconds, that’s enough for us to run away.”
Suddenly, Number 18 pressed down on his wrist, the temperature of the mechanical arm penetrating his skin: "Your adrenaline levels are abnormal. Is the system forcibly overclocking again?"
"It's nothing." Lin Ye pried her fingers open, but she grabbed his pulse instead.
“I’ve read Bulma’s logs. Your cell activity has dropped by 17% compared to three months ago.” Number 18’s tone left no room for argument. “Either take me there, or I’ll dismantle that damn machine right now.”
Vegeta suddenly scoffed, "You clearly want to watch the show, but you're making up excuses."
"It's better than some people who are hurt by the word 'arrogance' but still insist on saving face," No. 18 retorted coldly.
"What did you say?"
"I say you--"
"Alright." Lin Ye stuffed the scales into the inner pocket of his combat suit. "Ready to go."
Thirty seconds before the space jump device was activated, the laboratory's monitoring screen suddenly switched to the outside world. On the roof of Capsule Corporation, Piccolo was using the Special Beam Cannon to cleave through the clouds, while Gohan called out from behind, "Master, wait for me!" On the training ground, Yamcha was being beaten by Tien Shinhan's Four Demon Fists and was running away with his head in his hands, still clutching half a Senzu Bean he hadn't finished eating. Bulma's assistant was debugging the new gravity chamber, and the numbers on the display screen jumped to 500 times.
“These guys.” Lin Ye’s fingertip lightly tapped the screen.
"Hmph, when we get back, we'll show them what a real battle is." Vegeta cracked his knuckles, the bones popping and popping.
On the 18th, the strawberry cake was placed into a vacuum-sealed container, and the robotic arm covered the surface with an energy shield: "Don't let the natives beat you up and make you cry."
"Can you say that again?"
"I said..."
"Beep beep beep..." The device's countdown interrupted their bickering. The moment Lin Ye pressed the start button, white light surged out from inside the cabin, like a tide coming to life.
“Oh, right,” he suddenly said, “the system just alerted us that the remnants of Kronos may also be tracking the energy of Devil Fruits.”
Vegeta's eyes instantly sharpened like knives: "Perfect, saves me the trouble of looking for them again."
The robotic arm number 18 gently touched the back of Lin Ye's hand: "Don't be afraid."
Before the white light completely engulfed his vision, Lin Ye's system interface suddenly displayed a gold-plated notification: [Detected that the host's bond value with his companions has exceeded 9000 points, unlocking the passive skill "Heart Resonance", increasing the power of the combination skill by 50% and reducing energy consumption by 30%].
He heard Vegeta mutter "boring," but felt the other man quietly take a half-step closer to him; the cake box number 18 gently bumped his arm, carrying the sweet scent of strawberries.
"I'm leaving." Lin Ye smiled and closed his eyes.
A sharp sound of spacetime tearing came from the jump tunnel. Lin Ye seemed to hear someone shouting "I want to become the Pirate King" on the distant sea, and he also seemed to hear Vegeta cursing "idiot" and Android 18 whispering "The cake is melting".
The sounds intertwined, like chains, or like wings.
As the system's final notification exploded in their consciousness, they were plummeting towards a vast blue sea: [Target world rules have been loaded. Currently usable abilities: Haki (basic), Devil Fruit (temporary), Ki (limited to 90%)].
When Lin Ye opened his eyes, he saw Vegeta baring his teeth at a group of seabirds surrounding them. There was cream on Android 18's mechanical arm, and the cake was ultimately not saved.
On the distant horizon, a ship flying a straw hat and skull flag is sailing through the waves.
Chapter 386: Whispers of the Remnants of Time and Space
The ruins of the Omni-King's Palace trembled in the dark purple energy flow, each broken tile emitting a dying hum. Lin Ye hovered in mid-air, the fragment of creation in his palm suddenly burning with pain, as if a red-hot needle was piercing his flesh. It was the spacetime power within Kronos screaming wildly, two forces of the same origin but opposing nature engaged in a life-or-death struggle.
"Warning: Spacetime law disorder exceeds 91%." Alice's holographic projection flickered on his shoulder, and the red light of the mechanical eye reflected a dense array of warning symbols. "Chronos' dark energy is devouring the spacetime remnants of universes 7 to 12. The spacetime imprints of Namek, Planet Vegeta, and Earth have been detected to be collapsing."
Lin Ye looked down at the patterns emerging on the surface of the fragments. In those silver-purple veins, he could even see the afterimages of the swallowed planets: the green plains of Namek were turning into sand, the explosion of Planet Vegeta was forever frozen in the last second, and on the ruins of Earth's cities, there was a faint shadow of Gohan chasing butterflies when he was a child.
"What exactly is this guy trying to do?" He gripped the shards tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"boom..."
A deep blue aura suddenly tore through the clouds. Vegeta's fist grazed past Chronos's black robe, striking only a distorted mass of air. Dark purple energy coiled around his arm like a living snake, instantly freezing his movements.
"Damn mudskipper! Don't try to hide!" The Saiyan prince's roar sent tiles flying from the ruins. His muscles, honed in the 10000x gravity training room, bulged in the shockwave. He suddenly unleashed his power, shattering the energy restraints. "Lin Ye, doesn't your broken system offer any useful hints? If this keeps going, we'll all turn into cosmic dust!"
"What's the rush?" Lin Ye traced the fragment with his fingertips. "At least now we know he's afraid of the energy of the Creation Fragment."
"Hmph, nonsense." Vegeta suddenly dodged a beam of dark energy, which struck the ruins and instantly corroded the palace's crystal pillars to ash. "Instead of wasting time talking nonsense, you should think about how to hit him!"
"Look at me!"
A golden light streaked across the sky like a shooting star. Goku's golden cudgel hurtled towards Kronos's true form with a whooshing sound, but passed right through it just before it made contact with the black robe. His silver hair, still in Ultra Instinct state, trembled slightly as he scratched his head. "How strange," he muttered, "this guy's body seems to be transparent."
“It’s not transparent.” Lin Ye suddenly realized, “It exists in multiple time-space dimensions simultaneously, and what we hit was just its projection.”
"It's like...like when you're eating cake, you see the strawberries right there, but you reach out and can't touch them?" Goku stroked his chin, then suddenly realized, "Oh—he's turning himself into a multi-layered mille-feuille cake!"
"Idiot!" Vegeta's veins throbbed. "Is this the time to talk about cake?"
"But I'm right," Goku muttered, suddenly flipping over to dodge the dark energy claws that Kronos was swinging at him. "This guy is so fast, even harder to catch than Jiren."
The figure of the Chaos Devourer flickered in and out of the twelve spacetime rifts, dark purple energy seeping from beneath his black robes weaving a giant net across the ruins. "You think you can stop entropy by upholding the rules?" His voice seemed to overlap from countless spacetimes, each syllable carrying the roar of collapsing planets. "When the remnants of all universes coalesce into the 'Core of Chaos,' not only will the power of the Omni-King's cleansing be suffocation, but even the laws of the multiverse themselves will submit to me."
"Submit to me, my foot!" Vegeta's deep blue aura surged. "Get out here and take your beating!"
“A futile struggle.” Kronos’ twelve clones simultaneously raised their hands, and dark purple energy began to gather in their palms. “In ten minutes, the spacetime barrier of Universe 7 will completely collapse, and everything you cherish will become nourishment within me.”
"We can't let him succeed!"
The Supreme Kai of Time, Anise, suddenly pierced the ground with her scepter, and golden sand poured out from its head, forming a giant hourglass with a diameter of a hundred meters on the ruins. The silver-haired goddess's robes fluttered in the energy storm, and the time chains around her ankles were collapsing at a visible speed. With each broken section, her face grew paler.
“This is an ‘Absolute Domain’ formed from the Sands of Time!” Anise gritted her teeth, cold sweat beading on her forehead. “It can temporarily freeze his energy flow, but it can only last for three minutes at most! Lin Ye, the fragments of creation must resonate at this moment, otherwise… otherwise we will all be dragged into eternal nothingness!”
Lin Ye's Origin Realm energy suddenly surged, with Saiyan genes and divine power forming a spiral torrent within his body. He looked at his comrades behind him: ancient Saiyan runes emerged from Vegeta's deep blue aura, the most primal battle cry of the warrior race; Goku's Ultra Instinct resonated perfectly with the surrounding spacetime, golden energy waves rising and falling like breaths; even Frieza, who had been hovering in the distance, unusually put away his cynical smile.
The golden-form cosmic emperor was slicing through incoming fragments of spacetime with his death beam, the purple blade colliding with dark matter to create blinding sparks. "What a troublesome fellow." Frieza's tail caught a flying meteorite and casually tossed it toward Chronos's clone. "My cosmic tax revenue plan cannot be interrupted by this monster."
"You're actually helping us?" Vegeta raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t get me wrong, Saiyan,” Frieza sneered. “I just don’t want the power I’ve just regained to become part of nothingness. Once this monster is dealt with, I’ll recalculate the amount of tribute you Saiyans have to offer.”
"dream!"
"Heh, we'll see."
Lin Ye suddenly spoke up: "Frieza, can you help us hold off the three clones on the left?"
"Why should I listen to you?" Frieza narrowed his eyes, but the death beam accurately struck the dark purple figure on his left. "However, since you are still somewhat useful, I will reluctantly agree."
"Goku, Vegeta, your energy resonates with the shards of creation." Lin Ye tossed the shards into the air. "Lend me your power, just like we did against Broly last time!"
"Alright!" Goku's golden aura slammed into the fragments. "I feel a power burning inside my body!"
Vegeta snorted coldly, but a deep blue shockwave surged forward without hesitation: "Don't expect me to help you for long."
Golden and blue flames, like twin dragons emerging from the sea, intertwined on the surface of the Genesis fragments, forming ancient patterns resembling the "Saiyan Twin Explosion." Lin Ye's Origin Realm energy surged along these patterns, and the system notification on his retina suddenly became clear: [Detected resonance of Saiyan bloodline from multiple universes, unlocking the ultimate technique—Light of Genesis? Multiverse Resonance]
"It's now!"
As the three torrents of energy flowed into Kronos's black hole, Lin Ye witnessed a breathtaking scene in absolute darkness: countless versions of himself from parallel universes were simultaneously raising their fists—in some worlds, he was fighting back-to-back with Cabba from Universe 6; in others, he even formed a brief alliance with Zamasu; and in yet another world, he was eating barbecue with Gohan when he was a child.
"So this is the true essence of the Origin Realm." Lin Ye's lips curled into a smile. "It's not about becoming a solitary master, but about becoming the link connecting all possibilities."
The moment the light of creation erupted, the first crack appeared in Kronos' black hole. Through the ever-widening gap, Lin Ye saw the core of the Chaos Core—a disintegrating Key of Time. The patterns engraved on the key's handle were exactly the same as the scar on his chest left by Kronos during his first attack.
"This is impossible..." Lin Ye's pupils shrank suddenly.
As the last grain of sand in the hourglass fell, Anise's scepter snapped in two with a "crack." Cronus's roar shattered the barrier of the light of creation, and dark purple energy surged back like a tidal wave.
"Five seconds left!" Anise's voice trembled with tears. The time chain snapped completely, and her figure began to turn transparent. "Get out of the way!"