In Dragon Ball: A brutal beating of Frieza at the start

Page 119

Lin Ye gripped her hand tightly; the warmth of his palm felt more real than any system notification. "Okay, and I'll tell you a secret while we're at it."

"What?" Number 18 looked up at him, the light of the fireworks dancing in her eyes.

"Actually, life without a system seems more interesting."

In the distance, Vegeta was being pestered by Cabba for details of his moves. He kicked Cabba impatiently, but still slowed down his explanation. Liu Nan and Master Roshi were having a drinking contest, which was egged on by Goten and Trunks. Alice's research ship hovered low in the sky, and in the holographic projection, she was holding a camera and pressing the shutter on the two people in the center of the arena.

Just then, Lin Ye caught a glimpse of a familiar figure standing in the shadows of the contestants' passage. The man was wearing a straw hat, and there was a scar on his chin—it was the Observer Fragment he had seen before at the Imaginary Tree. The man seemed to sense Lin Ye's gaze, turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving only a falling black petal behind.

Lin Ye's fingers suddenly tightened, and Number 18 noticed his unusual behavior: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." He shook his head and looked at the brightest star in the night sky. "I just feel that this martial arts tournament might be more than just a competition."

The fireworks continued, and no one noticed a faint purple light flashing across the Neo-Namekian crystal at the edge of the arena. Meanwhile, in the distant depths of space, in a forgotten observatory, countless screens were simultaneously displaying images of Earth. On the central screen, the battle between Lin Ye and Goku was repeatedly replayed, the data stream below pulsating wildly before finally settling on a line of scarlet text:

"Catalyst activity 100%, stellar core resonance begins."

Chapter 278: The Legacy of the Tree of Origin

A pale purple morning mist seeped from the top of the temple on New Namek, like spilled ink slowly spreading against the emerald sky. Lin Ye's palm rested on the remaining roots of the Tree of Origin; the bark's veins resembled countless intertwined snakes, the rough texture against his palm carrying the unique damp coolness of vegetation. This ten-meter-diameter section of the trunk was covered with crooked cosmic coordinates, each accompanied by strange symbols—like tadpoles or shooting stars—faintly appearing in the mist, their faint energy tremors palpable as his fingertips traced them.

"Still staring at these scribbles?" Vegeta's voice shattered the morning mist. He leaned against a temple pillar, biting into a fist-sized magma fruit, red juice dripping from his chin and sparking on the green stone slab. "That old fox Frieza had someone send this thing over yesterday, saying it can lead to the 'primitive planet,' where Saiyans can break through their limits." He pushed the fruit closer to Lin Ye, the pungent sulfurous smell making him wince.

Lin Ye's fingertip traced one of the coordinates, and the symbol there suddenly glowed faintly, like a firefly buried in the soil, exactly the same as the doodle on the drawing Goku gave to Zeno last time: "This is the universe Goku dreamed about in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. He said that people there can gain power just by basking in the sun, without having to fight."

"Utterly boring." Vegeta spat the fruit pit on the ground, the hard shell clanging against the stone slab. He couldn't resist moving closer, his boots rustling over the falling golden leaves. "But... it's worth a look. Better than spending a whole day fishing with that idiot Kakarot on Earth. That guy actually said he'd teach Goten how to fish with a Kamehameha! It's an insult to battle!"

Suddenly, Liu Nan's loud shout rang out from afar, shaking the mist slightly. The echo reverberated beneath the temple's dome: "Lin Ye! Vegeta! Come quick! Dendy says this tree is acting strangely!"

The two exchanged a glance. Vegeta kicked away the fruit pit at his feet in disgust and followed Lin Ye down the steps. Just as they reached the bottom of the temple's last step, the cut end of the Tree of Origin's roots suddenly "popped," like a punctured balloon, oozing a viscous golden liquid. The liquid swirled on the ground, forming a holographic star map, with countless red dots flashing on it like an inflamed wound, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.

"This is..." Dandy's tentacles trembled incessantly, like blades of grass in the wind. The crystal ball in his hand reflected the patterns of the star map, and ripples of light rippled across its surface. "These red dots are swallowing up the surrounding light! Look over there, a small piece of the edge of the seventh universe has already been gnawed away!"

Alice's holographic projection suddenly emerged from the star map. Data streams on her smart glasses sped faster than a rabbit, leaving blue streaks of light across the lenses: "System virus remnants detected. These red dots are contaminated areas. The observer is gone, but his virus is multiplying, spreading like cancer cells." She pointed to one of the red dots, and the star map immediately zoomed in, revealing a planet entangled in robotic arms. Cities were faintly visible through the gaps in the arms. "For example, here, Earth 739, has been under virus control for three months. According to residual data, its inhabitants are being forcibly modified."

Number 18 suddenly spoke, his fingers flying across the communicator, the metal buttons clicking rapidly: "I've made contact with the rebels over there. The intermittent signals mentioned that the virus is forcing residents to create 'wish weapons,' claiming it will use system logic to rule all universes. They also said that those captured will be chipped, their minds controlled."

Lin Ye slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, a faint cracking sound emanating from them: "It seems we still have unfinished business." He looked up at the sky; the binary stars of New Namek were slowly rotating in the mist, like two scrutinizing eyes.

Vegeta chuckled, pulled a silver capsule from his pocket, and tossed it to the ground. The spaceship unfolded with a "bang," sending up a shower of golden leaves. "What are we waiting for? Are we going to wait for those red dots to grow all the way to New Namek?" He jumped aboard first, his boots making heavy footsteps on the metal deck. "If Kakarot knew there was a fight and he wasn't included, he'd be wailing about it for a month."

The atmosphere of Earth 739 had an eerie metallic sheen, as if coated with a layer of rusty iron. As the spaceship passed through the clouds, Lin Ye, peering through the porthole, saw countless robotic arms like spiderwebs covering the city. Residents were suspended in mid-air like livestock for sale, each with a pale blue system chip affixed to their forehead, their eyes devoid of any life. Most glaringly, a massive panel floated in the sky, illuminating half the city with a blue-white light, displaying cold, scrolling text: [Obedience Rate 89%, Wish Weapon Progress 70%, Rebel Elimination Rate 92%].

"Ugh—" Liu Nan suddenly covered his mouth, turning around with a pale face. "This thing is even more disgusting than the observer's vines; at least those vines don't hang people like exhibits." He pulled a gas mask from his backpack and put it on, but still couldn't help gagging. "What are these chips made of? It's creepy even through the screen."

"Attention, there's a big guy ahead." A sharp alarm suddenly blared from Number 18's communicator. A red light flashed in the cockpit, and a middle-aged man in an observer's uniform appeared on the screen. His left eye was a mechanical prosthetic that flashed red light. He was standing in front of a massive control panel, adjusting something, his fingers rapidly sliding across the virtual buttons.

The man seemed to hear the spaceship's movement, abruptly looking up at the sky. His mechanical eyes spun halfway around, emitting the clicking sound of gears turning: "It's you experimental subjects again? You ignore the system's bounty and insist on causing trouble." He pressed a red button, and countless mechanical arms suddenly turned towards the spaceship, their metal joints emitting a piercing grinding sound. "Since you're here, you're not leaving. Earth 739 just happens to need a few powerful experimental subjects."

Lin Ye was the first to jump out of the spaceship, the air whistling past his ears. He adjusted his posture in mid-air, his fist, imbued with the healing energy of Neo-Namek, slamming into the control panel. Green light flowed across his fist: "A gift? Treating people as puppets is a gift?"

"Without a system, how could you possess such power?" The man's mechanical eye suddenly fired a laser beam, the red beam grazing Lin Ye's shoulder and blasting a charred crater in the ground. "Humans are meant to be governed! Freedom only brings chaos! Look at you rebels, what can you do besides destroy?"

The battle was easier than expected. Lin Ye deliberately didn't use his divine power, relying solely on the basic techniques of the Turtle Hermit Style to dismantle the mechanical arm. His palms precisely struck the mechanical joints, each touch producing a crisp cracking sound as metal snapped. When he smashed the energy core behind the man with his fist, blue electricity surged up his fist. The man was still screaming, "Impossible! The system says you rebels are utterly vulnerable! Data analysis shows my win rate is 100%!"

“The system never said that people would fight to the death for freedom.” Lin Ye ripped the chip off his forehead. Tiny lines sparked at the chip's edge, and the man's mechanical eyes instantly dimmed, revealing cloudy eyes filled with bloodshot veins and fear.

As the last robotic arm snapped and disintegrated, the inhabitants of Earth 739 helped each other to their feet. Some rubbed their numb necks, while others tore at the remnants of the chips stuck to their heads. A little girl with pigtails, her braids still dusty, ran over and shoved a crumpled yellow wildflower into Lin Ye's hands: "Big brother, this is the most fragrant flower around here. My mom says seeing pretty flowers means good days are coming."

Lin Ye knelt down and took the flowers. The petals still held the little girl's warmth and carried a faint earthy scent. "Look," he said to his companions behind him, his voice trembling slightly, "they don't need a system to find happiness."

The little girl suddenly pointed to the sky and clapped her hands: "Look! The stars are out! We haven't seen stars in so long!" Everyone looked up; the metallic clouds were dissipating, revealing a clear night sky, with stars twinkling brightly against the backdrop of the heavens.

On the return spaceship, Lin Ye input all the red dot coordinates into the navigation system. The holographic star map slowly rotated in the center of the cockpit, like a miniature universe. Vegeta's figure in the training room was reflected in the porthole; the energy lights flickered as he punched, and each punch was accompanied by a tearing sound as the air was ripped apart. Liu Nan was hunched over a table drawing move diagrams, his pen tip piercing through three sheets of paper. The lines on the paper were crooked and twisted, yet they exuded a tenacious spirit. Android 18 was communicating with rebels from various universes, her voice growing louder and louder, like a flame rising in the darkness: "Yes, we're called the Anti-System Alliance... That's right, we'll meet in Universe 7 next month. I'll send you the coordinates... Don't worry, we'll provide support."

Suddenly, Alice's technology system beeped, red alarm lights flashed at the edge of the holographic projection, and all the red dots on the star map flashed simultaneously, like lanterns hung during the Lunar New Year. A planet never seen before slowly emerged in the center. Half of the planet was metallic, gleaming with a cold luster, and the other half was green land with winding rivers. Next to the coordinates were lines of ancient text, as if written in some kind of blood: "The Homeland of the System's Creator."

"This is..." Lin Ye's finger hovered over the star map, his fingertip only centimeters from the virtual planet, and he could feel the faint heat emanating from the projection. "The final legacy of the Tree of Origin?"

Alice adjusted her smart glasses, and the data stream on the lenses suddenly turned golden, like flowing lava: "Energy fluctuations detected in the tree core, perfectly matching the root system of the Tree of Origin. This planet is the source of all systems, like the headwaters of a river. Based on energy trajectory analysis, the virus's breeding ground should be here; all control signals originate from here."

Vegeta's cold laugh drifted from the training room, accompanied by the rustling of his boxing gloves and the clanging of metal: "Finally a worthy opponent? I'm getting bored fighting all those grunts." Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the training room, as if something had shattered.

Lin Ye gazed at the starry sky outside the window. Countless stars twinkled, much like the pupils of warriors across the universe, resolute and bright. He knew this journey might never end, but as long as he had these companions by his side, he could travel any distance.

"Set navigation." Lin Ye's voice was soft, yet carried an indescribable firmness, as unshakeable as a rock. "Next stop, the homeland of the system creator."

The spaceship suddenly lurched, as if it had collided with something invisible. Number 18's communicator fell to the ground with a thud. In the instant the screen cracked, Lin Ye saw a line of unfamiliar text flash across it, the green characters twisting like snakes: "[Welcome home, descendant of the creator]."

He looked up abruptly, just in time to see Vegeta emerging from the training room. The Saiyan prince's expression was unusually serious, his brows furrowed in worry: "The energy meter in the training room suddenly spiked, showing a familiar aura... exactly the same as the core of the Imaginary Tree, even... purer."

Liu Nan suddenly pointed out the window, her voice trembling, her fingers turning white from the pressure: "Look! Those red dots..."

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed, and saw all the red dots on the star map shrinking at a visible speed, as if being sucked away by something, eventually forming a giant eye with pure black pupils, staring intently at the spaceship, as if it could see through the hull to the people inside. On the star map, the coordinates of the system creator's homeland suddenly began to distort, the text writhing as if coming to life, finally transforming into lines of scarlet text, starkly glaring against the black background: ?

[The game has begun, my children!]

The spaceship suddenly shook violently, the cockpit alarm blared shrilly, and all the instruments flickered wildly, as if they might explode at any moment. Lin Ye steadied himself on the swaying control panel, watching the line of scarlet text slowly rotate on the star map, and suddenly realized that they might not be going to end this war, but had just stepped into a real battlefield.

Chapter 279: The Hometown of the System Creator

The heavy burden of sin, the yearning for redemption… In the old man's cloudy yet unwavering gaze, Lin Ye suddenly recognized a familiar look—wasn't it the same burning gaze he himself had held countless times in dire straits, a gaze that had ignited to protect his companions and break free from fate? The system, born to protect, ultimately became the source of destruction; the plan devised for redemption dragged even more people into a cycle of despair. To stay? To become an eternal prisoner, filling this bottomless abyss of sin with endless loneliness?

Do not!

A near-mad thought flashed through Lin Ye's chaotic mind like lightning, and he suddenly grinned. There was no despair or resignation in that smile, only a clear understanding of the fog and an almost arrogant decisiveness, as if he had grasped the key to breaking the deadlock.

"Stay here?" His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly piercing through the roar of the explosion outside the palace and interrupting the old man's last plea. "No, I have a better idea!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand. The fragment of creation, which was resonating with the fragment of origin, seemed to sense its master's resolute will. With a "hum," it broke free from the pillar of light and transformed into a stream of light, shooting back steadily into Lin Ye's palm. The fragment trembled violently in his hand, as if countless lives were surging within it.

"System!" Lin Ye gripped the fragment tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. He could clearly feel the boiling energy within—Vegeta's arrogant and indomitable fighting spirit, Android 18's precise and calm judgment, Liu Nan's unwavering protection, Goku's never-give-up belief, and even the most primal desire and struggle for life contained within countless fragments of the "Observer"! He poured all the love and pain, the belief in protection, and the determination to break free from fate from the torrent of memories he had just endured into it without reservation. "Weren't you born to protect?! Then give yourself—return to your origin!"

The last few words were almost roared out. With the last of his strength, he hurled the dazzling fragment of creation like a javelin at the scorching ground beneath his feet! His target was the deepest, most vital energy source of this planet, designated 0!

The fragment transformed into a burning green meteor, trailing a long, luminous tail, ignoring spatial barriers, and with a "whoosh," pierced through the rock layers, instantly disappearing into the heart of the planet!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The breathing sounds in the palace, the distant aftershocks of energy, and even the hum of the data stream all came to an abrupt halt.

The next second—

Buzz! ! ! !

An indescribable green light exploded outwards from the point where the fragments fell, like a supernova eruption! The light was not dazzling, but rather carried an indescribable, vibrant life force, like a stream thawing in early spring, gently yet firmly flowing across the earth, sweeping across the entire planet with unstoppable force!

Wherever the light passed, the black virus entities that were frantically absorbing energy and ferociously lunging at the palace instantly turned into ice and snow under the scorching sun, emitting extremely shrill screams. Their twisted bodies disintegrated inch by inch in the green light, turning into billions of sparkling green light spots, like fireflies being blown away. After hovering in the air for a moment, they merged into that warm light.

Not just outside the palace! The entire planet, designated 0, from its sharply defined crystal mountains and mirror-like energy plains to its surging golden ocean of energy, was completely imbued with this pure, life-giving green light. The planet began to tremble violently, but not in a destructive collapse; rather, it was like a heart that had slumbered for billions of years finally beating powerfully anew, each tremor carrying the rhythm of rebirth.

The old man's body, which was almost transparent and invisible, was bathed in warm green light, and his previously blurry outline became clear for a moment. For the first time, a truly relieved smile bloomed on his face, which was full of vicissitudes and sorrow. Tears seemed to glisten in the wrinkles formed by the data streams at the corners of his eyes, filled with unbelievable surprise and the deepest relief.

"So...it can be like this..." His voice was weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, yet it carried endless emotion and a sense of relief. His gaze fell on Lin Ye one last time, as if bridging countless timelines, filled with blessings and expectations, "Live well...for me..."

The final words dissipated into the air, and the old man's data stream body completely transformed into a warm golden beam of light. Gone was the cold, mechanical feeling of 0s and 1s; only pure light and heat remained. This light gently circled Lin Ye three times, like a belated, silent embrace, before resolutely merging into the radiant fragment of creation in his hand.

The light on the fragments gradually dimmed, regaining its warm luster. But beside the ancient patterns, a new mark was clearly added—the silhouette of a young grandfather holding his young granddaughter's hand, running joyfully in the sunlight. The lines were simple, yet they contained an eternal promise of love and protection, as if telling the story of the origin and destiny of everything.

The explosions and roars outside the palace had long since ceased. On the planet's surface, the green specks of light, formed from the dissipation of the virus and imbued with pure life energy, seemed to have been reborn, transforming into billions of shimmering seeds. They broke free from the planet's gravity, like the most dazzling meteor shower in the universe, trailing long, luminous tails, flying in all directions, towards countless corners of the universe linked by the system and eroded by the virus.

They are the "seeds of life," carrying the power of purification and healing to awaken dormant hope and soothe broken wounds.

When Lin Ye, Vegeta, Android 18, and Liu Nan boarded the spaceship again and slowly departed from Planet 0, the scene outside the porthole was completely different. The planet, which had once exuded eternal daylight and an aura of destruction, was now shrouded in a gentle yet resilient green halo, like a tender sprout in the universe, quietly pulsating with the rhythm of life, even the surrounding golden atmosphere was tinged with a soft green.

The spaceship was silent, but not with the previous oppressive silence; rather, it was a calm that came after weathering a storm. Vegeta leaned against the bulkhead, arms crossed, his gaze complex as he watched the receding green light outside the porthole, a rare absence of mockery on his lips. Liu Nan was checking the spaceship's systems; the normal readings on the screen made him breathe a sigh of relief, his fingertips gliding lightly across the control panel. Android 18's gaze fell on the Genesis fragment clutched tightly in Lin Ye's hand, watching the newly appeared silhouette pattern, a gentle ripple appearing in her usually cool eyes.

Lin Ye lowered his head, his fingertips gently tracing the newly added marks on the fragment, the uneven texture seemingly still carrying the warmth of the sunlight. An unprecedented sense of ease, mixed with a faint, indescribable sorrow, quietly lingered in his heart. The vast system shadow that had entangled countless universes and countless lives, that cyclical destiny originating from love and despair, seemed to have finally drawn a gentle pause at this moment.

He raised his head and gazed at the deep starry sky. The fragment of creation radiated a gentle warmth in his palm, like a tiny heart beating.

"Is it over?" Vegeta's voice broke the silence, carrying a hint of uncertainty, as if he were asking Lin Ye, or perhaps himself.

"The system's story... may be over." Lin Ye's gaze was incredibly deep, as if piercing through the endless galaxy and landing in the distant future. "But our story... has only just begun."

The spaceship's engines roared smoothly as it transformed into a streak of silvery light, disappearing completely beyond the golden atmosphere of Planet 0, heading towards that unknown, infinitely possible future starry sea. Meanwhile, the origin planet, enveloped in the green light of life, remained quietly suspended in a corner of the universe, like a slumbering guardian, silently witnessing the unfolding of a new chapter.

Chapter 280: The Mystery of the Coordinates

An energy storm was raging in the Capsule Company's training ground. Liu Nan's white martial arts uniform fluttered wildly in the air currents, and the Kamehameha he had gathered in his palm glowed with a pale blue light, but suddenly dissipated three meters away from Lin Ye.

He lost again. He wiped the sweat from his face, the seven medals on his martial arts uniform jingling. How exactly did you train your Dimensional Fist? You can directly disperse energy even though you don't feel any ki.

Lin Ye withdrew his fist, his knuckles still throbbing—the reaction force from forcibly distorting space. It wasn't from qi. He bent down to pick up the kettle from the ground; the metal kettle reflected the faint fragments of creation on his chest, achieved through the gaps in space itself.

"You make it sound so real." Vegeta's voice came from the direction of the gravity chamber. He was wiping the sweat from his neck with a towel, and the shoulder armor of his dark blue combat suit was still emitting blue smoke. "Instead of wasting time teaching outsiders, why don't you come and fight me?"

"I can't beat you." Lin Ye chuckled as he drank his water. "Last time you used Super Saiyan Blue Toki no Suki form and beat me so badly I was stuck in the medical pod for three days."

"That's because you're weak." Vegeta raised an eyebrow, but his tail unconsciously curled into a circle—a small gesture Saiyans make when they're smug.

Suddenly, Number 18 landed on a hoverboard, a data cable still attached to her robotic arm. The data stream on the screen scrolled rapidly: "Abnormal energy fluctuations detected in the Z-73 Nebula, perfectly matching the last coordinates of the Genesis Fragment." She shoved the tablet in front of Lin Ye; the red dots on it were flashing wildly. Liu Nan's detector showed that the time flow there was one hundred times faster than in the normal universe.

Liu Nan suddenly leaned over and pointed to the small print in the corner of the screen: "Isn't this the encrypted marker of Frieza's Legion? I've seen it in the abandoned database; it means the forbidden experimental zone."

Lin Ye's fingertips traced the fragments of creation, and the last, darkened coordinate suddenly became incredibly hot. He recalled Alice's notes: the essence of time reversal technology was to forcibly pull back the consciousness of the deceased from parallel universes, but for each person resurrected, a corresponding version of themselves in a parallel universe would completely disappear.

So it's an equivalent exchange? Number 18 turned off the tablet, and the joints of the robotic arm made a slight clicking sound. He traded one version of himself from one universe for the version of himself from this universe?

Suddenly, Goku's shout rang out from afar. He came running towards them, carrying two Omni-Kings, his golden hair still matted with grass: "Lin Ye! Vegeta said you're going to a new planet? Take me with you! I just learned how to make a space bento box, and I put three hundred Senzu Beans in it!"

Suddenly, the little Omni-King in the Omni-King series pointed at Lin Ye's chest and poked the air with his little finger: "There's light dancing there."

The Great King nodded in agreement, his round face full of seriousness: "It is a very ancient energy, older than our power of cleansing."

Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat. The light from the fragments of creation seeped through his shirt, casting intricate patterns on the ground—patterns that were exactly the same as the floor tiles of the Temple of the Omni-King.

It seems I have no choice but to go. He tucked the water bottle back into his belt, turned to Vegeta, and asked, "Can your spaceship withstand a space jump?"

It's already been modified. Vegeta turned and walked away, his tail held high. "Stay close, you low-class warrior. If you get lost, no one will come looking for you."

Liu Nan suddenly grabbed Lin Ye's wrist, the medals on his martial arts uniform digging painfully into him: "I'm going too." He pulled an old capsule from his backpack; it was left by Master Roshi, who said to open it if he encountered any problems he couldn't solve.

As the spaceship passed through the atmosphere, Lin Ye leaned against the porthole, watching the blue Earth gradually shrink. Suddenly, the robotic arm of Unit 18 slung over his shoulder, and a screen displayed data about the Z-73 Nebula: Are you scared?

"A little," Lin Ye confessed. "The temperature of the Genesis Fragments is getting higher and higher. If they can really revive people, you tell me..."

"I'll beat you up." Android 18 interrupted him, the blue light in his mechanical eyes flashing. "Krillin is alive and well in Universe 7. I don't need a replacement from another universe."

Suddenly, Wukong's cheers erupted from the cockpit. He held up his binoculars and shouted: "Look! That planet is glowing!"

Lin Ye leaned closer and saw that at the center of the Z-73 nebula, a purple planet was enveloped in temporal turbulence, its surface structures all twisted metal, like crumpled pieces of paper. The most bizarre thing was the planet's orbit—seven broken satellites were revolving around it, each satellite with crystals resembling fragments of creation stuck in them.

That was… Liu Nan's face suddenly turned pale, his voice trembled, and his fingers gripped the telescope tightly: "The crystal on that satellite… is exactly the same as the fragment in the box my grandfather left behind." He suddenly pulled a rusty metal box from his backpack. The moment he opened it, a rhomboid fragment glowed softly inside the capsule, resonating with the crystal in the planet's orbit.