Chapter 73: "Step Aside, Trunks — An Eternal Glimpse"
"Alright! I'll listen to you, brother!" Goten steadied his breathing, clenched his fists, and nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, Trunks, who was escorting Chronoa, was intercepted by the Masked King. "Damn it..."
"Trunks, move faster! We only have 20 seconds left!" Chronoa urged as Trunks charged ahead, clearing out enemies.
"Got it! All or nothing!" Trunks roared as he ascended to Super Saiyan 3.
Ignoring unnecessary battles, Trunks maximized his speed. With Chronoa in tow, he finally reached the Dark Dragon.
"The path is clear..." Chronoa's feet touched the elevated platform at the core.
Before Trunks could say a word, the Dark Dragon swung its massive claw, sending him flying.
"Trunks!" Chronoa cried out in concern.
"I'm fine..." Trunks, still airborne, reassured her.
Hearing his response, Chronoa turned her gaze toward Mechikabura, who was still absorbing energy from the Dark Dragon, restoring himself to his peak form.
"Good... as long as I interrupt this process..."
Tap.
Before Chronoa could extend her hands, Lin Qi landed in front of her, blocking Mechikabura from view. "You've arrived..."
"Lin Qi? You're alive?!" Chronoa exclaimed with joy, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.
"That's wonderful! I'm so glad you're okay..."
Seeing Chronoa's expression of relief, Lin Qi hesitated to speak.
This little girl worried about his safety, yet he planned to let Mechikabura return to his full power. Why couldn't he let go of this idea?
"Let Mechikabura return to his peak form," Lin Qi said softly, looking at Chronoa.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Chronoa's tears still glistened on her cheeks, but her expression turned to shock. "Are you even part of the Time Patrol anymore? How could you say something like that?!"
"Lin Qi..." Trunks, having returned, frowned deeply, his tone filled with doubt. "Why?"
"I want to fight him..." Lin Qi struggled to maintain his composure, but his firm stance in front of Trunks and Chronoa betrayed no hesitation.
"Heh, I never thought you Time Patrollers would start infighting," Mechikabura chuckled from within the dense glow of energy enveloping him.
"Mechikabura!" Chronoa's pupils shrank. "We can't let him regain his peak form..."
"Lin Qi, move aside! You have no idea how dangerous Mechikabura is..." Chronoa tried to persuade him.
"Tsk... fine!" Lin Qi suddenly agreed, turning to face the blinding light shooting into the sky.
By now, Mechikabura was nearly fully restored.
From within the glow, Mechikabura's triumphant laughter echoed. "Ha ha ha... it's too late now!"
"Hmph, not necessarily!" Chronoa extended her hands toward Mechikabura.
"You're using the Power of Time?" Lin Qi was taken aback. Wait a minute, wasn't his delay wasted, then?
At this moment, Mechikabura was on the verge of complete restoration, but as Chronoa unleashed the Power of Time, her figure began to transform rapidly.
Whoosh.
In an instant, Chronoa grew from a little girl into a graceful young woman. Her hair floated as if caught in an invisible breeze, and her body radiated dazzling light, with intricate time markings appearing behind her.
"I didn't want to resort to this, but to deal with you... I have no choice but to use the energy I've been saving all this time!"
"I will..." Chronoa extended her hands toward Mechikabura. "Use all my strength to stop your wish!"
"Lin Qi..." Nearby, Trunks leaped forward and tackled Lin Qi to the ground.
Lin Qi didn't resist. He silently watched as Mechikabura was surrounded by countless temporal fragments, caught within Chronoa's Time Maze.
"Hey, Chronoa, seal me along with him! No matter what, I must fight Mechikabura!" Lin Qi genuinely wanted to challenge this Dark King, to witness the so-called strongest magic of the Dragon Ball universe and find a way to defeat it.
"You will forever remain outside the flow of time... Mechikabura!"
At that moment, the Dark Shenron spoke slowly. "Your wish... is granted!"
Countless fragments were swallowed by the encroaching darkness.
Within the darkness, Lin Qi saw the towering, muscular figure of Mechikabura, now restored to his youthful, peak form.
"You... you wretched Time Patrollers!"
As the range of the Time Maze contracted, Trunks climbed off Lin Qi, who remained motionless.
"Supreme Kai of Time..."
The Dark Dragon then disintegrated into seven Dragon Balls, scattering in different directions.
"Trunks!" Chronoa bit her lip, holding back the tears threatening to spill. Forcing a stiff smile, she turned back.
"Take care of Tokitoki for me!"
"Supreme Kai of Time..." Trunks let out a heart-wrenching cry.
A brilliant light enveloped the surroundings, so blinding that everyone instinctively closed their eyes.
It felt like an eternity in an instant.
When Lin Qi opened his eyes, he saw a sky filled with temporal fragments. Could it be that Chronoa had brought him into the Time Maze?
Before he could smile, he noticed Vegeta floating nearby.
In the distance, Goku, Trunks above, Gohan below, and the creator of the Dark Dragon Balls were all present.
"... Isn't that Dende?" Goku muttered in confusion as he caught the unconscious Namekian and landed.
Lin Qi lightly tapped the ground and landed, turning to see Gohan lying nearby. "Are we back in the Time Nest?"
"Strange, where is the Supreme Kai of Time?" Goten looked around, puzzled.
"Lin Qi, you're alive!!"
At these words, Trunks stormed toward Lin Qi, grabbing him by the collar. "You... it's all your fault!"
"What are you doing?" Vegeta frowned, his voice icy.
"If it weren't for your interference..." Trunks shouted angrily, "The Supreme Kai of Time wouldn't have..."
Looking at Lin Qi's impassive expression, Trunks knew he was wrong to act this way. Clenching his teeth, he released Lin Qi and stormed into the nearby building.
Inside, time scrolls were scattered everywhere. Trunks stood there in a daze. "It's gone..."
"The Dark Demon Realm... has vanished!!"