Boots hammered the floor as waves of Qin soldiers poured into the hall. Faces set, eyes hard, they had already made peace with death. For their emperor's safety, they would buy even a sliver of time.
They lunged, spears driving for Goku.
They bought nothing.
Goku lifted demon Sword and gave the lightest sweep. Sword-qi flashed. The soldiers froze mid-stride—not a drop of blood spilled—and then their bodies lost all strength and folded silently to the ground.
Earlier, at the Ling Yue's request, Goku had merely stunned attackers with pressure alone. But Ying Zheng had drenched Shi Lan in poison. That crossed Goku's last line. His anger had settled into killing intent—something even Ling Yue would not try to block.
She only sighed, shook her head, and watched.
In a blink, Goku rose above the palace. He gazed down at the grand sprawl of roofs and eaves, voice quiet.
"From this moment, Qin is finished."
A small ki sphere coalesced at his fingertips.
Ling Yue arrived beside him, guiding the now-awake Shi Lan by the hand. There was reluctance in her voice. "Must you do this?"
"You can stop me," Goku said, turning to meet her eyes.
Her heart jolted at the calm in his gaze. It felt as if something precious were about to leave her—so much so that her face went briefly pale. The feeling frightened her.
"…Do what you intend," she whispered at last.
Between ten thousand lives and Goku, the Ling Yue chose Goku.
Goku's mouth curved, satisfied. He laced his left hand through her warm, soft fingers; the ki orb slipped from his right palm.
"Rumble…"
The world thundered. Light speared skyward, washed across the city, and ate everything in its path.
The most magnificent palace vanished in an instant. In its place yawned a crater so vast it stole the breath from the lungs.
Shi Lan stared, wide-eyed, as if dreaming. Power like this belonged only to gods.
Above the clouds, Mo Ya and Baifeng stood on the back of their great white bird, stunned into silence. With a casual flick, Goku had unmade a nation. This wasn't human.
Goku glanced once at the ruins, then, still holding Shi Lan's and the Ling Yue's hands, flickered to a stop before the giant bird.
"Lord Goku!" Mo Ya and Baifeng bowed deeply, more tense than ever. Before them stood a being like a celestial.
"Qin has fallen," Goku said evenly. "What will you do now?"
The two exchanged a look. "If Lord Goku does not disdain it, Mo Ya (Baifeng) wishes to follow you forever."
"Follow me? Forget it," Goku waved. "I don't recruit men."
Both men froze, embarrassed—remembering that Goku's entourage contained only women. The ways of a true master were… inscrutable.
"Do this instead," Goku continued. "Shaoyu will be the next Ruler of this empire. If you're willing, help him. If not, suit yourselves. I'm leaving soon. Whether we meet again is uncertain."
"You're leaving?" The two were taken aback.
"I roam where I please. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
He smiled. In the next instant, he vanished from their sight.
"What about you?" Mo Ya asked quietly.
"Peace—the life common men crave—bores me," Baifeng replied. "Come. Let's see what sort of man this future lord truly is."
…
Wind moaned over the plain. A thousand elite riders drew up at the crater's edge and sucked in sharp breaths. Two dismounted and sank to their knees.
"Qin… is over," Fusu said. His face was composed, but his eyes burned red; silent tears slid down. He had known, long before they arrived, what he would find. Knowing was one thing; seeing was another.
"One wrong choice—one wrong enemy," he murmured. "An empire unified only a few years ago, erased by a single man. What a bitter fate."
"Father… if you had heeded me and ruled with benevolence, perhaps none of this would have happened. You were too ruthless, too domineering—you even tried to slay a god. Perhaps this is retribution."
"But rest easy. He said once Qin fell, he would depart and leave the world to its own fate. I will take up your wish and win the empire again."
Fusu rose and looked to the sky. His gaze had hardened into resolve. In history he should have been forced to suicide by Zhao Gao; because of Goku, he lived—and would now be a force no one could ignore.
…
In Sanghai, the Mohists no longer skulked. Thanks to Goku, they lived openly in town.
At Youjian Inn, three figures flashed into being. Ban Dashi and the others, anxious and expectant, surged forward.
"Goku!"
"Sir!"
Seeing him unhurt, Rong—cool mask and all—let out the breath she'd been holding. Goku came and went like wind; no one ever had time for a proper farewell. Xianyang was the dragon's den; these days had been a torment.
"I'm fine," Goku said with a reassuring look. He swept his gaze across the room and finally settled on Shaoyu. "As of today, the Qin Empire no longer exists. What follows is yours to decide. I won't interfere again."
"Qin… has fallen?"
Everyone stared, stunned. When the impossible is stated plainly, it feels unreal. Could a vast empire truly vanish so simply?
"I leveled the palace," Goku said. "Ying Zheng is dead. The fate of this world is in your hands now. And I'm here to say goodbye."
"You're leaving?" The words slipped from Duanmu Rong before she could stop them. Color rose in her cheeks and she turned away.
"You're really going?" Shaoyu asked, reluctant; even the joy of Qin's fall dimmed.
"All feasts end," Goku said mildly. "I have my own road."
"Can't you stay a few more days?" Tianming blurted.
"No. I'm leaving now." Goku glanced back to Shaoyu. "I spared Meng Tian and Fusu. They'll be your fiercest opponents—and your chance to avenge your grandfather on the field. Go take the world."
"Thank you, brother Goku!" Shaoyu's voice rang firm. "I swear I'll end this chaos and return peace and prosperity to the people."
"I believe you will," Goku said, nodding.
He lifted a hand. Seven colors flared and braided into a shining Gate of Dimensions—a function of the World Pearl that required only a wisp of world-force to open.
"My friends," he said, looking at each face, "from today we may never meet again. Take care."
...
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