Gohan chuckled softly, his body glowing with a faint purple aura as he launched himself toward Frieza at lightning speed. Frieza gritted his teeth, his golden form shimmering brilliantly, and surged forward to meet Gohan.
In the blink of an eye, the two clashed, their fists and kicks moving so quickly that they seemed to vanish from sight. Shockwaves rippled through the battlefield, and the sky above crackled with energy as their strikes collided with the force of small explosions.
Elsewhere, Hit had separated from Goku and found himself facing a towering, monstrous figure that resembled an insect. The creature was none other than Hirudegarn.
Hirudegarn loomed over Hit, his massive form casting a long shadow across the terrain. His glowing eyes focused on the assassin, and a guttural roar erupted from his throat as he raised his massive hands to crush Hit like an insect.
Unfazed, Hit's eyes narrowed. As Hirudegarn's colossal hands came down, Hit's figure blurred and vanished. The monster hesitated, momentarily startled, but before he could react, a flash of purple light streaked across his neck.
Blood sprayed into the air as Hirudegarn's head was severed cleanly from his body. The massive form crumpled to the ground, shaking the earth with its weight.
Hit landed gracefully on the ground, his expression calm and cold. Without sparing a glance at his defeated opponent, he turned and walked away, his boots crunching softly against the gravel.
At the same time, across the various timelines and spaces, countless battles raged on. Warriors like Cumber and Cell, once defeated by Goku and his allies, found themselves locked in fierce combat with each other. The chaos of the tournament stretched across dimensions, with no clear victor yet in sight.
In the midst of this turmoil, Goten managed to capture a golden fairy, one of the elusive targets of the first round. The moment his hands closed around it, he was teleported back to the massive gear where the tournament had begun.
One by one, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and the others reappeared alongside him.
"What's going on? Why are we back?" Goku asked, glancing around in confusion.
Gohan's gaze fell on the golden fairy in Goten's hand, and he quickly pieced it together. "Dad, I think it's because Goten captured the Fairy Prophet!"
"I see!" Goku exclaimed, nodding.
Before they could discuss further, two more figures materialized on the gear: Time Patrol Trunks, along with Hearts and Cumber.
"Trunks!" Goku greeted, a smile spreading across his face as he recognized the Time Patrol version of Vegeta's son.
Trunks nodded briefly but looked troubled. Before he could respond, a new figure appeared.
A man clad in a black robe stepped forward, his face obscured by a mask. His presence exuded an aura of mystery and danger, and his voice carried a chilling authority.
"Everyone else has disappeared," the masked man stated bluntly.
"What?!" Goku exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.
"It means the timelines they occupied have been destroyed," the man continued, his tone devoid of emotion.
Time Patrol Trunks clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "Why would you do this?!"
The masked man's reply was cryptic. "All of this is part of the mission. A greater purpose lies hidden behind these battles."
Before Trunks could press further, the masked man shifted his attention to the gathered warriors. "Now, let us proceed to the second round of the tournament."
"Second round?!" Trunks roared, his golden aura flaring to life as his anger surged.
"You destroyed countless people and entire timelines!" Trunks shouted, his voice filled with righteous fury. Without hesitation, he launched a golden energy wave directly at the masked man.
The man raised his hand and countered with his own fiery red energy wave. The two attacks collided mid-air, resulting in a massive explosion that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Vegeta's expression darkened as he observed the exchange. The power of the masked man was undeniable.
As the smoke cleared, the masked man emerged unscathed, standing amidst the ruins with an unsettling calm.
"You're as reckless as ever," he said, his voice taunting as he locked eyes with Time Patrol Trunks.
"Who are you?" Gohan demanded, his voice sharp as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Instead of answering, the masked man released an overwhelming surge of energy that spread across the battlefield like a tidal wave. The warriors instinctively braced themselves against the force of his power.
"What incredible energy!" Gohan muttered, sweat forming on his brow as he sensed the intensity of the Ki radiating from the masked man.
Without warning, the masked man closed the distance to Trunks in an instant, delivering a powerful punch to his abdomen. Trunks gasped in pain, staggering back.
Before he could recover, the masked man appeared behind him, delivering a swift kick that sent Trunks crashing into one of the giant gears. The force shattered it into pieces, and Trunks tumbled onto another gear below.
Still, Trunks wasn't ready to give up. He climbed to his feet, summoning a massive golden energy sphere in his hands. The masked man responded in kind, forming a fiery red energy bomb that radiated immense heat.
The two warriors launched their attacks simultaneously. The air crackled with tension as the energy spheres hurtled toward each other.
Just as they were about to collide, a fiery red pattern appeared in the sky, freezing both attacks in place.
"What?!" Trunks exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
A figure descended from the sky, her presence commanding immediate attention. It was Aeos, the former Kaioshin of Time. Her appearance was regal and imposing, her aura glowing faintly with power.
"You two are quite skilled," she remarked, her tone calm yet authoritative. "But this tournament is not the place for such reckless displays."
With a wave of her hands, a massive purple crack opened in the air, swallowing the suspended energy bombs.
"So much for off-field competition," she said, her voice laced with finality.
"Who are you?" Goku asked, stepping forward.
"She is the previous Supreme Kai of Time," Time Patrol Trunks answered grimly