The dinosaur, startled and annoyed by the small pebble attack, looked up at Goku, letting out another frustrated bellow. Goku, however, didn't flinch. He simply tightened his grip on the Power Pole, looking like a tiny, extremely confident samurai.
"System, what's my best move?" Tommy whispered, still hiding behind the rock.
[Analysis: Direct interaction with Son Goku (PL 10) is highly risky at this current stage. Host's Power Level is 5. Suggested action: Observe and React.]
Tommy frowned at the System's useless advice. Of course it was risky. This was Goku!
The dinosaur, deciding the boy was too high up and annoying, focused its rage back on the closer, weaker target: Tommy. It turned its massive body, opening its jaw, revealing rows of terrifying, sharp teeth.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Goku shouted, leaping off the ridge with unbelievable speed.
"Power Pole Extend!"
Fwip!
The wooden staff shot out like a rocket, slamming into the dinosaur's side with a surprisingly loud crack. The attack didn't kill the massive beast, but it was enough to stagger it, making it lose its balance.
Tommy seized the fleeting distraction. He scrambled backward, his mind focusing on the immediate goal: the town and the System Store.
"Gotta go, gotta go!" he muttered, pushing his fatigued body to move.
"Hey, where are you going?" Goku called out, his attention split between the staggering beast and the fleeing stranger. "Don't run! We can fight him together!"
Tommy didn't respond. He bolted towards the direction of the yellow dots on his internal map, ignoring the sharp pain in his chest. Running from Goku felt wrong, but he couldn't explain the System, his weakness, or the need for Zeni to a three-year-old fighting genius.
He heard the sounds of the battle fade behind him—more frustrated roars from the dinosaur and the high-pitched yells of a small boy having the time of his life.
Tommy ran until he hit the complete exhaustion mark, his Stamina reaching zero. He collapsed behind a cluster of strange, bright purple bushes.
[Stamina (STM): 0/15] [Host Status: Critical Fatigue. Immediate Rest Required.]
He leaned his head against the dusty earth, panting. After a moment, he checked the System.
[Combat Log:]
Host survived encounter with Giant Horned Dinosaur. (Passive EXP Earned: +0).
Host observed battle between Son Goku and Giant Horned Dinosaur. (Passive EXP Earned: +0).
"Wait, zero EXP?" Tommy groaned. "I risked my life, and I get nothing?!"
[Note: EXP is primarily gained through direct combat contribution or successful completion of Quests. Observation yields no reward.]
"Figures," he grumbled.
He rested for a solid hour, forcing himself to drink the last of the stale water in his pocket. He then continued his slow, painful march. The sun was beginning to dip below the jagged mountains when he finally saw it: Jingl-Town, a small cluster of brightly painted, slightly dilapidated buildings.
As he entered the dusty outskirts, the System chimed with a triumphant sound.
[Quest Complete!]
[Quest: First Steps]
Objective: Reach the nearest human settlement. (Complete!)
Reward:100 KP, Access to System Store, Basic Ki Manipulation Technique (Book).
Tommy felt an immediate surge of relief and power. The fatigue didn't vanish, but the pure relief of success was immense.
[Ki Points (KP) Gained: 100] [System Store Unlocked!] [Item Gained:Basic Ki Manipulation Technique (Scroll)]
He wasted no time. He found a secluded alley behind a noisy restaurant, pulled up the System, and immediately navigated to his inventory. He found the item:
[Basic Ki Manipulation Technique (Scroll)] [Description: A simple guide to finding your inner Ki and achieving E-Rank Ki Control.] [Use? Y/N]
He pressed "Y" without hesitation. A sudden wave of intense knowledge flooded his brain. He wasn't just reading text; the entire process—the breathing, the focus, the internal feeling of the Ki center in the lower abdomen—was downloaded directly into his awareness.
He closed his eyes and tried to focus, ignoring the noise of the town. He breathed in deeply, concentrating. He felt a tiny, almost imperceptible warmth deep inside him, like a small, banked coal.
[Success!] [Ki Control (KC) has increased from F to E.]
The System immediately chimed again, linking his new stat to his previously rejected quest.
[Quest Update!]
[Quest: The Ancient Seal]
Objective: Remove the Mega Four-Star Ball from the seal to unlock the mystery of Mt. Unknown.
Condition: Host must possess a Ki Control (KC) of E-Rank or higher. (Condition Met!)
"Yes! Finally!" Tommy whispered, the weariness forgotten. He could now go back and unlock that "UNMEASURABLE" power.
But first, the System Store. He opened the new menu, excited to see what 100 KP could buy.
[System Store: Basic Inventory]
Tommy stared at the list. He had only 100 KP. The Scouter was tempting—knowing the exact PL of every threat would be invaluable—but the Recovery Water was essential if he was going to make the trip back to the mountain safely.
He took a moment, then made his decision.
"System, buy two Recovery Water (Small)," he commanded.
[Purchase Confirmed!] [Ki Points (KP) Remaining: 0] [Item Gained:Recovery Water (Small) x2]
Two small, clear vials materialized in his hands. He immediately uncorked one and drank it. It tasted like pure, crisp mountain spring water.
[Stamina (STM): 15/15 (Fully Restored)] [Ki Energy (KE): 10/10 (Fully Restored)]
He felt the exhaustion vanish, replaced by a satisfying, light feeling. He had a full vial left for the journey back.
"Perfect," Tommy grinned, stretching.
He stepped out of the alley, fully restored and ready to move. But before he could even decide on a route, he noticed the sudden commotion on the main street.
A small, rotund, well-dressed man wearing a bowler hat and carrying a huge sack was running down the street, screaming.
"Stop that thief! He stole the town's Zeni!"
Chasing him was a large, angry man in a police uniform, but the thief was surprisingly fast.
Tommy instinctively scanned the fleeing figure.
[Scan Result: Mercenary Bandit (Level 4)] [Power Level:15]
Tommy's own Power Level was 5. He was still dramatically outclassed by almost everyone, but the bandit's PL of 15 was only three times his own, not seven times like the dinosaur.
The bandit sprinted right past Tommy, knocking a street vendor's cart over, scattering apples everywhere.
This was a classic Dragon Ball Earth scenario. A minor criminal, a chance for a weak hero to make a difference. And more importantly, a chance to earn Ki Points outside of quests.
"System, if I stop him, do I get KP?"
[Affirmative. Host will earn 15 KP for defeating the Mercenary Bandit.]
15 KP. Enough to start saving for that Scouter or the Martial Arts Manual. He also knew he could not defeat a PL 15 fighter in a fistfight.
He looked down at the last vial of Recovery Water he held.
Wait. My Ki Control is E-Rank now. I can technically use Ki...
Tommy remembered the knowledge the scroll had given him. He crouched low, focused his intent, and channeled that small, warm coal of Ki from his core, focusing it into his right hand.
A tiny, faint, blue light sparked on his palm. It was weak, wobbly, and almost invisible.
It's pathetic, but it's real.
The bandit was now about thirty feet away, still holding the bag of Zeni. This was his one shot.
Tommy took a deep breath, channeled every ounce of his new control, and aimed the small, blue light at the ground just in front of the bandit's feet.
"This is going to be embarrassing," Tommy whispered, and pushed his Ki out.
"Ki... Blast!"
The tiny, blue spark sputtered and then shot forward. It wasn't a world-ending energy wave; it was more like a weak, sputtering flare. It hit the ground with the force of a particularly hard-thrown marble.
Pfff...
But it was enough. The blast kicked up a puff of dust right in front of the running bandit. Startled by the sudden eruption, the bandit tripped over the scattered apples from the cart he had knocked over.
He went down hard, scattering Zeni everywhere, and the police officer, winded but determined, was able to catch up and slap handcuffs on him.
[Victory!] [Mercenary Bandit defeated (Indirect Contribution)!] [Ki Points (KP) Gained: 15]
Tommy stood there, hand smoking faintly, shaking with adrenaline. He had just performed his first Ki attack. It was the weakest attack in the history of the universe, but he had done it.
"Did... did you do that, young man?" the police officer asked, looking at the small plume of dust and the still-crouching Tommy.
Tommy, unsure how to explain the invisible attack, simply pointed at the scattered apples and gave an exhausted smile. "Looks like those apples were perfectly placed to trip him, officer."
He was a hero—and no one knew it.
Tommy left the officer dealing with the bandit and the Zeni. He had his 15 KP, a full-recovery vial, and the confidence of an E-Rank Ki Control user.
He was ready to face the UNMEASURABLE