Bulma felt an annoying buzzing in her ears, similar to the sensation of tinnitus. Her vision went completely black. She could feel her consciousness being 'taken' by something. It was drawing her into the deepest recesses of her being.
This time, however, it was different. She didn't end up in front of her Plant version; rather, she continued to delve deeper into areas of her psyche she had never touched before, simply because she didn't know they existed.
There, the darkness was filled with vague images and distant, difficult-to-understand sounds, as well as a deep sense of unreality. It was as if everything she was witnessing at that moment was false.
'What if everything is fake? Is reincarnation and traveling to other worlds really possible? Could this be a delusion, a dream, or an illusion created by a higher being?
Perhaps, in the end, you are just a trapped consciousness thinking that you live in a vast world when, in reality, you are locked in a black box, isolated from everything material.' A voice similar to hers whispered those words directly into her 'ear,' so to speak.
When those words settled in, she could feel her consciousness stop falling and settle on a cold floor. A dim light from somewhere illuminated Bulma, but she was more interested in the figure standing before her.
A replica of herself! It was her, exactly as she was, and she could see that her expression was a mirror image of her own. However, this 'Bulma's' temperament was very different from her own.
"You don't seem surprised to see me," the reflection said, causing Bulma to shrug.
"These kinds of tests are very cliché. If you're me, you should know that," she replied, causing her reflection to nod.
"Then you know why I'm here!" the reflection exclaimed, flashing a warm smile. But Bulma sensed a strange coldness behind the smile. It was like seeing a predator facing its prey, a feeling she didn't like at all.
"I'd like to skip these things. You know you won't achieve anything," said the blue-haired girl, testing the waters. But her reflection shook her head before pointing her index finger at herself.
"I have to make you face all the doubts and worries that have accumulated in your heart! You've noticed it lately, haven't you? Your meditations have become increasingly uncomfortable, and you have become a bit impatient.
Before, it could be passed off as hormonal changes from being young, but lately, your actions have become increasingly drastic and erratic: Destroying a demonic castle, seeking entertainment, and traveling to another dimension!
These are normal actions, but they're driven by something else. That's why you rejoice in the 'surprises' this world can give you. You desperately seek to occupy your mind with something so you don't have to think about what has always worried you, even after that chance encounter in the past.
You doubt the reality in which you live! Did you really meet the being who made you reincarnate? Is a fictional world real? Are you fictional? Are you a desperate invention of your psyche on the brink of death? A bitter outcome.
Did I really experience the warmth of childhood again? Am I experiencing the vibrancy of youth? Do I have that much power? Am I that "special"? I could be the protagonist of some fan fiction on the internet!
"Doubt has eaten away at you for so long. Aren't you tired of it?" The reflection put her hand on Bulma's cheek and caressed it with her thumb. She had a sympathetic expression on her beautiful face, and her lips curved into a friendly smile.
Bulma remained silent, trying to maintain a neutral façade, but her hands were clenched so tightly that, in the real world, there would be no doubt that her nails were digging into her flesh and making her bleed.
Although it was cliché. A mental test and a confrontation with her 'inner demon,' the words of her reflection really struck a chord with her. After all, she hadn't lied.
She had done her best to hide her growing despair. She hadn't used her empathic ability on herself because she feared perceiving her own emotions.
Whether she felt them or not, she would sink into a deep spiral of doubt that would occupy her mind forever due to her lack of preparation. However, years of training, meditation, and struggle had strengthened her resolve.
Perhaps this was the last hurdle she needed to overcome to achieve an iron will. So, even though she didn't want to say these words, she had to because accepting it was always the first step.
"Yes... I'm tired. I've doubted myself, my reality, this world, and my own power. I've even thought that all of this is just a dream, or worse, my brain's last gasp before death." Bulma's voice broke as she said those words. Her demeanor was always fierce and full of life and emotion, but now she showed a fragile side that she rarely let her loved ones see.
Without realizing it, she was crying on her reflection's shoulder. To an outsider who hadn't experienced the mental torture she had, this might seem silly. She had everything anyone could want!
She had been reborn in another world. She had a 'golden finger!' She was rich, beautiful, and talented. Her intellect surpassed that of many beings in the universe. Her potential was incredibly high. She had a waifu! Waifu! It all started because of a waifu.
"Have you improved, Bulma?" asked the reflection. Bulma smiled upon hearing the question.
"I can't improve. I'm already the best!" The blue-haired girl's response was unique. She didn't split into two individuals; she fully accepted that she is, has always been, and will always be Bulma Brief.
Someone else didn't take over this body! She was born in this body. Although perhaps there was a little help from a higher entity, her soul legally entered this multiverse. The conclusion was that she is Bulma, and that's what mattered most.
At that moment, the reflection disappeared. There was no fight, no lengthy debate, and no 'eradication' of the demon from her heart. It was simply Bulma debating with herself under the strange conditions of the test in Karin Tower.
For others, this would be an arduous and lengthy process, but Bulma is very intelligent. Intelligent people don't need much to solve problems like this.
If the solution was to resolve her internal conflict, why would her reflection waste time going around in circles? That would be a waste of time and effort! So, Bulma and her reflection got straight to the heart of the matter.
When Bulma opened her eyes, she expected to be the first, but the sound of a bag of potato chips opening made her look to the side. There, Goku was comfortably using his tail and one hand to do his thing.
Not only that, but Letty reached out and took one of the chips Goku was eating. In other contexts, this would be unthinkable, but now it seemed natural. Bulma blinked several times until she realized a few things.
"It seems your heart is so pure that it doesn't cause problems, Goku!" Bulma said with a smile as she took a chip from the bag.
"Oh? I just saw myself, played around a bit, and then woke up," the young Saiyan replied nonchalantly, causing Bulma to roll her eyes. However, Goku's next words astonished her.
"Bulma, it seems you're not worried anymore," said her younger brother as he looked seriously at the blue-haired girl before taking a handful of chips.
"Aunt Bikini will love that! She always sighs because she doesn't understand why you're so rushed and restless. Now that it's over, she'll be able to relax, too." That simple comment from Goku finally made Bulma realize it.
The people around her could sense her inner turmoil. They simply didn't tell her, perhaps trusting that she could solve her own problems and that, if she couldn't, they would help her.
"Uh ... when I get back, I'll have to give my mom a hug," Bulma murmured before looking at Letty. Her Ki was no longer chaotic; it was perfectly attuned to nature, like any other creature's.
Not only that, but the Bio-Warrior had a more intense gleam in her eyes as if her intelligence had been fully activated. Before, although she seemed very understanding, there had been a cognitive barrier between her and the others. Now, it was gone.
'It seems that the divine power of the test has some special effects,' Bulma reflected. She also noticed that Goku no longer seemed to emit the subtle wild aura that had characterized him.
She was completely relaxed after letting go of her worries and could feel the strange pressure surrounding Karin Tower much better.
'Did the test allow me to gain perception of divine Ki? This is a gift!' I could sense that Whis was a powerful entity before, but I couldn't feel anything coming from him.
Not only that, but the Tower seemed only slightly special to her. Except for the material it was made of and a few other things she could sense, it seemed like just another building. Now, however, she could sense a special pressure emanating from the structure, as if it were the core reason for the building's uniqueness.
However, being aware of this special pressure did not mean she had divine Ki. If anything, it was only a small part of it. Once she had the necessary power, this special notion would be the first step in her quest to master the power of the gods.
As she pondered this, Lazuli finally reacted, breathing heavily. It seemed as if she had really gone through an arduous trial because her eyes, now open, were reddened, and tears fell down her cheeks.
Still, those present could feel the blonde's strength increase slightly, proof that her will had been tempered and her power had grown.
"Ah... I'm hungry." Seeing three pairs of large eyes staring at her, Lazuli blushed and took Goku's bag of potatoes. The Saiyan stared at his empty hand before reacting.
"Lazuli! Don't be mean! They're my potatoes! Don't eat my potatoes!" Goku complained, opening his mouth and staring at the blonde as if willing to bite her to get his precious potatoes back.
"I have more, don't worry," said Bulma, patting her younger brother's head. The Saiyan shook, trying to free himself from his older sister's grip, but Bulma was relentless, squeezing his skull tightly.
"What did we talk about, Goku-kun, sharing?" Bulma asked in a low, deliberate tone. What terrified the young warrior was that Bulma used honorifics; she only did that when things got serious.
"Good things should be shared with others. We can't be selfish," Goku muttered, looking down, completely aggrieved. Even his tail was drooping. If he had long ears, surely they would be too.
"Okay, now let's finish climbing this tower. I want to meet the immortal who lives at the top," Bulma said before focusing on the last stretch, where the home of the person who gave this special building its name was located:
The Immortal Karin! Knowing they were so close, the group members were excited. In no time, they reached the bottom steps of the temple.
The place had a solemn aura, which made them keep quiet and move as quietly as possible. They didn't want to break the solemnity of the place.
"It seems we have some really promising recruits this time," a deep voice said directly into their ears. Before them appeared the figure they had been eager to see. Except for Bulma, the others were disappointed.
A cat was the Immortal Karin!? Is too cute for being an old monster who trained a lot of strong characters in the story!
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AN: I love the fact that they didn't think about why a cat can speak or be powerful, because animal people, and animals with high intelligence, are a real thing in that universe.