Fountains sparkled in the afternoon sunlight as crystalline water cascaded in graceful arcs. Models in elegant swimwear moved with practiced poise around the performance stage, their choreographed movements creating a mesmerizing display of beauty and charm. From every angle, their poses seemed perfectly orchestrated—like exotic flowers in full bloom, graceful and utterly captivating.
The crystal droplets from the fountain added an enchanting shimmer to the entire scene, making every surface gleam with ethereal allure.
This was a special segment Raditz had arranged specifically for the Old Kai—a calculated move designed to satisfy the ancient deity's long-suppressed desires while making him too grateful and embarrassed to refuse any future requests for potential development.
The Old Kai and Master Roshi had claimed prime viewing positions, both sporting impressive nosebleeds and flushed faces that betrayed their complete absorption in the performance. Nearby, Yamcha watched alongside Puar and Oolong, clearly enjoying the show.
The graceful performers recognized several famous faces in the crowd, and some even realized that the legendary heroes who had saved the world multiple times were present. Their excitement was infectious as they cast adoring glances and blew kisses toward the assembled Z-fighters.
While some guests appreciated the visual entertainment, others remained laser-focused on the feast. Most Saiyans showed minimal interest in the models, instead clustering around the dining tables in fierce culinary competition. White parasols dotted the landscape, providing shade for clusters of tables groaning under the weight of delicacies and surrounded by eager guests.
"Pepara, you're going down this time!" one Saiyan warrior called out challengingly.
"Don't count on it, Zucara!" came the confident reply.
"Move it, Kakarot! Don't even think about touching my lamb chops!" Vegeta's voice boomed above the general din as he shouldered his way through the crowd to claim his territory.
Goku followed close behind, snatching a prime seat and devouring an entire skewer in one fluid motion, bones and all.
The other guests wisely gave the Saiyan princes plenty of elbow room and continued their own enthusiastic dining. The adults weren't the only ones with fierce appetites—even Gohan was methodically stacking plate after plate, though he ate with considerably more refinement than his father and the other full-blooded Saiyans.
Celebratory cannons fired at perfectly timed intervals, launching fireworks that painted the sky in brilliant, multicolored flames. Wine glasses clinked together with crystalline chimes, the clear liquid reflecting everyone's elevated spirits and infectious joy.
Laughter echoed across the entire grounds. Even the normally reserved Supreme Kai and Kibito found themselves drawn into the festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, Jeice had become completely absorbed in sampling the fine wine, drinking bottle after bottle alongside Nappa and several other alliance members. After enough alcohol, they began singing boisterous songs that carried across the manor grounds.
Raditz and Zangya enjoyed delicate desserts while basking comfortably in the warm afternoon sunlight, watching their friends celebrate with genuine contentment.
"Mom and Dad, I'm going to play with Goten and Trunks!" Rukon announced, running over with cream smeared around his mouth and chocolate on his fingers.
"Don't cause any trouble," Zangya said gently, producing a napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth clean.
Rukon laughed and immediately took to the air, rushing toward his friends with typical childhood enthusiasm. Since Goten and Trunks couldn't fly yet, they ran at full speed to keep up, racing all the way to the flower beds beside the winding riverbank.
"So where should we explore?" Trunks asked, glancing around but not seeing anything particularly exciting in their immediate vicinity.
"Let's check out that forest by the manor," Rukon suggested, scratching his head thoughtfully. "I heard there are ghost stories around here, plus wild beasts that no one's ever seen before. Sounds like an adventure!"
Goten peered toward the dark treeline and felt an involuntary chill run down his spine. "Maybe we should get Big Brother Gohan first?"
"Haha, Goten's scared!" Trunks teased with typical childhood bravado.
Children never want to lose face in front of their peers. Though genuine fear gnawed at their hearts, all three insisted they were brave enough to handle whatever they might encounter. Besides, they reasoned, the three of them together should be perfectly safe.
The children huddled together briefly, decided to explore the mysterious woods, and quietly made their way toward the forest without telling any adults about their plans.
At that precise moment, a discordant streak of black light fell from the clear sky, landing in the forest not far from the celebration—exactly where the children were headed. This dark phenomenon emitted neither visible brightness nor detectable energy signature, failing to attract any attention amidst the overwhelming music and festive atmosphere that dominated the grounds.
When the children spotted the strange light, their eyes lit up as if they'd discovered buried treasure waiting to be claimed.
"Quick! It's over there!"
"I see it! Hurry up!" All three raced forward as if chasing something infinitely precious, their small legs pumping furiously as they rushed toward the fallen dark light on the wooded hillside.
Tree shadows danced and shifted throughout the forest depths. Rukon carried the other two for a short distance in flight, then they continued on foot when his arms grew tired. Finally, deep within the dense woodland, they discovered the true nature of the mysterious black light.
It was a person encased within a sphere of swirling dark energy.
Flowing streams of liquid darkness surrounded the figure like otherworldly waves. The man lay peacefully suspended within the phenomenon, serene and motionless like a corpse that had lost its soul. Yet his body radiated explosive potential—muscles powerfully defined, black hair gleaming with vibrant health. He certainly didn't appear dead.
And what corpse would rest within such an extraordinary supernatural phenomenon? The three children marveled at the incredible sight and cautiously approached the energy sphere, pressing their small fingers against its mysterious surface. It felt exactly like touching the surface of calm water, creating expanding ripples that spread outward in perfect circles.
The unexpected reaction caused them to jump backward instinctively, putting safe distance between themselves and the enigmatic sphere.
"Hey, look—he has a tail!"
"Yeah, that's definitely a Saiyan trait. My father told me all about it," Rukon exclaimed with confident recognition. Since Raditz maintained his own tail, he'd made sure to teach his son about their heritage, so the boy identified the characteristic immediately.
Goten and Trunks nodded in understanding. "Right, lots of the uncles and aunties at the party have tails too."
"What should we do? Should we call Dad and the others? This person might be looking for his family, or maybe he's seriously hurt."
"Look! The surface of the sphere is cracking!"
Just as they debated how to handle the mysterious situation, the dark energy sphere's surface began to fracture ominously. Like primordial chaos breaking apart at the moment of creation, the entire sphere became covered in spreading cracks that wove together like dense spider webs, with brilliant light bleeding through from within.
The blinding radiance pierced like burning needles, forcing them to shield their eyes with their hands. Then, after countless eons of slumber, the person sleeping within the phenomenon finally opened his eyes.
He floated in mid-air on his back, tail coiled around his waist like a belt. Primal wildness and confusion made him clench both fists, summoning raw power that completely shattered the energy sphere. The final protective layer split apart under his explosive ki, releasing a massive, bone-chilling aura of pure terror that made the very air tremble!
The moment consciousness returned, overwhelming confusion flooded his mind. Where was this place? Why was he here? Who had been calling to him? Who was speaking in his dreams? Doubt and disorientation clouded his thoughts as he turned his head, scanning his unfamiliar surroundings with growing agitation. His naturally sorrowful brows suddenly lifted, eyes flying wide with shocked recognition!
When his piercing gaze fell upon Goten's innocent face, his eyes blazed with unmistakable fury and recognition!
"He... what's wrong with him?" Trunks whispered nervously.
"It looks like... like he's staring directly at you, Goten," Trunks observed with growing fear, those cold, intense eyes making him instinctively back away from the floating figure.
"KAKAROT! KAKAROT!!!" The mysterious warrior tore away the remaining dark energy with one massive hand, landed heavily on the forest floor, and roared with earth-shaking force! His overwhelming presence sent violent tremors through the ground itself, causing birds to flee from the trees and small animals to scatter in terror.
"This power..." Everyone at the joyous celebration suddenly froze in place. Music stopped mid-note, conversations died instantly, and laughter faded to nothing as every head turned in the same direction, hearts constricting with sudden, inexplicable dread.
"Vegeta, this energy feels familiar!" Goku called out, his expression growing serious as he recognized the distinctive ki signature.
"That's right, Kakarot—it's him!" Vegeta could never forget the legendary warrior who had defeated him so decisively. "Broly!"