Meanwhile, In Another Part of the World
Deep in a forest where moonlight barely penetrated the canopy, an unnatural glow began to pierce through the trees. Orange light flickered between the trunks, growing brighter, angrier. Then came the crackling—the unmistakable sound of wood surrendering to flame.
A house burned in the clearing, fire consuming its wooden frame with hungry intensity. The roof collapsed inward, sending a shower of sparks into the night sky.
Outside, a family knelt in the dirt—mother, father, and a small child clutched desperately in his mother's arms. Their faces were streaked with tears and soot, eyes wide with terror as they watched their home turn to ash.
A small figure emerged from the shadows. No taller than the child, wearing a purple robe with the Mazoku crest emblazoned on the chest. Piccolo Jr.'s face was illuminated by the dancing flames, his expression cold.
"I hate peace," he said, his child's voice carrying an ancient malevolence. "I will avenge my father."
He approached the family slowly, raising his small hand toward the crying child. Energy began to gather in his palm.
But then—
*Flash.*
A memory struck him like lightning. He was on the ground, looking up. Goku towering over him, flames behind him, shielding him from the explosion. Those eyes looking down at him, not with hatred, but with...
Piccolo Jr.'s hand trembled. His face contorted with confusion, emotions he didn't understand warring within him. He stood there for a long moment, arm still raised, face twisted in internal conflict.
The Next Morning, Sunlight streamed through the window as Goku's eyes slowly opened. Something was... wrong. There was warmth pressed against him, and a familiar scent of expensive perfume.
Morning light cut through the curtains, and Goku snapped awake, his eyes landing on Panchy curled against him, her arms loosely draped over his chest. Her face was flushed, lips puffy, cheeks rosy, and her eyes shut in a pleasure-drunk slumber, still roughened from the wild night. Her nightgown was tangled, bunched up around her hips, barely covering her curves, while her tiny panties were twisted to one side, revealing more than they hid.
Careful not to wake her, he slid out of bed, his tail giving a lazy flick as he stretched. He slipped out of the room, closing the door softly, and sauntered down the hall, where he nearly bumped into Dr. Briefs, who was shuffling toward his room with a cup of coffee and a distracted look, muttering.
"Mornin', Doc!" Goku called, giving a casual wave.
Dr. Briefs blinked through his glasses, scratching his head. "Oh, Goku, my boy! Up early, eh? Hope you didn't break anything in there, my wife's got a knack for redecorating in her sleep, heh!" He chuckled, oblivious, and toddled off toward his room.
Goku shrugged and wandered off for a snack, while Dr. Briefs pushed open the bedroom door. There was Panchy, sprawled face-down on the bed, legs spread wide, her nightgown rucked up to her waist, and her tiny panties shifted far to one side, barely clinging. Dr. Briefs froze, his coffee cup tilting dangerously. "Well, confound it all, woman! Looks like you've been wrestling a blasted android in here!" he sputtered, scratching his head, as the room's disarray hinted at a night far wilder than his inventions.
Goku emerged from the shower, droplets still clinging to his hair as he made his way to the kitchen. The early morning light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the empty corridors. Nearly everyone was still asleep at this hour, which suited him fine.
As he prepared his breakfast, his thoughts drifted to Kami-sama. The summon wasn't his only reason for wanting to visit, he needed answers. *If Kami is supposed to be the highest authority in this world, maybe he'll have some information.* He'd tried multiple times to reach out to that mysterious voice from before, but it had remained silent.
Lost in contemplation about this world and his previous one, Goku almost didn't notice the soft padding of bare feet against the floor. He turned to see Bulma shuffling into the kitchen, still in her pajamas, shorts and an oversized shirt. She moved toward the counter, stealing glances at him while pretending to search for something to eat.
Finally, she snapped. "AREN'T YOU GOING TO SAY GOOD MORNING?!"
"Wha-? " Goku confused by the audacity, then muttered under his breath, "This woman's got my blood pumping already."
Bulma turned her back to him, a small smile playing at her lips as she poured her cereal. When she faced him again, the smile had vanished. She approached the table with deliberate steps and sat directly across from him.
"By the way," Goku said between bites of fruit, "I need a cellphone. Do you have one I could use?"
"Yeah, I have my old one—" Bulma paused mid-sentence, her spoon hovering over her bowl. Her eyes lit up. "I know! Let's go buy you a new one and make it a date!"
Goku looked at her, a piece of banana still in his mouth. "A date? Why would we do that?"
"BECAUSE YOU PROMISED ME! Did you forget already?!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the kitchen.
"I never promised anything!" He shook his head firmly. "Besides, I have to go see Kami."
"I WANT TO GO ON A DATE!" Bulma's tantrum was in full swing now, her fists clenched on the table.
"If you want a date so badly, go see your boyfriend," Goku said, a hint of malice creeping into his tone.
She pouted and crossed her arms defensively. "I want to see what you mean when you say what a *real* boyfriend does during a date."
"That would be cheating on your boyfriend," he pointed out with a grin.
"No, because it's... it's just make-believe," she said, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
"What kind of logic is that?" Goku sighed. "Anyway, the answer is no... for now. Just give me your old phone."
"For now?!" Her face brightened with hope. "So that means it's a yes eventually?"
"We'll see when I get back from Kami," he said.
Bulma's face lit up like the sun before she quickly composed herself, standing with exaggerated dignity. "You'll have the honor of dating the most beautiful girl in South City," she declared as she headed toward her room. Once she thought she was out of sight, she began skipping down the hallway.
Soon after, Dr. Brief and Panchy entered the kitchen. Upon seeing Goku, Panchy's cheeks flushed pink as she pressed her hands to her face and approached him with a smile.
"You exhausted me last night~" she purred.
Goku looked at her with genuine confusion, turning to Dr. Brief. "What is she talking about?"
Before anyone could answer, Lunch and Mai arrived, greeting Goku warmly. They were followed shortly by Pu'ar, Oolong, and Bulma returning from her room. The once-quiet kitchen transformed into a hub of lively conversation, everyone talking over each other in the morning chaos.
Goku found himself annoyed by the noise at first. But as he watched the animated faces around him—Bulma arguing with Oolong about something, Lunch laughing at one of Dr. Brief, Panchy humming while she prepared more food—his expression gradually softened.
After a while, Goku made his way out of the house to the backyard, followed by an entourage of curious onlookers—Bulma, Mai, Lunch, Pu'ar, and Panchy all trailing behind him.
"Well, see you... I don't know when—" Goku began, only to be cut off.
"Mister Goku! Let me go with you!" Mai stepped forward, her hand pressed earnestly against her chest.
"Yeah! Me too!" Lunch chimed in enthusiastically. "Plus, I'll drive the plane. You've never flown one before!"
Panchy tilted her head with her carefree expression, placing a delicate hand on her cheek. "Oh my... Bulma, I think we have competition."
Bulma shot her mother a confused look. "What do you mean *we* have competition?"
Shaking off her mother's comment, Bulma turned back to Goku. "She has a point though, you've never piloted a plane."
Mai nodded vigorously. "Yes, Mister Goku! Plus, Kinto'un got destroyed, remember?"
A smile crossed Goku's face. "Don't need those," he said simply, closing his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Bulma asked, her brow furrowing.
A soft breeze seemed to stir around Goku, his clothes beginning to ripple and flow as if caught in an invisible wind current.
"Before Tien went off to train, I asked him for a tip," Goku explained, his concentration evident.
The group watched with growing amazement as something extraordinary began to happen.
"Is he... is he actually doing what I think he's doing?" Bulma whispered.
"Mister Goku, that's incredible!" Mai gasped, her usually composed demeanor cracking with excitement.
"Fuck yeah! " Lunch exclaimed, bouncing on her toes.
"Oh my, how exciting~" Panchy cooed, clapping her hands together.
Slowly, deliberately, Goku's feet lifted from the ground. He was levitating, rising inch by inch into the air. His movements were unsteady, wobbling like a baby taking its first tentative steps. His arms stretched out for balance as he rose higher, occasionally dipping or tilting to one side.
"He's actually flying!" Bulma shouted, her jaw dropping.
After a few minutes of unsteady hovering, Goku began to find his rhythm. With newfound confidence, he rolled onto his back, crossing his arms casually as he floated toward Mai. Hovering upside down, he brought his face close to hers, their lips mere inches apart.
"Just your friendly neighborhood—" he said with a playful grin before flipping gracefully behind her to face the others.
The sudden proximity left Mai speechless, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Anyway," Goku said, still wobbling slightly as he gained altitude, "take care of yourselves. I'll be back."
He began ascending at a moderate pace, his flight path still somewhat erratic as he continued mastering this new technique.
"Wait, Goku! When will you return?" Bulma called after him, shielding her eyes from the sun.
"Don't leave us for too long, Mister Goku!" Mai added, having finally found her voice again.
"I'll keep my virginity for you!!!" Launch shouted with a wave, everyone looked at her blushing.
The group stood in the backyard, watching as Goku's figure grew smaller against the morning sky, each lost in their own thoughts about when they might see him again. Bulma crossed her arms, trying to look annoyed but now excited.
Goku soared through the sky, reveling in the pure sensation of flight. Nothing but the wind rushing past his ears and the endless blue stretching before him. As he steadied himself in the air, Tien's words echoed in his mind: *Flying consumes significant ki—the more you pour in, the faster you go, but control becomes exponentially harder.*
A grin spread across his face. "Of course I'm gonna test it."
Goku clenched his fists tight, flexing as he crossed his arms in front of his face. Energy surged through his body like electricity. He took a deep breath, then released his ki at maximum output.
For a split second, there was silence.
Then—**BOOM!**
Goku blasted forward like a missile, the sudden acceleration whipping his hair and clothes violently in the wind. "WOOOHOOOOOO!" he shouted, exhilarated by the raw speed.
But his celebration was short-lived. The overwhelming power tilted him off course, sending him into a steep downward spiral. By the time he noticed the highway below, it was too late.
**CRASH!**
Goku smashed through a bridge's support structure, concrete and steel exploding around him before he plowed into the ground below. The impact left a sizeable crater in the road, chunks of asphalt scattered everywhere.
Pulling his head from the rubble, Goku emerged covered in dust and debris. He brushed himself off casually, surveying the destruction.
"Miscalculation," he muttered, then blasted upward again, this time carefully moderating his ki output to maintain better control.
Once at a stable altitude, Goku pulled out the phone Bulma had given him—a garish pink device encrusted with fake diamonds that sparkled obnoxiously in the sunlight. He dialed Master Roshi.
"Hey, old man. Where exactly is Kami?"
"Ah, Goku! Kami-sama resides above Korin Tower. You remember where that is, don't you?"
After ending the call, Goku adjusted his trajectory and flew toward the familiar landmark. The journey took longer than expected, and by the time the tower's base came into view, he could feel the strain of maintaining flight for so long.
He landed with relief at the base, where Upa and Bora greeted him warmly. Upa had grown noticeably taller since their last meeting, though he still carried the same bright enthusiasm.
"Goku! It's been so long!" Upa exclaimed.
"Yeah... what's up... " Goku replied, though his words came between heavy breaths. The ki consumption from extended flight was taking its toll, leaving him lightheaded.
After a brief reunion, Goku began floating upward again, gradually increasing speed as he ascended the impossibly tall tower. By the time he reached Korin's platform, exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
The moment he landed, the familiar white cat emerged from the shadows.
"Ah, finally! There you are, Goku!" Korin exclaimed, his whiskers twitching with interest.
"Yeah... long time no see," Goku managed between gasps, sliding down against the wall to sit.
Korin's eyes narrowed with concern. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing... just exhausted," Goku panted. "This flying technique... it's more tiring than I expected."
Without hesitation, Korin scurried to a large pot in the corner, rummaging through its contents before returning with something small in his paw. He tossed it to Goku.
Goku caught it, examining the tiny object in his palm. "A bean?"
"Try it," Korin said with a knowing smile.
Skeptical but curious, Goku bit into the small green bean and swallowed. "Well, it's definitely a bean—"
The words died in his throat as an incredible sensation washed over him. His stomach felt instantly full, as if he'd just eaten a feast. Energy coursed through his veins like liquid lightning, banishing every trace of fatigue. His tired eyes blazed back to life with renewed vitality.
"What the—" Goku stood up, flexing his fingers in amazement.
Korin stroked his whiskers proudly. "It's called a Senzu Bean. One bean can keep you full for ten days! Impressed?"
But Goku was already in the cat's face, his expression serious. "Where is this Kami?"
Korin recoiled, offended. "Wha— It's Kami-*sama* to you, young man!"
"We'll see if he deserves the 'sama' after I meet him," Goku replied curtly.
Korin's jaw dropped in shock. "Such disrespect! Listen, Kami-sama resides far above here. You'll need the Nyoi-bō to—"
But Goku was already floating off the platform, ignoring the cat's protests as he began ascending higher.
"Wait!" Korin called after him, watching helplessly as Goku disappeared into the clouds above. "That stubborn fool! He has no idea what he's flying into!"
After hours of continuous flight, Korin Tower had long since vanished beneath the clouds. Goku's eyes caught something unusual—a small dot floating impossibly high in the sky. He increased his speed, watching as the dot grew larger and larger, gradually revealing itself to be a massive platform shaped like a hemisphere, suspended in the heavens.
Landing on the lookout, Goku found himself in a vast courtyard adorned with carefully arranged trees and patches of grass. The air here was thin, almost ethereal. Standing before him was a figure unlike anything he'd encountered before.
The being had the shape of a man, arms, legs, torso, and head, but his appearance was far from human. His skin was pitch black, darker than the void between stars. His eyes were large and round. He wore a white turban wrapped around his head, contrasting sharply with his midnight complexion. His outfit consisted of a vest with golden trim, baggy white pants, and pointed shoes that curled at the tips. Red lips stood out against his dark face, and his expression was utterly unreadable.
"Are you Kami?" Goku asked directly.
"No," the figure replied, his voice deep and measured.
Goku began walking past him, dismissing the strange being entirely.
Without warning, the figure threw a lightning-fast punch toward Goku's side. But his fist met only air, Goku had vanished, reappearing several meters away. Wisps of smoke rose from the being's knuckles from the sheer speed of his strike.
Goku touched his cheek with his finger, feeling a slight bruise. *His casual punch actually marked me,* he thought with interest.
The dark figure straightened, his expression still eerily calm. "I don't know what Kami-sama sees in you, but Mr. Popo will crush your arrogance."
Goku's lips curved into a smile. Without a word, he leaned forward slightly, then—
*BOOM!*
He vanished with an explosive burst of speed, reappearing directly in front of Mr. Popo with his fist drawn back. Popo raised his arms to guard, but at the last second, a hit crashed into the side of his head and sending him flying sideways.
Mr. Popo rolled to his feet, confusion flickering across his usually stoic features. *How did he—?* His eyes darted around, searching for Goku.
Then he looked down.
Goku was crouched low, using the coiled spring of his legs, fist clenched and ready to deliver a devastating uppercut. Mr. Popo quickly positioned his hands beneath his chin to block the incoming strike.
Instead, a violent axe kick crashed down on top of his head, making his eyes bulge as his face was driven into the ground with crushing force.
Mr. Popo's consciousness flickered in and out like a dying flame. He lifted his head with tremendous effort, the world spinning as he looked at Goku standing before him.
"How?" he gasped. "I've seen him down..."
Before his eyes, Goku's image seemed to shimmer and vanish again.
*Mr Popo has to move!* his mind screamed.
Goku reappeared above him, foot raised to deliver a finishing stomp—
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
The voice echoed across the lookout with absolute authority. Goku's foot stopped mere inches from Mr. Popo's head. After a moment's pause, he stepped back.
"Kami-sama!" Mr. Popo exclaimed, relief evident in his voice.
"You have proved your might, Son Goku," the voice continued, reverberating from the temple itself. "Even Mr. Popo couldn't follow your speed."
Mr. Popo's eyes widened in realization. "Speed? But I saw him every time!"
Then the truth hit him like a physical blow. He turned to look at Goku with understanding.
"When I saw his image... he was already gone," he whispered to himself. "He was moving faster than I could process the information... Is he... is he stronger than Kami-sama?"
The realization of what kind of monster stood before him sent a chill through Mr. Popo's spine.
Composing himself, Mr. Popo dusted off his clothes and approached Goku with his usual dignified bearing, though a new wariness lingered in his movements.
"Follow me. You will meet Kami-sama."
As they walked, Goku's breathing became noticeably labored, unusual given the minimal effort he'd exerted in the fight.
"Struggling with the air?" Mr. Popo observed, his tone neutral. "It's the altitude. You're not accustomed to it yet."
They arrived at the entrance to the main temple, its ancient doors towering before them. Slowly, deliberately, the doors began to open. A figure emerged from the shadows within.
At first glance, the being looked exactly like Piccolo Daimaō. The same green skin, the same antennae, the same sharp features. But where Piccolo had worn dark robes of purple, this figure was draped in pristine white. His robe was long and flowing, adorned with the kanji for "God" on the front. He carried a wooden staff, and his bearing was one of ancient wisdom rather than malevolent power.
"Welcome, Son Goku," Kami said. "I have a lot of questions."