Age 767, May 12.
A barren island, nine kilometers southwest of South City.
The salty sea breeze crashed against the rocky cliffs.
Dark clouds hung overhead, as if foreshadowing an approaching disaster.
Several streaks of light cut across the sky before landing atop the rocky plateau.
"Long time no see, everyone."
Tien Shinhan arrived first with Chiaotzu.
He still wore the simple attire of a wandering martial artist, and all three of his eyes shone with sharp determination.
It was obvious he hadn't wasted the past year.
A moment later, Yamcha landed as well.
His hair was cut short now, and he wore an orange martial arts gi.
He looked energetic enough, though his expression clearly carried the awkward feeling of someone who thought he was only there to make up the numbers.
"Goku and the others aren't here yet?"
Yamcha glanced around.
All he saw were endless rocks.
"It's almost time."
"They should be here soon."
Tien folded his arms across his chest as he stared solemnly into the distance.
Just then...
The roar of engines echoed across the island.
A luxurious aircraft bearing the Capsule Corp. logo descended from the sky and landed smoothly before everyone.
The hatch opened.
Bulma stepped out carrying a baby with light lavender hair.
It was the embryo that had finally matured.
Now it appeared to be nothing more than a perfectly healthy human infant.
Bulma had named him Trunks.
This time, Krillin hadn't objected.
Even now...
He still couldn't understand why an embryo cultivated from Vegeta's DNA, Piccolo's cells, Frieza's genetic material, and countless other samples...
Had turned out looking exactly like baby Trunks.
Even the light lavender hair was identical.
"Hi, everyone!"
Bulma greeted them cheerfully.
Little Trunks blinked his wide eyes, curiously studying the strange-looking uncles gathered around him.
"Bulma?"
"What are you doing here?"
"It's dangerous!"
Yamcha hurried over in alarm.
"And this baby..."
"Relax."
"I'm just here to watch the show."
Bulma smiled without the slightest concern.
"Besides..."
"As long as Krillin's here, who could possibly hurt me?"
Only then did everyone notice another figure walking behind the aircraft.
No...
Two figures.
Krillin wore a casual jacket with both hands tucked into his pockets.
His trademark bald head practically gleamed despite the gloomy weather.
Linked tightly around his arm was a breathtaking blonde beauty.
She wore a perfectly tailored black leather bodysuit that accentuated every graceful curve.
Her short golden hair was neatly tucked behind one ear.
A pair of sunglasses rested on her face.
She radiated the cool, composed aura of an elegant beauty who commanded attention without trying.
Most importantly...
She was clinging to Krillin's arm so naturally that they looked inseparable.
"Hey."
"Looks like everyone got here early."
Krillin waved with a smile.
Yamcha's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
He pointed at the blonde woman and stammered,
"K-Krillin..."
"W-Who is she...?"
Even Tien, normally calm and composed, couldn't help taking a second look with his third eye.
Her energy felt...
Strange.
He could barely sense her at all.
Yet simply standing there gave off an overwhelming sense of danger.
"Oh."
"Let me introduce her."
Krillin gently patted the woman's hand.
"This is Lazuli."
"My wife."
"PFFFT!!"
Yamcha nearly coughed up blood.
His jaw practically slammed into the ground.
"W-Wife?!"
he cried.
"Since when did you get another wife?!"
"And someone this gorgeous?!"
"Doesn't Bulma mind?!"
"What about Launch?!"
Lazuli calmly removed her sunglasses.
Her sapphire-blue eyes swept coldly across Yamcha.
"You have a problem with that?"
Just one glance.
Yamcha instantly felt like he had become the prey of an ancient predator.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Pure instinct screamed at him to keep his mouth shut.
"N-No..."
"No problem at all..."
"N-Nice to meet you..."
Krillin burst into laughter.
"Come on, Lazuli."
"Don't scare them."
"Yamcha might not be very strong, but he's a good guy."
Yamcha nearly burst into tears.
What do you mean 'not very strong'?
It's true...
But did you really have to say it out loud?
Just then...
Two powerful auras descended from the sky.
Goku and Piccolo landed at the same time.
Piccolo still wore his usual cold expression, as though the entire world owed him money.
Yet...
His aura had become even deeper and more restrained than before.
As for Goku...
"Goku!"
"You made it!"
Tien stepped forward.
Then he froze.
Goku hadn't transformed into a Super Saiyan.
Yet the calm confidence surrounding him far surpassed anything Tien had ever felt before.
His eyes were perfectly clear.
The battle about to begin seemed like nothing more than another enjoyable challenge.
"Hey!"
"Looks like everyone's here!"
Goku greeted them with a grin.
When his eyes fell on Lazuli, they paused for a brief moment.
A trace of surprise flashed across his face.
Then it disappeared.
"Looks like Krillin trained you well."
The unexpected remark caught everyone off guard.
Lazuli snorted.
"Mind your own business, Son Goku."
Everyone looked confused.
Only Piccolo understood what Goku really meant.
"Hmph."
"Kakarot."
"So you finally showed up."
A proud voice echoed from the towering rocks above.
Vegeta stood with his arms folded, looking down at everyone.
He had arrived long ago.
He had simply been posing dramatically instead of coming down.
His entire body radiated absolute confidence.
It was obvious that a year of brutal training had greatly inflated his ego.
"Now that everyone's here..."
"We just have to wait for those two scrap heaps to show themselves."
Vegeta spoke coldly.
Time slowly passed.
When the clock struck exactly ten...
"They're here."
Krillin suddenly spoke.
His eyes shifted toward the distant city.
Although the Androids had no detectable ki...
The System Map displayed two dark crimson markers racing across the city.
Every second...
More life signs disappeared.
"So they really don't have any ki..."
"Just like Future Trunks said."
Gohan clenched his fists nervously.
At that moment...
The rumble of an engine echoed through the sky.
A small, chubby aircraft wobbled overhead.
"Is that..."
"Yajirobe?"
Goku recognized it immediately.
The aircraft hovered above the group.
Yajirobe leaned out of the cockpit with a thoroughly unwilling expression and tossed down a bag.
"Hey, Goku!"
"Korin sent these Senzu Beans!"
"I'm not sticking around to fight!"
"I'm leaving as soon as I deliver them!"
He immediately swung the aircraft around and slammed the throttle forward.
But just then...
Two crimson laser beams shot upward from the city below.
They struck Yajirobe's aircraft with perfect accuracy.
BOOM!!
Flames erupted into the sky.
"Yajirobe!"
Goku shouted as he prepared to rush in.
"Relax."
"He won't die."
Krillin extended a hand to stop him.
A playful smile curled across his lips.
The smoke slowly cleared.
Yajirobe crawled out of the burning wreckage.
"You bastards!"
"Who did that?!"
He glared furiously toward the city ahead.
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