Seven Dragon Balls

The sun blazed overhead, scorching the earth with a heat as fierce and oppressive as an open furnace.

There wasn't a trace of moisture in the air, and even the wind carried an indescribable heat.

This was a desert in the tropics. All signs of modern civilization had long since vanished. Compared to West City, it seemed as if this place had yet to emerge from its primitive state. Everyone was wrapped in cloth, covering their skin from head to toe. Only those in the shade dared to bare any skin.

Sweat dripped constantly down Tights's cheeks. Leaning on a wooden stick, she trudged along behind Roland, panting. She glanced up at the scorching sun and suddenly felt dizzy.

"I can't go on. I can't walk another step." With a weary cry, Tights crouched down. The veil covering her face slipped off, revealing her sweet features.

"You're the one who insisted on coming along."

Roland stopped and helped Tights to a shady corner. A breeze drifted past, bringing a hint of relief. She gulped down some cool water, then poured some over her head. "Eek!" she cried, perking up a little. "You can't expect everyone to be as strong as a monster like you. I'm a girl, you know!"

"You're too weak. Saiyan women aren't as delicate as you." Roland handed her a fan.

Tights shot him an annoyed look, then took the fan and waved it vigorously. She wiped the sweat from her cheeks, worried the sun might damage her skin.

"How far is it to the next Dragon Ball?"

"About three kilometers." Roland checked the Dragon Radar and estimated the distance. Five bright dots appeared at the center of the screen, while another signal blinked three kilometers away.

"That far? I can't take this."

"I'll go get the Dragon Ball by myself," Roland said.

Tights hurriedly shook her head. "No. We agreed to travel together. You can't leave me behind. Besides, this is a challenge, too. I'll do my best to overcome it."

Watching Tights stagger along while putting on a brave face, Roland found it amusing, but he didn't want to undermine her confidence.

"Forget it. We'll look for the Dragon Ball this evening." He glanced at the blazing sun and spoke calmly.

Tights tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "Sorry about that."

Roland shook his head and brought a small house out of a Hoi-Poi Capsule, setting it down on a flat patch of ground. "Come inside and cool off."

"Hehe." The girl giggled sweetly. As soon as she stepped inside, she headed straight for the bathroom and took a refreshing cold shower. Then she came out in light clothing, emptied the five Dragon Balls from her backpack onto the table, and began to play with them.

The five orange-red balls clattered together. As they bumped against one another, golden light shimmered across their surfaces, accompanied by a low, humming sound.

These five Dragon Balls were what they had collected over the past few days.

Two weeks ago, Roland and Tights had set out to find the Dragon Balls. Their first stop was Kame House, located beyond the eastern sea. It was where Master Roshi lived.

Master Roshi was known as the "God of Martial Arts." He was an experienced martial arts master, but also a lecher by nature. In the original story, Bulma had even lifted her skirt to tempt him in exchange for his Dragon Ball. With Roland along this time, though, Master Roshi wouldn't get the chance to take advantage of her. After landing on the island, Roland went straight to Master Roshi, who was cooling off beneath a tree, and knocked him out with a chop to the neck. The old man hadn't even figured out what was happening before he passed out.

By the time he woke up, Roland had already fled with his Three-Star Ball. Master Roshi felt pain in his neck and assumed he'd slept on it wrong. He had no idea what had happened.

It wasn't until that evening that Master Roshi noticed the Crystal Ball he always wore around his neck was gone. Only a length of cord remained.

After successfully taking the Dragon Ball from Master Roshi, Roland continued his search with Tights. The two traveled around the world, sometimes driving a jeep and other times taking a yacht...

In just two short weeks, they had collected five Dragon Balls, and the sixth was right before them.

With Roland along, they had encountered little danger on the way. He had taken down every enemy they met with a single, fatal blow. Tights had gotten to experience the allure of martial arts firsthand. Ideas had poured into her mind, and she'd diligently recorded everything they went through, storing it away as material for her future writing.

By evening, the sky gradually darkened. The sun's last rays disappeared below the horizon, leaving behind a fiery red band that blended with the gray-blue of night farther away.

The sun had set, and the oppressive heat had eased a little. Tights could finally go outside without wearing a veil. Following the Dragon Radar's directions, the two traveled to a mudflat three kilometers away. Sand streamed across the barren ground, where not a blade of grass or tree could be seen. The wind and sand had weathered the exposed rocks over the years, leaving their surfaces covered in scattered cracks. Even a touch was enough to break off a piece.

"According to the radar, the sixth Dragon Ball is somewhere around here, but it's all sand. Could it be buried underground?" Tights held her hands to her forehead and peered into the distance. All she could see was a desolate wasteland.

Roland glanced at the Dragon Radar and switched it to three-dimensional mode. The display changed, quickly showing how far below the surface the Dragon Ball was: about five meters underground.

"Find somewhere to hide." Roland rose into the air, a deep-blue sphere of energy forming in his palm.

Seeing this, Tights hurried toward a protruding rock ledge and carefully hid behind it. She had been through something similar before and knew how powerful energy blasts were. A tiny ball like that could level an entire mountain.

"I'm hidden! You can start!" Gripping the rocks on the ledge, Tights shouted to Roland.

Roland calmly gazed down at the sand. A flash of light suddenly glinted in his eyes, and he hurled the ping-pong-ball-sized energy blast at the ground. A deafening boom rang out. It was as if a missile had struck, sending sand flying as waves of air roared in every direction. Amid the swirling sand, a fist-sized glass ball gleaming with light shot into the air.

Found it!

A glint flashed in his eyes. Roland darted forward and caught the Dragon Ball in his hand.

"The One-Star Ball!"

A satisfied smile spread across Roland's face. He handed the Dragon Ball to Tights to put away.

Tights held it excitedly, unable to stop admiring it, as if it were a cherished treasure. Now only the last Dragon Ball remained.

A few days later, more than two hundred kilometers from where they had found the sixth Dragon Ball, Roland found the last one in a lush thicket.

He took out the seven Dragon Balls and set them on the ground. As soon as they touched, golden light shimmered from them. Every flash was accompanied by a faint sound like a dragon's low cry.

"Hum, hum, hum!"

The seven Dragon Balls blinked on and off in a steady rhythm.