Log-Riding Flight

After leaving Kame House, the three of them set off again on their journey to find the next Dragon Ball.

Goku had gotten the Flying Nimbus, so instead of riding in the car, he sat on it, zipping along with its distinctive putter-putter sound just ahead and above the vehicle.

Listening to that constant putter-putter, and with Goku occasionally complaining that the car was too slow, Bulma grew increasingly irritated.

After only half a day, she was already driving on the verge of falling asleep, her eyelids drooping heavily.

"Ahh..."

Bulma yawned, then glanced over at Sun Mo beside her.

He was lying back in the passenger seat, eyes closed, pretending to nap, looking completely relaxed.

Bulma couldn't help but complain, "I really envy you two. You don't have to drive.

Driving for so long is exhausting. I'm dead tired. I wish you could take over for me!"

Sun Mo opened his eyes and asked, "At this speed, how long until we reach the next Dragon Ball's location?"

Bulma thought briefly and said, "Probably about two or three days..."

"Still two or three days? That long?" Sun Mo said in surprise.

Bulma nodded. "Of course. Not every Dragon Ball is lucky enough to be nearby.

I've already calculated it. From this one to the next, and the one after that, they're all far apart.

We might even have to go halfway around the world. I don't even know if summer break will be long enough..."

Just then, Goku noticed the car slowing down. He turned back from the Flying Nimbus and shouted, "You guys are so slow! I'm almost falling asleep..."

Bulma suddenly snapped, "You're so annoying! You're speeding!"

Sun Mo glanced at the trees on both sides and suddenly had a great idea.

He turned and said, "Bulma, pull over. I'll take it from here!"

Bulma was startled. "You will?"

She quickly waved her hands. "No, no. You don't even have a license. Even if you can drive, you're a beginner.

It's way too unsafe. I wouldn't be able to sleep even if I rode with you..."

Sun Mo scoffed. "Who said I'm going to drive?"

Bulma blinked in surprise and hit the brakes.

"Not drive? Are you going to carry me?"

"But it's still so far!"

"It's complicated to explain. Just watch and you'll see. Put the car away. I'll be ready in a moment!"

The car stopped, and Sun Mo got out.

He picked out a thick, straight tree from the ones lining the road, chopped it down with a light swing of his hand, then trimmed off the messy branches and leaves.

After putting the car away, Bulma watched Sun Mo fiddling with a tree and grew curious.

"Sun Mo, what are you doing?

Even if no one's around to stop you, don't just chop down trees randomly. You're damaging the environment, you know?"

Sun Mo stopped what he was doing and admired the straight, polished log. "Not bad. This should work..."

Goku also stopped and looked at Sun Mo with confusion.

"What are you doing, Sun Mo?"

Sun Mo said, "Next, it's your turn to step on it, Goku!"

Goku's eyes sharpened. "Are you saying..."

Sun Mo nodded with a slight smile, then dragged the log over to Bulma with one hand.

"Bulma, which direction is the Dragon Ball? Point it out to me."

Bulma was stunned for a moment, then pointed west.

"Over there. About two thousand kilometers away... What are you planning?"

Sun Mo didn't answer. He simply said, "Two thousand kilometers, got it. Now, hold on tight to me!"

Bulma blinked in surprise.

"Hold on tight to you? What do you mean?"

The next moment, Sun Mo aimed in the direction Bulma had pointed, hurled the log with all his strength, then swiftly scooped Bulma up, took two quick steps, and leaped.

In an instant, he landed steadily on the log with Bulma in his arms.

A fierce wind roared past, stinging Bulma's cheeks.

Bulma suddenly realized she was being carried by Sun Mo, flying at high speed on a thrown log.

Her whole body went weak with terror, and she locked her arms tightly around Sun Mo's neck...

Log-Riding Flight—Sun Mo had longed for it in his past life.

A few years ago, bored with nothing to do, he'd suddenly remembered this flashy way of flying and started trying it out. He'd attempted it many times.

At first, it was hard to pull off, but after getting the hang of it, stepping onto the log came easily.

Still, he hadn't gone out in years, and since he never needed the skill, he'd forgotten about it.

Goku saw Sun Mo riding the log, overtaking him at incredible speed, and was startled.

"Wow, I forgot all about this move Sun Mo came up with—it's really fast!"

He looked down and shouted, "Flying Nimbus, we've gotta speed up too—can't let them leave us behind..."

The Flying Nimbus's top speed was far higher than its current pace. Hearing Goku's command, it suddenly accelerated, actually flinging him off.

"Waaaaah—Flying Nimbus, I'm falling!" Goku yelled quickly.

The Flying Nimbus looped around, swept back under Goku, and caught him.

Then it continued chasing after Sun Mo and Bulma.

The scenery on both sides blurred past. In Sun Mo's arms, Bulma couldn't even open her eyes against the wind, her heart pounding with fear and her legs going weak...

"Waaaaah... it's too fast, Sun Mo, I'm scared..."

Sun Mo held her tighter and reassured her, "Don't be afraid, it's safe. I've got plenty of experience with Log-Riding Flight."

But this was ten times more thrilling than a roller coaster. Even clinging to Sun Mo, Bulma couldn't control her terror.

"Waaaaah... no good, I can't take it anymore..."

Sun Mo encouraged her, "Just hold on a little longer—it's only been a few dozen seconds, and we've already covered over a hundred kilometers."

Bulma was still trembling in Sun Mo's arms, but then suddenly, as if deflated, she stopped shaking.

Sun Mo was taken aback. "What's wrong, Bulma? Are you okay..."

Bulma's face flushed slightly, and she burrowed deeper into Sun Mo's chest.

"It's nothing—just make sure you hold me tight..."

Sun Mo nodded.

"Don't worry, it's only a little over two thousand kilometers. Just hold on for a dozen minutes, and we'll be there!"

Just then, Son Goku drew closer on the Flying Nimbus.

But as he was about to call out to Sun Mo, his face was splashed with wetness.

Goku glanced up at the blazing sun, rubbed his face, and looked a bit puzzled.

"That's weird—the sun's so bright today, how can it be raining..."

In the blink of an eye, a dozen minutes passed...

They were nearing the location of the fifth Dragon Ball.

Sun Mo stamped the log, and it plunged toward the ground, blasting a crater into the earth.

The force was like a Rod of God.

Just a bit of dust.

And Sun Mo, holding Bulma, landed steadily on the ground.

He looked at Bulma in his arms and called out, "Bulma, we're here."

Bulma, curled up in Sun Mo's embrace, lifted her head. Her face had turned pale.

"We're already here?"

Sun Mo asked, "Bulma, why are you so scared? Your face looks awful!"

Bulma didn't explain. She quickly got down from Sun Mo.

"Ah!"

She stumbled and nearly fell.

Luckily, Sun Mo had experience and knew she might be unsteady right after getting off, so he caught her immediately.

"Are you alright?"

Bulma shook her head. "I'm fine—just give me a moment..."

"Okay!"

She was just an ordinary person; this kind of thrill was too much for her. Sun Mo understood.

Bulma tossed out a house Hoi-Poi Capsule and hurried inside.

She'd meant to go in and change her pants, but when she took them off, she found they'd already been dried by the wind.

Bulma let out a long sigh.

"I actually wet my pants—how embarrassing. At least he didn't notice..."