At the top of Korin Tower.
Leaning on a wooden cane polished smooth with use, Korin stood at the edge of the tower, looking up until his neck grew stiff and sore.
He was a white cat who had lived for over eight hundred years and had seen more of the world than the vast majority of humans on this planet.
When Master Roshi had climbed up three hundred years ago, Korin had needed only three days to win the wholehearted respect of the man hailed as the god of martial arts.
But now, he could barely hold on to his cane.
Just a few minutes earlier, someone had summoned Shenron on the red earth below.
That was nothing unusual. Every so often, a few lucky souls managed to gather all seven balls.
The terrifying part was what happened afterward.
Once the wish was granted, the seven Dragon Balls, which should have scattered across the world, were forcibly stopped in midair.
An utterly overbearing force had seized control of them—
He was certain it was not "ki."
That power had no warmth, no signs of life. It was purely a physical law made manifest.
When had a power like this appeared in the world?
And who was using it?
Just as he was puzzling over the mystery, a shrill whistle of something cutting through the air reached his ears.
A golden cloud rose from below and finally stopped in front of the tower.
"Long time no see, Korin!"
Goku did a forward flip and landed steadily on the stone floor.
Korin paused, then tapped his cane against the ground.
"Goku?"
Korin blinked. If this boy was here, then he must have been the one who had summoned Shenron.
He was just about to ask what exactly had happened below when