System Binding

"Big brother, you don't look like you're from West City. Where are you from?" After escaping the kidnappers, Bulma stood on the street and asked Zhou Zilong curiously, admiring his tall, handsome appearance.

"I came from a remote mountain area. I've lived there my whole life, and now I've decided to get out and see the world," Zhou Zilong said awkwardly. He couldn't exactly tell Bulma he'd crossed over from another world.

"Oh? A remote mountain area? There must be lots of interesting things there." Bulma's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She was fascinated by this mysterious man from the mountains.

"Mm, there really are lots of interesting things," Zhou Zilong replied with a nod.

"I haven't properly thanked you yet. Will you tell me your name?" Bulma looked at Zhou Zilong gratefully, her voice full of sincerity.

"My name's Zhou Zilong," he answered with a smile.

"Zhou Zilong? What a nice name. Big brother Zilong, would you like to come over to my house for a while? I'll have my dad thank you properly," Bulma said with a smile.

"Aren't you worried I might be a bad guy too?" Zhou Zilong asked, teasing her.

"No!" Bulma shook her head firmly. "I trust my instincts. You're not a bad person."

Seeing the conviction in Bulma's eyes, Zhou Zilong felt a warmth well up inside him. He nodded, deciding to go home with her.

As Zhou Zilong accompanied Bulma on the way back to Capsule Corporation, a voice only he could hear suddenly spoke in his mind: "Congratulations, host. You've made contact with a major character from the Dragon Ball World. The Dragon Ball Fantasy System has activated. Would you like to bind with me?"

Zhou Zilong froze, then realized with delight that he'd actually obtained the legendary system!

Zhou Zilong paused and looked around, but there was no one else besides him and Bulma. A thought struck him, and he cautiously replied, "Bind."

"Host binding confirmed." The voice sounded again, and a long list of information appeared in Zhou Zilong's mind.

[Name] Zhou Zilong

[Race] Pure Earthling

[Vitality] 105

[Potential] 500

[Potential Development Progress] 1%

[Power Level] 5

[Potential Rank] Strong

[Techniques] Advanced Sanda Techniques

[Abilities] None

Zhou Zilong's eyes widened. This information meant he was no longer just an ordinary person who'd crossed into another world. He now had a system that could change his fate.

"System, what can you do?" Zhou Zilong asked curiously.

"This system can help its host improve his strength, unlock more abilities, and become a powerful fighter in the Dragon Ball World," the system replied.

Zhou Zilong's heart lifted. He knew his opportunity had arrived. He was no longer a transmigrator with no backing, but someone with the potential to become strong.

"If I keep calling you 'System,' it'll make us seem a little distant. How about I call you Xiao Ling from now on? And you don't have to keep calling me 'host.' Just call me Zilong," Zhou Zilong said to his system. Xiao Ling was the nickname of a girl he'd liked before crossing over. The system's voice sounded a little like hers, so he'd decided to use the name.

"Sure, Zilong." Xiao Ling's voice sounded cheerful, as if she liked the new name too.

"Then, Xiao Ling, can you explain the information that appeared in my mind?" Zhou Zilong asked.

"Of course, Zilong," Xiao Ling began. "Race is much like ethnicity. There are too many races in the Dragon Ball World for me to explain them all. Vitality represents lifespan: the higher your vitality, the longer you'll live. One point of vitality equals one year of life. Potential represents your maximum possible power level. Each point of potential can increase your power level by the corresponding value multiplied by ten. Potential development progress shows how much of your potential you've unlocked. As for potential ranks, I assigned them based on the characters in this world. They are: Mediocre, Average, Strong, Elite, King, Epic, Quasi-God, Demigod, God, and Super God. The higher your rank, the greater your potential."

After hearing Xiao Ling's explanation, Zhou Zilong couldn't help feeling disappointed. "I see. So I'm only at the Strong rank, and even if I unlock all my potential, I'll only reach a power level of five thousand. Doesn't that mean I'll be reduced to a bystander once Vegeta and Nappa come to Earth?"

He'd hoped to have strength like Sun Wukong's, but it seemed that was still a long way off.

Xiao Ling seemed to sense Zhou Zilong's disappointment and comforted him. "Don't lose heart, Zilong. Your potential rank may be low right now, but you still have three chances to undergo a potential-cleansing. Each one can greatly increase your potential and potential rank. And I'll stay by your side and help you become truly strong."

Hearing that, Zhou Zilong's hope rekindled. "Really? That's great! Xiao Ling, I'll work hard to improve my strength. I won't let you down!"

Bulma's home was in a very prominent part of West City.

As soon as she entered the house, a sudden figure startled her so badly that she nearly fell over. A man wearing a white lab coat over a green casual outfit rushed toward them. His hair was cut in a rounded, mushroom-like style, with some gray mixed in. He had a bushy mustache and a small black cat clinging to his back.

"Bulma, I heard you were almost kidnapped just now. Thank goodness you're all right." Dr. Brief came out of the laboratory and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his daughter was safe.

Bulma nodded and pointed to the man beside her. "I'm fine. It's all thanks to big brother Zilong here. He saved my life."

Dr. Brief looked Zhou Zilong up and down, surprise flashing across his face. "Oh? You're the hero who saved my daughter? Thank you so much!"

Zhou Zilong waved a hand and smiled. "It was nothing. I just happened to be passing by. How could I let someone as smart and adorable as Miss Bulma get hurt?"

At his words, Bulma's cheeks flushed. She sneaked a glance at Zhou Zilong, a flutter stirring in her heart.

Dr. Brief warmly invited Zhou Zilong to stay. Zhou Zilong didn't refuse and followed him into the villa. If possible, he also wanted to learn a little about technology. Although the Dragon Ball World was centered on fighting, its technology was impressive too, especially some of its advanced fields, such as the technology behind the androids.

That technology could turn Earthlings into beings with strength on par with Super Saiyans. Zhou Zilong figured that learning a bit about technology might make it easier to deal with the androids later. Of course, his ultimate goal was to raise one of them himself.