Alien

"Of course there is. It's just that the energy in your body is rather weak. Remember, you can make it stronger through training," Son Gohan explained.

"It looks a lot like the Androids' methods," Videl said.

"The Androids are products of technology, while ki is energy that exists in everyone's body. The two may lead to similar results, but they're not the same thing," Son Gohan said.

"If you want to learn to use ki, the first step is sensing the energy within your body, then guiding it out."

"What should I do?" Videl asked.

Son Gohan looked at her and explained carefully, demonstrating once as he spoke.

"First, relax and calm your mind. Focus, and imagine guiding your ki into your palms. Like this."

As he spoke, Son Gohan held his hands in front of him as though cradling something.

He slowly drew out a wisp of ki.

In an instant, a vortex formed between his palms, quickly coalescing into a shimmering ball of energy.

How amazing, Videl thought in awe. Then she closed her eyes, held her hands out as Son Gohan had, and began trying to sense her ki.

Son Gohan watched her movements and offered guidance.

"Keep your mind calm, focus, and clear your thoughts. Don't strain..."

At his words, the crease in Videl's brow gradually smoothed.

It was clear that Videl had an excellent foundation in martial arts, and she soon settled into the exercise.

But sensing ki wasn't easy.

As Videl meditated, Son Gohan practiced his forms nearby.

The movements flowed naturally, blending softness and strength, using a small force to overcome a greater one. It was Tai Chi, which he had learned in his previous life.

Tai Chi couldn't bring about earth-shattering effects, of course, but practicing it in his spare time left him feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Two hours passed in no time.

Videl slowly opened her eyes.

Looking at Son Gohan, who was sitting nearby, she said, "This is so hard. I still can't sense my ki."

"Don't rush," Son Gohan said. "Everything's difficult at first. As long as you keep at it, you'll succeed."

"Yeah, hopefully. But that's all for today. I have to get back to the police station and deal with something," Videl said.

"All right," Son Gohan replied with a nod.

Videl continued, "Can I come back tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Sorry for the trouble, Gohan."

Videl stood up and bowed to Son Gohan.

Son Gohan accepted her bow without hesitation.

The grace of teaching someone was like giving them a new life. What was one bow in return?

Just then, Videl's phone rang.

She answered it.

"Hello? What? Okay, I understand. All right, I'm heading back now."

After hanging up, Videl looked anxious, her brow deeply furrowed.

Noticing her unease, Son Gohan asked, "What's wrong?"

"There's been a violent crime in East City. The criminals have already slaughtered dozens of people, and the death toll is still rising," Videl said.

"My team members have already gone to the front lines."

"Even in a jet, it'll take me at least an hour to get back. That's too long. I don't know how many more people will die in the meantime."

"I have to get back right away."

As she spoke, Videl took out a Capsule and tossed it to the ground. With a "BOOM," it transformed into her jet.

"Oh?" Son Gohan frowned and looked toward East City.

"..."

Then he said, "No offense, but this probably isn't a case you can handle."

Countless powerful ki signatures came from the direction of East City.

They were so powerful that Videl had no chance against them.

This kind of ki—were they aliens?

Whatever they were, no one on Earth could be this powerful. They had to be visitors from space.

He just didn't know when they'd arrived. He hadn't noticed them at all.

After all, Son Gohan couldn't sense the entire planet around the clock.

Videl looked at him in surprise. "Why do you say I can't handle it?"

"I can sense the criminals' ki," Son Gohan said. "They're not people you can fight."

"You can sense their ki from this far away?" Videl asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. You'll understand once you learn to use ki," Son Gohan said.

Videl thought for a moment, then said firmly, "No matter what, I have to go back. My team has already gone to the front lines. How could I hide behind them? How could I face everyone afterward?"

"Gohan, I can't talk anymore. I have to go."

"..."

Watching Videl hurry up into the jet, Son Gohan sighed. "The jet's too slow. Get down. I'll take you there."

There was no way Earth's forces could deal with these aliens. Son Gohan decided to step in.

He had worked hard to win this peace from the Androids. He wouldn't let anyone destroy it again.

Videl paused with her hand on the jet's hatch. "You mean you're faster than a jet?"

Son Gohan nodded. "Yeah. Just a tiny bit faster."

"Oh, that's great!" Videl immediately ran down from the jet, turned it back into a Capsule, and tucked it away.

She hurried over to Son Gohan. "What do we do now?"

Son Gohan crouched in front of her. "Hop on."

"Huh? You want to carry me?" Videl's face flushed bright red.

She was embarrassed, but this wasn't the time to fuss over something so trivial. She jumped onto Son Gohan's back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and locked her legs around his waist.

Son Gohan felt her warm, soft body press against him, but gave it little thought. "Hold on tight."

"I am," Videl replied.

Son Gohan hooked his arms beneath her legs, and silver ki burst from his body.

The two shot skyward, streaking toward East City like a meteor.

"Ahhhhh!"

Videl was scared out of her mind.

Was this really only a little faster than a jet?

They were already creating sonic booms. They'd long since broken the sound barrier!

This was terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

She would never have believed a human could do something like this.

He flew as fast as lightning!

Fortunately, the aura around Son Gohan enveloped her and formed a protective barrier. Otherwise, the ordinary human body she had would have been battered and cut to pieces by the blade-like wind.

With the wind howling in her ears and sonic booms cracking around her, Videl's small world was shaken to its core.

In her panic, she forgot all about being embarrassed. She clung tightly to Son Gohan's back, wishing she could merge with him.

All the while, she kept wondering who Son Gohan really was. Her curiosity about him had reached its peak.

They raced through the sky and soon arrived at East Capital.

Coming to an abrupt halt, Son Gohan hovered high above the city with Videl on his back, looking down at the streets below.

At that moment, several aliens in bizarre battle suits were unleashing energy from their palms, mercilessly killing one Earthling after another.

Smoke rose throughout the city. Police cars raced through the streets, and officers everywhere directed people to evacuate.

Just then,

"BOOM!"

Another explosion rang out.

Smoke and heat surged through the air as a building came apart in the blast. Countless Earthlings died.

Looking down at the ground, Son Gohan said to Videl, "Do you see? This isn't a battle you can take part in."

Videl stared at the carnage in the streets, her face pale with fear and anger.

She gritted her teeth. "Where did these thugs come from? Their methods are just like the Androids'! Those bastards are unforgivable!"

Son Gohan narrowed his eyes as he studied the aliens. "They're not from Earth. They must be aliens."

"A-aliens? You mean extraterrestrials?" Videl stammered.

"Yeah, exactly." Son Gohan nodded, then raised a hand and pointed.

Energy flared at his fingertip and shot toward an alien on the ground who was about to trigger another massive explosion.

The alien was laughing wildly when the beam struck him head-on. With a boom, he turned to dust.

Son Gohan pointed a few more times. Several more aliens exploded and vanished in an instant.

Videl stared at the scene, dumbfounded. It felt as though her whole world had collapsed; none of it seemed real.

"I-I had no idea you were this powerful," Videl said in shock.

Then she realized something and added, "You were the one who killed those two evil Androids, weren't you?"

She should have figured it out sooner.

The news that the Androids had been defeated had been revealed to the kingdom by Capsule Corp.

Son Gohan lived at Capsule Corp.

His identity was incredibly mysterious, and he could fly.

Everything pointed to Son Gohan.

Who else could it have been?

Son Gohan didn't deny it. "Yes, it was me."

Then he added, "Find somewhere safe to hide. I'm going to deal with the remaining aliens."

Son Gohan took Videl to a relatively safe place nearby and left her there to hide. Then he returned to the battlefield and punched the alien invaders one by one, blasting them apart.

He pressed two fingers against the last alien's forehead, a cold glint flashing between them. "Tell me, where did you come from?"