Another Three Years

Kami's Lookout.

The air here was thin, gravity was weak, and an endless sea of clouds stretched in every direction, as though this were the end of the world.

Sun Wuxiu slowly descended onto the red-tiled floor.

A plump man dressed entirely in black, wearing Arab-style clothing and a turban, stood there waiting.

Mr. Popo.

Kami's servant, always expressionless yet unfathomably powerful.

"You have come." Mr. Popo's voice was utterly flat.

"Mr. Popo." Sun Wuxiu nodded.

"Kami is waiting for you."

Mr. Popo turned and led the way.

Deep within the Lookout, Sun Wuxiu finally met the elderly man leaning on a staff, his face covered in wrinkles and his skin dark green.

Earth's Kami.

And King Piccolo's good half.

"Welcome, Earthling martial artist, Sun Wuxiu."

Kami's wise eyes fixed on Sun Wuxiu, and his very first words exposed his identity.

Sun Wuxiu was not surprised. Kami could observe everything in the lower world, so it was only natural that he knew where he had come from.

"Greetings, Kami."

"I already know why you have come," Kami said slowly.

"An exceedingly terrifying power lies within your body, a power that even makes me tremble. If you walk down an evil path, Earth will be doomed beyond redemption."

"But I have seen your heart."

Kami pointed at Sun Wuxiu's chest. "There is a peaceful, righteous energy there, as well as a... mysterious power I cannot see through. (Talisman.)"

"You wish to train here in order to become stronger, correct?"

"Yes." Sun Wuxiu spoke frankly. "I know Earth will face many crises in the future. Some enemies cannot be defeated by the current me alone. I need to undergo a transformation, in both spirit and body, in this place closest to Kami."

Kami fell silent for a long time.

He turned and looked down at the sea of clouds below.

"Although I do not know what crises you speak of, I believe in your eyes."

"I can guide your training. I can even have Mr. Popo take you into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, though it is still too early for that."

"But you must promise me one condition."

Kami turned back, his gaze burning as he looked at him.

"If one day Earth faces a disaster that threatens to destroy it, and I am powerless to stop it... then please, you must step forward and protect this planet."

"Even if your opponent is a god, or a demon."

Sun Wuxiu smiled.

Wasn't that precisely why he had come to this world?

"I promise you."

Sun Wuxiu gave his solemn word.

"As long as I am here, Earth will stand."

Kami nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

"Then from today onward, you will live here."

"Over these three years, I will make you understand what true—'Godly Martial Arts'—really is."

Meanwhile, on the ground.

Rumble!!

The Red Ribbon Army Headquarters Building collapsed with a deafening crash.

A battered little boy leaped from the ruins, tightly clutching the Four-Star Dragon Ball in his hand.

(The Four-Star Ball had originally been kept in the house on Mount Paozu, but it was stolen.)

"Whew... It's finally over!"

Son Goku wiped the dust from his face, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Where should I go next...?"

At this moment, the gears of fate meshed together.

The two brothers, one in the heavens and one on the earth, were both doing everything in their power to grow stronger—for their reunion three years later, and for the broader future ahead.

Kami's Lookout, above the sea of clouds.

There was no concept of time here, only eternal silence and thin air.

On the red-tiled plaza, two figures were engaged in a peculiar sort of "battle."

One of them was Sun Wuxiu, dressed in a pure white training uniform.

His eyes were shut, and even his ears were plugged. Yet his entire body moved like a feather drifting in the wind, making irregular but extraordinarily fluid movements through the air.

Opposite him, Mr. Popo, clad entirely in black, prowled around him like a phantom with a wooden staff hung with bells.

Jingle—

The bells rang from the left. Sun Wuxiu did not move.

The next second, the wooden staff silently thrust toward his back. Yet just as it was about to touch the corner of his clothing, Sun Wuxiu's body seemed to defy the laws of inertia, abruptly yet naturally shifting half an inch to the right.

The staff missed.

"Very good."

For once, approval appeared on Mr. Popo's eternally unchanging poker face.

"As still as the sky, as swift as lightning. Wuxiu, you have already touched the threshold."

Sun Wuxiu removed his earplugs and let out a long breath. Just as he was about to bow in thanks, he noticed Mr. Popo tilting his head at him.

"Wuxiu, have you forgotten something?"

"Forgotten something?" Sun Wuxiu froze. "I've been focused on sensing the flow of ki lately. I haven't forgotten anything... Wait!"

He suddenly remembered something, and his expression instantly changed.

"Mr. Popo, what day is it today?"

"If we go by the lower world's time, the World Martial Arts Tournament should have been held yesterday," Mr. Popo said unhurriedly. "By now, it should be the morning after the tournament ended."

"Holy shit!!!"

Sun Wuxiu's air of an enlightened master instantly crumbled.

"Oh no, oh no! I got too caught up in training and forgot the date! Yesterday was the finals? Didn't I stand everyone up?!"

Thinking of how furious Bulma would be, Sun Wuxiu felt a chill run down his spine.

"Um... Mr. Popo, Kami, I need to get down there right away! Sorry, sorry! I'll bring you local specialties next time!"

Without any hesitation, Sun Wuxiu rushed straight to the edge of the Lookout.

[Rabbit Talisman: Extreme Speed]!

Boom—!!

His entire body became a streak of light as he frantically shot toward the lower world.

On the ground, Papaya Island.

Although the World Martial Arts Tournament had concluded successfully yesterday, and Son Goku had lived up to expectations by defeating Tien Shinhan to claim the championship, the island's excitement had yet to fade.

Outside a luxurious seaside hotel, everyone was packing their luggage and preparing to leave.

Although everyone was happy, there was still a trace of undisguised disappointment in the atmosphere.

"That guy... He really didn't come."

Bulma wore a carefully chosen red off-the-shoulder dress and a sunhat, tightly clutching the Dragon Radar in her hand. Her pout was so deep she could have hung an oil bottle from it.

"He said he'd be back soon, said it was for the future... What a bunch of lies from that big jerk!"

"Stupid Sun Wuxiu! I dressed up so beautifully, and you didn't even show your face!"

Beside her, Oolong muttered softly, "Maybe Wuxiu got lost up there..."

"Shut up!" Bulma glared at him, then sighed. Her eyes dimmed slightly. "It would have been nice if he had at least shown himself..."

Not far away, Son Goku, who had just won the championship, stood with the Power Pole on his back, staring blankly at the sky.

"Goku, what's wrong? Aren't you happy you won?" Krillin came over and asked.

"I am happy." Goku scratched his head. "But... my brother didn't see it. I wanted to show him how much stronger I'd become."

"Senior Brother Wuxiu must have been delayed by something important," Krillin comforted him. "After all, he's training with Kami."

Master Roshi and Tien Shinhan stood nearby.

After yesterday's fierce battle, Tien Shinhan had been completely changed and would no longer follow the Crane School's wicked path.

Just as everyone chatted while waiting for their private plane.

Hummm—

A chilling cold that made their hearts tremble suddenly enveloped the entire hotel plaza.