After defeating Android Number 8, Sun Yu returned to Dr. Briefs's plane. When Bulma saw him, she threw herself into his arms without a care for the blood covering him, refusing to let go.
"Mr. Sun, I'm so glad you're all right!" Dr. Briefs pulled a clean uniform from inside the plane, walked over, and handed it to Sun Yu. "You should change first. I'll arrange a banquet right away. I hope you'll do me the honor of joining us..."
Dr. Briefs knew that Sun Yu and Lana couldn't resist good food, so Sun Yu naturally couldn't turn down his suggestion.
"Sounds good, Dr. Briefs. But my big sis Lana is still training at the Lookout. I'd like to wait for her to finish so we can go together. Why don't you head back first? I'll meet you in East City once she comes out."
Sun Yu didn't dare go off and enjoy a meal by himself. If Lana came out and couldn't find him, she would definitely blow her top.
Dr. Briefs was happy to follow Sun Yu's plan, but little Bulma refused to leave his side. She clutched his clothes tightly and wouldn't listen to anyone trying to persuade her.
"Why don't I take her to the Lookout? Once Lana comes out, we can all head back to East City together," Sun Yu suggested.
"All right." Dr. Briefs spread his hands helplessly. Bulma would be safe with Sun Yu, so he readily agreed.
"Dr. Briefs, remember to get the Gravity Training Room ready when you get back!"
Sun Yu reminded Dr. Briefs, then flew toward the Lookout with Bulma on his back.
With Bulma on his back, Sun Yu didn't fly very fast. Fortunately, Karin Sacred Land wasn't far away, so it didn't take long for them to reach the Lookout.
When they arrived, Sun Yu saw the Guardian looking unusually solemn and couldn't help wondering what was wrong. "What's the matter, Guardian? You seem troubled. Is it because I killed those members of the Red Ribbon Army?"
The Guardian shook his head. "The members of the Red Ribbon Army committed countless evil deeds. Killing them was a good deed—you rid the world of a menace..."
The Guardian paused. He walked to the edge of the Lookout and gazed down in silence before continuing, "I saw your fight with Android Number 8 just now. I never imagined that something so evil could exist in this world!"
The Guardian had heard everything Android Number 8 said earlier, especially the line, "You'll all experience the terror of androids like us sooner or later." He had said "us," which meant there was more than one android.
If even a failed prototype was that terrifying, how strong would the other successful test subjects be? The Guardian didn't know, and that was precisely what worried him.
"Relax, relax!" Sun Yu went over and gave the Guardian's shoulder a carefree pat. "Whether they're androids or something else, I'll defeat them. Don't worry!"
"That's right! Big Brother Sun Yu is the strongest!" Bulma peered out and looked at the Guardian.
The Guardian glanced at Bulma's adorable face, then at Sun Yu, brimming with confidence. In the end, he could only sigh. "I hope so. It seems that from now on, the safety of Earth will depend on you."
Protecting Earth had always been the Guardian's responsibility. Saying this now weighed heavily on him, but there was no other choice. Just as in the original Dragon Ball story, the world no longer needed a Guardian. What people needed now was a strong fighter!
From the Lookout, they could watch the sun setting in the west. Sun Yu sat with Bulma at the edge of the Lookout, quietly gazing at the distant sunset. Sunset marked the approach of night, and also carried the meaning of passing away. Having already broken through into the Knowledge Realm of martial arts, Sun Yu took this opportunity to silently contemplate the sunset's waning twilight. Time passed, bit by bit.
No one knew how long had passed before the eastern sky began to brighten again. Bulma was still asleep in Sun Yu's arms, but he suddenly jolted awake. He felt the power of the world intensify all at once, followed by a surging energy that rippled through the air. The Guardian and Popo appeared beside him, both staring in shock toward the Hyperbolic Time Chamber inside the Lookout.
Soon, a beautiful figure emerged from the Lookout. It was Lana, who had spent a year training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, though only one day had passed in the outside world.
Lana had grown into a girl of sixteen. Her graceful figure had become even more striking. Her training clothes were tattered, revealing glimpses of her fair skin, and her long, slender legs were bare. Sun Yu stared at her, transfixed.
Lana's aura swept over everyone at the Lookout like a raging storm, utterly unchecked. Sun Yu was all right; his battle with the android had made him stronger. But the Guardian and Popo weren't so lucky. Under Lana's pressure, they were trembling and could barely stay on their feet.
After a year of training, Lana had nearly reached the pinnacle of Micro-Perception. But unlike Sun Yu, her martial arts weren't restrained—they were completely unrestrained. The Micro-Perception state arose at will and vanished at will. Lana had a fiery personality, so her martial arts were equally bold.
"Hey, Kael! It's been a year!... Huh? Isn't this that little girl Bulma? What's she doing here?"
Lana spotted Bulma in Sun Yu's arms and immediately drew in her aura, afraid of scaring her. The commotion had already woken Bulma, who was delighted to see Lana.
"That's a long story." Sun Yu looked Lana up and down. Judging by his estimate, her battle power was definitely over forty thousand. If she went all out, it might even reach fifty thousand. Sun Yu marveled to himself at the wonders of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, then told her everything that had happened since she went inside.
He told her how Dr. Briefs had come to find him, how he had wiped out the Red Ribbon Army's headquarters and rescued Bulma, and how he had encountered the android.
After hearing Sun Yu's account, Lana gave him a strange look, then asked something that left him completely dumbfounded:
"So where are the two Dragon Balls that were originally in the Red Ribbon Army's hands?"
Oh, right. Where were the Dragon Balls?
Before you continue