Those Who Couldn't Escape Fate

"Computer? Online classes? What are those?"

"Big Bro, did you see that square thing on Gohan's desk?"

"I did."

"That's a computer."

"Computers can be used much like our Chat Group, letting you meet and talk with people in other parts of the world. With a computer, classes aren't limited to school classrooms anymore," Lu Bian explained to Edward Newgate.

"I see."

"Because my home is deep in the mountains, and the nearest city is over a thousand kilometers away, I study at home," Son Gohan added.

"That's quite a marvelous thing," Whitebeard marveled.

He'd learned something new again today.

"This Chat Group is called Peaceful Remainder of Life..."

"Does that mean [happily and comfortably spending your old age]?" Son Gohan flipped through a dictionary and found the meaning of the Chat Group's name.

"Old age? Grandpa Edward and Big Brother Lu Bian, have you both reached old age?" Son Gohan asked.

"Grandpa Edward? Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed again.

Lu Bian had taught Son Gohan how to view other people's profiles, and Gohan had seen Edward Newgate's age—sixty-nine—as well as Lu Bian's—twenty-seven.

"Big Bro is old enough to be considered elderly."

"As for me, although I'm still young by age, my life during the first half of my years was already much like an old man's."

"Big Brother Lu Bian, you have the weakest-looking body I've ever seen."

"Mm, because I used to be sick."

"But it seems like you've recovered now."

"Now I'm looking for somewhere to settle down. Once my life is stable, I'll get stronger before long."

"You were sick?" Son Gohan looked at Lu Bian's body with sympathy.

"Gohan, have you ever been sick?" Lu Bian asked.

"No, I've been very strong since I was little." Son Gohan shook his head.

"Has your mom ever been sick?"

"Mm, she has." Son Gohan nodded.

"Being healthy is important to everyone."

"Gohan, Edward Newgate is my big brother, the older brother I chose for myself. His body has suffered a lot of injuries and illnesses. Look, he needs oxygen and an IV drip every day now."

"So that's how it is!"

Son Gohan looked at Whitebeard Edward Newgate, his whole body packed with muscle and strong as an ox, yet with an oxygen tube hanging beneath his nose, and felt a pang of sympathy.

"Giving the Chat Group the name Peaceful Remainder of Life was just a little wish of mine," Lu Bian said.

"I understand."

"Hm? My break is over. I have to get back to studying," Son Gohan said.

"Go study, Gohan," Lu Bian said.

Son Gohan's video chat window closed, and he went offline.

"..."

Mom had said that when you studied, you had to focus and not get distracted.

The Chat Group disappeared completely from Son Gohan's view. But whenever he wanted it to appear, it would show up in his sight again.

"Good afternoon, Gohan!"

"Good afternoon, teacher."

"Good, good. Let's keep studying! Open your textbook to Lesson Five..."

Wearing his headphones, Son Gohan focused intently on his online class.

Lu Bian continued on his way.

He didn't know where Desolate Road led, nor what awaited him up ahead. He simply kept following the road.

Whitebeard stayed on the video call, and the two of them chatted now and then.

"Lu Bian, you seem to know this little friend Gohan very well."

"Yes, I know him very well."

"Not just well—I know him extremely well."

"How should I put it?"

"When he grows up, he'll be the strongest person on his planet."

"Oh?" Pops grew interested.

"It won't be other people calling him the strongest. His own strength will make him the strongest."

"If he doesn't decide to become a scholar, that is."

"What do you mean?" Whitebeard asked.

"Son Gohan's father is a martial artist, and Gohan has had terrifyingly immense latent power ever since he was little."

"But he doesn't like fighting people. He likes reading, studying, and researching ways to protect nature."

"If he trained in martial arts year after year like his father, there wouldn't be a single person in the world who could beat him."

"I understand. You mean Gohan gave up martial arts training for his studies, is that it?"

"Mm, more or less."

"But fate might not let him go," Lu Bian said.

"Younger brother, what are you talking about fate for again?" Whitebeard frowned.

"The reason I asked whether Gohan's father was home just now was that I wanted to know if his father had returned from space."

"And Gohan said he hadn't, which means his father, Sun Wukong, is still training somewhere in the universe."

"The universe?"

"It's a little complicated to explain, so I'll give you the simple version first, Big Bro."

"In short, Son Gohan's father, Sun Wukong, is the strongest warrior in the universe over there. He earned that title by defeating Frieza, the former strongest being in the universe and its emperor."

"The planets in the universe are like islands scattered across the sea."

"The two of them fought on another planet. Although Sun Wukong defeated Frieza, Gohan's father couldn't return to Earth with Gohan."

"Gohan's father, Sun Wukong, is currently training on some planet in the universe."

"The stars in the sky?"

"Did he miss the boat home?" Whitebeard said, gazing at the sky.

"Gohan is seven now, and his father will return soon."

"And so will his archenemy."

"Gohan's father didn't kill Frieza, the emperor of the universe. After regaining his strength, Frieza came to Earth with his army."

"Frieza was defeated by Gohan's father once again. This time, Sun Wukong showed him no mercy."

"The Earth where Gohan lives is a peaceful world."

"But three years later, when Gohan is ten, his father will die suddenly from Heart Virus."

"A few months after that, peace will be shattered, and two demons will appear on Earth."

"Gohan's father's friends will be killed one after another by those two demons, until only Gohan and another child remain as the last warriors."

"Lu Bian, is this the fate you were talking about?"

"Those two demons are incredibly powerful. Gohan will fight with all his might, but he still won't be able to defeat them."

"Later, while protecting the other child I mentioned, Gohan will even lose his right arm."

"In the end, those two demons will kill him."

"Didn't you say Gohan would become the strongest person in the world?" Whitebeard didn't understand. What Lu Bian had said seemed contradictory.

"Gohan will become the World's Strongest on one condition—someone has to teach him."

"His father will die, and everyone else will soon be killed too. If Gohan just trains on his own, without guidance, he won't be able to break through to the strongest realm."