After the first World Martial Arts Tournament ended, the years slipped quietly by like flowing water. New Vegeta City continued to expand at the foot of Mount Paozu, growing from a settlement into a true city. Trees brought over from Earth lined its broad, orderly streets, where pointed-roof Saiyan stone houses stood alongside Earth-style homes with courtyards. The city center held the council hall and training grounds; the northern district housed the research center and spacecraft port; the western district had schools and hospitals; and the eastern district was filled with shops and residential neighborhoods.
Over five years, dozens more Saiyan babies were born, bringing the population to more than three hundred. The 132 survivors who had escaped Planet Vegeta had grown into a sizable community. Selipa's research team used the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish for more advanced technology. Combining it with their research into energy crystals, they developed new Battle Suits and gravity-training equipment.
Kashu was nineteen. He stood 1.85 meters tall, his long black hair hanging loose around a sharply defined face, and his dark eyes were as deep as the starry sky. He wore a modified Saiyan Battle Suit: a white breastplate over a tight-fitting dark blue bodysuit, an orange sash around his waist, and a deep red cape over his shoulders. Bulma had designed it as his "leader's outfit," balancing protection with style. Five years of training had taken him to new heights. His base power level had surpassed three million; as a Legendary Super Saiyan First Grade, it reached 240 million; as a Legendary Super Saiyan Second Grade, 480 million; as a Legendary Super Saiyan Third Grade, 1.2 billion; and as a Legendary Super Saiyan Fourth Grade, 2.4 billion. He had fully stabilized his power at the beginner level of the God of Destruction realm and could even release Hakai Energy for brief periods. Son Goku was seventeen. He was half a head shorter than Kashu, with a sturdy, agile build. His round face had matured into a handsome young man's, but his smile was still as bright and innocent as ever. His base power level had reached 1.5 million, and his Super Saiyan transformation brought it to 75 million. He had learned to use Kaioken up to twenty times, raising his power to 1.5 billion at his limit, though he could only maintain it for a few seconds. Krillin was sixteen. He was bald, short but muscular, and his eyes gleamed with intelligence. His power level had surpassed 500,000, and he had mastered original techniques like the Destructo Disc and Solar Flare. He was hailed as "Earth's strongest martial artist," far surpassing Master Roshi in his prime.
Tien Shinhan was thirty-four. The Three-Eyed Clan's bloodline had fully awakened within him. His third eye could not only see the flow of ki but also unleash a "Demon Eye Beam" that attacked his opponent's mind. His power level had reached 800,000. Although he had not become a Super Saiyan, he had more combat experience and skill than anyone else on the team. Chiaotzu's appearance had not changed, but his psychic powers had grown tremendously. He could immobilize opponents with power levels below one million. Luo Ling was thirty-three, with a stable Super Saiyan form and a power level of ten million. Gore was thirty-two, with a power level of 300,000. Lanno was thirty-five, with a power level of 150,000, and was still the maintenance team leader.
Demon King Piccolo, whom everyone now called Piccolo, looked about thirty. Five years of training had pushed his power level past two million, and his Special Beam Cannon was powerful enough to pierce an opponent whose power level was in the tens of millions. His relationship with the Guardian remained complicated, but he was no longer obsessed with conquering the world. Instead, he focused on getting stronger. That year, the second World Martial Arts Tournament was about to begin. Unlike the tournament five years earlier, this one was destined to go down in history—not because of the competition itself, but because of what happened afterward. In the spring of AGE 752, at New Vegeta City, dawn was just breaking when Kashu was already standing in the middle of the training ground. Bare-chested and wearing only dark blue training pants, he had well-defined but not exaggerated muscles, his body as sleek and explosive as a leopard's. He let his hands hang naturally at his sides, palms up, as two crimson energy spheres slowly formed and rose to hover above his head. This was the "Multi-Ki Control" technique he had learned on King Kai's Planet: controlling several energy spheres at once, each with a different shape, size, and rate of rotation. It took incredibly precise ki control and was harder to master than sheer explosive power. One hundred twenty-three... one hundred twenty-four... one hundred twenty-five... He closed his eyes and counted the energy spheres in his mind. The red spheres revolved overhead, forming a complex three-dimensional pattern. Each one was stable and pure, without a trace of energy leaking out. One hundred thirty. He opened his eyes and swept his hands out. All 130 energy spheres shot into the sky at once and burst apart, scattering countless golden sparks like brilliant fireworks. "Huu..." Kashu exhaled, picked up the towel beside him, and wiped the sweat from his body.
"Big brother!" A clear voice called from outside the training ground. Son Goku, dressed in an orange martial arts uniform, jogged over with his signature smile. "Kakarot, you're up early today," Kashu said. "Chi-Chi said she was coming to watch me train today, so I couldn't sleep!" Son Goku scratched his head sheepishly. "Big brother, why does Chi-Chi keep coming to see me? Her house is so far away." Seeing his little brother's clueless expression, Kashu couldn't help laughing. "Kakarot, Chi-Chi likes you." "She likes me? I like her too! Her cooking is delicious!" "Not that kind of liking..." Kashu sighed, deciding to explain it another time. The two sparred for a while. Son Goku used his Super Saiyan form, golden aura blazing as every punch tore through the air. Kashu stayed in his base form, easily deflecting every attack with finer ki control and more combat experience. "Big brother, just how strong is your ki?" Son Goku asked, panting. "A little stronger than yours," Kashu said. "How much is a little?" "Just a little." Son Goku muttered, "You always say that," then charged again. After breakfast, Kashu returned to his home, a large estate on the eastern side of New Vegeta City. Designed and built by Bulma, it combined Saiyan sturdiness with Earthling comfort. The estate had three floors: the living room, dining room, and kitchen were on the first; the bedrooms on the second; and the study and terrace on the third. Three women were chatting in the living room. Bulma was twenty-three, four years older than Kashu. She wore a pink dress, her blue hair tied in a ponytail. With light makeup on, she was still the same lively, cheerful genius inventor. She held a tablet, adjusting the upgraded Dragon Radar she had just invented. Launch was twenty-five. In her blue-haired mode, she was gentle and quiet, wearing a white sweater as she knitted—though she denied knowing how, she was quite skilled. In her blonde-haired mode, she was a violent gunslinger, but at home she spent most of her time in her blue-haired mode. Tights was twenty-eight, Bulma's older sister and a famous science fiction writer. After traveling through space, she had returned to Earth. Her long, dark brown hair fell over her shoulders, and she wore gold-rimmed glasses, her manner mature and gentle. She was typing on her laptop, occasionally looking up at her sister and Launch. "Kashu, you're back!" Bulma looked up. "I've already filled out the tournament registration forms for all of you: Kashu, Son Goku, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Piccolo. Five people."
"Is Yamcha not going?" Kashu asked. "He says he's going to find himself, so he won't compete." Bulma pouted. "Honestly, what's there to find? Why not just find himself a girlfriend instead?" "What about Gore and Luo Ling?" Kashu asked. "Gore has to stay and guard the camp, and Luo Ling said, 'I have no interest in fighting Earthlings.'" Bulma shook her head. "You Saiyans are so tsundere." "You're not a Saiyan. You wouldn't understand," Kashu said with a smile. "I don't, but I do know you need to eat breakfast." Bulma stood and led him toward the dining room. "Launch made your favorite braised pork, Tights baked bread, and I fried the eggs—though I burned two." "You three made breakfast together?" Kashu asked, surprised. "It's the last day before the tournament. We wanted to cheer you on," Launch said softly in her blue-haired mode. "Thank you, Launch." "Y-you're welcome." Launch lowered her head, blushing slightly. Tights pushed up her glasses, a gentle smile on her lips. At ten in the morning, a Hoi-Poi Capsule helicopter landed on the New Vegeta City airstrip. The cabin door opened, and Chi-Chi jumped out. She was eighteen, with her hair tied in twin tails. She wore a qipao-style dress, and was tall and pretty. She carried a large basket full of food. "Goku! Goku!" Chi-Chi looked around. Son Goku ran over from the training ground. "Chi-Chi! You brought food again?" "Of course! I just learned to make sweet-and-sour ribs. Try some!" Chi-Chi opened the basket, and the aroma wafted out. Son Goku grabbed a rib and stuffed it in his mouth, his eyes lighting up. "Delicious! You're getting better and better at cooking, Chi-Chi!" "Naturally!" Chi-Chi said proudly, then stole a glance at Kashu. "Big brother Kashu, will you let Goku win at the tournament?"
"Everyone's going to have to earn their own victory," Kashu said. "If Goku beats me, it'll be because of his own strength." "Goku's definitely going to win!" Chi-Chi clenched her fist. "Chi-Chi, do you have a crush on Goku?" Bulma came over with a cheeky grin. Chi-Chi's face turned bright red in an instant. "N-no! I just... just think Goku's really strong!" "Is that so?" Bulma drawled. "Big sister Bulma, don't tease me!" Chi-Chi stamped her foot and ran off. Krillin popped up nearby and whispered to Bulma, "Miss Bulma, you did that on purpose, didn't you?" "Of course I did." Bulma winked. "If nobody gives them a push, when will that blockhead ever catch on?" In the afternoon, Kashu flew with Son Goku and Krillin to Kame House. Master Roshi was still stretched out on a beach chair, sunbathing with a magazine in his hand. When he saw his students arrive, he slowly sat up, took off his sunglasses, and looked over the three young men, all grown up now. "Kashu, you've gotten stronger again," Master Roshi said, approval in his gaze. "Your ki is much steadier than it was five years ago." "And you've kept up your good health, Master," Kashu said with a smile. "Don't butter me up. I hear some formidable fighters are entering this tournament?" Master Roshi asked. Krillin nodded. "Most of the top eight from last time are still around, and there are some new faces too. But we should still be the strongest." "Don't get careless," Master Roshi said, unusually serious. "The world of martial arts is vast. You've only just begun." "We'll remember." The four sat around the living room at Kame House, drinking tea and chatting. Master Roshi told them stories from his youth: his master, Mutaito, and the Evil Containment Wave; the terror of Demon King Piccolo. "Piccolo trains with us now," Kashu said. "He's not the demon king who wanted to destroy the world anymore." "I know," Master Roshi said with a nod. "Gohan told me about New Vegeta City. That Piccolo could turn over a new leaf is thanks to you." "It wasn't thanks to me. It was his choice," Kashu said. "Everyone has the right to choose." Master Roshi looked at Kashu, his eyes full of warmth.
"Kashu, you're my finest student. Not because you're the strongest, but because of your heart." "Thank you, Master." That night, Kashu sat alone on the roof of Kame House, gazing up at the stars. He thought of the Dragon Ball stories he had read in his previous life, and of their iconic scenes and characters. The world now was completely different from the Dragon Ball he remembered: the Saiyans hadn't gone extinct; instead, they had rebuilt their home on Earth. Demon King Piccolo had become an ally. Frieza was still alive, but for now he didn't dare attack. All of it had come about because of the choices Kashu had made. But he knew that greater challenges still lay ahead. The forces of the Demon Realm were stirring, the rifts between parallel worlds were growing more unstable, and the legendary God of Destruction Beerus might be sleeping somewhere out there. System, show me my status.
[Legendary Super God-Level System] Host: Kashu Age: 19 Power Level: Base 3 million, Legendary Super Saiyan First Grade 240 million, Legendary Super Saiyan Second Grade 480 million, Legendary Super Saiyan Third Grade 1.2 billion, Legendary Super Saiyan Fourth Grade 2.4 billion Legendary Super Saiyan Awakening: 55% Realm of Gods: Beginner-level God of Destruction, peak Current Mission: Participate in the second World Martial Arts Tournament (Incomplete) Hidden Mission: Trigger conditions unknown
"2.4 billion in power, and at the peak of the beginner God of Destruction level," Kashu murmured. "But among the Gods of Destruction, that's only the beginning. Beerus must be at least ten times stronger than me." He took a deep breath and jumped down from the roof. The road ahead was long, but every step counted.
Before you continue