Encountering Goku in the Mountains, Fierce Beasts Temper Combat Prowess

The warning prompt lingered in his mind, weighing heavily upon his heart.

Seventy-two hours.

This was the final deadline before Frieza's reconnaissance squad arrived on Earth.

Lin Chen's fingertips tightened slightly; the composure in his eyes faded, replaced by a trace of gravity.

He knew Frieza's style of operation all too well.

Once the planet's coordinates were locked, Frieza would never hesitate or drag his feet. A vanguard scout team would lead the way to survey the environment and confirm his tracks; once verified, a crushing legion would follow to wipe everything out.

Currently, he was in a period of weakened combat power. His peak strength was suppressed to a mere 2,700, with his base level below 1,000. Never mind fighting Frieza's elite warriors—he might not even be able to reliably defeat the common cosmic grunts.

The most urgent priority was not to dwell on fleeing, but to seize every single second to recover his strength and accumulate combat power.

Seeing Lin Chen suddenly stop in his tracks with a darkened expression, Bulma tilted her head in confusion.

"What's wrong? Are we not moving anymore?"

The girl's crisp voice pulled Lin Chen back to his senses.

He suppressed the sense of crisis in his heart, reined in all outward traces of his aura, and returned to his previous indifferent demeanor, shaking his head gently: "It's nothing, just resting for a moment."

He could not let Bulma notice anything unusual.

A stranger with an unknown background and a grave expression would only invite suspicion and disrupt his initial plans for Earth.

Bulma didn't think much of it. She hiked her backpack up, paced forward, and began muttering about her plans.

"Let me tell you, I'm doing something big by coming into the mountains this time! I invented the Dragon Radar. As long as I find the seven Dragon Balls scattered across the Earth, I can summon Shenron and make any wish I want!"

When she spoke of the Dragon Balls, her eyes sparkled with the innocence and longing unique to an eighteen-year-old girl.

"The radar originally showed the Four-Star Dragon Ball was right around here, but the signal suddenly started flickering. I thought the instrument was broken, but now that I think about it, maybe something is blocking the signal!"

Lin Chen followed silently by her side, his gaze sweeping across the lush, deep forest surrounding them.

The system's prompt would not be wrong.

The Four-Star Dragon Ball was within a hundred meters, and that pure-blooded Saiyan with a combat power of 1,350 was also closing in rapidly.

There was no need to guess; it had to be Son Goku, who had lived alone in these deep mountains since childhood.

In the original story, the young Goku at this moment was pure of heart and possessed extraordinary talent. His natural combat power far exceeded that of any martial artist on Earth, yet he lacked knowledge of ki control or techniques, possessing only raw, brute strength.

As he was thinking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the woods ahead, accompanied by the rustling of swaying branches.

A short, young figure holding a thick Power Pole hopped out from the depths of the forest.

The boy wore his signature black, spiky hair and a tattered blue martial arts uniform. His eyes were clean and clear, like mountain springs untouched by the world, and his entire being radiated vibrant energy.

It was the young Son Goku.

He carried the Power Pole on his shoulder and clutched a few pieces of wild game he had just caught. Seeing Lin Chen and Bulma in the woods, he stopped in his tracks, blinking his large eyes curiously as he looked the two of them up and down.

"Who are you guys? How did you end up in the mountains near my house?"

Goku's voice was childish and simple, devoid of any malice, his eyes filled with pure confusion.

Bulma looked at the spirited little boy before her, stunned for a moment before her eyes lit up.

In all her life, this was the first time she had seen such a cute child in the deep mountains.

"Little brother, do you live here?" Bulma asked gently.

"Yeah, my grandpa told me to guard the mountain and not let strangers in," Goku nodded. His gaze quickly fell upon the cold-tempered Lin Chen, and a flicker of wariness crossed his eyes.

He didn't understand what combat power or aura was.

But his animal instincts told him clearly that this big brother before him was very strong—more terrifying than any beast or anything he had ever encountered.

Lin Chen looked at the innocent and ignorant Goku, his heart filled with complex emotions.

This was the fated protagonist of the Dragon Ball world—pure his whole life, a lover of martial arts, a protector of all living things, and the passionate faith in the hearts of countless people.

But at this moment, he had no intention of clinging to or currying favor with him.

He had walked through the jaws of death, witnessed the coldness of the universe, and survived the destruction of Planet Vegeta and the pursuit of an emperor; his mindset was already far beyond that of an ordinary person.

He did not need to rely on anyone's destiny; his path could only be carved out by his own fists and feet.

"We got lost in the mountains; we didn't mean to intrude," Lin Chen said calmly, his tone peaceful.

Goku scratched his head, not dwelling on it, and said carelessly: "It's okay! The mountains are huge, getting lost is normal. If you want to go down the mountain, I can show you the way!"

Kind by nature, he had never known what it meant to be guarded or calculating.

Just as the three were briefly conversing, several low, bestial roars suddenly erupted from the depths of the forest, shaking the leaves from the trees and causing the ground to tremble slightly.

ROAR—!

Fierce, violent beast cries exploded one after another, carrying a heavy scent of blood that instantly shattered the tranquility of the woods.

Bulma's face turned pale instantly. She instinctively took two steps back, grabbing the corner of Lin Chen's clothes in a panic.

"What is that sound?! It's so scary!"

Born into a wealthy family and pampered since childhood, she had never heard such ferocious beastly roars before.

Goku instantly shed his playful demeanor, gripping his Power Pole tightly as he stared warily into the depths of the dense forest. "It's the giant mountain wolves! This pack has been coming out to harm people lately!"

Before his voice had even faded, three massive shadows burst through the underbrush, locking onto the trio from above.

They were three black wolves nearly three meters in length, their fur as dark as ink, fangs bared, and eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty crimson. Their limbs were knotted with muscle, and their entire bodies were wreathed in a thick, malevolent aura.

These were no ordinary beasts.

They were ferocious creatures that had mutated and evolved by absorbing the mountain's spiritual energy over the years!

[Mutated Black Wolf (Adult) detected]

[Individual Combat Power: 380]

[Pack-dwelling ferocious beast, extremely aggressive, thick-skinned, and swift]

The system data appeared clearly before him.

With three such beasts, their combined combat power exceeded eleven hundred.

In any ordinary mountain forest, they would be apex predators, reigning supreme and capable of tearing apart any normal human or low-level martial artist.

Bulma's face turned deathly pale. She hid tightly behind Lin Chen, her voice trembling, "Th-they're huge! What do we do?"

Goku stood his ground at the front, clutching his Power Pole. His small face was taut, his body coiled with power, ready to strike at any moment.

Though his combat power far exceeded that of the three giant wolves, he lacked experience and didn't know how to handle coordinated attacks. While he could easily crush them one-on-one, facing three at once would inevitably be a struggle.

Lin Chen gently raised a hand, pressing it against Goku to stop him from charging forward.

"Protect her. I'll handle these."

The moment his words fell, the aura he had been suppressing around his body suddenly flared.

A faint white energy swirled around him, and a cold, murderous intent instantly spread outward.

The aura of someone who had survived cosmic slaughter, life-and-death battles, and blood-soaked wars was something no Earth beast could withstand.

The three ferocious wolves' pupils contracted instantly, their bodies stiffening as they instinctively felt an overwhelming sense of dread.

A beast's intuition for the strong was far sharper than a human's.

The human before them was extremely dangerous!

Yet, hunger and ferocity suppressed their primal fear. The three giant wolves let out a collective low growl, splitting into three paths to pounce from the left, right, and center simultaneously!

Their sharp claws tore through the air with a piercing whistle, aiming straight for the trio's vitals!

"Watch out!" Goku cried out, raising his pole to assist.

But in the next second, Lin Chen had already moved.

Though his combat power was under a thousand in his weakened state, his combat experience, killer instinct, and striking techniques crushed every living thing on Earth.

Ten years of death matches on Planet Vegeta, desperate escapes through the cosmos, and the experience of surviving a lethal blow from Frieza had all been distilled into pure instinct.

He took a light step, his body drifting to the side to effortlessly dodge the pounce of the central wolf. Without flinching, he gathered a sliver of energy in his right hand and delivered a precise, explosive punch!

No flashy moves, no wasted motion.

Minimalist, extreme, and lethal!

BOOM!

A dull, heavy impact erupted.

The wolf that had pounced from the center took the blow directly to its head. Its sturdy skull shattered instantly, and its massive body flew backward like a kite with a broken string. It slammed into the ground, twitched twice, and went completely still.

One-shot!

A mutated beast with a combat power of 380, killed in an instant!

The remaining two wolves went completely berserk, howling as they launched a frantic pincer attack.

Lin Chen's gaze remained calm, his expression devoid of the slightest ripple.

He sidestepped the claws on his left, grabbed the wolf by the neck with a backhand, and used the momentum to slam it violently into the ground.

Crack!

The jarring sound of a shattered spine echoed out, and the second wolf went limp instantly.

The final wolf was so terrified that its soul seemed to flee its body. No longer daring to attack, it turned to bolt.

Trying to run?

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold. He gathered a thin beam of energy at his fingertip and flicked it casually.

Whoosh!

The white light pierced the air, accurately penetrating the wolf's back.

BOOM!

A faint burst of energy detonated, ending the last of the ferocious beasts.

In just three seconds.

The three mutated wolves that had been ravaging the deep mountains were all slaughtered.

The forest fell silent in an instant, leaving only the rustling of wind through the leaves.

Bulma's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, her face a mask of disbelief.

In the blink of an eye, the three ferocious giant wolves had all collapsed to the ground?

This youth, covered in wounds and appearing so frail, was actually this strong?!

Goku, who had always considered himself quite powerful, was completely stunned. His small hand tightened around his Power Pole, his eyes filled with shock and admiration.

Such incredible speed! Such formidable strength!

It's so much cooler than the way I fight!

[Ding! Killed three mutated beasts!]
[Absorbing flesh and blood essence, physical energy!]
[Current weakened state slightly eased! Base combat power +120!]
[Current normal combat power: 1040!]

A warm stream of energy slowly washed over his limbs and bones, the fatigue dissipating slightly as the chaotic flow of energy within his body stabilized.

Lin Chen nodded slightly.

As expected, the ability to evolve through consumption was compatible with all living things.

Even the beasts of Earth could provide him with a boost in combat power, accelerating his recovery from this weakened state.

"That—that was amazing!"

Bulma finally snapped out of it and trotted over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Chen, her previous curiosity replaced by deep admiration.

"Lin Chen! You're actually a martial arts master! You're more powerful than any martial artist I've ever met!"

She finally understood that the youth before her was no ordinary lost traveler, but a true powerhouse.

Goku also hurried over, tilting his head up with a serious expression. "Big Brother, you're so strong! You're way better than me! Can I learn how to fight from you in the future?"

Watching these two distinct protagonists express their approval, Lin Chen felt no ripples in his heart, only a clearer sense of purpose.

This level of strength might be considered powerful on Earth.

But in the vast universe, facing Frieza, it was still as fragile as paper.

Seventy-two hours.

Time was growing increasingly tight.

He had to find the Dragon Balls as soon as possible and use the power of Shenron to completely break the seal on his weakness and skyrocket his combat power.

Thinking of this, Lin Chen's gaze swept toward the roots of an ancient, thousand-year-old tree not far away.

A faint golden light was emanating from that spot.

The Four-Star Dragon Ball was right beneath the roots!

"The Dragon Ball is over there." Lin Chen raised his hand and pointed at the ancient tree.

"Really?!" Bulma was instantly overjoyed and rushed in that direction.

Pushing aside layers of fallen leaves and digging through the soil, an orange-red, smooth orb inlaid with a four-star pattern lay quietly in the dirt.

The Four-Star Dragon Ball, acquired!

Securing the first Dragon Ball right at the start—his progress was far ahead of the original timeline.

Bulma cradled the Dragon Ball, her eyes curving into crescents as she beamed with joy. "Great! We finally found the first one! Now let's go find the remaining six!"

Goku was also full of excitement. "With the Dragon Balls, we can make a wish! Big Brother, what wish do you want to make?"

Lin Chen looked down at the faint energy flowing in his palm, his decision already made.

Short-term goal: use the Dragon Balls to break his predicament and confront the Frieza Vanguard Scout Squad.

Long-term goal: traverse the universe and break free from all destiny.

But at that moment, a cold, silver streak of light suddenly cut across the clear blue sky above.

It moved with incredible speed, piercing through the clouds and heading straight for Earth's atmosphere!

[Emergency Warning!]
[Spacecraft detected invading Earth's airspace!]
[Enemy combat power detected: 4200!]
[Frieza Vanguard Scout Squad has arrived early!]
[Ten minutes until landing!]

Lin Chen's pupils contracted sharply, his muscles instantly tensing.

It wasn't seventy-two hours!

Frieza's pursuers had arrived three full days ahead of schedule!

The peaceful start on Earth had vanished in an instant, replaced by an impending cosmic crisis!