The warning lingered in his mind, weighing heavily on his heart.
Seventy-two hours.
That was the final deadline before Frieza's scout squad reached Earth.
Lin Chen's fingers tightened slightly. The composure in his eyes faded, replaced by a hint of solemnity.
He knew Frieza's way of doing things all too well.
Once he had locked onto a planet's coordinates, he would never hesitate or waste time. The vanguard scout squad would lead the way, survey the environment, and confirm Lin Chen's whereabouts. Once they verified his presence, an overwhelming legion would follow to crush him.
He was still in a weakened state. His peak battle power was being suppressed at 2,700, and his normal battle power was below 1,000. He couldn't even hope to stand against Frieza's elite warriors. He might not even be able to guarantee victory against ordinary space grunts.
The most urgent thing wasn't to dwell on escape. He needed to use every second to recover his strength and build up his battle power.
When Lin Chen suddenly stopped, his expression turning grave, Bulma tilted her head in confusion.
"What's wrong? Aren't we going?"
The girl's clear voice pulled Lin Chen back to the present.
He suppressed his sense of danger, reined in every trace of his aura, and returned to his previous calm demeanor. He shook his head lightly. "It's nothing. I just need a little rest."
He couldn't let Bulma notice anything unusual.
A stranger of unknown origin with a grave expression would only arouse suspicion and disrupt his plans for his early days on Earth.
Bulma didn't think much of it. She hitched her backpack higher and walked on, rambling about her plans.
"Listen, I'm going to do something huge on this trip into the mountains! I invented the Dragon Radar. Once we find the seven Dragon Balls scattered across Earth, we can summon Shenron and make any wish!"
Whenever she spoke of the Dragon Balls, her eyes sparkled with the innocent hope unique to an eighteen-year-old girl.
"The radar said the Four-Star Dragon Ball was nearby, but the signal suddenly started jumping around. I thought the device was broken. Now that I think about it, maybe something's blocking the signal!"
Lin Chen silently walked beside her, his gaze sweeping across the lush mountain forest around them.
The system's warning couldn't be wrong.
The Four-Star Dragon Ball was within a hundred meters, and the pure-blooded Saiyan with a battle power of 1,350 was also closing in fast.
It could only be Son Goku, who had lived alone in seclusion deep in the mountains since childhood.
At this point in the original story, Little Goku was pure-hearted and extraordinarily gifted. His natural battle power far surpassed that of every martial artist on Earth. He simply didn't know how to control his ki or use techniques, and relied on brute strength alone.
As Lin Chen pondered this, hurried footsteps sounded from the forest ahead, accompanied by the rustle of shaking branches.
A short young boy came bounding out of the woods, clutching a thick Power Pole.
The boy had his trademark black, spiky hair and wore a worn-out blue martial arts uniform. His eyes were clear and pure, like a mountain spring untouched by the world, and his whole being radiated youthful energy.
It was young Son Goku.
He carried the Power Pole in one hand, with a few freshly caught game animals tucked under his arm. When he spotted Lin Chen and Bulma in the forest, he stopped and blinked his wide eyes curiously, sizing them up.
"Who are you? Why are you in the mountains near my home?"
Goku's voice was young and guileless. There wasn't a trace of malice in it, only pure curiosity.
Bulma stared at the small boy with his round, impish face. She froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up.
In all her life, she had never seen such a cute child deep in the mountains.
"Little boy, do you live here?" Bulma asked gently.
"Yeah. My grandpa told me to watch over the mountains and not let strangers come in whenever they want." Goku nodded. His gaze soon settled on the cool and distant Lin Chen, and a faint trace of wariness flickered in his eyes.
He didn't know what battle power or aura meant.
But an animal's instincts told him plainly that the big brother before him was strong—more frightening than any beast or anything else he had ever seen.
Looking at the innocent, wide-eyed Goku, Lin Chen felt a surge of emotion.
This was the destined hero of the Dragon Ball world: pure of heart, devoted to martial arts, and a protector of all life. He was the passionate ideal countless people believed in.
But right now, Lin Chen had no intention of ingratiating himself with Goku or seeking his favor.
He had passed through deadly crises and seen the cruelty of the universe. After witnessing Planet Vegeta's destruction and being hunted by an emperor, his mindset had long surpassed that of ordinary people.
He didn't need to rely on anyone else's destiny. He could only forge his own path, one punch and one step at a time.
"We got lost in the mountains. We didn't mean to disturb you," Lin Chen said evenly.
Goku scratched his head and didn't press the matter. "It's okay. The mountains are big, so it's easy to get lost. If you want to go down the mountain, I can show you the way!"
Kindhearted by nature, he had no idea what it meant to be wary or calculating.
While the three of them were talking, several deep growls suddenly sounded from the depths of the forest. Leaves shook loose from the trees, and the ground trembled faintly.
Roar—!
Savage, ferocious howls rang out one after another, carrying a thick stench of blood and instantly shattering the forest's calm.
Bulma went deathly pale. She instinctively backed away two steps and grabbed the hem of Lin Chen's clothes.
"What was that?! It's terrifying!"
She had grown up in a wealthy household, pampered since childhood. She had never heard the roar of such vicious beasts.
Goku immediately stopped fooling around and gripped the Power Pole tightly, warily looking into the forest. "They're giant wolves from deep in the mountains! They've been coming out to hurt people lately!"
Before he had finished speaking, three enormous black shapes burst through the bushes and fixed their eyes on the three of them.
They were three black wolves, each nearly three meters long. Their fur was as dark as ink, their fangs bared, and their eyes bloodshot and savage. Muscles knotted across their limbs, and a dense, murderous aura swirled around them.
These weren't ordinary beasts.
They were savage beasts, mutated and evolved after absorbing the spiritual energy of the mountains for years!
[Mutated Black Wolf detected (adult)] [Individual battle power: 380] [Pack-dwelling savage beast; extremely ferocious, thick-skinned, and fast]
The system's data appeared clearly.
The three beasts had a combined battle power of over 1,100.
In an ordinary forest, they would be apex predators, able to tear apart any ordinary human or low-level martial artist.
Bulma turned deathly pale with fright and cowered behind Lin Chen, her voice trembling. "S-such huge wolves! What do we do?"
Goku gripped the Power Pole and stepped in front of them, his small face tense as he readied himself to fight.
His battle power far surpassed that of the three giant wolves, but he lacked experience and didn't know how to coordinate or respond to them. He could easily crush one in a one-on-one fight, but facing all three at once would be difficult.
Lin Chen gently raised a hand and stopped Goku from charging forward.
"Protect her. I'll take care of these."
The instant he spoke, the aura he had kept restrained began to emerge around him.
A faint white ki enveloped his body, and a cold, murderous pressure spread through the forest.
The aura of someone who had survived battles across the universe and fought for his life was more than the beasts of Earth could withstand.
The three savage wolves' pupils contracted. Their bodies stiffened as instinctive terror took hold.
An animal's instincts for sensing strength were far sharper than a human's.
The human before them was extremely dangerous!
But hunger and ferocity overpowered their instinctive fear. The three giant wolves growled in unison and split up, attacking from the left, right, and front all at once!
Their claws sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, aiming for the three of them!
"Look out!" Goku cried, raising his staff to help.
But in the next instant, Lin Chen had already moved.
Though he was weakened and his battle power was below a thousand, his combat experience, killer instinct, and skill in applying force surpassed those of every living being on Earth.
Ten years of deadly battles on Planet Vegeta, a desperate flight through the universe, and the experience of withstanding Frieza's fatal attack had all become instinct.
He took a light step and slid to the side, easily dodging the giant wolf's frontal lunge. Without flinching, he gathered a thin layer of energy in his right hand and delivered a precise punch!
No flashy techniques. No wasted movements.
Simple. Precise. Deadly!
Thump!
A muffled crash rang out.
The giant wolf that had leaped at him took the blow squarely to its head. Its sturdy skull cracked instantly, and its massive body flew back like a broken kite before slamming heavily into the ground. It convulsed twice, then fell silent.
A one-shot kill!
A mutated savage beast with a battle power of 380 had died in an instant!
The two remaining giant wolves went completely berserk and roared as they charged in together.
Lin Chen's expression remained calm, without the slightest hint of emotion.
He dodged the claws from the left, then seized the wolf by the neck and used its momentum to smash it hard into the ground.
Crack!
The shrill sound of a broken vertebra rang out, and the second giant wolf collapsed instantly.
The last giant wolf was terrified out of its wits. It no longer dared to attack and turned to flee.
Trying to run?
Lin Chen's gaze turned cold. He gathered a thin strand of energy at his fingertips and flicked it away.
Whoosh!
A white streak shot through the air and pierced the giant wolf's back.
Boom!
The weak energy burst apart, finishing off the last savage beast.
Three seconds. That was all it took.
All three mutated giant wolves that had terrorized the mountains lay dead.
The forest fell silent, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Bulma's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open, disbelief written all over her face.
It had taken no more than a blink. All three ferocious giant wolves were lying on the ground?
How could this seemingly weak young man, covered in wounds, be so strong?!
Even Goku, who had always thought himself strong, was stunned. His small hand tightened around the Power Pole, and his eyes brimmed with shock and admiration.
Such speed! Such incredible strength!
He looked so much cooler than Goku did when he fought!
[ Ding! Three mutated savage beasts killed! ] [Consumed flesh and blood essence, and physical energy!] [Current weakened state has loosened slightly! Base battle power +120!] [Current normal battle power: 1040!]
A warm flow of energy slowly coursed through his limbs and bones. His fatigue eased, and the chaotic ki inside his body settled somewhat.
Lin Chen gave a slight nod.
As expected, the ability to consume and evolve worked on all living beings.
Even Earth's savage beasts could boost his battle power and help him recover from his weakened state faster.
"Th-that was amazing!"
When Bulma recovered, she hurried over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Chen. Her earlier curiosity had turned into wholehearted admiration.
"Lin Chen! You're a martial arts expert! You're better than every martial artist I've ever seen!"
She finally understood that the young man before her wasn't an ordinary traveler who had gotten lost. He was a true powerhouse!
Goku also hurried over and looked up at him earnestly. "Big brother, you're so strong! You're way stronger than me! Can I learn how to fight from you?"
Though two very different protagonists had come to respect him, Lin Chen felt no pride. If anything, he was more clearheaded than before.
This level of strength might make him a powerhouse on Earth.
But in the universe, and especially in front of Frieza, it was still insignificant.
Seventy-two hours.
Time was running short.
He had to find the Dragon Balls as soon as possible, use Shenron's power to break through the seal suppressing him, and make his battle power soar!
With that thought, Lin Chen looked toward the roots of an ancient tree nearby.
A faint golden light was emanating from there.
The Four-Star Dragon Ball was beneath the roots!
"The Dragon Ball is over there," Lin Chen said, pointing to the tree.
"Really?!" Bulma was overjoyed and immediately rushed in that direction.
She pushed aside layers of fallen leaves and dug into the soil. A smooth, orange-red sphere marked with four stars lay quietly in the dirt.
The Four-Star Dragon Ball was theirs!
They had secured the first Dragon Ball right from the start, far ahead of where the original story began.
Bulma held the Dragon Ball, smiling from ear to ear. "That's great! We finally found our first Dragon Ball! Let's keep looking for the other six!"
Goku was just as excited. "With the Dragon Balls, you can make a wish! Big brother, what do you want to wish for?"
Lin Chen looked down at the faintly shimmering energy in his palm. He had already made up his mind.
His short-term goal was to use the Dragon Balls to turn the situation around and fight off Frieza's scout squad.
His long-term goal was to conquer the universe and free himself from every fate.
But just then, a cold silver streak suddenly shot across the clear blue sky overhead.
It was moving incredibly fast, cutting through the clouds and heading straight for Earth's atmosphere!
[Emergency warning!] [An alien spacecraft has entered Earth's airspace!] [Enemy battle power detected: 4200!] [Frieza Vanguard Scout Squad has arrived ahead of schedule!] [Time until landing: 10 minutes!]
Lin Chen's pupils shrank sharply, and every muscle in his body tensed.
Not seventy-two hours!
Frieza's pursuers were a full three days early!
In an instant, the peaceful start of his time on Earth gave way to an imminent cosmic threat!
Before you continue