Aliens

"Of course you do. The ki in your body is just rather weak. Remember, ki can grow stronger through training," Son Gohan explained.

"It looks a lot like what the Androids used," Videl said.

Son Gohan said, "The Androids are creations of technology, whereas ki is energy that exists in every one of us. They may achieve similar results, but you can't lump them together."

"If you want to learn to use ki, the first step is to sense the energy inside your body, then draw it out."

"What should I do?" Videl asked.

Son Gohan looked at her, explained carefully, and gave her a demonstration.

"First, relax. Calm your mind, concentrate, and imagine guiding your ki into your palms, like this."

As Son Gohan spoke, he held his hands in front of him as though cradling something.

He slowly drew out a wisp of ki.

At once, a swirl of energy formed between his palms, quickly turning into a glowing ball of energy.

How amazing! Videl marveled inwardly. Then she closed her eyes and held her hands as Son Gohan had, beginning to sense her ki.

Son Gohan watched her movements and offered guidance.

"Keep your mind calm, concentrate, and empty your mind. Don't strain..."

At Son Gohan's words, Videl's furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

Videl clearly had a solid foundation in martial arts, and she quickly settled into the right state.

But sensing ki wasn't so easy.

Seeing Videl absorbed in meditation, Son Gohan began practicing a martial arts routine beside her.

The movements blended hardness and softness, flowing naturally together and using minimal force to redirect immense strength. It was none other than the Tai Chi he had learned in his previous life.

Tai Chi naturally couldn't produce earth-shattering effects, but practicing it in his spare time left his whole body feeling relaxed, with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

Two hours quickly passed.

Videl slowly opened her eyes.

She looked at Son Gohan, who was sitting nearby. "It's so hard. I still haven't sensed my ki."

Son Gohan said, "Don't rush yourself. The first step is always the hardest. As long as you keep at it, you'll definitely succeed."

"Yeah, I hope so. But I'll have to stop here for today. I need to get back to the police station to handle some things," Videl said.

"All right." Son Gohan nodded.

Videl continued, "Can I come again tomorrow, then?"

Son Gohan said, "Yes."

"Sorry for the trouble, Gohan."

Videl stood up and bowed to Son Gohan.

Son Gohan accepted it without hesitation.

The debt owed to a teacher was like the debt owed for a new lease on life. What was a single bow compared to that?

Just then, Videl's phone rang.

Videl answered it.

"Hello? What? Yes, understood. All right, I'll head back now."

After Videl finished the call, her expression grew anxious, and her brows knitted tightly.

Son Gohan noticed her unease and asked, "What's wrong?"

Videl said, "A violent attack just broke out in East City. The attackers have already slaughtered dozens of people, and the death toll keeps rising."

"My team has already headed to the front lines."

"Even in my Jet Plane, it'll take me at least an hour to get back. That's too long. I don't know how many more people will die in that time."

"I need to head back immediately."

As Videl spoke, she took out a Capsule and tossed it onto the ground. With a boom, it turned into her Jet Plane.

"Oh?" Son Gohan frowned and looked toward East City.

Then he said, "Forgive me for being blunt, but I'm afraid this isn't something you can handle."

Countless powerful ki signatures emanated from the direction of East City.

They were so overwhelmingly strong that Videl stood no chance against them.

Ki like this... aliens?

In any case, there couldn't be fighters this powerful on Earth, so they could only be visitors from space.

He just didn't know when these aliens had appeared. He hadn't even noticed them.

After all, Son Gohan couldn't keep sensing ki across the entire Earth twenty-four hours a day.

Videl looked at him in surprise. "Why do you say I can't handle it?"

Son Gohan said, "Because I can sense those attackers' ki. They're beyond anything you can fight."

"You can sense the attackers' ki from this far away?" Videl found it unbelievable.

"Yes. You'll understand once you learn to use ki," Son Gohan said.

Videl thought for a moment, then said firmly, "No matter what, I have to go back. My entire team has gone to the front lines. How could I hide back here? How would I ever face them again?"

"Gohan, I can't keep talking. I have to go."

Watching Videl hurriedly climb into her plane, Son Gohan sighed. "The plane is too slow. Come down. I'll take you there."

There was no way Earth's forces could deal with these aliens. Son Gohan decided to act.

He had fought so hard to wrest this peace from the Androids. He would never allow anyone to destroy it again.

Videl, who had been about to close the cockpit, froze for a moment. "You mean you're faster than a Jet Plane?"

Son Gohan nodded. "Yeah, about a billion times faster."

"Ah, that's great!" Videl immediately ran out of the plane, turned it back into a Capsule, and tucked it away.

She ran over to Son Gohan and asked anxiously, "What do we do now?"

Son Gohan crouched in front of her. "Hurry, get on."

"Ah! You're carrying me on your back?" Videl blushed bright red.

Though she was embarrassed, this wasn't the time to worry about little things like that. She jumped onto Son Gohan's back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and locked her legs around his waist.

Son Gohan felt her warm, soft body press against him, but thought little of it. "Hold on tight," he warned.

"Yes, I've got a good grip," Videl replied.

Then Son Gohan hooked his hands beneath Videl's long legs, and a silver wave of ki erupted from his body.

The next instant, they shot into the sky, becoming a streak of light hurtling toward East City.

"Aaaah!"

Videl was nearly scared out of her wits.

Th-this was only a little faster than a Jet Plane?

He was creating sonic booms! They were already well past the speed of sound!

Terrifying. This was absolutely terrifying.

A human could actually do something like this. Before today, Videl would never have believed it.

They flew as fast as lightning!

Fortunately, Son Gohan's aura enveloped her, forming a protective barrier. Otherwise, with Videl's ordinary human body, the knife-sharp wind alone would have left her covered in wounds.

Listening to the howling wind and the pounding sonic booms, Videl felt her little heart reeling from the shock.

Under such intense pressure, she had long since forgotten her embarrassment. She pressed herself tightly against Son Gohan's back, wishing she could merge with him.

At the same time, she kept guessing at Son Gohan's identity, wondering just what kind of person he was. Her curiosity about him had reached its peak.

Racing through the sky, the two soon arrived at East City.

Son Gohan stopped abruptly and hovered high in the air with Videl on his back, looking down at the city.

At that very moment, several aliens in strange battle suits were releasing energy from their palms, mercilessly killing one Earthling after another.

Thick smoke rose throughout the city. Police cars raced through the streets, and police officers everywhere directed people to evacuate.

Just then,

Boom!

Another explosion rang out.

Thick smoke and searing heat erupted as an entire building disintegrated in the blast, killing countless Earthlings.

Son Gohan looked down at the ground and said to Videl, "Do you see? This isn't a battle you can take part in."

Videl turned pale at the devastation in the streets, but she was also furious.

Through gritted teeth, she said, "Where did these thugs come from? Their methods are exactly like those Androids from before. These bastards are unforgivable!"

Son Gohan narrowed his eyes as he studied the aliens. "They aren't Earthlings. They must be aliens."

"A-aliens? From outer space?" Videl asked blankly.

"Yes, that's right." Son Gohan nodded, then raised a hand and pointed a finger.

A beam of energy burst from his fingertip and shot toward an alien on the ground who was about to trigger another massive explosion.

The alien was laughing uproariously when the energy beam struck him head-on. With a boom, he was reduced to dust.

Son Gohan pointed a few more times, and several more aliens exploded, instantly turning to ash.

Videl watched it all, dumbstruck. Her mind reeled as though her entire world had shattered. None of it felt real.

"S-so you're this strong," Videl said in shock.

Then something occurred to her, and she continued, "You were the one who destroyed those two monstrous Androids, weren't you?"

She should have realized it long ago.

It was Capsule Corporation that had informed the Kingdom of the Androids' destruction.

Son Gohan lived at Capsule Corporation.

His identity was mysterious, and he could fly.

Every clue pointed to Son Gohan.

Who else could it have been?

Son Gohan didn't deny it. He simply said, "It was me."

Then he continued, "Find somewhere to hide for now. I'm going to deal with the remaining aliens."

As Son Gohan spoke, he took Videl to a relatively safe hiding place nearby, then returned to the battlefield, obliterating the alien bandits with a single punch each.

He pressed his fingers against the last alien's forehead, cold light flashing between his two fingers, and asked icily, "Talk. Where did you come from?"