The enormous canopy of the tree blocked out the sun, cutting the sunlight into dappled spots that fell on the thick layer of fallen leaves.
The air was filled with the smell of damp earth and humus.
Two small figures descended from the sky and landed lightly in a clearing surrounded by giant trees.
Trunks looked around; the open space was empty except for a few moss-covered boulders.
He looked down, repeatedly checking the Dragon Radar in his hand.
On the screen, the yellow dot representing the last Dragon Ball was right here with them.
"Strange, there's nothing here!"
Trunks frowned, his face full of confusion.
Could the Dragon Radar be malfunctioning?
Or are the Dragon Ball buried deep underground?
Just as Trunks was completely baffled, Son Goten, who was beside him, suddenly let out a cry of surprise.
Unlike Trunks, who was looking down at the Dragon Radar, he was immediately drawn to something in the very center of the open space the moment he landed.
It was an enormous stone pillar.
Straight, rounded, and smooth, it is unknown what material it is made of.
It abruptly rose from the ground, piercing straight into the sky and disappearing into the depths of the clouds, with no end in sight.
Son Goten raised his little head, his big, dark eyes following the huge stone pillar that seemed to connect heaven and earth.
"Hey, Trunks!"
"This looks suspicious! Shall we go up and take a look?"
Trunks instinctively looked up upon hearing this.
When he saw the entire stone pillar, he was also slightly awestruck by its magnificent presence.
He glanced down at the Dragon Radar again; the dots on the screen were still flashing.
"That's right!"
Trunks nodded in agreement.
"Maybe the Dragon Ball is on here!"
He turned his head and met Son Goten's gaze, who was also looking excited.
The two nodded to each other, then squatted down slightly, a faint white aura emanating from their bodies that blew away the fallen leaves and dust on the ground.
Two small figures, following the seemingly endless stone pillar, transformed into two streaks of light, flying straight up towards the clouds!
On Korin Tower.
A gentle breeze swept by, carrying a touch of the unique coolness of the high altitude.
Master Korin stood beside a huge water vat, leaning on his familiar wooden cane. His gaze was deep, as if he could pierce through layers of clouds and observe every move of the world below.
Not far behind him, Yajirobe was squatting in front of a simple stove, intently turning over a large, fat fish skewered on a stick.
Golden oil dripped onto the charcoal fire, sizzling as it did so, and a rich aroma filled the entire top of the tower.
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
Yajirobe flipped over and began to complain.
"If you don't help me watch the fire, you won't get a single bite if it burns!"
Master Korin didn't turn around; his mustache twitched slightly.
"It's coming."
What's coming?
What are you saying?
Yajirobe looked puzzled and was about to ask more questions, but before he could speak...
"Call--!!!"
A powerful gust of air rose up!
The stove was instantly blown to pieces, and the charcoal fire that had been burning brightly, along with the fish that was almost cooked, was swept into the air and disappeared without a trace.
Yajirobe was blown about, swaying from side to side.
Before he could regain his footing, two small figures hovered high in the sky outside Korin Tower, accompanied by a piercing whooshing sound.
Yajirobe brushed the dust off his clothes in a disheveled manner, looking at the two uninvited guests with lingering fear.
After Trunks landed, he immediately gripped the Dragon Radar in his hand, his eyes sharp as he warily surveyed his surroundings.
But Son Goten, standing beside him, was a completely different person.
He stared wide-eyed with curiosity, looking around, and his gaze lit up the moment it landed on Master Korin.
He leaned close to Trunks' ear, lowered his voice, but couldn't hide his excited exclamation:
" Trunks! Look! There's a cat here!"
On the other side, Yajirobe's gaze also fell on Son Goten's face.
He was stunned for a moment, then immediately perked up.
"That brat!"
"He looks exactly like Goku when he was a child!"
Upon hearing this, Son Goten panicked.
In desperation, he waved his little hands repeatedly, protesting, "No, no, no! I'm not Son Goku's son!"
Trunks felt a sudden darkness engulf his vision.
He lunged forward in a fit of rage, covering Son Goten's mouth as he tried to explain himself. "Idiot! Don't talk nonsense!"
Seeing this comical scene, the Master Korin finally couldn't help but stroke his beard and chuckle.
"It's alright."
Master Korin spoke with a smile.
We didn't hear anything.
He paused, then pointed with his cane to the higher, more distant sky above, shrouded in clouds.
"What you're looking for is up there."
"Keep flying upwards, and you'll see it."
Trunks covered Son Goten's mouth, looked up, his eyes filled with doubt and wariness.
He glanced down at the Dragon Radar in his hand.
The situation is urgent, there's no time to think!
"Really?"
Trunks pressed for more information, his tone tinged with a mixture of disbelief and delight.
"Although I don't know who you are, thank you, Mr. Cat!"
He released his hand from Son Goten's mouth, hurriedly thanked Master Korin, and then grabbed the still somewhat bewildered Son Goten.
"Let's go!"
Two beams of light shot into the sky, transforming into streaks of light that vanished instantly at the top of Korin Tower, continuing their ascent.
Only Yajirobe remained, standing there dumbfounded, pointing at the sky.
"Was that... really Goku's child?"
When did that guy...?
Master Korin, on the other hand, wore a profound expression, as if he had seen through the truth, gazing up at the clouds...
Trunks and Son Goten continued to climb upwards.
After passing through a thick sea of clouds, a magnificent building suddenly appeared in their field of vision!
It floats silently at the edge of the sky, as if it were a dwelling place left behind by the gods on earth.
Below the palace is a huge circular platform, with lush palm trees planted along its edges, swaying gracefully in the thin air.
Solemn, sacred, and filled with incredible fantasy.
"Wow--!"
Son Goten couldn't help but open his mouth wide and let out a gasp of amazement.
"Wow... what a big house!"
Trunks was also stunned by the sight before him.
He stared blankly at the Lookout floating in the sky, the Dragon Radar in his hand emitting a rapid "beep beep beep" alert.
The last point of light is right here!
Two unfamiliar figures, one in green and one in black, emerged from the palace...