Review Responses:
To Ushindi: Chi-Chi will learn her lesson… eventually. I'd have to incorporate some moments between Videl and Hercule in the next saga. You'll enjoy what I have in store for my boy, Sharpner.
I did not like Goku coming back to steal the rest of the Buu Saga away from Gohan, but I understand why Toriyama did that. I also did not like how Super made Goku more bumbling as supposed to his GT counterpart and Buu-Saga-self retaining some of that seasoned warrior charm he had.
I think she would have barked a whole deal about his wicked actions, begging him to come to his senses. Vegeta would have probably tried to fight it, but he'd go about fighting Goku anyway. He was on his Black Air-Force Activity at the time.
Shadow Dragons? Amazing concept, shit execution. They were bland as shit except for Nuova Shenron, Eis Shenron, Oceanus Shenron, and Syn Shenron.
That's all for now, on with the show.
Last time on Dragon Ball Z: PRIMAL, Gohan was approached by two strangers who appeared before him near his family home. As it turns out, these two were the same people who watched Gohan's triumph over the deranged brother of Frieza, Lord Cooler, from far. Both revealed themselves to be allies, with the shorter man being none other than the Supreme Kai, who offered Gohan his tutelage and guidance, stating that his power was to be needed in the future. After contemplating, Gohan accepted Shin and his attendant, Kibito as his master and new friends. Meanwhile, Sharpner of Orange Star High searches for a new path as a fighter. This leads to a search for a reclusive warrior. What will come of this search? Find out, now!
In the Mountains Nearing the Mushroom Forest, Age 774
Sharpner parked his capsule car in front of his home of Tenshinhan. Getting out of the vehicle, the blond-haired young man looked around to see the vegetation of the farmland. He saw cabbages, onions, carrots, and potatoes. The blond couldn't help but whistle out of astonishment.
"Wow! Tien did all of this? Man, this farm can give Brain's farm a run for its money." The high schooler stated as he looked around.
Going up to the doorstep, Sharpner knocked a few times. He waited for a few minutes. After waiting, a few footsteps were heard from the inside. From there, an assertive, yet feminine voice responded from the front door.
"Who's there?"
From how the voice questioned him, Sharpner could tell what kind of girl he was about to deal with.
He sighed to himself as he thought, '...Great. Another pushy girl. Am I doomed to meet crazy chicks whenever I find one?'
Clearing his throat, Sharpner said, "Uh, hey. I'm a friend of Son. I was wondering where I can find Tenshinhan?"
The front door was unlocked as it swung open, revealing a beautiful blonde-haired girl with green eyes with a red ribbon in her hair. She wore a pink tank top and a black pair of pants with a white knee pad, and pink boots.
This was Launch, a former member of the Dragon Team.
Launch eyed the young man with a stern glance, looking down to Sharpner's shoes, all the way up to his eyes.
"...Son? Did you say, Son?" Launch questioned, with one of her eyebrows raised in skepticism. "How do you the Son family? Let alone, Tien?"
"Uh, I'm friends with a guy named Son Gohan, Son Goku's kid. I met Tien last week during that whole robot-alien invasion thing." Sharpener said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I sort of…died in the middle of it before getting revived by that giant green dragon creature."
Softing her facial expression, Launch said, "...I guess you're telling the truth if you're saying that you ended up being brought back the Dragon Balls. And you say that you know Goku's kid, right?"
"Yeah, Son Gohan. He's my classmate in Orange Star High School."
Smirking, Launch said, "Alright, kid. I guess you can be trusted. What's your name, tough guy?"
"It's Sharpner, or Sharp for short," Sharpner said. "And you are?"
"The name's Launch. I've known the baldy for years now. I'm just crashing at his place for the time being." The blonde stated. "What are you looking for Tien for?"
"I was wondering if he was taking any students?" The blond haired boy answered. "I'm an aspiring martial artist."
Launch placed her hand on her hips upon hearing this.
"Are you sure about that, sport? I'm not sure if Tien's even humored the thought of taking anybody under his wing as of late. And even if he did, Tien would drive you to the ground and leave you broken on the floor. Take my word for it, kid. Judging by how you look, you wouldn't last a single day with his kind of training."
Scoffing at the discouragement, Sharpner said, "Please, if a friend of mine was able to learn this energy business in a day then so can I. And she happens to be Mr. Satan's kid while I was his top student in the youth division at his dojo."
Launch snorted at this, suppressing the urge to laugh at the kid's face.
"Sure, kid. Whatever you say. Just don't get your hopes up when he rejects you." The blonde said nonchalantly.
"We'll see about that, lady. Just tell me where the guy is and I'll be out of your hair." Sharpner said.
"No need to, hotshot. I can do ya one better."
Sharpner's eyes bulged in shock as Launch proceeded to go into the house and stepped out with a machine gun in her hand.
Taking a few steps back out of fear, Sharpner said, "H-Hey! What are you doing with that!?"
Raising it to the sky, Launch smirked at the boy's fear as she said, "The hell do ya think I'm doing? I'm calling Tien over!"
"With a machine gun!?"
"No shit! How else do you expect me to get his attention? Do you think he can hear my voice alone while he's over by the waterfalls?"
'...This chick is batshit crazy!'
Letting out a dozen shots in the air, Launch called out for her friend.
"Oi, Tien! Get out here! Some schmuck from Hercule City's out to see ya! He says he's friends with Goku's kid!"
Sharpner cringed on the inside at the aggressiveness of Launch's voice, inwardly finding more reasons to appreciate Erasa as a friend.
After a few moments, he found himself staring into the sky as he waited for Tien to come. It wasn't until Launch told him to turn around that he saw Tien flying towards him. While Sharpner had seen Gohan, his younger brother, and Videl fly, the city boy couldn't help but marvel at the sight of Tenshinhan descending to the ground with the famous Bukujutsu technique.
Tien now wore a navy blue gi with a red obi sash, white pants with a matching undershirt and cloak, black wristbands with red accents, and black martial arts shoes with yellow cuffs.
Looking over to Launch, Tien said, "What's this about a visitor?"
Gesturing to Sharpner, Tien turned to the boy with all three eyes widened in surprise.
"You're one of Gohan's friends from school, aren't you?" Tien stated. "The one who got wished back by Shenron."
Sharpner nodded slowly as he introduced himself.
"...Yes, that's me." The teen sighed, still disturbed at his death. My name's Sharpner. I've been looking to speak with you, sir."
"Speak with me?"
Launch specified with a smirk, "The kid's looking for a new martial arts teacher. You should have heard him, Tien. He said that he was the hairy oaf's top pupil."
"Mr. Satan, huh?" Tien said while looking at Sharpner as he scanned his energy signature.
This was indicated by Tenshinhan's third eye squinting, sending a wave of internal anxiety through Sharpner's body with sweat starting to form on his forehead.
'Hm… This kid is strong. Definitely stronger than the average adolescent young man his age. He may be on par with Mr. Satan, perhaps even stronger. Impressive for a person his age without the knowledge of ki. Gohan was able to get interesting results from Mr. Satan's daughter from the last couple of months. …Hm, maybe…'
Turning to Launch, Tien said, "I'll take it from here."
Launch blinked in pure shock.
"...Wait, don't tell me that you're considering–!"
One last glance from the Triclops stopped the girl mid-sentence. Sighing, the gunslinger relented.
"Fine, fine. You win." Launch shrugged as she began to walk off. "Don't come crying to me if your body's aching afterwards."
With that, the bombshell of a blonde went back inside the house, leaving Sharpner alone with Tenshinhan.
"So…" Sharpner started speaking in a semi-casual, yet awkward manner. "Is the babe like your girl or something?"
Tien shook his head, saying, "No. We've been long friends. But enough about me. What made you decide to come here to study under me? I'm sure Gohan is more than willing to teach you if you were to ask."
Sharpner shook his head.
"Nah. Son's already busy with taking care of the city's criminals and training Videl." The blond teen answered evenly.
Tien's eyes narrowed as he questioned, "There's more to it, is there?"
"I mean that guy killed for me, man. Even after all the shit that I said about him and his dad, Brains got even with that bastard and brought me back to life." Sharpner explained. "I can't say that about a lot of guys that I hang out with. As much as I would like to ask for his help, I don't think I have a right to do so. Son has done enough for me as it is."
Nodding, Tien answered, "You feel unworthy, guilty over past transgressions."
"...You can say that." The jock muttered.
"And so you came to me instead?" Tien concluded, crossing his arm. "Why is that?
"Because I recognize my weakness, my limitations. I've been blind by my own ego for so long, comparing my strength to Mr. Satan and Videl. And I was fine by that...for a time. But then, Gohan and the invasion shook things up. That day, when I lost my life and came back, morality slapped me in the face. I never felt so powerless…" Sharpner confessed, looking at his own hands.
The veteran fighter listened in silence.
"And then Videl and Erasa broke the truth to me. The man that I've been holding up high on a pedestal is a hack. All those years I've poured into following in his footsteps were for nothing. And it cost me my own life." Sharpner said bitterly before turning back to Tien. "But you're the real deal. A veteran fighter, a former champion. My dad always admired your skills. Back when I watched those old tapes of your matches in the 22nd and 23rd Tenkaichi Būdokai as a kid, I admired you too. That's why I'm here, sir. I want to start my training, and I wish to do it right this time."
The young man then bowed formally, Sharpner asked, "Please, Mr. Shinhan! Take me in as your student! I promise that I'll do everything as you say! Anything you throw at me, I can take it! I want to be ready in case something like last week happens again!"
Watching the young man for a second, a newly found respect for Sharpner. Tien smiled as he brought his hand on the teen's shoulder.
"Raise your head, kid. I want you to take a walk with me."
Raising his head, Sharpner glanced at the man in confusion and curiously.
"Huh? A walk? Where to?"
Tien simply turned his body as he lead Sharpner on a small hike.
-Twenty Minutes Later, By the Waterfalls-
Sharpner found himself panting, with sweat pouring from his face. While the trip to their cure destination was short, the climb to the plateau was steep with ledges that could have caused a person to plummet to their deaths.
Fortunately, Sharpner was fit enough to make it all the way to flat solid ground. Laying down for a moment, Sharpner rolled his head to see Tien standing with his hands behind his back as if he was leisurely taking a stroll.
'...Damn it! And here I thought I was in shape…'
"Need a hand?"
Sharpener snapped out of his thoughts with Tien offering his right hand to the teenager. The long-haired boy did so as the man instructed him to take a look around. The sight had rendered the brown-eyed blond's jaw dropped.
The one which the pair hiked to was home to a large beautiful waterfall fifteen feet away, which was separated from them by the plunge pool that was being filled with lily pads. Fortunately, the pool was surrounded by the ground covered in lush green grass that covered most of the land. At the center of the area were two stones that were flat enough at the top to be sat on.
"Oh wow…" Gasped Sharpner. "What is this place?"
"This is one of the spots that I use to train. Out of all of them, this one happens to be my favorite." Tien stated.
"Really?" The teen questioned. "I mean, I know you can probably get a good session out of push-ups, sit-ups, and a few other stretches but what about bench pressing? Or lifting weights? The requirements needed for a proper setup you can find in a gym are lacking here."
Tien simply walked over to the rock on the left and sat down on it with his legs crossed. He gestured for Sharpner to do the same on the rock next to his own.
"Sit."
Nodding, Sharpner sat next to him on the empty rock in the same manner which was stranger to him.
"Tell me something, Sharpner," Tien said. "How long have you been practicing the martial arts?"
Sharpener crossed his arms, accessing his earlier memories.
"Hm… Well, my old man showed me basic boxing combos since I was nine. But I didn't start taking actual lessons from a coach until a year later, so I'd say about seven years as of now."
"Seven years?" The triclops repeated.
"Yeah," Sharpner nodded as he flexed his muscles in a prideful manner. "These guns aren't just for show, either. Years of pushing my body to its max, and I got jacked because of my hard work. I won many scraps with them ever since."
Hearing this, Tien got up from the rock and stood over Sharpner, much to his surprise.
"Punch me."
"...What?"
Tien elaborated, "I want you to stand up and throw your strongest punch at my chest."
The teen stood up and looked at Tenshinhan with uncertainty. While he was aware that Tenshinhan was powerful, a part of his pride blinded him and his reasoning.
"You sure about this, man?"
"Positive. Hit me as hard as you can." The triclops repeated, patting his chest. "Right here."
Shrugging, Sharpner got into a boxer's stance and threw his strongest blow at the center of Tien's chest.
And it did absolutely nothing.
Reeling his fist back, Sharpner took a step back with his face turning pale as he felt a throbbing sensation with his fist now red and swelling in pain.
Cradling his hand, Sharpner hissed.
"Agh! Shit! It's like I just punched a door made of solid steel!" He swore before looking up to an indifferent Tien. "What are you made of!?"
"I'm composed of the same material as you. Flesh, blood, and bones." Tien answered in a civil manner.
"Oh, I gotta call bull on that! Punching people don't normally result in nearly breaking your hand!" The blond hissed.
Chuckling, Tien walked over and gently placed his hand over Sharpner's injured hand. Like that, he channeled a bit of ki from that hand, allowing the triclops to heal the teen's hand to near pique condition.
"W-What the–!?" Sharpner gasped, flexing his healed hand. "My hand! It's back to normal! What kind of trick was that?"
"...You still have much to learn about how the world works," Tien said with a small grin. "Just because a concept is invisible and intangible to the human eye doesn't mean that it doesn't exist."
Sharpner tilted his head, trying to wrap his head around what the former champion said.
"Huh? What does that even mean?" The young man questioned.
"Are you aware of ki, or energy?" Tien spoke with his own question.
Recalling the details Erasa and Videl filled about Gohan's background, Sharpner nodded positively.
"Sort of. They said that those light beams, the crazy speed, and flying come from that ki stuff. But I only know a little bit about it."
Tien then said, "Okay, well let's look at ki, or energy this way. Ki is like air, the breath of life. Can you see the air?"
"No."
"But you know it's there, right?"
"Well, yeah. People use it for all kinds of stuff. Besides, we kind of need it to live."
"Well, Sharpner. Ki is no different from the air that we breathe." Tien concluded. "All living things have ki, or energy. And like air, life energy can be used to maintain and preserve life while being used in many other capacities. Without energy, there can be no life."
Tien opened his left hand and created a sphere of energy the size of a golf ball, displaying it to Sharpner.
"...Woah! Cool!" The brown-eyed boy gasped.
He reached out to touch the sphere, only for Tien to stop him.
"That wouldn't be so wise. Little or not, this much energy while condensed can prove to be quite dangerous."
Tien reeled his hand back, paying mind to the older man's words.
"The reason why you couldn't hurt me wasn't just because I have years of experience and time to condition my body to endure hard punishment, but because one of the applications of ki is to enhance one's physical capabilities to extremes that the common Earthling would deem as superhuman or impossible. You could punch through walls of solid steel with ki if you were to train hard enough."
Sharpner's jaw nearly hit the floor at this revelation.
'No wonder why he became champion! This guy's on a whole other level! And Tien is just a human! Hell, he may as well be the strongest man alive!'
Calming down after Tien dispelled the ball of ki, Sharpner then asked, "Wait, if all people have ki and there are means to control ki, why hasn't anybody stepped up to prove its methods by the time Mr. Satan was parading his lies and beliefs to the world?"
Folding his arms, Tien said, "Many warriors of the martial arts believe that our path is a form of expression; a way of life. A lifestyle that is not for everyone. And much like our way of life, not everybody is physically capable or mentally open to utilizing the power of their own ki. What matters is that we have the experience to confirm the knowledge we obtained to be true. That is why we do not roam around in search of students, but rather wait for those whose path aligns with ours. That is how we acquire new students. I, too, believe in this philosophy."
"...Like how I'm here now," Sharpner said, realizing what he was saying.
"Exactly," Tien said with a smirk before it turned into a serious face. "With that being said, what you're asking is a change of lifestyle. That means that training will not be an average two to three-hour workout with other young men in a gym. It's not a weekday activity like baseball practice like at your school. It is a rigid, strict, and brutal regimen that requires you to get up from dawn and sleep at dusk. You will struggle throughout the day. And I will not hold your hand. Are you sure that this is what you want?"
Sharpner instantly reaffirmed his determination, nodding at the man with an equally hardened exterior.
"I'd rather struggle in self-improvement than die a useless death again."
Smirking once more, Tien said, "Very well, Sharpner. I'll accept you as my student. But do know this. From this point, onwards, there is no turning back. While I am flexible with time given that you are a student and you have other responsibilities, I will make sure that you will get some sort of training daily. Unless something arises, your weekends are mine to train you."
Sharpner agreed to this as he said, "Thank you, Master Tien. I won't let you down!"
"Good, because your training starts today."
The long-haired boy blinked comedically with astonishment, saying, "...Eh?"
-Moments Later, By the Waterfall-
Sharpner and Tien stood in front of each other after spending five to ten minutes stretching their limbs with standard exercises.
Now, Tien had Sharpner stand in place as he awaited instruction.
"Before I teach you a new fighting style, we will be focusing on unlocking the ability to harness your ki." Tenshinhan stated. "Your new style is a variant of the Tsurusen-ryū form, the defensive and graceful Haku Tsuru-ken, or the White Crane Fist. This form of the Crane Style relies on your ki to flow smoothly throughout your body for the techniques of the form to work. While you physically are capable as shown by your punch, you lack the internal power. The energy behind the force of the punch. We must rectify this issue by tapping into that inner power that is your life essence."
Blinking for a moment, Sharpner said, "–Pause! You lost me at defensive and graceful. No offense, Master, but I'm not a lightweight pansy. I'm a well-built brawler, ready to knock someone's teeth out of their mouth. I want to learn how to fight, not to learn some ancient girly dance moves."
"Girly, you say?" Tien said, raising an eyebrow. "Need I remind you that my variant of the Crane Style was developed by a pair of brothers who were under the tutelage of who is now considered to be the grandfather of modern martial arts? Mind you, their style was designed strictly for swift assassination. And I mastered it."
That alone shut the kid up as he listened to his master. Firstly, Tien told him to take nice and deep breaths, which Sharpner did.
"Now, I want you to cup your hands to gather in a motion like this," Tien said, putting his hands together outwardly. "Don't touch them, but bring them close enough to leave room for the energy to flow and come out."
The triclops watched as the teen attempted to mimic him. He could see the tense nature of his posture and the sweat that poured off of him, trying so hard to bring the energy out from himself. From there, five minutes turned into over two and a half hours like clockwork.
'He's clearly under a lot of pressure. That simply won't do him any good.'
"Okay, stop. Catch your breath."
Upon hearing Tien's voice, Sharpner collapsed onto his knees, panting from the near fatigue of his body.
"Urgh! …Damn it all!" The blond huffed. "I've been at this for over two hours! Why isn't this working!?"
Tien said, "You're impatient, Sharpner. Ki is not something you can simply force out of yourself at your beckoning call. It's like analogous or similar to the flow of water, an energy that you can only guide throughout of your body."
Sharpner could only sigh in frustration, punching the ground with his fist.
"This isn't getting me anywhere! Videl got this shit down in less than a day! This should be easy!"
Tien shook his head, "Do you know what your problem is, Sharpner? You're projecting."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Haven't you realized? You've set it yourself. You keep comparing your abilities as a fighter to the likes of Videl, a completely different person with a separate set of skills. Isn't that what you told me before?"
"Uh…yeah, I did. But–"
"-But nothing." Tien said with no room for arguments. "That's what's holding you back. You're constantly comparing people to yourself, striving to meet the standards of others around you. Doing that will do you no good in your progression."
Sharpner looked down in shame, realizing his mistake.
"...You're right. I've been doing that ever since I lost to her. I've always prided myself on being relative to Mr. Satan and his daughter in power. I wanted to be just like them. …But now I know better." Sharpner said, turning to Tien as he rose to his feet. "Though, I can't just change on the fly. What should I do, Master?"
"That is the beauty about the path of martial arts. Even at the start of your journey, changes can be observed in the smallest of ways. Your acceptance of your flaws is the first step to move forward." Tien said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "The point of the warrior's journey is not to defeat your adversaries or merely to master techniques, rather it is to prepare for your greatest challenge in. To defeat and master yourself. In order to get that far, you must discover who you are and accept who you are."
Sharpner silently contemplated his master's words, taking them to heart before Nodding once more.
"Right, I hear you." He said. "I'd like to try it one more time, Master Tien."
Tenshinhan smiled as he directed him to take the same position as he was. Both were in a horse stance with their arms tucked to their sides and their fists clenched.
"Take deep breaths…" The triclops said, doing what he said with Sharpner following him. "Inhale…and exhale…"
"Concentrate… Feel the energy circulate in your body. Let the ki flow through you like a river."
As Sharpner listened to his master and controlled his breathing, a new sensation foreign to the blond washed over his being. It was like nothing he had ever felt before; a warmth that was not only comfortable but it was empowering. This was accompanied by a faint outer glow of ki emanated.
'My body! I never felt like this before. It feels energized! Is this my own energy?'
"Great. You're doing well, Sharpner. Now, direct the flow of ki from your core to the palms of your hands. Don't force it out, simply let it pour out of them."
With a deep breath, Sharpner patient began to bring out his ki as it gathered in his hand, indicated by a humming sound which was then followed by a small sphere of light appearing.
"...Holy crap! It's working! I-I'm doing it!" Sharpner said excitedly. "Master Tien! Look! I can use ki!"
Tien smiled at this, looking at Sharpner with pride.
"Congratulations. Not many warriors can unlock this ability in a day. Normally, it takes decades of meditation and practice to even tap into their inner power. Be proud of yourself this day, but don't let this define who you are."
Sharpner agreed as he let the ki dissipate from his hands, falling on his rear.
"Phew! …Damn, that took a lot out of me than I thought." Huffed the blond.
"Rightfully so. You've been attempting to awaken a power that is foreign to you for hours on end. Your body needs time to adjust, to adapt to this change." Tien said in a sage like manner. "I suppose this is a good place to stop training for the day."
The triclops then held out his hand, saying, "Come, let's head back to my house. Launch probably has gourmet food prepared for us by now."
Smiling at Tien, Sharpner to his hand once more.
Training Grounds, Gogyōzan Mountain, Frying Pan Plain, Age 774
A dozen warriors reminiscent of terracotta warriors from the Qin dynasty with a hue of dark blue and magenta accents stood before Goku with swords raised, ready to cut him into ribbons.
Goku stood in front of his opponents, now sporting a new attire. While he still wore a gi, the uniform provided by the goddess, Annin, was a beautiful gradient of royal blue with matching top and bottoms. His wristbands were crimson instead of his traditional blue, and his blue obi was replaced by a white belt that was tied to the left side of his waist. He had matching white bands on his upper arms and white socks. On his feet were black martial artist shoes rather than his blue boots. He still maintained his family symbol on the left side of his shirt.
Sitting on a bench at the sidelines were Annin and Grandpa Gohan, both eager to see how strong Goku was for themselves up close. To test his strength, Annin conjured up tangible illusions of warriors to gauge Goku's power.
Taking his Turtle stance, Goku breathed, waiting for his opponents to make the first move.
After ten seconds passed, all of the warriors jetted towards Goku with swords drawn to pierce him at all angles. Goku merely moved out of the way using Rapid Movement.
A wave of the three warriors flew towards Goku, with the first one going for a horizontal slash. However, Goku weaved out of the way and sent him away in a puff of smoke with a well-placed sidekick. Sensing the second one above him, Goku decided to use the After Image technique to avoid the attack while tricking it. This was followed by Goku reappearing in front of the second warrior, punching it in the face, then shooting a small ki blast in its solar plexus, destroying it. The third one decided to use a Qiang to impale him, aiming at his vital areas with the intent to inflict fatal damage to the Saiyan. Goku, being much more agile, gracefully evaded each attack until he saw an opportunity and jumped on the pole of the Qiang. While balancing on the spear, Goku leaped and brought the third warrior down with a single ax kick.
Grandpa Gohan and Annin watched with intrigued and astonishment on how well Goku was handling the soldiers, making quick work of the second and third wave of opponents that were made up of a group of three.
"My goodness. Look at him go." Gohan said with astonishment. "He's grown so much since the last time I've seen him. Before, he had difficulty being able to master his tail, and now he's defeating illusions created by a deity like their training dummies."
"It's a spectacle, alright," The goddess nodded in agreement. "But I suppose that is to be expected. He is a Saiyan, after all. They live in battle in order to obtain greater power. Your grandson is no different from his kind in that regard."
"I see…" Grandpa Gohan said, watching his grandson as he was approaching his final wave of opponents.
'You have gotten a lot stronger, my son. Stronger than I ever could have hoped for. And yet, I have a feeling that we're merely seeing glimpses of what you're truly capable of.' The older man thought to himself.
The last three warriors stood in front of Goku, with the Saiyan smiling at them.
"I take it you're the last ones, right? It's a shame this has to end so soon. The warm-up was fun and all, but I'd wish this was more of a challenge. If you guys would have combined your powers together, things would have been a lot more exciting." Goku said, a little bummed out.
Unbeknownst to Goku, Annin's keen sense of hearing picked up the Saiyan's words, allowing her to formulate an idea.
'A challenge, he says? Very well, let's see how he fairs with what he's asked for.'
Snapping her fingers, all of the fallen warriors return while glowing a dark blue. Goku was taken by surprise at this sudden turn of events.
"Huh? What the–!? How are you guys back!?"
Grandpa Gohan turned to his superior, asking, "Milady, what is going on? What is it that you're planning to do?"
The goddess giggled, saying, "Fufufufu! Just you wait, dear Gohan. Everything will become clear."
All of the illusionary warriors began to merge together in a whirlwind of dark blue aura. After thirty seconds, a single armored warrior stood in the place of the original twelve. Its power was now on par with Goku in his normal state as its dark blue aura still emanated around it. Its red eyes shimmered, focusing on the Saiyan as it took its stance.
An ecstatic smirk fell on the man's face as similar thoughts came to his mind.
'Woah! Check out that power! They must have fused into each other as I said before! And it doesn't have any weapons either. It must want a full-on melee.'
Excited, Goku punched his fists together as he said, "Now, that is what I'm talking about! With your power this high we can skip the warm-up and get right to it!"
Goku slid back into his stance as he declared, "Come and show me what you got, friend!"
The illusionary warrior moved forward, intercepting Goku's punch with its own, causing a shockwave that forced Grandpa Gohan to cover his face from the powerful draft the shockwave made. Annin remained unphased but was still watching the fight with interest.
The warriors became locked in a confrontation, exchanging punches and kicks, with one catching a person off guard, only for the other to retaliate with a counterattack. This resulted in a deadlock that caused them to clasp each other's hands with their fingers locked in place. The power that they emitted sparked from their hands. Both of them struggled for dominance for a bit, with Goku gritting his teeth.
Without warning, Goku took a knee to the chin, a jab to the midsection, then was sent downwards with an axe kick to the head. As it did that, the warrior opened its left hand, pointing it at Goku while gathering dark blue ki.
Before Goku could hit the ground, he stopped himself mid-air before landing on the ground in a horse stance.
'This guy is tough! It's able to match me at my normal level of power. I'd normally go Super Saiyan for this, but I don't want to overdo it and destroy Lady Annin's place. You know what, why don't I bust out an old favorite of mine?'
Taking a deep breath, Goku's muscle mass expanded to nearly twice its normal size as he bellowed, "KAIŌKEN!"
Taking Grandpa Gohan and especially Annin was left in shock as the Saiyan was cloaked in a red aura that burned like a fire, causing his hair to spike up similarly to his Super Saiyan transformation with his power increasing rapidly.
"He knows North Kai's technique!? I thought only the Supreme Kai's attendant knew it!" Annin said, clearly taken by surprise.
"Apparently so." Grandpa Gohan said as he smiled with pride.
Seeing that the warrior was about to discharge its own attack, Goku cupped his hands together to his right side, forming and condensing his own ki into a bright blue ball between his hands.
"KA…ME…HA…ME…!" Goku chanted as he charged his attack.
The warrior then discharged his attack which turned out to be a dark blue blast of electricity, sending it directly to where Goku stood.
Goku, seeing this coming, released his beam of blue energy as he screamed, "HAAA!"
The Kamehameha Wave met the lightning bolt of the warrior at full force. But thanks to the amplification of the Kaiōken technique, the Kamehameha Wave overtook the warrior's attack, destroying the warrior instantaneously.
Victorious, Goku relaxed his body as he deactivated the Kaioken technique, then turned to his grandfather and Annin.
"So, how did I do?" The man asked.
"That was a fine performance, my son!" Gohan praised. "I haven't seen a Kamehameha Wave that massive in all my years of training under Master Roshi!"
"Thanks! I was able to do a small one on my first try, and then I had to train pretty darn hard before I was able to master it and create a greater version of it. Hehehe!" Goku said, scratching his head while laughing.
Annin clapped her hands, getting Goku and Grandpa Gohan's attention.
"Bravo, Goku! You made quick work of my illusionary soldiers. My men usually defeat all those who dare walk towards the gate. I can see how you are hailed as Earth's champion."
Goku nodded, taking the goddess' acknowledgment positively.
"Thanks, Lady Annin! I had a great time with your warriors! The spar was well worth the exercise."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Now that we know the truest extent of your power, we can move on to the next phase of your training." Annin said contently.
Hearing this, Goku couldn't help but laugh sheepishly, "Hehehehe! Well, it's funny that you say that…"
Annin blinked at his mannerism, confused by it as she crossed her arms.
"Is there something amusing that I'm not understanding?" Annin questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Grandpa Gohan stepped forward before the guardian of the Hakke-ro could get irritated.
"Now, now. I see what's going on, Milady." Grandpa Gohan said while bowing to his superior.
The old man turned to Goku with a knowing glint in his eyes as he said, "I was watching the way you were fighting. You were holding back, weren't you?"
Raising his index finger from his left hand with a mischievous grin, Goku said, "Yup!~"
Annin's mouth opened, once again taken by surprise. Goku's statement made it clear that she had underestimated him.
"Y-You can't be serious!" The protector of the Furnace of Eight Divisions exclaimed. "There's no way that a mortal Saiyan could reach such heights in power!"
Goku looked at Annin with a confident smirk.
"A lot has happened since I learned about my Saiyan heritage, Lady Annin. As you said before, we Saiyans live for the thrill of the fight. And whenever we're near the brink of death, our strength increases profoundly each time we heal. For the last decade or so, I've been training with a power that I discovered upon my skirmishes with evil." Goku said, never losing his confidence in his voice. "I'd be more than happy to show you the fruits of my labor if you like?"
In a huff, Annin said, "Okay, child. Though I find your insinuation to be daring in an unflattering manner, you've aroused my curiosity…barely. If everything that you say is true, then show this…power that you speak of."
Nodding, Goku asked, "You okay with it too, Grandpa?"
"Of course, my boy. I'm rather curious, myself."
Understanding, Goku said, "Alright then. Pay close attention. Also, try to find a good foundation to hold onto and stay stable. I don't want you guys to fly back and bump into something, you know?"
Grandpa Gohan went over and held on to a tree while Annin stubbornly stood in place.
'There's no way he can be as strong as he claims to be. Saiyan or not, a mortal with the ability to be relative to the power of a god…it's unheard of! I can destroy a solar system at my full power, and that's with my divine energy!' Annin said, glaring at Goku as he took a few steps back.
"Alright, guys. This will be a lesson on Saiyans, so take mental notes. One of the best ways for us to gain power is through rage and the need to acquire that power. Through overwhelming anger, I managed to break my limits." Explained Goku. "Right now, I'm standing before you in my normal state."
Out of nowhere, Goku's hair spiked up in a fluid motion as he transformed into a Super Saiyan, leaving a few bangs from his wild locks to hang from his head. The golden aura, the sudden change of his eyes, the demeanor of his facial features, and the overall rise of power shocked the old man and Annin all at once.
Annin gasped at this change, thinking, 'What's this!? His hair, his eyes, they're different from before! And his power, it's increased greatly! It just got closer to my own! …Though not quite there. Perhaps, this was the power he was talking about.'
"...Oh my! Your energy has risen wildly! What happened to you? What have you become?" Asked the old man.
Goku chuckled as he said, "This is my Super Saiyan form, Grandpa. It's a legendary transformation that my people spoke about for generations. This form increases my strength, speed, durability, power, and senses by a great deal. I originally turned into this after suffering a great loss. It used to be a sensation that comes and goes like an instinct. I've long since gained control of it."
"Incredible…!" Grandpa Gohan marveled.
"Oh, don't catch your breath just yet, Grandpa. We're only getting started!" Goku said as he grunted.
Flexing his muscles a bit, Goku transformed again, becoming an Ascended Super Saiyan as young Gohan did seven years ago. Now, sparks surged around him while fewer bangs hung on his head due to the static lifting most of them up while they spiked on his head.
Annin's mind began to race with more erratic thoughts.
'...What! His power just jumped several times higher! Now he's really close to my level of power! What kind of mortal is this man?'
"This is what happens when I push past the barrier of the first Super Saiyan. I like to call this one the Ascended Super Saiyan. But to keep it simple, you can refer to it as Super Saiyan Level Two." Goku stated. "My son used this form to put an end to two foes that threatened the Earth. Mind you, he was the one who achieved this transformation first."
"My goodness! Goku, this is beyond anything I've experienced in my lifetime on Earth! What kind of forces of evil have you and your family faced to get this powerful?"
"A lot. But we managed to pull through in the end. And that's what counts." Goku smirked while still in the second level of the Super Saiyan.
Rolling her eyes, Annin scoffed, "Okay, so you've gotten a little stronger and you changed your hair. So what? I hardly consider this an ascension."
Goku chuckled at the goddess, stating, "Hehehe! Who said that I was done? There's still more."
"What!?" Annin cried.
"Goku? What are you–!?"
Balling up his fists tightly as he hunches forward, Goku gritted his teeth as he said, "And this…is to go even further beyond!"
Goku began to scream as an overwhelming surge of ki began to emanate from the man. As he did this, the ground began to shake. The earthquake was then followed by a greater current of wind that caused the likes of Annin to cover her face and plant her feet on the ground. Grandpa Gohan held on tight to the tree, trying hard not to fly out of the training grounds.
Annin thought to herself, 'This force! It's too much! I can barely keep myself from being blown away! Son Goku, he's unreal!'
As the man wailed with the build-up of power changing his body, the magnitude of the ki being generated altered the dimensions, shaking the fabric between Other World and Earth while in the middle of the transformation. Goku's muscle mass expanded further at this point while also becoming more defined. While losing his eyebrows, Goku's teal eyes now exposed his pupils. But the most notable feature in his appearance is the long hair that flowed much like his late brother, Raditz, which was paired with the surge of electricity that was dancing all around him. The transformation reached its climax once the hair was finished growing until it reached his lower back and the golden lightning circulating his body.
Once it was finished, Goku emerged from the dust cloud with a golden outer glow, flowing long blond hair, electricity around his body, and incredible ki burning around him.
Basking in the sight of Goku, Annin whispered, "What in Zeno-sama's name-!?"
"...G-Goku?" Grandpa Gohan muttered. "Is that you, son?"
"...Yes, Grandpa. It's still me." Goku answered in a deep and raspy tone. "Sorry for the wait, I'm not used to this form, yet. I've achieved this in my seventh year in Other World. I call this Beyond Super Saiyan, or you can call it Super Saiyan Level Three."
Turning to Annin, who slightly flinched at Goku in his new appearance, the Saiyan took a few steps toward her in a smooth manner before stopping.
"Well, then. What do you think, Lady Annin? This is my full power. Does my current limit meet your standards?" Goku questioned, smirking at her in a way that would make Vegeta proud.
The goddess backed up, still overcome with shock.
"How? How on Earth can mortals get this powerful! No mortal should come close to a deity's might!" Annin exclaimed.
"That's your issue," Goku stated. "Outside of the Kais and the Guardian of Earth, none of you gods bother to watch us, mortals, as we were struggling against the terrors of the universe. We were forced to get this powerful in order to protect ourselves and our families. Had you paid more attention, you'd learn that when push comes to shove, we Saiyans will overcome the odds eventually and surpass our limitations. And that doesn't just go for Saiyans, but all mortals if given the chance."
Annin glared at Goku, taking a fighting stance, saying, "You dare talk down on us gods? Regardless of your power or not, I will not tolerate such disrespect, boy! Especially in my domain!"
"I'm only speaking the truth, Lady Annin. I do not intend to insult you personally. But do not blame me for your pantheon's ignorance on their part." Goku said in a stoic manner before taking his stance. "However, if you want a fight then I'll give you one! Besides, I've been itching for a battle against you, anyways!"
But before Goku's Sayian instinct for battle got the best of him, Grandpa Gohan got in front of his superior and channeled his white and yellow Godly ki throughout his body.
"Enough of this!" The old man said.
"What, Gohan!?" The goddess cried.
As he held his hands out, he waved them in a circular motion, he created a circle that ensnared Goku in the old man's divine aura, holding the Saiyan in place. Goku tried to move, only to find himself being further restrained by Gohan's Godly ki. With each step, Goku found himself being brought to his knees.
Grunting, Goku said, "Ugh! G-Grandpa! W-What are you doing? Let me go!"
"That's enough, Goku! You need to stop and think about what you're doing!" Grandpa Gohan said with a firm exterior. "Your drive for battle has caused you to turn to madness! This isn't the man that I raised you to be! I don't know what's exactly gotten into you but I believe these forms have something to do with it. Lower your power back to normal."
Goku, realizing what he was about to do, fell out of the third level while still restrained by his grandfather. Seeing this, the old man had dropped the technique that he used on the Saiyan, allowing Goku to fall to his knees from the fatigue that Super Saiyan Level Three caused him.
Walking up to her attendant, Annin said, "Thank you for your assistance, Gohan. Although, it wasn't necessary to intervene."
Gohan bowed to his superior, saying, "Please forgive him, Milady. My grandson's eagerness for battle tends to get the better of him from time to time. He's been like that since he was a baby. Don't take his actions personally, I'll take full responsibility!"
Before Annin could say anything, a voice said, "No, Grandpa! I will."
The pair turned to see Goku, who managed to stand on his own two feet as he approached the two and bowed in his grandfather's place.
"I was out of line, Lady Annin. While I meant what I said about the gods, I didn't mean to act like I was above them in terms of flaws. After all, I'm a mortal man. And a Saiyan. My grandfather doesn't need to cover for another grown man's actions. I ask for your forgiveness. I apologize for my disrespect."
Astonished at the Saiyan's sudden change of personality, Annin turned away while still trying to process what she just learned.
"...I suppose that I can accept your apology and overlook your blasphemy since you are Gohan's grandson. But just this once, mortal. But be warned…" Annin said softly before turning over her shoulder with burning red eyes as her voice grew cold. "Speak I'll to me in my domain again and no mystical dragon will ever fix what I'll do to you. You have one more time to cross me again, Son Goku. Know your place."
And with that, Annin went back to the manner with a headache she needed to nurse.
Goku and Gohan sighed heavily, collapsing on their rears at the same time.
"Sheesh! That was intense." Goku gulped, being reminded about his wife back at home. "And I thought Chi-Chi was scary."
"That is to be expected, Annin is a warrior goddess, after all." Grandpa Gohan explained. "Besides, you blatantly insulted her and the other gods. Of course, she would become upset."
Goku held up his hands saying, "Hey, I said I was sorry! I didn't mean to get her angry, it just came out at the spur of the moment. I wouldn't normally act like that, honest! …I hope she won't stay mad for too long."
"I know that, son. And don't worry about Milady, all that was damaged was her pride. I'll talk to her later when she's in a better mood. Anyway, I think your behavior shift had everything to do with those transformations of yours. That Super Saiyan Level Three, specifically." Grandpa Gohan said, pointing at him.
"Oh, right. I did say I'm not used to it yet. I get a major boost in power and ki, but burn through the stamina and energy just to keep it on." Goku said, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "There's a lot that needs to be done before I can master it."
That's when Goku remembered something…
…Gohan's technique.
"Hey, Grandpa? What was that technique that you did to stop me? It was incredible, being able to stop me when I was Beyond Super Saiyan."
The old man said, "That, son, was the God Bind technique. I wrapped you around in my divine energy by cloaking my hands with it to restrain your movements. It's one of the many unique techniques for those who possess the aura of a deity. "
"Oh, wow! That's a pretty neat trick!"
Grandpa Gohan nodded, stating, "Indeed. It took me ten years to master that move while I was still getting accustomed to having Godly ki."
Tilting his head, Goku asked, "How does one obtain Godly ki, though? I know you're not a god, yet you have it. So there must be a way to get it."
"I'm not too sure about your people, but the way that I mastered ki to a divine level was by having a deeper understanding about myself, my body, and the inner light from within," Gohan explained.
"What do you mean by that, Grandpa?"
"One of the fundamental things about Godly ki, Goku, is that you are tapping into an energy source that is not only much more powerful than ordinary ki but is calm in nature, unlike those Super Saiyan forms you possess. This requires an extreme level of control that could take years to grasp. And I can already see the struggle that you're going to have based on that last transformation you showed me." Grandpa Gohan said while staring at Goku. "For with my method, I had to take my energy and contain it from within while it's on a heightened level."
"Huh?!" Goku reeled back in shock. "I have to contain my power at max!?"
The old man nodded. "Mhm."
Goku could only sweat from the thought, with his image of the rigorous training that would have to undergo to achieve his next goal running wild. But the idea of a challenge was causing his Saiyan heart to tremble with excitement.
A grin formed on his face as he brought his fists together.
"Hehehe! Is that right? Well, that sounds like a challenge to me! If that's the case, then I'm all for it!" Goku said as he flashes a toothy grin at his grandfather. "After all, you didn't raise any quitters and I'm not backing down any time soon!"
Grandpa smiled at his grandson as he thought to himself, 'Even after all these years, you haven't changed a bit, son.'
When Grandpa Gohan and Goku stood up, Gohan said, "Very well, Goku. Let's get started."
To Be Continued…
It seems that even Sharpner has decided to undergo a change since the events of Cooler and the Invasion of West City. Now with a new teacher in the form of Tenshinhan, the jock sets his sights on a new goal; to discover himself as his own warrior. And with a new direction, the late Goku is following suit by walking down the path of Godhood? But what new adventures await our heroes? Find out next time on Dragon Ball Z: PRIMAL!
Author's Note: Hi guys! I'm back with another chapter!
Real quick, this will be the
LAST chapter of the Cooler Saga! This is officially the last one for a while! I have to focus on things in my life and the next saga is going to take a while because I'm actually planning it out. The next villain has already been set up since halfway through the Cooler Saga and even made a cameo if you look hard enough. By the way, there's going to be a three-month time skip ahead, so make like Scar from the Original Lion King and be prepared.
The second thing that I like to discuss is Sharpner's new style of fighting. The White Crane Style is based on the Fujian White Crane Fist of Southern China. Not everything will be accurate to the source material but some techniques and movements will be borrowed from that, Karate, Boxing, and Muay Thai as Sharpner is a mixed martial artist in this continuity. As for his Battle Power right now, if Hercule was 240 and Videl was 250 before unlocking her ki thanks to Gohan, Sharpner before he got his ki unlocked was at least 245. Now, I cannot calculate his level, but he's definitely stronger than Hercule now but nowhere near as strong as Master Roshi at his current max. By the time the next arc starts, he'll begin to catch up and eventually bridge the gap of power between himself and Videl. I will also look into seeing what kind of fighting style Videl will take on during my time away.
Another thing to clarify is that Grandpa Gohan is NOT stronger than Goku. Grandpa Gohan is at least strong enough to destroy a large star with his Godly ki at max power. Goku, right now with Super Saiyan Level Three, could wipe out a Solar System. Annin, in this story, can match Goku at her max with her Godly ki. The reason why Grandpa Gohan was able to restrain Goku at SS3 was that he was not only able to talk him down but because Goku just obtained that form, so it's more likely to drain his stamina and power much easier than in canon. If Goku were to fight Annin, eventually, Goku would be dropped out of SS3 and got himself destroyed by Annin. That's why Gohan stopped him. And Annin is not only stronger than King Yemma, but in this story, she's as strong as the Grand Kai but weaker than Kibito, who learned Kaioken from King Kai in this continuity. Mind you guys, Shin is much stronger here than in canon. The reason why Annin flipped out was that she has the same mentality about mortals as Kibito.
Anyways, tell me what you think about this Saga overall. Who are your favorite characters? Favorite moments? Who would you like to see more of? What ideas do you have? Are there areas for me to improve in terms of storytelling? Speculate what you think will happen as the story goes on. Any questions? Please, review or PM me. I'm always happy to answer your burning questions and get back to your comments as soon as I can.
Until then, see you guys later!
-DarkShadowGames451