Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit, fan-based story. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Grand Tour, Dragon Ball Super, and many other titles are all owned by Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji Television, Shueisha, and Akira Toriyama. Please support the official release and have a wonderful day/night :)
A/N: Do note that this story is currently taking place after the events of the Universal Survival Saga, but before the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie, the Moro Saga, the Granolah Saga, Dragon Ball Super: Superhero, and anything that comes after that.
The stories of Xenoverse 1 and Xenoverse 2 will also be implemented alongside Dragon Ball Heroes (possibly). Thank you for understanding.
"This is it...this is where I take my leave, departing from the mortal realm; I sincerely enjoyed the time we spent together. Every moment was truly remarkable and I yearn for the day when we can do it all over again in another lifetime. Concerning my new successor, the residents of Planet Kanassan have gifted me with the ability to peek into the future. After using said power, I can say with full confidence that a great future awaits you, but do not allow that information to go to your head, you are going to go through an abundance of hardships and partake in gruesome battles; however, I'm sure you will be victorious in the end. Even if I'm not here anymore, I want you to know that I believe in you and always will. Please do me proud and use my powers for good."
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[ACT ONE, CHAPTER ONE: PROLOGUE]
It had been one month since Son Goku and his companions, also Frieza, competed in the Omni Kings' Tournament of Power and ultimately won, saving their universe from universal extinction, while resurrecting the fallen ones that woefully lost and had to face existence erasure as a consequence. Universe 7 and all that resided within it were at peace...though it was uncertain how long that would last. As cynical as it may sound, nothing remained peaceful for long, and there was always someone bent on bringing everything and everyone to ruin for their own personal wants or, worse, for the sake of it. Would evil rear its ugly head and run amok throughout Universe 7 once again, spreading mayhem any chance it can, or would Universe 7 finally find peace?
Fate would be the one to provide an answer...
Within a graveyard, a boy stood over an obelisk gravestone sculpted from fine marble, holding an assortment of red and black roses. The Earthling's countenance was marked by melancholy, and it looked as though he was about to break down in tears, but he didn't and certainly wasn't going to; he told himself to stay strong, he promised himself he would stay valiant through and through. A refreshing breeze wafted past the boy's hair and lightly smacked him in the face, while rays of sunlight belonging to the dazzling sun high above his head beamed down upon him; although he didn't seem to mind it in the slightest, he would admit that he could do without it, but it was what it was, and he couldn't complain even if he wanted to.
Yasha Kine was the name of the aforementioned boy, although most people, particularly his loved ones (excluding his mother, older sisters, and a few individuals), commonly addressed him as Zuki, his middle name.
Zuki was a tall caramel-skinned young man with a tall stature and toned physique. His hair was disheveled, with two bangs draping over his black eyes, as if he had just gotten out of bed and neglected to manage it; moreover, the color of his hair was iced champagne blonde, obtained from his mother, and raven black, obtained from his father. Interestingly, he had metallic red braces on his teeth, complete with elastic rubber bands that were linked from the top wire to the bottom wire. Last but not least, he was dressed in a dark red hoodie with three white stripes on each sleeve and a gray T-shirt underneath with a Sam & Max decal. Two dog tags and three chains hung from Zuki's neck; the first chain had a silver peace sign, the second held a yin-yang symbol, and the third carried a small silver sword set with a greenish-blue gem. He additionally wore silver rings on each of his fingers and ear piercings to go with his jewelry. Finalizing his attire were tattered blue jeans and a pair of Carmine Jordan 6s on his feet.
Zuki was paying his respects to a loved one who had passed away prematurely from an illness two years prior. The deceased loved one was his mentor, a respectable woman who introduced him to the vast world of fighting; she took him under her wing, taught him much about the art of combat, and shaped him into the young man he was in the present age. Moreover, she was a cherished, well-respected family friend, and, most importantly, a wonderful person who always brightened someone's day; she was a courageous spirit who stood up for the unfortunate in their time of need, cared for those who couldn't care for themselves, and defended those who needed defending...she would truly and wholeheartedly be missed.
"Master Lumi..." Zuki knelt before his teacher's tombstone and laid the beautiful roses he brought with him down.
Zuki redirected his attention towards the expanse of the azure sky overhead, fixating his gaze upon the floating clouds as they gracefully drifted at their own leisure. There was an awkward moment of silence. God, they were so awkward. Zuki didn't particularly enjoy visiting the Cemetery, as it wasn't a place that appealed to many people aside from goths, emos, and others who appreciate such environments. The atmosphere was incredibly gloomy and disheartening for him, and the knowledge that his teacher was among the numerous individuals who had passed away there only added to his already profound sorrow.
Feeling that he had been quiet for long enough, Zuki finally broke the silence. "Master Lumi, if you're listening, probably not, I want you to know that I miss you and that I hope the afterlife is treating you nicely." A deep sigh departed from Zuki's mouth. "You know, I never got the chance to say this at the hospital because I was too caught up in my emotions, but thank you...for everything you've done; you trained me under your tutelage and viewed me like a son even though you had no reason to do so."
Zuki rose to his feet.
"I still remember the promise I made to you, and I don't think I'll ever forget it." Zuki raised his hand to his face and gripped it. "Become the champion of Earth, the guardian who stops the ones with evil in their hearts from succeeding, and I believe that's something I can do." The pout on Zuki's face was substituted by a downcast smile as a soft guffaw exited his lips. "I'll do whatever I can to honor your last wish, and if I fail, at least I went out doing what I thought was best." Zuki's melancholic smile morphed into a frown. "Until we meet again in the afterlife, farewell master..."
Zuki paid his respects to his late mentor with a salute, honoring them as though they were a war hero, and with all the good they've done in the past when they were still alive, they might as well have been one. Honestly, Zuki felt an influx of negative emotions bubbling up within him; seeing the gravestone of a loved one was not a pleasant sight; in fact, witnessing it occasionally made him queasy, but he stomached it.
"Are you going to be okay?"
Out of the corner of his eyes, Zuki caught sight of a woman with a similar sorrowful expression on her face. The woman was a female of ordinary stature with an ivory skin tone and a shapely figure; her hair was neck-length and slightly unruly, similar to Zuki's, and was a vibrant shade of iced champagne blonde; there were also locks of hair that hung over her face, including one that covered one of her golden eyes. Lastly, there was the woman's attire, which consisted of a cream-colored, off-the-shoulder sweater that exposed the straps of her bra, along with black jeans and brown leather boots that reached her calves.
The blonde-haired woman's name was Isha Kine, and she was the mother of Zuki. Isha had accompanied Zuki, functioning as a mother should and providing support if necessary. Physically and mentally, Zuki was a strong one, a fact that Isha was well aware of, but even the strong had their moments of weakness, and Zuki was no exception.
"I'll be fine...mostly, anyway." Zuki slid his hands into his jacket pockets. "Sorry for dragging you out here."
Isha arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Why are you apologizing?" she questioned. "Yasha, it was my choice to accompany you if you needed a shoulder to lean on." Isha put a finger on Zuki's nose, wiggling it a little bit; Zuki couldn't but chuckle at his caretaker's affectionate gesture to his nose, even if it was a tad bit ridiculous. "What kind of mother would I be if I allowed my child to wallow in despair and did nothing to solve it?"
"I don't know." Zuki shrugged. "Not a very good one, I guess?"
"Exactly." Isha grasped Zuki's hands, holding them with her own. "Lumi meant a great deal to you, Yasha, and I can assure you that she wouldn't want you to spend your time mourning her. No, she would want you to thrive and bloom into the fine young man she knows you are capable of being. She always said she wasn't going to hold your hand forever; she said that you needed to act without her, and that's exactly what you've been doing, which is why I'm going to make sure that you won't quit while you're still ahead."
Zuki smiled warmly. "Thanks, Mom." Zuki pulled Isha in for a loving embrace. "You're the best."
Isha smiled back, wrapping her arms around Zuki and hugging him back. "Any time," she said. "You know I'll be there for you."
Para-Para Island. A location that was known by a variety of names, including Paradise Island, Gran Paradiso, Neon Paradise, or simply Para-Para in an effort to keep things short and simple. When it came to the terrain, Para-Para was extensive and featured a diverse collection of megalopolises. All of these settlements were technologically advanced and displayed an appearance that was reminiscent of a cyberpunk or futuristic setting, as there were flying cars nearly everywhere, in addition to other things such as machinery and the like. Moreover, Paradise Island beckoned its inhabitants and visitors alike to indulge in a delightful experience. The locale boasted a plethora of recreational options such as resorts, amusement parks, arcades, and more, all designed to provide endless entertainment and merriment.
Amidst the sprawling expanse of Para-Para Island, nestled a city that shone like a precious gem - Sapphire City, fondly referred to as simply Sapphire by its inhabitants. The city of Sapphire was alive with energy, as its streets overflowed with a vibrant crowd of civilians. They gabbed and laughed, occupied in their own worlds, while other individuals ventured into the numerous shops and eateries that dotted the landscape. On the topic of eateries, there was one, in particular, that stood out like a sore thumb compared to the others; it was a sizeable, two-story cafe with enough space for patrons to sit inside, outside, and even on the rooftop.
The luminous neon sign on the window enthusiastically proclaimed the name of the restaurant as Zen Cafe, but the locals preferred to call it by its shorter moniker, Zen. The food-themed business was thriving with hustle and bustle, and it was all made possible by Isha's unwavering dedication as the proprietor, who took great pride in the success of her establishment.
The spacious interior of the cafe was well adorned and radiated an atmosphere of tranquillity, putting visitors at ease and relieving any strain or stress they may have been experiencing, easing the throbbing discomfort in their bodies.
It was early in the morning, seven forty-five, to be exact, so Zen wasn't open to the public yet and would remain that way until eight o'clock, which wouldn't come for a while and provided the employees with ample enough time to ready themselves for when the doors opened and patrons arrived. Speaking of employees, Zuki was one of the employees at Zen Cafe and a diligent one at that, always putting in his best effort.
Zuki was humming a melody softly, spraying and wiping down his counter when a cold glass of lemonade and buttered toast was set in front of him.
Lifting his head, Zuki's eyes landed on Isha. "Thought you might need it," the mother smiled, holding up a cup of hot coffee and waffles.
Zuki smiled. "Thanks, I could use some breakfast," he said. "I wasn't thinking straight this morning, so I didn't have any time to eat anything."
"It's not wise to deprive yourself of nutrients before going to work, you know." Isha's words of wisdom were kind but stern. The restaurant owner made a valid point as both a mother and a businesswoman. It really wasn't a smart idea to function on an empty stomach, particularly when performing serious work. Without the necessary fuel and nutrition, one's bodily functions may struggle to perform at their optimal level. "I've been in your shoes before, particularly in the early stages when the cafe was fresh and new."
"Early stages, you say?" Zuki took a sip of his lemonade before setting it down. "What was that like?"
"Hell, Yasha. Complete and utter hell." Nostalgia washed over Isha as she reminisced about the humble beginnings of her cafe, back in the olden days when it was nothing but an up-and-coming newcomer to the ever-bustling world of coffee shops. "I was a witless girl with little to no experience and had to rely on what I saw from other establishments." Zuki felt a tinge of surprise, but managed to hide it. More often than naught, his mother was on top of it all, but even the best of people had their moments. "I made mistakes, big and small, and was generally a klutzy girl, but as time had grown by and I grew older, I learned from them and used them as obstacles to overcome."
"And now you're cafe is bigger and better than ever." That was true. Zen Cafe was a lot more diminutive in the past. "Crazy how times change."
Isha laughed. "Crazy indeed, Yash." The mother ruffled her son's bristly hair, feeling pride in her achievements. "From nothing to something." Isha turned around, heading for a flight of steps. "I'll be on the upper deck; you're welcome to join me if you'd like, or you can stay down here if you prefer."
"I'll join you." Zuki resumed his task of wiping down his counter. "Just let me finish up with this."
"Do what you need to do." Zuki was an efficient worker, so it wouldn't take him long to complete his task and Isha knew that.
"By the way, I-"
Before Zuki could complete his sentence, he felt a twinge in his head and his eyes narrowed with concern. Isha was quick to notice her son's apprehensive expression and was confused by the unexpected change in personality, but it wasn't until he stopped wiping the counter and looked outside that she herself became concerned; what caused him to become anxious all of a sudden?
"Are you alright, Yasha?" asked Isha, setting her breakfast down. "You suddenly stopped."
"Outside." Zuki hopped over the counter, further confusing Isha, and hurried to the entrance of Kine Cafe before opening the door. "Something's wrong."
Something was indeed wrong.
As if conjured by an unknown force, the sky altered into a dire sight. In a matter of seconds, the once serene and delicate white clouds were devoured by the dark and unsettling clouds that appeared out of nowhere, leaving no trace of the previous calmness. The citizens of Sapphire were on high alert as the sky shifted from a peaceful blue to a foreboding shade of dark red. A faint, purple vapor crept through the streets, causing concern and fear to spread among the people. The change in the atmosphere was suspicious, and everyone knew that something was about to happen. Perplexed, Zuki arched an eyebrow. What the hell was going on? The clouds and sky changed with the purple mist being the icing on the cake; obviously, something bad was going on and there was no explanation for it...not yet, anyway.
"What in the...?" Zuki was understandably baffled. "Mom, are you seeing this?"
"If I said no, then I would be a liar," Isha muttered, equally as puzzled as her offspring.
Zuki was growing increasingly anxious, not that he wasn't already; the blonde/brunette searched for potential suspects, but there were none. There was certainly something going on, no two ways about that, but the question was what exactly? Thunderbolts started to strike down, further alarming the civilians, but there was no rain, not a single droplet. Fortunately, there were no casualties, though it was uncertain how long that would last.
Zuki discarded his apron and tossed it aside before rushing outside and gazing up at the sky, bolts of lightning still striking down from above.
"Who or what is causing this?" Zuki's focus shifted from the sky to the civilians and then back to the sky. "This type of thing doesn't happen naturally, that's for sure." Zuki's attention was drawn toward his hand. "If possible, maybe there's a chance I can-"
Zuki's sentence was cut short as he felt a sudden surge of power. Two power levels, one weaker and one stronger than his own, but even then, he could sense much more from it, like they were hiding it for reasons unknown. What drew his attention, however, was the overwhelming malice he detected emanating from them; there was so much hatred and negativity in the air that it made him feel uneasy.
Let it be known that Zuki wasn't shaking in his nonexistent boots, but he was worried, deeply worried. Unrestrained power levels, such as the ones he sensed on the prowl and doing as they pleased without consequence, could result in catastrophic outcomes and the destruction of innumerable innocent lives across the globe, if not more, such as the galaxy and possibly the entire universe. Zuki shook his head, expelling the dark and morbid thoughts that were clouding his mind; no, he couldn't let that happen; he had sworn to protect Earth from evil, and a Kine must always keep their word.
"What's happening?" Isha asked, standing behind Zuki and equally as anxious as he was. "I don't like this." Nobody did. The people of Sapphire were understandably uneasy, with some even fleeing before the looming chaos could begin. Isha, shivering, hugged her body, her teeth clattering as she did so. The temperature dropped in degrees, growing colder with every passing second. Zuki had better resistance to the chilly weather, whereas Isha didn't have the same luxury, sadly. "Is it me, or did the weather change?"
"It isn't just you, I also feel it..." The environment became harsher as the wind grew fiercer and the climate lowered for the second time, though it refrained from reaching winter levels, thankfully. "Mom, you need to leave NOW." Zuki didn't want his mom sticking around in case something dangerous was about to happen. "Head to the car and don't look back."
"And leave you by yourself?" As much as Isha wanted to flee to a safe location, she did not want to leave Zuki behind. "Are you out of your mind?"
"You don't have to worry about me, I'll be fine." Zuki anticipated his mother's reaction and tried to calm her fears. "You're safety's more important."
"Yasha, I don't-"
"Mom..." Zuki placed his hands on his mother's shoulders. "I know you care for my safety, but this is serious. I'll be fine, you can trust me."
There was silence in the streets of Sapphire, replaced only by the roaring wind and the murmurs of the terrified citizens of Sapphire.
Isha stared at her son, Zuki, her golden-colored eyes locking with his black eyes. For a small moment, there was silence until Isha sighed "Okay..." Reluctantly, the mother concealed her worries and replied to Zuki with a nod, much to his immense relief. "If you say you'll be fine, Yasha, then I'll take your word for it." Isha hugged Zuki tightly, then kissed him on the cheek. "If you die, know that no force in the universe will be able to save your killer from me." Zuki chuckled to himself as he watched his mother take off to locate her vehicle and get the hell out of dodge.
With Isha relocating to a safer location, most likely home, Zuki was free to act without worry for his mother's well-being and closed his eyes. The Earthling was using ki sense to locate the offenders' ki, but before he could get far, a pink energy ball shot down from the sky, charging at him like a missile. Zuki was taken aback by the unexpected attack; he quickly scanned the area, noticing the people around him, then turned his attention back to the energy ball. With a swift high kick infused with his own ki, he sent the ball soaring upwards into the sky above Sapphire, where it exploded almost immediately.
"Those bastards; that would have destroyed the city if I didn't stop it when I did," Zuki growled. "At least I know they have their sights set on me."
Zuki remained poised, his attention unwavering, anticipating the emergence of his assailants, however, they did not appear right away. Taking precautionary measures, the human carefully surveyed his surroundings, diligently searching for the pair who were relentlessly pursuing him, though his efforts proved fruitless as he failed to make any progress in locating them for the second time. The ki signatures of the latter were exhibiting noticeable fluctuations, sometimes detectable and other times not. Zuki pondered over the possibility that his adversaries were either evading him for undisclosed motives or employing invisibility to blend into their surroundings, intending to catch him off guard and launch a surprise assault. No matter what the answer may have been, Zuki had to remain constantly vigilant; he lacked any knowledge about the individuals he would soon encounter, and there was a possibility that they could pose a significant threat if underestimated.
Zuki called to his watchers, elevating his voice by several octaves to ensure they heard him loud and clear. "Okay, the jig is up!" he hollered, drawing attention from his fellow Earthlings. "Come out of the shadows, whoever you are, and face me! You already tried to kill me, so keeping a low profile and hiding your presence until otherwise is pretty much pointless!
Right on cue, a slightly deep and feminine voice spoke up from behind Zuki. "If that's what you desire, then your wish is my command~" spoke a womanly voice in a faux seductive tone, accompanied by an evil and sadistic chuckle departing from their lips.
Zuki whirled around and confronted a woman of average height. The mysterious woman's beauty was undeniable, rivaling and exceeding that of fashion models, and her curvy, slender form further added to her appeal. Despite her outward femininity, she was clearly not a human woman. No, what set her apart from them was her pallid blue skin, coupled with pointed ears reminiscent of elves, as well as her eyes that bore a grayish-purple hue, and hair, which was of a length that reached her neck and as white as snow; moreover, the right side of her hair was longer than the left and hung over her ample bust. The woman finished her attire with a red and black leather bodysuit that hugged her body flawlessly with a v-shaped opening across her stomach and slits on the lower portion that revealed the lower part of her chest; she also wore a white open-leg cape with jagged edges and red high heels.
From the very beginning, Zuki could tell that the woman standing before him presented a grave threat to humanity; she radiated pure and unfettered malevolent energy, and nothing positive could come from her presence. With an air of arrogance, the woman with white hair flashed Zuki a wide smile, who in turn responded with a scowl; she was fully aware of the strong dislike the latter held towards her, but did she truly care? Hell no; she had no intention of befriending the locals throughout her stint on the planet.
The woman giggled, striking a suggestive pose. "What's the matter?" Zuki was being taunted. "Something piquing your interest, little one?"
"Who are you?" Zuki was straightforward, seeing no justification to fool around. "What are you doing here?"
The woman, whose name remained a mystery, gracefully moved around Zuki, her flowing white hair adding an ethereal touch to her presence. With deliberate movements, she swayed her hips with each step, creating a captivating rhythm. "Wouldn't you like to know..." Zuki felt a gentle touch on his upper back, as a fingertip slowly made its way down to his pectoral. The enigmatic woman had a clear intention: to ignite the smoldering fire within Zuki, incite the Earthling, and watch his explosive reaction. "You want to be the amazing hero, am I correct? Save the day, get the pretty girl, and fly off into the sunset?"
Zuki was beginning to feel a growing sense of annoyance. "Are you talking just to hear your own voice, or is there some deeper meaning to this?"
The unidentified woman touched her chin with a finger. "Hmm..." she hummed playfully before smiling. "The former."
"Okay, you know what? I've had about enough of this..." Zuki emitted a low, menacing growl.
As Zuki made a swift move to seize the woman, her reflexes proved to be remarkably quick, allowing her to effortlessly leap several feet backward, evading Zuki's grasp. Zuki exhibited a hostile facial expression and readied a concentrated release of energy with the intention of completely disintegrating the insufferable woman into little fragments, however, he promptly realized his surroundings as a densely populated urban area, forcing him to momentarily halt his actions to prevent inadvertently causing harm to innocent others.
"Why the hesitation little one?" The unknown woman smiled. She knew the answer, but she wanted Zuki to say it.
"It's because of the other humans..." chimed another voice, that one belonging to a male. "The compassion he holds for his race holds him back."
Out of nowhere, a tall man descended from above and landed next to the woman. If his color-coordinated outfit was anything to go by, the man was the woman's companion; it was unclear whether they were a couple, boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife, or even friends with benefits, but it didn't matter. The gentleman was a handsome man with a muscular physique that would make bodybuilders either weep in admiration or send them crying home to their mothers, possibly both; similar to his unnamed partner, he had pale blue skin, pointed ears, grayish-purple eyes, and snow-white hair, but his hair was short and spiky. Lastly, there were his highly unorthodox garments, featuring a red, skin-tight bodysuit with a light gray infinity insignia on it, preceded by white and gold armor with another infinity emblem in the center and black cape-like pants covering his legs.
"So these two are the culprits..." Zuki murmured under his breath.
The source of the malevolent power Zuki sensed earlier was from the unknown duo. The white-haired woman's battle power was notably inferior to those of her companion and Zuki's, but it was still nothing to scoff at, and she had yet to showcase what she was truly capable of. As for her teammate, his battle power was outstanding, as mentioned earlier, and presented a much more serious problem. Zuki had to be cautious and aware of his surroundings, as he couldn't predict what the wicked pair were capable of, especially when acting in tandem.
"We hit the jackpot, Towa," The man said, turning to his ally. "The boy; he's as human as everyone else on the planet, but his power is something else. I'm aware that Earthlings can evolve and surmount obstacles by properly training their bodies and refining their skills, but their combat capabilities have a ceiling." The man eyed Zuki up and down. "I don't know how he broke the mold, but my best guess is that he's a mutant, a rare breed of human, or has extraterrestrial DNA." The burly man turned back to his mate. "Nevertheless, his strength pales in comparison to the immense power wielded by warriors like the Saiyans, namely Goku and Vegeta, and beings like Frieza; he has a long way to go before he can match their power."
On that, the man's companion, identified as Towa, agreed. "What you say is true, my dear Mira, but let's not use that as an excuse not to harvest his energy; that's why we came here, after all."
Towa studied Zuki from head to toe and had to concur with her comrade's assessment. In her opinion, it would be more desirable to obtain energy from individuals such as Goku, Vegeta, or Frieza due to their higher power levels. The only thing that hindered her was the fact that if Mira went ahead and fought any of them, it would result in a complete bloodbath and the death of the latter. Mira was a man of great power, make no mistake about that, but his strength paled in comparison to theirs, and his demise would certainly damage, if not destroy, her plan entirely, so that was an absolute no-go for all the right reasons.
"Okay, it's settled." Towa smiled, clapping her hands together. "We'll begin with the boy and work our way up, drawing energy from warriors throughout the cosmos until our goal is fulfilled; once the oppressive seal on the Demon Realm is broken, we'll rule it as king and queen." Towa chuckled softly. "An ingenious plan, if I may say so myself. As for the woman, the decision to kill or spare her is ultimately yours."
Mira, Towa's teammate, did not respond in the same manner as any other individual would, excluding mutes, but instead gave a modest nod. In all honesty, and this was something he would never say publicly lest he offends the beauty that stood next to him, he wasn't all that interested in the Demon Realm; whether it was teeming with life or deader than disco, it mattered very little to him; as long as it kept him fighting formidable opponents and appeased his gorgeous confidante, he didn't care; at the same time, however, the notion of becoming a monarch and ruling the people as he saw fit was enticing.
"Time to get this underway." Mira stepped forward, unfolding his arms as he did so. "I hope you prove to be a worthy challenge, boy."
Almost instinctively, Zuki leaped back and distanced himself from Mira. Towa giggled, mentally comparing Zuki to a scared little kitten.
"This guy's not to be taken lightly..." Zuki shifted his attention to Towa, who waved and smiled at him. "Neither of them..."
According to the discussion Zuki overheard, the woman's name was Towa and the man's name was Mira, but names alone weren't enough, and further information, such as their race, origins, strengths, weaknesses, and so on, was necessary. The Demon Realm was brought up by Towa, but what was the importance of that realm to her and why did she mention it? The way she spoke about it suggested that there may be something valuable that caught her interest, or perhaps she had intentions of taking control over it, you know, standard villainy. Finally, she made a reference to stealing energy from warriors across the cosmos, including his own, with the intention of restoring the Demon Realm; it was quite evident that that was not a heroic move.
"This should be fun." In spite of his aloof and standoffish demeanor, Mira was excited; it had been a long time since he had engaged in battle with somebody, so he was very much looking forward to stretching his legs and having some fun. "The Demon Realm doesn't provide me with many challenges."
"Demon Realm?" Zuki arched an eyebrow. Did he hear that right? "The hell are you talking about?"
"My partner Towa and I are natives of a world called Demon Realm," Mira answered. "We're Demons if the appellation didn't give it away."
Zuki wasn't sure how to react; on the one hand, he was very much intrigued by the fact that there were otherworldly beings in the universe, but on the other, he was alarmed by the fact that there were more of them. Demons? If he claimed to have dealt with those in his life, he would be lying. Zuki was beginning to understand Mira and Towa's objective; considering their origin in the Demon Realm, it was reasonable to assume that their intention was to liberate their fellow beings. The governing aspect, however, remained unclear.
"Now then, if you're finished with the QNA, I would like to begin fighting now." Mira entered his battle stance.
"Wait, we're fighting here? In the city?" Zuki didn't want that. "We can't do that, there're people here. Isn't better to go somewhere less crowded, like-"
"Enough of your rambling, boy!"
Mira, driven by his intense craving for a thrilling battle, lunged at Zuki with the ferocity of a wild beast, seemingly indifferent to the dire consequences that could befall Sapphire City. Dammit! Zuki gritted his brace-covered teeth and brought his arms to his sides. Zuki's body was enveloped in a mesmerizing display of blue electricity, flickering and crackling violently; gradually, the vibrant blue transformed into a radiant golden hue, casting a captivating glow around Zuki. Naturally, the citizens of Sapphire were shocked, no pun intended, and queried how a boy was able to manipulate lightning. Mira, on the other hand, didn't give a flying hoot; sure, it was shocking, no pun intended again, but it was nothing he hadn't seen before. As the demon pressed forward, their gaze fixed on the opponent, Zuki, but just as they were about to close in for the strike, Zuki swiftly disappeared from their field of vision, leaving them to strike at nothing but the empty space surrounding them.
"He's a fast one..." Mira turned to face Zuki and stuck a hand out. "Not bad, but speed alone won't be enough."
Mira charged up an energy blast, then wasted no time in firing it at Zuki. With a sense of dread, Zuki's eyes widened as he glanced over his shoulder at the civilians huddled behind him, then pivoted to squarely face the oncoming wave of ki speeding towards him. In response to his adversary's energy wave, the Earthling gathered his own ki, harnessing its power to form a luminous sphere of golden energy. The energy ball was thrown with great force and collided with Mira's energy wave, but not for long, unfortunately, as Mira infused additional energy into his attack, overpowering the energy ball and gobbling it up like an afternoon snack.
Zuki cursed inwardly. Well, that was a freaking bust. Fine, new plan. With a swift motion, Zuki dragged back his foot, ready to let loose a powerful kick that would send his opponent's ki blast soaring into the clouds, but just as he was about to do so, a mysterious figure appeared out of nowhere and intercepted the blast with an even stronger kick that sent it hurtling into the clouds, where it detonated in a bright burst of energy.
"Amazing..." Zuki was left awestruck by the stranger's unexpected appearance. "Where did he come from...?"
"No!" Towa stomped her foot down in anger, almost breaking the heel of her shoe. "What the hell is he doing here!?"
Who was the warrior that redirected Mira's energy blast? It was Piccolo, the villain-turned-hero son of King Piccolo. Mira's eyebrows shot up in astonishment, whereas Towa's composure slowly began to crumble. It was quite a rare sight to behold as the demoness from the Underworld was usually as cool as a cucumber, always on her toes to ensure her plan was executed flawlessly.
"Damn..." Towa growled. "If I had known that man would show up, I never would have done this!" Piccolo was strong, way too strong for Mira to fight.
Ignoring Mira for a moment, Piccolo turned to Zuki. "You okay, kid?"
"Yeah." Zuki deactivated his lightning and returned to normal. "Me and that guy over there haven't fought yet, so I'm good."
Mira was experiencing a variety of feelings deep within. On one hand, the presence of Piccolo concerned him, but on the other, he was ecstatic to see him, his blood boiling with excitement. The Namekian was strong in their own right, and engaging in combat with them promised to be an unparalleled experience. However, he bitterly acknowledged that he wasn't on their level yet, so fighting wasn't the best idea. Nevertheless, he eagerly anticipated the day when he would be able to challenge them to a battle that would go down in history.
"We finally meet, Piccolo." Piccolo scowled at Mira. "I've seen your battles in the past; I know what you're capable of."
Annoyed, Piccolo took a step forward; the power of the Namekian warrior was gradually surging, not fueled by fury, but rather a vigilant readiness in case Mira tried to make a move. Zuki could sense Piccolo's power level and was wholly amazed by what he felt; it was immense, far greater than his and Mira's combined. Who was this man? After countless rotations around the sun, why did fate finally bring them together for the first time?
"Who are you?" Piccolo could feel the negative energy radiating from Mira, and he didn't like it. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm-"
"Mira!" Interrupting Mira in the middle of his sentence, and ironically answering Piccolo's question, was a bothered Towa, who was standing over a magic circle positioned underneath her feet. "We're leaving this instant!" Mira was disappointed to hear that after all the stuff he and his partner recently went through, it ultimately amounted to nothing. "We're inviting danger upon ourselves if we remain here; let's go before more warriors show up!"
A small sigh of vexation combined with disappointment escaped Mira's lips. The man wanted to argue against Towa, he really did, but he knew that it wasn't worth it, so he had to stow away his pride and wait until next time. "As you wish, Towa..." Man, talk about embarrassing. In the blink of an eye, Mira appeared beside Towa and planted a firm hand on her shoulder. "This is far from over, warriors; I may have been denied the opportunity to fight you, but as the old saying goes, 'there's always next time'. I intend to grow stronger as a warrior, and I hope you do the same; we'll meet again."
"Oh no you don't!" With a burst of energy, Zuki rushed forward in a hurry. "If you people think I'm letting you get away after what you pulled, you got another thing coming!" Zuki made an effort to prevent Mira and Towa from retreating, but he was too slow as they disappeared in a flash, the magic circle under them whisking them away to a secure location, most likely a hideout in Demon Realm, before it gradually faded away into nothingness. Zuki snarled and stomped the ground in anger, the concrete beneath somehow not breaking. "Dammit, those bastards got away..."
"Don't worry; this won't be the last we see of them." Speaking from experience, Piccolo was right. "Whoever they are, they have business with Earth."
"Don't I know it..." Zuki bitterly grumbled under his breath. Demons? What was next on the list? An alien invasion? Sewer mutants?
"They were with you first." Piccolo pointed out. "Got any clue who those two are?"
"Yeah." Zuki glanced at the bystanders around him before returning his gaze to Piccolo. "There's a lot we need to talk about."
Zuki and Piccolo were high above Sapphire City, their conversation shrouded in mystery from any curious listeners.
"They call themselves Towa and Mira; they're a pair of demons from a place called the Demon Realm." Demons? Piccolo was immediately reminded of Dabura and his position as ruler of the Demon Realm. If more demons were coming out of the woodwork and have plans for Earth and whatever lies beyond that, that was not a positive omen. "The woman, Towa, is the brains of the pair, while the man, Mira, is the brawn. They want to free their imprisoned world, but in order to do that, they need to drain energy from fighters like us."
"It's like Babidi all over again..." Piccolo groaned. "At the very least, they went back to their hidey-hole, so we don't have to worry about them for a while."
"That's true," Zuki agreed. "But there's no telling when they'll attack us again; the best we can do for now is wait and be vigilant."
In all honesty, Zuki wasn't particularly fond of playing the waiting game, but did he have a choice in the matter? No, he didn't. Either the demons reared their ugly heads or they didn't. There was no in-between, unfortunately. In the meantime, he could take the opportunity to familiarize himself with the warrior in front of him. His power was mind-blowing. Seriously, how did he get so strong? It must've come from training. If that was the case, could he reach his level, as well? He also committed himself to training, whether it'd be physical or mental; his teacher, Lumi, consistently emphasized the importance of refining his skills, but recently, he's been experiencing a sense of stagnation in his progress, feeling as though hasn't been getting any stronger.
"Say, if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" Zuki needed answers if he was going to improve himself. "I don't think I got your name."
"Piccolo," Piccolo said curtly with his arms folded. "Seeing as we're doing Q&A's, who're you? From your ki, I can tell you're a warrior like me."
"Yasha Zuki Kine, but most people call me Zuki. Nice to meet you." Zuki extended his hand out, to which Piccolo shook it. "Towa and Mira showed up in Sapphire City and tried to drain me of my power for their plans regarding the Demon Realm. I was about to fight them, mainly Mira, but you came just in time to stop them from advancing any further. That Towa lady got all pissy the moment you showed up; before you came, she was extremely cocky and self-assured of herself, but all that went straight out the window not long after. Are you someone famous?"
"In a way..." Piccolo looked to the side, reflecting on his experiences during the 23rd World Tournament and many other instances.
"I'll go ahead and take that as a yes..." murmured Zuki.
"It's possible that this Towa woman has seen our previous battles and knew when to retreat," Piccolo said. "At least we know she isn't stupid."
"Your previous battles?" Zuki was confused. Previous battles? What did that mean? "I don't understand."
"You don't know this, and that's understandable since this is the first time we're meeting and all, but I've been through plenty of fights against villains in the past." Zuki was surprised to hear that. So this guy was a seasoned fighter and a hero. Amazing; he could learn a thing or two from him. "The battles are rarely, if ever, simple, but I learn from them and use the experience to grow stronger."
"Guess that answers why you're so strong," Zuki said. "Mr. Piccolo's stronger than Lumi, a lot stronger. Makes you wonder what kind of training he did."
"You know, your power's nothing to scoff at, too." Piccolo could sense Zuki's power level, and it was high, especially for an Earthling. Sure, it wasn't quite as prominent as his, and there was indeed a noticeable difference between the two, but still, it was nothing to make fun of. If anything, it was comparable to Gohan's in his Super Saiyan state during the nightmarish time of the Cell Games, and he could give the Saiyan-hybrid a run for their nonexistent money.
"So I was told by Mira," Zuki said.
"It's unusual to see a human with strength like yours." Piccolo didn't want to be offensive, but it was the truth. "Are you even an Earthling?"
"I am, or so I hope." Zuki patted his stomach. "Lumi, my teacher, is responsible for shaping me into the person I am now. She was a kind lady who took me under her wing when I was a kid and made me her pupil, teaching me all she knew about fighting, from basic combat to ki control." Piccolo recalled his days in the past when he trained a younger Gohan; it was tough, make no mistake about that, but he'd be lying if he said the boy didn't gain anything from it. "Sadly, she passed away from sickness, but she did leave me a gift." Zuki looked at his hand and clenched it. "Her power. Before she died, she gave me her power and had me promise to use it wisely, to use it to defend the world from evil. I intend to keep that promise."
Having experienced the heart-wrenching sensation of losing someone dear, such as a close friend, Piccolo could understand and relate with Zuki. Undergoing the loss of a loved one is undoubtedly one of the most challenging and crushing experiences one can go through. Goku served as a perfect example. In the past, Piccolo and Goku were enemies, but over time, they developed a deep understanding and mutual respect for each other. The animosity that once existed between them gradually dissipated, paving the way for a strong bond of friendship to form, and that connection was further strengthened through their shared relationship with Gohan. When Goku made the selfless decision to sacrifice himself in order to prevent Cell from destroying the Earth through self-destruction, Piccolo and the rest of his friends were utterly devastated, even more so when Goku willingly chose to remain dead, despite having the option to be revived through the Namekian Dragon Balls. Ultimately, Piccolo understood why the Saiyan did what they did, but it still hurt.
"I'm certain your master would be proud to see how well you've developed as a fighter," complimented Piccolo.
Zuki could only hope that was true. "You know, ever since she passed away, I've training my body as much as I could, but to be real with you, I feel like I've been stuck in a rut lately." Zuki crossed his arms and breathed out a sigh. "I've gotten stronger, but not in the way I want. My one saving grace is this form I've been working on, but what comes after that?"
"What are you trying to get at, kid?" Piccolo questioned. "Maybe your approach to getting stronger isn't cutting it."
"I want to reach new levels and improve, but I'm not sure how to go about it," Zuki explained. "Look, I know this is going to come off as crazy, but could you help me? You don't have to take me in as a student if you don't want to, but could you tell me where I need to improve?"
Believe it or not, Piccolo actually gave it some thought. Zuki had the qualities of a skilled fighter and could certainly benefit from learning a thing or two under his guidance. To be honest, it would be nice to have another student. Moreover, considering that the boy was already well-versed in combat, they could conveniently bypass the fundamentals and go straight to the more appealing aspects. If Zuki were any other person, he'd be jumping over the moon, but he maintained his composure.
"I don't see much of a reason not to train you," Piccolo said with a shrug. "It does give me something to do, after all."
If Zuki were any other person, he'd be jumping over the moon, but he maintained his composure. "I'm willing to take whatever you can offer me." Zuki was determined, and Piccolo liked that. "Does tomorrow work for you? As much as I would like to train right away, I have to get back to my mother and return to work." Zuki reached into the back pocket of his pants and pulled out a small business card before handing it to Piccolo. "Zen Cafe. As the name implies, it's a cafe I work at with my mom, who's the owner. Since the Towa and Mira problem is over and everything is back to normal, I have no doubt that people will forget what happened and continue with their business."
There was truth to that. One would be surprised how fast Earthlings were to forget things. Piccolo huffed. "I guess tomorrow will have to work." Although Piccolo wanted to train as soon as possible, he ultimately understood Zuki's reasonings for taking a rain check. Not everyone had the freedom to do as they pleased, and Zuki was no exception.
Zuki gave Piccolo a smile that reminded him of Gohan; the Saiyan-hybrid and the kid would get along quite well. "Thank you for being understanding."
"Yeah, sure. Eight o'clock; don't be late." Piccolo turned around, his back facing Zuki. "See you tomorrow, kid."
Without uttering another word, Piccolo took off in a flash, leaving Zuki by himself. "He seems nice, a bit gruff and scary, but still nice." Nice was an...interesting way to describe Piccolo; sure, he wasn't evil anymore and was less of a jerk compared to how he used to be in the past, but he wasn't a full-on nice guy and still had his moments on occasion. Gruff and scary, on the other hand? That was true. "I should get going."
Zuki unleashed his aura and took off, flying back to Sapphire City within seconds and heading straight home.
"So they're finally on the move..."
In a spacious chamber mirroring a library, a man watched with great interest the recent encounter between Towa, Mira, Zuki, and Piccolo. The display unfolded before his eyes through a holographic projection emanating from a touchscreen table. The aforementioned man was none other than Trunks, a heroic warrior hailing from the future and the son of Vegeta.
"It seems they have their sights set on gathering energy from warriors."
A diminutive and petite woman approached Trunks, holding a scroll in her hands and accompanied by a bird that resembled an owl, complete with a beard. The fun-sized woman was a cute female, with a delightful blend of pinkish-purple skin, reddish-pink hair, and captivating black eyes; additionally, she had pointed ears that added an extra touch of charm to her overall appearance. Curiously, the woman was wearing a set of Potara earrings, and the attire she wore had a striking resemblance to that of the Kais, albeit with an evident difference; hers, in particular, exuded a more relaxed and feminine vibe compared to theirs.
If any person were to take a look at the short woman, they would understandably mistake her for a child because of her youthful and child-like appearance, but they would be wrong in their assumption, dead wrong, in fact. The woman held the highly regarded title of Supreme Kai, but not just any Supreme Kai - she was the revered Supreme Kai of Time, but her real name was actually Chronoa. As indicated by her title, Chronoa was responsible for overseeing the flow of time and making sure nothing was amiss. The bird by her side was Tokitoki, Chronoa's beloved pet and best friend. The divine bird held immense importance, as it possessed the power to create time and even entire universes by laying an egg.
"When all eyes aren't on them, Towa and Mira plotting something dangerous," Chronoa frowned.
Trunks agreed with Chronoa. "Yeah, but we don't know their hideout," he said. "My best guess is that it's secluded so there won't be intruders."
"Whatever the answer is, those two have been a thorn in our side for a while," Chronoa said. "Not long ago, I learned through an inside man I recruited that they have plans to tamper with time in order to obtain larger kili." Trunks didn't like the sound of that. The lavender-haired man was no stranger to tampering with time; it was a serious offense, and that was why he was working with Chronoa. "We need to be prepared for the demons when they come. Towa's a brilliant scientist, so there's no doubt in my mind she has something in planned for us."
"Definitely." Trunks wasn't all that familiar with Towa; after all, he had only encountered the demoness a handful of times whenever she and Mira tried to infiltrate the time nest or steal valuable items like Tokitoki or the time scrolls, but one thing he did know about her was that she a clever and cunning woman; underestimating her would result in a disastrous outcome. "We need to increase our numbers. The Time Patrol is in need of more members."
Trunks tapped the touchscreen table twice and zoomed in on Zuki.
"Think he'll be a good addition to the Time Patrol, Supreme Kai?" Trunks inquired. "Towa and Mira approached him first, meaning he was useful to them."
Chronoa stared at Zuki's image on the hologram before turning to Trunks. "He's young, but he does have the potential to join us."
"Should I add him to the list of recruits?" Trunks asked, still staring at the hologram.
"Yeah," Chronoa replied with a small nod. "Add him to the list, and look for more potential recruits while you're at it; we'll need all the help we can get."
"Yes, Supreme Kai." Trunks stood up from his seat and respectfully bowed to Chronoa before departing, leaving the goddess and her bird alone.
With Trunks fully gone, Chronoa sighed. "I can only hope we come out victorious," she glowered. "Thankfully, it's not him, but I shouldn't jinx myself."
"Kiii!" Tokitoki screeched, clearly nervous about something.
"Don't worry." Chronoa set a hand on Tokitoki's head, putting the ancient bird at ease. "He won't hurt you, nor will anybody else; you're safe here."
Tokitoki could only hope that what he was told was the truth; the elderly avian held a deep trust in Chronoa, knowing that she would never jeopardize his safety, so if she assured him that he was safe, he would believe her. If someone with a cold, evil heart were to somehow gain possession of him, or even acquire a time egg belonging to him, and exploit it for their own malicious and self-centered purposes, the consequences could be dire for the entire universe and beyond.
"Kii..." Tokitoki shook his head, brushing his cynical thoughts away. He needed a freaking nap.
The next day arrived for the people of Earth, and hopefully, it wouldn't bring any unneeded situations. In the Kine family household, Zuki was peacefully sleeping in his bedroom, immersed in the realm of dreams, however, his slumber was soon interrupted by the radiant sun, which cast its bright rays upon him, indicating that it was time for him to wake up and prepare for the day ahead. Zuki let out a groan of frustration as he flipped his blanket over his body, seeking refuge from the intrusive rays of the sun. With a contented smile, the human delved back into the realm of dreams...only to be abruptly yanked back to reality by the disruptive sound of his alarm clock.
"For the love of all things..." Weakly, Zuki flipped his body around, burying his face deep into his pillow, and let out a muffled sigh of exasperation.
Zuki forced himself to abandon the cozy confines of his bed, despite his longing to remain snugly tucked beneath the covers. The young Kine released a hearty yawn as he reluctantly arose from his bed and did a light stretching routine to invigorate his body before moving to the bathroom across the hall from his room to groom himself and look presentable. Once Zuki had cleaned up, he returned to his room and changed into a set of clean clothes, wearing a plain tracksuit, which would be needed for the training he was going to do.
Zuki looked ready for the day ahead, yet internally, he wasn't ready, perhaps due to his lingering grogginess. The boy walked down a set of stairs and entered the living room, where he was met with the sight of a man surfing the internet on his laptop with a hot cup of coffee beside him. Based on their physical characteristics, one could reasonably assume that they were Zuki's father, and indeed, they were; the only discernible difference between the father and son was that the former had cybernetic arms and wore sleek black and red visors with a futuristic look over his eyes; likewise, his hair was all black, rather than a mix of black and blonde. Aries Kine was the name of the man, and he was Zuki's father, the patriarch of the Kine household, and the loving husband of Isha. While Isha ran her own business as a barista, Aries worked as a doctor for a hospital in Sapphire.
Aries' attention was drawn to Zuki, leading him to look up from his computer and greet his son with a small yet friendly wave of hello. "Morning, champ," he said with a smile that every father gives their child. "Are you heading out to do those early training sessions you like so much? If so, don't let me stop you, kiddo." Aries took a sip of his hot coffee before setting it down. "Just don't do anything you shouldn't be doing, but you're smart enough to avoid trouble."
"Thanks for the advice." Zuki gave his father a side hug before saluting. "I'll see you later; tell the others I said good morning when you see them."
Aries gave Zuki the thumbs up and shifted his focus back to his laptop. "Will do," he said. "Remember: don't do anything you shouldn't be doing."
Bidding farewell to his caretaker, Zuki swung open the double doors to his humble abode and ventured out into the great outdoors, the radiant sunbeams cascading upon him once more, while a gentle breeze playfully caressed his face. Zuki was moments away from meeting up with Piccolo to begin his training when he was approached by a woman dressed in jogging attire, beads of sweat pouring down her cheeks and a content look on her face, which implied that she had just finished a satisfying and lengthy run. The jogger was a tall woman with an ivory skin complexion similar to Isha's, and boasting a healthy and athletic body physique that implied that she regularly exercised, which was true. Furthermore, she had long, scarlet hair that cascaded down to her upper back, with a bang that concealed one of her greenish-blue eyes.
The scarlet-haired woman was Issa Kine, the younger sister of Isha and the aunt of Zuki; she was also Aries' sister-in-law.
"Good morning, Aunt Issa; I didn't know you were awake," Zuki said with a smile. "I can see you're doing your usual morning jog."
"Got that right, nephew." Issa stretched her arms a little bit. "Falling behind is a big no-no, especially in my line of work." Issa served as a police officer for Sapphire, aligning herself with the Sapphire City Police Department, or S.C.P.D for short. The role of an officer of the law was serious business, as one would expect, and Issa dealt with lawbreakers on a daily basis, some of whom were bigger than her, so she needed to be in tip-top shape in order to survive and continue to uphold justice. "Enough about me; what's going on in your world, nephew? Going by your clothes, I can only assume you're training, right?"
Zuki nodded. "Yeah," he replied. "I'm training with that Piccolo guy I talked about at dinner yesterday."
"Is that guy someone you can trust?" Issa asked with an eyebrow raised. The aunt with scarlet hair didn't want to dampen the mood by being a spoilsport, but she felt it was necessary to ask some questions for the sake of her nephew's safety, especially since he had plans with someone they had only met once.
"He's someone I can trust," Zuki reassured his aunt. "He saved my life the other day and was nice when I talked to him."
"If you say so." Issa was still skeptical, but she trusted Zuki's judgment. "Just don't end up on the side of a milk carton or a t-shirt, alright?"
"You got it, ma'am." Even though Zuki was superhuman, he wasn't an immortal superhuman and was still susceptible to death if he wasn't careful.
Issa playfully ruffled Zuki's hair. "Good boy," she grinned. "Be safe out there."
Issa patted Zuki's shoulders before entering the Kine household, leaving Zuki alone in their yard. With no other interruptions, Zuki gazed up at the azure sky and released his aura, causing the grass beneath him to sway vigorously in response to the powerful force, then took off in a flash.
It didn't take Zuki long to arrive at Piccolo's location; the human simply had to track down the Namekian's ki signature, inform the latter of his arrival, and in no time flat, he was there lickety-split. Zuki descended not far from Piccolo, who was deep in meditation, his body hovering just a few inches above the ground. The warrior found peace in the practice of meditation, which not only brought him a sense of calm but also served to fortify his mental faculties. Upon noticing Zuki's presence, Piccolo opened his eyes and ended his meditation, planting his feet on the ground.
"Good morning, Mr. Piccolo," Zuki greeted respectfully. "Just like you wanted, I arrived on time."
Piccolo smirked. "Good," he said. "I have a low tolerance for tardiness."
"Good thing, I'm anything but," joked Zuki. "So what now?" Zuki turned to face his surroundings. The human noticed all wildlife around him. Most of the creatures of nature were dinosaurs, who were watching Piccolo with evident fear. Notably, there was a tailless dinosaur who exhibited a particularly strong apprehension toward the man. "Amazing. To think a place like this existed." Zuki and Lumi usually trained either in a grassy field or in the air. "Hopefully, Piccolo and I don't get too carried away; the notion of homes belonging to the animals here being destroyed doesn't make me feel good."
"Now, we start our training." Zuki smiled inwardly. "But first, a change of clothing is needed; you need to wear something more appropriate for a fighter."
Zuki looked down at his training clothing. "I thought this was good enough," he said. "But how am I supposed to change? I didn't bring any spare clo-"
"CLOTHES BEAM!"
"I'm sorry, clothes wh-"
Piccolo extended his finger toward Zuki, utilizing his magical powers to unleash a harmless yellow beam of energy toward the young teenager. Zuki's body spasmed in a comical and violent manner, and he felt the undesired sensation of being tickled by multiple hands. Overall, Zuki didn't experience pain, though there was a slight stinging feeling, which made him feel uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
LE POOF!
Out of nowhere, a yellow cloud of smoke appeared, completely enveloping Zuki, but as a cooling breeze swept through, the cloud gradually scattered, unveiling the Earthling in a different attire. Zuki was amazed by the change of his clothes, but now he was left wondering where they went. He didn't know that Piccolo was capable of a skill such as that, but now that he did, he wanted to have it for himself; having the ability to effortlessly change clothes at any moment, without the need to physically do it or purchase new ones? Sign him the hell up.
"Cool..." Zuki muttered, looking at his new duds. "Thanks for this, Mr. Piccolo."
Zuki's new attire was comfortable and well-suited for a fighter, though there was some weight to it, but it didn't matter much because it didn't present a problem to him as it didn't restrict his movement. For more clarity, Zuki was attired in a light gray t-shirt complemented by black armbands and wristbands adorning his wrists and arms respectively. Additionally, he wore a black scarf wrapped around his neck. His lower half featured loose black pants, accentuated by a yellow sash securely tied around them. Completing his ensemble was a pair of gray and yellow boots covering his feet.
"Alright." Piccolo removed his cape and turban, leaving only his purple Gi. "Let's get this going."
"Right, Mr. Piccolo." Zuki nodded firmly.
Zuki leaped back several feet from Piccolo and assumed a fighting stance. Piccolo, on the other hand, remained where he stood and simply looked at Zuki with a cold expression that would send shivers down the average person's spine. Piccolo was a powerful warrior, that Zuki knew from the get-go when he first saw him, so taking him lightly wouldn't be a bright idea, not that he would, anyway.
"Attack me however you like." Piccolo folded his arms. "Just make sure you know what you're doing, otherwise, you'll look like a fool."
"Yes, sir," Zuki said with determination in his eyes. "Alright, I can do this."
Zuki took another deep breath, subsequently manifesting a luminous, whitish-silver aura that enveloped his body and was flowing around him akin to fire; likewise, there was a noticeable release of heat emanating from him, a fact that did not escape the keen observation of Piccolo. The ground beneath Zuki's feet splintered into pieces and started to slowly levitate off the ground as the neighboring wildlife around the Earthling wasted no time in booking it to safety as they knew what was going to happen.
A fierce battle was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED