Duo Halfbreeds
Chapter Eighteen: Before the Battle
A long green marble pathway, outlined with red brick on each side of it, connected its way to a building that was nearly three hundred and twenty eight feet tall. On this pathway there was a line, in the line were these pure white almost cloud-like things that floated, souls is what they were.
On one of the clouds beside the pathway was this man who had two short horns on his head, he had blue skin, and an average office outfit. He wore this whistle around his neck whenever these souls got out of hand.
The building that the pathway had connected to was known as the check-in station. As visitors approach the Check-In Station, they are greeted by a grand entrance marked by two colossal stone gates adorned with intricate patterns and symbols.
These gates serve as the threshold between the mortal world and the realm of the departed. Beyond the gates lies a spacious courtyard with meticulously manicured gardens, filled with vibrant flowers and serene ponds.
The Check-In Station comprises several levels, each adorned with ornate detailing and intricate carvings that depict celestial scenes and mythical creatures. The architecture blends elements of both Eastern and Western influences, with curved roofs reminiscent of traditional Asian temples and intricate pillars that reflect Greco-Roman design aesthetics.
Inside the station, a central hall awaits, featuring a lofty ceiling adorned with elaborate chandeliers that illuminate the space with a soft, ethereal glow. The walls are decorated with intricate murals depicting scenes from the Otherworld, showcasing celestial landscapes, mythical beings, and past legends.
However what was decorated inside wasn't really the important thing but rather what was important was a man standing beside Kami, and this massive desk to a red giant who called himself King Yemma.
The red giant, King Yemma flipped through a couple of more pages, stamped them and placed them down. "Okay, Goku, you're all good to go." He said, his gaze quickly moving from the pages to Goku. "We'll have you escorted to the start of the snake way but after that you're on your own."
Goku's face lit up. "Alright!" He turned around, to the vehicle that had just arrived, calling Goku's name. Before Goku left, he turned to Kami. "I really appreciate this Kami, I promise I'll get to this King Kai's in no time and be ready in a year."
Kami nodded. "You'll have to, for both our sake and the Earth's sake." He replied. "And by the way, I'll see what I can do about contacting your..other son."
Goku's face turned to a more serious expression. "If you can find a way to find him…" He said. "Let me know, cause I can get Bulma to get us a ship and we'll save him." Again Kami nodded in response. Goku hopped on the vehicle and sat in the seat as he was taken to Snake Way.
About several minutes later there it was, the longest path Goku had ever seen. The start of it had this large dragon head with yellow eyes and slit pupils. Goku hopped out of the vehicle and jumped on top of the head.
"Welp better get started…" Goku took a stance and ran off with incredible speed. "Don't worry Gohan…I'll come to the rescue as soon as I'm done with this! I promise!"
The Wilderness…A few months later…
A young boy who looked nearly identical to Goku, even donning similar clothes with the addition of long sleeves, stood atop a mountain, wrestling what seemed to be a large mountain lion, most likely the alpha of the felines behind him.
The lion had him pinned to the ground, attempted to take a bite out of his face, but the boy, Goten, moved his head away, narrowly avoiding the attack. His clothes seemed tattered and dusty, and he was covered in various bruises, scratches, and a few scratches as well.
His arms were specifically pinned by the beast, and he tried to lift up his arms but failed to do so. He lifted his two feet and pushed the lion off of him. As Goten flipped up, landing on all fours, he roared back at the mountain lion and lunged at him.
Goten threw his hands out and shoved the lion down on its back, unleashing the most feral sound from his voice ever. Immediately after, Goten pushed himself off and stood up, turning away, but as he turned away, the mountain lion felt an intense rage overcome it.
It got back up and pounced on Goten, causing both of them to tumble until they reached the edge of the cliff where the lion itself nearly fell off, its own paws barely hanging onto the ledge. Goten quickly got up and dusted himself off, noticing the lion on the cliff.
He ran to the lion and gave him a hand. "Hang on!" He shouted. He grabbed the Lion's paws and pulled it up, falling back as he did. "Gotcha!" A short second after, Goten stood up again and let a sigh of relief escape him. "Phew! That was close!"
The mountain lion adopted a more relaxed look, slightly crouching and lowering its head as it submitted to Goten. Goten looked a bit confused at first before quickly understanding. "What? C'mon you don't have to do that, I just wanted a fun fight!" He chuckled, forming a wide grin on his face.
The feline rubbed its head up against Goten and licked him, causing Goten to chuckle in response. "Ah! Don't do that! I'm ticklish!" He said. The cat backed away and stopped a second after. The young halfbreed sat criss-cross for a short moment after. All of the mountain lions came up and sat behind Goten as he observed the landscape.
"You guys got a great view up here, no wonder you hang out here." He said. A short second after he shot up and turned. "Welp see ya guys later! Imma go find someone else to fight!"
He hopped off the edge of the cliff, causing all of the lions' eyes to widen from shock. As they rushed to the edge they saw Goten falling to the ground, his back facing the ground as he waved to them before suddenly turning and flying away.
With a burst of energy, he propelled himself into the air, soaring effortlessly for a few fleeting moments, relishing the sensation of flight. The wind rushed past him, carrying whispers of adventure and untamed wilderness.
But the thrill was short-lived as he gracefully descended, landing agilely on a sturdy branch of a nearby tree. From there, he embarked on a nimble journey, swinging from one tree to another using his tail to catch the branches, his eyes scanning the surroundings, eagerly seeking a worthy opponent.
Midway through his arboreal exploration, he came to a momentary pause, perched on a majestic tree limb. Closing his eyes, he focused his senses, attempting to tap into the primal currents of the forest, yearning to encounter something stronger, something that would push him to his limits. His mind, like a hunter's instinct, delved into the depths of the wilderness, searching for signs of power and ferocity.
A deep sigh escaped his lips, laden with a mixture of anticipation and frustration. Sitting down on the branch, he pondered aloud, the words accompanied by a thoughtful scratch of his head. "There must be a simpler way to find them," he mused, his voice carrying a hint of exasperation tinged with determination.
The desire to face formidable adversaries burned within him, but the search seemed arduous, like an intricate puzzle waiting to be solved. An epiphany illuminated his thoughts like a spark igniting the night sky. In a swift motion, he propelled himself upward, ascending to the apex of the towering tree.
With a surge of strength, he catapulted himself into the sky, defying gravity's grip. As he soared higher, the landscape unfurled beneath him, revealing the vast expanse of untamed wilderness, a tapestry of nature's grandeur.
He saw a thicker forestry lying in mountains to the east, he saw more of the wasteland to the northwest, there was more of a jungle towards the north, and towards the south would be where he came from, a more savannah-like mountainous area.
Goten decided to head to the mountains to the east where thicker forests lay and higher peaks existed. He continued to jump from tree to tree, once in a while taking short moments of flight and a burst of speed.
As he reached the beginning of the mountains he was quick to make his way through it, climbing the side of it, and trekking through certain pathways as well. The higher he went, the colder it quickly got, as he slowly ascended into elevation, the climate began to change, even beginning to see snow as he did.
It wasn't long before he found himself thick in the mountains, over eight thousand feet in elevation, and in dense snow. He shivered and shook as he rubbed his arms from the cold weather, but pressed on and ran as fast as he could.
It wasn't long before he realized he wasn't alone. Goten stopped in his tracks, darting his head around as he listened to the sounds of footsteps, sniffing the air, noticing a different and unfamiliar scent. Carefully, he could hear a quiet and low commanding growl.
Goten bared his fangs and kept his guard up, he could sense not one, not two, but multiple presences around him. However there was one in particular that was above them all, one much more powerful and authoritative then the rest.
"Come out and show yourselves! I know you're there!" Goten yelled. Quickly, a large wolf with a black and white fur coat, glossed with light blue ice took the first steps out, growling as it did. It had to have at least weighed over three hundred pounds with a height of four feet, it took the first lunge at Goten, aiming for his arm but Goten dodged, taking a step to the side and keeping himself angled to face the beast.
The second after, another wolf from behind, at similar size came, pouncing at Goten. Goten barely ducked from its attack, having dived forward, his hands hitting the ground as he pushed himself ten feet in the air, right after another wolf came after him.
As Goten came crashing to the ground, another one of the wolves shot at him, taking a shot at his arm, grabbing the cloth with its sharp fangs. Simultaneously, Goten had jumped back, which caused the sharp fang of the wolf to form a minor cut on Goten's left arm.
As he jumped back another Wolf rammed into his back, and before Goten knew it, he was being attacked by what seemed like eight different wolves. They all dove in, throwing attacks, as Goten tried to evade each one, only ending up getting struck viciously.
A burst of energy unleashed from Goten after a moment, causing the snow from the ground to blow up into the air, disabling the view from the pack of wolves. Goten tried to make an escape back into the thick forest when a much larger and more powerful ninth wolf appeared, lunging at Gohan, his massive paws slammed against his chest, sending him into the ground.
This particular wolf was about six feet tall, weighed probably about seven hundred pounds of pure muscle and had two different colored eyes, a red one and a blue one.
Goten chuckled. "Oh so you must be their leader! So if I take you down then they'll listen to me!" He smirked. The leader wolf snarled, forming an annoyed expression from Goten's words. The wolf attempted to maul Goten but Goten vanished from the spot and reappeared on the side of it.
Goten pulled his two hands back, shoving them forward the second after and caused a powerful kiai wave. The kiai wave blew the wolf off its balance and sent it flying about fifteen yards away. The wolf quickly gained its balance as it landed back on the ground, planting its feet into the ground as it howled.
The haunting howl echoed through the air, summoning its allies from the shadows of the surrounding bushes. Goten found himself encircled once again, a lone figure amidst a pack of fierce and relentless wolves.
The alpha wolf, with a savage glint in its eyes, lunged at Goten with bared fangs, aiming to sink its teeth into his vulnerable face. In a swift display of reflexes, Goten leaped backward, narrowly evading the deadly assault. With lightning speed, he retaliated, thrusting his knee with precision, making impactful contact with the wolf's chin.
But the onslaught did not cease there. Another wolf, driven by primal aggression, rammed into Gohan's back, attempting to destabilize him. Simultaneously, yet another wolf swiped viciously at his exposed side.
The fabric of his clothing tore open near his lower left rib cage, revealing a small but visible wound. Despite the escalating danger and the searing pain, Goten remained remarkably composed, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips, as if relishing the intensity of the challenge.
Undeterred, another wolf lunged forward, teeth bared, but Goten swiftly ducked, using his opponent's momentum against it. The charging wolf crashed into another unsuspecting member of its own pack, creating a brief moment of chaos amidst the relentless assault. Seizing the opportunity, yet another wolf leaped at Goten, but with a graceful sidestep, he deftly eluded the jaws of danger. As if defying gravity itself, he executed a flawless flip, soaring through the air and ascending high above the encircling wolves.
With unyielding determination, Goten descended towards the unforgiving snowy ground, his fingers outstretched like talons. He burrowed swiftly through the deep snow, disappearing momentarily from the sight of his bewildered adversaries.
He reappeared shortly after, as he launched out of the ground against one of the wolves, a fist to its chin. The others whipped their attention towards him, taking action immediately. One charged at Goten but Goten swung his leg against its side, sending it several feet away. Another charged, its jaws wide open as it aimed to bite Goten but Goten dove forward and rolled before shooting back up on his feet.
He spun and turned to face the pack. He hurled a kiai wave at them to generate destructive winds towards their way but the wolves kept their balance and lunged after Goten shortly after all at once. A slamming pounce to his chest, a bite to his right arm, a bite to his lower left leg, a bite to his upper right thigh, and a strike to his face.
Goten yelped in agony, trying to keep from screaming from the intense pain. He attempted to shake them off, only succeeding in a few coming off of him but the rest had a tight grip on him, their fangs dug into his skin, causing him to bleed, which made him unleash a loud echoing roar.
Out of nowhere, a fierce growl emerged from the woods. Some of the wolves stopped, the Alpha wolf whipped its head to the sound's direction, its eyes locked fiercely in the southwest, his fangs baring as he growled ferociously.
In response another louder snarl was given, it sounded more raspy, rough, and ragged by comparison to the Alpha Wolf's growl, which unlike this new entity, the alpha wolf's growl was much more refined and resonant.
From the shadows appeared, a large mountain lion, with some clear scarring, the same one that Goten had fought earlier. As it jumped it made a much more aggressive roaring snarl that was sharper and deeper. It landed by Goten, ramming into one of the remaining wolves as another chased it.
The mountain lion turned around and rammed itself against the charging wolf, knocking it away. Not wasting a second, it lunged at the rest of the remaining wolves attacking Goten, swiping its claws on one and attempting to bite the final remainder.
As Goten tried to sit up, his face cringed from the pain. He noticed the blood spilling from various areas on his body, even as cold as the snow was, it wasn't enough to stop the blood. He stood up as the mountain lion stood next to him, its guard came up.
"I thought I noticed you earlier." Goten grinned. "You didn't have to help me but thanks!" The mountain lion made a rumbling purr with its throat as a response. Goten quickly took a stance as the wolves made a circle around Goten once more.
The alpha wolf examined Goten and the mountain lion beside him. He made a very specific sounding howl to his pack, the pack looked confused but knew better than to defy orders as they moved away.
Goten looked confused but quickly picked up what was going on. "Oh you want to fight me alone?" He smirked. "Alright then!" He looked at the mountain lion and gave a signaling nod. The mountain lion moved away and watched from a distance.
The deafening snow fell, silence loomed around the two as they stared each other down. The alpha wolf's eyes locked fiercely with Goten's, his fangs bared as he made a defensive growl before dashing towards Goten.
Goten planted his feet firmly into the ground, causing an inch of snow around his ankles to float up for a split second. As the massive wolf jumped at Goten, the young halfbreed lowered his left fist to his waist, forming a fist and formed his right fist as it was leveled to his chest.
Before it could reach Goten, he struck its chin with his right fist and then another strike with his left fist to its chest. The wolf fell to the ground, sliding across it for a few feet on its side, pushing snow up behind it. As it tried to get up a short couple of seconds after, it was too weak.
The wolf lowered its head and tucked its tail as it felt defeat. Goten smiled happily, placing his arms behind his head. "That was fun! Thanks for fighting with me!" He said, getting to the Alpha's level. His pack quickly started to surround Goten, defensively growling until the Alpha made a signaling bark for them to stop.
A moment after, the Wolf had regained its energy and stood up. It looked at Goten and barked, turning his head in a certain direction.
"You want me to follow you?" Goten looked confused. The wolf nodded, it walked up to him and touched part of Goten's wound, causing Goten to cringe. "Oh, you got something for that?" The wolf nodded and signaled again for him to follow them. "Okay!"
As Goten followed the wolf pack, the mountain lion at his side, a loud, deep, and powerful roar echoed through the woods. It was like a primal symphony, reverberating through the air, as if the very earth itself trembles in response.
There was power and intensity to it, and a short second after the roar had echoed, a massive bear came ramming through several of the wolves and aimed its sights at the Alpha wolf. Goten's eyes widened as he slightly panicked.
"Oh no!" Goten jumped forward, crashing himself into the bear's chest. He managed to knock it back, despite its immense size. The bear must've weighed at least anywhere from five thousand and five hundred to six thousand and five hundred pounds, with its height maxing at around sixteen feet if it stands on its hind legs. It had this white patch of fur that went across its chest, and had on the tips of its back fur, white little patches.
The impact left Goten on the snowy ground, a few feet behind the bear which was quickly getting itself back up. Goten winced from the intense aching that was now occurring around his shoulder, leaving him unable to escape as the bear came to attack him.
The mountain lion unleashed a primal snarl as it lunged at the bear, trying to ram itself into the bear, only succeeding in pushing the bear a few inches. The bear swiped at the mountain lion, causing the lion to be pushed several feet away and three deep wounds to form on it.
Goten gritted his teeth. "No!" He tried to push himself up but found himself far too weak to move a muscle. As the bear was rushing in to finish off the mountain lion, the pack of wolves and their leader stepped in and unleashed a volatile howl.
This howl vibrated with the snow and cold climate around them, as it unleashed a ferocious icy wind. The icy wind contained tiny little sharp icicles that were unable to pierce the bear's thick hide, but helped give good ground to push it back.
However, it wasn't enough and the massive bear rammed itself swiftly through the wolves, only some were able to dodge its attack. Goten clenched his fists angrily as he felt helpless to stop it. He turned to his chest facing the ground, and pushed his hands against the ground.
His breathing quickly got heavier, his blood pumped faster, and his legs felt wobbly and weak. He pressed on and pushed himself to his knees and then stood completely up, slightly crouched. "Come on, I have to stand up." He lifted and straightened his legs, and tightened his fists as he tilted his head, unleashing a primal roar that echoed for miles.
A burst of energy emerged itself in Goten as he raised his hands, generating a tremendous amount of yellow energy above his hands. He quickly lowered his hands in front of him, the energy formed into a sphere then a wave as he unleashed it at the bear. With every ounce he had left, the ki wave grew bigger as it struck the bear from the side, sending it through several trees in a path that was about a hundred feet away.
Barely standing, his vision blurry, he watched as the Bear struggled to push itself back up. Once it did, it turned and began walking away, with a sigh of relief Goten fell back in the cold chilling snow. He could barely keep his eyes open as he was dragged away by the pack of wolves.
Six Months Since Goku's Death…
Having finally reached King Kai's planet, Goku is working hard as he can to push himself to his new limits. However, currently he is taking a break to eat some lunch and regain his energy. King Kai was in shock at his incredible hunger.
"Uh..Don't ya wanna slow down there?" King Kai cleared his throat.
Goku swallowed his food and placed his bowl down. "Can't, I need to get back to training immediately."
"You have six months, Goku, there's no need to rush to eat." King Kai pointed out.
"Ah I know but I'm just too antsy to sit down." Goku explained. "I need to get stronger and the faster I get stronger, the faster I can take these guys down and then go find my son!"
King Kai cleared his throat. "Ah yes your son, about that, I've been wanting to tell you since you got here earlier today." He said. Goku turned his full attention to King Kai. "Kami contacted me about your little problem, and I've been watching him."
Goku's eyes widened. "You have?! Do you know where he is? Maybe we can get Bulma to build a ship and go find him." His gaze moved off to space, scratching the side of his head. "Wait…but how would I even get in touch with Bulma."
King Kai sighed. "Goku slow down!" He shouted. Goku's attention moved back to King Kai. "First off, Yes I do know where he is and he's doing fine. I've managed to send a few messages to him as well."
Goku raised a brow. "Wait, you can talk to him from here?"
King Kai nodded. "Things like telepathy are a piece of cake…" He paused, a drop of sweat fell from the side of his forehead. "Although..I'm not quite sure what's going on but it appears something is blocking me from getting a full connection to him."
Goku tilted his head. "Something is blocking you? Like what?"
King Kai shrugged. "Beats me. These sort of things could be anything, it could be interference but I doubted, I'd notice the other presence. I think it's Gohan himself, well subconsciously speaking anyways."
Goku formed a smirk on his face as he stood up. "Well as long as Gohan is okay." He said. "Then there's no need for me to worry." He took a few steps forward and tightened his belt. "Oh does this mean you're able to let the others know to resurrect me when the time comes?"
King Kai nodded. "That won't be a problem, we'll just have to remember when the day comes."
Goku grinned widely. "Good, then I better get started!" He took off from his spot, running as hard as he could.
Piccolo had been watching Goten's progress carefully for the last six months, not only surprised but impressed with the results. However, he was curious to see where his current predicament was going to go.
Goten was surrounded by what seemed like twenty-five different wild boars. Behind him was a mountain, and around him were the boars, leaving him nowhere to go…or so the boars thought. Goten ran up the wall behind him then bounced off it, jumping over the large passel.
The boars, having charged him right before, impacted against the wall instead. This didn't stall them long as they turned quickly and ran after Goten who was trying to run as fast as he could. As the boars closed in on Goten, he slammed down a large tree in front of them.
Piccolo was shocked. "This kid…he isn't just identical to his father, he's exactly like him!" He couldn't believe that Goku produced not only a miniature version of himself but one that had the potential to be stronger than him, and that pained Piccolo and his world domination plans deeply.
However he was proven wrong a second later as he watched the following moment. Goten made a face, sticking his tongue out at the boars who were behind the large tree.
"Haha! Gotcha!" He smirked.
The boars looked angry, the bigger boar, possibly the leader of them all, scrapped his trotter as he charged through the large tree, breaking it with his passel following behind him. Goten's grin dropped and his gloating came to a freeze.
"Uh oh…" Goten muttered. He turned and ran as fast as he could but only ended up in a corner once again.
"No.." Piccolo muttered. "I was wrong. He's way too cocky." He formed a smirk across his face as he changed from sitting criss-cross to a normal standing posture. "We'll just have to fix that." He vanished from the spot, appearing in front of Goten as the boars charged after him, unleashing a powerful kiai wave to blow them away.
When the boars got back up, they were smart enough to run. Piccolo turned to Goten who was still a bit in shock.
"I hope you're ready, because in six months, I'm going to break you down and build anew!" He shouted. Taking a second to snap out of his stunned look, Goten formed a smirk in response as he straightened his posture.
"Six months from now, we'll have not one, not two, but THREE powerful challenges to face." Piccolo announced. Having moved to a more suitable location, Piccolo made sure the severity of the situation was ingrained into Goten, and Goten was listening intensely. "And we'll make sure you're not only ready to face those challenges but at least crush one of them, got it?!"
Goten nodded. "Right!"
"I said…GOT IT?!" Piccolo repeated.
Goten took a straightened posture, nodding again. "RIGHT!"
Piccolo smirked. "Good! That's the attitude!" He said. "Now before fighting any fight, not only should you prepare yourself physically, but mentally as well. You should know about your opponents." Goten raised his hand in response and Piccolo gave a confused look. "What?"
"We don't know anything about them though?" Goten answered, giving a confused look.
Piccolo seemed a bit annoyed and irritated. "We know enough, and that one of them was the same man who kidnapped your brother and killed your father." He replied. "So if you want to save your brother, and avenge your father, you're going to do everything I say!" Piccolo took a few paces to the right. "Now…for your first lesson!"
Piccolo whipped around and swung his leg at Goten. Within milliseconds, Goten could feel his movement and he reacted instinctively, turning as he saw the leg coming at him, and leaping back as well as ducking backwards to avoid it.
Piccolo had a pleased look on his face. "Good, your instincts are strong." He said. Goten formed a smirk across his face, to which Piccolo responded instantly and sent a powerful kiai wave towards him. It caused Goten to be knocked harshly into a nearby tree. "Rule one of battle! NEVER GET COCKY!"
Goten got up, adjusting his position and jumped forward, hurling his fist. Piccolo dodged it with ease, bending back as he reached his hand out to grab Goten's arm but he reacted quickly barely deflecting Piccolo's arm away.
Goten's momentum caused his body to aim for a tree, so he whipped around allowing his feet to bounce off the tree and jump back the other way, however Piccolo grabbed him by his right leg, swinging Goten in a south direction, causing him to crash through several trees.
A moment later, Goten was sliding against the ground, pushing up dirt. "Ouch! That hurt!" Goten said as he pushed himself back up, rubbing the back of his head. "Did you really have to be so rough?" He turned to Piccolo as he moved his hand away.
"This isn't any play time, if you want to learn how to fight, then you'll tough it out!" Piccolo yelled, rushing forward as he landed a fist against Goten's jaw. Goten went skyrocketing into the air and Piccolo followed after him, easily getting ahead of him and throwing a fist aimed at the back of Goten's head.
Goten recovered as he turned himself around and adjusted his position, narrowly avoiding Piccolo's fist as he used it to place his hand on for better balance. Goten shoved his foot forward, aimed at Piccolo's head but Piccolo inched his head away with ease and struck Goten in the gut with his elbow.
The oxygen was pushed out of Goten and he clenched his hands around his stomach, wheezing for air. Before Goten could recover, Piccolo sent a powerful kiai blast at Goten, causing him to plummet instantly into the ground.
"And that's rule two! NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ENEMY!" Piccolo shouted. "Which also means don't get cocky!"
Later, when sparring at a mountain side, Goten lunged forward only to be blown back and crash into the ground right after, he slid for an extra several feet, slipping over the ledge only able to grab it onto the ledge.
"Ahh! Help!" Goten shouted. Piccolo walked up to the edge of the cliff, which made Goten's face light up until a wicked smirk formed on Piccolo's face, causing his lit face to change into a mixture of fright and confusion. Piccolo kicked Goten's hand off of the cliff, sending him far down.
"If you can't get back up on your own, you might as well quit!" Piccolo shouted. He turned around, walking about ten feet forward then sat down.
As Goten dusted himself off he looked a bit annoyed. "That's so not funny, Piccolo!" He shouted. "Not cool! Not cool! Not cool! I'm gonna get you for that!" He jumped as high as he could and then ran on all fours as he climbed the mountainside rapidly. Near the end he briefly flew up for a moment and shot himself at Piccolo only to be blown back down by a powerful punch from him.
Time progressed swiftly as Piccolo pushed Goten to his limits. Something in particular would catch his eyes whenever they would reach the end of one of their spars, when Piccolo thought the young halfbreed was at his limits.
Piccolo lowered himself to the ground. "Looks like he's at his limits." He muttered. As his feet made contact with the ground, Goten began to bring himself up to his knees albeit strugglingly.
Goten panted heavily, struggling to bring himself to his knees. "N-Not done.." He mumbled. "L-Let's keep g-going…I..still have M-MORE TO GOO!" His stance quickly changed as he powered up and his white aura raged fiercely around him. Every bit of his remaining energy was channeled out but this caused him to black out immediately after.
A stunned look formed on Piccolo's face. "W-Was that..his real power?!" His eyes widened from the shock and awe. He started to wonder if he was being too soft on Goten but that couldn't have been it, he did everything he could to push Goten to his limits, so why is he only seeing this development as of now?
He shook his head, snapping back to reality, brushing it off for now. "Had he been more careful, he would've not exerted the remainder of his energy…"
This having been the first time Piccolo truly saw a glimpse of Goten's potential, he decided to only get tougher on him, and make his training more intense. He remembered that his brother showed signs of potential from an emotional outburst, and thought that would've worked the same with Goten but it was clear from when he first threw Goten in the wild, that wasn't the simple case.
Soon nearly six months passed and with the Saiyans' arrival coming any day now, Piccolo wanted to be sure that Goten was ready. He needed some way, some way that could truly test his abilities and an idea formed in his head.
"You want us to do what!?" A voice gasped. Atop the Lookout, a seemingly slightly annoyed Piccolo stood in front of the other Z-Fighters who all had stunned looks on their faces. The voice this belonged to in particular was Krillin.
Piccolo grumbled. "I'm not asking you to kill him and he'll be using the pendulum room."
"Okay sure but we've been barely surviving that place!" Yamcha pointed out. "And you want us to throw Goku's son in there?"
Piccolo scoffed. "He's going to be fighting with us when the Saiyans arrive, so does it really matter? Either I give him a test to help prepare him now, or let him fight unprepared." He answered. Silence filled the other fighters. "Yeah that's what I thought." As he began to walk away, he turned his head to Mr. Popo. "Have these four and the pendulum room ready before I return here."
_While Piccolo was away, Goten diligently followed the training regimen designed specifically for him. Adorned with weighted bands on his wrists, blazing orange in color, and donning heavy black martial boots, he pushed his limits beyond ordinary attire.
Goten's attire resembled his father's iconic gi, with a reddish-brown hue, a cool white sash tied in a knot, and deep green pants. To add to the challenge, he wore a snug purple undershirt, packed with additional weights, and attached black weights to his upper arms.
Sensing Piccolo's return, Goten's face lit up with joy. "Piccolo!" he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Where'd you disappear to?"
Piccolo approached Goten, raising his right index finger, causing the weight of his clothing to vanish and the external weights to disappear. Goten's confusion was evident as he stared at his teacher. "What's going on?" he asked.
With a beckoning gesture, Piccolo motioned for Goten to follow him into the sky. "I'm taking you somewhere special," he said, a sly grin playing on his lips. "A place where you can put your abilities to the test. We'll see if you're ready to face the Saiyans in the days to come." His gaze turned forward as they soared toward the lookout.
Goten's bewilderment persisted. "Special? What do you mean?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Piccolo's smirk deepened. "You'll find out soon enough. It's a place that'll push your limits," he explained, his voice tinged with mystery. "A test to determine if you're truly prepared." With that, he focused on their journey, guiding Goten through the skies, bound for the hallowed grounds of the lookout.
As they arrived at the lookout, an eerie emptiness filled the air, giving little indication of any signs of life. Following Piccolo, Goten ventured into a building on the right side of the temple. They descended several flights of stairs, gradually reaching a room shrouded in near darkness.
Inside, faint glimpses of light revealed a bizarre sight. Random clocks appeared and vanished at irregular intervals, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Piccolo guided Goten until they reached a vivid red circle, where he abruptly halted. Before Goten could speak, a figure emerged from the other side of the circle, revealing itself to be none other than Popo.
Goten jumped back in slight fright. "A-Ah!" Goten shouted. "W-What the hell is that thing!"
Mr. Popo gave an unamused look. "Exactly like his father." He muttered, to which Goten responded with an even more confused look.
"You know my Dad?" He asked as he stood up and dusted himself off.
Mr. Popo nodded. "I trained him once too.. For the twenty-third world martial arts tournament." He answered. His eyes darted to the annoyed looking Piccolo then moved back to Goten. "Let's make haste now. We do not want to interrupt your training."
The Pendulum above the red circle began to swing back and forth. "Once you step into this red circle, you'll be tested by four different things." He held out four fingers with his right hand. "One. Your willingness to fight. Two. Your natural and battle instincts. Three. Your mental strength, and Four. Your technique."
Mr. Popo moved his hand back down, closing it. "After you've passed those four tests, you will return here. If you do not pass those tests, you will die." He said. Goten's eyes slightly widened, giving a gulp of fright but immediately shook it off. "Are you ready?" Goten nodded in response and took a few steps forward.
As he entered the circle it began to light and flare up, within a blink, Goten was gone. He reappeared a moment later, in an area that seemed to basically be the previous place he was training before. Goten had a confused look on his face as he scratched the side of his head.
"How come I'm back here?" Goten thought out loud. He started to walk around and surveyed the area, something did seem off but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Maybe I'm not at the same place?" He continued to pace himself forward. "Maybe that guy was wrong about the circle and it didn't teleport me?"
He shrugged, brushing it off as he put his arms behind his head. "Oh well. I'll just head back to that place Piccolo took me and try again." A short moment after, he made a sudden stop, his face giving a serious look as he turned, sensing an odd energy. "What's that?!"
His eyes darted from various spots as he shifted his head back and forth. Out of nowhere a foot came after him, Goten had narrowly dodged it, tilting his head back then jumping back after to gain some distance.
When the attacker landed, it revealed a strange figure, enveloped in shadows. Goten couldn't quite make out who or what the figure was but the figure seemed short… at least that's all Goten could figure out.
Goten stayed in a defensive posture. "H-Hello?" Hetried to see if the figure was sentient or at least able to speak, but it remained quiet. "Who are you?!" Still no response, the figure seemed fixated on something or rather focused. Before Goten had known it, the figure jumped and attacked.
Goten narrowly avoided the fist thrown at him, stepping to the side. "Ahh!" Goten took a stance, his slightly startled look changing into a serious one as he threw his foot against the shadowy figure. However, Goten had missed, as the figure moved rapidly out of the way, flying up.
Goten followed after the figure, and hurled a fist but the figure blocked with ease, countered by throwing a fist against Goten's face. Goten plummeted towards the ground but he stopped himself midway and charged back.
The shadowy figure threw its leg as Goten approached but Goten moved to the side, avoiding the attack. Goten hurled his fist against the figure's right cheek, causing him to fly about eight feet back. Goten flew forward, swinging his leg high but the shadowy figure bent back, causing Goten to miss, then the shadowy figure kneed Goten in the gut.
Goten doubled over as the air from his lungs was pushed out, clutching his stomach, Goten tried to recover as he lifted his head to see a fist coming at him. Goten had barely bent his head back to avoid the fist, then dodged again when the shadowy figure swung his foot at him.
Goten countered by firing a blast after he distanced himself about twelve feet away, but the shadowy figure easily deflected the blast as he came to Goten, thrusting his elbow. Goten managed to block the attack before it landed, placing both of his arms crossed in front of himself.
The impact of the attack sent Goten about thirty feet away, which the shadowy figure flew after Goten, going behind him as he hurled a spinning back kick at Goten. Instinctively, Goten's tail grabbed onto the figure's leg, to maneuver under him.
As Goten repositioned himself, he slammed his foot into the shadowy figure, causing the figure to double over, then Goten gave a double ax-handle to the figure's head. The shadowy figure plummeted instantly into the ground, generating a massive crater.
A second later, the shadowy figure pushed itself up to its knees as Goten darted, hurling another fist to the figure's right cheek. The shadowy figure crashed into a nearby rock formation, and fell to its knees. When Goten lowered himself to the figure to take another blow, the shadowy figure began to change.
Goten looked confused, he stepped back and took a defensive stance. The figure grew taller, and suddenly formed another familiar look, then revealed itself as the shadows disappeared, Goten's eyes widened.
"Y-You're…" He stuttered as he began to walk back and stumble. A smirk formed on the familiar person's face, Goten's eyes filled with fright as he fell back, swallowing hard. He became speechless and terrified, this was the same person who gave reason to why his father was dead and his brother was gone.
The same person who tried to kill him and his brother. Goten's mind flashed back to that day, that same fateful day where everything changed and the only thing he could feel was pure fright. When the man, the Saiyan, Raditz, came closer, his smirk becoming smug, Goten began to shake and shiver.
"What? Aren't you excited to see your Uncle?" The man spoke, giving a wicked chuckle shortly after. "Why don't we have a little fun? Just you and I!" He moved forward, as he pulled a fist back, causing Goten to immediately freeze right before a fist was struck into his face.
Goten went flying for over a hundred yards before sliding across the ground and kicking up dirt behind him. When he stood up and recovered, Raditz appeared in front of him, his smug look still remaining. Again Goten seemed fearful as his body continued to tremble.
"G-Go Away!" Goten shouted. He hoped that maybe it wasn't real and if he said something it would make him disappear but it didn't work. Raditz threw another fist and Goten instinctively moved away, narrowly avoiding the attack. Raditz was quick to hurl his foot at Goten, striking the halfbreed's gut, and sending him several yards in the distance.
This time Goten crashed into a nearby rock formation, his back colliding into the harsh rock as it created a dent on impact. Goten fell off the rock immediately after and dropped to the ground, pushing himself to his knees a moment after.
When Goten lifted his head, Raditz was there again in front of him. "L-Leave me alone! G-Go away!"
Raditz's smirk faded as it turned into an expression of irritation. "How pathetic." He spoke, crossing his arms. "And here I thought I could get some form of fight out of you." He gave an exasperated sigh as he came closer to Goten who tried to crawl back.
Raditz grabbed Goten by the throat and Goten tried to remove Raditz's grip to no avail. "Your brother gave more of a fight than this, and you just cower instead?" He made a look and motion of disgust. "What did I expect from someone like you? Your father was just as weak and cowardly."
Weak? Cowardice? Goten's eyes widened with anger and his eyebrows raised as he bared his fangs. "My father isn't.. WEAK!" For a brief moment as Goten pulled Raditz's hand away, his energy spiked. Goten slammed his foot into Raditz's left cheek, and sent Raditz sliding ten feet away, his head turned, dirt kicked up behind him.
As Raditz turned his head back, spitting a slight mixture of blood and saliva to the side, he looked mad and irritated. He adjusted his position, hurling another fist against Goten's right cheek, sending Goten flying. Goten flailed his arms a bit as he tried to stop himself, stopping two feet by a rock formation.
Raditz rushed forward, slamming a fist into Goten's gut causing him to double over and clutch his stomach. "Foolish brat. Did you ever think you could hurt me?!" He kicked Goten in the side causing him to be knocked into the rock formation behind him. "Your father couldn't even beat me! He was weak!"
Raditz pressed his foot harshly onto the side of Goten's head, causing Goten to yelp. "M-My d-daddy's not…w-wea-AGH!" Goten said. Raditz pressed his foot harder, interrupting Goten.
"He was an abnormality, a mutation!" Raditz yelled. "A disgrace! And just like him, you're a far worse disgrace that should've never existed!" He slammed his foot further causing the ground beneath Goten to break and crumble from the stress as Goten tried to resist the force.
The tight push against his head caused his airways to lock, making Goten's breathing become heavy. "D-..Don't..call.." He tried to utter the words out but he was too weak, it took too much breath.
Raditz formed a smirk across his face. "What? Weak?! WEAK?! Weak isn't even a statement to fit what you are! You disgusting half-blooded freak!"
Goten's eyes snapped, "I'.-..I'm not…A FREAK!" He yelled. A sudden energy spike filled Goten and his rage. "And…my daddy is not! WEEEAAAAAK!" A burst of energy erupted, knocking Raditz off balance. In an instant, Goten had vanished from his position, his leg having slammed Raditz in the gut.
Raditz began to double over but stopped himself, adjusting to a defensive stance as Goten approached, his hands folded together lifted high. He thought he could block Goten's attack in time, but Goten's speed dramatically increased in a burst, his folded hands colliding against the top of Raditz's head and forehead.
Raditz crashed, skidding ten feet across the ground with a turbulent impact. As he struggled to rise, Goten's fury surged, his hands instinctively assuming a determined stance. Flames of aura blazed around him, while his teeth clenched in anger.
"I'll take you down you jerk! And then make you bring my brother back!" Goten's feet parted, his knees bending, and his right hand joined the left, drawing back near his waist.
"Magnum Blaster!" Goten's aura intensified, as brilliant yellow energy coalesced in his hands. With a fierce growl, he continued to channel his power, gathering momentum. Within an instant, a swirling mass of energy materialized, taking the form of a radian circle. Goten thrust his hands forward, his left knee extending while his right knee bent forward in unison.
The energy sphere transformed into a torrential yellow wave, hurtling toward Raditz, who widened his eyes in shock. Before Raditz could comprehend the imminent danger, the overwhelming surge of energy crashed into him, engulfing his being. Agonized screams tore through the air as every fiber of Raditz's existence was ravaged and consumed by the searing force.
When the dust and smoke settled a moment later, revealing Raditz to be gone, Goten dropped down and sat, panting slightly. A few more seconds after that, someone had appeared, it being Krillin with a smile on his face and his right hand giving a thumbs up.
"Great Job! You've passed the first test." Krillin said. Goten gave a happy smile in response. "You can rest for a moment but after that you will be continuing to finish your tests." Goten gave a nod in response as Krillin disappeared.
"Wait! I wanted to ask…" Goten stopped and sighed, he was too late. He continued walking forward, hoping that he could find a way to his next test. As Goten continues walking forward, the landscape begins to change into something more desert-like. He paces for a few more miles before a barren heat weighs over him. "Man it is hot out!"
Goten wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued to walk. "I wonder where the next fighter is…or is the next test not another fighter?" Goten shrugged to himself, placing his two arms behind his head as he happily continued to walk.
A brief second after, he heard a noise, his eyes looking to the right as he stopped walking. "Huh…" He said. "I thought I saw something." Goten shrugged and continued to walk, but before he could make a full pace, his attention moved towards something else.
A bit of sand had fallen as if it were kicked up by something. Goten tilted his head curiously and removed his arms from behind his head, wondering what could've done that. Again, he could hear footsteps behind him, Goten turned but saw nothing.
"What's that?! Who's there?!" Goten called out. No response, a few seconds later and there was that noise again! Before he knew it, it kept coming from all different directions and he started to see blurs. Within a mere moment later, there was a blur spinning around him. Goten took a defensive stance, his eyes darting to the enemy as he tried to track the movements.
"Man, he's going too fast! I can't s-" prior to finishing his thoughts, Goten was knocked back by a rapid jab to the right cheek. Goten went flying back but the person, running in a rapid circle kept Goten from escaping his circle, by kicking him again. The speeding blur now had Goten in a lock where he was rapidly being juggled around back and forth.
Goten whelped in pain as each attack sent him all over the place, but after what seemed like a long few minutes, in reality about fifteen seconds, Goten stopped himself midway on the next attack, flipping and gripping the ground to gain stability.
He watched for a couple of seconds as the blur sped. "There!" Goten leaped forward, hurling his fist, hoping what he saw was the actual figure but when his fist was thrown, it hit nothing but pure air. The blur had vanished, and Goten could not see where he went.
Goten whipped his head back and forth, glancing as he searched for his enemy. The blur however had landed a hit against Goten's side, sending Goten twenty feet away and sliding across the ground for another fifteen feet.
As Goten pushed himself to his knees, a leg struck his jaw, sending him skyrocketing. Goten struggled to stop himself, his head tilting down as he could barely make out what seemed like a wolf running on air before what looked like the wolf slamming his two paws down on Goten was actually the fighter in a blur striking Goten's gut with his right leg.
Goten plummeted instantly into the ground, causing it to break and generate a crater beneath him, rubble quickly piled over Goten. Within seconds Goten pulled himself out again, panting heavily as he pushed to his knees.
Goten flinched, he could feel his breath becoming heavy and hard to breathe. "I.t..hurts.." he uttered weakly. He shook his head and tried to power through the pain, taking a deep breath as he tried to search for the enemy. He closed his eyes and concentrated. "Piccolo said I need to find an opponent's energy if I can't see them."
As his body calmed, his senses relaxed and became focused, allowing him to sense the nearby reservoir of energy that came after him from behind. Goten jumped back and stepped to the side as the blur came crashing through, disappearing as fast as it appeared, only to come after Goten from the side.
Goten was quick to dodge, and ducked, the blur's leg struck the air above Goten. Goten leaped from below and struck his opponent's jaw, his opponent flew back about twenty feet away before bouncing and sliding across the ground for several more yards.
A moment after, his opponent began to push himself up and dust himself off. Again, Goten could see a darkened navy blue coat wolf standing, a calm expression formed on his face. Goten took a stance as the fighter darted towards him, vanishing at the last second.
Goten's head whipped around. "He disappeared so f-" His thoughts couldn't even finish as a blow to the back of his head caused him to stumble forward, nearly falling into the ground. Goten quickly regained his balance, planting his feet firmly in the ground.
He took a quick breath and calmed down, as he searched for the fighter's energy. "There!" He turned to the right, and blocked the fighter's fist with his right arm. The power of the blow caused Goten to grit his teeth and groan from the pain as he tried to ignore it.
Before he could even have the shortest second to breathe, the fighter vanished from sight the second Goten blocked his attack, appearing above him, his foot narrowing on Goten's shoulder junction. Goten spun quickly, backstepping a few inches, to avoid the attack.
This miss attack was swiftly followed by a high kick the second his feet made contact with the ground. Goten lifted his left arm and blocked the fighter's leg, a clash that caused a minor shockwave that had more of a sharp and "smack!"-like sound to it.
The fighter moved closer, adjusting his position and angle as he thrusted his knee against Goten's gut, causing him to double over and a bit of saliva to escape his mouth. Goten instinctively clutched the area around his stomach as he gasped for air, his eyes still following the fighter.
The fighter came around behind Goten, giving a powerful and swift kick to his lower back, a speed too fast for Goten to dodge, causing him to be sent several yards away. As he approached the ground, stomach facing the ground, the fighter swung another powerful kick to his forehead, sending him back another forty yards.
Once again, Goten was caught in a juggle, unable to escape it, being thrown around like a beach ball. Tossed, tossed, tossed, tossed, tossed, and tossed again, Goten could see nothing but the world spinning around him.
In a fleeting instant, Goten fought to regain his equilibrium, his body spiraling recklessly amidst the chaotic clash. His opponent, seizing the opportunity, launched a swift leg strike, aiming squarely for Goten as he closed in.
Goten reacted quickly and countered, stretching his hand out to block the kick, using the Fighter's leg as an area to grip. He bounced off and jumped behind the fighter. The fighter whipped around, backing up a few feet taking a stance.
Goten rushed forward simultaneously with the fighter, propelling himself forward with agile grace. Momentum building, he spun with breathtaking speed, executing a spectacular 1080-degree kick. The sheer whirlwind of motion swept through the air, showcasing a display of seamless athleticism and fierce precision.
However the same attack was blocked perfectly by the opposing fighter, who the split-second after, threw a fist towards Goten's lower abdomen. Goten reacted quickly, vanishing from the spot, appearing behind him a short second later as he thrusted his knee against the back of the fighter's neck.
"Gotta finish this.." Goten thought. He raised both of his hands, leveled on each side of his head, generating energy spheres in front of the palm of his hands. A short second after, he threw both of his hands forward, unleashing a single violent and explosive energy wave that shot forward, keeping Goten mid-air.
The energy wave struck the fighter who placed both of his arms crossed in front of him, immense winds swirled around the beam as Goten exerted more power into the beam. The opposing fighter was pushed back, his firmly planted feet in the ground slid, pushing dirt up behind his heels as he tried to block the attack.
With a final push and a violent roar, Goten unleashed the last of his energy, the blast grew to a massive size, consuming and overwhelming the fighter. As the next couple of seconds passed, his blast ending, smoke and dust arised, clouding the area where his opponent once was. Goten dropped to the ground, exhausted, his hands placed on his knees.
As the shadowy figure faded away, a different person appeared in front of Goten shortly after. One Goten didn't quite recognize.
"That was a pretty good kid, but it's only going to get tougher from here on out." The figure said. Although Goten didn't know who this was in particular, this was Yamcha. "You'll get a short break before you'll have to face the next test."
Goten's smile dropped. "W-What another test?" He said. "But I'm so ex-" Before he could finish speaking, Yamcha disappeared and Goten sighed exasperatedly as he fell to his back. "How am I gonna beat the next test if I'm this tired…"
About thirty minutes later…
Goten got up and headed forward, as he walked forward, the scenery quickly changed to more of a marshy area. In the distance he could see several different tall and large cranes with red patches around their eyes.
In the center of the marsh was a large statue of a crane, similar to the others around here but instead the statue had green patches around its eye. Goten examined it closely as he slowly walked towards it. When Goten's foot stepped on the water in the marsh, a sharp piercing blow was struck to Goten's chest.
Goten couldn't see it coming, being knocked away by several yards and sliding across the ground for the remaining few. As Goten began to stand back up, groaning painfully, he darted his eyes around to find the attacker but saw nothing, not even a slight sign.
He closed his eyes to search for it, unable to sense any energy, however he did notice a strange black orb about a couple feet above the statue. Goten scratched his head, taking a second to think, wondering if maybe he should try and get the orb.
Goten took a few steps forward then stopped, his eyes darting to the ground as he saw he nearly touched the water. "Whatever it was that hit me, it hit me the second I stepped here." He took a step back. "So maybe I should try rushing it?" Goten walked back a few extra feet and took a running stance.
Goten took off in blazing speed, running faster than light but the attacker was faster, the moment his foot landed on the water, Goten was blown away. The water in a path in front of where Goten was standing had split before crashing with little tiny waves that collided back together shortly after.
Standing back up again, Goten had a slightly annoyed but determined look on his face. He rushed again to jump in but was blown away again. He got up, took a stance, and ran again, trying to rush it, still failed. Goten tried to come from a different side, from above, from below by burrowing, from the sides, and none prevailed.
After awhile, Goten got frustrated, after the last below he sat up and placed his head against his hand. "This ain't working! There's gotta be a way to beat this!" He sighed, tapping his fingers against his other knee as he thought. "Is it because I rushed it?" He shook his head in response to his own question. "No, cause the first time I stepped on the water he blew away."
He lifted his head from his hand as he straightened his posture, looking at the marsh. "And I already tried jumping over the water…" He scratched his head, looking at the cranes. "Maybe I should copy the cranes?"
Amidst tranquil waters, the cranes stood like statuesque sentinels, their delicate feet gracing the surface with ethereal grace. Serenely, they breathed, each inhalation a whisper of tranquility. Their poised balance held unwavering, as if connected to the very essence of stillness. Goten's gaze fixated on this mesmerizing spectacle, captivated by their every move.
In the midst of this graceful assembly, one crane broke the stillness. With a measured step forward, it ventured, each movement a testament to gentle deliberation. Every footfall, deliberate and tender, painted a fleeting path upon the water's surface. The crane's journey continued, extending a few more feet in serene motion, an embodiment of grace in motion.
Goten got up a moment later and continued towards the marsh, he took a deep breath and a step forward. He copied the cranes, his foot being carefully placed on top of the water, his energy out enough only to keep him on top of the water.
The first step and there was nothing, Goten took note to keep his composure and continued another step forward. So far so good, he continued closer and closer, keeping his balance and his technique perfect. As he reached the statue, Goten climbed it quickly and touched the black orb.
For a brief moment, darkness surrounded him everywhere, keeping him afloat as if he were in some kind of abyss. As quickly as it appeared, it vanished, Goten now having reappeared on the mountains of Paozu, him falling to the ground simultaneously.
Goten pushed himself back up, taking in his surroundings. He was confused more than before, it was his home, his house, and the lake by it. He knew that couldn't be right because he was just elsewhere and plus like before he knew that the case would be too easy.
Yet…as he turned to his house, there his family was. His brother, his father, and his mother, all standing there. Goten's mouth hung open, he was speechless, his Father! Was there! Alive! He wondered how that would even be possible.
In the shock of the moment, Goten instinctively ran to his father, shouting for him. "I…I thought you were dead!" He cried.
Goku gave a confused look. "Dead? Why would I be dead, son? I'm standing right here." He answered.
Goten sniffed, sucking his tears back in. "B-But, I saw that evil jerk kill you!" He replied. "Mister Piccolo had even been training me for the last year!"
Goku looked even more perplexed. "Training you? Are you okay, Goten?" He asked. "Did you have a bad dream?"
Goten's gaze moved down to the ground, was this all a dream? He was now unsure. "But…I saw him kill you." His voice got quieter. "And I saw him take Gohan away.."
Goku arched his brow. "But Gohan and I are right here."
Gohan nodded happily. "Yea! Come on, Goten! Let's go play!"
Goten watched as Gohan ran off, an array of confused emotions filled him as he couldn't help but wonder what was going on. This felt real…too real but Goten followed after his brother in, because it just had to be real, otherwise there'd be no way he would be seeing his brother and father, here at his own home.
He hung out with Gohan as the two looked at various bugs, played with the sticks in the front yard, and even observed some of the smaller animals.
"So what were you tellin, Daddy, earlier?" Gohan asked, his head tilted and tail moving in a gentle sway as he was filled with curiosity.
Goten bit his lips, he was unsure if he should even say anything, but he soon realized he forgot what it even was. "I don't remember." He shrugged, giving a smile. Gohan smiled back and continued observing the little snow hare in the distance. "What was I supposed to be doing?"
Goten shrugged and brushed it off, or brushed it off as much as he could, it still nagged him as the day went on. When called for lunch, the two headed for the house and quickly got on their seats as they waited for it to be placed on the table.
The aroma of a homemade lunch fills the air, an enticing medley of fragrances. It carries the comforting scent of freshly cooked grains and the delicate notes of seaweed. Savory hints of umami-rich sauces and simmering broths add depth to the enticing mix.
Crisp vegetables and pickled accents contribute a vibrant freshness, while the tantalizing aroma of grilled proteins adds a touch of smoky allure. The enticing fragrance beckons with a harmonious symphony of flavors, promising a satisfying meal.
Goten couldn't believe his eyes, a homemade meal which he hadn't had in over a year. "Wait…I haven't had this in a long time?" Now he was confused. Something didn't feel right. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something didn't feel right.
"You going to eat, Goten?" Gohan asked.
Goten turned his face to Gohan. "Huh? Oh yea!" He nodded, quickly forgetting what he was thinking. He picked up his chopsticks to grab some of his food but before he put it in his mouth, he realized he hadn't done his homework at all today.
What was even more odd, was that his mother never mentioned it. It was so weird and something nagged at him again, then it hit him, well not completely, but something WAS off. He placed his chopsticks back down.
"What's the matter, son?" Goku asked.
Goten scratched the side of his head. "I..I don't know, there was something I was supposed to do, and I can't remember." He answered.
Goku looked perplexed. "Something you were supposed to do? You and Gohan cleaned your hands before coming to eat, right?" He asked. "Ya know your mom gets mad if you guys don't wash up before Lunch." Goku gave a hearty laugh at the thought.
Goten shook his head. "No, I did..I.." He paused. "Wait! Wait a second! This isn't right! Y-You guys are supposed to be gone!"
Gohan looked confused. "Gone? Why would I be gone, I'm right here."
"Yeah, are you feeling okay, Goten?" Goku added.
Goten nodded. "Yes! I am! …I think?" He placed both his hands against the sides of his head and growled frustratedly. "Agh! Why is this so confusing! I know something is wrong, it's on the tip of my tongue!"
The second after, Chichi walked into the dining room. "Hey, don't forget you guys are heading to meet Master Roshi later, so you can't go train today."
"Haven't forgotten Chi." Goku replied.
Goten's eyes widened. "Wait but we already saw him!" He replied. "A year ago!"
Both Goku, Chichi, and Gohan looked confused. "What're you going on about? I haven't seen Master Roshi in years!" He answered. "I was going to introduce you guys to him today."
Goten shook his head. "No! We've met him! I know we have!" He said. "We met him and…and!" He tried so hard to remember then it dawned on him. "The alien! The bad man! That..That evil jerk! He said he was our Uncle but lied and killed Daddy! And he kidnapped Gohan!"
"How could he have killed me, Goten? I'm right here." Goku pointed out. "Come on, I think you just had a bad dream."
Goten shook his head. "No! I know it was real! You can't be here!" He replied, tears begged to spill. "Because I saw you die!" Finally all of his memories broke free. "Mister Piccolo, he's been training me and he took me to this weird room with a bunch of clocks!"
Then everything stopped… his entire surroundings froze like a picture. Goten looked perplexed, he walked around the area, trying to figure out what was going on, and the area around him shattered like glass before he returned to the dark abyss from before.
Congratulations… There was an echo of one? No two unfamiliar voices… The two voices belonged to that of Tienshinhan and Chiaotzu who appeared in front of Goten shortly after.
"You passed both the third and fourth test." Chiaotzu smiled.
"Which means you only have one more to go." Tien added.
Goten looked confused. "Wait one more?! I thought there were only four!" He replied. Before he could continue to protest, the scenery changed around him again, to a much more desolate version of Earth. "Ooh hoo ooh! That's so annoying!" He looked annoyed but sighed shortly after. "Oh well."
Goten walked around this area, soon finding himself in the ruins of a city. It wasn't long before he saw in the distance, someone sitting on a flat raised stone. Goten walked closer to the distance and noticed it was Piccolo?
Or he thought it was Piccolo, it looked like him but something was off. Goten moved closer to examine him but as the man turned to look at him, his eyes were far too filled with vile and viciousness, his smirk too wicked, and his aura radiated with a burning sense of corruption and vengeance.
Goten started to back away. "W-Who are you…Y-You're not Piccolo…are you?!" He asked, swallowing hard. The man stood up and took a few steps closer to Goten, causing Goten to stop and take a defensive stance. "Who are you!"
The Piccolo look-alike smirked and cackled evilly. "Not Piccolo? Kid, do you even realize who you're talking to?! I am Piccolo! The Demon King Piccolo!" He shouted. "Of course, I am unsure how you're here, I killed all of the life here."
Goten blinked a couple of times. "K-Killed? What?!" His eyes were quick to notice the pile of corpses behind him and four particular individuals caught his eye. He noticed both Krillin and Yamcha, as well as the two other figures from before, which were Tienshinhan and Chiaotzu. "H-How…" An immense amount of fright began to fill him. "T-They were just alive! I just saw them!"
Piccolo looked in the same direction as Goten. "Oh those four?" He said. He looked back at Goten. "Yes, they were recently alive, I've been dealing with their incessant crap for years now. It is about time they've been put down like the dogs they are!"
Goten formed an angry smirk on his face as he growled defensively. "I don't know who you are but you're not Piccolo!"
Piccolo laughed. "Perhaps I am not this imposter Piccolo that you're referring to, but I assure you I am the real Piccolo, the Demon King Piccolo!" He explained. A split-second later, he noticed something about Goten, something familiar, then it dawned on him. "Wait…how is that possible! You shouldn't be alive either! I killed you!"
In the depths of their intense exchange, a glimpse from the past echoed within Piccolo's mind. With a flicker of recognition, he uttered, "You were that monkey boy trained by Master Roshi! Son Goku! How is it possible that you're alive?"
Goten, his eyes ablaze with determination, began to grasp the unfolding situation. His voice carried an edge as he retorted, "Goku was my father's name! And he's very much alive!"
Piccolo's gaze returned to Goten, confusion etching lines upon his face. "What? Not dead? You lie!" he exclaimed with fervor. "I killed him with my own hands! I am certain... unless... this is all a cruel jest! You're no heir of his, just a foolish child!"
The fury within Goten intensified, his teeth clenched, and fangs bared. "Stupid kid?!" He growled. "I'll show you!" In a swift motion, he lunged forward, aiming a fist towards the Demon King's visage. However, Piccolo effortlessly caught his punch, a grip unyielding, accompanied by a derisive scoff.
"You call that a punch?" Piccolo rolled his eyes, dismissing the feeble attempt. "Allow me to demonstrate a true punch!" With astonishing force, he hurled Goten a staggering distance, relentlessly pursuing him. In a thunderous strike, Piccolo's fist collided with Goten's gut, propelling him forcefully into the ground. The impact shattered the earth's surface, engulfing Goten in a cascade of debris.
The profound impact left Goten coughing up a mixture of saliva and blood, his ears ringing, and his vision momentarily blurred. As the dust settled, the imposing figure of the self-proclaimed "Demon King" Piccolo approached once more, his presence casting an ominous shadow.
The profound impact left Goten coughing up a mixture of saliva and blood, his ears ringing, and his vision momentarily blurred. As the dust settled, the imposing figure of the self-proclaimed "Demon King" Piccolo approached once more, his presence casting an ominous shadow.
Piccolo huffed. "Pathetic…Is that the best you can do?"
Goten pulled himself out of the dirt, coughing from the dirt and pushed to his knees then to his feet, taking a stance in front of Piccolo. "I'm just getting started!" He panted slightly. He jumped forward, hurled another fist that was deflected by Piccolo and then countered with a blow in his stomach, causing him to clutch and double over, floating down slowly.
Piccolo watched for a short few seconds before thrusting his knee into Goten's face, sending him several yards away. He crashed into the ground harshly, a small stream of blood spilled from the right corner of his lip, and some of the debris ripping the side of his right sleeve.
With unwavering resolve, Goten propelled himself upright and swiftly closed the distance, his fist poised to strike the side of Piccolo's head. Yet, the seasoned warrior effortlessly intercepted the attack, nullifying its impact.
Like a fleeting apparition, Goten vanished from sight, only to materialize behind Piccolo in a seamless motion. His leg traced an arc through the air, targeting the side of Piccolo's neck. But with a swift tilt of his head, Piccolo evaded the blow effortlessly, his instincts honed to perfection.
In a swift reversal, Goten swiftly descended, his fist aimed at Piccolo's back. However, the Demon King swiftly pivoted, his grasp closing tightly around Goten's incoming fist. With an undeniable display of strength, he hurled Goten with formidable force, propelling him across the expanse, a distance exceeding a hundred yards. The young warrior crashed forcefully into the crumbling remnants of once-proud buildings.
The impact reverberated through Goten's being, as unyielding walls of thick concrete delivered punishing blows. Sharp-edged glass windows and unforgiving metal structures tore at his clothing, leaving tattered remnants in their wake. The onslaught of debris inflicted wounds upon his resilient skin, a testament to the unforgiving nature of the surroundings.
Despite it all, Goten stood back up again, his body now covered in various bruises, scratches, and dust and dirt as well. He wiped the blood from his mouth and clenched his fists tightly, his aura slowly generating around him as he hurtled to Piccolo.
Approaching Piccolo, he aimed his fist to Piccolo's shoulder junction but the Demon King had easily caught his fist, slamming Goten back-first into the ground in front of him. Despite the searing pain coursing through his body, Goten clenched his teeth, suppressing the urge to scream and instead emitting a low groan of resolve.
Piccolo sighed. "This is getting boring…" He said. As Goten lunged up, he shot a punch into Goten's stomach, causing Goten to stop mid-air, clutching his stomach yet again, and then jabbed his elbow into Goten's neck. Goten fell to the ground, stomach-first in front of Piccolo. He tried to pull himself up but his arms felt weak as he was still gasping for air.
With a forceful kick, Piccolo struck Goten's side, propelling him several yards away. As Goten struggled to rise, slowly pushing himself up onto his knees, Piccolo advanced towards him, a raised eyebrow reflecting his curiosity. Undeterred, Goten mustered his strength and launched himself at Piccolo once more.
"Just like that brat from years ago!" Piccolo snarled, his frustration evident. He retaliated with a powerful punch to Goten's chin, causing him to recoil and return to his previous position. But, time and time again, Goten defied the pain, rising from the ground to face Piccolo anew.
A relentless cycle ensued, with Goten repeatedly standing up despite the punishing blows, refusing to yield. However, as the battle waged on, Goten's energy waned, and weariness began to overtake him.
A disgusted look formed on this.. Demon King Piccolo's face as he placed his foot harshly onto Goten's back. "Why…" He said.
Goten chuckled, wincing and groaning as Demon King Piccolo forced more pressure into his back. "W-What d-do you m-mean?" He asked.
The Demon King Piccolo increased the pressure on his foot, pressing harder into Goten's back as the young halfbreed resisted the urge to yelp. "Why go through all this trouble when you can just crumble beneath and die." He asked in response. "It would be so much easier…"
Goten tried to push Piccolo off, struggling as hard as he could, despite Piccolo putting more force into it. "Because…" His mind wandered, reflecting that onto his father's death and his brother's kidnapping. "I..I have to…I..I can't give up.."
Piccolo lifted his foot and slammed down on Goten's back again, causing Goten to yelp in agony, ending the tight struggle as his body became limp. Piccolo kicked Goten aside, several feet away, his face looking angrier than ever.
"Why…" He questioned. "Why not!"
Inhaling deeply, Goten pushed his arms up and pulled himself to his knees weakly. "Because…I have too much counting on me…" He stands tall and his aura generates ferociously. "Mister Piccolo said…that if I wanted to become strong, to be truly s-strong! I need a reason, a reason to be truly strong! And…I want to save my brother and avenge my father!"
Goten took another deep breath, unleashing his energy. "I don't want to sit around and be helpless..I.." He clenched his fists tightly as every last ounce of energy gathered around him. "And I won't let them down!" He lunged forward, hurling a fist with the remainder of his energy, and landing it against Piccolo's face.
The blow sent Demon King Piccolo for hundreds of yards but caused Goten to fall back down to his knees, unable to move, and soon he fell to the ground, his consciousness barely waning, his eyes barely able to stay open.
A short moment after, he saw the Demon King Piccolo come up to him, a stream of blood spilling from his mouth, his hand generating an energy sphere in front of the palm, aimed at Goten. Goten urged every vein in his body to move but he couldn't, he just couldn't.
He watched as the blast unleashed and consumed him completely, thinking himself a goner. A moment later, he found himself, panting heavily as he returned to the darkened room with clocks vanishing and reappearing. He had a perplexed look on his face, his first sight of Piccolo, the real Piccolo, standing in front of him.
"Congratulations Kid, you passed…" Piccolo said.
Goten looked further confused. "Passed? But…but I lost.."
Piccolo shrugged. "Perhaps, but that test was never designed for you to win. You were only meant to show resolve." He explained. "Which you did."
Goten bit his lips, his gaze down. "So…if that was just part of the test…then.." He turned to see the others behind him, completely alive, letting a sigh of relief before he fell to his back and blacked out.
To be continued..
A/N: Late upload, I get busy sorry. Casting Call for the Audiodrama is still up for one more week.