The Desert Bandit and the Ox-King

Bulma lay comfortably stretched out on the boat's deck, a pair of sunglasses resting on her nose, flipping through the pages of a magazine. She looked perfectly at ease, the picture of relaxation, with one leg crossed over the other as the sun bathed her skin, amidst the gentle sound of water flowing.

In stark contrast, Kakarot was anything but relaxed, he stood at the back of the boat, muscles bulging as he pushed with all his might, using his tail as a propeller to keep them moving, the boat had stalled as they sailed across the river, and he had taken matters into his own hands, quite literally.

"Man, I gotta hand it to you," Bulma said lazily, peeking over at her companion with a smirk. "You're really good at this whole 'boat engine' thing, who needs repairs when we've got you?"

Kakarot grunted, focused on keeping their speed steady. "This can serve as a good warmup, at least."

Bulma chuckled "Only you could be crazy enough to see this as a warmup, remember to relax later, okay?" she went back to her magazine, "I like this setup we got, I can handle this just fine!"

Their motorcycle rode across the sand, leaving clouds of sand behind it, the intense heat radiating off the desert floor, and Bulma's earlier confidence now long gone, replaced by utter exhaustion. "I can't handle this anymore!" she wailed, completely dehydrated and worn out, she stopped their motorcycle to an abrupt stop, slumping over, barely able to keep herself upright.

"What's wrong, Bulma? This isn't that bad," he said, genuinely confused, his Saiyan resilience and the fact he was just way more used to harsh environments made him not feel too bothered by the desert's heat.

Bulma shot him a glare through tired eyes, her parched lips barely moving. "Not bad... for you maybe!" she groaned as she tried to fan herself weakly. "But I'm human, and this desert is going to kill me!"

Kakarot let out an annoyed sigh, crossing his arms as he looked at her pathetic visage as she remained slumped over in exhaustion. "You really need to toughen up, Bulma," he said, his tone laced with mild frustration.

Bulma shot him another glare, though it lacked the usual fire she could muster. "Toughen up? Kakarot, I'm not some super powerful alien like you! I don't have endless stamina, okay?" She wiped her forehead, clearly on the verge of a meltdown. "This heat is unbearable!"

Kakarot shrugged, unfazed by the scorching desert. "Yeah, well, we've got a long way to go, and we can't stop every time you feel tired."

Bulma groaned in exasperation, slumping further down the motorcycle. "Easy for you to say... you're basically invincible..."

Kakarot rolled his eyes but softened slightly, realizing that Bulma had been pushing herself more than he'd initially thought, maybe he could help her, so, without a word, he stepped over to her, gently picking her up from the motorcycle as if she weighed nothing.

Bulma blinked in surprise, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "W-Wait, what are you doing?" she stammered, utterly confused as he hoisted her onto his back.

"You're too tired to do anything properly." Kakarot said simply, adjusting her so she was secure. "And we need to keep moving."

Bulma opened her mouth to protest, but the truth was, she really was too exhausted, her body practically melted into his, the warmth of his back surprisingly comforting, she sighed and pocketed the motorcycle back into its capsule with a tired flick of her wrist.

"Alright... fine," she mumbled, resting her head against his shoulder, she was too tired to complain, and honestly, it actually felt… nice. "But don't think this means I'm lazy or anything…" she muttered, half-heartedly.

Kakarot smirked, his pace steady and fast as he carried her forward through the desert. "I didn't say that, just hurry up and rest so you don't slow us down later," he said, though there was no bite in his tone. "Remember, you need to rest to grow, right."

Bulma chuckled softly "How cute, you're actually listening to me!" She closed her eyes, giving a small, contented smile despite everything, the heat, the desert, it all faded into the background as Kakarot carried her forward, the steady rhythm of his steps lulling her into a calm and warmth she hadn't expected, she felt safe, and with that she dozed off to sleep.

Kakarot glanced back over his shoulder, catching sight of Bulma's peaceful face resting against him, a small, unexpected smile appearing onto his lips as he felt her warmth against his back.

He had never been one to care about others like this, to care about their wellbeing and safety, but seeing her like this, so at ease, stirred something within him, the steady rise and fall of her breaths soothed his own heart, and he couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by the vulnerability she showed in her sleep, her face looking so…

His train of though was interrupted however, his scouter beeped, a power level of 9 was a little ways away from here, it didn't worry him but… Bulma… if this were to be a bandit or something it could pose a threat to her, he quickened his pace, trying to not overdo it so as to not disturb her sleep, his scouter fixed on that power level.

Yamcha squinted through the binoculars, his heart racing as he watched Bulma, such an amazing beauty was rare to see, and looking at her made him feel so… afraid, he didn't know how to talk to girls! He couldn't even dare to get near these two, but the scene also made him feel something else, as he watched Kakarot soar at great speeds through the desert, he misunderstood their situation. "It looks like he's kidnapping her!"

Puar, perched on Yamcha's shoulder, looked through the binoculars with a puzzled expression. "Yamcha, are you sure? It looks like she's just sleeping. Maybe they're friends."

"No way!" Yamcha insisted, his determination spiking. "That's exactly what a kidnapper would want you to think! We might be bandits but even we wouldn't stoop so low! have to save her!" He adjusted the binoculars again, focusing intently on the pair. "Look at that! He's too rough, and she's so helpless! So… Beautiful…" he started trailing off.

Puar raised an eyebrow at Yamcha's momentary lapse, noticing the way his friend was entranced by the sight of that woman. "Uhm… Yamcha?... You okay?"

Yamcha snapped back to reality, shaking his head vigorously. "Right! Right! That girl needs our help!" He pointed dramatically towards Kakarot and Bulma. "We can't just sit by as such a beautiful girl is taken by that brute!"

Puar looked worried at his friend, they might just be going into a misunderstanding, and Yamcha couldn't handle girls, it would be much easier to just rob them blind like they always do, but the shapeshifter cat couldn't argue against Yamcha, as he transformed into a motorcycle and the two sped off to catch their targets.

Kakarot had been keeping a close watch on the scouter, his brow furrowing as he tracked the power level approaching them, that same level of 9, it was weak compared to him, but at the speeds it was approaching, it was likely on one of those machines, it will catch up to him. And as that power level drew closer, he felt a sense of urgency, tightening his grip on Bulma to ensure she wouldn't wake up from any potential confrontation, he wasn't worried about himself, but worried about her safety.

Yamcha's heart surged with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "I can't believe I'm about to save such a beautiful girl!" he exclaimed, his eyes locked onto the figure of Kakarot, still carrying Bulma on his back. "That guy looks like trouble, but I won't let him get away with this!" His dreams of heroism completely blinding him.

Puar still felt worried, for some reason… this felt like they were going into an incredible danger, he squinted at Kakarot, noticing the subtle intensity in his stance, there was something about the boy that felt differen, an aura, perhaps, that hinted at a strength beyond what he should have. "Yamcha, I really think we should-"

The pair was then shocked, they thought they would be able to get near and sneak attack the boy, but as they got closer, the boy stopped, and just stood there, menacingly, he somehow knew exactly where they were and was shooting a deadly glare that scared Puar straight, it even made Yamcha feel a little uneasy "What the—?" he stammered, thrown off balance by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Now that he stood still, the bandit duo managed to reach him quite quickly, now within earshot of Kakarot. "If you know what's good for you, leave now, I'm not scared of killing." he called out, his voice low and menacing, laced with danger. He scanned them, he hadn't expected two people, but now that they were close his scouter could actually pick two power levels, an absurdly low reading of 0.5 from… the motorcycle? It did look strange.. Almost like it had eyes.

Yamcha felt his aura raging, it shook him to his core, but he was not one to back down, he stepped forward, trying to maintain an air of confidence despite the unease creeping into his gut. "You think you can intimidate me with such empty threats?" he shot back, though his voice wavered slightly. "I won't let you kidnap such an innocent woman!"

Puar, now detransformed, was now perched on Yamcha's shoulder, as he whispered urgently, "Yamcha, maybe we should just leave them alone, he seems serious!"

But Yamcha was too caught up in the moment, fueled by a mix of bravado and his fixation on Bulma. "You're not taking her anywhere!" He gestured dramatically, trying to emphasize his point but only drawing Kakarot's irritation further.

Kakarot looked at the cat, that poof as he detransformed, it was just like Oolong, the memories of those events making his rage bubble up more, "You a friend of Oolong? That technique of yours… it disgusts me, just so you know, I killed Oolong, he was a coward, seem like you are one too."

Puar turned a ghostly white, "Y…you… killed Oolong? He… he was a bully but… he didn't deserve to die…"

Yamcha looked at his friend with worry. "Stand back Puar, this will get nasty! I told you this guy was up to no good!"

Kakarot frowned, irritation flaring within him, as he was still holding Bulma securely on his back, he felt a surge of protectiveness, overshadowing any desire he would usually have of just rushing in for the kill, he couldn't do that with her sleeping so peacefully, this guy was getting on his nerves, I'm not kidnaping her! She's just tired!" His voice was exasperated, the underlying frustration with Yamcha's misunderstanding evident. He wasn't used to having to defuse these situations, he was often the one escalating them, it seems even as he tried to keep them from fighting by using those threats, but it only invited conflict, he would have to find a way to win this without waking her up.

"You keep telling yourself that kiddo, now let's see what you've got!" Yamcha shouted, trying to sound tough, though his heart raced with uncertainty, he lunged forward, fists swinging, but Kakarot was quick to react.

With a swift motion, he sidestepped Yamcha's attack, all while keeping Bulma safely secured on his back, the boy's agility surprised Yamcha, who stumbled past him "What the?!"

But Kakarot saw that hit got way too close for comfort, his speed was significantly lowered by both Bulma's weight and the fact he had to be gentle, "If you wake her up, I swear-"

"Then let her go!" Yamcha interrupted, his heart pounding as he readied himself for another attack. "You're not fooling anyone, a villain like you wouldn't care about that!"

Kakarot's patience was wearing thin, and as Yamcha lunged forward again, he realized that his speed was rising, he threw a punch, and though Kakarot was much faster, he almost didn't evade the attack, he leaned to the side, the punch almost hitting his shoulder, Kakarot felt the rush of wind as it missed him, a warning bell ringing in his mind, it wouldn't hurt him, but it would stir Bulma awake.

"Is that all you've got?" Kakarot taunted, attempting to regain control of the situation. But Yamcha wasn't backing down, he charged again, this time throwing a series of rapid jabs. Kakarot dodged each one, but Bulma limited his movements so much.

"Stop playing around and just let her go!" Yamcha shouted, fueled by his sense of heroism, He lunged again, his fists flying, and Kakarot had no choice but to start fighting back, if he continued dodging like this Bulma would just wake up.

His naturally combative instincts kicked in, overshadowing his attempts at diplomacy, he straightened up, his posture shifting as he prepared himself for a confrontation. "Fine, but don't blame me when you regret it," he warned, his voice low and dangerous, revealing the raw power he held within, he had to fight with two severe handicaps, one, he would not be able to move as quickly or as swiftly while carrying Bulma, and two, he had to use only his feet and his tail to win.

Yamcha was now full of fear as he realized the threat this boy actually posed, his aura radiated strengths of levels he had never seen before, but he was still driven by his misguided sense of heroism, he charged forward, throwing another punch with all his might.

Kakarot shifted his weight back, narrowly avoiding the punch as it sliced through the air where he had just been, Yamcha stumbled, now off-balance from the missed attack, and Kakarot seized the moment, with a fluid motion, he used the momentum from his dodge to execute a swift kick at Yamcha's midsection, as the kick connected, there was an audible crack of bones, as Yamcha was sent back reeling into the sand, his ribs shattered.

Kakarot's voice dripped with a mix of annoyance and condescension as he regarded Yamcha, who lay gasping on the ground. "I told you not to challenge me," he continued, his tone cold and unforgiving. "You are no Saiyan, you're a weakling, you shouldn't've annoyed me."

Yamcha winced at Kakarot's words, the sting of humiliation adding to the pain in his ribs, his bravado had all but vanished, he really was way over his head, all for a girl.

Kakarot shifted his weight, glancing back at Bulma, who remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding around her, he couldn't help but feel a protective instinct flare within him again. "You're lucky she's here, if she wasn't, I wouldn't hesitate to finish this."

Yamcha's heart raced, the implications of Kakarot's words hitting him hard. "I... I won't give up!" he gasped, struggling to push himself up despite the pain. "I can't let you take her! You are a monster!"

Kakarot sighed, shaking his head at the futility of the bandit's determination, but as he saw that he felt a weird sense of… Dejavu, the way this guy was fighting so stubbornly reminded him of himself… in his pathetic display against Roshi, the thought just made him angrier, was that how he was? A weakling just like this bandit?

Yamcha, still struggling to rise, felt the weight of Kakarot's gaze. How had he gotten himself into this? This boy, this demon, he wasn't just strong, he was a force of nature.

Kakarot saw his attempts, it kept reminding him of himself, he wouldn't let this bandit suffer the same humiliation as him, not because Kakarot respected him, but because he didn't want to keep being reminded of Roshi, he was now in his position but he would settle this fight his way, let the bandit come and he will fight back with all his power, if he lives then he can maybe come back stronger. "If I am such a monster, then come at me! You want to save her, right! Unleash your strongest move on me and I will show you how weak you are, just as a reminder, I still won't even need my hands to kill you!"

Yamcha's heart raced, caught between fear and an overwhelming sense of responsibility, Kakarot's words struck deep, the taunt challenged his very essence, igniting a spark of defiance and a will to fight he didn't even know he had. "I will prove you wrong!" he shouted, pushing through the pain that radiated from his injured ribs. "I'm not weak! I can do this!"

With a surge of adrenaline, Yamcha took a deep breath, focusing his energy as he gathered the remnants of his strength. He envisioned his next move, the Wolf Fang Fist, his signature attack. He sprang forward, channeling every ounce of his willpower into the attack, the world around him narrowing down to just him and Kakarot.

Kakarot watched with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. What's this weakling going to try? But as Yamcha lunged at him, his movements almost betraying a flicker of potential, It was a desperate attempt, the bandit unleashed his attack, a whirlwind of fists and kicks that aimed to land solid hits on Kakarot, he was faster this time, but still, slow, weak, not fast enough compared to a saiyan.

Yamcha continued to try and land a blow against Kakarot, he was picking up speed but it was never enough, eventually Kakarot seizes the opportunity, he would unleash an attack that would kill Yamcha, a test to see if he was worthy of at least living, he grabbed the bandit's leg with his tail, squeezing it extremely thightly.

Yamcha's eyes widened in shock as he realized, he had lost, and at that moment, the world around him slowed down, and he felt the surge of adrenaline and dread coursing through him.

Kakarot lifted Yamcha off the ground effortlessly, the bandit dangling helplessly in mid-air. With a fierce grin that revealed the raw power behind him. With a swift and powerful motion, he swung Yamcha downward, slamming him onto the ground with bone-crushing force, but he didn't end it there, Yamcha's body bounced off the floor, bloodied and beaten, but for a final test of endurance, Kakarot spun himself around and used his tail to throw Yamcha across at full speed.

The bandit flew across the sandy terrain, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, before landing with a thud, and as the dust settled, Kakarot glanced over his shoulder, an expression of indifference crossing his face. "Is that it?" he muttered, eyeing the fallen bandit for any sign of movement. There was none.

Kakarot checked his scouter, raising an eyebrow in surprise. The reading displayed a faint power level of 1. "Huh," he said, somewhat amused. "You're still alive? Guess that's something." There was no sense of triumph in his voice, just a flat acknowledgment that the bandit had somehow survived the encounter.

Turning his gaze toward Puar, Kakarot's tone shifted, taking on an edge of impatience. "Take him and leave quickly if you want him to live," he ordered, his words dripping with annoyance.

Puar, still shaken by the whole ordeal, hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded. "Yamcha, come on! We need to get out of here!" With a great effort, he started dragging Yamcha away.

Kakarot watched as Puar struggled to lift Yamcha, the bandit's limp body dragging on the ground. As they began to depart, Kakarot felt a flicker of satisfaction wash over him. He smiled to himself.

"Warriors like us deserve a proper fight." The bandit was stubborn, just like Kakarot himself, but unlike Kakarot he was dignified by receiving a proper fight, unlike what Roshi had done, Kakarot used all his power and attacked the bandit, he lived, so he would come back stronger, that is what a warrior like he and himself both deserve, a battle to test their very limits no matter how deadly or maybe even pointless, what Kakarot did was bestow an honor, even for such a weakling the bandit displayed the same stubbornness he had, and Kakarot would not humiliate him like Roshi had done.

"Reaching near death experiences, facing a great challenge and surviving it, that is how saiyans grow, you humans are definitely worse, but the saiyan method can probably still work a little!" Kakarot said proudly, but as he finished his sentence he felt a stir.

"Kakarot, you're talking too much! What's happening did we get the Dragon Balls yet?" Bulma said groggily, still half-asleep.

Kakarot turned, momentarily startled by Bulma's sudden awakening. His prideful reflection was cut short as he realized that he'd been talking to himself. "Uh, no, not yet, but we are close, we had a little excitement along the way."

Bulma rubbed her eyes, a mix of confusion and surprise crossing her face. "Excitement? What do you mean?"

Kakarot chuckled, shaking his head. "Nothing you need to worry about, just some bandits who didn't know when to back down, but I took care of it."

"Of course you did," she said, embracing him more tightly as she was still half asleep "You're always taking care of things, thanks, Kakarot."

Kakarot felt a warm blush creep onto his cheeks at Bulma's words. Her embrace, although innocent, sent a flutter through him that he wasn't quite prepared for, and the unexpected compliment left him momentarily speechless.

But as Bulma realized what she had just said, and how she was embracing him… her cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink, and with a startled yelp, she jumped from his back, putting a distance between them. "I-I mean, uh, thanks for saving me and everything!" she stammered, brushing her hair back awkwardly as she picked herself up from the sand.

Kakarot scratched the back of his head, confused and a little… sad, that she was no longer embracing him.

Bulma's embarrassment lingered in the air as she turned her back to him, pretending to adjust her clothes and avoid eye contact. "Oh, look at how late it is, we should camp up, I will get the house out of the capsule."

As the pair brushed off their awkwardness and prepared to set up camp, another group was watching nearby.

"Did you see that, Shu?" Mai exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with excitement. "That bandit! He was so defiant against that demon child! We should totally help him! He could be our ticket to getting those Dragon Balls!"

Shu squinted, scratching his head. "Uh, you mean the guy who got thrown around like a rag doll? I don't think he's exactly in fighting shape, Mai."

"But he showed guts! That's got to count for something, right?" Mai insisted, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Plus, if we help him, he might want to team up with us! God knows we need someone else to be able to handle Pilaf's absurd demands."

"Or he might just want to punch us in the face too," Shu shot back, snickering. "But I guess it can work, we could at least check on him, just to see how bad he is."

With that, they both turned their attention back to Yamcha, who was propped up against a boulder, looking more dazed than anything, his eyes were fluttering open and closed, and Puar was flitting around him anxiously, worried about his friend, he had hid him behind this rock as he wasn't able to carry him back fully.

"Do you think we should just go for it?" Shu asked, glancing at Mai, who nodded vigorously.

"Absolutely! Just follow my lead," she said, her tone a mix of confidence and excitement.

As they made their way over, Shu walked up to them whistling and started talking first. "Uh, hey there… that was quite the beating huh?"

Mai knocked Shu on the head "You idiot!" she then turned towards the bandit. "I'm so sorry, do you need help?"

As Shu rubbed the back of his head, wincing at the impact, Mai leaned closer to Yamcha, her overly enthusiastic smile not quite fitting the somber mood. "I mean, that was some pretty intense stuff back there! If you need it, we can try patching you up, we're really good at that!"

Yamcha blinked slowly, trying to clear the haze from his mind as he registered the two newcomers. His vision sharpened, and he noticed the girl with an absurdly large smile and her human dog companion. "Uh, hey…" he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mai leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with concern. "Are you alright?" It made Yamcha even more flustered. The closer she got, the more heat rushed to his cheeks.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine…" he stammered, struggling to try and maintain a cool guy persona. "Just, um… just a little fight, nothing I haven't seen before" He winced slightly, trying to sit up straighter but only managing to lean against the boulder more heavily, his pain and appearance completely betraying his words, he could still feel his cracked ribs, maybe he had some internal bleeding, and his face was all beaten from being slammed to the ground.

Shu crossed his arms, trying to gauge the situation. "I mean, if you keep seeing stuff like that, maybe you should consider a career change, can't judge you too harshly though, Pilaf's put us through the ringer, but hey, we saw you back there! You really put up a fight!"

Mai nodded vigorously, her excitement barely contained. "Exactly! You showed real guts against that demon child! I mean, come on, how many people would dare to stand up to him? We're impressed!"

Yamcha's heart skipped a beat at her words, and he felt a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Thanks, I guess? But, uh, I don't really think I'm in any shape to fight right now…" He could feel his cool facade crumbling as Mai's enthusiasm enveloped him.

"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself!" Mai said, her smile widening even more somehow. "We could help you out. We're pretty good at patching people up, right Shu?"

"Sure, if by 'patching up' you mean slapping some band-aids on." Shu quipped. "But we can help. After all we are also trying to beat that Kakarot kid, so an enemy of his is a friend to us."

"Kakarot… That's his name?" Yamcha asked, "So you guys want to beat him too huh? He's a villain alright, doesn't surprise me there are people trying to stop him."

Maybe you'd want to team up with us to take down Kakarot then!" Mai said enthusiastically.

Yamcha's face turned beet red at the implication, flustered by the attention and the idea of teaming up. "Wait, what? I-I mean… I don't-" He stumbled over his words, trying to explain but finding himself overwhelmed by Mai's bright smile.

Mai, misreading his stuttering as eagerness, leaned even closer, her eyes sparkling. "See? He's totally into it! We could be a real powerhouse team! Just imagine what the two of us can do for Pilaf!"

"You mean the three of us, right?" Shu said, an annoyed look on his face.

"Oh… Yeah of course, but what do you say Yamcha?!" Mai asked again, getting even closer.

"Y-yeah! Totally…" Yamcha blurted, feeling lost in the whirlwind of excitement, he glanced at Puar, who was watching with wide eyes, and found himself wishing for a quick escape from this awkward situation, he tried backing away, instead, he accidentally leaned too much into the boulder and let out a pained groan.

Shu and Mai exchanged a look of excitement, they thought they had just recruited someone else. "Look at that! He's already excited about the idea! We should take that as a yes!" Shu exclaimed, chuckling.

Yamcha's heart sank, realizing they were misunderstanding his pain and embarassment for enthusiasm. "No, wait!" But it was too late, he could see the determination in their eyes, and he knew he was trapped.

Mai clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her feet. "You can't wait? Alright then! Let's get to work! We're gonna help you, and you're going to join us!"

"That kid you fought, He has the Dragon Balls we are searching for, with it we can get any wish we want!" said Shu.

Yamcha's eyes widened at the mention of the Dragon Balls, he had heard about them in passing, tales of wish granting orbs, if those tales where true then… maybe it could be worthwhile to join up with these two, that way he could finally wish to… be able to talk to girls…

The Pilaf Gang had now gained two new members, as Mai and Shu giddily carried Yamcha, and Puar, who followed along, back to their hideout, they would have to explain to Pilaf about their new hires… they could only hope he wouldn't cut their salaries.

It had been a few days since their encounter with the desert bandit, and as they left the desert behind, Kakarot and Bulma continued riding along in their motorcycle. Today, however, Kakarot wasn't riding on the motorcycle with her, instead, he was racing alongside it, his strides so swift and powerful that he actually managed to kee up, and occasionally surged ahead, proud of himself, every time he did so he would look back at her, a smug grin on his face.

Bulma gripped the handlebars a little tighter, half-impressed, half-irritated. Was he challenging her? She would show him how far human technology can go. As she revved up the engine she started to go even faster, Kakarot responded instantly, pouring on the speed to try and stay ahead, however she started soaring trough the land, leaving him in the dust.

"Not so fast now, are you?" she called out, laughing to herself, her voice whipped away by the wind.

But as the landscape blurred around her, her instincts weren't enough to keep up, as she almost hit a tree, swerving at the last second, narrowly avoiding a nasty collision, her laughter turning into a short scream, as she skid to a stop, heart pounding.

Kakarot felt a pang of worry as he rushed to her side. "Careful there, Bulma! You alright?" he called out, as he looked her over and noticed she was safe, he chuckled and proudly exclaimed. "Looks like saiyan instincts and speed remain unmatched by you humans!"

She rolled her eyes, but laughed alongside him, but as she looked over ahead, her expression dropped, eyes widening in disbelief, ahead of them, towering into the sky, was a mountain bathed in flames, it wasn't just a wildfire, the entire mountain looked as if it were born from fire itself, intense heat radiated from the mountain, that almost reminded her of the dreadful desert they just escaped from.

Kakarot's face lit up with amazement, a grin stretching from ear to ear. "Whoa! Look at that! A whole mountain on fire!"

Bulma's heart sank, and she let out an audible gasp. "Oh no… no, no, no! Please tell me it's not in there!" She looked down at the Dragon Radar, hoping the Dragon Ball couldn't be there, but the blip was dead center in the middle of that fiery nightmare. "You've got to be kidding me… The Dragon Ball is in there?!" She shook her head, her voice thick with disbelief. "How are we supposed to get through that?"

But Kakarot only grinned wider, to him, the raging fire was just another obstacle to overcome. "We will find a way!"

Bulma could only hope her companion was right, she went back to her motorcycle.

As he saw that, Kakarot was ready to restart their competition, but Bulma wasn't so keen on it, her near death experience was one reason, the other one however, she kinda missed riding with Kakarot, his presence near her made her feel… comfortable. "Why don't you… come back to riding here in the motorcycle? You know to… conserve your energy?"

Kakarot looked momentarily taken aback, his excitement pausing as he met her gaze. "But it's so much fun running like this!" he protested, though the playful glint in his eyes faltered a bit.

"But we're heading into a fire, remember? You'll need your energy for whatever's in there," she said, trying to sound more convincing.

The saiyan tried to protest again, but, he decided not to, she did almost die right now, maybe this competition could end up hurting her, and the idea of being close to her was tugging at something inside him, he got back on the motorcycle and the two continued riding.

As they approached the fire mountain, the air thick with heat, Bulma and Kakarot dismounted their motorcycle, surveying the daunting landscape before them, Bulma frowned, her mind racing with potential solutions. "Maybe we can find a way around it… or find some water to douse the flames? Oh what am I'm saying, look at the size of that! There's no way we can-"

But before she could finish her thought, Kakarot's scouter beeped, drawing his attention, he activated it, and his eyes widened in surprise, the reading on it was a power level of 90, approaching them quickly.

His instincts kicked in as he immediately dropped into a fighting stance, his muscles tensing. "Hide! Be careful!" he shouted, glancing back at Bulma, she was confused but felt a rush of adrenaline, the look on her companion was one of worry and eagerness, she instinctively stepped back behind him as he positioned himself protectively in front of her.

Kakarot's excitement bubbled beneath the surface, the thrill of facing a strong opponent igniting a familiar fire within him. "There's someone coming, and whoever it is, they are actually stronger than me!" he exclaimed, his grin returning, though it was laced with a hint of seriousness.

Bulma was now worried, who could this be? To this day the only person to ever be stronger than Kakarot was just that Roshi guy, but what if this new threat isn't as kind as he was, she was scared and worried, she looked over at Kakarot, his confidence still unwavering.

Just as they braced themselves for the unknown, a giant axe came flying toward them, Kakarot's reflexes kicked in, as he caught the massive weapon mid-air. "Whoever you are, come out and face me coward!" he shouted, eyes alight with excitement, with a determined smirk, he launched the axe straight back at their unknown assailant, as Bulma realized the fight was about to escalate, she quickly left to try and find a place to hide.

Their foe caught the axe back, "Not bad kid!" their assailant made himself known, a massive and muscular man, towering over Kakarot, wearing a helmet with giant horns. "Are you here to steal my treasure!"

"We're here for the dragon ball! If that is your treasure, then you bet!" Kakarot grinned, his excitement palpable. "But if you're in the way, then I guess I will have to kill you for it!"

The Ox-King's laughter boomed, echoing around the fiery landscape. "You've got spirit kid! Even if you are rude! I won't let you pillage my castle however!" He hefted his massive axe, ready to attack Kakarot once again.

Kakarot's grin widened. "Then let's see what you've got!"

With a powerful swing, the Ox-King charged at Kakarot, the axe slicing through the air with a deafening whoosh, Kakarot dodged to the side, feeling the heat from the blade as it narrowly missed him, he countered with a flurry of punches aimed at the giant warrior, they seemed to hurt the giant a little but he continued rushing in for another attack.

"Not bad! I actually felt that a little!" the Ox-King roared, swinging his axe again, forcing Kakarot to jump back. "But I'm just getting started!" He slammed his fist into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked Kakarot off his feet.

"Now that's more like it!" Kakarot laughed as he got back on his feet, the thrill of fighting coursing trough his veins. He's extremely strong and resilient, but he doesn't seem to be faster than me, I will need to keep my distance here. He extended the power pole's length and thrusted it like a spear, aiming right at the giant's torso, forcing him to stagger back. before the giant warrior could regain his balance, Kakarot quickly retracted the pole, then swung it around in a low arc, aiming for the Ox-King's legs.

The Ox-King jumped to avoid the strike, but Kakarot was already anticipating this move, and as the giant soared in the air, Kakarot grabbed the pole like a bat, extending it again and swinging at the Ox-King, Kakarot's fighting style with the pole was unpredictable, the Ox-King couldn't dodge in time and was sent back into the ground.

"Not done yet!" Kakarot shouted, quickly flipping the pole over his head. As the Ox-King attempted to stand, Kakarot thrust the pole downward, delivering a stunning blow right to the warrior's head, but the Ox-king managed to recover way faster than he could predicted, dodging out of the way, the pole only hitting one of his horns.

"You use that weapon quite well, but it doesn't belong to you!" The ox-king got back on his feet fully rubbing his helmet where he was now missing one of his horns. "It belonged to Gohan, and he would never give it to such a brat like you, only over his dead body."

Kakarot was surprised that this man would know his master. "He did give it to me! He might be dead, but he gave it to me before that."

"Upon hearing this the Ox-King felt a pang of sorrow, hearing the news of his fallen training partner and best friend. "What… What do you mean he's dead? Gohan was so strong, how did he die?"

Kakarot's demeanor changed, talking about his master always left him so conflicted. "I killed him." He said without any further elaborations.

The Ox-King's expression shifted from sadness to anger, his eyes narrowing as he processed Kakarot's blunt admission. "You... you killed Gohan?" The words felt heavy, the pain of loss swirled within him, mixing in with confusion and anger.

"Yes," Kakarot replied bluntly, his voice unwavering, but with a pang of regret on his heart.

The Ox-King's grip on his axe tightened, the wood splintering under the immense pressure, splitting the axe in two. "You took away one of the strongest fighters I knew! He was my friend! We trained together! What sort of underhanded tactics did you use to do that?" His voice roared.

Kakarot stood tall, a mix of determination and guilt etched on his face. "I didn't use any tricks!" He hesitated. "I lost control. I didn't mean to kill him like that."

"Accident or not, it doesn't change the fact that you took his life!" The Ox-King's fury ignited, with that, the Ox-King lunged at him, fists swinging with the force of a raging bull. Kakarot sidestepped the first punch, the wind from the swing brushing past him. "You don't even seem to regret it! I will make you pay for it!"

With a quick succession of punches, the Ox-King was putting a lot of pressure on Kakarot, as one punch hit him square in the jaw, knocking him back a few steps. Kakarot staggered, feeling the sting of pain coursing through his body, but he couldn't let himself falter. He has become even faster and stronger! Was he not fighting seriously earlier?

Kakarot took a step back, instinctively keeping his distance, this was not a fight he could win by attacking him head on, his opponent was furious, but that anger could be used to his advantage, he would have to think strategically, Kakarot had to keep pressure on the Ox-King to force him to remain at a distance while also using any opportunities to deliver blows to incapacitate him and tire him out.

Using his power pole as an extension of himself, Kakarot kept a calculated distance, positioning the pole between them, he extended it, jabbing it toward the Ox-King to maintain space while still delivering damage.

The Ox-King roared in anger and charged, swinging his fists with ferocity, but Kakarot kept extending the pole, using it to maintain the distance as he kept poking and striking at the giant. "You think you can really avenge your friend?" Kakarot smirked, he was teasing him to build up on that blinding anger, his confidence rising as he continued to dance around the Ox-King's powerful swings.

Kakarot was riding high on the momentum of their battle, feeling the thrill of the fight surge through him, he decided to extend the pole for a more aggressive strike, but in a split second, the Ox-King's reflexes kicked in, the pole struck him once again, but he caught it before it could retract fully.

"Gotcha!" the Ox-King growled, his grip tightening around the pole like a vice. Kakarot's eyes widened in shock as he realized his mistake, feeling the strong hands of the Ox-King pulling him closer, he had to let go of the pole. "This is a sacred weapon! It shouldn't be used by someone like you!" He then threw the pole far away.

Kakarot watched in disbelief as the Ox-King flung the power pole away like a twig, for a brief moment, shock coursed through him, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. But his saiyan instincts started roaring, making him keep fighting with determination. "You think that just because I lost my weapon, I can't take you down?" he taunted, rushing forward, he would try to use his smaller size as an advantage here.

He attempted to slip through the Ox-King's defenses, weaving in and out, but the giant was simply too strong, each time he dodged an attack, Kakarot found himself at the mercy of a counterstrike, the Ox-King's fists like boulders crashing into him.

With each blow, Kakarot felt his confidence wavering, but he couldn't let himself falter.

Bulma crouched behind a boulder, her heart racing as she watched the fight unfold before her. The sheer size and strength of the Ox-King were terrifying, each of his punches landing with bone-rattling force against Kakarot. "Come on, Kakarot! You can't let him get the better of you!" she whispered under her breath, her hands clenching into fists.

As the Ox-King caught the pole and threw it far, her pulse quickened, and her heart sank when she looked back to see Kakarot struggling to keep his footing against the relentless assaults of the giant, each powerful punch sent him staggering, and she felt a rush of panic. What if he gets hurt? What if he- She found it hard to even finish that thought, it made her stomach twist.

Something inside her ignited. I have to do something! she resolved, her mind racing. The power pole couldn't be too far from her, and if she could get it back to Kakarot, then maybe he could turn the tide of the fight. She glanced around, ensuring the Ox-King was too focused on Kakarot to notice her.

With a burst of determination, Bulma sprinted from her hiding spot, her heart pounding in her chest, she quickly hopped onto her motorcycle, the engine roaring to life beneath her as she sped towards where the pole had fallen. The world around her blurred, and she focused solely on the task at hand. What am I even doing! The thought kept playing on her head, inside she was terrified, to even consider going near the two fighters was suicide, but she had to, she had to do it for Kakarot, she couldn't lose him.

Kakarot staggered back, his body aching from the relentless assault, each blow from the Ox-King felt like a battering ram, sending shockwaves of pain rippling through him, he could taste blood in his mouth, a bitter reminder of just how outmatched he was, Kakarot braced himself, ready to dodge or counter the next assault, but the Ox-King was relentless. With a primal roar, he lunged forward, throwing a devastating punch that connected with Kakarot's side like a cannonball. The impact resonated through the air, and Kakarot felt an electric shock of pain shoot through him.

"No!" he gasped, his armor had cracked under the force of the blow. It had never even gotten scratched before but now was missing a whole part of itself as he got hit, the right shoulder pads of his armor being completely torn off as he now had cracks running across the right side of his armor, the punch also left him winded, this might just be it, he watched as the giant rushed in for yet another attack.

"Kakarot!" Bulma's voice pierced the air as she sped into view on her motorcycle, the engine screaming as she accelerated toward the giant. The sight was shocking to al, as Bulma, determined, aimed her bike directly at the Ox-King, who barely had time to react.

"What is that?!" he shouted, his massive form turning toward her just as she leapt off the motorcycle, leaving it to crash into the Ox-King with a deafening thud, the collision only stuttering the giant and confusing him.

Kakarot's instincts kicked in. "Bulma!" he yelled, stretching out his arms just in time to catch her as she soared through the air, both relieved and grateful. "I've got you!" he managed to say, his voice strained but steady, but he could feel her trembling from the adrenaline and shock, her wide eyes reflected a mix of fear and schock, and for a moment, they were both suspended in the chaos of the fight surrounding them.

"Bulma, are you okay?" Concern etched on his face, he felt the weight of her anxiety, knowing she had just risked everything to save him.

But before he could fully process the situation, Bulma gasped for air, her chest heaving as she struggled to regain her composure. "I'm fine, I'm fine!" she exclaimed, clearly not fine, with urgency creeping into her voice. "Take it! Take the power pole!" She shoved the weapon into Kakarot's face frantically, as she turned to look back at the Ox-King, who was regaining his focus and preparing to charge again. "I can't have you dying on me! Beat this guy!" She quickly got out of her savior's arms and left for a hiding spot once again.

With the power pole firmly in hand, he turned his focus back to the Ox-King, who was now bellowing in anger, eyes locked onto Bulma, Kakarot clenched his teeth, knowing he had to act fast.

"How can someone like you have such a loyal friend?" The Ox-King asked, his anger dying down a little after these events, the girl's bravery for her companion leaving him dazzled, but he had to continue fighting and teach this brat a lesson, he was resilient, this fight was leaving the giant quite tired already.

He growled, visibly frustrated but undeterred, he charged forward again, but Kakarot used the pole to vault over the Ox-King's outstretched arms as he lunged, he though he already knew how to deal with that weapon, but mid-air, Kakarot then retracted the Power Pole and extended it once again, hitting the Ox-King straight in the head as he propelled himself upwards, he kept the power pole extending into the high heavens.

As Kakarot soared through the clouds, he felt a rush of exhilaration, he glanced down at the Ox-King, who stood on the ground, now fading out of his sight. Looking up in bewilderment, the giant's frustration was palpable as he clenched his fists, trying to comprehend Kakarot's sudden move.

"Running away, are you?!" the Ox-King roared, his voice echoing through the valley, he spotted the power pole, now embedded in the earth like a spear, and a cunning grin spread across his face, as his massive hands reached for the pole, ripping it from the ground and slamming it back with all his might.

The ground trembled as he brought it crashing down, expecting to smash Kakarot into the earth below. But as the pole struck the ground with a resounding thud, Kakarot was nowhere to be seen.

As Kakarot hovered high in the sky, a grin spread across his face This is it! he thought, feeling the thrill of the moment, the Ox-King's furious swings had given him the perfect opportunity to regroup and charge up for a decisive move, I needed some time to charge this to its full power! The final move to finish him! Kakarot focused his energy, drawing upon every ounce of strength he had left, ki swirling in his palms as he began to gather energy.

The Ox-King continued searching for Kakarot, frustration etched across his rugged face, he glanced up into the sky, squinting against the sunlight, but he still couldn't see him. "Kame…" Kakarot had now started descending.

As Kakarot began his descent, he felt the rush of wind against his face, the adrenaline coursing through him, amplifying his focus, as he was plummeting headfirst toward the ground, he locked on to the Ox-King who still seemed oblivious to his location. "Hame…"

The Ox-King's gaze finally shifted upwards, and he was momentarily blinded by a brilliant light in the sky, thinking it was only the sunlight again, he grinned, believing Kakarot was planning to use the momentum from his fall to land a hit on him, but the Ox-King could easily dodge such a telegraphed move.

But as Kakarot drew closer, the Ox-King's eyes widened in shock as he saw the boy's true intent. "No... It can't be! How does he know that!" he realized too late, the gravity of the situation crashing down upon him.

With a ferocious look on his face, Kakarot unleashed the full power of his blast, his voice ringing out with intensity. "HAAAA!" The blast erupted forth, a torrent of blue energy aimed directly at the Ox-King, illuminating the battlefield as it surged forward, ready to meet the giant head-on.

The giant raised his arms at the last second to defend himself, as he felt the power behind the Kamehameha pressing against him, it was overwhelming, he staggered backward, the ground cracking beneath his feet, unable to withstand the immense pressure.

Kakarot watched, eyes wide with determination, as the energy blast surged forward, pushing his foe back, he tried pouring in his last reserves of strength into the blasts, he had never unleashed one so powerful.

The Ox-King's hands began to tremble, his grip faltering as the blue energy started overwhelming him, the blue aura of the Kamehameha so bright that it managed to match the radiance from the mountain itself.

Then, with a final, deafening roar from Kakarot, the Kamehameha broke through the Ox-King's defenses, slamming into him with devastating force, the explosion erupted into a blinding light, sending debris flying, starting a massive whirlwind that sent shockwaves reverberating across the land and creating a gigantic crater in the area of impact.

As the dust settled from the colossal explosion, Kakarot found himself lying on the ground, his body aching and drained from the immense effort he had just expended, he had fallen right next to the massive crater, the impact of his fall had been cushioned, thanks to his unleashing of the blast.

Gritting his teeth, Kakarot pushed himself up, every muscle in his body protesting as he did so, he took a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow, as he looked around, a wave of exhilaration washed over him, the battlefield was littered with debris, and the air was thick with dust, but amidst it all, there was a profound silence that hinted at victory.

He glanced over at the crater where the Ox-King had stood just moments before. "I did it..." he muttered to himself, a triumphant grin spreading across his face, he started laughing gloriously, his sounds of triumph echoing across the valley. "I actually did it!"

But then he heard a sound, one he had heard countless times, but hearing it now, made his heart stop, his scouter beeped.

A low, rumbling laughter echoed from the depths of the chasm, a sound so booming and deep that it resonated through his bones, Kakarot's heart raced, his exhilaration quickly giving way to a feeling of dread.

"Boy! You truly are something else!" The Ox-King's voice thundered, reverberating off the surrounding cliffs as he began to rise from the crater, the dust swirled around him, and for a moment, he appeared like a titan, his immense figure became visible, standing tall and proud, he jumped up to meet Kakarot once again, he was clearly bruised, his breathing quick and tired, but he was still standing tall and in a way better shape than Kakarot.

Kakarot stood firm, his exhaustion evident in the way he steadied himself, but he tried to regain his determination. "I can still fight! Bulma is counting on me to win this, and for her and my pride, I won't give up!" he declared, his voice steady despite the fatigue weighing him down, small remnants of his strength coming back to him as he prepared for a last stand.

But the Ox-King simply shook his head, his laughter booming again, but this time it had an oddly cheerful tone. "I must apologize, I didn't trust you fully and got too mad, but you're not exactly what I thought, it was Kakarot right? That blue lady shouted it."

Kakarot's eyes widened, confusion knitting his brow. "What?"

The Ox-King continued, his voice surprisingly warm. "To master such a technique, one that even I haven't quite grasped yet, proves to me that you are a worthy fighter. But it seems you just need to learn some manners." He gave Kakarot a hearty chuckle, his massive hands resting on his hips. "But I can't help but wonder, was it Gohan who taught you that Kamehameha?"

Kakarot blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him, as the dust settled around them, the battlefield transformed from a place of conflict to one of mutual respect. "No, he was my master before I… killed him… but I learned when I was fighting Roshi, he used it against me and I copied it."

The Ox-King's eyes widened in astonishment, his tone shifting to one of genuine surprise. "Wow, I can't believe it! You fought Roshi too? You're a bag full of surprises!" He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "To learn such a technique in the middle of a battle? That's impressive!"

Kakarot felt a flicker of pride at the Ox-King's words, to be recognized like that by a fighter like him, it made him feel even prouder of himself.

The Ox-King's expression softened, "And I'm sorry, about Gohan, from the tone of your voice, I can see Gohan meant a lot to you, I trust that it really was an accident when you killed him, he was a good man and, from what I can see from you, a great master."

"He… he was." Kakarot said with a somber voice, his heart aching with the weight of the memories.

"But you really need to learn some more manners." The ox-king said laughing. "I would love to apologize more properly by giving you some treasure, but as you can see my castle is-"

The Ox-King's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sight before him, the once terrifying flames that had engulfed his castle were now nothing but faint wisps of smoke, dissipating into the cool air, the mountain, which had been a blazing inferno just moments ago, stood eerily calm.

Kakarot turned to the giant. "It must've been the shockwaves from the Kamehameha, there was a big whirlwind created by it following that explosion too."

The Ox-King nodded slowly, still processing the scene unfolding before him. "That makes sense," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The sheer force of your blast must have swept away the flames like they were nothing." His expression shifted from astonishment to a mix of gratitude and disbelief. "You've saved my home, kid."

Just then, Bulma marched over, her face still plastered with fear but also showing great concern and anger. "What were you thinking, you big oaf? You almost killed both me and Kakarot!" She pointed an accusatory finger at the Ox-King, her voice trembling but firm. "You really do owe us something for all this!"

The Ox-King, slightly taken aback by Bulma's fierce demeanor, raised his hands defensively. "I… I didn't mean to almost kill you two, I mean I guess I did… It's just that the kid was-"

"Yeah, yeah, save it! Can you just lead us inside so we can get the Dragon Ball?" Bulma interrupted, her worry for Kakarot evident in her eyes as she kept glancing at him. "Maybe something for him too, after all you did!"

The Ox-King hesitated, surprised by Bulma's boldness, but then nodded slowly. "Uh, of course. I... I owe you both for saving my home, follow me then."

Earlier during the battle, in a secluded spot, the Pilaf Gang had been secretly observing the intense battle. Mai, Shu, a weary Yamcha, and Puar huddled together, their expressions a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

Mai's eyes narrowed as she watched Kakarot soar through the air. "I can't believe he's still fighting. I thought for sure he'd be done for by now," she muttered, glancing at Yamcha, who was resting against a rock, clearly still hurt from his fight with Kakarot, his face was even completely red as he stood near her.

Yamcha, wiping sweat from his brow, replied. "Y…yeah… That kid, is really a monster, th… that giant too." He tried answering, stuttering over his words, he was slowly getting more used to mai's presence but being near such a beautiful girl still made him tremble.

Puar floated nearby, looking worried. "What's our plan now? With that huge fight we can maybe use it as a distraction, but we have no way of getting inside."

Mai's brow furrowed in thought, and then a sudden realization struck her. "Wait a minute…" She recalled from her memories of tales of this place. "That fire mountain… this guy is the Ox-King! So that girl we met earlier… that was his daughter!"

Yamcha perked up, curiosity piqued. "His daughter? You mean that girl we knocked out

"Exactly!" Mai exclaimed, a sly grin spreading across her face. "If we take her back, we can use her as a hostage to get the Dragon Ball, he'll do anything to save her! Even go inside that burning castle!"

"But… but she almost killed me!" Yamcha protested, recalling their first encounter with the fierce girl, where after slicing a dinosaur's head clean off and blowing it up, she had been flustered by the Pilaf gang's presence and had almost the same to Yamcha, had he not knocked her out. "And that isn't exactly…" He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. It was hard to argue with Mai when he was so captivated by her, and he had found himself quite enjoying this partnership with the Pilaf gang, born out of a misunderstanding. "Heroic? Ma… maybe we can just say that we're rescuing her?" he finished, his voice trailing off, getting lower after each sentence.

Mai crossed her arms, as she started to consider his proposition. "Yeah I guess, it would probably be better, he might end up fighting us if we try to threaten him and… well I wouldn't want to be on that brute's bad side, good thinking Yamcha!"

Yamcha felt his cheeks heat up, recoiling slightly at Mai's unexpected compliment. "Uh, th-thanks, Mai," he stammered, his heart racing as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Let's go get her then!" With that, the four of them set out toward the location where they had left Chi-Chi.

As Kakarot leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin spread across his face. The Ox-King stood nearby, arms crossed, watching the two of them with a chuckle. "I can't believe you managed to eat everything!" he exclaimed, gesturing to the empty plates that had once held a feast worthy of a king.

The banquet had been a grand affair, as an apology gift, the Ox-King made it from the remnants of the food that had miraculously survived the flames that engulfed his castle. Kakarot had devoured everything in sight, his appetite seemingly insatiable.

Bulma laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "You really needed that Kakarot, that fight was something else, you better rest well when we can." She looked over at the Ox-King with a grin. "And thanks to you, we now have the sixth Dragon Ball!"

The Ox-King beamed with pride, his chest puffing out. "Well, I'm glad I could help! It's not every day you get to meet a fighter like you, Kakarot. You've got guts, kid!"

Kakarot's face lit up at the compliment, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. "Next time, I will come back even stronger! Then I will finish killing you!" His tone was light, but the underlying seriousness in his words lingered, hinting at his brutal nature that still lay beneath his cheerful demeanor.

The Ox-King raised an eyebrow but chuckled, taking the comment in stride. "I'll make sure to start training more too! I will finish learning the Kamehameha then you will see what I can do too!"

Kakarot smirked, the tension easing between them as he felt a strange camaraderie with the giant, he really did mean it, he was still planning on conquering this planet and killing him would probably be necessary, but, if possible, he did hope he might not need to do it, it was strange to him, his goal of conquest was getting muddied with his feelings for these people, this giant had given him the best fight of his life and he had grown on Kakarot, but when the time comes, he would have to deal with this somehow.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the landscape, Kakarot and Bulma prepared to leave the Ox-King's residence. The remnants of the earlier chaos lingered in the air, but a sense of camaraderie had replaced the tension of battle.

"Alright, we should get going," Bulma said, brushing dust off her clothes and glancing around. "We've got just one more Dragon Ball to collect!"

Kakarot nodded, his belly full from the feast the Ox-King had prepared. "Yeah, I'm ready! That was a lot of food!" He grinned, patting his stomach.

The Ox-King approached them, his large figure blocking the fading sunlight. "Hold on a second, you two! Before you leave, I want to give you something."

Bulma raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"

"Since you crashed your motorcycle into me during the fight, I figured you could use a new ride," he said, as he threw a capsule into the air, opening it to reveal a luxurious car. "It's a bit more reliable and should serve you well on your journey."

Bulma's eyes widened, full of embarrassment as she remembered her stunt from earlier. "I can't believe I did that…" she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.

Kakarot turned to her with a sincere smile. "Without it, I wouldn't have been able to recover for the Kamehameha, Bulma. Thank you for that."

Bulma felt her cheeks flush a deep red at his words, a flurry of warmth rushing to her face. "W-Well, I… I saw you needed help so…"

"Well! Just think of it as my way of apologizing for any trouble I caused you two during our little scuffle." the Ox-King chuckled.

Bulma used his interruption as an opportunity to escape her embarrassment. "Thank you for that! But we should get going now."

"It's alright, I hope to see you again Kakarot! I'll be ready for our next match!"

With final waves Bulma hopped into the driver's seat while Kakarot settled into the passenger side. As they started the engine, the Ox-King stood watching as they drove off into the sunset, and just as they left, another group came.

Yamcha was carrying the unconscious Chi-Chi. "I can't believe we're actually doing this!" as he glared at Mai, who trotted alongside him, looking thrilled.

As they approached the Ox-King's castle, they were taken aback to see it standing intact, the flames that had raged just moments ago now reduced to mere wisps of smoke. "What happened here?" Mai exclaimed, blinking in disbelief.

As the Ox-King looked over to them, his expression shifted from a proud smile to one of immediate concern as he spotted them. "Chi-Chi!" he shouted, rushing over, his heart pounding. "What happened to my daughter?!"

Yamcha stumbled a bit, trying to regain his balance. "Uh, we, um… we rescued her from a dinosaur! She was lost out there." He stumbled over the words, hoping they would sound convincing.

The Ox-King sighed with relief, but his eyes remained concerned. "Thank goodness she's safe! I knew I shouldn't have sent her to find Roshi! Thankfully that kid put out the flames."

Upon hearing that the gang's jaws dropped, the kid did that? He put out the flames? Yamcha thought, he really had just survived with an encounter with a true demon, Kakarot was on another level, he had to train harder than ever to beat him.

The Ox-King grabbed Chi-chi from them, gratitude shining through his worry. "Thank you for bringing her back! How could I ever repay you?"

The Ox-King gently lifted Chi-Chi from Yamcha's arms, gratitude shining through his worry. "Thank you for bringing her back! How could I ever repay you?" His gaze shifted between the trio, his voice filled with sincerity.

Yamcha scratched his head, he would try and push his luck. "Uh, well… maybe a Dragon Ball?"

The Ox-King's expression darkened slightly. "I just gave it to a couple who stopped by earlier, they were quite impressive!"

Mai and Yamcha exchanged glances, realization dawning upon them. "Oh, they can't keep getting away with this!" exclaimed Mai, frustration boiling over.

Shu's shoulders slumped in defeat. "We need to come up with a better plan next time," he muttered, shaking his head.

The Ox-King, sensing their dismay, continued, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't think so many people were looking for that thing. But I could help you get stronger if you want to fight him. Just a warning, though: he's a heck of a fighter."

"Oh as if we could ever match that brat." Shu sighed "Yamcha here is the only fighter and he got his ass handed to him."

Yamcha's face flushed a bright red. "Well… I guess you can say that…" But as he thought about the Ox-King's proposal a bit more, he realized it could be his chance to grow, to be trained by a legendary martial artist like him. "But, I will take you up on that offer! I really want to defeat that kid one day, I was humiliated after our battle, he's a true villain!"

The Ox-King laughed at Yamcha's words. "Oh come on, he isn't that bad, but I promise you then kid, I'm not like Roshi or Gohan, but if we spar and train I can help you grow quite fast!"

Mai however, wasn't so sure about that. "Yamcha are you sure you want this? You're pretty hurt already."

Mai's worrying over him made him all the more flustered, but he tried to contain himself. "I-I'm positive, M-mai! You and Shu can try to follow them, I will stay here and train, even if just for a day or two, I'm sure it will help already, just call me if guys need it, I will come as fast I can!"

Mai smiled at him, her expression softening. "I'm really impressed, Yamcha. You would go through all that just for us?"

Yamcha felt his cheeks heat up as he stammered, "W-well, I mean… you guys are my friends, and I can't just let them keep getting away with things like this!" He was flustered, trying to maintain his cool but clearly struggling under her gaze.

"You're braver than you look, I knew you'd be a good addition to the gang!" Mai teased, her smile widening.

As Mai and Shu turned to leave, they exchanged quick farewells.

"Good luck!" Yamcha called out, trying to sound confident.

"You too!" Mai replied, giving him one last smile before they hurried off in pursuit of Kakarot and Bulma.

Watching them go, Yamcha felt a surge of determination. "I'll get stronger," he promised himself, clenching his fists. "And next time, I will show that kid what I can really do!"

AN: Yamcha living was not planned, but as I got to that scene, after how the scenes with oolong played out, it felt really wrong to then write Kakarot mercilessly killing Yamcha, so I had to come up with a lot to both keep him alive and make him decently relevant, while still not traveling with Kakarot and Bulma, since that would just ruin their dynamic, hope it will pay off and you guys enjoy it.