The Wait Is Over
A gentle breeze blew over the cliff, rustling the leaves on the trees. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy clouds drifting lazily.
Gohan stood in his fighting stance in front of a calmly standing Piccolo. The boy's body was marked by multiple cuts and bruises, evidence of their rigorous training.
"Attack," commanded Piccolo.
"Haaa!" Gohan rushed toward the taller fighter. He jumped up and unleashed a series of kicks upon Piccolo, who effortlessly evaded each one.
Piccolo smiled. "Too slow," he remarked before punching the boy hard on the shoulder.
Gohan fell face-down from the impact, the ground beneath him cracking slightly.
Piccolo frowned as Gohan struggled to stand up. "Now it's your turn to dodge!" Piccolo shouted.
With that, Piccolo attacked Gohan with a series of punches. Gohan began to walk quickly backward, barely evading the attacks while Piccolo followed him relentlessly.
Suddenly, Gohan jumped above Piccolo's strikes. "Hyaaa!" An aura of energy enveloped Gohan as he crashed his fist into Piccolo's cheek.
Piccolo was taken aback, his head turning to the side from the force.
Gohan landed on the ground, slightly scared of what he had just done.
Piccolo grinned before pulling back his fist. "Here's how you punch!"
BAM!
Piccolo's fist crashed into Gohan's cheekbone, sending him tumbling. The boy rolled to the edge of the cliff but hung on by a single hand.
Piccolo walked towards him, his steps deliberate and heavy.
"Help, Mr. Piccolo," Gohan pleaded.
Piccolo merely grinned and stamped his foot on the boy's hand, causing him to fall.
Gohan flailed helplessly for support as he fell. He managed to grab a tree branch just a dozen feet from the ground, but unluckily, the branch gave way.
DHISUM!
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Gohan lay supine on the earth, the wind knocked out of him. Bloody and injured, he slowly got to his knees, panting audibly. He stood up with difficulty and looked upwards. "Come on. Help me, Mr. Piccolo!" he called out. "You know I can't get up from here on my own!"
But to Gohan's dismay, he saw Piccolo's figure merely turn back and walk away.
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King Gai stood proudly in front of Goku, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of admiration. "I never thought there would one day appear a fighter who could master the Kaio-ken attack," he remarked, his voice tinged with genuine awe.
Goku nodded, a humble smile spreading across his face. "Thanks, King Gai."
King Gai glanced at his wristwatch. "Well, it's time you get to your spaceship for lunch. Your wife will be waiting for you," he said.
Goku paused. "By the way, King Gai, what's the date today?"
"It's the 27th of October," King Gai replied.
Goku's smile widened. "Five months have passed in a flash. It's hard to believe that so much time has passed since my arrival here."
King Gai furrowed his brow in thought. "Wait, Goku. Didn't you tell me that it took you three months to get here?"
"Yup," replied Goku.
"Then I guess it's time for you to start your journey back to Earth. You need to reach there at least a few weeks before the Saiyans arrive. That way, you'll have time to readjust to your planet's gravity."
"Hmm, I see," said Goku, his expression growing serious.
After exchanging good-byes, Goku bid farewell to King Gai, Bubbles, and Gregory. The three watched as Goku's spaceship rocketed away into space, leaving a blazing trail of light in its wake.
King Gai sighed as he saw Goku's ship disappear into the void. "Guess I'm all alone again."
"Hoo-hoo-aa-aa-ee-ee," Bubbles, the monkey, jumped, trying to say, 'I'm still here.'
King Gai sighed again. "Yes, yes. I know."
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One month later... (Nine months post-Raditz)
Piccolo and Gohan stood up, having just completed their prayers. The training grounds were quiet except for the rustling leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
In the beginning, Piccolo had been irritated by Gohan asking leave regularly to pray. But he couldn't bring himself to stop the boy. Deep down, Piccolo knew that they would surely need God's help in the upcoming fight against the Saiyans.
Before he knew it, something happened to Piccolo that he never imagined possible. Piccolo himself started to pray regularly. For the first time in his life, Piccolo began to find peace in his heart and mind.
"Well, Mr. Piccolo," said Gohan, battered and bruised. "Shall I sleep now?"
Piccolo closed his eyes with a scowl. "Yes."
Gohan grinned. "Thanks." The boy lay down and was snoring a minute later, reminiscent of his father.
Piccolo went towards a tree trunk and leaned on it. Just a couple of hours of sleep was enough for Piccolo.
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Two months later... (Eleven months post-Raditz)
Master Roshi's island..
Krillin sat, scrolling down the news on his mobile. This was a good pastime for him during his resting hours. He had trained with dedication for the past few months and felt quite relaxed.
Master Roshi was there to keep him company. Krillin had offered the old man to train as well, but Master Roshi had refused the offer.
"It's time for the younger generation to step up," the old man had said.
Of course, it was sad for Krillin to come to terms with the fact that Master Roshi had indeed retired from fighting. Such are the pains of old age, and every person has to go through this phase of life... (Of course, besides those who don't live to see their old age.)
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Lion City
It was a seemingly ordinary Monday afternoon. The city bustled with activity as people trickled back to their workplaces following their lunch breaks. The roads were alive with traffic, and the air was filled with the shouts of ice-cream vendors desperately trying to attract customers with their cries of "Get your ice cream here!"
Then, without warning...
SPLANCK!
The tallest building in the area erupted in a massive explosion. The once proud structure disintegrated, collapsing in a cloud of debris and smoke.
CRASH!
The deafening sound of concrete shattering echoed through the streets.
Panic swept through the city like wildfire. People surged through the streets, their faces etched with fear, creating a chaotic scene as they ran in every direction. The panic was so intense that it almost led to a stampede, as the once orderly streets became a swirling mass of confusion.
Plumes of smoke billowed from the newly formed craters scattered across the ground. At the heart of each crater lay a spherical white object, ominous and mysterious.
Minutes later, the media descended on the scene. Reporters and camera crews swarmed the area, their flashes going off in rapid succession as they captured every moment of the unfolding disaster. The air was filled with the frenetic activity of journalists trying to piece together what had happened.
...
"Planet Earth has arrived... Repeat... Planet Earth has arrived... Repeat..." A mechanical voice broadcasted.
Vegeta, who had been lying in wait, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was steely and determined. "It's time."
To be continued...