Tommy used the Ox King's enormous bag of Zeni and the speed of Bulma's borrowed motorcycle to get back to Jingl-Town and the surrounding areas. His mission was twofold: gather the specific herbs detailed in the ancient scroll and use the System to learn the Infusion ritual.
The Preparation
He spent the late afternoon scouring local markets and wild patches for the rare ingredients: Fire-Root Ginger (found near active thermal vents), Lunar Moss (which only grew under deep shade), and Sun-Blink Petals (which only bloomed at dusk). The search was challenging, but his enhanced stamina and determination (fueled by the promise of a new skill) kept him moving.
[System Notification: Host has successfully gathered all required ingredients for the Low-Level Heat Resistance Potion.]
He returned to the base of Fire Mountain just as the sun was setting, the entire ring of fire casting a terrifying glow on the landscape. Bulma and the Ox King were anxiously waiting.
"You're back! You look exhausted," Bulma noted, handing him a bottle of water. "Did you find it all?"
"Yes," Tommy confirmed, placing the pouch of strange, glowing ingredients on a flat, cool rock. "Now, I need absolute focus for the ritual."
He found a secluded spot away from the oppressive heat and focused on the scroll's detailed instructions, simultaneously integrating the process into his System.
[Ancient Formula Recognized.] [New System Skill Available: Alchemy (Infusion)] [Requirement: 10 KP to activate initial skill integration.]
Tommy had 31 KP. "Activate Alchemy (Infusion)," he commanded.
[Ki Points (KP) Spent: 10] [Ki Points (KP) Remaining: 21] [New System Skill Acquired: Alchemy (Infusion) - Level 1.] [Effect: Allows Host to infuse common items or ingredients with Ki to grant temporary minor enhancements.]
With the skill unlocked, the process was no longer a mystery. He began the ritual:
Preparation: He crushed the Fire-Root Ginger, creating a thick, aromatic paste, and mixed it with water he had carried.
Infusion: He placed his hands over the mixture, closed his eyes, and channeled 10 points of his Ki (from his 20 KE reservoir) into the concoction.
He felt the pure, cold, vacuum-of-space Ki leave his hands and flood the mixture. The paste began to glow faintly with a sapphire-blue light, bubbling softly as the energy stabilized the volatile heat-resistance properties of the ingredients.
[Ki Energy (KE) Spent: 10] [Ki Energy (KE) Remaining: 10] [Low-Level Heat Resistance Potion successfully created (1 Dose).] [System Skill XP Gained: Alchemy (Infusion) +50 EXP.]
The final product was a small, vial of shimmering, thick liquid.
Solving the Problem
Tommy walked back to the Ox King and Bulma, holding the glowing vial.
"This is a Low-Level Heat Resistance Potion," Tommy explained. "It will allow one person to withstand the intense heat within the mountain for a short period—enough time to retrieve the Dragon Ball."
"Fantastic!" the Ox King boomed, his confidence returning. "I am the strongest here! I'll drink it!"
"Wait!" Bulma shouted, pointing at the Ox King's massive frame. "You're too big! The Dragon Ball is likely inside a tight space. We need someone small who can fit through small doors and openings."
They all looked at Tommy.
"My strength is only PL 8. If the heat resistance fails, or if there's a guard, I'm useless," Tommy countered honestly. "I am not the right choice."
Suddenly, a voice echoed from above.
"Hey! I'm back!"
Goku, perched on the Flying Nimbus, descended quickly. He was carrying an incredibly old, massive leather fan.
"Roshi says he used to have the Banshō Fan, but he threw it away ages ago, so he gave me this old thing instead!" Goku announced cheerfully. "He says I should use it to fan the fire out!"
Tommy mentally facepalmed. The Banshō Fan was a lie! This was another canonical wrinkle—Roshi had to use the Kamehameha to extinguish the fire.
"Goku, put the fan away," Tommy said quickly, stepping forward. "That won't work. We have a better solution."
He explained the heat resistance potion and the need for someone small and fast.
"I'm small!" Goku declared, leaping off the Nimbus.
Bulma, desperate to end the quest, added, "And he has the Power Pole! He can fight anything inside! Give it to Goku!"
Tommy weighed the decision. Giving the only vial to Goku meant sacrificing the opportunity to increase his PL dramatically by fighting inside, but it meant completing the quest with the safest path. Goku was also the only one strong enough (PL 10) to potentially survive a failure of the potion.
"Alright, Goku," Tommy said, handing him the vial. "Drink this. It will only last a few minutes. Get in, get the four-star ball, and get out."
Goku chugged the entire vial. His skin glowed with a faint, sapphire aura for a moment, and he immediately charged into the castle.
"Wow, it's not hot anymore!" Goku's muffled voice yelled from inside the burning castle.
A minute later, Goku reappeared, covered in ash but unscathed, holding the orange Four-Star Dragon Ball.
The Looming Threat
[Quest Complete!] [Dragon Ball Search: Fire Mountain] [KP Gained: 50] [Ki Points (KP) Remaining: 71]
Tommy felt a strong surge of satisfaction. The first Dragon Ball secured!
The Ox King, overjoyed, immediately set about organizing a feast for them all. As they settled down to eat, Bulma used her radar.
"Great! That's two down! The next one is way off, near a desert area..." she trailed off, her eyes wide as she looked at the radar.
"What is it, Bulma?" Tommy asked, instantly serious.
"The radar... it's showing another one," she stammered, pointing the radar away from the Fire Mountain Ball. "And it's moving fast."
Tommy activated his Ki Sensing immediately. He felt the clean Ki signature of a Dragon Ball—the Six-Star Ball—flying at supersonic speed across the sky.
But right next to it, he felt two other massive, powerful signatures that felt cold and inherently evil.
[Ki Signature Detected: Mai (PL 15). Status: Evasive Maneuvers.] [Ki Signature Detected: Shu (PL 10). Status: Piloting.] [Ki Signature Detected: Emperor Pilaf (PL 5). Status: Laughing.]
The first true villains of the Dragon Ball world had just entered the scene, and they had just stolen a Dragon Ball before Goku and his team could even get to it.
"Bulma, forget the map!" Tommy yelled, his heart racing. "Look up! A Dragon Ball is being stolen right now!"
A small, high-tech plane—brightly colored—streaked past overhead, heading directly east.
"That's my Dragon Ball!" Bulma shrieked, pointing at the plane.
"Ox King, we need a vehicle that can match that speed!" Tommy commanded, pointing at the retreating plane. "We have to stop them before they collect all seven!"
The Ox King looked confused. "A flying machine... I don't have one!"
Tommy looked at Goku, who was eating a dinosaur drumstick with single-minded focus. "Goku, you can fly the Flying Nimbus! We have to pursue them!"
Goku swallowed his food. "Oh, okay! Hop on!"
Tommy realized this was his first major action sequence outside of a training environment. He had to face genuine danger now.
"Bulma, stay here with the Ox King and track them with the radar!" Tommy ordered. "Goku and I will pursue!"
Tommy jumped onto the Flying Nimbus behind Goku. The cloud immediately dipped violently.
"Tommy, you can't ride the Nimbus! You're not pure of heart!" Goku yelled.
Tommy felt the cloud trying to shake him off, but he gripped Goku's tunic tightly, channeling all his Ki Energy into his legs, essentially using the power to anchor himself and pretend his heart was pure enough.
[Ki Energy (KE) Spent: 15] [Ki Energy (KE) Remaining: 0] [Ki Control (KC) Check Failed!] [Note: Ki stabilization is insufficient. Host is taxing the Nimbus's threshold for purity.]
"Goku, you fly!" Tommy gritted out, hanging on for dear life as the cloud lurched violently through the air, trying to shed its impure passenger. "I'll hang on! We have to catch that plane!"
Goku, oblivious to Tommy's struggle, laughed and pointed the Nimbus toward the retreating silhouette of Emperor Pilaf's plane.
"Hold tight, Tommy! We're going fast!"
The chase was on. Tommy was now clinging to the world's fastest, most judgmental taxi, heading directly toward a confrontation with Pilaf and his minions, all while balancing on a cloud that desperately wanted him to fall.