Tommy lay flat on the cold sand, his heart hammering against his ribs. The revelation that the Red Ribbon Army—the major mid-game villain of the original Dragon Ball series—was not only active but already fielding a PL 200 agent was terrifying.
The PL 200 signature moved with methodical precision around the ruined lighthouse. This operative was clearly highly trained and likely cybernetically enhanced—a prototype, perhaps, of Doctor Gero's future experiments.
The realization settled on Tommy: the System's introduction of the Fragment of the Unknown and Mt. Unknown was rapidly accelerating the threats. He had four years until the Saiyans, but now he only had days, perhaps hours, before the Red Ribbon Army found him.
"System," Tommy whispered, keeping his Ki signature at an absolute minimum, "Is the PL 200 target a known entity?"
[Analysis: Target signature does not match any known pre-canon RRA fighter. Designate: RRA Commander Beta. RRA forces are highly organized and possess advanced Ki Sensing Technology.]
"Advanced Ki Sensing," Tommy grimaced. His newfound skill was useless against a truly sophisticated, technological enemy. His only advantage was that his actual PL was incredibly low, potentially leading the RRA to believe he was an irrelevant civilian.
The Commander Beta signature lingered near the water's edge, seemingly using technology to scan the sea for any trace of the person who escaped.
Tommy focused his senses on Fire Mountain. Goku's signature (PL 10), Bulma's (PL 3), and the Ox King's (PL 90) were all safe, gathered for the feast.
He had to move, and he couldn't afford a direct encounter with Commander Beta.
Using the thick, thorny scrub and rocky outcroppings of the coastline for cover, Tommy began his slow, agonizing trek away from the lighthouse, heading back toward the distant, smoking silhouette of Fire Mountain. He moved using only his physical strength, reserving his meager Ki for emergencies.
The Retreat
The journey took several hours. He was paranoid, constantly checking his Ki Sense. Commander Beta's signature was stationary at the lighthouse, meticulously searching the area.
As he walked, he noticed that the Fragment of the Unknown felt heavy in his pocket, radiating a faint, cold hum. He had to understand its purpose.
He took a break behind a large dune, pulling out the fragment and staring at the mysterious crystalline object.
"System, analyze the Divine Ki Mastery Technique reward for the quest."
[Analysis: Divine Ki Mastery Technique grants the ability to passively absorb ambient cosmic energy. Requirement: Host must possess the Fragment of the Unknown and spend 100 KP for skill activation.]
Tommy checked his currency. [Ki Points (KP) Remaining: 81].
"I need 19 more KP to activate the skill that could be the key to beating the Red Ribbon Army," he sighed.
He looked around. The desert-like terrain offered nothing to fight. He was too far from a town to find a bandit. He needed a reliable source of KP fast.
He made a decision: he would use the last of his Ki to rush the final distance to Fire Mountain.
He activated his Ki, pouring energy into his legs, increasing his speed, and pushing his PL 9 body to its limit. He ran for twenty minutes straight, utilizing the Earthling Ingenuity to maintain peak efficiency.
[Primary Attribute Increased!] [Stamina (STM): 23 -> 24] [Power Level (PL): 9 -> 10]
He stopped just outside the perimeter of the Ox King's encampment, collapsing onto the warm dirt, completely drained but triumphant. He was now officially equal to a three-year-old Goku!
[Ki Energy (KE): 0/20]
He was safe. The welcoming, powerful signature of the Ox King was a comforting shield.
The Master's Scrutiny
Tommy stumbled into the clearing. Goku was laughing, playing with the Four-Star Ball, and Bulma was angrily pointing her radar at the distant wreckage of Pilaf's plane.
"Tommy! You're back! Did you walk all the way?" Bulma exclaimed, rushing over. "You're filthy!"
"I took the scenic route," Tommy managed, trying to sound casual. "The Pilaf Gang is stranded. Their plane is destroyed, and they won't be chasing us for a long time."
"Amazing!" Bulma crowed. "You totally saved the day!"
The Ox King merely smiled and handed Tommy a huge cup of water. "You returned, young warrior. Your perseverance is true."
Master Roshi, however, who had been sitting quietly in a lawn chair, watching the exchange, finally spoke. His voice was low and serious, completely devoid of his usual perverted humor.
"The scenic route, you say?" Roshi asked, lifting his sunglasses to reveal sharp, knowing eyes.
Roshi's Ki signature, which had been perfectly suppressed at 139, suddenly flared for a split second, reaching an astonishing, unsuppressed level.
[Scan Result: Master Roshi (PL 139). Status: Suspicious.]
"Master Roshi, I..." Tommy began, feeling exposed.
"That cold energy... I felt the strange Ki surge from the coastline just after the explosion," Roshi stated, his gaze piercing. "It was unlike anything I have ever sensed. It was powerful, pure, yet utterly cold. Like the breath of the God of Destruction."
Roshi stood up, walking toward Tommy. "You are not just a student, young man. You are attracting things that should not yet be on this Earth. What is that artifact you carry?"
Tommy knew lying to the Turtle Hermit was pointless and dangerous. He was in this world to survive, and he needed a powerful ally.
Tommy pulled the Fragment of the Unknown from his pocket.
"This is the source, Master," Tommy said, holding out the crystalline disc. "It is not a curse, but a burden. It contains Divine Ki, and it has alerted a powerful, technological army—the Red Ribbon Army—who are already searching for it."
He then dropped the ultimate secret. "They have an operative with a Power Level of 200 waiting at the coast right now."
The silence that followed was deafening. Goku, who only heard the word "Army," looked interested. Bulma looked horrified.
Roshi's face, however, turned grim, the playful mask gone completely.
"PL 200... impossible," Roshi muttered, but the Ki Sense was too accurate to dismiss. "If the RRA has technology that powerful, Earth is in serious danger."
He looked at Tommy with a new respect. "You were right, Tommy. The darkness is coming much sooner than I thought."
Roshi made a quick decision. "Goku, Bulma! We are leaving immediately. The next Dragon Ball is too far to reach quickly. We must return to Kame House, or better, seek a place of greater solitude to train and prepare."
He pointed at the Fragment in Tommy's hand. "That artifact is a beacon. We can't keep it on Earth. We must find a way to get it away, or neutralize its signal."
Roshi then turned to Tommy, a fierce determination in his eyes.
"Tommy. You came to me seeking training. I will train you, but not in the standard Turtle School way. That will take too long. We must leverage your unique Ki abilities and this... this Divine power. You need to activate your Divine Ki Mastery immediately."
"I need 19 more Ki Points, Master," Tommy admitted.
Roshi looked around the camp, spotting the enormous, heavy battle-axe wielded by the Ox King.
"Ox King, lend me your axe!" Roshi commanded.
The Ox King, bewildered but trusting, handed over the massive weapon.
Roshi lifted the axe and swung it, stopping the blade a hair's breadth from a boulder.
"Tommy," Roshi said, pointing at the boulder. "I want you to use your Ki Burst to slowly, piece by piece, carve my name—Kame-Sen'nin—into that rock. Do not crack it. Do not shatter it. Every successful, precise burst is 1 KP. Fail, and you'll spend an hour hauling water."
Roshi had just devised a rigorous, high-reward training method specifically designed to maximize Tommy's System gains.
"Your training begins now, Tommy," Roshi stated. "You have 19 carvings to make before the sun sets."
Tommy smiled. This was the intensive training he needed. The threat was terrifying, but the opportunity was immense.