In the middle of a dense forest rose a colossal tower made of some unknown material. The structure climbed as far as the eye could see, its top hidden in the clouds, as if it were challenging the sky. At the base of the tower stood a small tent decorated with tribal pattern, blue along the bottom and red at the top of the fabric.
In front of the tent, two figures moved in combat, exchanging blows with impressive speed and precision. Watching the fight, a third person stood still: a dark-skinned woman with dark hair, wearing a red rope bandana and a feather tied at the nape of her neck. Her smile was calm, almost peaceful, while her eyes followed the duel closely.
Suddenly, the two fighters stopped, facing each other. The dust settled, and their features were revealed.
One of the combatants turned out to be a man with straight black hair tied into a low ponytail, his look decidedly traditional. His body was sculpted—the result of years of training and life in the wild. His arms were broad and defined, his shoulders massive, and a large X-shaped scar across his chest made him intimidating at first glance. He wore simple ornaments: a necklace of fangs and teeth, white armbands on his biceps, and a modest tribal face paint. His clothes consisted of light-colored trousers and a red cloak with black triangular details, tied at the waist.
Facing him was an old man of about sixty. His gray hair blew in the wind. He held himself upright but looked relaxed. He wore a black qipao with a subtle golden dragon embroidered on the back, loose white trousers that didn't restrict his movement, and Wushu slippers on his feet.
"That was impressive, Gohan! I've never seen my husband struggle like that in a fight!" the woman said, clapping at the display.
The old man, now recognized as Gohan, smiled awkwardly.
"Bora is a great warrior. A few years ago, I would've had trouble facing him," Gohan said with a smile.
"You're an excellent fighter too, Gohan! I've learned so much in the two months you've been here. I can't put into words how grateful I am for your teachings!" the robust man, now identified as Bora, said.
Gohan shrugged modestly. "I didn't do much, just helped him use his ki more effectively. He's got a real talent for adapting so quickly. Besides, this was my way of thanking Miss Nimi for making this qipao for me."
Nimi let out a small laugh at Gohan's words.
"You've helped us so much" she said. "And it was fun to sew something different this time!"
Bora nodded in agreement with his wife's words. At that, Gohan stopped trying to downplay his own contribution and, at last, accepted the couple's praise. The three of them kept talking for a while longer in a warm and serene atmosphere, until Gohan finally rose to his feet.
He looked at them both with a gentle, sincere smile, then bowed as a sign of respect and gratitude.
"Okay, it's time for me to go. Thank you for everything." said Gohan.
Bora frowned, caught off guard by the sudden farewell.
"Why are you leaving so suddenly, Gohan?" he asked.
"I came here to challenge Karin's Tower!" Gohan revealed.
His words took Bora and Nimi by surprise. For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, the tall warrior let out a faint smile, as if things were finally making sense.
"Hm… I should've seen that coming." Bora nodded. "In that case, I wish you the best of luck climbing the tower."
After saying his goodbyes, Gohan gathered his belongings and began his ascent. His hands gripped the structure firmly, without hesitation, and with steady, controlled movements, the old martial artist started to climb. Within moments, to those watching from the ground, he had already vanished from sight.
Even after losing sight of him, Nimi and Bora remained there, gazing up at the tower as if they could still see him.
"Do you think he'll make it to the top?" Nimi asked, her voice tinged with unease. "Even though he seems to be in great shape for someone who's ninety-six, he's still at an advanced age… I'm afraid of what might happen if he falls from such a height…"
Bora kept his eyes on the tower, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Even if he falls, I doubt he'll get hurt," he replied firmly. "During our fights, he never seemed to be trying his hardest. Always holding back. And yet, thanks to those trainings, I've grown so much. That's why I'm grateful to him."
He then turned from the tower to his wife, his smile growing wider.
"Honestly, I think he can do it. He'll reach the top… and meet the great and wise Karin." Bora said with conviction.
After a moment, his expression softened, taking on a more caring tone.
"But now, you should head inside. A pregnant woman shouldn't overexert herself!" he said with genuine concern.
The scene was almost comical, a man so tall and imposing being so attentive and tender. His rugged appearance didn't match such a gentle gesture.
"I'm just a few weeks along, I can still manage a few things!" Nimi shot back, crossing her arms with mild indignation.
The couple went on bickering for a while, exchanging lighthearted arguments between laughs and playful remarks. In the end, they laughed together and returned inside the tent, as the night quietly settled over the forest.
The sky, once painted orange, sank into the deep blue of night, and soon the stars filled the heavens. Another night passed. Then, as if answering the unchanging flow of time, the first ray of sunlight broke across the horizon, bathing the tower in golden light.
High up, gripping the structure firmly, Gohan squinted against the morning light. After hours and hours of climbing, his arms and legs were already heavy with exhaustion, yet his determination remained unshaken.
Then he saw it.
In the distance, outlined against the clear sky, he spotted the top of the tower—a dome that looked like it was made of white marble, gleaming under the sunlight. It was still far away, but seeing his goal filled him with renewed energy. A determined smile spread across his face.
"I'm almost there…" Gohan murmured.
He took a deep breath, gathering strength. Every pull, every push brought him closer to that iconic place from his memories of another life. The goal was within reach, and Gohan wasn't about to stop now.
'Come to think of it, I could've just flown… would've been way faster…' he thought.
"No… climbing with my hands must be some kind of test Karin designed…" Gohan murmured as he continued.
The idea of flying to the top was tempting, but he might fail some secret test devised by that immortal cat.
After several hours of climbing, Gohan finally reached the top of the tower. He had done it in a day and a half, much faster than his grandson had managed in the Dragon Ball manga, as far as he remembered. Looking around, it was darker than he expected due to the arrangement of the windows, but still well-lit thanks to the altitude. There was a bathtub, a lidded jar that probably contained something, a purple bed, and a chest. Ahead, a staircase led to the upper floor of the tower.
Climbing the stairs, he came face-to-face with a white-furred cat holding a wooden staff, standing calmly at the top, seemingly waiting patiently. Gohan immediately recognized him as Master Karin.
"You're a very interesting guy…" Karin said, his voice calm. "I've been observing you these past two months since you entered Karin's Sacred Land. And I must say… I'm quite intrigued."
"Intrigued…?" Gohan repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. From afar, I noticed your mastery of ki. And now that I can see you up close, there are even more things about you that deserve a proper conversation… later. But there's something that's really caught my curiosity," the cat said, narrowing his eyes slightly with interest. "Why didn't you come up using flight?"
The question caught Gohan off guard. But what Karin said about matters worthy of a "proper conversation" made him pause, and then he realized something.
'He… saw my memories?' he thought.
"Yes," Karin replied simply.
"Right… I forgot you're a telepath too," Gohan murmured, scratching his head, a little embarrassed.
Karin let out a soft chuckle, clearly amused.
"You still haven't answered. Why didn't you fly?" he repeated calmly, though his curiosity was genuine.
Gohan took a deep breath and decided to be honest.
"I thought there might be some secret test involved in climbing the tower physically. I figured flying could make me fail that challenge…" Gohan explained.
Master Karin rubbed his chin thoughtfully with one of his claws, as if reflecting on the man's naivety.
"Hmmm… I see. Well, to be honest… there wasn't any test at all. If you had come here to train in martial arts, then yes, flying would have eliminated any chance of receiving my guidance. But since you came for another reason, climbing was completely optional," Karin concluded.
Gohan blinked, confused, his exhaustion now replaced by sheer astonishment.
"What?" was all he could manage to say.
"You came here to train in martial arts?" Karin asked.
"No…" Gohan replied.
"Then you wasted your time climbing it the hard way!" Karin said, his tone dry.
Gohan could only lower his head in embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it too much." Karin said, with a hint of amusement. "You're the only person this century to actually climb the tower. Most give up halfway… though, I suppose you already knew that, didn't you?"
There was something in the cat's words, a subtle irony, a delicate hint, that clearly showed how much he knew without revealing everything.
"You entertained me a little, I'll admit. It's been a long time since anyone showed up here. The last person to climb was your master, Roshi… and that was nearly three hundred years ago." Karin let out a soft sigh. "It's pretty lonely up here, to be honest."
Gohan lifted his eyes, attentive, as the master continued:
"Unfortunately, I don't know how much I can help you. Strength-wise, you may be one of the most powerful humans on this planet. You're practically at Roshi's level, and it seems you're quite settled with who you are…" Karin went on.
Before he could continue, Gohan interrupted, tired of the cryptic talk.
"Master Karin, I know you've seen into my mind. And I know you understand the real reason I came here. I'm seeking answers about magic… I don't think we need to beat around the bush." Gohan said.
Karin let out a soft chuckle and, without another word, turned calmly. With a gesture of his staff, he indicated for Gohan to follow.
"I'm not very skilled in magic. Even though I'm immortal, I never had much aptitude for it, which is why I focused on martial arts and ki," Karin explained as they descended again to the lower level of the tower.
Karin led Gohan to a small, secluded room, simple, but neatly organized, with a table in the center and a chest to the side. The air smelled faintly of old parchment and dust, hinting that the room hadn't been used in a while.
"Even though I'm not an expert on the subject…" he said, opening one of the chests with some effort, "I can at least assess your magical aptitude and share some of the basics I know."
Carefully, the cat pulled out a small collection of leather-bound books and, finally, a medium-sized crystal ball resting on a metal stand shaped like feline paws.
"To be honest… I found your idea of reclaiming your youth fascinating!" Karin said, carefully placing the crystal ball on the table. "Most magicians I've seen over the centuries who sought youth… never thought of a method like yours. They always ended up trapped in illusions, temporary tricks… or plunged down much darker paths, unfortunately."
With the crystal ball positioned in the center of the small table, Karin took a thin silver needle from a side drawer.
"But I have to ask, what will you do if you regain your youth?" the cat inquired.
Gohan frowned and remained silent for a few moments. The question had caught him off guard, until now, he hadn't thought much beyond his desire to grow stronger and stay alive.
"To be honest… I'm still not sure what to do. Restoring my youth was a goal so I could better defend myself against threats that might appear in the future. I got so focused on that I haven't thought about anything else…" Gohan said sincerely.
Karin observed him in silence for a few seconds, his gaze penetrating but without judgment. Then, with a faint smile, he let out a small sigh.
"I'm relieved that your pure heart hasn't been tainted by that strange fusion with a foreign soul," Karin said with visible relief.
Gohan let out a light laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
"I'm grateful I don't have any identity issues, hahaha," Gohan said, laughing softly.
Karin smiled at the old martial artist before him.
"Still, it's good to set a bigger goal!" Karin stated. "Since you plan to regain your youth, it's wise to find new purposes. Surviving is important… but living just to survive can become a burden over time."
Gohan stayed silent, absorbing those words. There was truth in them, something he recognized from experience, even if he had never put it into words before.
"I'll think more deeply about it later. For now, I'll focus on the present…" Gohan said with a serene expression.
Karin nodded, acknowledging the human's decision to seek his guidance.
"All right, let's begin!" Karin said after cleaning the needle with a bit of alcohol.
He positioned himself beside the crystal ball and began his explanation with the clarity of someone carrying centuries of knowledge.
"Magic is a system of power separate from Ki. It's a special type of energy usable only by a few who learn to harness it," Karin explained.
"Generally, magic is used for support functions: healing, conjuring, transmutation, sealing…" Karin continued in a didactic tone. "However, experienced users can replicate many techniques based on Ki. And as you saw in your memories… magic can also be used for far more dangerous things."
"Draining life force, manipulating time… creating mystical artifacts like the Dragon Balls. All of this is possible through magic… as long as you have knowledge, power, and, of course, the necessary will," Karin concluded seriously.
Gohan kept his expression calm, though he couldn't help a slight shiver at the words.
"Most mages are born with a natural ability to use magic. But it's possible for others to develop this skill, depending on their affinity," Karin added, moving closer to the ball.
Then he pointed to it with the needle.
"This crystal ball will measure your compatibility. If it glows… it means you have potential. If it doesn't… well, I don't think I need to explain what that means, right?" Karin said lightly.
Gohan simply nodded, silent. It was the first time he had heard how the magical system in the Dragon Ball universe worked.
"Now, prick your finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the crystal ball!" Karin instructed, handing the needle to Gohan.
Without hesitation, Gohan took the needle from Karin and pricked the tip of his finger. A drop of blood fell onto the crystal ball, which immediately absorbed it. A few seconds later, the orb began to emit a faint glow, which gradually intensified until it illuminated the entire small room.
Karin watched the process calmly. The result didn't seem to surprise the immortal cat.
"Well, your magical aptitude is slightly above average," Karin said, stroking his chin.
"So I can learn magic more easily?" Gohan asked.
Karin chuckled lightly at the old man's question.
"Being above average only means you'll feel magic more easily. Learning it is another story. If you're lazy, even someone with the worst aptitude will eventually surpass you!" Karin replied.
"Learning something requires effort to understand the subject. After all, magic is primarily a theoretical field and open to interpretation," Karin continued.
Gohan glanced at the cat for a moment. He had expected mysticism to be more esoteric, so knowing that logic could be applied was a huge relief.
"When do we start our lessons?" Gohan asked, a lively smile on his face.
"We can start right now!" Karin said, smiling.
Karin walked over to one of the old books he had taken from the chest earlier. The volume had a worn leather cover and a faint scent of aged paper. He flipped through several pages, scanning the content carefully as if confirming it was the right material to begin with. After a few moments, he closed the book and handed it to Gohan.
"This one will do… Let's start with the basics!" Karin said.
"Alright…" Gohan replied, leafing through the old book.
"You have a good command of ki; manipulating magic may come a bit easier because of your experience!" Karin said. "We'll start by sensing magic, then move on to healing spells, which is the most I can personally teach you. To learn more, we could explore what's in the grimoires, but I'd recommend you seek out Uranai Baba. However… you know how she is…" Karin ended with a sigh.
Gohan nodded in understanding. Despite being a seer and apparently a highly skilled sorceress for Karin to recommend her, she had a terrible personality and only did anything if paid an absurd amount of cash.
"Guess I'll have to save up…" Gohan muttered.
"Yes, you will…" Karin confirmed.
'Ah, I could just send Gohan to Kami-sama to learn magic later,' Karin thought as he watched Gohan study the old book.
And so, with Gohan unaware of his new master's thoughts, and after a moment of connection between teacher and student, the day continued in a lighter tone. The conversation had built a bridge of trust between them, and Gohan felt that with every passing minute, he was getting closer to reclaiming his youth.