Vegeta froze. A chill crept down his spine as he slowly turned his head, only to see Chiga standing quietly behind him.
Up in the sky, Goku and Piccolo also sensed something unusual. They immediately stopped fighting and descended to the ground together.
"Yo! Chiga!" Goku greeted brightly, grinning ear to ear.
Chiga gave a light nod in response. Goku during the early Z Era was still the same—simple and cheerful, yet wise in his own way. Later versions of him, Chiga thought, had lost some of that charm.
Piccolo and Vegeta, on the other hand, stiffened. They could feel the immense power radiating from Chiga—an overwhelming force far beyond their comprehension.
From behind, a familiar voice broke the tension.
"Hey! Hey! Don't ignore me!" Bulma shouted, waving both hands.
"Huh? Bulma?" Goku turned, blinking. "How did you end up with Chiga?"
Bulma huffed proudly. "Hmph! Chiga and I are way closer than you think! We've been collecting Dragon Balls all day!"
"Dragon Balls?" Vegeta's ears perked up immediately. The very orbs that had lured him to Earth—and led to his defeat—were now right before him again.
Goku scratched his head. "Then you must be looking for the Four-Star Ball. I left it at home! I'll grab it right now!"
Without hesitation, he took off, soaring toward his house. He didn't even ask what Chiga wanted the Dragon Balls for. After all, Chiga had subdued the Saiyan invaders just yesterday. If not for him, Bulma and half the city would've been reduced to ashes.
To someone like Goku, who valued kindness above all, such a debt could never be forgotten.
A few minutes later, Goku returned, holding the Four-Star Ball. There was a small scratch across his cheek.
"Goku, what happened to your face?" Bulma asked.
Goku sighed. "Chi-Chi caught me sneaking Gohan out again. She wasn't happy."
Vegeta scoffed. "Kakarot, you call yourself a Saiyan? To get injured by an Earth woman—how disgraceful!"
"Hey! I told you, I'm an Earthling!" Goku argued.
"Hmph. The blood in your veins says otherwise."
Bulma pressed her hand to her forehead. "You two idiots, can't you stop arguing for once?"
Meanwhile, little Gohan ran up happily. "Chiga-san! Auntie Bulma! Hello!"
At this age, Gohan was genuinely adorable. Chiga crouched down and ruffled his hair. "Hello, Gohan."
Bulma suddenly bristled. "Hey! Gohan! Do I look that old? Don't call me 'Auntie'!"
"Huh? But I always did!"
"No means no! I'm around the same age as your Chiga-san, so call me Sister from now on!"
Chiga almost laughed. His appearance was still that of a high schooler, while Bulma was clearly in her mid-twenties. But he wisely kept silent.
Bulma, noticing his amused glance, flushed slightly and said with forced dignity, "Anyway, it's Sister Bulma! Call me that and I'll buy you something nice!"
"Really? Okay, Sister Bulma!" Gohan chirped.
"Eh~" Bulma's mood lifted instantly. Beaming, she pulled a few Zeni notes from her pocket and pressed them into Gohan's hand. "Here, buy whatever you like!"
Bulma's family was the wealthiest on Earth; to her, money was little more than paper.
But Gohan shook his head quickly. "No, that's not right! I can't take it!"
Bulma pouted, but before she could insist, Chiga smiled and said, "Let it be. Gohan's a good boy. If you really want to give him something, maybe buy him a few study workbooks next time—it'll help his future."
Bulma froze. "Chiga… are you a demon?"
Gohan waved both hands frantically. "Please don't! I haven't even finished the ones Mom gave me yet!"
Chiga chuckled softly. Clearly, Chi-Chi's famous academic training had already begun. Thinking of the future Gohan, he couldn't help shaking his head.
By now, Goku and Vegeta had quieted down. Goku, clearly the victor of their sparring match, walked over with a grin and handed Chiga the Four-Star Ball.
"How many do you have now? Want me to help find the rest?"
Chiga snapped his fingers. In an instant, six Dragon Balls materialized from his spatial dimension, floating before Goku's stunned eyes.
"Whoa!" Goku gasped. "You already got all of them?"
Before Chiga could reply, Bulma puffed up proudly. "We did all that since this morning! Less than half a day!"
Piccolo's expression darkened. Gathering all seven Dragon Balls in just a few hours was absurd, even with the radar. The distances alone would take days to cover—especially carrying Bulma, who wasn't exactly light cargo.
He couldn't even imagine how fast Chiga truly was.
Vegeta, meanwhile, didn't bother thinking about logistics. His gaze was locked on the seven glittering orbs. Greed burned in his eyes.
Ignoring him, Chiga set the Dragon Balls gently on the ground. "Bulma, go ahead. Say the incantation."
Bulma nodded. The moment she finished chanting, the sky darkened instantly. The Dragon Balls flared with brilliant golden light before a powerful beam shot upward. A colossal, serpentine figure emerged—Shenron, the Eternal Dragon.
Vegeta stared up, completely stunned. "W-What is that…"
Before he could say another word, a black seal appeared over his mouth.
"Mmmph!" Vegeta's eyes bulged. He struggled but couldn't make a sound.
Chiga's doing, of course. He knew all too well how impulsive Vegeta could be. The last thing he needed was the Saiyan prince yelling out a wish.
Shenron's massive form hovered above them, his glowing eyes scanning the group. His deep, resonant voice echoed through the air.
"State your wish, and I shall grant it…"
But before Chiga could speak, he released just a fraction of his Ki—enough to shake the ground beneath them.
The Dragon's expression froze. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his scaled face. Even Bulma and Goku felt the shift; never before had they seen Shenron afraid.
The great dragon trembled slightly, lowering his head.
"M-May I know… which divine being stands before me?" Shenron rumbled respectfully.
Chiga's calm gaze met the dragon's. His faint smile carried neither arrogance nor humility—only quiet authority.
---