Red Ribbon Army Headquarters, West
Marshal Red was livid, puffing a cigar while furiously scolding his subordinates.
"Useless fools! How could a few brats get the upper hand?!"
Black, his loyal assistant, wiped sweat from his forehead. "Marshal, please calm down. The Dragon Radar only gives rough locations. That one was underwater in a deep sea trench—they must have gotten lucky."
"Lucky? Then how come we still only have one Dragon Ball while those brats already have two?!"
"Marshal, about that... we suspect their radar is more precise than ours."
Marshal Red narrowed his eyes. "What did you say? Their radar is better? Are you insulting our top scientists?!"
"No, sir! It's just... we scanned their faces. One of them, a blue-haired girl, matches the Capsule Corporation heiress—Bulma. We confirmed it."
Marshal Red's expression shifted.
"If the Capsule Corp princess is involved... then yeah, their tech might be better. That company did invent the capsule system. Precise radar isn't a stretch."
"Exactly, sir. And the others are tournament fighters."
"So be it. Monitor her parents, but don't make a move until she collects more Dragon Balls. Then we take them as leverage."
"Understood, Marshal. You're brilliant!"
Just then, the phone rang.
"White here. Muscle Tower's under attack. Three kids and a blue-haired woman. They already have two Dragon Balls."
"It's them!"
"Sir, we should send reinforcements. These kids are more powerful than expected."
"Back off, Black! Don't stand next to me! You make me look short!"
"Yes, sir!"
Muscle Tower
Krillin and Chi-Chi had cleared a swath of guards.
"Phew, it's warm in here!"
"Yeah, I'm sweating!"
Bulma: "There's heating. Take off your coats."
Now in their gi, Krillin and Chi-Chi felt much freer to move.
A massive figure blocked their path.
"I've been waiting. You won't pass without defeating me."
He looked like the Terminator, only bigger.
"Whoa, huge guy!"
"Big deal. Watch me take him down."
Krillin stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
This was Sergeant Metal.
"Fool!"
Sergeant Metal swung a heavy punch—but Krillin dodged.
CRACK! The floor shattered.
"Where'd he go?!"
Krillin dropped from above, kicked Metal's face, and followed with a barrage.
BOOM!
Metal crashed.
"Ow. His skull's like steel."
Goku: "He's probably a robot."
"What?!"
Suddenly, Metal stood and grabbed Krillin.
"I'll crush you like paste!"
"Argh! Goku! Help!"
Goku leapt up, spin-kicked Metal's face. The grip loosened.
Krillin forced his way free.
"He almost crushed me!"
Goku kicked again—but Metal rose once more.
Even with no head, he was still moving.
"Guess the core isn't in the head..."
Time for a Kamehameha.
Goku began charging—but Chi-Chi interrupted.
"Move! I've got this!"
Krillin and Goku dodged aside. Chi-Chi unleashed her beam.
FLASH!
Metal's head vanished. But the body remained, sparking.
Krillin: "Nice one, Chi-Chi!"
But then—
"Krillin! Look out!"
WHAM!
A metal fist smashed him.
"Ugh... Why me?!"
Goku struck again, toppling Metal.
Still moving.
"Even without a head? Time to use real power."
Goku began charging Kamehameha.
But Krillin shouted, "No! Let me try something new!"
He lifted a hand—a glowing disk began to form.
Destructo Disc.
Perfect for this kind of enemy.
As Metal rose, Krillin launched it.
SHINK!
It sliced through the arm, the torso, the wall.
Metal collapsed in pieces.
No blood—just sparks.
"Whew! That guy was tough."
"And lucky he didn't explode."
"Let's move."
The next floor was lush with greenery—trees, flowers, even a small stream.
"Wow. This is inside the tower?!"
"Finally you arrived," a voice said.
"But this is as far as you go."
"Come out, coward!" Bulma shouted.
SHOOP!
Throwing stars flew at her. Goku yanked her back in time.
"Thanks, Goku! That was close!"
A laugh echoed. "Not bad. Reaching this floor is impressive."
Chi-Chi and Krillin scanned the surroundings.
Goku sensed a faint aura.
His training in sensing Ki had only begun, but here, it helped.
"Chi-Chi, Krillin, protect Bulma. Leave this one to me."
"Got it."
Goku darted forward and smashed a tree with his Power Pole.
A figure fell out, rubbing his head.
"Ow! How did you spot me?!"
"Because you suck at hiding."
"I'm the best ninja! Taste my invisibility!"
Smoke puffed. He vanished.
Goku focused.
Only a faint Ki near the stream.
"Chi-Chi, Bulma, turn around. I gotta pee."
"Goku! Be serious!"
"I got this."
He peed toward a bamboo stick poking out of the water.
The ninja burst out, soaked and furious.
"You peed on me?!"
"You work for evil and talk about manners?"
"My job is to guard this floor! And no one's ever beaten me!"
He wiped himself, then formed hand signs.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
He split into five.
"Guess which one's real!"
Krillin: "Whoa... that's impressive."
Goku: "Five? That's it? Watch this."
He blurred forward.
Punch. Kick. Chop. Sweep. Spin.
Five clones down in seconds.
Krillin stepped up to the nearest clone and nudged its head with his foot.