Beneath Korin Tower
"Come forth, Shenron!"
With a flash that tore across the star-strewn sky, Shenron emerged in a blaze of golden light. His scales shimmered like starlight incarnate, his massive form coiling across the heavens.
Krillin and Chi-Chi stared, mouths agape—it was their first time seeing the Eternal Dragon.
"This… this is Shenron?"
"He's enormous!"
Shenron's glowing red eyes scanned the gathered group.
"Speak your wish. I shall grant any one request."
Bulma took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Shenron, please—bring back to life all those who were killed by the Red Ribbon Army."
Shenron's voice boomed:
"That is simple."
His eyes flashed brighter than ever.
"Your wish… is granted."
The Dragon Balls surged with one final burst of light—then shattered apart into beams, scattering once again across the globe, their glow fading as they reverted to stone.
—
Near the ruins of Muscle Tower
The nearby village slept quietly, peaceful as always. But not for long.
Suddenly, shouts of joy and gasps echoed through the streets. The dead—family members who had perished in the Red Ribbon Army's rampage—were alive again.
Fathers, mothers, grandparents… all woke as if from a long sleep.
"You're alive! You're really alive?!"
"What happened to me?"
"You were dead… we mourned you for days. But now…"
Tears burst forth like floodgates as villagers embraced their loved ones, unable to hold back the tidal wave of joy.
"Dear, you're back! Thank heavens…"
"Dad! You're okay now!"
"They used the Dragon Balls to revive us… It was Goku and the others!"
In every home, grief turned to laughter, and the silence of mourning was replaced with cries of celebration.
In the distance, Sno watched the scene quietly, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"I knew it… you did it."
"…Thank you."
Overhead, a dull, round object streaked through the sky and thudded into a rice field nearby. A Dragon Ball, now inert. Sno picked it up, brushing her thumb along its surface.
"…Thanks, Krillin," she whispered with a smile.
—
Later, at Korin Tower
"Haaah… I'm exhausted…"
"Why can't we see the top yet?"
Chi-Chi wiped sweat from her brow.
"Goku, are you still climbing with triple gravity on?"
From below, Goku's voice rang out between gasps.
"Yep."
Chi-Chi swallowed nervously.
"You're incredible… Krillin and I didn't even adjust our gravity bands, and we're already struggling."
"Honestly," Goku panted, "I'm about to collapse too."
"Then take it off!"
"No way! What's the point of this training otherwise?"
"I swear, once I finish my first climb, I'm trying higher gravity too!" Chi-Chi declared.
At the top, Krillin groaned.
"This tower is endless… If only we could nap and continue later. I'm starving and sleepy…"
"Keep going!"
"Push through!"
"Wait, is that the top up there?!"
"No way!"
"Ugh, just clouds again—so unfair!"
Goku, trying to stay upbeat, shouted up:
"First one to the top gets five millimeters taller!"
"I want long legs!" Chi-Chi cried.
"I want to be tall, rich, and popular with the ladies!" Krillin huffed.
With those "noble" dreams, the three of them kept climbing, laughing, encouraging each other—step by step into the night.
—
Dawn
Golden sunlight spilled across the ancient tower as the sky brightened.
Krillin gasped.
"Wait… guys! Look up! What's that?"
"Is that… the top?!"
"WE MADE IT!"
The three of them, exhausted beyond words, collapsed onto the wooden platform of the tower's summit, panting heavily.
They'd done it.
—
Inside Korin's Sanctum
Korin peered down at the trio, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"All three made it up? Impressive…"
Bulma was passed out on a nearby bench, snoring softly.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Huh? They made it? Oh boy, Korin, looks like you've got company."
Korin descended the stairs, approaching the three.
"You kids actually made it… not bad."
Goku was already fast asleep, dead to the world.
Chi-Chi and Krillin sat up and blinked.
"…Huh? Where's the sage?"
"I am the sage."
"…You're a cat."
"Not just any cat. I'm a divine cat!"
The two of them scrambled up and bowed respectfully.
"M-Master Korin! The Ultra Sacred Water—is it real?"
Korin nodded.
"Of course. It's right there on that pedestal."
The two lit up with excitement.
"Yes! We'll finally get stronger!"
Chi-Chi looked down at Goku, concerned.
"He's completely wiped out…"
Korin tilted his head.
"Did he just fall asleep after reaching the top?"
Bulma approached.
"He climbed the whole tower with triple gravity active. He's out cold."
Korin's pupils shrank.
"…Triple gravity?"
"Yup. That band on his wrist increases his weight. I invented it to make training more effective. It goes up to ten times their body weight."
Korin let out a low whistle.
"Triple gravity and still climbed… Huh. Honestly, I might not need to train this one at all."
He walked over to the sleeping Goku and scowled.
"Sleeping in front of the sacred sage—what nerve!"
With a swift kick, he punted Goku clean off the tower.
"Waaaugh!"
Goku's eyes flew open as he tumbled downward.
"…Huh? What? Why am I falling?!"
Squinting up, he spotted Korin's tiny silhouette on the edge.
"…Is this some kind of… reward?"
"My stomach's growling…"
Then he remembered something.
He reached into his satchel and popped a Senzu Bean into his mouth.
Instantly, his fatigue vanished.
Instead of climbing again immediately, he dropped all the way to the ground, stretched, and prepared for his second climb.
This time, with experience under his belt, the effort wasn't nearly as brutal.
Halfway up, he tapped the gravity band.
Four times his body weight.
"Oof… why does just one more level feel so heavy…"
But despite the groans, Goku's grin widened.
The climb wasn't just hard—it was worth it.