c9: "Summoning Shenron
Walking out of Pilaf's castle, Li Xu carefully placed the seven Dragon Balls in a circle on the ground.
"Come out, Shenron!"
The stars inside each Dragon Ball began to glow, pulsating rhythmically. A pillar of light shot upward from the center, piercing the sky. Dark clouds swirled rapidly overhead, turning day into night.
Crack! Boom!
Lightning forked across the sky. Then a deep, echoing dragon's roar shook the earth.
"Yaaaaan!"
A colossal, serpentine dragon—Shenron—rose from the light, coiling through the storm clouds. His emerald-green scales shimmered with energy, and his glowing red eyes peered down upon them. His presence was divine and commanding, embodying ancient mysticism.
Though Li Xu had seen this countless times in anime and manga, witnessing it firsthand made his heart race. The majesty of Shenron in person was something no screen could capture.
"Is that... Shenron?" Bulma clung tightly to Li Xu's arm, her voice trembling slightly.
"You who have gathered all seven Dragon Balls state your wish. Any single desire can be granted," Shenron declared, his voice deep and booming.
"I wish for Bulma to have eternal youth!" Li Xu announced calmly.
He didn't need a wish for himself right now. With his growing strength and the Comprehension Plug-in, he could always seek the Dragon Balls again in a year if needed.
"A simple wish..."
Shenron's eyes flashed as a divine energy enveloped Bulma. Though the change wasn't visibly obvious, a permanent transformation had been set in motion.
"Your wish is granted. Farewell."
With that, Shenron's form dissolved into brilliant light. The Dragon Balls shot into the sky and scattered in seven directions across the globe, turning to stone as they soared.
For a long moment, silence hung in the air.
"Li Xu, you..." Bulma looked at him with glassy eyes, deeply moved.
"I just want my girlfriend to stay beautiful forever." Li Xu smiled gently.
"W-Who's your girlfriend?" Bulma's cheeks flushed crimson, and she lowered her gaze, stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye.
"Would you like to be?" Li Xu asked softly, taking her small hand in his.
"I... I will!" Bulma mumbled, burying her face into his chest, heart pounding.
"Li Xu, Bulma, what are you doing?" Son Goku's innocent voice shattered the tender mood.
Li Xu and Bulma both shot him a look of irritation, but knowing Goku's personality, there was little they could say.
"Goku, now that the wish is done, what do you plan to do next?" Li Xu asked, changing the subject.
"I want to train under Grandpa Master Roshi. And once the Dragon Balls reappear, I'll search for the Four-Star Ball again," Goku said seriously.
"In about seven months, the Tenkaichi Budokai the World Martial Arts Tournament will be held," Li Xu said. "Fighters from all over the world compete there. I hope we can face each other in battle."
"Whoa! Really?" Goku's eyes lit up.
"Yes, but only the eight strongest make it to the final stage. You have to pass the preliminaries first."
"I'll train hard! We'll have a great fight then!" Goku said, fists clenched with determination.
"I'm looking forward to it. See you at the tournament!" Li Xu nodded, preparing to leave with Bulma.
But then, something unexpected happened.
"The moon is out tonight... it's so bright."
The clouds had cleared, revealing a full moon hanging over the horizon. As Son Goku glanced up, his body suddenly froze.
"No... this isn't good!" Li Xu's expression changed.
He immediately realized the danger—Goku still had his tail. In the Dragon Ball manga, Goku had previously transformed during the full moon, destroying Grandpa Gohan's house without realizing it.
Li Xu lunged to sever Goku's tail, but it was already too late.
"ROOOAAARR!!"
Goku's body swelled. Bones cracked, muscles grew. His eyes turned yellow as his form exploded in size he had become a Great Ape (Oozaru), a towering beast radiating uncontrollable power.
Son Goku let out a feral roar, one that resembled a primal beast echoing through the night. His body began to grow rapidly, muscles expanding and bones stretching as fur erupted across his skin. His once black eyes turned blood-red, and within seconds, he transformed into a massive Great Ape (Oozaru), towering high with overwhelming power.
"Li Xu, what's happening to Goku? Why did he become a monster?!" Bulma shouted in panic.
"Goku isn't an ordinary Earthling—he's a Saiyan. When Saiyans with tails look at a full moon, they transform into Great Apes. They gain immense power but lose control completely." Li Xu explained quickly, while shielding Bulma and moving her away from the danger.
"What do we do now?" Bulma asked, her voice trembling.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it." Li Xu reassured her calmly.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Bulma felt an overwhelming sense of security when Li Xu said that. She nodded and clutched his shirt, her anxiety easing. "Okay, be careful."
"Wait here!" Li Xu instructed. He carried her to a safe distance and gently set her down behind a rocky outcrop.
"Take care of yourself," Bulma said softly, concern written all over her face.
"I'll be fine."
By now, Great Ape Goku had already locked eyes on Li Xu. With a thunderous stomp, he began charging toward him. Li Xu sprinted away from Bulma's location, drawing the transformed Goku away.
"His battle power is amplified tenfold in this form," Li Xu thought grimly. "Even without his mind, his instincts are deadly. I need to go for the tail—it's the only weak spot."
"ROOOAR!!"
Son Goku lunged forward, swinging a gigantic fist toward Li Xu. Li Xu swiftly leapt aside, narrowly dodging the punch. The blow slammed into the earth with a crash, creating a crater where he had just stood.
Landing in a crouch, Li Xu didn't waste time. He circled around, aiming for Goku's vulnerable tail, and struck with a sharp hand chop.
But Goku's primal senses reacted. He turned abruptly and punched, catching Li Xu off guard.
"Crap!"
The blow landed squarely, and Li Xu was sent flying across the rocky terrain.
"Ugh…!"
He tumbled through the dirt and groaned, clutching his ribs. "Agh, at least two or three ribs are fractured…" he muttered as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Despite the pain, he forced himself upright. If he didn't act, Goku would rampage and destroy everything in sight—including Bulma.
He spotted a nearby boulder. Without hesitation, he kicked it toward Goku with all his might.
BOOM!
Goku instinctively raised his arms in defense. Even in his berserk state, his combat instincts remained. The stone shattered against his forearms harmlessly.
But that moment was enough.
Li Xu rushed behind the Great Ape and, channeling all his strength, delivered a precise slash.
SWOOSH!
With a clean strike, Goku's tail was severed, tumbling to the ground. His massive body wobbled, then began to shrink. Within moments, Goku reverted to his child form, unconscious and naked, lying in a crater.
"Li Xu, are you okay?!" Bulma ran to his side, visibly shaken, and helped him sit up.
"Cough... I'll live. Just need a few days of rest and healing." Li Xu said with a wry smile, brushing blood from his lip.
After a while, Son Goku slowly regained consciousness. He blinked in confusion, glancing at the ruined landscape and then at the bruised and battered Li Xu.
"Huh? Li Xu, what happened? Why are you hurt?"
"A giant monster attacked while you were knocked out. I tried to hold it off, but we both got hit." Li Xu explained, choosing to spare Goku the painful truth.
"Whoa... I didn't even see it..." Goku said, scratching his head in confusion. He didn't seem to question it further.
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