Chapter 42: Korin's Tower

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To put the land of Dragon Ball into perspective to the rest of Planet Earth, many citizens around the globe were full of curiosity to discover a hidden land out there that they had no idea what it had. Other people equally were afraid, while others were blissfully ignorant that a new country had emerged out of nowhere. Its location was in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. Many sailors and seafarers alike dared not travel to the heart of an ocean.

It's not like the land of Dragon Ball was one of a kind in this manner of speaking.

While it would be shedding its light the public for the first time, there existed another country that was also hidden in plain sight, one that would not emerge for several more years, the country of Wakanda, home to an advanced civilization of the african people who struck gold with a lucky meteorite that descended onto Planet Earth millions of years ago, containing one, if not the rarest and toughest mineral one could get their hands on in the entire galaxy, Vibranium. It was due to this metal that the Wakandans created an advance so far ahead of the other humans, they decided to keep it to themselves. It wouldn't be until a few years down the line to where its current king, King T'Chaka, announces Wakanda through the annual meeting the United Nations held once a year to discuss current affairs of the world. This annual meeting would also declare the formation of the world's first group of enhanced individuals that was secretly led by one of the most secretive agencies of the entire world, Shield. They would be the Avengers, courtesy of the leader of Shield, Nick Fury.

Initially, the Avengers Initiative got scrapped after it was presented at the round table that Shield secretly hosts with the world leaders, but eventually, it would come to fruition in the coming four years or so.

Several individuals that went by those names, enhanced individuals, mutants, metahumans, inhumans, whatever tag they received, they would get ostracized by the rest of the world. It was still under wraps presently considering it was Year 2008. Only one known enhanced individual was known to the public, which was Captain America, who was currently submerged in his glacier. Iron Man hasn't finished producing his first prototype suit yet to flee the base of the Ten Rings, and currently a huge, green monster was on the run from the United States military, likely lurking about in Brazil.

As to whether Baki had met the untransformed Hulk, who went by the name Bruce Banner, during Baki's stay in Brazil before he returned to Japan, that remained to be seen.

The point at hand, however, was with all of these individuals lurking about that would see the light of day in the coming years through the Sokovia Accords, what would happen if an entire country of unknown humans suddenly emerged? Would it cause an endless curiosity, fear, hope, or something else that humans who thought they had explored the entire earth, which would only cause them to realize there was still plenty out there left to discover?

That was the present state of this land, wanting to express its desire to meet the rest of the humans. And it was a certain blue-haired girl, who went by the name Bulma, that was quickly coming to a realization of the magnitude of this scenario that was thrown her way. She was the daughter of the leading corporation this land consisted of, after all.

"Tch. Those damn idiots think it's all fun and games out there. Will the next Tenkaichi Budokai even happen at this rate?", Bulma scoffed, padding her stomach as a large empty tray was now in her sight. Bulma proceeded to stretch her arms out after stuffing her stomach, but still had room to spare. Bulma then stood up from her desk, and enjoyed the view outside her bustling window again, listening to the distant noises of airborne vehicles.

"Well, it's not set for another three years. Goku-kun did say he would focus on training, but, like, seriously, is that all on their minds, without a care as to what revolves outside of them? Maybe Nee-chan is right, I should leave those guys in the dust. ", Bulma said, letting out a relieved sigh after she stretched her arms out.

After saying that, the hissing sound of a door opened before her, letting her figure vanish from sight, entering the interior of Capsule Corporation.

Oblivious to what was currently happening back at West City, further to the west stood an ancient-like tower that seemed to stretch into the clouds endlessly.

There was only one means to get up and down this tower, and that was to climb it.

Eventually, if one was successful in climbing this tower, they would arrive at the home of a talking cat-like figure who was considered a deity in the DBZ-Verse, ever so low ranked they were. This cat did actually have a name for its species that it belonged to, named Senbyo. As to what it meant, it read Immortal Cat. This cat figure had lived for hundreds of years and it was rumored that he was at least eight hundred years old by the time the story of the DBZ-Verse kicked off.

He went by the name Korin, martial artists far and wide revered this deity. Many wished to train under him yet failed. Presently, there was only one other human that had successfully climbed this tower other than Goku, who went by the alias the Turtle Hermit. He currently was the teacher to both Son Goku and another human, Krillin. The Master of these two went by the name Master Roshi.

Presently, at the base of this never-ending tower, that was aptly dubbed, Korin's Tower, four individuals could be seen, panting heavily as they had finally reached their destination after traversing this side of the country as part of their training. Not too long ago, they had to rescue an entire village that was on the verge of destruction thanks to a volcanic eruption.

One of these four figures could be seen on their back, letting their chest take deep breaths in and out, taking a moment to realize the location they had arrived at. Those who still had breath in them marveled at the sight of the never-ending tower.

"Hah...", The boy said, letting out a pained breath of hot air. Of the four, he was the quickest to tire out first, considering he had the lowest power level shared amongst them. And he was the boy that Bulma who was currently dating, and currently had second thoughts on their present relationship, Ymacha. "Did we finally make it here?", Yamcha continued to say, letting out a complaint. They had traversed quite a long way to get here.

"You quitting out on us already, Yamcha-san? This is just the beginning. Goku-san is at the top of this tower. If you're out of breath already, then you might as well turn back around now.", One of the other four figures said, who was actually floating in the air beside him, and was the smallest of the four, only being a foot or two in height. This person went by the name Chiaotzu.

"You know Yamcha-san, Goku-san said he took three whole days to climb Korin's Tower to reach his place. You got enough stamina for that?", A third figure said, who sported three eyes over his face and most of his torso was left bare, with a simple shirt tucked into it, leaving most of his arms visible with packed muscle. Yamcha's eyes turned wide hearing that.

"You're not lying, are you, Tien-san? Goku-kun really did take three whole days to climb this tower?", Yamcha said, trying to regain his breath.

"I heard it directly from Goku, shisishi. You quitting already, Yamcha-san? What would Bulma-chan think of you if you backed down now?", The fourth figure said, who was also small in stature, and had a very bald head, similar to that of a modern-day monk. He had a playful tone to his voice as he said that. This boy went by the name Krillin, and was currently Goku's best friend. These four figures have come to challenge Korin's Tower after learning of Goku's experience in this place, and how he had gotten much stronger after training here.

These four were oblivious to matters involved in the state of the world, so they didn't share Bulma's current worry. They were just here as part of their next step in their training.

"You just had to bring her up, didn't you?", Yamacha said with a slight sneer to his tone.

Krillin blinked his eyes at Yamcha, not expecting to see him react this way as he slowly lifted his back, resuming a seated position.

"Did something not go well with Bulma-chan?", Chiaotzu also uttered in his typical high-pitched voice that contained a hint of worry.

"Well, I wouldn't call it bad. She just stormed off for some reason, saying that I couldn't see the bigger picture before I came here with you guys. Seriously, what's up with her?", Yamcha replied, scratching his head.

"The bigger picture for what, exactly?", Tien also wondered, tilting his head. "We defeated the Demon King, so I don't see why Bulma-chan would get mad over something like that.", Tien continued.

"Bulma-chan did mention to me that she was invited to go overseas with that father of hers. I figured it was just some science mumbo-jumbo conference that I didn't need to go to.", Yamcha said, shrugging the incoming event off as if it meant nothing to him.

"Heh, and they call you the dense one. Bulma-chan's probably angry because you aren't going with her.", Krillin replied, throwing his hands behind his head nonchalantly as he did.

"Seriously?", Yamcha said, continuing to scratch his head. "Man, I don't get girls sometimes. Do you guys?", Yamcha continued to ask.

Hearing Yamcha ask that of Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu, they had a quick glance at each other, before they shook their heads in the same manner, causing Yamcha to laugh.

Yet little did Yamcha know that by not accepting Bulma's invitation to go with her to Japan, that very well could be the downfall to what little they had a spark of a relationship they had started not too long before these four arrived at Korin's Tower.

Yamcha took the time to jump up after he had regained his breath, and looked up at the tower.

"Enough with that, I ain't backing down from this. It's time for us to climb that tower. Goku-san's waiting for us at the top!", Yamcha roared, trying to boost his energy. Hearing that, Krillin and Tien approached his side, as Chiaotzu floated on over, each sharing an equal look of anticipation in their eyes as they observed the never-ending tower above them.