2 Launch (2)

'Going on that rescue mission was the best decision I ever made'

Master Roshi leaned back on his sofa, both his arms draped over the back as he oogled the fit blue-haired woman in his kitchen.

'Hehehe...she was so grateful I offered to help her, naive woman, don't you know what it means for a man and a woman to be alone in a house!?'

Master Roshi could barely conceal his joy, conscious effort required to keep his body from getting too excited, a variety of plans already hatched in his mind.

'It's only a matter of time! I can't wait to-'

Master Roshi's thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang, the sound akin to a missile exploding underwater.

'What the heck'

He quickly arose from his seat, rushing out the door, only for his eyes to widen.

"C-Can I help you?" he said in confusion, staring at the big black man on his island.

"You're Master Roshi, aren't you?" he said quickly.

Master Roshi grimaced, trying to figure out what correlation he had with the figure opposite him.

"Yeah, and what?" 

"I've heard that you're a Martial Arts master, so I've come to test myself against you" 

Master Roshi exhaled softly, a massive weight taken off his shoulders.

'If it's not the police, I couldn't care less'

Before Master Roshi could speak, Launch quickly appeared behind him.

"What's going on?" she said innocently. 

Master Roshi winced, swallowing the words that were about to come out.

'I can't back down in front of her!'

"Fufufu...it's just an upstart youth who's come to challenge me, it happens a lot when you're a Martial Arts Master, don't worry, this won't take too long"

With those words, Roshi leapt up from the platform at the entrance of Kame House, landing squarely in the sand beside his opponent.

"Those muscles don't scare me!" Roshi said aggressively.

'I've knocked down guys who are far larger than you'

His opponent chuckled, exhaling softly before he entered a Martial Arts stance, alarm bells instantly ringing in Roshi's head.

'He knows a thing or two'

Master Roshi's eyes narrowed, quickly realizing that he couldn't sense his opponent's Ki at all, his low posture and sharp stance indicating that his technique was strong.

'He's fast!'

Master Roshi's eyes barely tracked the brat's movements, his forearms tanking a fierce flying kick.

"Woah! You're crazy fast!" Launch said loudly, her voice full of wonder.

Master Roshi frowned, discovering that the smirk on his opponent's face was damaging Launch's impression of him.

"Hmph! I want go easy on you, youngster!" he said boldly, ascending into his buff state.

In his current form, he was just about the same size as the brat he was up against.

Master Roshi dashed back and waited patiently, his muscular arms tense in the air.

'I'll show you the defensive power of the Turtle School!'

Once the brat realized Master Roshi had decided to stay on the defensive, he changed his posture, rushing forward with incredible speed.

Roshi quickly dodged in the nick of time, his arms clashing and clanging against the brat's repeatedly, his eyes shooting around their sockets in order to keep up.

'What the heck?!'

As they exchanged blows, Roshi realized that the brat wasn't paying any attention at all, his bright red eyes staring into the same spot on Roshi's chest. It was like his arms were moving automatically, his opponent relaxed and calm in a way that was irritating to observe.

"HAH!"

Roshi shouted out, releasing an omni-directional Ki wave that blew the youth back, his feet dragging against the sand.

"Kamehameha!"

Roshi threw his arms forward quickly, shooting out at thick blue beam of energy that tore through space, surging ahead with intensity.

'Hehehe! Take that you fast fool! My ultimate technique!'

Roshi smirked, pleased with the surprised expression on the face of the youth, watching his energy blast drive back the brat.

"Amazing!" Launch declared, stars in her eyes.

'No way!'

Roshi's expression fell as he watched the brat's feet hit the ground, his chest resisting the blue energy blast.

His body braced as he took a step forward, slowly walking through the attack.

"HAAAAAAAAA!"

Roshi fell into panic, not wanting his strongest attack to look weak in front of Launch, prompting him to completely empty his Ki reserves.

The Kamehameha blast tripled in size, a blinding sea of blue energy surging ahead, completely engulfing the brat from head to toe, burying him in a wall of dense Ki.

'He's done for!'

The smile on Roshi's face disappeared as he saw the brat pop out of his still active Kamehameha, a small smile on his face as he stood before him.

Roshi's world went black as he felt a strong blow strike his chin, his whole body flying upward.

Another heavy blow sank into his stomach, spit shooting out from as mouth as he surged backward.

The next thing he heard was a loud crash, a wet chill engulfing his body.

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'My body is far more restrictive than I thought'

I was actually expecting to smoke Roshi, using his defeat both as experience and as prestige to start my journey.

What I didn't know was that my body automatically lowered it's Power Level to match the capability of an opponent, my strength regulated subconsciously.

I noticed that a lot of mental energy was required to manually increase my power output, the knock-out blow I gave to Roshi, consciously feeling like a full power attack.

'I have enough hax to survive if my body can't properly gauge a threat but I still need to learn how to better master my power and fast'

It turns out fighting wasn't as simple as it looked.

"I can't believe you beat Master Roshi so easily! You're crazy strong!"

My expression changed when Launch came out of the kitchen, a bowl in her grasp.

'This perverted idiot really made her wear this'

I couldn't keep a straight face as she bounced around in a tight dark blue one-suit, bright pink frills on the edges of it, revealing her shape and curves.

"Y-Yeah, I was expecting him to be a bit stronger," I said, staring at Master Roshi's limp body.

He was lying slumped on the couch, covered in bandages Launch had given him while I sat on a bean bag chair.

Launch dropped the bowl on a small table in front of me, kneeling behind it.

"How did you get so strong!?" she asked innocently.

"Training," I said bluntly, keeping my eyes on the bowl.

'It looks good'

It was ramen, the chicken, eggs and vegetables sitting elegantly on top of the noodles and soup.

'I guess I can try it'

"Ah!"

'Hoooh!'

"I-Is it that good?" Launch asked, her cheeks turning red.

I dropped the empty bowl back on the table, wiping my face with my thumb, nodding honestly.

"I'm glad you liked it, Master Roshi makes me cook it for him everyday, I must be getting good at it"

"Makes you?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well I'm indebted to him, he saved my life and gave me somewhere to stay, it's the least I can do for him" 

"You don't have anywhere else to go? How did that happen?"

She exhaled gently, her face turning dark.

"T-To make a long story short, my parents were killed by the Red Ribbon Army, Master Roshi rescued me in the nick of time, if I weren't for him, I'd-"

She stopped there, a sad expression finding her.

'Killed? That's not canon'

Canon Launch was kidnapped by a demon and trapped in a castle.

"I'm so sorry, I know this is probably hard for you but I'm not from around here, do you mind talking to me more about the Red Ribbon Army?" I asked, speaking as gently as I could.

She remained silent for a second, fighting back tears before she eventually spoke up, her voice weak.

"They're a bunch of bad guys who want to take over the world and unfortunately, they're nearly there"

She breathed in, managing to compose herself.

"They started out as a weapon's manufacturer, stockpiling all kinds of arms but eventually branched out into AI technology, successfully building robots and androids designed specifically for warfare," she declared.

"In 751, they've got control over North Country, East Country and Green Country," she said seriously.

'The Androids are that advanced already?'

In the canon, the Androids weren't anything serious until way far into the future.

"Thank you," I said softly, causing Launch to smile.

"Argh! What happened?"

Master Roshi stirred on the couch, tilting his body while pressing his bandaged torso, groaning as the pain flared.

"Y-You bastard!" he said angrily, turning to face me.

"How dare you make moves on my woman!" 

Launch's face lit up like a Christmas tree while my stomach turned, something about the old man's tone not sitting right with me.

"Calm down old geezer, that's not what's happening," I said, trying to soothe the atmosphere.

I spoke quickly, not letting Roshi get a word out.

"Launch was just telling me about the Red Ribbon Army, I'm gathering information so that I can take them down"

"WHAT!?"

Both Launch and Master Roshi exclaimed at the same time, both looking at me like I was crazy.

"K-Kid! I admit you're strong but you're not android strong!"

"Don't go after them! I don't want them to kill you too!"

Tears welled up in Launch's eyes, her expression even worse than before.

I smirked softly, placing my hand on her head.

'They have no idea'

"I'll be fine and besides, somebody has to teach those guys a lesson"

"No! The Red Ribbon Army are the strongest fighting force on the Earth and I would know! I'm the strongest Martial Artist on the Earth," Roshi declared.

"Was," I corrected.

"I don't care how strong you are, you're not beating the Red Ribbon Army! A fine young man like you should settle down far away from them, me and my Launch!" he declared.

I exhaled, rising to my feet.

"Thanks for the food, I'll be back later"

 "Ah-"

Before Launch could utter a word, I had disappeared, a strong gust of wind flowing out of the room.

"I don't know what that idiot is thinking! Even I didn't dare to go against the Red Ribbon Army!" Roshi said again, the notion too silly to him.

"What is he thinking?" Launch muttered to herself.