Chapter 24 - Demon King

(Super sorry for late chapter, more in Authors Thoughts.)

The tournament was coming into an official close with the greatest fight that has ever gone on stage appearing early in the matches. The spectators were no doubt disappointed in following fights that were less visually exciting.

The Dragon Crew all gathered to the front of the tournament grounds with Tien and Chiaotzu in tow to talk to them.

Everyone all huddled up to Goku to congratulate him on his fantastic win.

"Goku, congrats! That fight of your had me on my toes!"

"Yeah who knew how strong you would have gotten within those 3 years!"

"I guess that really has to do something with my invention doesn't it."

Everyone ignored Bulma tooting her own horn no matter how true it was.

"Yeah I got really strong over those three years thank to increase in gravity. You guys should try to do some gravity training too. You will really get stronger faster."

"Hmm... maybe I should add that to the Turtle School training. It would fit quite snugly."

"Master Roshi, Chiaotzu and I humbly ask if you will become our Master."

Everyone was in a circle chatting happily about the last 3 years until Goku saw smoke coming from the tournament's main building. Knowing what the smoke was about, Goku started heading towards it in large strides.

It wasn't long until someone saw Goku leave the huddle and consequentially see the smoke. No words were exchanged when people started to head towards it to see what the commotion was.

Entering through the front gate, the first thing that came into vision was the announcer guy with his back against the wall and legs twisted in abnormal angles. He was unconscious, likely from the pain from his legs.

Advancing to the announcer's position, he was holding a note on his hand with some blood on the bottom of it. Goku walked up and grabbed the piece of paper and held it before his face.

'tourney list'

The writing was poor and crooked but the message was conveyed. By this time, the rest of the crew filed and saw the situation. While everyone was crowding around the message, Master Roshi diverted from the norm and went to the center of the room where there was another piece of a paper by its lonesome.

When he picked it up, his face changed from suspicion to horrified.

"It can't be!"

Instantly, everyone's attention turned towards Roshi and looked at the strange paper that he was holding. Bulma was the one to speak up on Roshi's strange reaction.

"What's with you old pervert? All it is is a devil symbol with a circle in the middle. For all we know it could some random zoomer or something pulling a prank."

Roshi completely refuted Bulma's attempt at trying to be witty with a grim statement.

"No...this is something far worst than a zoomer. This is the crest of the Devil Emperor... Piccolo."

"Piccolo? What does he kill us with a horrible high pitch screech? Sounds like a pansy to me."

Oolong tried to make light of the situation. As usual, no one paid attention to the side character, nay, background character.

"I've heard of this Devil Emperor Piccolo before. He once submerged the world in flames a long time ago with his iron fist."

"Yes, long ago, my master fought him along with me and Shen. Even with all of our power combined, we couldn't defeat him. So my Master sealed him inside a jar and I tossed him in the bottom of the ocean. There shouldn't be a way for him to return after my master used his life to stop his tyranny."

"S-s-so are we able to stop him?" Krillin was literally shivering in fear.

"We aren't powerful enough, but we have two choices. The Dragon Balls and..."

Roshi turned to Goku with a complicated expression.

"You, Goku. You have far exceeded my expectation and our only hope with the power you possess. I learned this from my Master Korin, and I think with your lineage, you might be able to acquire it."

"What is this thing that you want Goku to get? It sounds like it will hurt him." Chichi started to get a really bad feeling from this situation.

Roshi and Goku stared at for a second. Roshi nodded and Goku got the message, he went through the front door but not before hauling the announcer over his shoulder. Calling his Flying Nimbus he jumped up and grabbed onto the edge before blasting off. Everyone rushed towards him to see what he was doing. All they got was a glimpse of his tail and a yellow trail to boot.

Bulma waited no time and stomped back to Roshi to demand answers. Grabbing him by the shirt, it didn't matter if he was the greatest martial artist in the world or Usain Bolt, he wasn't going to escape.

"What did you sent him to do! You wrinkly old bastard if you don't tell right now you'll not be able to see women the same anymore when you become one!"

Roshi didn't flinch nor retaliate only stating facts.

"He is our only hope if a wish-granting Dragon doesn't work. We can always wish him back with that same reality-bending power."

Tears started to well up in her eyes at the implication. She stormed off while speed dialing someone. Right when she entered the sidewalk, a helicopter came in from out of nowhere and picked her up into the sunset.

Now everyone there turned to Master Roshi demanding answers. All he could say was.

"If you truly are a martial artist, you have to take risks for the greater good."

---

Flying to Korin's tower, this is one of the things that Goku has been most apprehensive about. He was literally on his way to drink poison to get stronger. Sounds like something an alcoholic would say.

This year was his official year that he has lived as long has his previous life. Soon it would even feel like his previous life was just a strange dream. Shaking his head, he saw Korin's tower in the distance and landed on the balcony bidding farewell to his little cloud.

Korin was just sleeping as all cats do until he heard a loud stomp on his tower. Going outside to give the intruder a piece of his mind, he saw a familiar face greet his all-day nap.

"Goku? What are you doing here?"

"Master Roshi sent me, to increase my strength. He said with my body, I should be able to handle it."

Korin wrinkled his brows. If it was what he is thinking of, this was a serious situation especially if Roshi sent him.

Looking into his mind, he absorbed the entire conversation that occurred moments ago and understood the severity of the situation. Goku placed the announcer on a wall while Korin left.

He went to the back of the room and grabbed a teapot and cup to prepare to give Goku the worst pain in his life. Going back to the main room Korin could feel Goku's shivers when his eyes laid on the pot.

"You do know that this is heart-wrenching poison. The worst pain you will ever experience is from this Ultra Sacred Water."

"Yeah, I know."

Giving him a cup, the only light in his eyes was of pity.

"What is with the other guy by the way? He seems kinda there dead if it weren't for his breathing."

Once Korin reminded Goku of the guy with the broken legs, he got an idea.

"Korin, give me some Senzu beans! Now, quick!"

Grumbling while going to one of his pots, he reached down and grabbed some beans.

"Kids these days with no respect."

Grabbing one bean, he crushed it with his hands into a paste and force-fed the announcer the green miracle.

Suddenly, his legs started to revert back to their original position. Cracks could be heard until he was fully restored to normal position. Korin's eyes rocketed out of his eyes at the display. He knew that it could heal simple cuts but broken legs are another story.

Taking a deep breath, he pinched his nose and downed the drink. Before the pain could start, he started chewing on a Senzu bean at the same time.

Saying that the experience was painful was the understatement of the year and no amount of healing could help that.

The original purpose of the Sacred Water was to dig deep into your body to find your potential and unlock it. Only those with extremely durable bodies could take the strain of the process and live to see another day.

The Senzu Bean was not helping at all with reducing the pain and arguably increasing it. Instead of leaving a destructive path in its wake for the body to heal slowly later, the Senzu Bean is forcing the body to heal, giving Goku a brief moment of respite before it attacks him again.

It's like experiencing scorching hot water only for it be cooled down before scorching yourself again every second. Continuous pain is much more wanted.

---

While Goku was going through a very painful process to get stronger, the rest of the crew void Bulma headed off to the Dragon Balls. Bulma had the foresight to pass the Chichi the Dragon Radar indicating for her to get the Dragon Balls back at Capsule Corps. This was the only reason why she also didn't run off with Bulma to check on Goku, she had to keep Plan A afloat.

They all flew back in a mini jet that Bulma had called for them. The helicopter was already closed to the Island letting her take a quick departure while the jet took half an hour.

Scrambling in, they couldn't help feeling anxious about the up and coming events and Goku's safety. Master Roshi, in particular, had an incredible amount of lumps on his head when he told the truth of what Goku was getting himself into.

The mini-jet was fast getting crew from the Island to Capsule Corps. When it came into view, smoke was being emitted from a giant hole on the side of the building.

"Another break-in? You would think that there would be better countermeasures at this point!"

They parked the jet right next to it and Chichi was followed by the rest to see what had happened.

Standing there above Dr. Briefs and a steel suitcase was a green monster with wings sprouted behind his back. Luckily, Dr. Briefs didn't look too hurt when they arrived attracting the monster's attention.

"Luck at who we have here, more worthless humans who have stopped my amusement."

Briefs stood up and slowly backed away but Tamborine didn't pay any more attention to the weakling. Although their power was weaker than his, he felt some semblance of a threat.

"Let's see if you can provide me with some to form of amusement to make up for it."

---

Bulma's helicopter pilot saw a huge tower in the distance.

"Miss Briefs, is that the one?"

Looking up in the huge tower, she could really only say one thing.

"It better be."