Pleasent Mountain(Fry-pan), known for its picturesque scenery and cool climate, was once a perfect retreat for rest and recovery.
After acquiring a treasure and a beautiful wife, Ox-King chose this serene place to build his castle and live a carefree life. But that was all in the past.
Standing frozen, Ox-King watched helplessly as roaring flames consumed the mountain. From the middle slopes to the peak where his castle once stood, nearly a third of the mountain was engulfed in an unrelenting inferno.
The cool mountain air was long gone. Now, the oppressive heat from the blazing fire drenched him in sweat as he stood there.
"Papa, I'm so hot..." came a faint, pitiful voice from the little girl sitting on Ox-King's broad shoulder.
The child, no more than two or three years old, displayed an early maturity, much like other gifted Earth children. But she was still too young, frail, and delicate to withstand the searing waves of heat from the burning mountain.
After just a short time on the mountainside, she was already weak and wilting under the oppressive heat.
"Chi-Chi, Papa will take you down the mountain now." Ox-King reached for the large water pouch at his waist. When he touched it, he realized the icy water he'd brought from the base of the mountain had turned warm. He handed it to his daughter to quench her thirst, then used his massive hand to fan her gently. "Papa will build you a house at the foot of the mountain, alright?"
Little Chi-Chi sipped the warm water, her discomfort evident. In a soft voice, she asked, "Papa, can't we go home anymore?"
Ox-King couldn't find the words to answer. A simple man, he had no idea how to respond, so he silently carried his daughter downhill.
But before they had gone far, he noticed groups of strangers coming up from several paths below.
As they got closer, it became clear that these people, either strong and muscular or armed with weapons, weren't here for a friendly visit.
Their intentions were written all over their organized and deliberate movements.
Ox-King's temper ignited.
"They must've heard about the fire and come to loot my castle!" With a roar of fury, he ignored his daughter's presence on his shoulder and pulled the massive twin axes from his back. His loud voice echoed through the mountain. "Chi-Chi, close your eyes!"
Obediently, Chi-Chi buried her head in the back of her father's neck and clutched the horns on his helmet with her tiny hands.
"It's the Ox-King!"
"Run for it!"
"Isn't he supposed to be dead, burned in the fire?"
The intruders immediately felt the ground tremble as the towering Ox-King charged downhill toward them. His massive figure filled their vision, his axes slicing through the air with terrifying precision. Behind the red-tinted goggles of his helmet, his eyes burned with rage, and his beard flared as he stormed into the intruders.
"Ahhh!"
"Retreat!"
"Fight back! Fight back!"
"All together, kill him!"
Some of the invaders panicked and fled, while others tried to regroup and take down the enormous Ox-King, believing his size made him slow.
"Think you can run after coming here?"
Consumed by fury, Ox-King hurled one of his giant axes. The weapon spun through the air, chasing down the fleeing men. The sharp blade cut through them like a scythe through wheat, leaving a trail of bodies in its path.
"An opening!"
Those who stood their ground saw their chance. One raised a pistol, aiming not at Ox-King but at the small, vulnerable girl on his shoulder.
Bang!
Ox-King twisted his body just in time, taking the bullet in his opposite shoulder.
Fortunately, his immense frame and thick skin absorbed most of the impact. The bullet lodged in his muscle, causing only minor bleeding.
"You bastards!"
Rage consumed him. How dare they target his precious daughter! With a roar, Ox-King swung his remaining axe, cleaving the shooter in two.
But the distraction cost him.
Several of the others rushed in from behind and the sides, weapons poised to strike. Daggers and spears gleamed as they all aimed for the massive target.
By the time Ox-King realized the danger, it was too late to dodge.
Despite his bulk and strength, he wasn't agile enough to counter their coordinated attack.
In that moment, a pang of regret hit him. He cursed himself for not mastering his training under Master Roshi all those years ago. It wasn't his own death that troubled him, but the thought of failing to protect Chi-Chi. How could he face his late wife after this?
"We've got him!"
The attackers were sure of their victory.
But before their weapons could reach Ox-King, a flash of crimson streaked through the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The red streak cut through the intruders like a divine blade, knocking both them and Ox-King to the ground.
"Ahhh!"
"Ugh!"
The invaders were thrown into disarray by the sudden, powerful attack.
"What just happened?!"
Ox-King, though shaken, quickly steadied himself, carefully cradling Chi-Chi. He looked to the side and saw what had intervened—a long, red staff embedded in the scorched earth.
"The Power Pole?!"
His eyes widened in surprise and hope. Was his brother-in-training, Son Gohan, here to help?
Scanning the area, he couldn't find any sign of Gohan.
Meanwhile, a sniper hidden in the shadows finished adjusting his rifle, aiming for the exposed part of Ox-King's head beneath his helmet.
"Die!"
Bang!
The sniper fired a high-caliber round that hurtled toward Ox-King like a missile, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake.
"So despicable!"
From above came a loud voice, followed by the arrival of a golden cloud.
A small figure leaped from the Nimbus, darting toward Ox-King at lightning speed. With perfect precision, the figure's foot landed on the missile, halting its deadly trajectory.
Ox-King blinked in astonishment at the golden cloud now hovering nearby.
The figure standing on the missile twisted his foot, redirecting its momentum. With a deft spin, he sent the bullet hurtling back toward the sniper.
"Take it back!"
The sniper's mouth hung open in shock before he disappeared in a fiery explosion.
The small figure landed lightly, pulled the Power Pole from the ground, and sheathed it across his back. It was none other than Son Goku.
The large, horned man beside him stared in astonishment before offering a hesitant greeting. "Thank you for saving me..." Ox-King muttered, then added, "Young man, what's your name?"
"My name is Son Goku," the boy replied with a grin.
"Son Goku..." Ox-King exhaled deeply, as if trying to process something. "Tell me, young man, what is your relation to Son Gohan?"
Son Goku tilted his head in curiosity. "That's my grandpa. Why do you ask, big guy? Do you know my grandpa?"
Ox-King's face lit up in recognition. "Of course! So you're Gohan's grandson! That explains why you have the Power Pole, a gift from our master, Roshi. I trained alongside your grandpa under Master Roshi. We were brothers in training!"
"Is that so?" Son Goku nodded, intrigued.
"Papa, can I open my eyes now?" came a soft voice from the little girl perched on Ox-King's shoulder. "Are the bad people gone?"
"Yes, Chi-Chi, it's safe now."
The little girl turned her face to look around and immediately spotted the messy-haired boy standing nearby. Her wide eyes then caught sight of the golden cloud floating midair in front of her father.
"Wow, it's so pretty..." she murmured. Sliding down from her father's shoulder, she approached the Nimbus with curiosity.
Son Goku started to warn her, but before he could speak, Chi-Chi had already climbed onto the cloud, kneeling on it and gently patting its soft surface.
"Looks like you're a good kid!" Goku remarked with surprise.
Ox-King then turned to him and asked, "Son Goku, that Nimbus… Have you already met Master Roshi?"
"Yup! The Nimbus was a gift from the that old guy," Goku explained.
"Master Roshi himself? Gohan truly has an extraordinary grandson!" Ox-King said, visibly impressed.
Ox-King couldn't help but admire Goku's skills. His timely rescue had demonstrated abilities far beyond Ox-King's own. The fact that he also wielded the Nimbus, a gift from Roshi, spoke volumes. Yet, the memory of a young man who had passed by three years ago suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
"Where could Yamiru be now..." Ox-King muttered to himself, wondering if the boy had succeeded in finding Son Gohan.
Son Goku overheard and exclaimed, "You know Yamiru?"
Ox-King's eyes widened with surprise and delight. "So he did find Gohan after all! That's great news... I knew he could do it."
"Of course I know him," Goku said, landing the Nimbus nearby. The small girl clinging to his arm giggled at the sudden movement. "He's my big brother! We train together under Grandpa!"
Joy filled Ox-King's heart. "He did it," he thought, "Yamiru fulfilled his dream."
He questioned Goku further about Yamiru. Though Goku wasn't the best storyteller, Ox-King pieced together the essentials: Yamiru had been training with Son Gohan for a long time, though exactly how long Goku couldn't say. What Goku did share, with bright enthusiasm, was that Yamiru was very strong — so strong, in fact, that Goku admitted he couldn't beat him yet.
Ox-King watched Goku's excitement with a bittersweet smile. The boy's pure enthusiasm for martial arts deeply moved him.
"Yo~ so this is where you've been hiding."
A familiar voice called out from afar. Both Goku and Ox-King turned to see Yamiru approaching in a hovercar. Behind him, tied up and battered, were several unlucky intruders who'd clearly crossed paths with him.
"Those guys tried to sneak up to the castle. Here." Yamiru stopped the car and kicked the captured men to the ground.
"It really is you!" Ox-King exclaimed, marveling at how much Yamiru had grown. "You're taller now, Yamiru."
Yamiru chuckled, his smile bright. "Still not as tall as you, Uncle Ox." He glanced at the small girl sitting on the Nimbus. "Is this your daughter? Where's Auntie?"
Ox-King's expression darkened. "She passed away shortly after Chi-Chi was born..."
Yamiru had already guessed as much when he couldn't sense her ki, but hearing it confirmed left him heavy-hearted.
"This is Chi-Chi," Ox-King continued. "She's my most precious treasure, the greatest gift my wife left me."
"She's a beautiful little princess," Yamiru said, crouching to meet Chi-Chi's gaze.
The girl shyly murmured her thanks.
"What's a princess?" Goku asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Ignoring him, Yamiru asked Ox-King about the mountain fire.
Ox-King sighed. "It started days ago when Chi-Chi and I were out. A strange flame fell from the sky and landed on the mountain peak. At first, I thought it was nothing, but it quickly grew out of control. Now it's engulfed the entire mountaintop. We've been driven out of the castle."
"That's bizarre," Yamiru remarked, scanning the burning mountain. "A fire that doesn't die out."
As they rested, Chi-Chi began rifling through the pile of loot Ox-King had taken from the intruders. Suddenly, she pulled out a bright orange sphere.
"A Dragon Ball!" Goku shouted, pointing at the object in Chi-Chi's hands.
Yamiru and Ox-King looked over to see the orange orb, within which seven red stars gleamed.
"The Seven-Star Ball," Yamiru confirmed, his eyes lighting up.