Otherworld, King Kai's Planet.
It was a tiny world, only a few hundred meters in diameter, yet its gravity was ten times that of Earth.
A single circular track wrapped around the surface. There was a small domed house, and a few scattered trees that looked almost lonely under the vast sky.
"Whoa! My halo's gone!"
Goku touched the top of his head, then burst into excitement, doing a flip across the grass.
"This is great, King Kai! I'm alive again! The Dragon Balls really worked!"
Beside him, the short, round King Kai stood with his hands behind his back, his antennae twitching slightly.
He adjusted his sunglasses, his tone more serious than usual.
"Goku, even though you've been revived, the situation isn't looking good. Those two Saiyans will reach Earth in less than three hours."
"If you try to run back along Snake Way now, even at full speed, you won't make it in time."
"Huh? Then what do I do?"
Goku froze, eyes wide.
"I completely forgot to calculate the return trip!"
King Kai let out a sigh, about to say something solemn, when suddenly, the air rippled with a strange distortion.
Whoosh!
A figure appeared out of thin air between them.
Dressed in an orange martial arts uniform, with a gleaming bald head reflecting the light of King Kai's star, the man wore an easy, familiar smile.
"Morning, Goku. King Kai."
Krillin raised a hand in greeting, as casually as if he had just run into neighbors on the street.
"K Krillin?!"
Goku's eyes bulged, his jaw nearly dropping to the ground.
"How are you here? Weren't you on Earth?"
Even King Kai was startled, his sunglasses tilting crooked.
"Heh, just a little trick."
Krillin tapped his forehead.
"Instant Transmission. As long as I can sense someone's energy, I can go anywhere in the universe in a single step."
"Instant Transmission?"
King Kai quickly caught on.
"That's a technique from the Yardratians, isn't it? No wonder last time…"
He paused, frowning.
"Wait. Their version requires a specific stance and some preparation. Yours looks… different."
Krillin only smiled.
Of course it was different. His version had none of the drawbacks. No delay, no setup. A true top-tier ability.
"Alright, we can catch up later."
Krillin grabbed Goku by the shoulder.
"Goku, dinner's ready back on Earth. We're just waiting for you to take your seat. Those two Saiyans will be here in a couple of hours. Time to give them a proper welcome."
"Oh! Got it!"
Still a little confused, Goku didn't hesitate. He trusted Krillin completely and grabbed onto his arm.
"King Kai, we're heading out! Thanks for everything!"
"Wait, hold on!"
King Kai tried to warn him about the dangers of using Kaio-ken recklessly.
Whoosh!
The two of them vanished instantly, leaving behind a faint burst of displaced air.
"…What does he think this place is? A train station? In and out whenever he feels like it!"
King Kai stomped in frustration, then sighed.
"But with him around… maybe Earth really does stand a chance. That bald kid's power… even I can't see the limits of it."
…
Earth, outskirts of East City.
Rolling mountain ranges stretched across the land, only a few dozen kilometers from the bustling metropolis.
What used to be a scenic tourist destination had now been sealed off as a military exclusion zone.
Whoosh!
Krillin and Goku appeared out of nowhere.
"Wow! I'm really back!"
Goku looked up at the familiar blue sky and white clouds, taking a deep breath of the earthy air.
"Nothing beats the smell of Earth!"
"Save it. Look over there."
Krillin pointed ahead.
Several powerful energy signatures were gathered on a nearby hill.
Piccolo sat cross-legged atop a massive rock, eyes closed, his white cape fluttering in the wind.
Nearby, Gohan and Trin were tossing stones back and forth like it was just another afternoon.
Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha stood side by side, their expressions solemn as they stared at the sky.
"Everyone!"
Goku shouted excitedly and flew over.
"Goku!"
The moment they saw him, relief washed over the group. It was as if their anchor had returned.
"Kakarot… you're finally back."
Piccolo opened his eyes, a faint smirk forming.
"Not bad. Your power's improved quite a bit."
"Heh, you've gotten a lot stronger too, Piccolo!"
Goku scratched his head, then glanced at the others. His expression slowly turned strange.
He stared at Yamcha for a while, then at Tien, and finally at Launch, who was calmly cleaning a heavy sniper rifle.
"…Did I walk onto the wrong set or something?"
Goku blinked, completely baffled.
"Yamcha, your energy feels… dangerous. Like it could explode at any second."
"Hah! Don't underestimate me, Goku."
Yamcha puffed out his chest proudly, casually tossing a tightly compressed Spirit Ball in his hand.
"This past half year wasn't for nothing. I've trained like hell. Right now, I could kick a Saiyan around like a ball."
"Alright, that's enough catching up."
Krillin clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
He looked up at the sky.
Two blazing objects had already become visible, cutting through the atmosphere at incredible speed. Friction turned them into streaks of fire, like falling meteors.
"They're here."
Krillin's calm voice carried clearly to everyone.
"System, activate AR combat interface."
Target locked: Saiyan pods x2
Predicted landing zone: East City Central Plaza
Threat level: S
Recommendation: Do not allow urban impact. Casualties may exceed one million
"So they really plan to crash right into the city."
Krillin let out a cold laugh.
"Do they think Earth is some kind of parking lot where they can land wherever they want?"
He turned to his companions.
"Alright, let's give our guests a proper lesson. Rule number one on Earth: no illegal parking."
"Got it!"
Tien made the first move.
Forming a triangle with his hands, he aimed at the incoming fireballs.
"Tri-Beam!"
Boom!
A massive golden blast shot into the sky, striking the side of one pod with perfect accuracy.
Right after that, Yamcha's Spirit Ball, Piccolo's energy wave, and even Launch's specially enhanced armor-piercing shots lit up the sky like fireworks.
Under the barrage, the two pods that had been descending in straight lines were forced off course.
Instead of crashing into the city, they veered toward the empty mountain region.
"Now that's how you welcome guests."
Krillin crossed his arms, nodding in satisfaction.
"Brace for impact."