After leaving the Bear Bandit behind, the group continued on their way until they reached the beach.
Under the sun's heat, the warm sand under their feet was marked with each step as they got off the bike, while Goku set the turtle down.
"Finally! It's the sea! We did it!! We really made it!!!" Turtle was ecstatic to see it again.
"Duh, of course we did." Bulma smiled slightly enjoying the sea breeze even through her words.
"Wow! I've never seen a river this big." Goku immediately walked to the water and tried to taste it, only to spit it out in disgust instantly.
"Hehehe! It's salt water, you shouldn't try to drink that." Zen patted him on the head as Goku was still trying to get rid of the taste.
"You really saved me!! Thank you so much!! So so much!!" The turtle bowed to them multiple times. "Actually, just wait here… I'll go get my master, and he's sure to reward you with a gift."
It said before going into the water, and swimming away.
"A gift?" Goku blinked not having expected this.
"Hmmm… would be nice if it is buried treasure, it won't be, will it?" Bulma sighed as she began to walk into the water, lifting her pink shirt just enough for it not to get wet.
'Actually… This is a great chance, Master Roshi will come, so let's get the ball and the nimbus, then use Bulma's genius to get the old pervert's favor. From a lustful man to another, it will be a nice gift.' Zen smiled to himself as he had an idea.
"Hmmm… Should I get my swimsuit out? Is it worth the trouble?" She questioned as she wet her feet.
Goku took this chance to start playing with the sand, making a sand castle.
"I mean, we are already here. So why not enjoy a beach day?" Zen suggested.
"Precisely! I'll get ready, just like you said, I should make the most of this vacation!" Bulma nodded and got out of the water, before opening capsule house 1 again, on the beach.
After that, she got everyone to put on beach clothes.
Both Zen, and Goku had swimming trunks, matching the colors of their GI's even making a hole for the black-haired boy's tail on his.
Zen's toned muscular physique was on full display, and so was Goku's strongly built small body, despite his young age, it was very impressive.
While Bulma was wearing a pink bikini, she got herself some shades as she lay on a beach chair under an umbrella, enjoying a magazine, while the boys worked together to make a sand fortress.
A big structure of sand with grand but simplistic 4 walls, and around it, multiple smaller sand statues.
The boys fought playfully.
"Brother Zen, your betrayal of the sandhelm won't be unpunished!" Goku stood in front of him with full seriousness.
"It is too late, Goku. I have already won." Zen responded with a dastardly smile.
Without another word, they clashed, friends turned enemies due to the circumstances. At least that was the case in their game.
Watching them fight and move around before they entered the water and began slashing each other with small waves, Bulma could only laugh.
"Hehehehe! All they do is roughhouse, so simplistic... Hehehe, soooo dumb." Despite her words, she made sure to enjoy the view.
For a while, Bulma sunbathed, while the boys were in a swimming race.
Off in the distance, emerging from the water, the turtle had returned, and on its back an old man.
A bald old man with grey brows, a white beard, a white mustache, and a frail-looking small body taller than Goku, but shorter than Bulma. All this while wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, red shades, red sandals, a wooden cane, behind his long beard an orange orb in a necklace, and a turtleshell on his back.
(Image here)
This caused the boys to stop, and swim back to the bay, where Bulma got up from her chair and lowered her shades.
"It's the turtle, and there's someone on his back." Goku pointed at the old man, as he shook the water off himself almost like a dog.
"You're really superhuman… Huh?… I can't see it that much from here. An old man? What's he gonna have of use?" Bulma sighed as she kept the shades hanging between her bikini bra strings.
"It's too early to judge. Regardless. We got a beach day, and helped a turtle, I think that's nice enough." Zen shrugged with a smile despite knowing exactly what was to come.
"Hmm, I suppose it's not all bad. After the pterodactyl and that bandit, this was oddly pleasant." Bulma found herself more satisfied than she expected.
"Hello!" The old man greeted once the turtle hit the shore, and then he jumped off its back.
"Thanks for waiting!" The turtle waved at them.
The trio waved and greeted them back.
"So, it seems like you helped out my turtle here." The old man said lightly stroking his beard.
"Yeah, we did, but who are you, grandpa?" Goku asked quite uncertainly.
"Hahaha! I am the turtle hermit! Though most call me Master Roshi." Roshi said before he turned to the turtle to ask. "Which one helped you?"
"Turtle hermit? Isn't that odd… I think I might have heard of that before…" Bulma put her fingers in front of her lips as she thought.
"The boy." The turtle pointed to Goku.
"In that case, allow me to commend you for your hard work. I have a wonderful present for you." Roshi walked up to Goku as he spoke.
"What is it?" Goku tilted his head hearing that.
"Just watch! Come to me, Immortal Phoenix!!!" Roshi pointed his cane into the air as he yelled.
However, that was met with silence. Nothing came of it, and the blue skies stayed empty of anything other than the sun as well as the clouds that passed.
Awkward silence filled the group as the old man coughed loudly to himself, avoiding looking at them directly.
"…Nothing's coming…" Bulma said with a blank expression.
"Well, maybe he's gotten rusty… no need to worry yet," Zen added unable to not look at the old man with eyes filled with what came off as a weird level of reverence.
"Ummm… The Immortal Phoenix died of food poisoning." The turtle told the old man.
"Oh? Really?!… Now that you mention it, I think I remember that." Roshi sighed with cold sweat.
"Isn't it like immortal?! How is it dead? It should at least come back, no?" Bulma was visibly bothered by the semantics of it.
"It just means, it wasn't a true immortal. I wouldn't think too much about it, maybe it just had eternal life, but could still be killed or it only granted immortality." Zen tried to reassure her.
"Ahem! Regardless! I still have something." Roshi told them before he pointed his cane to the sky again, and yelled. "Come to me!!! Flying Nimbus!!!"
Coming down from the sky, a yellow cloud came flying to them, landing floating in front of them.
(Image here)
"It flew to us… A cloud?" Bulma's curiosity was piqued as she looked at it trying to find a mechanism or anything, but there was nothing.
"This is the flying Nimbus, and I'm giving it to you." Roshi talked to Goku.
"That's nice, you should definitely try it," Zen commented.
"Ok… How do I eat it?" Goku asked with a blank expression.
"What?! That's not for eating, boy! This is a treasure cloud! You're supposed to ride it! It can fly you anywhere you want!" Roshi explained.
"Yeah, but why do you have it? You're the turtle hermit and this has nothing to do with turtles! Plus, and much more importantly, how does it even work?" Bulma turned to the old man.
"Don't focus on such small details. When you're around long enough, you pick up a thing or two along the way." Roshi seemed sensitive about his age.
"So, I can just fly on it?!" Goku was amazed by the idea.
"Yeah, so long as you are pure of heart, you can ride it with no issue. Let me show you." Roshi jumped to hop on the Nimbus and immediately fell through.
"Hahahaha!" Bulma began laughing at him.
"Argh! My back!" Roshi's face winced in pain.
"Here, let me help you." Zen helped the old master get back up.
"Are you alright?! What happened there…" Turtle questioned clearly confused by this outcome.
"Let me try!" Goku quickly hopped onto the cloud and didn't fall through, standing there, like it was solid.
"So, it still works…" The turtle said.
"What's going on here?" Roshi was perplexed.
"Woo! Uwaaahhh! Yahoooo!" Goku flew off into the skies with the cloud, easily adapting to use it as if it were always his. "This is awesome!!! Thank you so much!!!!"
The black-haired boy would not stop for a moment, going back and forth all over the sky, before he came back down to stop near the others.
"Mmm, I see. Nice cloud handling, boy." Roshi nodded his head, quite pleased.
"Hey, hey, gramps! Can you give me one of those too?!" Bulma pleaded with a greedy smile.
"Turtle, did the other two help?" Roshi asked it calmly.
"Well, the white-haired boy did fight a bandit… and I guess she did give me salt water, even if she didn't do much else." The turtle responded after considering it.
"Well, unfortunately, there's only one flying Nimbus, but first, boy, you seem decently well built… I think maybe the Bansho fan could be useful… or even-" Roshi was thinking of how to reward him.
"No need, I'm good on a reward. I have 5 pillars, 5 dreams that I must achieve, and I plan on finding my own way. A small favor is enough." Zen cut him off to express his perspective.
"Understood, as you wish, young lad. Hahaha! Sure is nice to be youthful, isn't it? That said… This leaves you, young lady." Roshi said as he turned to her.
"Ok! What useful stuff do you still have for me?!" Bulma asked rubbing her hands together.
"Hmmm, well, you're an energetic young lady, so how about paradise herb? It would increase your lifespan to somewhere around 500 with the amount I have left. You would stay youthful for a very long time without aging much." Roshi suggested.
"What?! Really?! There's no way that's real!… If I get to stay beautiful… Fine! But if it doesn't work! I'll find you and get my refund!" Bulma was skeptical but as she reminded herself of the yellow cloud, and even the legend of dragon balls she was after, it was not impossible and she wasn't going to lose such a chance.
"Hehehe! Sure! If I get this view every time, with pleasure. Just eat this." Roshi chuckled to himself as he blushed slightly.
Then reaching into his shell, he got an herb with multiple leaves coated in an unusual glow and extended it to her.
"Give me!" Bulma hesitated for a moment before consuming the herb. For a second she almost spit it out, but she forced herself to eat it whole. "This better be real! That was awful!… Wait…"
It was then that Bulma noticed it, right under his beard, the orange orb.
"Well, it was nice, but I'd better get going," Roshi said.
"Wait! Could you show me that Orange orb?!" Bulma stopped the old man in his tracks.
"Huh? This thing? Oh, it just washed up on my island, what about it?" Roshi lifted it beyond his beard.
There it was, the 3-star dragon ball, and the third one they needed to collect all 7.
"It's a dragon ball! Please, Master Roshi was it? Could you give it to me?" Bulma leaned in with a smile, trying her best to be nice.
"Dragon what? This thing? You want it… I mean, I already rewarded you, and it's not like you'll give that back… So, if you want this…You could just give me a peek at those mounds, or if you're shy, how about a used pair of panties? Could be a charm!" Roshi chuckled to himself at the possibilities.
"A peek?!… Used panties?!!?!" Bulma blushed heavily as she started to consider her options.
"How can a hermit like you say something like that??!!" The turtle frowned at his words.
"What's the big deal?! This hermit hasn't seen some boobs in a while! Plus! I gave her an easy way out! I'm so nice as to take used panties!" Roshi responded to it.
"Unbelievable! Now, I know why the flying Nimbus wouldn't let you ride it!" Turtle shook its head in disgust.
"Silence!!" Roshi yelled at it.
While that was happening, Goku was busy flying around as he tested the cloud, and Zen came closer to Bulma, then pulled her aside.
"Hey, Bulma, do you have a lab capsule?" Zen asked calmly.
"Huh… Yeah, of course I do. Who do you take me for?" Though caught off guard by the question she was proud to show off.
"Ask Master Roshi to wait. We'll make it work, just set up the lab. Trust me, it will get us that dragon ball without you having to do any of that, a much better surprise." The white-haired young man replied.
"Hmmm, sure. Hey! Gramps! Just wait here! We'll have a super surprise just for you!" Bulma acted as cutesy as she could to get him, then walked off with Zen before going into capsule house 1.
"Hmmm… Fine, I'll wait. A super surprise… Hehehe!" Roshi walked and took a seat on the now-empty beach chair that Bulma left behind.
The entire time turtle was side-eying him.
In there, she got her dynocapsules, then for now, kept the house in its capsule, before opening a different capsule, capsule 7, and used it.
BOM!
Just like that, a highly advanced lab facility came to be.
Going into this building and now alone, Bulma said. "So, what now?"
"We can build him a female android. She caters to his needs, he gives us the dragon ball, and you don't have to do his requests. Plus, this should keep him from bothering actual girls." Zen explained his plan.
"What?! Are you crazy?! I'm a genius! But do you have any idea how long it would take just to develop a working blueprint?! Building one, sure, with the tech here, that could be done in hours of working properly. There's no making it work perfectly without trial and error unless you just have a highly advanced blueprint lying around!!!" Bulma rubbed her temples, not believing he was such a muscle-brain.
'This will be a fully artificial humanoid android, unlike the ones in the Cell saga, who are actually cyborgs except 16. A blueprint? System, give me access to the full blueprint of an Android based on my Android side. You said you can access knowledge I have or am privy to, I think that fits.' Zen thought to himself. 'Even if it doesn't work, I should be able to use my talent and Bulma's help to make it work... Even on a smaller scale if necessary.'
He already has backup plans in case this didn't work, and if there was no way to make it work, there was still the favor master Roshi owed him, which he could use to get the dragon ball, he was fully prepared.
[Report]
[Access to Android blueprint granted. Would you like to upload it to a device?]
[Yes] or [No]
"Actually, I do have the blueprint. It was a family secret… I won't go into it, but my family has Red Ribbon Army ties. Now, start your computer, and let's get to work." Zen added new details to his made-up background story, right before he pressed yes and selected her main computer.
"Hahahaha! This has to be a joke…" Bulma shook her head, but still did as asked.
Once she turned it on, he made it look like it was put in a drive then it was uploaded.
"Holy shit! You weren't joking?!…" Bulma's eyes widened looking at the sophisticated blueprint that had already taken it all into account. "Zen… Just who are you?!"
"Now's not the time, we can talk later. You're the brains here, give the instructions and I'll help make it quick." He responded.
There was a moment of silence, before Bulma nodded and started barking orders at him.
The process of construction was very smooth as Zen moved fast and precisely, more so than any other non-mechanical assistant she had ever had, and not only that, he wasn't easily confused which allowed him to keep up.
All that combined with the lines of the paths of the circuits, the connections, the fibers, all seemed to be pointing to a specific spot he was quickly learning to predict like the sponge he was.
[Notice]
[The skill 'Robotic Engineering' has been acquired.]
He focused on her human-like body, making sure it would all function as intended while she focused on programming the mind, both following the blueprint which cut the work by months if not more.
Had Zen just been anyone, this would still not be possible, however, he was a medical student, and had a great understanding of human anatomy, far beyond any average person, and this allowed him to make it possible aided by his system-powered absurd talent and potential as well as Bulma.
In the end, two genius minds working together made it possible, a specialized genius of technology like Bulma, and a generalist genius of learning like Zen.
The work took their full focus, and even physical labor for Zen, who was directly working with putting the body together, was eating away at their stamina more than they would ever want.
Despite all that, finding a way to perfectly match the artificial neural path processing with the AI brain without draining so much energy she would shut down on boot up, took a lot of them. In the end, they had to halve the neural complexity and re-optimize for stamina.
After hours of work, it came to be that something that should have taken a lot more time was made possible due to various factors coming together like a miracle.
"Hahaha! It's complete! Adreanae-01 is finished… Huff! Huff!" Zen fell to the ground having worked himself to the point of standing up too much becoming a struggle.
While Bulma who spent most of the time seated was just mentally tired, as she slowly got up, and walked to Adreanae-01, before pressing start.
And just like that, Adreanae-01 came to life, as her purple eyes opened.
She had long blue and white hair, blue brows, blue lashes, blue fox ears, blue fox tail, and a soft face. She was curvaceous with a thin waist, and big assets. Her voluptuous body was covered by a blue and white, mini skirt maid outfit.
(Image here)
"Hey! Creators, I'm fully ready, kyo!" Adreanae-01 got up from the table where she was made, and posed, making a peace sign to cover a closed eye while smiling.
"Oh god… She looks so real! We really outdid ourselves! Even her movement and micro expressions!… This is my new masterpiece! My genius thrives again." Bulma spoke with her chest puffed out, even though she was still in a pink bikini.
"Urgh… Sure, let's take her to him, and get this over with… I need rest." Zen forced himself up and began guiding her outside. "Oh yeah, and welcome to this world."
"Thanks! Creator Z, kyo!" Adreanae-01 nodded very excitedly with a big smile.
"Yeah, yeah, let's go." Bulma walked out with them.
Outside it was deep afternoon, and the sun was setting.
Master Roshi had fallen asleep on the beach chair.
"Master! They returned, wake up!" The turtle urged him.
"Uhh! I'm awake! Always!… Ah… you're finally back. I was starting to lose faith." Roshi said that he would probably have left already if he hadn't fallen asleep. "Who's that behind you two? Where's my super surprise?"
"Open your eyes, gramps! This is your surprise! A great creation from great minds!" Bulma smiled widely as she pointed to her.
"This is Adreanae-01, a fully artificial android we got for you. She's fully functional and capable of everything a real girl could... Everything." Zen explained.
"Everything?! You mean everything really?!" Roshi's smile widened more than anyone else's.
"Tch! Who do you take us for? I made sure everything was perfect! If there are any flaws it might be a small hardware error by Zen, but even then, I double checked, so everything will work as it should." Bulma said with a proud head held up.
"Hi! Master Roshi, handsome. I'll be your companion from now on, so don't worry about it, Kyo." Adreanae-01 walked to the old man and softly caressed him.
"Hahahaha!!!! You two are my greatest benefactors! Please tell me your names so that I never forget! This gratitude will stand! Plus, if any problems occur, I would like to stay in touch." A nosebleed escaped him as he felt Adreanae-01 press her soft yet firm breasts on his head.
"I'm Bulma! So you'd better remember, if that herb doesn't work! I'll take Adreanae-01 back!" Bulma said with her arms crossed.
"I'm Zen! Don't worry too much, for now, just give us the dragon ball." Zen extended his hand.
"Oh! Of course! You have more than earned it!" Roshi happily took off the necklace with the dragon ball and gave it to Zen.
"I guess this is better than you going around harassing other girls…" The turtle sighed.
"Wow! It really is the 3-star Dragon Ball! 4 more to go! I guess this wasn't a waste of time, after all!" Bulma got it from him and immediately moved to store it.
At that time, Goku came flying down with the Nimbus and said. "I saw it from up there, we got a dragon ball? Great! Are you finally going? I'm hungry!"
"Yup, time to leave, thanks Master Roshi, stay well, and be good to Adreanae-01. As for you, if things go wrong, you take care of it." Zen waved his hand at them, and he walked away with Goku.
"Hehehe! Stay well! Dear benefactors!" Roshi was all smiles, his arm already around Adreanae-01's waist.
"Thanks for the help again!" The turtle also waved goodbye.
"Take care of yourselves, creators! I'll keep things in order here, Kyo!" Adreanae-01 smiled as she too waved her hand.
'System, use the scanning.' Zen thought to himself.
[Notice]
[Using scan analysis to create more profiles. Analysis complete.]
[Profile#003-Master Roshi]
[Species: Human(Earthling)
Sex: Male
Age: 319 Years Old
Relationship(To User): 80 points-Great(Benefactor)
Ally Compatibility: 100%
Subordinate Compatibility: 40%
Traits: Martial Master, Perverted Old Man, Wise Hermit, Carefree Turtle, Dedicated Teacher
Level: 30
Base Power Level: 120
Full Power Level: 240(With techniques)
Max Power Level: 300(All Out/Max Power)
Potential: D rank(Low-Mid tier)
Combat Threat: Major]
'Hmm, a bit lower than what it was at the start of Z… I guess it makes sense. Let's look at her now.' Zen nodded then moved to the next profile.
[Profile#004- Adreanae-01]
[Species: Artificial Android(Earthling)
Sex: Female
Age: 0 Years Old(Appearance/Body: 25 years old)
Relationship(To User): 99 points-Best(Creator)
Harem Compatibility: 99%
Traits: Airhead, Competent Maid, Optimist, Cunning Foxgirl, Loyal
Level: 1
Base Power Level: 3
Full Power Level: 4(With Combat Mode)
Max Power Level: 5(With Maximum Output)
Potential: E rank(High-Low tier)
Combat Threat: Considerable]
'According to the blueprint from the system, to make her as powerful as Roshi it would take a year, and a lot better materials… So to make androids like the ones in the Cell Saga… I can only imagine.' Zen smiled weakly as the gap was once again very apparent.
After that, they went their separate ways, as the group needed to eat and rest for now. Because, who knows what was next in this journey for the Dragon Balls?