After three years of intense training, his frame was more defined, and he'd shot up in height. Even his posture had the calm confidence of a true martial artist.
"If you're ready, then move it," Roshi grumbled, tossing a travel pack into Alaric's hands. "Don't make me nag you like an old man, wait, I am an old man!"
Just then, Launch descended the stairs, still in her blue-haired, sweet persona. She gave them a gentle smile as she passed by, and Roshi's sunglasses glinted ominously.
"Ohohoho… Good morning, Launch~" Roshi purred, his attention immediately glued to her curves like a magnet.
Alaric groaned. "Perverted sensei, can you focus for five seconds?!"
Roshi stroked his beard with zero shame. "Boy, when you've lived as long as I have, you learn to multitask. I can appreciate beauty and teach martial arts at the same time! That's what you call a balanced lifestyle."
"Balanced? You almost fell down the stairs yesterday trying to peek into the bathroom!"
"That was part of my agility training!"
Alaric facepalmed, shaking his head with a sigh. But deep down, he couldn't help but smile.
Roshi's shamelessness never changed, but behind the goofy grin and pervy stunts was a master who had taught him discipline, strength, and even compassion.
"Of course sensei, Train hard, eat well, and never pass up a pretty girl!." Alaric replied with a chuckle
"Hmph! Brats these days, no respect for ancient wisdom or the female form," Roshi muttered, adjusting his shades and shuffling out with a grin that said he wouldn't change for anything.
Still, Alaric held deep respect for his master. After Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu left, Roshi moved his home to the same continent where Krillin and Goku had trained. He started teaching Alaric from the ground up, increasing Alaric's weighted training gear from 50 to 80 kilos over three years, until Alaric barely felt the weight anymore.
'I'll finally get to see Goku and Krillin again at the tournament,' Alaric thought, having grown up reading the Dragon Ball manga and admiring those characters. Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu had been his first fighting mentors.
"You know Goku?" Roshi asked, surprised, he thought Alaric only knew Krillin and Tien.
"Yes. Three years ago, on Karin Tower. I was still stealing Ultra Divine Water back then and met Goku briefly," Alaric replied.
Though it was just a brief encounter, this time he was confident he could face Goku as a worthy opponent.
***
The tournament was held on a small island, one that had seen plenty of damage, All competitor weren't ordinary fighters, and their battles often tore up the landscape.
"I wonder when Goku and Krillin will arrive," Roshi fretted like a worried old man. "Don't worry, Master," Alaric said, casually munching on a hamburger. He wasn't worried about his senior brothers at all.
"They'll be here soon," Launch said with a nod, trying to reassure both herself and Roshi. Before meeting his senior brothers, Alaric first ran into the famous genius scientist Bulma.
The moment Roshi saw Bulma, he slipped back into his usual preverted gentleman persona. Alaric also met some minor characters, like Oolong.
"This is my final disciple, Alaric," Roshi introduced him.
Alaric wasn't exactly a handsome man, his appearance is average, so Bulma didn't try to flirt with him, but he figured that once they got to know each other, he could ask her for help if needed.
As they chatted, Alaric suddenly sensed a strong presence behind him. Ever since his time at Karin Tower, his ki had become a part of him, though he hadn't fully mastered it yet.
The incoming ki was powerful. He spun around to see who it was.
"Grandpa, long time no see!" a cheerful voice called out.
Roshi and Bulma glanced at the newcomer, both feeling he looked familiar but couldn't quite place him. "It's me, Grandpa Roshi, Goku!"
The man standing there was none other than Goku, back from Kami's Lookout.
"It really is you, Goku," Bulma said, still a little in disbelief as she saw how much taller he'd gotten.
She was the first person Goku had met, and seeing him grown stirred a lot of emotions.
"Perfect timing. Krillin and the others haven't arrived yet. We'll register together later," Roshi said, clearly relieved. "By the way, let me introduce you, Goku, this is Alaric, my final disciple."
Alaric extended his hand. "Long time no see, Goku."
Goku's memory was sharp, and since Alaric hadn't changed much except for getting taller, he recognized him right away.
"Hey! You're the guy from Karin Tower, right?" Goku shook Alaric's hand. "I felt your ki just now, you're strong! We should spar sometime!"
"I'm honored," Alaric said, thrilled to be acknowledged by his idol. Reading
Just then, Alaric sensed four other familiar ki signatures approaching, they were his senior brothers. "Hey, Krillin, Tien, Yajirobe, Chiaotzu," Goku greeted them with a smile.
"Goku?!" Krillin felt a twinge of insecurity again. He thought he'd grown a lot over the past three years, but standing next to Goku, he still looked small.
Still, Krillin had matured and no longer obsessed over his height. "Thanks, Goku," he said, embracing him warmly.
"I never got a chance to say this before, but I really appreciate you bringing me back with the Dragon Balls," Alaric said sincerely.
"No problem," Goku replied, giving him a warm hug.
"Come on, let's get registered. If we wait too long, we might miss our chance," Roshi reminded them.
When they reached the preliminaries area, they spotted Piccolo Jr. King Piccolo's son. His aura was dark and intimidating, making them raise their eyebrow. But he quickly leave before they could say anything.
Alaric put on his Turtle School gi. Roshi hadn't prepared uniforms for his senior students, but luckily, they had brought their own Turtle School outfits.
Next came the group draw. Thanks to Chiaotzu's psychic abilities, they managed to avoid early matchups against their fellow disciples.
"Son Goku, right?" a pleasant voice called out.
Alaric recognized the lovely woman as Goku's future wife, Chi-Chi. Watching Goku completely fail to recognize her and seeing Chi-Chi storm off in a huff made Alaric chuckle to himself.
The preliminaries had begun.
Alaric didn't even glance at his senior brothers. To him, there was no need, he wasn't worried about them, and he wasn't here to size up their strength.
His goal wasn't to win the championship. He just wanted to experience the tournament.
As he stepped onto the arena stage, he felt the solid stone beneath his feet, the hum of energy in the air.
"You really are pathetic," came a voice, cold, mechanical, already standing across from him.
Alaric blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. His gaze rose, and landed on Android Tao Pai Pai.
So it's him, huh?
He hadn't expected to face such a notorious fighter right off the bat, but he didn't back down.