Chapter 5 – The Moon's Wrath, the Prince's Will (Part 1)
The sun dipped low behind the ocean's edge, bathing the island in an amber hue. Waves crashed rhythmically against the rocks, but Raiku's mind was already far from peace.
He stood shirtless on the ridge, tail swaying lightly behind him, arms crossed, staring down at Master Roshi.
"I'm going to transform," he said.
Roshi didn't look surprised. He only sighed and leaned on his staff. "I was afraid you'd say that."
Raiku's expression was firm. "I'm not asking permission."
The old man gave a dry chuckle. "You Saiyans are all the same. Talk first, explode later." He tapped the cane twice on the rock. "You sure you're ready for what's going to happen when that moon hits your eyes?"
Raiku didn't blink. "No. But I'm not here to fear it. I'm here to conquer it."
> [System Notification: Major Quest Triggered]
Trial of the Ōzaru – Part I
Objective: Under controlled conditions, experience the full power of the Great Ape form.
Requirements:
– Tail: Verified
– Suppression: Disabled
– Moonlight: Full, Unobstructed
Risks:
– 91% Chance of Total Rampage
– Structural Damage to Island: HIGH
– Risk to Allies: HIGH
Roshi's frown deepened. "You've got a death wish or a throne complex."
Raiku turned, his cloak fluttering in the wind. "I am the younger son of a warrior king. And I won't run from what I am."
---
By the time the stars began to pierce the evening sky, Roshi had guided Raiku to the inland basin—where cliffs formed a natural crater-like enclosure. He'd laid down rope seals, etched old martial incantations into stone, and constructed shock-breaking stone piles to absorb impact. A ring of torches flickered in a circle.
Raiku stood in the center, facing upward.
The moon hadn't risen yet—but he felt it.
His tail twitched, agitated, like it could smell what was coming.
Roshi paced slowly around the basin's edge. "Last chance to call this off, kid. Once it starts… you won't be able to control where it ends."
Raiku sat cross-legged. "Then I'll end it with my will."
> [Initiating Lunar Sync – Suppression Lifted]
All Ki Seals Temporarily Disabled
Primal Bloodline: Activating...
Countdown to Moonlight Exposure: 00:58
The island grew quiet.
Even the animals had fled inland, instincts warning them of something unnatural.
And then it crept over the ridge—a silver disc, glowing like the eye of an ancient god.
Raiku's eyes snapped upward the moment the moonlight touched his skin.
A low rumble started in his gut. His Ki shuddered. Then it surged.
His tail whipped violently behind him.
"Ghh—grAAAHHHH!"
His scream shattered across the basin.
Bones cracked. Muscles exploded outward. Hair burst forth across his skin. Veins bulged and pulsed with violent energy.
Roshi's jaw tensed. "Here we go…"
> [Transformation In Progress – Ōzaru Protocol Engaged]
Power Multiplication: 10x
Body Mass: Increasing
Control: 0%
Rampage Threshold Approaching...
Raiku's form expanded—flesh distorting, height exploding from four feet to nearly thirty in seconds. His neck snapped back, mouth widening into a beast's howl as his consciousness was drowned in surging instinct.
And then—a tremor.
The ground split beneath his feet. The torches blew out.
When the wind cleared, he stood transformed.
A monstrous silhouette against the moon.
Raiku… had become the Great Ape.
---
From his vantage point, Roshi could only watch.
The beast towered above the cliffs, black fur bristling with energy, red eyes glowing with feral madness.
And then—it roared.
Not just loud.
Violent. Cataclysmic. Deafening.
The basin shook from the force.
Raiku's massive foot crashed into the side of a cliff, shattering it in one stomp. He beat his fists into his chest and slammed them into the ground, sending a shockwave that launched rocks and debris into the forest.
> [Rampage Mode Active]
Ki Output: 5200 → 52000
Conscious Override: Failed
Nearby Structure Stability: 24%
Ally Survival Chance (Roshi): 67%
Roshi jumped back as a massive rock hurtled toward him. He blasted it apart with a precise Ki burst, landing on a tree branch that bent under his weight.
The Ōzaru turned sharply toward the movement.
Its eyes locked onto Roshi.
"Oh, great," the old man muttered. "He noticed me."
The giant ape lunged forward, arms out, snarling.
Roshi launched himself backward, barely avoiding a fist that crashed into the jungle, turning ten trees into splinters.
"Kid! If any part of you can hear me—you better wake up now!"
But there was no answer.
Just another roar, followed by a mouthful of searing energy—Raiku's first wild mouth blast.
It erupted like a cannon, turning the forest's edge into a crater of molten stone.
---
Inside the mindscape, there was only chaos.
A golden storm raged across a shifting battlefield. Raiku—his spiritual form—stood shirtless, panting, looking up at the swirling image of his Ōzaru body rampaging across the island.
He felt helpless.
And angry.
"This is what I become when I let go…?"
From the swirling void, something stepped forward.
It was the beast—not the real one—but a metaphysical shadow. Its eyes burned like torches. It was tall, monstrous, and wore Raiku's own crown atop its head.
"You are mine," it growled.
Raiku's fist clenched. "No."
He raised his hand—trying to summon Ki—but it flickered wildly, unstable, too tied to the beast's rage.
> [System Support Limited – Emotional Stability Below Threshold]
Battle Support: Locked
Passive Buffs: Temporarily Disabled
He gritted his teeth. "Then I'll fight without the system. Without Ki. Without anything."
He charged the figure.
The beast roared and swiped.
Raiku was thrown across the golden field like a ragdoll, slamming into a wall of fire and memory—flashes of his training with Roshi, of Vegeta's silent pride, of Bardock's desperate warning echoing through the stars.
He stood.
Staggered.
But smiling.
"You're strong. But I'm still your master."
---
Back in the physical world, Ōzaru Raiku roared again, sending another pulse of Ki into the sky.
His breath steamed like smoke from a volcano.
But then… a flicker.
The massive head turned—not with instinct, but hesitation.
His eyes squinted, for just a moment. A shiver passed through his muscles.
Roshi, still crouched behind a cracked boulder, raised an eyebrow.
"…Wait a minute."
The giant ape slowly sat back.
It didn't roar.
Didn't charge.
It just… breathed.
Heavy. Uneven.
But slower than before.
---
> [System Alert – Internal Struggle Detected]
Ōzaru Control Module: 9% Synchronization
Cognitive Activity: Spiking
Rage: Receding
Memory Recall: Partial Access Achieved
Status: Mind-Body Battle In Progress…