West City. The Capsule Corporation estate was bathed in the warm afternoon sun.
The neatly trimmed lawns, meticulously cared-for flowerbeds, and the massive, futuristic mansion all showcased the wealth and technological prowess of the Briefs family.
"Dad, Mom, I'm home!"
Bulma's clear voice broke the tranquility of the garden. She walked in excitedly, her face beaming with the dual joy of having a lover and being back home.
Following behind her was the tall and handsome Whitley.
Mrs. Brief, who was leisurely trimming an ornamental plant in the garden, looked up at the sound and her eyes instantly lit up when she saw the extraordinary young man behind her daughter.
She put down her gardening shears, a surprised and gentle smile on her face. "Ara~ Bulma's back. Is this your boyfriend?"
Bulma immediately puffed out her chest and nodded happily with a hint of showing off.
"Yep! Mom, this is Whitley, my boyfriend! And he'll be staying with us from now on! He's super strong!"
She deliberately emphasized the last sentence.
Mrs. Brief warmly came forward to size up Whitley, her gaze lingering on his chiseled face and the perfect, streamlined muscles she could sense even through his clothes. She said with a smile, "Ara, welcome to the Briefs' estate, little Whitley-poo~ What a handsome boy! Would you like to go on a date with your auntie?"
"Mom!"
Bulma's hair instantly stood on end, her face flushing red as she stomped her foot. "What are you talking about! Whitley is my boyfriend!"
Whitley was also caught off guard by Mrs. Brief's overly enthusiastic invitation, a rare blush of embarrassment appearing on his face.
He quickly bowed and greeted her politely and formally, "Hello, Mrs. Brief. I'm Bulma's boyfriend, Whitley. Thank you very much for taking me in. I'll be in your care for this period."
Seeing Whitley's attempt to feign composure, Mrs. Brief smiled even more happily and waved her hand. "Oh my, no need to be so formal, little Whitley-poo. Just make yourself at home. Bulma's father will surely be very happy that she's found such a wonderful boyfriend."
Her smiling eyes continued to roam over Whitley, as if assessing something, making him feel a little unnerved.
He grumbled to himself: Bulma's mother's enthusiasm is a bit hard to handle. It seems Bulma is still too conservative...
And so, Whitley settled down at the Briefs' estate.
Through Bulma's introduction, he also met her father, the founder of Capsule Corporation—Dr. Brief.
This middle-aged man with messy blue hair, a white lab coat, and eyes full of a pure scientific light, actually made Whitley feel more at ease.
Whitley skipped the pleasantries and made his request directly. "Dr. Brief, thank you very much for your hospitality. I have a spaceship, and as a gift and payment, I'd like to give it to you for your research. At the same time, I hope you can help me build a gravity room specifically for training."
He handed over the spaceship capsule and a list of requirements for the gravity room.
Dr. Brief's eyes lit up the moment he took the capsule containing the spaceship. His interest in the alien vessel was clearly far greater than his interest in his future son-in-law.
He readily agreed, "A gravity room? No problem! Leave it to me! This is fascinating!"
He immediately took the capsule and the documents and disappeared into his workshop, forgetting even to say goodbye.
Bulma, on the other hand, pouted unhappily, tugging on Whitley's arm. "Hey! Whitley! What do you mean by that! I can help you build a gravity room! Why did you have to ask my dad? Don't you trust my abilities?"
Whitley saw Bulma's unhappy expression and a mischievous smile played on his lips.
Without a word, he swooped her up into his arms, easily carrying her bridal style, and strode towards her room.
"Ah! What are you doing! Put me down! You big jerk!"
Bulma cried out and struggled, her small fists pounding on Whitley's back, but the force was more like a playful pout.
Whitley chuckled and whispered close to her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "It's not that I don't trust your abilities, my dear Bulma. It's just... your time is a bit occupied right now. With me around, you won't have time to build a gravity room."
"What... what nonsense are you talking!"
Bulma's face instantly turned beet red, and her struggles became weaker.
Thump! The door was closed.
Faint sounds of Bulma's coquettish cries and protests could be heard from the room, but they were soon replaced by another, more heart-stirring and rhythmic melody.
The concerto of youthful vitality and love flowed freely in the room.
In the days that followed, Whitley's life became very regular and fulfilling.
In the morning, he would conduct high-intensity physical training in the spacious backyard of the estate.
In the days without a gravity room, he could only rely on super-heavy alloys that Dr. Brief had found for weight training, or perform ultra-high-intensity sprints and dodging exercises.
Each training session aimed to squeeze out the last bit of potential from his body. The heavy clanging of metal often made the passing Mrs. Brief's heart jump.
The afternoons basically belonged to Bulma.
Sometimes he would accompany her in the lab as she tinkered with various new gadgets. Sometimes she would drag him to the bustling commercial streets of West City for shopping. And sometimes, he would just sit quietly beside her, watching her study or do research with intense focus.
Whitley found Bulma's talent in the field of technology to be truly astonishing. Those complex formulas and design blueprints seemed to come to life in her hands.
Their feelings for each other also grew rapidly in this environment of being together day and night. Whitley increasingly enjoyed the tranquility of Earth and the warmth that Bulma brought.
However, these peaceful days were interrupted by Bulma's university acceptance notice.
"Seriously! It's so annoying!"
The night before school started, Bulma complained unhappily while lying in Whitley's arms. "I've already self-studied all the knowledge from the university. I even helped write the textbooks! Why do I still have to waste time going to school! It's so pointless!"
She clung to Whitley like an octopus, her face full of reluctance. "I don't want to leave you for even a second right now..."
Whitley looked at the pouting girl in his arms with amusement, his heart melting.
He gently stroked Bulma's soft, blue hair and comforted her in a warm voice, "Alright, Bulma. You still need to complete your studies. It's part of your life experience. Besides, the school is right here in West City, it's not like we won't see each other. Be good, just think of it as going out to relax and meet some new friends?"
"Hmph! I don't want to meet any new friends! Those people don't even understand quantum mechanics! (I don't either.)" Bulma's words were still stubborn, but her mood had clearly eased.
The next morning, at Bulma's strong request, Whitley personally drove her to the university.
Near the school, Bulma still dawdled. Before getting out of the car, she clung to Whitley's arm, pouting and whispering, "You have to miss me, okay! Pick me up early in the afternoon!"
"Alright, alright, I'll definitely come early."
Whitley held back a laugh, leaned over, and gently planted a kiss on her smooth forehead. Only then did the lovestruck genius girl reluctantly walk through the school gates.
Watching Bulma's figure disappear into the campus, turning back every few steps, Whitley leaned against the car door, shaking his head with a helpless and doting smile. "Yare yare, a girl in love is really a handful. Even a warrior like me is about to be melted."
However, this feeling of being needed and relied upon was both new and warm to him.
Where to next? Whitley wondered.
Dr. Brief was still working hard on the gravity room, so he couldn't count on that for now.
Conventional weight training was having a negligible effect on his current physical strength; it was barely a warm-up.
He needed a place that could truly stimulate his body's potential.
"That's right, Korin Tower!" A thought flashed through his mind. There were Senzu Beans, the Sacred Water, and that cat immortal who had lived for eight hundred years.
Moreover, a treasure like Senzu Beans, which could instantly heal injuries and restore stamina, would be a strategic resource in future battles. He had to stock up on some in advance.
And besides, he wanted to see Earth's sacred land of martial arts.
No sooner said than done. He didn't delay. First, he went to West City's largest seafood market and, using the bank card Bulma had given him, generously bought almost all the fresh fish of every kind from every stall, filling two whole DynoCaps.
Then, under the astonished gazes of the stall owners and passersby, he shot into the sky, becoming a streak of light that sped towards the legendary Korin Tower, following the directions on the map.
At the top of the cloud-piercing Korin Tower, Korin was dozing off, hugging his beloved wooden staff, when suddenly all the fur on his body stood on end!
A powerful and pure aura, carrying an indescribable sense of pressure, was rapidly approaching from a distance at an astonishing speed!
This aura was far stronger than any human martial artist he had ever seen. Even Kami's aura seemed gentle in comparison.
"This!!!"
Korin was so startled he almost jumped up. He gripped his wooden staff nervously, his wide cat eyes staring deadly at the sea of clouds below the tower.
"This ki... who is it? To be so powerful... are they friend or foe?"
Although Whitley had deliberately suppressed his external aura to around 500, to the life forms on Earth at this stage, especially to a sensitive being like Korin, it was still like a giant bonfire in the night, full of pressure.
He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gave up the idea of hiding.
"Forget it... I can't run away. His target is clearly here, and while his aura is strong, there's no obvious malice or killing intent... I'll just wait here."
Korin took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and assumed a profound and mysterious posture, standing at the entrance of the platform, awaiting the arrival of this uninvited guest.
Swoosh!
A figure pierced through the clouds like an arrow and landed steadily on the floor of Korin Tower's summit, making almost no sound as he touched down.
"Yo, hello. You must be Korin, the guardian of Korin Tower, right?"
Whitley looked at the fat cat before him, with its snow-white fur, holding a wooden staff, its eyes filled with an unconcealable nervousness and vigilance, and a friendly smile touched his lips.
He casually tossed the two DynoCaps full of fresh fish over.
"Here, a little gift for our first meeting. Inside is a collection of fresh seafood I gathered from the West City market."
Korin subconsciously caught the capsules, a bit dazed.
Fish? That certainly hit his weak spot. But the other's next words instantly made him understand the purpose of this gift.
"How about I trade these fish for some of your Senzu Beans and the Sacred Water?"
Whitley's tone was casual, as if discussing a trivial matter.
But as he spoke, perhaps feeling that his disguise of 500 wasn't sincere enough, or perhaps to add a bit of persuasion to the deal, he deliberately released a tiny, tiny bit of his aura—just enough for Korin to more clearly feel the ocean-like power hidden beneath his calm exterior.
VMMMM!
Korin felt an invisible pressure instantly envelop his entire body, making it almost impossible for him to breathe!
The paw holding the staff trembled slightly, and the fur on his back stood on end again.
He looked at Whitley with a wry smile, his eyes seeming to say: Can I still refuse?
"Of... of course, you can," Korin said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Please wait a moment."
He turned, his movements slightly stiff, and walked towards the place below the platform where the Senzu Beans were stored.
He took out a small, empty ceramic jar, deftly filled it with plump, vibrant Senzu Beans, and carefully presented it to Whitley.
"Here are the Senzu Beans you wanted. As for the Sacred Water... I won't lie to you, that stuff is highly poisonous. Are you sure you need it?"
Whitley took the heavy jar and nodded in satisfaction. Hearing Korin's description of the Sacred Water, he thought for a moment and said, "I'll pass on the Sacred Water."
He gave up on it. He didn't want to get a heart virus in the future like Kakarot.
The trade for the Senzu Beans went more smoothly than he had expected.
"Thanks, Korin."
He weighed the jar in his hand, remembered future events, and added, "By the way, here's a suggestion. When you have free time, you should try to grow and cultivate as many Senzu Beans as possible. Trust me, this stuff will be of great use in the future."
He didn't specify what use, but his tone was very certain, leaving Korin puzzled.
After speaking, Whitley didn't wait for Korin's reaction, nor did he even glance at the faintly visible lookout above the tower. He simply leaped off and once again became a streak of light, speeding towards West City, disappearing into the vast sea of clouds in the blink of an eye.
Korin stood there, holding the two DynoCaps of fish, staring blankly in the direction Whitley had disappeared. He looked down at his own paws and, after a long while, muttered to himself, "Great use...? Who... in the world was that?"
Whitley's final words and his incomparably powerful aura filled his heart with doubt and a strange, heavy premonition.
On the plaza of the Lookout.
Kami and Mr. Popo stood at the edge like two statues.
Kami's eyes were tightly closed, fine beads of sweat on his forehead. The knuckles of the hand gripping his staff were white from the force.
Mr. Popo remained expressionless, but his vacant eyes were also fixed on the direction of Korin Tower below.
The moment Whitley's ki appeared at the top of Korin Tower, Kami's eyes snapped open, a deep and unprecedented gravity, and a hint of... terror, in them!
"He's gone to Korin Tower! That ki... although deliberately restrained, its essence is simply too astonishing! It's even more condensed than the awakening burst I sensed in the wilderness! Popo, I feel... he's even stronger than before!"
Kami's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.
The slight release of Whitley's aura at the top of Korin Tower, like a stone dropped into deep water, had created clear ripples even in the tranquility of the Lookout.
Mr. Popo nodded calmly. "Yes, Kami. His ki is like a dormant, active volcano. The power contained within is far beyond our previous estimates. It seems Korin has made a trade with him."
Kami's heart was in his throat. He focused all his senses on the movement below, ready to welcome Whitley's possible visit, even preparing for the worst.
However, the scene he had imagined—of a figure shooting up towards the Lookout—did not happen.
Whitley's ki, after lingering at the top of Korin Tower for a moment, turned around without hesitation and sped away towards West City!
"He... he just left?"
Kami was stunned, his tense nerves slow to react. His wrinkled old face was filled with astonishment.
He had imagined countless possible conversations, even conflicts, but he had never expected the other to leave without even coming near the Lookout!
A very faint hint of relief seemed to cross Mr. Popo's dark face. "Yes, Kami. He has left. It seems... he has no intention of disturbing the peace of the Lookout."
Kami stood there, his feelings complicated as he looked at the now-calm sea of clouds below.
The immense pressure was gone, but the doubts in his heart had grown thicker.
"This person... what does he want? Did he go to Korin Tower just for Senzu Beans? And what did he mean by his last words to Korin?"
Whitley's behavior was completely beyond his comprehension. Was he really just here to tour and live on Earth?
The thought seemed absurd to Kami, but he couldn't find a more reasonable explanation.
In the end, he could only let out a long sigh and, filled with confusion, silently returned to the depths of the Lookout with Mr. Popo.
Whitley's existence was like a sword of Damocles hanging over his head, unstoppable by anyone, leaving the guardian who had protected the Earth for so long unable to rest easy.
But... at least if my other half breaks the seal and wants to continue ruling the world, that is now an impossibility.
This brought him some measure of comfort.
In the backyard of the Briefs' estate in West City.
Whitley was bare-chested, his skin glistening with a healthy sheen in the sun, sweat slowly trickling down the lines of his lean muscles.
He was effortlessly holding a huge alloy block, estimated to weigh over five tons, with one hand, doing squats as if it were a foam toy.
Each squat and rise had a beauty of power, and the specially made alloy ground beneath his feet trembled slightly.
"Hah..."
After finishing ten thousand squats, he put down the alloy block. The impact of the alloy on the floor made a dull thud, and a small shower of debris was kicked up.
Whitley wiped away the scant sweat and looked at the piece of metal, which now seemed a bit light to him, and sighed helplessly.
Without the suppression of a gravity room, this level of conventional weight training had a negligible effect on him, now that his power level was approaching one hundred thousand. It didn't even count as a warm-up.
He could feel that his strength growth had seemingly stagnated.
His gaze turned to another corner of the yard.
Dr. Brief, along with several robots, was busy around a huge metal chamber that was already taking shape.
Various complex pipelines were connected to it, emitting a slight hum. That was the gravity room under construction.
"I hope the Doctor can speed things up," Whitley thought to himself.
He knew Dr. Brief was already doing his best. Limited by Earth's current technological level and his constant urging, this first-generation gravity room could only reach a maximum of three hundred times Earth's gravity.
But that was enough for him at this stage. After all, his current power level was still some distance from his mental target. Thirty times the gravity of Planet Vegeta would be enough for him to feel the pressure of training and the joy of progress again.
And this was just a transitional piece. He was absolutely certain that the future Bulma would be able to build him a much more powerful and technologically advanced gravity room.
Thinking of this, his appreciation for the Briefs family grew even more.
Dr. Brief seemed to sense his gaze, looked up, pushed his glasses, and happened to see Whitley effortlessly putting down that terrifyingly huge block.
His mouth dropped open in surprise, the wrench in his hand almost falling to the ground.
"Oh! My goodness! Whitley, you... that's too exaggerated! That's a five-and-a-half-ton solid alloy block! What kind of alien boyfriend did Bulma bring back?"
Dr. Brief felt his proud scientific worldview being challenged once again. At the same time, he truly felt that he was getting old and couldn't quite keep up with this rapidly advancing era.
"I'm back!"
A cheerful voice broke the busy atmosphere of the backyard.
Bulma, who was supposed to be at university, had returned at this time!
She flew like a happy butterfly straight towards Whitley, who was replenishing his energy.
Whitley's mouth was stuffed with food, his cheeks bulging, looking at the suddenly appeared Bulma in surprise. "Mhy... are mhoo mack?"
Bulma proudly lifted her small face, hands on her hips. "Hmph! When I set my mind to something, is there anything I can't do? I've already passed all the exams for this semester in advance and completed all my credits! The professors were amazed by my genius! So, of course, I could come back early!"
She looked at Whitley's stuffed mouth and greasy lips, half annoyed and half amused, and naturally took out a napkin to gently wipe him clean.
"And also, don't talk with your mouth full! Honestly, you're like a little kid..."
As she wiped, Bulma's gaze fell on Whitley's handsome profile. Seeing his slightly puffed-out cheeks from the food and the way he focused on chewing, her heart softened.
She couldn't help but stand on her tiptoes and quickly plant a kiss on his cheek.
"Mmph?!" Whitley was stunned by this sudden sneak attack.
Bulma immediately giggled and changed the subject. "Are... are you full? You don't look like you've had enough. Should I go to the kitchen and make you some more?"
Whitley looked at Bulma's generous and cute appearance. He first shook his head to indicate it wasn't enough, then nodded, his eyes full of anticipation for more food.
"Hmph! Just you wait!"
Bulma gave him a coquettish eye-roll and, humming happily, turned and skipped towards the kitchen.
Not far away, Dr. Brief, holding a glass of red wine, and Mrs. Brief, sitting on a garden lounge chair and watching with a smile, exchanged glances. They both saw the relief and a hint of amusement in each other's eyes.
Mrs. Brief even waved at Whitley from a distance and pointed to the sumptuous food on the table, signaling him not to be shy and to eat more.
This old couple is really open-minded, Whitley couldn't help but sigh. If this were on my previous Earth, the girl's parents would have broken my legs.
Time flew by in this warm, peaceful, and loving daily routine.
Training, spending time with Bulma, having dinner with the Briefs, occasionally visiting West City to experience life on Earth in the Dragon Ball world...
Whitley had never thought that he, who had transmigrated as a member of the warrior race, the Saiyans, could live such a peaceful and comfortable life.
Bulma's intelligence, enthusiasm, and occasional willfulness were all things he cherished.
The open-mindedness of the Briefs and their unconditional acceptance of him as their alien son-in-law also gave him a long-lost sense of warmth that belonged to a family.
In such a comfortable environment, a year passed like sand slipping through his fingers.
Dr. Brief's gravity room had long since been completed and put into use.
Although it was only three hundred times Earth's gravity, the effect was outstanding.
Whitley invested almost all his energy into it, except for the time spent with Bulma and eating, constantly tempering his body and ki under high pressure and at his limits.
Bulma also fulfilled her promise. After completing her studies, she had already begun researching how to improve the gravity room, aiming to break through five hundred times gravity and even higher.
And after this year of hard training, Whitley's power level had skyrocketed!
Although there was no scouter for precise measurement, based on his own control of ki and perception of his body's strength, he conservatively estimated that his current power level had steadily broken through the one million mark!
If he were to go all out, mobilizing all the power in his body, his power level could approach or even exceed the three million mark!
A power level of three million! Although he needed to power up to reach it, this was already a sufficient base to transform into a Super Saiyan. What he needed to do now was to do his best to reach a power level of over three million in his normal state! With the experience from his previous life, he was confident he could achieve the transformation naturally, without relying on extreme anger!
He also knew that he hadn't experienced a cruel battle on the brink of life and death, and his power still lacked sufficient depth and combat experience, but he was already very satisfied to have reached this level.
After all, in the early stages of Dragon Ball, this was enough power to crush everything. He would even dare to slap Frieza a few times if he showed up!
A peaceful life was wonderful, but the Saiyan gene that craved battle and proof of strength would occasionally stir.
And on Earth, there just happened to be a stage where he could vent this desire a little—the World Martial Arts Tournament!
When Whitley saw the advertisement for the "21st World Martial Arts Tournament Grand Opening" on TV and in the newspapers, a very mischievous thought uncontrollably popped into his head.
"The World's... Martial Arts Tournament?"
Whitley rubbed his chin, looking at the martial artists in various powerful poses on the poster, a playful smile on his lips.
"Perfect. My training has hit a bottleneck and needs some fresh stimulation. And besides..."
A hint of nostalgia and an imperceptible playfulness flashed in his eyes.
"It's time for these martial artists of Earth to see what real power is!"
When Bulma learned of his idea, not only did she not stop him, but her eyes lit up with excitement.
"You're going to participate in the World Martial Arts Tournament? That's great, Whitley! You're so strong, you'll definitely be the champion! I'll be there in the audience to cheer you on! Let everyone see just how handsome my boyfriend is!"
She could hardly wait to see Whitley shine in the ring.
And so, driven by Whitley's mischievous desire to bully some kids and with Bulma's full, starry-eyed support, a new name quietly appeared on the registration form for the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament—Whitley.
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