EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

With Goku setting a pace of about 80km/h, Sarina had little trouble running alongside him as Vahn and Bulma rode along their flanks.After coming to terms with the fact that Vahn could move to the other side of the planet in less time than it took to blink, Bulma wasn't even surprised by Goku's and Sarina's ability to match the pace of motor vehicles. She found it difficult to believe she could ever do the same, but, with no interest in martial arts, she wasn't particularly bothered by the notion. Instead, she turned on the radio so that the duo would having something to listen to as she stared listlessly at the road ahead..."This is so boring..."Not expecting anyone to hear her utterance over the sound of two engines, Bulma was surprised when Vahn remarked, "Boring is good. It means you want for nothing and have the leeway to let your mind wander. If you were starving, injured, or at imminent risk, you wouldn't feel bored..."Scrunching her brows and nose, Bulma half-turned to ask, "Do you always lecture people like an old man? Just how old are you, anyway? Your appearance would leave me to believe you're in your late twenties but your temperament reminds me of an old professor."As he was an ageless being whose age had technically reset the moment he reincarnated, Vahn simply smiled in response to Bulma's words, asking, "How old do you want me to be...?"Confused by Vahn's words, Bulma was about to ask him to clarify when Vahn beat her to the punch, his appearance reverting to a point where he could easily pass as a Second or Third Grade student in Senior High. (A/N: Approximately 16-17-years-old.)Just as an excited flush began to spread through Bulma's cheeks, Vahn did the complete opposite of his transformation. He didn't take it nearly as far as when he first entered the Tower, but, with a full beard and a few silver strands in his hair, he could easily pass as a tenured professor in his late forties."Age is a transient concept that holds very little meaning to those who possess true power. Even a relatively normal human being such as yourself could effectively live forever if you used the Dragon Balls. As for my actual age..."Recalling that he had experienced the lifecycle of a cosmos and possessed memories related to the creation of numerous metaversal structures, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Vahn's eyes as he said, "I'm somewhere between seven hundred and thirty-seven-billion years old...?"Slamming on the brakes the moment she heard Vahn's words, Bulma nearly flipped her motorcycle as she parroted, "Thirty-seven-billion!? That's older than the entire Universe!"Circling back and setting his hoverbike down next to Bulma, Vahn maintained a carefree expression as he said, "You're not wrong. In fact, this Universe is a lot younger than your Scientists believe. I'm not sure of its exact age, but it should be around a hundred million years or so? Time can be pretty janky at times..."Cradling the sides of her head, Bulma appeared to be having a minor existential crisis as she leaned forward and muttered, "Calm down, Bulma. He's probably just teasing you. I mean, what would that even make him...?"Responding to Bulma's impromptu soliloquy, Vahn answered, "My two most prominent titles are the Sage Dragon Emperor and the God of Infinite Possibilities. I have quite a number of additional titles but they're not all that important at the present moment."Raising her head, Bulma met Vahn's gaze, her sapphirine eyes quivering as she asked, "So, you're a God? Like, for real...?"Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn figured the best way to prove his claim was to perform a feat that simply couldn't be explained away by conventional reasoning. More specifically, he reached his hand up towards the Sun before twisting his hand in a counter-clockwise motion. To Bulma's horror, the Sun simply flickered out before he lowered his hand to reveal a golfball-sized star.With her eyes nearly popping out of her head, Bulma screamed, "Oh my God! Is that the Sun!? Put it back...!"Amused by Bulma's exaggerated yet wholly justified reaction, a soft chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he tossed the tiny orb skyward. From the perspective of others, it appeared to vanish the moment it left his hand, but, thanks to the Law of Perspective working in his favor, Vahn was able to return it to its proper position. As for the side effects of removing a planetary system's sun? He just 'erased' them from the causal chain.Though she exhaled a sigh of relief upon seeing the Sun in its rightful position, Bulma was far from calm. Her rational mind was telling her to remain skeptical, but, as the radio station was currently blaring the Emergency Broadcast Signal, there was quite a bit of evidence to support Vahn's claim of Godhood.With one question sticking out among the countless that had pervaded her mind, Bulma asked, "Why are you here...?" in an audibly trepidatious tone.Caressing his nonexistent beard, Vahn assumed a thoughtful pose as he considered the best way to answer Bulma's question. In the end, a distinctly appreciative smile developed across his face as he pointed between her and Goku, answering, "My underlying purpose is to train and spend time with Sarina. As for why we're here, it's because fate and circumstance have brought us together. I would like to go into greater detail, but, for the time being, you'll have to be content with the knowledge that we're your friends. More accurately, we'd like to be."Covering her eyes and squeezing her temples with her right hand, Bulma took a time out to process Vahn's words. If she forced herself to think objectively, this was actually a positive development. The notion of having a God as a friend was completely outlandish, but, so long as she played her cards right, she should be able to benefit in the long run. In fact, if she took Vahn up on his previous offer, she might even be able to net herself a literal God as a boyfriend...Excited by the prospect, a moderately unsettling smile developed across Bulma's face as she briefly toyed with the notion of becoming a Goddess. After all, if she and Vahn became a couple, wasn't it only natural that he grant her things like immortality and eternal youth? He could produce objects out of thin air and even pluck the Sun from the sky. Helping her preserve her appearance should be relatively simple.As if she hadn't been having a mental breakdown moments prior, Bulma spontaneously crossed her arms beneath her breasts, a confident and proud expression on her face as she said, "Of course I'll be your friend! Who am I to refuse a God? I mean, the two of you came all this way just to become friends with me, right? Who could have guessed that my genius-level intellect and peerless beauty could even captivate the Gods~?"With an expression remarkably similar to Luvia's, the only things Bulma needed to complete the image were golden drill tails and an excessively haughty laugh. As for Goku? He was just staring blankly at the side, his hazel-brown eyes focusing on a butterfly flittering around in the distance.("This kid is a half-step away from Nirvana...")Amused by his own thoughts, an amused yet affectionate developed across Vahn's face. Bulma immediately misunderstood this, her own smile growing to the point it was beginning to strain the muscles in her cheeks. She had always been proud of her intellect and looks. Having a literal God recognize them caused her to feel giddy to her core.Realizing she had misunderstood something the moment he saw the look on Bulma's, the edges of Vahn's smile curled upward as he promptly decided against correcting it. Instead, he proposed, "It's getting pretty close to lunchtime. Since we've already stopped, how about we take a break? I'll cook something tasty and invigorating."Hearing Vahn mention food, focus immediately returned to Goku's eyes as he jumped into the air and shouted, "Alright! Now you're speaking my language~!" in an excessively eager tone.Seizing the opportunity Goku's outburst had afforded him, Vahn brought out a much smaller hut than the inn-sized cottage he had used the day prior. From the outside, it resembled a traditional, open-air noodle bar. As for the interior, it resembled a high-quality Japanese restaurant that could easily seat more than a hundred people without crowding issues."Holy cow..."Following Vahn into the interior, Bulma was both surprised and slightly relieved to experience yet another thing that defied common sense. She was now starting to grasp why Sarina had basically told her to just give up and accept the things Vahn did. She was also starting to understand why Vahn had refused so many of her questions the previous night. As a God, there were probably a bunch of rules he had to follow. If there weren't, what could possibly prevent him from just doing whatever he wanted?"Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. Bathrooms are on the far left and there's a decently sized arcade located in the back. Food'll be out in a few minutes."Though he could easily just will food into existence, the only time Vahn abstained from cooking was when Rindo cooked for him. It was still one of his favorite pastimes, so, while Bulma went to freshen up in the bathroom, both he and Sarina entered the kitchen. He had been teaching her how to cook even prior to their descent into the Actualized World. Now that they were going to be spending the next thirty-odd years together, he had every intention of turning her into a God-tier chef.........Noticing a building appearing out of thin air, an extremely weary-looking figure began a slow and gradual crawl towards it with a fatigued yet hopeful expression on their face. It had been more than a year since they last encountered another person, so, hoping the people inside could render their assistance, the figure forced their tired limbs to carry them towards the remarkably fragrant stall.........Raising his brows, Vahn briefly sent his intent to the outside before smiling as he said, "Sarina, can you prepare a bucket of iced water with salt? It appears we'll be having another guest for lunch..."Though she was momentarily surprised by Vahn's words, it only took a moment for Sarina to nod her head and answer, "Sure thing. Where can-"Before she could finish her question, a bucket appeared on the counter next to Sarina. A wry smile immediately developed across her face, but, instead of asking why Vahn didn't just create a bucket with saltwater, she quickly retrieved a hose before doing as instructed. It was better not to question Vahn's reasoning, as, more often than not, you would find yourself feeling rather silly when he gave you a very simple and straightforward response.........While Sarina was pondering the mysteries of Vahn's mind, Goku was the first to notice the arrival of their guest. More specifically, a look of confusion marred his face when a large, sundried sea turtle flopped through the entrance. When it saw Goku, a look of relief flashed across the creature's eyes as it asked, "Young man, are there any adults present...?"Though he was marginally surprised by the fact the predominately brown creature could speak, a friendly smile immediately developed across Goku's face as he replied, "Sure are. My Uncle Vahn is in the kitchen with his lady friend. There is also another girl in the bathroom but I don't think you'd want to talk to her. She's kind of annoying."Relieved to hear there were some adults present, the inordinately large sea turtle exhaled a sigh before perking up quite a bit as he asked, "Can you get them for me? I'm exhausted after a long journey and could use some rest."Hopping from the chair he had been seated on, Goku's thumped his chest like a boy scout as he answered, "No problem! Leave it to me~!" before scampering toward the kitchen. In response, a remarkably human smile developed across the turtle's face as he remarked, "What a kind young man..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Ah, yes, the classic yoink and yeet. Assert that dominance, Vahn xD...','Bulma be like, "This is okay..."','Turtle Soup anyone...?')

"Welcome to the Sage Dragon's Respite, my chelonian friend."Emerging from the kitchen alongside Sarina and Goku, Vahn decided upon a random name as he greeted the weary-looking sea turtle. In response, it returned a friendly smile as it asked, "Pardon me, kind sir, but do you perhaps have any saltwater? I don't have any money-"Holding up his hand, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he explained, "The Sage Dragon's Respite exists at the crossroads of fate. For those fated to discover it, everything within is free of charge."Shifting his gaze towards Sarina, Vahn nodded towards the bucket in her hands. In response, she adopted a smile of her own as she went forward, half-tilting the metal pale as she said, "Feel free to drink your fill, little guy."Though he was suddenly seized by the notion that the Sage Dragon's Respite was a mysterious and potentially dangerous place, Turtle was far too exhausted to refuse their kindness. It had been days since he last had something to drink, so, without any hesitation whatsoever, he used his left flipper to support the bucket before drinking half its contents in a single go.Exhaling a contented and relieved sigh, Turtle set the bucket upright before returning his gaze to Vahn and remarking, "That is easily the second-best saltwater I've ever sampled. Thank you very much."Raising his brows, Vahn asked, "Oh? You've actually had something better...?"Nodding his head in affirmation, Turtle explained, "There was a magical wellspring located near the beach I hatched on. While my other brothers and sisters swam out into the sea, I ended up getting swept away by a current and carried to the interior of a small island. The waters there are one of the reasons I'm able to talk like this, so, while the quality of your saltwater might be higher, nothing can compare to the taste of home."Unable to argue with the turtle's logic, Vahn nodded his head in approval before sitting down on the floor and asking, "So, what brings a sea turtle so far inland? You're a long way from any small islands, friend."With the smile promptly fading from his face, a melancholic expression quickly took its place as Turtle explained, "To make a very long story short, I'm lost. I've been trying to find my way back to the sea for more than a year now but the only river I found ended up feeding into a lake instead of the ocean. I was hoping you and your friends might be willing to help."Though he was obviously going to help Turtle find his way to the sea, Vahn looked to Sarina and Goku before answering. He was bound to dictate a lot of events moving forward, but, when it came down to it, this was ultimately their journey. If he started taking proactive action, most of the major threats in the Universe would be dealt with over the course of weeks and months rather than years.Surprised the Vahn had looked towards her, a befuddled, "Hmm...?" emanated from Sarina's throat as she wondered what he wanted. It was only when the smile on Vahn's face turned wry that she understood his intentions, a faint blush spreading through her cheeks as she averted her eyes and said, "Of course we'll help..."Nodding his head in agreement, Goku thumped his chest and stated, "That's right! Grandpa always told me that the strong should help those in need! I don't know what this sea thing is, but I'm sure Uncle Vahn can help you find it...!"Though he had little to no understanding regarding the events that had transpired the last twenty-four hours, the one thing Goku was absolutely certain of was that Vahn was a good person. He also seemed to know a lot of things. The location of the sea had to be one of them.Taking advantage of the fact he was already sitting down, Vahn gestured Goku to come over so that he could ruffle the young Saiyan's hair. At the same time, a lighthearted smile developed across his face as he said, "Your Grandpa was a wise man..." before shifting his attention to Turtle and adding, "Once we've finished with lunch, we'll escort you directly to the sea."Like a death row inmate who had just had their sentence annulled, an expression of incomparable relief appeared on Turtle's face as the tensions drained from his body. Then, as if he was suddenly a few hundred years young, he raised his head to respond with an invigorated, "Thank you! I can't tell you how much this means to me. I honestly thought I was going to die once I found myself lost in a mountain range..."As turtles were a delicacy all over the world, Turtle was right to be fearful of being trapped inland. If a group of bandits or something like a dinosaur had discovered him, a swift and painless death was the best he could hope for. People could be exceptionally cruel to animals they denoted as prey, so, the moment they discovered he was a magical turtle who could speak, there was a high probability that they would demand something along the lines of wishes before boiling him alive or harvesting his organs to make medicine...Having devoured quite a number of turtles in his life, Vahn could understand Turtle's concerns even without the elderly chelonian voicing them. As a result, he ended up extending his hand to pat the leathery creature on the top of his head. This confused Turtle quite a bit at first, but, feeling the calming energy flowing through his body, it wasn't long before his expression relaxed into a smile."Huh? Where'd you find a sea turtle this far inland? Those things are pretty rare even in the ocean."Emerging after more than twenty minutes in the bathroom, Bulma was surprised to see Vahn sitting in front of one of the most endangered species on the planet. Sea turtles and pretty much all other forms of shelled chelonians had always been revered for their longevity. People believed they could be used to make all kinds of elixirs and medicines, so, with the exception of a few captive breeding populations, the majority of wild turtle species had been pushed to the brink of extinction.Retracting his hand from Turtle's head, Vahn rose to his feet before explaining the situation. He also brought out a few of the dishes he had prepared, as, despite being an extrovert ever since Chloe had helped to break him out of his shell, Vahn had never been fond of standing around and talking. Conversations were best had during or after a meal, so, after inviting Turtle to join them, he created a spread from his Inventory before enjoying a nice, long, and relaxing brunch.........Since he needed the training, Vahn had Goku carry Turtle on his back during their short journey to the sea. The additional weight reduced his speed by quite a bit but they were still able to reach the beach in just under two hours."Here you go, Mr. Turtle. Try not to get eaten by any big fish, okay...?"As the sea was larger than any body of water he had ever seen, Goku couldn't help thinking that the fish within were even larger than the massive fish he frequently had for dinner. He was right, of course, but Turtle was a lot less vulnerable in water than on land. His magical abilities allowed him to glid through the water at supersonic speeds beneath the ocean, so, unless he dropped his guard, he could easily outmaneuver most other underwater creatures."Thank you, Goku. Thank you, Vahn. You may very well have saved this poor turtles life. For that, you have my endless gratitude.""Hey, what about us? We helped out as well."Shifting his attention to Bulma, Turtle understood exactly who Goku had been referring to when he said one of Vahn's companions was annoying. Bulma hadn't actually contributed anything, yet, as if she had been the one to carry him all this way, she expected gratitude by association.Having lived for nearly a thousand years, Turtle was well aware with the temperamental nature of many women, so, after a moment of silence, he said, "You didn't let me finish. I was going to thank you for the fun conversation during lunch and Ms. Sarina for the saltwater. I'm just a little slow due to being a turtle and all..."Feeling a little guilty, a wry smile developed across Bulma's face as she said, "Sorry about that. I've never been known for my patience. I should probably work on it..."Punctuating her remark with a self-deprecating laugh, Bulma briefly shifted her gaze to Vahn. In response, he simply returned one of his characteristically carefree smiles. This caused her to feel even more embarrassed. Fortunately, just as she felt as though everyone was silently judging her, Turtle spoke out, saying, "Oh, it's not a problem. You're still young, after all. It's okay to be a little brash and impatient so long as you learn from it. Now, if the four of you are willing to wait, there is someone I want you to meet. He's an old friend of mine and should be more than willing to reward you for your troubles."On that note, Turtle raised his flipper as a gesture of farewell before swimming out into the sea. His departure was relatively slow at first, but, the moment he reached deep waters, a hazy green aura covered his body as he zipped through the water like a submarine on steroids. Only Vahn was able to perceive this but it was still pretty interesting.Not believing for a moment that Turtle would actually return, Bulma mutter a silent, "Well, there he goes..." before looking towards Vahn and asking, "What now...?"Just as he had when Turtle asked, Vahn shifted his attention to Sarina to see what she had to say. In response, a wide smile developed across her face as she suggested, "I think we should stick around. This is actually my first time visiting the beach so I wouldn't mind going for a swim and trying out a tanned look."Reinforcing her statement, Sarina used her [REquip] System to change into a rather peculiar-looking bikini with a black base and white frills. A ruddy hue immediately colored her cheeks, but, instead of behaving bashfully, she punctuated her words by grabbing Vahn's arm and adding, "Help me apply sunscreen." with an embarrassed yet visibly excited look on her face.Returning a smile of his own, Vahn made a casual gesture with his left hand that caused several beach chairs, a large parasol, several coolers, and an oversized grill to appear out of thin air.With the exception of his bedroom and workshop, the beach was inarguably Vahn's favorite place to visit. The beauty of his women in swimsuits had a lot to do with this, but, more than that, he just liked being around the water, cutting loose, and relaxing. Thus, ever since his relatively brief stay in the Akamatsuverse, Vahn had always carried the supplies for a beach getaway in his Inventory.........After traveling hundreds of kilometers in only a few minutes, Turtle reached the edge of a small island located in an abnormally calm section of the sea. There, taking up nearly half the island, a pink, two-story house with the words 'Kame House' printed in bright blue letters could be seen.Sensing Turtle's arrival, an old man wearing a Hawaiian-esque, orange t-shirt and a pair of baggy white shorts rose from his position on a tattered-looking lawn chair. He was relatively short at only 165cm tall, and, due to his poor posture, he appeared even shorter. His bald head glistened like the bright orange orb dangling from his neck while his eyes, veiled by oversized sunglasses, sharpened for a brief moment before relaxing as he recognized the intruder's identity.Stroking his bushy white beard and mustache, the elderly man smiled as he said, "Why, if it isn't Turtle. Where have you been these past couple of months? I was starting to get worried."Returning a smile of his own, Turtle dragged his body towards the old man as he answered, "It's good to see you, Master Roshi. Though I'm ashamed to admit it, I got lost after leaving one of my friend's birthday parties. Fortunately, a mysterious man and an exceptionally kind young boy gave me a hand and guided me back to the sea. If you're not too busy, I'd like you to meet them. They didn't ask for one but I believe they deserve a reward.""Hmm...very well, then. Take me to this mysterious man and his young friend."As he was actually bored out of his mind, Master Roshi didn't mind stepping away from his tiny and extremely remote island to reward a group of promising youngsters. Kindness was a rare trait these days, so, as one of the strongest, oldest, and wisest men on the planet, he had a moral obligation to reward those who demonstrated it without ulterior motives. Who knows? He may even find himself a new student...With that in mind, Master Roshi picked up his club-like staff before donning a remarkably heavy, turtle-like shell and making his way over to stand on Turtle's back. This caused the aged chelonian to grunt, but, having served as one of Master Roshi's mounts for the better part of a hundred and fifty years, he was pretty accustomed to the old man's weight.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Humans can be remarkably self-serving...','If I had a harem of 100+ God-tier beauties, I would probably enjoy the beach as well...','Master Roshi is going to react like Sanji after his training arc once he sees Bulma and Sarina in their bikinis xD...')

After informing Sarina and Goku of their departure, Vahn packed everything up before creating a barrier around Grandpa Gohan's house. He doubted anything would happen to it while they were away. However, as this was a version of Dragon Ball even he was unfamiliar with, it was better to be safe than sorry.Once everyone was ready to go, Bulma, having already recovered from the previous incident, pulled out a Capsule containing a rather intriguing motorbike. It was a lot more compact than the varieties Vahn was familiar with, and, rather than a simple windshield blocking air and insects from the front, there was a bulletproof strip of glass that ran from the front to the back of the motorcycle in an arc."That's a rather interesting design..."Interpreting Vahn's words as a compliment, a smile developed across Bulma's face as she donned her goggles and said, "Thanks. I designed it myself. It uses gyroscopic technology to prevent slips and the arc shield can even stop armor-piercing rounds. It causes a few drag issues at high speeds but it's a heck of a lot better than getting shot in the back."Resisting the urge to ask why she needed a bulletproof windshield, Vahn pondered for a moment before purchasing a hoverbike that vaguely resembled a modified, gas-powered scooter from his Shop. The technological development of Dragon Ball was actually pretty advanced, but, perhaps as a result of the creator's background, a lot of the designs had a retro vibe reminiscent of steam and dieselpunk."Oh, wow. Is that a hoverbike? How'd you come across something like that? Last I heard, the King was still considering legislation to authorize their use outside of the cities. You might get arrested if you get caught riding that thing off a closed track."Though a few countries had already passed laws allowing their usage, hover technology was still relatively new. The oldest hover cars were only around ten years old, and, due to the prevalence of other forms of transport, the companies that manufactured them were having a hard time getting them street legal. She should know, her father was the one who 'invented' them. (A/N: Bulma's dad reverse-engineered Jaco's spaceship and basically stole most of the technologies contained within.)Unconcerned by the laws of the 'mundane' world, Vahn took a seat on the hoverbike before revving up the anti-gravity engine. This was actually the first time he was piloting such a vehicle, but, with a night-absolute mastery over his body and a mind comparable to a supercomputer, there were very few control systems he couldn't instantaneously master."Where's mine...?"While Bulma was slightly huffy due to Vahn ignoring her, Sarina was staring at the hoverbike with expectant eyes. Unfortunately for her, Vahn didn't even hesitate before explaining, "As part of your training, both you and Goku will be traveling on foot. If you just want to joy ride, you'll have to wait until we make camp."Deadpanning the moment she heard Vahn's words, Sarina asked, "Are you serious...?" in a flat and lifeless tone. In response, Vahn returned a smile, suggesting, "I can run alongside you if you like...?"Feeling marginally better after hearing Vahn's proposal, a smile developed across Sarina's face as she promptly replied, "No. It's fine. I was just a little surprised. I know you could probably circle the planet in less than a second so I can't really complain if you just want to relax..."Hearing Sarina's comment, Bulma's brows perked up as she intoned a disbelieving, "Huh? What are the two of you on about...?"Since it didn't really matter if people had a general understanding of his strength, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he shrugged his shoulders and said, "It might be difficult for you to believe right now, but I can travel faster than light. With enough training, anyone can.""Bullshit."Without hesitating, Bulma immediately refuted Vahn's words. One of her primary interests, at least in regards to research, was physics. She knew it was possible to travel faster than light, but, without a ludicrously powerful engine and a stabilization field generator, matter would be ripped apart and converted to energy when approaching the speed of light. No person could move that fast...Deciding it would save time if he just demonstrated his speed for her, Vahn appeared next to Bulma in an instant before picking her up in a princess carry. Then, before she could even finish squealing, their surroundings blurred like a technicolored rainbow before they instantaneously appeared atop a mountain on the opposite side of the world."Feel free to pull out and check your GPS. You'll find we just traveled a little more than 20,000km in less time than it took you to process the fact I picked you up."Though she was about to call Vahn a pervert and give him a tongue lashing for daring to pick her up without permission, Bulma hesitated upon noticing how drastically different their surroundings had become. Then, as directed, she pulled out her Dragon Radar before activating its GPS function to determine their current coordinates. When she confirmed they were, in fact, on the opposite side of the planet, the color promptly drained from her face."As I and Sarina will keep telling you, there is much about this world you don't know. While there is nothing wrong with believing in the knowledge you have obtained, it is dangerous to surmise that everything you think you know is correct. There are places in the Universe where conventional laws don't apply. Beyond that, there are entities capable of wiping out planets and consuming stars for breakfast..."Not wanting to keep Sarina and Goku waiting too long, Vahn punctuated his words by zipping back to their location at a much slower speed. He wanted Bulma to understand he wasn't just pulling a fast one on her, so, while it was a little eerie from her point of view, he moved them through space at a little over 100,000km/h. This gave her a solid twelve minutes to think about his words, her eyes glossing over slightly due to the rapid changes in their surroundings...Coming to a stop a few meters away from his initial position, Vahn was unsurprised to find Sarina and Goku looking guilty as a thick plume of smoke rose from his now-destroyed hoverbike.Setting Bulma on the ground, Vahn increased the blunette's befuddlement by waving his hand and returning the hoverbike to its previous condition. Since the Actualized World was a part of him, he didn't require his domain to control the flow and direction of entropy. He could even sidestep into parallel worlds, so, while he had limited himself to operating within the Standard Axis, Vahn had no qualms about undoing the damages caused by Sarina's little mishap.Without bothering to inquire about the incident itself, Vahn left Sarina feeling even guiltier as he approached her and asked, "Are you okay...?" in a gentle and concerned tone. When she attempted to look away, he extended his hand to caress her cheek, gently guiding her gaze to meet his own as he said, "You've done nothing worth feeling guilty about. Just be a little more careful the next time, okay...?"After a curt nod of affirmation, Sarina moved close enough that she could rest her forehead against Vahn's chest. In response, he embraced her in his arms, gently squeezing her as he rested his cheek against the top of her head. This earned them a pouty look from Bulma, who, once again, bounced back remarkably quickly...Witnessing everything from the side, Goku ended up scratching the back of his head as he asked, a disarming expression on his face as he asked, "Weren't we supposed to be going somewhere...?"Nodding his head, Vahn released Sarina from his embrace before pinching her cheek as he replied, "Indeed. We've got a long journey ahead of us. Can't keep stalling at the first step..."Though his words were a response to Goku, Vahn was also reminding Sarina that this was just the start of a 'very' long journey. They had basically agreed to spend the next thirty years here, so, while they were bound to experience setbacks along the way, she couldn't let them weigh too heavily on her mind. Rather, the sooner she could bounce back in the face of adversity, the faster her strength would increase.Smiling in understanding, Sarina pulled Vahn's collar in order to plant an uncharacteristically chaste kiss on his lips before releasing him to tease, "Try not to fall too far behind while I'm running. I don't mind you staring at my butt but try not to make it too obvious..."Resisting his almost instinctual urge to reach around and grab Sarina's butt, Vahn forced a smile as he said, "Now that you've planted the thought in my mind, it would be rude not to..."Giggling in response to Vahn's words, Sarina planted a second kiss on his cheek before using her [REquip] System to change into something more suitable for running. This caused the envious look on Bulma's face to promptly morph into one of intrigue as she asked, "Huh? How'd you suddenly change outfits?"Though she was briefly tempted to tease Bulma by saying it was none of her business, Sarina changed her mind mid-thought, answering, "It's a perk of being one of Vahn's lovers. It's called the [REquip] System and it allows me to change everything from my underwear to my accessories with little more than a thought. It's super convenient."Demonstrating the [REquip] System's capabilities, Sarina quick-changed into more than a dozen different outfits over the course of her explanation. This left Bulma absolutely speechless, not just because she wanted a [REquip] System of her own but because she understood the impact such a device would have on the clothing industry.As an experienced investor and one of the most profligate shoppers in the entire world, Bulma was well aware of the value of each market. The clothing industry was a stable, 368 trillion Zeni market. If something like the [REquip] System was introduced, the market would invariably collapse. In the process, however, the company that manufactured it would make an incomprehensible fortune...Seeing past Vahn's good looks for the first time, Bulma saw him for what he truly was: a cash cow. He could produce objects out of thin air, repair destroyed equipment with a wave of his hand, and travel around the world in an instant. She lacked even a basic understanding of how he was able to perform these feats, but, when it came to brass tacks, the only thing that truly mattered was that he 'could' perform such feats.With Zeni symbols briefly appearing in her eyes, a profiteering smile developed across Bulma's face as she inquired, "You wouldn't happen to have another one of those [REquip] Systems lying around, would you? I don't know about becoming lovers but I'm sure we could...work something out..."As her three greatest weaknesses were money, handsome men, and unknown technologies, Bulma couldn't prevent the interior of her mouth from watering as she stared at Vahn like a wolf eyeing a fat sheep. She suddenly felt as though she had hit the jackpot by encountering him near the start of her journey, as, depending on how she handled the situation, she might not even need the Dragon Balls.........While Bulma was in the process of eyeing Vahn like prey, a mature woman with pink skin, pointed ears, fiery orange hair, and vibrant, honey-colored eyes had a very similar expression on her face as she remarked, "How peculiar. I've never seen anyone that solely exists in the present. It's almost like he has become the primary point of reference for the timeline. Even Tokitoki doesn't have this kind of power..."Unable to comprehend Vahn's existence despite more than a hundred million years of accumulated knowledge and experience, the inordinately buxom Goddess just shook her head before turning to the side and pausing when she noticed there was no one else present. A sensation of incongruency unlike anything she had ever experienced washed over her, but, moments later, it vanished entirely as she asked herself, "What am I thinking? This is the Time Nest. Why would anyone else be here...?"As the sole caretaker of the Tokitoki bird, a divine creature with the unique ability to produce time, the pink-skinned woman was the only person authorized to be in the Time Nest. There used to be another person, a Mage by the name of Demigra, but he had been dealt with more than 98 million years ago. Since then, she had dutifully monitored the various timelines for any signs of tampering, a thankless yet incomparably important duty that couldn't afford distractions..."It really is strange...I've been living alone for nearly a hundred million years. Why do I suddenly feel as though I've lost something irreplaceable...?"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Dr. Briefs, the Opportunist xD...','Vahn is fast as fuck, boiiiii~','Oh no...')

Chapter 9: Fated Encounter