Chương 4: Is There Really No Peace and Quiet
No wonder the original Yamcha stopped training in martial arts after a while.
Even without considering Super Saiyan transformations, the Saiyans' Zenkai Boost alone kept them leagues above. Sure, the boost weakened once their power levels hit the millions, but by then, humans were already too far behind.
"Ugh, it's so hot in here!" Bulma complained, fanning herself as sweat clung her clothes to her skin. "Or is it just me?"
As they neared Fire Mountain, the heat became almost unbearable. Yamcha, gripping the steering wheel, felt like he was being roasted alive inside the metal car, while Bulma sat beside him, equally uncomfortable.
"The Dragon Ball wouldn't happen to be there, would it?" Yamcha pointed toward the flaming mountain now visible on the horizon.
"Whoa! Is that a mountain on fire?!" Goku exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Ah, so that's why it's so hot!" Bulma sighed as she opened a window, letting in a fresh wave of heat that made her instantly regret it.
"C-Can't we go somewhere else?" Oolong wiped sweat from his brow. "That place belongs to the Ox King!"
"Ox King?" Bulma asked, her expression puzzled.
"Some call him the Demon Lord. That castle on the mountain's peak is his," Yamcha explained. "Legend says he kills anyone who comes close. Oolong's right—getting past those flames is nearly impossible."
Yet, Bulma looked determined. She opened her mouth to argue, but Yamcha cut her off with a sigh. "Alright, let's go. If the Dragon Ball's there, we'll figure something out."
Bulma took the wheel, and Yamcha watched the road carefully, mentally preparing himself. He'd planned for this encounter, but experience had taught him that reality rarely matched plans.
Once they reached a safe spot near some ruins, they got out of the RV to survey their surroundings. Yamcha eyed a skeleton in a cowboy hat nearby, while Oolong trembled as he stepped out of the van, casting anxious glances around the abandoned village.
"Thank goodness, the Demon Lord doesn't seem to be here," Oolong mumbled.
"Goku, can you call that weird cloud and check things out?" Bulma ordered, edging closer to Yamcha and placing an arm around him. "Sorry," she said with a sly smile, "it's just so hot."
Yamcha returned an awkward smile, her touch making the heat even more unbearable. Goku summoned the Flying Nimbus, hopping onto the cloud.
Curious, Yamcha used Observe on the Nimbus.
[Part of Nimbus Cloud (Legendary)]
[It ? ? ?...]
Ding!
[Observe Skill Leveled Up]
"As I thought, items with a certain rarity need higher levels to fully identify. Tedious game mechanics…" Yamcha thought. "But I already know about the Nimbus, so it's fine."
While waiting, Yamcha considered testing his compatibility with Nimbus at some point. Just then, he heard a sharp whooshing sound, as though something massive was slicing through the air—a whip? No, it was much larger!
He grabbed Bulma by the waist and jumped aside.
"Kya!" she shrieked, her voice piercing his ears. Yamcha's heart raced, his body tensing as he registered the danger.
A giant axe buried itself in the stone wall where they had been standing. Thick as the walls were, the weapon lodged into the stone like a knife through butter. And it had been thrown. The sheer strength behind it was terrifying.
Yamcha felt a sickening twist in his stomach. Just days ago, he was an ordinary guy, his biggest danger being if his favorite adult videos took too long to load. Gamer's Mind kept him calm on the outside, but the realization of his mortality was haunting.
"Yamcha! Are you okay?!" Puar called from the van, while Oolong trembled in a puddle of his own making.
"No, I'm not okay," Yamcha thought grimly. "I was just reminded of how I could die in this world, facing monsters like this. And what happens if I die? Does this world's afterlife even work for me?"
Despite the existential dread creeping in, Gamer's Mind steadied his heartbeat. But he couldn't shake the worry—if he died, would the original Yamcha return? Would he lose his Gamer abilities?
"Yes, I'm fine!" he called back to Puar, pushing Bulma behind him. The last thing he needed was for her to get hurt. "Ox King, nice to meet you."
"Brats!" a massive man bellowed, stepping forward. Clad in armor with a Viking-like helmet, he looked as intimidating as the legends claimed. "Are you here to steal my treasure?!"
[Ox King - Lvl 28]
[A man who despises thieves approaching his castle. His home was set aflame years ago in a tragic accident. (PL: 75)]
The Ox King's power level was many times higher than Yamcha's, akin to the gap between Yamcha and Vegeta… or maybe worse, he realized, too flustered for quick math.
"Hmm, you seem calm," the Ox King said, eying Yamcha with a hint of respect. "You must practice some form of martial arts, no?"
Yamcha nodded, playing along. "Thank you for the compliment, Ox King. Though I'm not particularly skilled… never had much talent for it." Then, smoothly deflecting back to the Ox King, he added, "You look as formidable as the stories say."
"Hah! Flattery won't save your head," the Ox King chuckled, though he seemed pleased.
That… wasn't a compliment, Yamcha thought, keeping his face neutral.
The Ox King stepped closer, his presence looming. Instinctively, Bulma clung to Yamcha.
"Look, we're not thieves," Yamcha explained, keeping his voice steady. "We're just looking for a Dragon Ball. Our radar says it's nearby, so we thought—"
Clang! The Ox King's axe slammed into the ground, creating a deep crevice. "People with sweet words are always the ones with sneaky intentions."
From the corner of his eye, Yamcha spotted Goku flying toward them on Nimbus, relief washing over him… and then dread. It was Goku, after all. The kid wasn't exactly known for diplomacy.
"I am so fucked," Yamcha muttered to himself.
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