The realization that Master Roshi, the legendary Turtle Hermit, was his nearest suitable mentor energized Tommy despite his exhaustion. He had 23 KP and only 2 KE remaining. He needed Zeni and a means of travel to reach the South-East island.
He spent the morning recovering his Ki and Stamina, using his Earthling Ingenuity trait to focus on minor physical conditioning. He bought a simple fishing rod and a small bag of dried food with his remaining Zeni.
[Primary Attribute Increased!] [Stamina (STM): 17 -> 18]
By noon, fully recovered, Tommy left Jingl-Town and began heading southeast. He knew that even running full speed, the distance was too great. He needed a vehicle.
He walked for several hours, crossing small patches of woods and savannah. His newly acquired Ki Sensing was invaluable, allowing him to easily track and avoid small dinosaur herds (PL 20-30) and the occasional large bear (PL 15).
He also noticed something else with his Ki Sense: the lingering, faint Ki signature of Grandpa Gohan (PL 20-30 range, based on early scans of the original manga). Goku's home was near.
Tommy approached a large river that cut across the plains. There was a small, dusty road leading to a primitive dock where a few beaten-up boats were tied up.
As he reached the dock, he detected a small Ki signature nearby, hiding behind a pile of crates.
[Scan Result: Dock Bandit (Level 6)] [Power Level:12] [Note: Waiting to ambush travelers. Known for crude hand-to-hand combat.]
PL 12. This was a direct challenge, and Tommy's current PL was only 6. He couldn't win a fistfight, but he didn't have to. He needed to be creative.
Tommy, remembering the bandit he'd tripped with the dust cloud, decided to use the environment again. He pretended not to notice the bandit and walked purposefully toward a small, leaky rowboat.
The Dock Bandit, a tall man with a scruffy beard and a rusty pipe, jumped out, blocking Tommy's path.
"Alright, city boy! Hand over your valuables! That's a nice black tunic you got there!" the bandit sneered.
"I don't have much Zeni," Tommy said calmly, channeling all his available Ki (20 KE) into his right hand, keeping it hidden behind his back. "But I do have this."
He quickly flung a handful of sand from the riverside at the bandit's eyes. As the bandit instinctively threw up his arms, Tommy fired his maximum Ki attack at the ground right next to the bandit's feet.
"Ki Burst!"
The concentrated blast of energy hit the dirt and sand with a sharp crack, creating a small crater and a blinding, localized explosion of debris.
The Dock Bandit was momentarily stunned, coughing violently, dropping his pipe, and staggering backward. Tommy, taking advantage of his opponent's compromised state, rushed forward, not to punch, but to deliver a swift, hard kick to the bandit's shin—the weakest spot on an unarmored fighter.
CRACK.
The bandit bellowed in pain and collapsed, clutching his leg.
[Victory!] [Dock Bandit defeated!] [Ki Points (KP) Gained: 12] [Primary Attribute Increased!] [Power Level (PL): 6 -> 7] [Stamina (STM): 18 -> 19]
Tommy was breathing heavily, his Ki fully depleted (0/20 KE). He had earned the win through strategy and the unique power of the System's Ki burst, not raw strength.
He checked the bandit's fallen items. He picked up the rusty pipe—useless—and a small pouch of Zeni.
[Zeni Gained: 800 Zeni]
"Perfect!" Tommy beamed. This was enough money to rent a proper boat and supplies.
He quickly tied the bandit up using some spare rope from the dock and left a note on the boat for the police (the same officer who arrested the street bandit, hopefully) that he had borrowed the vessel.
He found a small, motorized speedboat—a clear upgrade from the leaky rowboat—and loaded his meager supplies.
The journey across the ocean was long and monotonous. Tommy spent the entire time training, utilizing his Earthling Ingenuity to maximize his limited gains.
He worked constantly on increasing his Ki Control, performing tiny, controlled Ki bursts on the surface of the water, careful not to damage the borrowed boat. He would spend hours holding a single, small sphere of Ki in his palm, watching it wobble and struggle against the wind.
He also worked on strengthening his body with isometric exercises, constantly pushing himself to failure and allowing his Ki to subtly accelerate his recovery.
[Ki Control (KC) has increased from E to D-.] [Primary Attribute Increased!] [Stamina (STM): 19 -> 22] [Power Level (PL): 7 -> 8]
It was slow going, but by the second day, he felt perceptibly faster and stronger. His PL had almost doubled since his arrival.
On the third day, using his Ki Sensing, the faint, but intense, signature of the PL 139 mentor grew stronger. He was close.
Finally, a small, isolated island came into view. It was nothing more than a strip of white sand, a few palm trees, and a small, pink, dome-shaped house with a red roof.
"Kame House," Tommy whispered, the sight filling him with a fan's reverence.
He cut the engine and drifted the last few yards, pulling the boat up onto the sand.
As he stepped out onto the pure white beach, he immediately sensed the powerful, yet expertly suppressed, Ki signature—right inside the pink house.
But he also detected one other faint, familiar Ki signature nearby.
[Ki Signature Detected: Son Goku (PL 10). Location: Offshore, Status: Fishing.] [Ki Signature Detected: Bulma (PL 3). Location: Inside Kame House. Status: Arguing (High frequency noise detected).] [Ki Signature Detected: Master Roshi (PL 139). Location: Inside Kame House. Status: Watching TV (Very low frequency, peaceful).]
Tommy grinned. He had arrived exactly where he needed to be—just after the classic trio had met, right before the first major quest. The Dragon Ball Search Saga was kicking off.
He straightened his black tunic and walked up to the iconic pink house, ready to introduce himself not as a weakling, but as a mysterious, quiet stranger looking for a master.
He knocked on the door.
The arguing inside immediately stopped. The door slid open, revealing Bulma, her blue hair looking slightly dishevelled. She was holding the Dragon Radar, and her eyes were narrowed with suspicion.
"Who are you? Did you just sail up on that boat?" she asked, instantly suspicious of a stranger appearing on a remote island.
Tommy maintained a calm, respectful demeanor, projecting an air of quiet determination—an unexpected contrast to the clumsy martial artists Bulma was used to.
"My name is Tommy," he said. "I am a seeker of knowledge. I have traveled a long way, guided by the immense spiritual energy emanating from this island."
Bulma blinked, her suspicion replaced by confusion. "Spiritual... what? We're looking for Dragon Balls. Are you a weirdo?"
A booming voice cut in from the interior of the house.
"Did you say spiritual energy, young man? A true student of the path?"
Master Roshi, the Turtle Hermit, walked into view. He was wearing his traditional turtle shell, sunglasses, and Hawaiian shirt. Tommy focused his Ki Sensing, noting the slight, intentional ripple in the old man's immense Ki.
"Yes, Master," Tommy said, bowing low in the traditional martial arts style. "I seek tutelage under the greatest master on Earth. The master whose power is like an ocean."
Roshi stroked his beard, highly flattered by the compliment. He sized up the slim young man with the eyeglasses.
"You look like a reader, not a fighter," Roshi chuckled. "Why do you seek my training?"
Tommy looked the legendary master straight in the eye.
"Because, Master Roshi," Tommy said, his voice dropping slightly, "the darkness is coming. I can feel the shadows of great, terrible power gathering on the horizon. I need to be strong enough to stand in their path, not for fame, but for survival."
This serious, prophetic statement, coupled with his unexpected awareness of Ki, immediately intrigued Roshi.
[System Notification: Host's serious demeanor has impressed Master Roshi. Trust Level increased.]
Bulma immediately chimed in, pointing the radar at Tommy's chest. "Hold on! His PL is only 8! He's not strong at all!"
Roshi smiled, waving a hand at Bulma. "Power Levels aren't everything, dear girl. He has the spirit of a true warrior. And a little mystery is good for the soul." He then turned a surprisingly shrewd eye on Tommy.
"I will take you as a student, Tommy. But first, you must pass my test. Bring me the Sleeping Princess in the Demon Castle and I will train you." Roshi winked, already launching into the classic quest he used for all new students.
Tommy resisted the urge to sigh. He knew this quest wasn't about the Sleeping Princess; it was about finding the Four-Star Ball and testing his morals and perseverance.
"I accept your challenge, Master," Tommy confirmed.
"Excellent!" Roshi beamed, completely missing the fact that Tommy knew the quest was fake. "Now, off you go! And watch out for the demons!"
Tommy turned to leave, but Roshi stopped him one last time.
"Wait a minute, Tommy," Roshi said, his voice suddenly quiet and serious, losing the goofy edge. He leaned in close, lowering his sunglasses. "Tell me... what color is your Ki?"
Tommy had never told anyone about the vibrant blue Ki he channeled. He paused, considering his answer carefully.
"My Ki," Tommy replied, "is the color of the cold vacuum of space."
Roshi's eyes widened fractionally, a look of true curiosity and concern passing over his face—a look the old master rarely showed. He had certainly never heard that answer before.
"Go, young warrior," Roshi said, stepping back. "And be safe."
Tommy knew he had just successfully established himself as the mysterious Variable in the Dragon Ball timeline. The quest for the Dragon Balls was about to begin, and now, he was a part of it.