c2: Helix Pill Breaks the Enemy
"Ye Lin! Why are you still here?! I told you to run with the Dragon Ball!" Elder Ge, still groaning in pain on the ground, widened his eyes in disbelief. "Go now! That man is dangerous you're no match for him!"
"Oh? So the Dragon Ball is on you," Hong Xiong said, eyes narrowing coldly, his murderous aura intensifying.
"That's right," Ye Lin replied, pulling the 4-Star Dragon Ball from his inner vest and tossing it lightly between his hands. "If you want it, come and get it. But you'll have to beat me first."
Ye Lin's eyes locked on the towering brute before him. Hong Xiong's combat power was 25, according to the scouter he'd stolen from the Red Ribbon soldiers earlier. That was well above the average Earthling, but… Ye Lin's current combat power should be slightly higher.
Still, he had doubts. Hong Xiong had easily brushed off bullets, and Ye Lin had never truly fought in a life-or-death battle. The numerical edge didn't mean much if he lacked technique.
But he had one ace in the hole.
"Well, if you're so eager to die fine. I'll grant your wish!" Hong Xiong growled, gripping his massive steel cleaver with both hands. In a blur of motion, he charged forward, faster than most eyes could follow.
Ye Lin's heart raced. Despite his increased stats, he was still, deep down, just an ordinary person thrown into an extraordinary world. His muscles tensed. There was only one shot if he failed, he'd die here.
The Helix Pill technique called Rasengan in his memories was a close-range skill. It required perfect timing and unwavering focus.
"Time to die, brat!" Hong Xiong roared.
His enormous blade swung horizontally with lethal force. A hit like that could cleave a truck in half.
Ye Lin sidestepped at the last possible second. His right palm snapped forward and blue energy began to swirl.
A glowing sphere of compressed rotational ki formed in his hand, spinning with increasing velocity.
"Helix Pill!" Ye Lin shouted.
The spinning blue orb met the steel blade head-on. The massive weapon was deflected to the side with a burst of force. The Helix Pill then smashed into Hong Xiong's abdomen.
"Urghh!!" Hong Xiong's face twisted in agony.
A shockwave erupted from the point of impact. Hong Xiong's massive body was hurled backward like a ragdoll. He crashed through a stack of cargo, skidding across the ground before slamming into a boulder.
A deep, spiral-shaped crater was etched into his chest, his ribcage sunken in. Blood poured from his mouth as his wide eyes glazed over.
Silence.
The brute's chest stopped moving.
He was dead.
Ye Lin stood there panting, sweat trickling down his forehead. That single strike had drained him, but he was alive and victorious.
DING!
"Village defense complete. Congratulations to the Host for completing Hard Mode Challenge. Initiating God-Level Lucky Draw."
A bright flash appeared before Ye Lin's eyes. A massive, multi-colored lottery wheel materialized in midair, whirring with energy. Dozens of glowing orbs bounced around inside it.
Ye Lin stared as one orb dropped from the prize chute—a red one.
"Congratulations! You've drawn a Class-D reward from the Dragon Ball World: 10 Senzu Beans (仙豆)!"
Ye Lin's eyes lit up. Senzu Beans! The legendary miracle food from Korin Tower. Just one could restore energy and heal injuries instantly. With ten of them, he had ten extra lives in the battles to come.
He quickly tucked the beans away in his inventory screen.
Name: Ye Lin
Combat Power: 36
Skill:
Helix Pill (Level 1/100) – Increases combat power by 20% during use
Items:
Dragon Ball (4-Star) ×1
Senzu Beans ×10
Ye Lin checked his internal interface. His combat power had risen slightly after the fight, and the Helix Pill skill now showed 1/100 progress. It looked like it would take a hundred uses to reach the next level.
He chuckled to himself, remembering the massive Rasengans and evolved variants from the Naruto world. If he could train up that far, maybe he could one day match Goku in raw technique.
Just then, a familiar voice called out.
"Ye Lin…"
It was Elder Ge, now supported by two villagers. His robe was torn, his face pale, but his eyes shone with pride.
"I misjudged you. I thought you were lazy, a slacker with no ambition. But today… you protected the entire village. I can entrust the Dragon Ball to you without worry. Please… keep it safe. Don't let it fall into the wrong hands."
"I promise, Elder Ge," Ye Lin said firmly. "I'll guard it with my life."
The old chief nodded weakly before being taken away to rest.
Ye Lin turned toward the battlefield. He began picking through the debris, confiscating the remaining Red Ribbon rifles and gear. Among the belongings of the soldiers, he found three Hoi-Poi Capsules universal storage tools created by Capsule Corp.
"Looks like today wasn't a total loss," he muttered, storing them with a flick of his hand.
As the sun began to set over Yage Village, Ye Lin stood alone in the wind, staring at the Dragon Ball in his palm.
One down.
Six more to go.
This kind of Hoi-Poi Capsule, although small in appearance, contained a surprising amount of supplies. It was a signature product of Capsule Corporation, the world-renowned tech giant founded by Dr. Brief, and famously popularized by Bulma.
Ye Lin examined the capsules with curiosity. Upon activation, they released a stash of firearms, non-perishable food, and Red Ribbon Army rations all materials the enemy had hoarded.
For the poverty-stricken Yage Village, this was nothing short of a miracle. Most villagers had been living below subsistence level for years, scraping by through bartering and whatever small harvests they could manage.
Ye Lin scanned the crowd. The people were still on edge haunted by the sudden attack, unsure of their future.
"Everyone!" Ye Lin raised his voice. "There's enough food here for all of us. Tonight, we'll have a celebration! We've survived the Red Ribbon Army's raid, and this is our reward. No one goes hungry tonight everyone gets a share!"
Cheers erupted from the villagers. One by one, they came forward with pots, baskets, and cloths, receiving generous portions of rice, dried meats, and bottled water. Laughter and warmth returned, if only briefly, to the weary people of Yage.
Ye Lin smiled, watching children giggle and old men toast cups of tea. But deep down, he knew the danger had not truly passed.
"These men were part of the Red Ribbon Army, one of the largest paramilitary organizations in the world," he thought grimly. "If they sent a unit here for a single Dragon Ball, they won't stop. There'll be more next time… maybe worse."
His gaze shifted toward the firearms spread across the ground. Crude, but practical.
Ye Lin made a decision.
"These weapons… they're not just trophies. We'll need them," he muttered.
He turned to the village youth dozens of boys and young men, their eyes burning with the same anger and frustration he once felt.
"Brother Ye Lin, you were amazing!" one of them exclaimed, stepping forward with clenched fists. "You took down that giant mercenary like it was nothing! Please teach us! We want to protect the village too!"
Ye Lin nodded solemnly.
"True martial arts training takes years. Ki control, body conditioning… it's not something you can rush. But for now, there is a shortcut."
The crowd leaned in.
"Guns." Ye Lin pointed at the weapons. "You can learn to shoot. It's not ideal, but it's a start. These weapons aren't for revenge they're for defense. Use them only to protect Accord Village."
The young men hesitated at first, some hands trembling as they picked up rifles. But then, one by one, they nodded.
They were tired of watching their families get bullied. Tired of feeling helpless.
Clumsily at first, but with growing confidence, they began to form a makeshift militia, inspecting magazines, loading cartridges, testing safeties under Ye Lin's guidance.
That night, Yage Village buzzed with energy. Lanterns were lit, villagers danced to old folk songs, and for the first time in years, full plates were passed around.
Ye Lin sat near the fire, a quiet observer to the joy he had helped spark.
To them, he was a hero. But to himself, he was just a beginner one who had only scratched the surface of the power needed to defend what mattered.
---
Meanwhile, deep within the Red Ribbon Army's Siruba Division Headquarters...
"You're telling me... an entire recon team was wiped out?" Colonel Siruba, a high-ranking Red Ribbon officer known for his cruel efficiency, stared furiously at the trembling soldier before him. "And the mercenary I paid so well for Hong Xiong he's dead?"
"M-my deepest apologies, Colonel!" the man stammered, knees shaking. "Reports say the village has a martial arts master, and it was this individual who defeated Hong Xiong. Our forces couldn't compete!"
"Martial arts?" Siruba sneered. "Please. A bunch of kata-dancing weaklings. I knew Hong Xiong was overpriced garbage. I should've sent my elite team from the start."
He slammed his fist onto his desk.
"Bring me the Redhead Guard!"
Heavy boots echoed as twelve figures marched into the chamber with flawless precision. Their crimson uniforms bore the Red Ribbon insignia, and their eyes glowed with tactical focus.
Each of them had a combat power above 20, measured by their internal scouters more than enough to outclass common fighters or gun-wielding villagers.
Siruba looked upon his handpicked elite squad, his personal guard, with smug pride.
"These twelve are my sharpened blade," he muttered. "My Redhead Guard. Each one trained in close-quarters combat, firearms, and shock tactics."
"You have your mission," he barked. "Go to Accord Village. Eliminate the martial artist. Retrieve the Dragon Ball. Leave no witnesses."
"Sir!" the twelve chorused, snapping to salute. In the blink of an eye, they vanished moving with such speed that the lower officers nearby blinked in disbelief.
"Had I known the first team would fail so spectacularly," Siruba growled to himself, "I would've deployed them earlier. The Dragon Ball will be in my hands soon."
He grinned darkly, already envisioning the glowing sphere in his palm.
---