Everyone saw Taopaipai's greeting. Goku looked at him while Lunch pulled out her gun, aiming at the assassin.
"And why did you come here?" Goku asked.
"If I tell you I was contracted by the Red Ribbon Army, you should understand, correct?" Taopaipai replied smoothly. "My job is to kill the boy who's been getting in the way of their Dragon Ball hunt."
"Red Ribbon..." Goku's eye twitched. "They're starting to piss me off. I should pay them a visit."
Bora stepped between Goku and Taopaipai. "This boy saved my son's life. If you do not leave at once, I will make you."
Taopaipai gave him a smirk.
"Don't worry about Mowgli. He isn't much of a threat," Goku said casually.
Taopaipai's eyebrow twitched. "Mowgli?"
"It's my duty to protect this sacred land of Korin!" Bora declared, raising his spear. "Stand back, boy!"
"What a fool," Taopaipai muttered and vanished, reappearing beside Bora. With one hand, he grabbed the spear.
"Not bad..." Goku observed.
"I couldn't see him!" Launch exclaimed.
Bora, shocked, tried to pull his spear back, flexing all his muscles, veins bulging. It didn't budge.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you moving?" Taopaipai mocked. "I guess I'll move you myself."
With just two fingers gripping the spear, Taopaipai lifted it—with the massive Bora still hanging on. He raised the huge man effortlessly, then tossed him into the air. Bora's hands slipped from the spear.
"Here, I'll give you back your spear." Taopaipai threw the weapon at the falling Bora.
Before it could impale him, a shockwave blasted the spear off course. Taopaipai noticed and looked toward Goku and Lunch. Goku's hands were pressed together like he'd just clapped.
Upa ran toward his father, who hit the ground hard, clutching his back.
"Don't kill a man in front of his son," Goku said.
"I see you have some skill, boy," Taopaipai acknowledged.
"I've got great power but no responsibility. Hahaha!... No?" Goku's joke fell flat, no one getting the reference.
Taopaipai started approaching slowly, hands behind his back. "Enough chatter. I'll end this in seconds."
Lunch stepped in front of Goku and opened fire. Taopaipai's hand moved in a blur, catching each bullet and dropping them one by one. When her Uzi clicked empty, he smirked and vanished.
Before he could reappear, Lunch felt herself being pulled violently backward. She found herself falling against Goku's chest as her gun—still in the air—split in two. Taopaipai stood where she'd been, hands behind his back.
Goku had pulled her from certain death. She lifted her head to see his face staring at Taopaipai with a serious expression.
"Hoho, you saved her. So you can see my speed."
Goku's hands started trembling. Both Launch and Taopaipai noticed.
"Shaking, huh?" Taopaipai said with a smirk. "Don't worry, boy. It's a normal reaction."
"Goku, what the hell?!" Lunch couldn't believe it.
He grabbed one hand with the other, trying to stop the trembling.
"Now I will claim your life!" Taopaipai declared.
The assassin vanished. The ground cracked where he'd stood. He reappeared behind Goku, index finger extended toward the base of his skull—a death point technique.
The finger struck.
Nothing happened.
Taopaipai's eyes widened. *What?! I can't go through his skull? Did I hold back unintentionally?*
He pressed harder, his finger actually starting to bend against Goku's skin.
"The boy's still standing?" Bora gasped.
Taopaipai leaped back, launching into a barrage of strikes aimed at the throat, palm strikes to the heart, pressure points that should paralyze. Each hit landed cleanly. Goku didn't even try to dodge, his body still trembling slightly.
"He's too scared to move!" Lunch shouted. "Goku, dodge!"
Taopaipai pulled back. He'd broken two fingers against Goku's forehead.
"What is this child made of?" the assassin muttered, flexing his damaged hand.
"Papa, why isn't the bad man hurting him?" Upa asked.
"Stop playing with me!" Taopaipai roared. He raised his hand, index finger pointing at Goku's chest. "Dodonpa!"
The golden beam shot forward, striking Goku in the chest. The explosion kicked up dust. When it cleared, Goku stood there examining the hole blown through his sleeveless sweater. His skin underneath was completely unmarked.
"Impossible!" Taopaipai stepped back.
Everyone stared in shock. The Dodonpa, the technique that could pierce through stone, had done nothing. Smoke still drifted from the hole in Goku's sweater, but the skin beneath was untouched.
Slowly, Goku lifted his head. Through the lingering smoke, his eyes gleamed with something dark. An evil smirk spread across his face. His tail swinging back and forth with excitement.

The trembling in his hands intensified—but now everyone could see what it really was.
"Oh fuck," Lunch breathed, a grin spreading across her face. "You weren't scared at all."
She grabbed her backup pistol and fired several shots into the air, laughing. "HAHA! You beautiful bastard! You were getting EXCITED!"
"What?" Bora couldn't believe it.
"He was shaking because he wanted to fight!" Upa said, amazed.
Lunch felt heat rush through her body seeing that predatory look on Goku's face. *That's the look. That's what I've been waiting to see.*
Taopaipai took an involuntary step backward. The boy's entire demeanor had changed. The trembling wasn't fear it was a predator barely containing itself. And now it didn't need to hold back anymore.
"You know what I just realized?" Goku said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you're this strong now... and that tower really makes people stronger..."
His smirk widened.
"This might actually be fun."
For the first time in his career, Taopaipai felt genuine fear creep up his spine.
Goku walked up to Taopaipai. "Climb the tower. Heal your wound. Get stronger then come back to me."
"I refuse—"
Goku's eyes narrowed, his playful demeanor vanishing completely. The air seemed to grow heavy.
Taopaipai swallowed. "...ok..."
The assassin turned toward the tower. Bora stepped forward.
"Why are you letting him—"
"I got this," Goku said simply.
Something in his tone, in his confidence, made Bora stop. He'd seen this boy save his son. If he said he had it handled... Bora nodded and stepped back.
Taopaipai began climbing, broken fingers and all.
Suddenly, Lunch rushed forward and grabbed Goku, lifting him off the ground in a crushing hug. His legs dangled as she squeezed him against her chest.
"You magnificent bastard!" she laughed. "I thought you were actually scared! But that look—that was pure bloodlust!"
As she held him there, his excitement fading, a strange thought crept into Goku's mind:
*Why was I so excited to fight someone strong? That's... not me. What the hell is happening to me?*
"ACHOO!"
Lunch's blonde hair suddenly turned blue. She blinked, looking around confused.
"Huh? What's happening? Why are we at some tower?" She noticed Bora on the ground. "Is that man okay?"
Then her eyes landed on Goku and her face lit up. "Goku! You're here!" She ran over and hugged him gently, nothing like the crushing embrace from moments before.
"Sup," Goku said, still processing his earlier thoughts.
She pulled back and gasped. "Goku! Your sweater is completely torn! There's a huge hole in it!"
Goku looked down, finally registering the damage. "Huh?" His eye twitched as he fully saw the destruction. "AHHHHHH! My fucking sweater! It was so expensive! That bastard!"
"Don't worry," Lunch said sweetly, trying to calm him down. "There's a small city nearby. We could get you new clothes and spend the night at a hotel. You look tired."
Goku was still examining the hole in his sweater, muttering curses. "This cost me all the money from that street fight..."
"Come on," Lunch tugged his arm gently. "We can come back tomorrow to check on things."
Bora stepped forward. "You saved my son's life. The least I can do is pay for your lodging."
"See?" Launch smiled. "It's settled. Let's go."
Goku took one last look at the tower where Taopaipai was slowly climbing, then shrugged. "Fine. But I'm coming back to see if that pink guy actually got stronger."
Before they left, Upa ran up to Goku, tears in his eyes. "Thank you for saving me and Papa!"
"Hmm ? Yeah..." Goku barely glanced down, already thinking about other things.
"You saved our lives!" Upa continued, hugging Goku's leg.
"Yeah, sure." Goku called Kinto'un.
Lunch pulled out the shrinking watch. She clicked it and shrank down to pocket size, jumping onto Goku's shoulder.
"Kinto'un!" The golden cloud swooped down and he hopped on, tiny Launch holding onto his collar.
After thirty minutes of flight, they arrived at a small city. They found a clothing shop where Goku grabbed the cheapest shirt available, a plain white t-shirt.
"That's what you get for twenty zeni?" Goku muttered, pulling it on.
At the hotel, they got a single room cheaper that way.
Goku examining a suspicious stain on the wall. "This place is a dump.
""It's cozy!" Lunch said optimistically, then noticed the dust cloud that rose when she patted the pillow. "Okay, maybe not.
"She stood up, pulling at her dirty clothes. "Ugh, I'm covered in dust from that fight. And you—" she looked at Goku, "—you're filthy!"
That's when she started stripping. "Shower time! You're dirty too, come on!"
"Huh?," Goku said, then she grab him and pull him.
In the bathroom, Goku sank into the bathtub while Lunch stood in the shower next to it, hot water running over her.
"Goku," Lunch said, washing her hair. "Why do you want to fight strong people so badly?"
"I don't know," he admitted, putting his elbows on the edge of the tub, resting his head on his hands. "It's not like me. I used to avoid fights."
"But now?"
"I felt excited... It's like... you know how the more perfect an ass is, the more you want it?"
"What?" Launch turned, confused.
"Like yours. It's beautiful. Perfect. And because it's perfect, I want to conquer it. Same with strong opponents—the stronger they are, the more I need to beat them."
Launch grabbed her own backside with both hands, examining it. "Is my butt really that nice?"
"You have no idea," Goku muttered, then shook his head. "But that's a stupid comparison."
"Maybe you're becoming who you were meant to be?" Lunch suggested, finishing her shower.
"Or maybe I'm losing who I was."
Lunch stepped toward the tub, still dripping. "Want to feel?" she asked innocently, not understanding the full implications as she passed him.
"No, I don't want to..." Goku said as she slipped into the tub, pulling him back against her chest. "Wait a few years, and then ask me again."
"You're weird," Lunch said, relaxing in the warm water.
Meanwhile, at the top of Korin Tower...
Taopaipai pulled himself over the edge, breathing hard. The climb with broken fingers had taken hours. At the top, he found a white cat holding a staff.
"The sacred water," Taopaipai demanded. "Give it to me."
Korin looked at him, reading his mind instantly. *A killer. Evil to the core. But...*
"Here," Korin said, producing a small jug. "Drink."
Taopaipai snatched it and downed the contents in one gulp. He waited. "I don't feel any different."
"The sacred water's effects take time," Korin lied smoothly. "You'll notice when you need it."
Taopaipai studied the cat suspiciously but decided he had no choice but to believe. Without another word, he began his descent.
Korin watched him go. *That boy below... he sent this one up here for entertainment.*
After drying off, they emerged in the hotel's threadbare towels. Lunch had forgotten to pack sleepwear, so she grabbed one of Goku's shirts—it hung on her like a dress, barely covering her thighs.
"The bed's pretty small," Launch observed.
Goku lay down on one side, hands behind his head. Lunch climbed in, fluffing the pillow—
"ACHOO!"
The dust cloud from the pillow triggered her sneeze. Her hair turned blonde instantly.
She blinked, taking in the situation. She was in bed. Wearing only a tiny shirt that barely covered her ass. With Goku.
*Holy shit. It's finally happening.*
"Well, well," she purred, turning toward him. "Didn't think you had it in you to make a move."
"Hm?" Goku was already half-asleep, eyes closed.
She leaned over him, her shirt riding up dangerously. "Don't play innocent now."
She moved closer, her lips inches from his. Her heart was racing. This was it—
Goku turned his head slightly, mumbling, "Turn off the light."
She pressed forward, trying to kiss him, but he'd already rolled onto his side, facing away. Her lips hit his ear.
"Goku?" She positioned herself against his back, pressing her chest against him. "Hey..."
A soft snore was her only response.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" she whispered, mortified.
Lunch lay back, face burning red, her pride thoroughly bruised. Then she remembered the fight earlier—how Goku had dominated Taopaipai, that predatory look in his eyes, the casual violence...
*That was so fucking hot.*
It was dark. Goku heard her bag zipper, then rustling.
A wet, rhythmic sound started filling the quiet room. Like something slick being worked back and forth. The bed began to move slightly with whatever she was doing.
His eye opened. The sound was getting faster now—wet friction, something sliding against something else repeatedly. Her breathing had changed, becoming shorter, heavier.
"Mmm..." A soft sound escaped her.
He flipped on the light. Lunch looked normal, hands under the blanket. "What?"
"...Nothing." He turned it off.
The sounds resumed immediately, even wetter now. The unmistakable noise of something viscous being rubbed, the blanket moving in a steady rhythm. Her breathing was definitely affected—little catches and pauses.
"Fuck..." she whispered between breaths. Then, softer: "Goku..."
The wet friction sounds intensified, faster now, accompanied by the subtle creaking of bed springs. A barely suppressed whimper.
He flipped the light on again. She was red-faced, breathing hard, a sheen of sweat on her forehead, her hands clearly working at something under the covers with determination.
"...Make less noise," he said and turned the light off.
"S-sorry," she panted, but the sounds just continued, quieter but still obvious. The wet, sliding noise. Her controlled but heavy breathing. Occasional soft gasps.
He put the pillow over his head.
The next morning, Goku woke to find Lunch at the small table, her guns completely disassembled. She was working an oil-soaked cloth through a barrel.
"You were cleaning your guns. In bed. In the dark."
"Yeah! The guns! Of course!" She said it way too quickly, not making eye contact. "What else would I be doing?"
"While saying my name?"
"I was... thinking about the fight! You fighting! Very violent. Very... inspiring for gun maintenance." Her face was getting red again.
Goku stared at the bottles of gun oil. "Right."
"Yep! Just me and my guns. Cleaning them. That's all." She was aggressively polishing a part that was already clean.
"I need my shirt back."
"What? No! I mean—" She pulled the shirt down, which barely covered her thighs. "It's dirty! Very dirty. Can't give it back."
"It looks clean."
"It's not! There's... gun oil! Everywhere. You don't want it." She backed away from him. "Let's go get breakfast! I'll buy you a new shirt!"
"Lunch—"
"Breakfast! Now! I'm starving!" She grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward the door, still wearing just his shirt, clearly desperate to change the subject.
"You're not even dressed."
"Don't care! Let's go!"
"..."
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. Put some pants on."
"Right. Pants. Good idea." She grabbed her clothes and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door.
Goku looked at the guns on the table, then at the bathroom door where he could hear her muttering to herself.
*Sure. Gun cleaning.*
After an awkward breakfast where Lunch kept changing the subject every time Goku mentioned the previous night, they flew back on Kinto'un. Lunch, shrunk down on his shoulder, was unusually quiet.
They arrived at Korin Tower to find Bora and Upa waiting near the base.
"You came back," Bora said.
"Said I would." Goku looked up at the tower. "He still up there?"
"He's coming down now," Upa pointed.
Indeed, a small figure was descending rapidly—Taopaipai, moving with noticeably more confidence than his broken climb up.
Minutes later, Taopaipai landed gracefully, barely winded. His broken fingers healed. His posture was different—stronger, more solid. The intense climb and descent had pushed his body beyond its limits and rebuilt it stronger.
"Alohaaa" Taopaipai said simply.
"Missed you" Goku hands in pockets.
Without warning, Taopaipai lunged. Goku stayed perfectly still, testing.
The punch drove into his gut. Hard. Goku's eyes widened slightly—it actually hurt.
Before he could react, Taopaipai's knee connected with his chin, sending him flying upward. The assassin followed, jumping high, then grabbed Goku mid-air and smashed him downward.
Goku hit the ground hard, creating a crater. Taopaipai descended, driving his knee into Goku's stomach with crushing force.
The impact was real. Painful.
Taopaipai jumped back, landing gracefully.
Goku got up slowly, genuine shock on his face. "I messed up."
"You were too arrogant!" Taopaipai raised his finger, a massive grin on his face. "DODONPA!"
The golden beam shot out, far more powerful than before. It struck Goku square in the chest, blasting him backward. His shirt disintegrated completely as he slammed into the tower's pillar with tremendous force.
He slid down, ending up sitting against the tower, head down, smoke rising from his bare chest.
Taopaipai started laughing, drunk on his newfound power. "HAHAHA! The sacred water! The climb! It made me stronger than I ever imagined!"
"GOKU!" Upa screamed, tears in his eyes.
Bora held his son back, his face grave. "That blast... no normal person could survive that."
Lunch stood frozen, her hands shaking—not from excitement this time. "Get up... get up you bastard..."
Taopaipai continued laughing, spreading his arms wide. "I am reborn! The world's greatest assassin has become—"
"I can't believe it..."
Everyone stopped. Goku's voice, muffled but clear.
"This hurts a lot..."
Taopaipai's laughter died. "Impossible. You're still alive?"
Lunch ran toward Goku, dropping to her knees beside him. "Goku! Are you—"
She stopped mid-sentence. Something was wrong.
Goku was still sitting against the tower, head down, smoke rising from his chest. But the air around him had changed. It was heavy. Dangerous.
"I was blinded by hope," he continued, his voice flat.
Lunch started to reach for him, then pulled back. She'd seen him angry before, but this was different.
Slowly, dramatically, Goku lifted his head. His face was completely expressionless, but his eyes... they were beyond pissed. They were cold. Dead.

"What a fucking disappointment."
The words came out quiet, but they hit harder than any scream.
Everyone stared at Goku's exposed torso. His skin was completely intact except for a small bruise where the Dodonpa had hit.
Taopaipai started backing up, the reality sinking in. "No... no, that's not possible..."
He could sense it now—the danger radiating from this boy. He'd made a terrible mistake.
But Lunch... Lunch was breathing harder, her eyes dilated. This was it. This was the chaos she craved. The violence barely contained. She bit her lip, watching him with undisguised excitement.
A small ball of energy appeared in Goku's palm, his arm still hanging loosely at his side.
Taopaipai saw it and immediately fell to his knees. "Wait! Please! I'm sorry! I'll leave! I'll never—"
"Tell you what," Goku said conversationally. "If you survive this, I'll let you survive. Ok?"
"Huh? What? That doesn't make sense!" Taopaipai stammered.
Lunch let out a small, involuntary moan. This was exactly what she wanted—pure, senseless violence.
Goku threw the energy ball like a casual baseball pitch. It struck Taopaipai's stomach, lifting him off his feet. The assassin flew backward, the ball pushing him higher and higher into the air before—
BOOM.
The explosion lit up the sky. Pieces of pink fabric fluttered down like snow.
Goku looked up at Korin Tower, hands in his pockets. "Let's go up."
"What?" Lunch was still catching her breath, flushed.
He started walking toward the base of the tower. "I want to see what up."
Bora stood speechless. Upa hid behind his father.
"You coming ?" Goku asked Launch.
"Fuck yes," she said immediately, following him.