The sun was high when they stopped at a rocky stretch of seashore, the waves foaming as they broke against the sand.
Goku was already pointing at the water with his usual excitement. "There's huge fish out there! And maybe sharks!"
Haruko dropped his pack with a dull thud. "Then let's make them lunch."
Yamcha stayed on the shore, setting his own job. He pulled out a small Capsule Corp field kitchen, popped it open, and began laying out a cutting board and knives. "You two bring it in. I'll handle prep."
Within minutes, the water churned with movement. Haruko surfaced first, dragging something massive behind him — a thrashing sea beast with teeth the length of Goku's hand. He hauled it onto the sand without breaking stride.
Goku was next, climbing up with two large fish dangling from his tail like it was nothing. "Think that's enough for lunch?"
Yamcha snorted. "Enough for a town maybe… but knowing you, maybe not." He started cutting, working quickly, flipping open a worn recipe book beside him. "This'll be good with a spice rub."
As the fire smoked and the meat began to sizzle, Haruko and Goku strapped on their turtle shells, waded back into the surf, and dove under.
They moved in a rhythm — kicking down into the cold, staying just long enough to force their lungs to burn, then breaking the surface together for air before dropping back in. Again and again, until it stopped feeling like practice and started feeling like survival.
By the time Yamcha called them in, both were soaked and breathing hard, the shells heavy on their backs. But they grinned the same way — sweat and seawater mixed with pride.
Lunch was not small. Not by any reasonable measure.
Haruko and Goku sat shoulder to shoulder, working through platter after platter while Yamcha and Puar watched in disbelief. Bone piles climbed like low walls beside them.
Oolong sat a little further away, chewing slowly, his eyes moving from Haruko to Goku and back again like he was watching animals in a zoo.
Finally, he muttered under his breath, "Are they even human?"
Haruko heard him but didn't bother to answer — he was reaching for another plate.
The ocean breeze followed them into the afternoon as they packed up and set off again in Haruko's capsule helicopter. The Dragon Radar now pointed them inland, toward distant peaks.
The mountains rose fast here, green giving way to bare rock. But one mountain in particular smoked in the distance, the upper slopes glowing faintly with orange light.
"That's not the sun hitting it," Yamcha murmured.
"It's fire," Haruko confirmed, eyes narrowing.
They didn't get far before a shadow moved between the flames — a massive figure, blocking the path. Broad-shouldered, chest like a wall, an axe in one giant hand. Even from a distance Haruko could see the man's size — he stood taller than Haruko by far, and three times as wide.
The voice rolled down the slope like thunder. "You thieves! Come for my treasure, have you? Take this!"
He hefted what at first looked like a boulder… until Haruko felt the heat. Not stone — it was solid rock pulled near molten from the burning mountain.
The giant hurled it like it was nothing. Haruko banked the chopper hard and landed them on a flat stretch just out of range. Goku was already hopping off, calling, "Flying Nimbus!"
Nimbus sped under his feet and shot him up the slope toward the man. With his Power Pole in both hands, Goku struck fast.
The giant's eyes flicked to the red staff. His grip on the axe loosened, confusion mixing with surprise.
"That stick… boy, what's your relationship to Gohan?" the man asked, lowering the weapon.
Goku grinned proudly. "He's my grandpa!"
The giant let out a booming laugh. "Then I owe you more welcome than that throw. I am the Ox King. Your grandpa and I go back far." His face grew more serious. "My daughter… she went to find Master Roshi and hasn't returned. If you and your… brother?" — he glanced at Haruko, who had climbed up by now — "could find her, I'd consider it a great favor."
Haruko met Goku's eyes, gave a short nod. "We'll get her."
They returned to the helicopter. Haruko swung the craft north, following the Ox King's directions toward the coast again.
It wasn't long before Goku pointed down at a small figure walking along a dusty road — horned helmet, long hair, and a shy sort of readiness in her posture.
"hey girl !" Goku called, leaning out from windows, She looked up, startled, then shielded her eyes as the helicopter descended.
Inside a minute she was aboard, helmet set carefully in her lap. She asked questions quickly but politely, listening as they explained her father's request.
When they finally landed on Master Roshi's island again, the old man squinted into the sunlight as they approached. "Well, well. What's this about?"
Haruko stepped forward. "Ox King's daughter went looking for you. The mountain by his home is burning, and he needs your help to put it out. Said you'd know how."
Roshi's expression shifted from curiosity to a thoughtful quiet. "Hmm… fire mountain ." He glanced at Goku, Haruko, and Chi-Chi, then toward the helicopter. "Let's not waste daylight then."
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