I. Division and Training
Kaguya's ship lifted off the rubble of Z-City and headed toward a more densely populated area, City A. The team needed to investigate the "energy anchor" Goku had detected, and Kaguya needed to readjust the dimensional parameters.
"The 'flat' Ki you detected, Goku, is moving. It's in City A, in a common apartment complex," Kaguya said, displaying a holographic map. "But there's another energy signature, very strong and stable, near a mountain. It's refined, non-destructive Ki. It's a martial artist."
"I'll go for the flat Ki," Goku said enthusiastically. "He seems like the type of person who will give me a good fight."
Erza crossed her arms. "We can't just go fighting, Goku. We need to learn control. In the last world, brute force was useless. If this martial artist can teach us to refine our Ki and our Magic, that's invaluable."
"Exactly," Kaguya agreed. "My analysis of the Sentinel's energy showed that its shields were only penetrated by surgical precision. Erza, your magic is powerful but consumes too much. Akiha, your speed is perfect, but your attack is rigid. You need subtlety."
"I'll go with Erza and Akiha. We can infiltrate that dojo and learn what we can," Kaguya said, her mind already designing accelerated learning strategies.
Goku grinned. "All right! I'll see you back here in three hours! If you find anyone strong, don't have all the fun without me!"
Goku used Instant Transmission, vanishing with a sonic pop in the direction of City A.
II. The Flexibility of the River Fist
The three girls landed discreetly near a traditional dojo on the outskirts of Z-City. A rusted sign read: "Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist."
Inside, the venerable S-Class hero, Bang, a.k.a. Silver Fang, was training his only remaining disciple. The elderly hero, despite his age, possessed incredible musculature and a controlled Ki aura that impressed Erza and Akiha.
Seeing the intruders, Bang stopped his training.
"I see visitors have arrived. Your aura is unusual. Are you from the Hero Association?" Bang asked in a calm voice.
"We are travelers seeking martial knowledge," Erza replied, bowing respectfully.
Kaguya wasted no time. "Your style, Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, is based on redirecting and using the opponent's force. It is the antithesis of our high-energy, high-impact combat method. We need to learn the efficiency that your Ki and technique represent to reduce our energy expenditure."
Bang smiled slightly. "Interesting. You have a great mage, lady in armor. And the lady with the sword has astonishing speed, but she wastes every movement in rigidity. Your energy is raw, but your spirit is disciplined."
Bang addressed Kaguya. "You, young engineer, understand physics. The Water Flow is the ultimate expression of non-resistance."
For the next hour, Bang did not teach them movements, but the Principle of Water.
Erza practiced Re-equipping her Flame Empress Armor, focusing not on power, but on the fluidity of the change. Bang made her realize that her Requip should be as smooth as water flowing around a rock.
Akiha, under Bang's tutelage, practiced defense. Instead of stopping a blow with her sword, she learned to deflect the force using only her wrist, allowing the opponent's attack to pass without collision. Her speed became more dangerous because it was unpredictable.
Kaguya, wearing a temporary combat suit, analyzed every movement and encoded it into her muscle memory. For her, the style was a perfect combat algorithm: minimum input, maximum output.
"You have talent," Bang concluded. "But the path of the Water Fist is long. What you carry is enough to be more precise and less destructive. The superior warrior is not the one who hits hardest, but the one who hits where the enemy is already broken."
III. The Clash of the Psyche and the Saiyan
Meanwhile, in City A, Goku searched for the flat Ki signal. He didn't find it, but instead, he detected an enormous source of psychic energy that vibrated with immense force: the S-Class hero, Tatsumaki, the Terror Tornado.
Tatsumaki was floating with complete disinterest above a colossal worm-type Mysterious Being that had just crushed a helipad.
"Another giant bug! How annoying!" Tatsumaki murmured, and with a simple wave of her hand, the worm was lifted off the ground, twisted like a wet rag, and hurled into outer space.
Goku appeared via Instant Transmission right next to her.
"Hi! That was incredible! I've never seen such strong and strange energy! Are you really strong? I want to fight you!" Goku said, grinning from ear to ear, as if he had found his perfect game.
Tatsumaki turned, her childish face framed by her curly hair. Her expression went from boredom to irritation.
"Who are you? Some new idiot in orange pajamas? Don't get in my way. This is S-Class territory."
"I'm Goku. And I want to know if you're stronger than me! I feel a huge energy inside you!" Goku insisted, preparing his combat stance.
Tatsumaki was exasperated. What a nuisance!
"Stay still, brat," she snapped, and with a wave of her psychic power, she tried to crush Goku into the ground.
The telekinetic force Tatsumaki unleashed would have turned a building to dust, but Goku, accustomed to gravitational pressures and Ki attacks, felt... pressured. Barely.
His feet sank only a few centimeters into the asphalt, and the expression on his face did not change. His dense Ki and Saiyan skin acted as an involuntary shield.
"Hey! That was really strong! It pushed me a little," Goku said, laughing, his eyes meeting Tatsumaki's.
Tatsumaki's face twisted. She was using significant power, enough to dismantle a Dragon-Level monster, and this man in a martial arts suit had only sunk a few centimeters.
"How...?" Tatsumaki intensified her power, her hair floating wildly. The pressure doubled, causing nearby buildings to vibrate.
Goku simply put a hand on the ground, released a light Ki kiai (shout), and the pressure suddenly disappeared, as if someone had flicked a switch.
"Sorry! I don't want to hurt the city!" Goku said, apologizing. "But I think you're very strong. Too bad you can't control me. Maybe somewhere else!"
Goku raised two fingers to his forehead.
"Tell the person who has no Ki that I want to join their team! See you around!"
And with a pop, Goku vanished, leaving Tatsumaki floating alone and utterly indignant in the air. The Hero Association had detected an anomaly, but Tatsumaki had just found one.
"A guy... a ridiculous fool! He ignored me and ran away!" she growled, spinning in the air and directing her frustration toward a nearby building (which she was then forced to psychically repair).
IV. Regrouping
Three hours later, the team regrouped in Kaguya's ship.
"We learned a lot," Erza said, her Re-equipment flowing more smoothly. "Yes, breath control is key to defense. It's a wonderful foundation for Ki," Akiha nodded.
"It was a waste of time. I found the 'anchor,' the guy without Ki. But before that, I fought the strongest woman in this world," Goku said.
"You fought? Did you destroy the anchor?" Kaguya asked, alarmed.
"No. She was small with green hair. She tried to crush me with... her mind? It was funny! I barely felt it. And I told her to tell her bald-headed friend that I'll look for him to fight after we finish the mission."
Kaguya smacked her forehead. Goku had directly interacted with two of the most powerful heroes on the planet. The Hero Association would soon be coming for them.
"Perfect! Now the anchor knows we're looking for him!" Kaguya exclaimed, sarcastically. "We have to go. The dimensional energy core in this world is inside the Hero Association itself. We will head to City A for the final infiltration."
"What about the flat Ki guy?" Erza asked.
"We call him the 'energy anchor,' Erza. But based on Goku's description, he's the guy they call... Saitama. And he is our ticket to the next world."