Bulma froze for a heartbeat—then squealed with delight.
"Wow, it's that easy?!
That's amazing! Goku, you're incredible!"
Goku chuckled. "You're a girl.
After we make the wish and you get stronger… don't go around ramming into things, okay?"
Bulma's face flushed. "Of course I won't! I'm a proper young lady!"
They kept moving.
Then Bulma's expression shifted. "Uh-oh, Goku… the Dragon Balls are moving."
Goku glanced at the radar. "Don't worry. I've got a way. Keep going."
Bulma nodded and followed him.
They hadn't gone far when the walls along the corridor lit up—screens flickering on.
Pilaf's face appeared.
"You two brats!
You actually damaged my castle—how vile can you get?!
But this section is all reinforced concrete, with thick steel plating! Solid as can be!
Hand over the Dragon Balls, or I won't be polite!"
Bulma stuck her tongue out at the screen.
"Bleh-bleh-bleh!
So you're the ugly little weirdo trying to steal our Dragon Balls? No way!
You look so ridiculous—hahaha!"
"You—YOU WOMAN! How dare you mock my royal appearance!"
Goku turned his back to the camera and shot Bulma a look.
"Bulma… give him the Dragon Balls."
Bulma blinked. "Why?"
Goku subtly pointed toward a mechanism in the corner.
"We're trapped in here.
If he releases poison gas, he'll get the Dragon Balls anyway."
As he spoke, he exaggeratedly winked at her.
Pilaf burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! You guessed right!
I'm fully prepared to release poison gas! We've even got gas masks!
But since you're being smart and handing them over, I'll spare you."
Bulma caught Goku's meaning immediately and nodded along, putting on a dejected tone.
"Fine… I don't need a boyfriend anymore anyway.
We'll give you the Dragon Balls."
She pulled out a backpack, unzipped it, and six Dragon Balls gleamed inside.
A mechanical arm extended out and snatched the bag away.
Pilaf's laughter echoed through the corridor.
"Hahahaha! At last, I can rule the world!"
Bulma shouted, "Hey! We gave them to you—now let us out!"
"Relax," Pilaf said smugly. "Once I've made my wish and conquered the world, I'll let you go."
Bulma turned to Goku, whispering urgently, "What now? If they wish first, we're done."
Goku lowered his voice. "Don't panic. Watch the radar.
The moment all seven balls gather in one place, tell me.
I'll smash through the wall, rush out, and take them back."
Bulma immediately pulled out the Dragon Radar and switched it on.
…
Outside, in the castle courtyard, Pilaf and his two lackeys arranged the seven Dragon Balls.
Pilaf threw his arms wide, cackling.
"Haha! Seven Dragon Balls at last!
The world will fall under the glorious rule of Emperor Pilaf!"
"Mai! Set them properly—I'm starting the summoning!"
Once Shu had positioned them, Pilaf raised his hands and bellowed the incantation.
"Come forth, Shenron! Grant my wish!"
In an instant, storm clouds swallowed the sky.
The Dragon Balls erupted with blinding golden light. A beam spiraled upward, twisting into the shape of a massive green dragon.
Right then—
BOOM!
A huge hole exploded open in Pilaf's castle.
Goku shot out like a cannonball and slammed straight into Pilaf, sending him flying.
Shu, still not recovered from his earlier beating, staggered back in terror.
Mai yanked out her gun, panic flashing across her face.
Goku didn't give them a single second.
Before either of them could react, he darted in and dropped them with two quick punches.
They crumpled unconscious.
Shenron's deep voice rumbled across the air.
"Those who have gathered the seven Dragon Balls…
State your wish. Any one wish shall be granted."
Goku looked up at the dragon.
"Shenron—can you give Bulma powerful strength?
Ideally… something like the Guardian's battle power."
Shenron paused, visibly startled.
"That cannot be done.
I can increase a person's strength, but it cannot exceed the power of my creator, the Guardian—
and it cannot surpass the person's own innate potential."
Goku wasn't surprised.
Bulma wasn't a fighter. She didn't even like fighting.
He just wanted her to have enough strength to protect herself against ordinary people.
He never expected her to be a combatant.
"Then give Bulma the maximum strength her potential allows."
Shenron nodded.
"So be it."
His eyes flashed red.
"Your wish… has been granted."
Goku blinked. "That's it?"
At that moment, Bulma shot out of the castle like a streak of light, laughing wildly.
"Hahahaha! I feel like my whole body is overflowing with power!
Goku, did you see that?! Look how fast I can run!"
Goku nodded calmly. "Yeah. I see it."
Shenron's voice rolled again.
"Your wish has been fulfilled. Farewell."
The dragon dissolved into golden light and vanished into the Dragon Balls.
The seven Dragon Balls scattered across the world once more, and the sky returned to normal.
The sun dipped lower, painting everything in warm orange.
Bulma stood beside Goku, looking up, suddenly quiet.
"I thought it would be really hard…
but once I met you, collecting the Dragon Balls turned into easy mode.
And now it's just… over.
It feels strange. Like there's a hole in my chest. I don't want it to end…"
Goku grinned.
"Hey, you got a whole new level of strength out of this—
and you got me, your future boyfriend. Don't be greedy."
Bulma nodded, smiling again.
"You're right!
Now I'm strong too.
From now on, it won't just be you coming to West City to see me…
when I'm on break, I can go to Kame House and visit you too!"
Right then, a shadow fell over them.
Pilaf returned—this time piloting a massive mech—hovering in front of them.
"Curse you, brat! You stole my wish! I'll kill you both!"
Bulma blinked… then smirked, rolling up her sleeves.
"Goku, let me test my strength on this one."
Goku hesitated. "Just don't overdo it.
Don't break it—we can use the mech to fly back to West City."
Bulma's eyes lit up. "Good point! I didn't bring a plane anyway.
And I'm an expert in electronics and machines.
The ancients had chefs who could carve an ox with one blade…
today, you'll witness Bulma dismantle a mech."
With that, she shot forward.
The mech was huge and clunky—it couldn't touch her.
But Bulma was a blur.
Her figure flickered around the machine, hands moving in rapid, precise bursts at every joint and connection point.
In moments, the mech came apart piece by piece.
Bolts, panels, and components clattered to the ground in a pile—until Pilaf himself tumbled out, filthy and miserable.
"Waaah…!"
"You're bullying me!"
Not long after, Goku and Bulma climbed into what was left of the mech's functioning core and flew toward West City together.
Pilaf stood there watching them shrink into the distance.
When they finally vanished from sight, tears rolled down his face.
"Just you wait…
When I gather the Dragon Balls again and rule the world, I'll punish you both—harshly!"
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