Chapter 141: Four Years Old and the Giant Ape

One or two years old.

That was everyone's initial impression of the Saiyan child's age.

It seemed natural to think so.

Despite wearing a peculiar battle suit, the child's small stature made him appear tiny — about a third the size of Yamiru, who was twelve years old.

However, Dr. Brief declared with certainty that the child was older than one or two years.

On the group's journey to West City aboard the alien spacecraft, Tights asked Jaco, "Is it because Saiyans develop more slowly than Earthlings?"

Jaco, seated in the pilot's chair, shook his head. "Not at all. Saiyans are one of the species most similar in appearance to Earthlings, aside from their tails. During their early years, Saiyans' physical development is indistinguishable from other species. The key difference lies in their lack of a juvenile stage. They transition directly from childhood to full maturity, maintaining a prolonged period of youthful adulthood, before experiencing a brief aging phase and dying naturally."

Dr. Omori sighed. "It sounds like Saiyans have bypassed two of the most uncertain and emotionally intense stages of life: adolescence and old age. If they truly are a warrior race as Jaco claims, it makes sense that they evolved to eliminate the vulnerabilities of youth and the uselessness of old age, leaving only a short period of protected childhood and a long, active adulthood."

Jaco nodded. "Exactly. That's why I say Saiyans are inherently ruthless and cold-hearted."

Inside the spacecraft, the young Yamiru and the elderly Son Gohan sat in silence. Meanwhile, the Saiyan boy and the young Earthling girl paid no attention to the adults' conversation.

The girl busied herself with a collection of odd gadgets, while the boy, out of sheer boredom, counted the hairs on his tail. Occasionally, in his irritation, he would tug on Son Gohan's white beard.

Before long, the spacecraft landed in the spacious garden of Dr. Brief's residence in West City, guided by Tights.

"Your home seems even bigger than Dr. Omori's island, Miss Tights," Jaco remarked as he opened the spacecraft's transparent canopy to let the others out.

Tights glared at him. "You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?"

Carrying Bulma, Yamiru leapt out of the spacecraft, followed by Son Gohan, who held the Saiyan boy.

Mrs. Brief, accompanied by several servants, was already waiting for them with a warm smile. She embraced Tights and led the group to Dr. Brief's private laboratory.

Dr. Omori, an expert in mechanical engineering, was somewhat out of his depth with biomedical data. Yet, astonishingly, in just one night, Dr. Brief, originally also a mechanical engineer, seemed to have transformed into a leading expert in biological sciences.

While Dr. Omori scratched his head in amazement at the wealth of information spread across Dr. Brief's lab table, the latter asked Son Gohan to assist him in conducting more thorough tests on the Saiyan boy.

Sitting together, Yamiru and the others sipped coffee, speculating that they might be checking the boy's bone age.

"Isn't tonight the full moon Jaco mentioned?" Tights asked, sipping the tea her mother had prepared. She looked expectantly at Yamiru. "I wonder what's going to happen."

"You can wonder all you like, but why stare at me?" Yamiru retorted, taking a sip of his coffee.

"'Don't ask me why I know, but I'm telling you it's true,'" Tights mimicked his tone and expression from the other night, her imitation uncanny. She opened one eye and teased, "What a mysterious guy, so unlikable."

Mrs. Brief chuckled. "Whatever happens, I'm curious too. I hope I can join in tonight."

Whether or not she could join seemed to be up to Jaco, who merely gulped down milk and offered no answers. He only issued a brief reminder: "It's better if we return to Mount Paozu tonight."

Before long, Dr. Brief, Son Gohan, and the Saiyan boy emerged.

Son Gohan was busy calming the irritable child, who was clearly unhappy about being restrained and prodded during the tests.

"How old is he?" Bulma asked.

"Four years old," Dr. Brief replied. "His small stature is due to congenital developmental issues. He must have been significantly smaller than other Saiyan infants at birth. If he were an Earthling baby, he might not have survived. hm." He paused to light a cigarette.

"How tragic," Mrs. Brief murmured. "I hope he grows up healthy."

Jaco, licking the white "mustache" of milk above his lip, remarked indifferently, "Let's see if he makes it through tonight first."

Unaware of the significance of the coming night, the Saiyan boy roamed the lab, poking and prodding everything in sight with curiosity. Son Gohan followed closely behind. Yamiru noticed that ever since they had landed, Son Gohan hadn't strayed more than ten meters from the boy, seemingly heeding Jaco's repeated warnings about the potential danger the child posed.

Yamiru thought to himself: "My master looks kind and cheerful on the surface, but in truth, he's incredibly meticulous and serious. This is great news for me as his apprentice. His silent behind-the-scenes guidance reminds me of how Master Roshi, disguised as Jackie Chun, subtly taught and disciplined Goku and Krillin. Is this just the Turtle School's way of doing things? Come to think of it, even Goku, when guiding Uub, started with cryptic and indirect methods..."

Lost in thought, he waited alongside the others as the lazy afternoon hours slipped away.

After spending several hours relaxing and playing at Bulma's home in West City, evening came. Mrs. Brief, having prepared dinner early, invited everyone to eat before suggesting they head to Mount Paozu with her husband and daughter.

Jaco didn't object. Whether it was because he was confident in handling the situation or simply wanted more "nervous actors" present wasn't clear.

Seated in the spacecraft, Yamiru mused: "The Galactic Patrol surely knows the weakness of a Saiyan's Great Ape form. But Jaco's strength is hard for me to gauge. Even with my Golden Veil, I can only sense an aura far greater than mine — greater even than Master Son Gohan's. I'm not sure if he can subdue Kakarot in his Great Ape form at his current strength..."

Yamiru hoped Jaco wasn't overwhelmingly stronger than the Great Ape. Though unlikely, if he were, there was a real possibility he might seize the chaos to suggest killing the mindless, rampaging beast. Yamiru couldn't allow that to happen.

He activated his Golden Veil and glanced at Son Gohan.

Son Gohan looked surprised, then gently patted the restless boy in his arms and gave Yamiru a slight nod.

---

Finally, night fell over the tranquil Mount Paozu.

The full moon hung high in the sky, its silvery light bathing the forest and the small house in a fantastical glow. The surrounding woods and hills shimmered as though draped in frost.

Jaco led the group to a nearby clearing, where the full moon was clearly visible above.

"Jaco, aren't you going to tell us what will happen?" Tights asked, curiosity brimming.

Bulma followed close behind Son Gohan, who still held the Saiyan boy. Earlier in the afternoon, Yamiru had coaxed Bulma into leaving her energy gun at home — he feared she might get startled by the Great Ape and impulsively fire at it. Even if it didn't kill the creature outright, injuring it would be a major problem, especially since they had no Senzu Beans on hand.

"Words can't explain it. It's better for you to witness it yourselves," Jaco replied, pointing to the giant full moon. "Let him stare at it, and you'll understand."

Son Gohan sighed softly, seemingly aware of what was about to unfold. He set the boy down, patted his head, and pointed toward the sky to direct his gaze.

"Really? That's it?" Tights remarked, unimpressed. Jokingly, she added, "What's he going to do? Turn into a werewolf or something? That's just—" Her voice trailed off as she glanced down at the boy, only to freeze in shock.

The boy's expression had turned vacant, and his tail swished uneasily behind him.

"Uh-oh... this doesn't look good..." Dr. Brief muttered, his cigarette falling from his mouth. "Could it really—?" He pulled his wife and Bulma back.

Yamiru, having anticipated this moment, grabbed Tights and pulled her away.

Thump! Thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump!

The boy's chest heaved as the sound of his heartbeat grew louder and more intense, as though it would burst out of his chest.

"His eyes..." Dr. Omori said, retreating with the others. He had noticed the boy's pupils earlier. "They've turned a strange, beast-like red!"

Thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump!

The thunderous heartbeats echoed like drumbeats, growing faster and more deafening, gripping everyone with tension.

"WAAARRRRGHH!" The boy suddenly tilted his head back and let out a deafening roar. What was terrifying was how his voice, initially childlike, rapidly deepened into a coarse, booming growl. "ROOOAAARR!!"

Simultaneously, his body began to swell. Limbs, torso, and height expanded as though inflated. His already thick, unruly black hair grew even more, sprouting into thick, dark brown fur that spread across his face.

His mouth elongated into a beastly snout, and his teeth became long and sharp, interlocking like a predator's fangs.

In mere moments, a massive black-furred ape, standing seven or eight meters tall and clad in an equally enlarged battle suit, raised its head and howled madly at the moon.

"You've got to be kidding me..." Tights murmured in disbelief.