Chapter 4: Defeating Goku in One Move

"Ahhh!"

A sharp scream echoed through the woods.

Not far away, Su Ming, who had been leaning casually behind a tree, immediately rushed over when he heard the cry.

"Su Ming, help me!"

Bulma saw him appear like a bolt of lightning just meters away and cried out, panic written all over her beautiful face. Her voice trembled as if she were on the verge of tears. Two trails of tears streaked down her cheeks. She was truly terrified.

A pterodactyl was chasing after her.

Su Ming's heart ached. He hadn't expected his brief lapse in vigilance to place Bulma in danger.

In a flash, he crossed the distance and pulled the frightened girl tightly into his arms. His movement was fast yet gentle, as though he were cradling a bundle of cotton.

"It's okay now. You're safe," he whispered soothingly.

His voice was calm, but his eyes were colder than ice. As he looked at the incoming pterodactyl, a sharp killing intent radiated from him.

Since arriving in this world, the Brief family had been the first warmth he received. And Bulma had treated him with genuine kindness, never once blaming him for stealing a role that was meant to be someone else's. She had embraced him wholeheartedly.

Anyone who hurt her had to die.

He held Bulma tightly with his right arm. His left hand rose as ki flowed through his body and gathered in his palm.

"Cover your ears," he said softly.

Bulma obediently did as she was told, pressing her ears shut and nestling closer into his chest. The rapid heartbeat she felt from him somehow brought her a deep sense of safety.

With him here, she didn't have to fear anything.

Once he confirmed she was ready, Su Ming raised his hand and released a ki blast.

Boom!

The energy bullet shot forward like a thunderclap, instantly striking the pterodactyl midair. The blast was so powerful that the creature didn't even have time to scream before it was shredded into pieces.

The explosion rocked the area, alerting Goku, who had been sitting in the car. He rushed over and found Bulma clinging tightly to Su Ming's chest. Beside them, a field scattered with torn remains.

But his attention wasn't on the wreckage.

Goku's wide eyes were locked on Su Ming, every hair on his body standing on end.

So strong.

His instincts screamed at him to run.

"What's wrong, Goku?"

Bulma peeked out from Su Ming's arms, confused by Goku's guarded stance.

Su Ming let go of Bulma and turned to see Goku staring at him warily. He instantly understood what was going on.

Compared to Goku's current level, the ki Su Ming had just released was overwhelming. Even terrifying. Normally, he would suppress his energy to stay unnoticed. But that blast just now had leaked some of his true power. Saiyans, being a warrior race, had extremely sharp senses. It was no surprise Goku had felt it.

"Su Ming, do you train in martial arts too?"

Goku asked with certainty.

He had never felt such pressure from anyone before. Not even from Grandpa. Standing in front of Su Ming, it felt like he wouldn't even be able to lift a finger if Su Ming chose to attack.

Su Ming simply nodded.

"If I didn't know how to fight, how could I possibly bring Bulma on an adventure like this?"

His gaze shifted to Bulma, and the cold, lethal look in his eyes was gone. Replaced with warmth and tenderness.

The world of Dragon Ball was full of danger. Strong foes, wicked forces, and unpredictable threats. At first, Su Ming had wanted strength to survive, to one day stand at the top.

But now, there was another reason: to protect Bulma and the people who gave him warmth in this new life.

"Then let's spar!"

Goku pulled out his Power Pole, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Ever since his grandpa died, he had trained alone. Wild beasts in the mountains no longer posed any challenge. But now, standing before him was someone so strong that his very presence made Goku tremble with anticipation.

Rather than fear, his blood boiled with excitement. The will to fight surged through him.

Su Ming wasn't surprised. If anything, it would've been strange if Goku didn't challenge him.

In the Dragon Ball world, Goku's pure love for martial arts was one of his defining traits. Even in the Z era, he had already taken on the demeanor of a grandmaster.

Though in Dragon Ball Super, his personality had been simplified a bit too much. Bordering on foolish.

Still, Su Ming liked this version of Goku. A straightforward martial arts fanatic.

But Bulma, who was watching Su Ming with starry eyes, suddenly panicked.

She had seen what Su Ming was capable of. One punch had knocked down a tree. He was practically inhuman! Goku was still just a kid. If Su Ming didn't hold back, wouldn't Goku get seriously hurt?

She couldn't let that happen!

"Goku, Su Ming is really strong. You're still too young. If you fight him, you'll get hurt!" she warned.

Su Ming gently patted her shoulder and gave her a reassuring look.

"Don't worry. Goku isn't ordinary either. That pistol you carry? It wouldn't even scratch him."

"Huh?"

Bulma stared in disbelief. Goku barely reached Su Ming's thigh, and yet he could withstand a bullet?

"You're not joking, are you?"

Goku, though unfamiliar with guns, patted his rock-solid chest with pride.

"Don't underestimate me, Bulma! I trained with Grandpa every day. I'm really strong!"

Su Ming didn't refuse the challenge.

"Come at me."

Goku's eyes lit up instantly.

Finally, a real martial arts expert to fight!

He dashed forward, swinging the Power Pole with energy.

But Su Ming, despite lacking formal martial arts training, had a body far beyond what Goku could handle at this stage. His reflexes, vision, and movement were all superhuman.

He moved first, even though Goku had attacked.

In the blink of an eye, Su Ming appeared in front of Goku and punched.

Whump!

Goku hit the ground hard. The Power Pole clattered beside him as he held his stomach in pain.

"Owww\..."

Bulma wasn't surprised. She walked over and knelt beside him, a little concerned.

"You okay, Goku?"

"I held back," Su Ming said calmly. "It'll just hurt for a bit."

Sure enough, Goku got up a moment later, tears still glistening in his eyes from the pain.

"Su Ming, you're amazing! But I'm gonna keep training!"

He wasn't discouraged at all. If anything, his fighting spirit burned brighter than ever.

Su Ming nodded approvingly.

He believed it with all his heart. No matter the world, the name Son Goku would always be synonymous with strength.

With that little sparring match behind them, the trio continued on their journey to find the Dragon Balls.

Soon after, they encountered a lost sea turtle.

Goku, being kind by nature, immediately wanted to help it return home.

Su Ming already knew this turtle belonged to Master Roshi, so he followed along with Bulma.

It didn't take long before the coastline appeared before them.

"Ahhh... I haven't seen the ocean in so long,"

Bulma said as she stretched, breathing in the salty air.

"If you ever want to come back, I'll be with you," Su Ming said softly.

He wasn't obsessed with martial arts. While he trained hard, he also valued moments like this. Peaceful, shared with someone he cared about.

Bulma turned to him, eyes like water, and nodded seriously.

"You better keep that promise."