"Now, prepare for my THUNDER SHOCK SURPRISE ATTACK!" Jackie Chun declared, electricity crackling between his palms.
Alex's eyes widened. No! I can't let him hit me with that!
Without hesitation, he leaped high into the sky.
"You can't escape! HAAAH!" Jackie shouted as he unleashed a powerful lightning blast. The energy arced toward Alex, threatening to trap him in a field of electricity.
I hope this works... or I'm toast! Alex thought as he quickly positioned his hands near his face, fingers spread wide towards his eyes.
"SOOOOLAR FLAAARE!"
A blinding white light burst from his hands, engulfing the entire arena. The spectators shielded their eyes, unable to see.
"Damn it! I didn't think he could pull something like this!" Jackie grunted, covering his face with his arms.
Taking advantage of the opening, Alex charged in. With Jackie blinded, he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches and kicks, landing every hit.
"TAKE THIS!" Alex roared, delivering a final, full-power punch to Jackie's face. The impact sent Jackie tumbling across the ring before coming to a stop.
On the sidelines, Baba and Mellon rubbed their eyes as the effects of the Solar Flare started to wear off.
"Hey, Alex, how about a little warning before you blind all of us?!" Mellon complained.
"What the heck was that?!" Baba grumbled, still rubbing her eyes. But as her vision cleared, she froze. Jackie was lying motionless in the ring. "W-What happened?!"
Alex turned to her. "Excuse me... but I think you should start counting."
"Huh? Oh, right!" Baba snapped out of her daze and began the count. "One... two..."
As she reached eight, Jackie stirred. Slowly, he pushed himself up, wobbling slightly before standing tall.
Alex's jaw clenched. No way… I put everything I had into that attack!
Jackie wiped his face and smirked. "You... don't you have any respect for your master?"
Alex frowned. "You're not my master."
Jackie coughed. "I mean elders! Yeah, you should respect your elders!" He laughed, trying to shake off the damage.
"Don't listen to that old man, Alex!" Mellon shouted from the sidelines. "Just a little more, and you can win!"
Alex tightened his stance. Yeah, she's right… just a little more.
Jackie narrowed his eyes. This brat is getting cocky. I'll show him.
He raised his hands and began moving them in a slow, hypnotic motion. His voice dropped into a soothing, rhythmic chant.
"You... are... so sleepy..."
Alex blinked, his body suddenly feeling sluggish.
"W-What…?" He wobbled, struggling to keep his eyes open.
"You... are... so... tired..." Jackie continued. "When you hear... my song... your eyelids... will drop..."
Alex fought against the drowsiness, but his limbs felt heavier with every word. He knew what was happening, but he couldn't stop it.
"You... are a sleepy boy…"
"No—!" Plop!
Before Alex could resist, his body gave in. He collapsed face-first onto the ring.
Jackie turned to Baba with a smug grin. "Start counting."
Baba nodded. "One... two... three..."
"C'MON, ALEX! WAKE UP! THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO SLEEP!" Mellon shouted, but Alex didn't move.
"Eight... nine... ten!" Baba announced. "The challenger is down for the count! Which means the winner is... JACKIE CHUN! HAHAHA!"
Jackie chuckled, brushing dust off his sleeves.
Mellon crossed her arms, pouting. "Well... that was anticlimactic."
She walked over to Alex, shaking him awake. He groggily sat up, rubbing his face. "I lost, huh?"
Jackie approached him, smiling. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You did great." He placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "I'm sure your master would be proud."
Alex took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks, Jackie. I'll train even harder… and next time, I'll surpass you."
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a Senzu Bean. He split it in half, handing a piece to Jackie before eating the other half.
"Wait!" Baba called out as they turned to leave. "Where do you think you're going?"
Alex blinked. "Well... I lost. No point in staying here."
Baba smirked. "Of course, you could leave... but you'd be missing an opportunity to use my services."
Alex tilted his head. "Wait, you'll help us find something? But… I lost the fight."
Baba chuckled. "Yes, but there are always exceptions. I hate doing favors, but you impressed me, boy." She floated down from her orb and looked him in the eyes. "So… what is it you're looking for?"
Alex hesitated. Hmm… I haven't really thought about that…
Baba crossed her arms. "Don't tell me you came only for a fight?"
"Of course not!" Alex laughed nervously. "Uh… how about… the Dragon Balls? Yeah! The Four-Star Dragon Ball—help me find it!"
Baba grinned. "Very well."
Stepping in front of her crystal ball, she began waving her hands in circles, chanting:
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star…"
"How I wonder where you are…"
"Now, show me the Four-Star Dragon Ball!"
The orb glowed, revealing an image.
Baba peered into the vision. "Ah… There it is! In a forest south of here, across the desert."
Alex grinned. "Thanks, Baba!"
With that, he and Mellon turned to leave, setting off toward their next adventure.
---
As they disappeared into the distance, Baba glanced at Jackie—who had now removed his wig, revealing himself as Master Roshi.
"So tell me, brother… why did you really want to fight him so badly?"
Roshi exhaled, stretching his arms. "He's strong. I just wanted to show him that there are still people stronger than him. I don't want him to get cocky and think he's the strongest—that'd be boring." He paused. "Sure, there are others who could've fought him—Krillin, Tien, or even Goku. But as his master… this was my responsibility."
Baba smirked. "Heh. Always the teacher, huh?"
Roshi grinned. "Someone has to be."
power level
Alex ; 145
Jackie chun (powered up) :180
Alex (zenkai) : 160