After two days of driving in the car provided by Yamcha, the group finally left the arid desert behind and entered a lush hilly forest area. The weather cooled noticeably, and the dense greenery brought a sense of vitality and wonder.
As they continued their journey for another two days, the air grew stiflingly hot despite the sun being less intense.
"So muggy. It's strange for the North to feel like this!" Bulma and Ayaka sat together in the back of the car, fanning themselves to relieve the heat though Nayaka wouldn't have needed to fan herself is she hadn't been lazy to find Dr. Brief to create a air conditioner for her which works through her KI as a battery so she decided to get it made asap.
Typically, northern regions weren't this warm. "It's probably because of Fire Mountain," Ayaka explained, holding a magazine about the area. "Fire Mountain used to be called Pleasant Mountain, a cool and delightful place. A few years ago, I visited it, and the climate was still pleasant. But about a year ago, a massive fireball fell from the sky, igniting the earth's core and transforming the mountain into a blazing inferno."
"Wait, Ayaka, you've been to Fire Mountain before?" Bulma asked, intrigued by Ayaka's extensive travels.
Ayaka nodded but didn't elaborate on her previous visit.
"THAT'S THE MOUNTAIN!" Oolong shouted, pointing to a towering, burning peak in the distance. At its summit, a grand castle loomed.
Son Goku climbed onto the car roof to get a better view. "Wow, it's even hotter here than before!" he exclaimed.
"We shouldn't go there—the Ox-King lives nearby!" Oolong warned, stepping out of the car with a pale face. "He's known as the Demon King and kills anyone who approaches the mountain! That castle at the top is his, filled with treasures he's taken from the region. Many robbers have tried to attack it, but none have succeeded against the Ox-King."
Oolong's attempt to flee was thwarted by Bulma, who kicked him in the stomach. She then pulled out the Dragon Ball radar, which beeped to indicate the location of the sixth Dragon Ball. Handing the radar to Ayaka, Bulma said, "We have to go up to Fire Mountain. The radar shows the Dragon Ball is inside that castle."
Ayaka didn't need to check the radar; she already knew the Dragon Ball was in the Ox-King's castle—it was the one she had given him over a year ago.
"FLYING NIMBUS!" Son Goku called out, summoning the cloud. "Bulma, I'm going to check out the castle!"
Ayaka stopped him. "Wait, I'll go with you!" she said, hopping onto the Flying Nimbus. Together, they soared toward the castle, leaving Bulma and Oolong behind.
As Bulma and Oolong rested, a massive figure wielding a giant axe appeared behind them and struck a nearby rock, shattering it into powder.
"AH!" Bulma and Oolong screamed, their faces pale with fear. Turning around, they saw a giant in strange armor.
"It must be the Ox-King! He's sent someone to stop us from taking his Dragon Balls!" Oolong stammered, trembling.
The armored figure glared at them fiercely. "WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? ARE YOU HERE TO STEAL THE TREASURE?"
Bulma tried to explain but was silenced by the giant's intimidating presence. She was so scared that she didn't dare to look up at the massive figure. She was really not a proper martial artist with a proper set of cultivation due to which she wasn't able to tell that she was stronger than the OX king though if it truly were a life and death battle she definitely would die because she is very inexperienced.
Meanwhile, Yamcha and Puar observed the scene from a distance, debating whether to approach Fire Mountain. Yamcha decided to wait and see, hoping to benefit from the chaos.
As Ayaka and Son Goku returned on the Flying Nimbus, they landed between Bulma and the Ox-King. Son Goku addressed the Ox-King directly, "Who are you, uncle? Why are you being so aggressive toward my friend Bulma?"
Ayaka quickly intervened, introducing Son Goku as the grandson of Son Gohan and the third disciple of Master Roshi. The Ox-King, recognizing Ayaka, greeted her warmly and acknowledged Son Goku's lineage.
Bulma, surprised by the connection, exclaimed, "You're actually family!"
After two days of traveling in the car provided by Yamcha, the group finally left the arid desert behind and entered a lush hilly forest area. The cooler weather and dense greenery brought a refreshing vibrancy to their journey.
As they progressed further toward Fire Mountain, the climate grew stiflingly hot, an unexpected change for the northern region.
"It's so muggy! Isn't this the North?" Bulma grumbled, fanning herself with her right hand. Sitting beside her in the car, Ayaka nodded, equally perplexed by the oppressive heat.
"This heat must be because of Fire Mountain," Ayaka explained, holding a magazine featuring the blazing peak. "Fire Mountain wasn't always like this. It was once called Pleasant Mountain, a cool and serene place. A massive fireball fell from the sky about a year ago, igniting the earth's core and turning the mountain into a blazing inferno."
"You've been there before?" Bulma asked curiously.
Ayaka nodded but chose not to delve into the details of her past visit.
Suddenly, Oolong, who was driving, pointed ahead and shouted, "THAT'S THE MOUNTAIN!" In the distance, Fire Mountain stood ablaze, its summit crowned by a towering castle.
Goku climbed onto the roof of the car to get a better view. "Wow, it's even hotter here than it was before!" he exclaimed.
Oolong hesitated before stepping out of the car, his face pale. "We shouldn't go there. The Ox-King lives nearby! He's called the Demon King and kills anyone who approaches the mountain. That castle at the top is his—filled with treasures he's taken from the region. No one's been able to defeat him."
Bulma rolled her eyes at Oolong's cowardice, kicking him in frustration. She pulled out the Dragon Ball radar, which beeped to indicate the location of the sixth Dragon Ball. Handing the radar to Ayaka, she said, "The radar shows it's inside that castle. We have to go up there."
Ayaka glanced briefly at the radar but didn't need it; she already knew the Dragon Ball was in the Ox-King's castle—it was the same one she had gifted him over a year ago.
"FLYING NIMBUS!" Goku shouted, summoning his cloud. "I'm going to check out the castle!"
Ayaka stopped him. "Wait, I'll go with you," she said. Together, they rode the Nimbus toward Fire Mountain.
Back on the ground, the Ox-King emerged and greeted the group. His warm acknowledgment of Ayaka and Goku hinted at their past connections. As the conversation progressed, the Ox-King turned to Goku with a bold request.
"Son Goku," he said, leaning down, "can you head toward Master Roshi's place and bring back my daughter, Chi-Chi?" His voice grew sly as he added, "She's an adorable girl—I can marry her to you later. She'd make a perfect wife!"
Chi-Chi, though young, had her own aspirations for a future husband. She envisioned someone who could provide financial security, a happy family life, and time to spend together. However, her understanding of more complex matters was still childish, leaving her dream idealistic. As a result, she and Goku didn't truly connect romantically.
Goku, now aware of the gravity of marriage and its responsibilities, hesitated to make any promises. Though he admired Chi-Chi's sweet nature, he felt unprepared for such a serious commitment. Respectfully, he refrained from agreeing to the Ox-King's arrangement.
Bulma, on the other hand, found herself unexpectedly irritated by the proposal. Dissatisfaction brewed within her, making her grumpy and short-tempered whenever she looked at Goku. Unspoken emotions seemed to simmer beneath her frustration.
Riding the Flying Nimbus, Goku spotted a fainted girl along the way and compared her to the photo the Ox-King had given him. Confirming her identity, he landed and gently woke her up.
Chi-Chi's cheeks flushed as she recognized him. She recalled Ayaka's words about her future husband and felt a mixture of excitement and embarrassment.
"Are you Chi-Chi?" Goku asked, puzzled by her reaction.
Chi-Chi nodded shyly. Goku picked her up without hesitation and placed her on the Nimbus. "Only pure-hearted people can ride this cloud. Your heart must be very pure!" he praised.
From afar, Oolong watched enviously. "That lucky guy… first a pretty sister, and now this cute girl! I'm jealous to death."
Meanwhile, Ayaka observed the unfolding interactions with a subtle smile. She sensed the tension between Bulma and Goku but chose not to interfere, leaving their dynamics to evolve naturally.
As the group returned to Fire Mountain, a giant sea turtle carrying an old man with a white beard and a turtle shell appeared. The arrival of Master Roshi, the God of Martial Arts, marked the next chapter in their adventure.