Chapter 1: Crossing Into the World of Dragon Ball
"Damn it… Am I in Dragon Ball now? What the hell is going on?"
"Around Age 749, huh? That means Goku hasn't even met Bulma yet. Their journey doesn't begin until Age 750. Why did I transmigrate so early?"
Ye Lin had just been enjoying a can of Happy Fat House Water while playing a Dragon Ball RPG, when a blinding light engulfed him and pulled him into the world of Dragon Ball. Now, his head was filled with a flood of unfamiliar memories memories that weren't his own.
"Ye Lin, now is the time to grant you the title of Dragon Ball Guardian. What are you doing playing around like that? It's embarrassing. How can I entrust the village's Dragon Ball to someone so unserious?"
Ye Lin looked up. Standing before him was an elderly man with white eyebrows, long gray beard, and traditional martial artist robes. A moment later, just like a status screen from a game, information appeared in front of Ye Lin:
"Village Elder Ge Lao – Leader of Yage Village – Retired martial artist – Combat Power: 20"
Ye Lin's gaze shifted upward toward the village's offering platform. Sitting atop a stone pedestal was a glowing Two-Star Dragon Ball, unmistakably one of the legendary artifacts.
"I... I really ended up in the Dragon Ball universe," Ye Lin muttered, coming to terms with the truth. The body he now inhabited even had the same name as his real self.
"The Village Chief! Village Chief!! It's bad!" a panicked villager burst into the ancestral hall. "A group of armed men are here! They're demanding we hand over the Dragon Ball or they'll massacre everyone!"
Da da da—!
Gunfire crackled in the distance. Cries from the frightened villagers echoed through the mountain air. Ge Lao's expression turned grim.
"Ye Lin, take the Dragon Ball and run. Starting today, you're the new guardian of the Dragon Ball for Yage Village. You must not let it fall into evil hands."
Ding!
"Congratulations, host. You have activated the God-Level Lottery System. The system grants one free initial draw. Would you like to begin the lottery now?"
A system prompt popped up in Ye Lin's mind. A transparent screen hovered in front of him.
"Draw," Ye Lin said silently.
A massive, glowing roulette wheel appeared before him, filled with vibrant tiers of prizes. Categories were ranked from S to E:
S-Class Rewards: Super Saiyan Bloodline, Gear Fourth: Boundman, Nine-Tails Chakra Mode…
A-Class Rewards: Planetary Devastation, Spirit Bomb, Tessaiga…
B-Class Rewards: Destructo Disc, Haki, Almighty Push…
C-Class Rewards: Moonwalk (Geppo), Kamehameha, Rasengan…
D-Class Rewards: Senzu Beans, Dragon Radar, Power Boost, Skill EXP…
E-Class Rewards: Capsule Corp Items, Zeni (money), Hovercar, Luxury Villa…
Ding!
"Congratulations, host! You have received a C-Class reward from the Naruto universe: Rasengan!"
"Additionally, as a first-time draw bonus, you are awarded 30 Combat Power. You may now view your system attributes."
"Status," Ye Lin commanded mentally.
---
[Status Interface]
Name: Ye Lin
Combat Power: 35
Skill:
Rasengan (Level 1, 0/100): A spiraling chakra sphere that increases combat power by 20% upon use.
Items:
Two-Star Dragon Ball x1
---
Ye Lin let out a small laugh. The system had only given him 30 points, and with his body's original strength of 5, he now barely had 35—still considered cannon fodder in the Dragon Ball universe.
But one thing gave him hope: Rasengan Naruto's signature technique was now his. A powerful, close-combat jutsu with high rotational force. This could give him a real edge… for now.
While Ye Lin was still navigating the system interface, Ge Lao placed his hand on Ye Lin's shoulder, eyes heavy with sorrow.
"Ye Lin, listen closely. No matter what, do not allow the Dragon Ball to fall into their hands. I'll buy you some time. Get out of here now!"
With that, Ge Lao turned and left the ancestral hall, heading toward the sounds of conflict.
Ding!
"System Mission Available:
1. Easy Mode: Escape with the Dragon Ball from Yage Village.
2. Normal Mode: Support Elder Ge Lao to repel the attackers.
3. Hard Mode: Defend Yage Village solo, with no civilian casualties.
Reminder: Higher difficulty = greater reward. Please choose a difficulty level."
Ye Lin clenched his fists. In a world where Freeza destroys planets, Red Ribbon remnants conduct deadly experiments, and Saiyans can obliterate mountains, staying weak meant staying dead.
"I choose Hard Mode."
Ding!
"Hard Mode selected. Objective: Defend Yage Village alone and prevent enemy incursion. Good luck!"
Ye Lin immediately reached for the glowing Dragon Ball and tucked it into a cloth satchel tied around his waist. The warmth of the orb pulsed faintly against his hip as if sensing its new guardian.
He rushed out of the ancestral hall, dashing toward the village entrance.
Wind roared in his ears. His movement was much faster than before, the result of his increased combat power. The system's boost was already showing results. The village buildings whizzed past round, capsule-style homes with dome roofs, typical of early Dragon Ball architecture far different from anything Ye Lin had ever seen in his original world.
Indeed, this was the world of Dragon Ball.
And in this world, only strength determined your fate.
The Two-Star Dragon Ball was now in his possession.
And Ye Lin was determined not to let history write him off as a background character.
...
At the entrance of Yage Village, a group of men dressed in black tactical suits stood threateningly, their rifles aimed at the frightened villagers. Each man wore a distinctive red scarf over his shoulders a known symbol of the Red Ribbon Army, the militaristic organization infamous for their global pursuit of the Dragon Balls.
"We're from the Red Ribbon Army," one of them barked. "Hand over the Dragon Ball peacefully. General Silver is feeling generous today. Comply, and you'll leave here with your lives. Resist, and we'll paint this village red!"
The leader—a man in dark sunglasses—raised his machine gun, unleashing a few loud warning shots into the sky. The villagers screamed and trembled.
"Stop right there!" a stern voice rang out. "We will never surrender the Dragon Ball! Get out of Yage Village at once!"
Charging forward from the ancestral hall was Elder Ge, the village chief. Clad in battle-worn gi and wielding a wooden bo staff, his martial aura caused a stir among the villagers.
"It's the village chief! Elder Ge is here! We're saved!" villagers cheered, their fear momentarily giving way to hope.
The man in sunglasses sneered. "The village chief? Don't make me laugh. Fire!"
He fired straight at Elder Ge. But in a stunning blur of motion, Elder Ge spun his staff like a cyclone. The incoming bullets ricocheted off the staff's spinning arc, falling harmlessly to the ground.
When the gunfire ceased, Elder Ge stood completely unharmed.
"W-What the hell!? That's impossible!" the Red Ribbon officer stammered. "Everyone! Take him down! Light him up!"
Dozens of muzzles turned toward Ge Lao. But before they could pull their triggers, the old man launched his bo staff with a mighty heave. The weapon spun like a windmill, smashing into their weapons with precision. In a flurry of crashes and clangs, the Red Ribbon soldiers were disarmed, their rifles shattered and scattered.
The staff boomeranged back into Elder Ge's hand as the soldiers fell back in horror.
"Leave now!" Ge Lao commanded, spear leveled at their trembling group.
But just as the Red Ribbon grunts began backing away, heavy footsteps echoed behind them.
"Huh… a tiny village like this has a martial artist? That's rare," came a rumbling voice.
Out stepped a towering man over two meters tall, muscles rippling beneath a tattered mercenary coat. His presence radiated killing intent. He carried a massive cleaver-like sword on one shoulder, and a scar ran across his face.
"The name's Hong Xiong," he said. "I'm a freelance enforcer hired by General Silver. Old man, hand over the Dragon Ball and you won't suffer more than a few broken bones."
A burst of wind blew as Hong Xiong lowered his blade. Elder Ge's long white hair flew wildly in the gust. The old warrior's expression turned grim.
He could tell from the man's stance—Hong Xiong wasn't just muscle. He was trained.
"If you want the Dragon Ball," Ge Lao said with fire in his voice, "you'll have to go through me!"
With a shout, Ge Lao twirled his staff, charging like a bullet. The villagers watched in awe as their chief moved with a speed belying his age.
But Hong Xiong merely smirked. "Another foolish old man who doesn't know the difference between a stage performer and a killer."
With one hand, he swung his cleaver with devastating force. The air seemed to crack as the blade descended.
CRACK!
The spear shattered on impact, splinters flying. Elder Ge rolled aside, avoiding the full brunt of the blow, but before he could recover, Hong Xiong's blade twisted midair.
BOOM!
The cleaver slammed into Ge Lao's chest, sending him flying ten meters. He crashed into a cart, coughing up blood as he collapsed in a heap.
"Village chief!" the villagers screamed.
They wanted to help, but none dared move.
"Pathetic," Hong Xiong scoffed. "You're no real martial artist. You're a relic playing warrior."
Blood dripped from Elder Ge's mouth. He tried to stand, but his ribs were cracked, and the pain froze him in place.
He looked up at the approaching mercenary, whose massive form blocked out the sun.
Ge Lao closed his eyes. There was no escape.
Hong Xiong raised his cleaver high, its edge gleaming under the sunlight. He had no hesitation—only the cold efficiency of a career killer.
But just as the blade was about to fall—
RAT-TAT-TAT!
Gunfire tore through the air. Hong Xiong instinctively leapt aside mid-strike, his cleaver raised to deflect the shots. Sparks flew as bullets slammed into the blade, failing to pierce it.
From behind, Ye Lin emerged, smoke rising from the barrel of a discarded submachine gun at his feet.
"So, bullets don't work... as expected. This is the world of Dragon Ball. Here, brute strength always trumps firepower."
Ye Lin tossed the gun aside. There was no point in clinging to weak Earth technology.
"You little punk…" Hong Xiong growled. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But now you've pissed me off."
His eyes glowed with killing intent.
"I'm going to turn you into paste!"
—