Part 1: A Warrior's Breakfast
The morning sun blazed over Capsule Corp's main compound, its light reflecting off the metallic surfaces in sharp angles. Kairo sat at the dining table, his clawed fingers carefully gripping a fork as he stared at the mountain of food before him.
Goku, already on his third plate, grinned between mouthfuls. **"C'mon, eat up! Training on an empty stomach sucks!"**
Vegeta scoffed from across the table. **"Don't compare your bottomless stomach to proper warrior nutrition."**
Kairo poked at the eggs, still unused to eating in this form. His elongated canines made it difficult not to tear through the plate. A sudden clatter made him jerk his head up—**Pan**, now a young woman, had dropped her utensils, staring at him with wide eyes.
**"So... you're really a dragon?"** she asked, equal parts curious and wary.
Before Kairo could respond, Bulma strutted in, a tablet in hand. **"Half-dragon, technically. And according to these readings, his cells are still adapting to Earth's environment."** She leaned uncomfortably close, studying his face. **"How's your tail feeling?"**
Kairo instinctively reached back where his missing appendage should have been. The phantom ache never left. **"...It's fine."**
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### **Part 2: The Mission Briefing**
The holographic display in Capsule Corp's war room flickered to life, projecting a star map. **Whis**, ever serene, gestured to a blinking red dot.
**"A disturbance has appeared near New Vegeta. Energy signatures matching... well, you."** His violet eyes settled on Kairo.
Vegeta crossed his arms. **"Explain."**
**"It seems another of the Astral Dragons may have survived,"** Whis said. **"Or rather, something wearing their skin."**
Kairo's claws dug into the table, splintering the metal. The dragon's memories surged—flashes of slaughter, of betrayal.
Goku cracked his knuckles. **"Guess we're checkin' it out!"**
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### **Part 3: Arrival on New Vegeta**
The planet's orange skies stretched endlessly, the air thick with the scent of sulfur. Kairo's boots crunched against the crystalline soil as their group touched down.
**"Stay alert,"** Vegeta growled. **"This reeks of a trap."**
A guttural roar split the air. From the canyon ahead, a **massive, decaying dragon** lurched into view—its body was a grotesque patchwork of sewn-together parts, its single remaining eye glowing malevolent red.
Kairo froze. **"That's... impossible."**
The creature's jaws split open, and a voice that wasn't its own echoed forth:
**"Little brother... you should have stayed dead."**
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### **Part 4: The Corruption Revealed**
Goku and Vegeta shot forward in a blur of motion, their fists colliding with the abomination's hide—only to bounce off harmlessly.
**"What the—?!"** Goku yelped as a claw sent him flying.
Kairo's body moved before his mind could catch up. He intercepted the next strike, his own claws locking against the creature's. Up close, the stench of rot was overwhelming.
**"You're not a dragon,"** Kairo snarled. **"You're a puppet."**
The thing laughed, its jaw unhinging grotesquely. **"But the power is real. Just like yours will be... once we tear it from your corpse."**
A shadow fell over them. Kairo barely had time to shout a warning before the **blade of light** descended—the same one from his memories.
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### **Part 5: The Hunter Appears**
The attacker landed gracefully, their form obscured by a cloak of shifting void. The weapon in their hand pulsed with the same energy that had severed Kairo's tail.
Vegeta wiped blood from his lip. **"About time the real threat showed up."**
The hunter ignored him, their gaze fixed on Kairo. When they spoke, the voice was androgynous, dripping with contempt.
**"The last pureblood reduced to this... how amusing."**
Kairo's vision tinted red. **"You."**
The hunter raised their blade. **"Let's see if you die as easily as your kin."**
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### **Part 6: The Dragon's Wrath**
Kairo's transformation came without thought. Golden scales rippled across his skin as his **Dragon Ascendant** form erupted forth—but this time, something was different. The energy was wilder, more primal.
The hunter's first strike was a blur, but Kairo **moved faster**, his claws leaving deep gashes across their chest.
Goku whooped. **"Now we're talkin'!"**
But the hunter only laughed, their wound sealing instantly. **"Good. The stronger you are, the more satisfying your death will be."**
As their battle shook the canyon walls, Kairo realized with dawning horror:
*This foe knew dragon-slaying techniques lost to time.*
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To Be Continued...