Chapter 8: The Red Ribbon Awakens
Fresh from their triumph at Korin Tower, Goku and Aera descended into a world that had subtly changed in their absence. The air felt heavier, the silence between villages too long, too unnatural. It didn't take them long to hear whispers of a new threat spreading like wildfire.
The Red Ribbon Army.
A rogue military force with vast resources and cruel ambitions, the Red Ribbon Army was scouring the Earth for the Dragon Balls—and leaving scorched towns in their wake.
"We can't let them get the Dragon Balls," Goku said, tightening his fist.
Aera tilted her head. "Why do bad people always want the shiny balls?"
Goku shrugged. "Beats me. But we can't let them have 'em!"
Their next goal became clear: collect the Dragon Balls before the Red Ribbon Army could.
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Following the signal from Goku's Dragon Radar, they arrived at a jungle clearing where an enormous military base loomed. Tall fences crackled with electricity, and patrols marched in synchronized steps, their red insignia stark against the steel-gray walls.
Aera blinked. "Are we… gonna fight all of them?"
Goku grinned. "Sounds fun, right?"
She nodded brightly. "Okay!"
The infiltration began.
Goku leapt into the trees, moving like a shadow. Aera followed, giggling whenever she saw something shiny—or exploded something by accident. She didn't mean to step on that tank.
"What was that?!" one soldier screamed as an entire vehicle flipped upside down.
"It's—it's a girl!!" shouted another, pointing as Aera wandered casually through the base, knocking out soldiers left and right without even trying.
"Your outfits are funny," she said, pulling a helmet off one. "Is this for dress-up?"
He fainted.
Goku, meanwhile, darted into the radar room and smashed the scanning equipment. "No more cheating!"
An alarm blared.
"INTRUDERS! ALL UNITS TO SECTOR 9!"
The duo regrouped in the courtyard, surrounded by tanks, mechs, and dozens of elite soldiers.
One officer stepped forward—General Silver.
"You kids picked the wrong army to mess with."
Aera smiled. "Are you strong?"
Silver sneered. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you."
Goku cracked his knuckles. "Try it."
The battle erupted.
Silver charged with blinding speed, but Aera intercepted him with a spinning kick that sent him crashing through a metal wall. He staggered out, bruised and shocked.
"You little—"
Before he could finish, Goku appeared behind him and knocked him out with a single chop.
The soldiers stared, trembling.
Then came the big guns.
Two Red Ribbon battle mechs stomped into view, each the size of a house.
Aera's eyes sparkled. "Ooh! Big robots!"
They opened fire, missiles and energy blasts lighting the sky. Goku deflected some with his staff, while Aera dove through explosions like a dancer, giggling all the way.
She landed atop one of the mechs and ripped off its arm.
"I think this is yours," she told the pilot, handing it back through the windshield. The mech toppled.
Goku punched the core of the second one, disabling it.
The courtyard fell silent.
Smoke drifted lazily into the air.
The Red Ribbon base was in ruins.
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Later, by a riverbank, Goku and Aera rested under the stars, Dragon Ball in hand.
"That makes four," Goku said, examining it. "Three more to go."
Aera dipped her feet in the water. "Those people were really angry."
"They want power. We want adventure. That's the difference."
She looked up at the sky. "I don't want to hurt anyone. But if they try to hurt my friends… I'll stop them."
Goku nodded. "Me too."
They smiled.
Innocence and strength, side by side.
The Red Ribbon wouldn't stop. But neither would they.
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End of Chapter 8