"Roar!"
The raging giant ape failed to catch Yamcha no matter how many times it tried—especially after Yamcha began using the Bukūjutsu (Sky Dance Technique), making it completely impossible for the ape to reach him.
The giant ape's body was massive. While its movement speed wasn't necessarily hindered by its size, the energy expenditure was a different matter. A body of that magnitude consumed stamina many times more than an average human. Though the transformation brought a tenfold increase in combat power, it also demanded an enormous amount of energy. This is why every Saiyan had such an astonishing appetite.
To sum it up in one sentence: Strong, yes—but not sustainable.
After several failed attempts, the giant ape began panting heavily.
"Is that all?"
Yamcha looked slightly disappointed. This giant ape hadn't caused him much trouble. Its speed, reflexes, and even strength were far weaker than he had anticipated. Judging by its combat power, this couldn't be Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.
Even though Vegeta in Kakarot didn't have the full 18,000 battle power like in the original series, he wasn't weak either. Yamcha didn't yet consider himself capable of withstanding a Great Ape Vegeta in direct combat.
Once again, Yamcha effortlessly dodged the giant ape's attack. But this time, he noticed a sly glint flash in those massive blood-red eyes.
"Oh no!"
Watching from the sidelines, Grandpa Gohan (Son Gohan the First) instantly understood the ape's intent. Alarmed, he tried to warn Yamcha—but it was too late.
The giant ape opened its gaping maw toward Yamcha. A massive surge of power began to gather and burst outward.
Mouth blast attack again!
Normally, when a low-class Saiyan transforms into a Great Ape, they lose all reason and become a beast driven by pure instinct. However, this hidden attack revealed a glimmer of cunning from the beast's remaining intelligence.
But this time, Yamcha didn't dodge.
Facing the approaching blast head-on, Yamcha showed no panic or fear.
Instead, he had an almost underwhelmed expression.
That's it?
A beast's wisdom was still just that—bestial. His opponent was Yamcha, known for his caution and strategy.
Everything had been within his calculations.
Yamcha calmly extended his hands, interlocking eight fingers and raising both index fingers.
Veins bulged on his forehead, and his energy wrapped around his body in a unique way, forming a strange protective barrier.
"Roar!"
The giant ape had no idea what Yamcha was doing. It only thought its trick had worked. A rare, human-like smirk appeared on its face.
This pesky little bug was finally going to turn to dust!
The mouth blast struck Yamcha directly. But instead of the expected explosion, something unbelievable happened. The blast bounced off Yamcha at an impossible angle, as if it had hit rubber, and rebounded back toward the ape with even greater speed.
Crane School Rebound Technique!
This was a technique developed by Master Shen specifically to counter the Kamehameha. It never had a formal name, but "Rebound Technique" was quite fitting.
Tien had once used it during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament—rebounding Yamcha's Kamehameha in the original story.
Now, Yamcha himself had mastered it.
Still basking in its brief moment of triumph, the giant ape didn't see the reversal coming. It just stood there, dumbfounded.
Boom!
The rebounded mouth blast struck the giant ape with perfect precision. It barely had time to let out a miserable roar before collapsing with a thunderous crash, white smoke rising from its body.
"Use his own move against him."
The ape had fallen victim to its own power.
Seeing the giant ape knocked down by its own blast, Yamcha slowly descended from the sky.
Throughout the entire fight, he hadn't used any abilities beyond his Ki. In a way, Yamcha had now reached the level where he could take down beings with 100 combat power directly.
As for his actual strength now—that would need a new benchmark to judge.
"Please, show mercy…"
A weak voice came from behind.
Grandpa Gohan, thinking Yamcha was about to deliver a killing blow, quickly called out.
"That monster is actually my grandson."
His face full of sorrow, Grandpa Gohan briefly explained the situation.
As expected, the boy's name was Son Goku.
"He used to be such an obedient child... I don't know why he turned into this just from glancing at the moon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a realization hit him hard. "Could it be?!!"
Yamcha looked up at the massive full moon above and nodded. "Looks like the moon is the reason."
Hearing Yamcha's confirmation, Grandpa Gohan's expression turned gloomy. "What should we do?"
He wasn't strong enough to destroy the moon—and Yamcha had no intention of doing so either.
Even if he could destroy it, he wouldn't.
The moon played a vital role for Earth. Tides, among other natural phenomena, were deeply connected to it, affecting oceanic life significantly.
Of course, that knowledge came from Yamcha's previous life on his Earth. In the Dragon Ball world, tides didn't seem to depend much on the moon.
Still, Yamcha wouldn't act rashly.
Too risky.
So he asked—
"Is there anything different about your grandson compared to ordinary people?"
Grandpa Gohan thought for a moment and replied, "He has a tail."
"I see."
With a flick of his wrist, Yamcha fired a small Ki blast directly at the base of the ape's tail.
The moment the tail was severed, the ape visibly began to shrink, eventually returning to the form of a boy around ten years old.
At the sight of the child's hairstyle, Yamcha finally let out a breath of relief.
"No receding M-shaped hairline... That wild mop—definitely Kakarot."
Although Grandpa Gohan had already told him the boy's name was Son Goku, there was always the chance some other Saiyan also had that name. Better safe than sorry.
Best to confirm visually—
Identify a Saiyan by their hairstyle.
As everyone knows, a pure-blooded Saiyan's hairstyle is fixed from birth and doesn't change unless they go bald. It remains the same even until death.
"T-this…"
Grandpa Gohan was both shocked and delighted to see his grandson return to human form. He rushed over to scoop up the now-naked young Goku, wrapping him in his own clothes to keep him warm.
It was clear he truly loved Goku as if he were his own grandson.
Like Master Roshi, Grandpa Gohan had never married. The reason remained unknown.
"The tail is the key to his transformation."
Yamcha said solemnly.
"Thank you so much, young martial artist."
Grandpa Gohan thanked Yamcha profusely. Finally, perhaps out of curiosity, he couldn't help but ask:
"Are you a practitioner of the Crane School?"
(End of Chapter)