The Monke King: Ch.30

As I reappeared on the platform that was the Lookout, I blinked as I saw Mr. Popo already standing on the outside, a peaceful smile on his face while his eyes lit up as he saw me appear.

“Gohan, glad that you could come so early.”

“Well, I could not keep you waiting for long. I have to ask, though. Have you thought on my offer?”

“To live on Earth? Unfortunately, the answer is still no,” He answered and I was a bit disappointed as I smiled and nodded while he continued.

“Kami wished for me to look over humanity when they overcame the Androids and help them prosper. While you have not needed my help for that, I still wish to see that I fulfill his promise.”

“I can understand that,” I nodded as I followed after him, stopping at the entrance as the man walked into the building to most likely go and fetch the weapon.

'Okay, I hope the weapon is at least as versatile as the Power Pole,' I thought as I took the miniature pole from my ear, expanding it to its original size before resting it on my shoulder.

“Hmm, you've helped me quite a bit in returning to my roots,” I muttered as I thought of the times that I saw Father fighting on TV, more specifically his battles against the Red Ribbon Army when he was younger.

Damn, those were the days, just coming home from school and watching him either take down armies or fight in world tournaments against the most powerful fighters there was.

'And now, here I am, in one of my favourite universes and using the weapon of someone that was both my father and a role model in my younger years,' I thought with a smile before blinking as Mr. Popo's steps came closer, looking up to see him walk out while carrying a long, cloth-wrapped bundle in both hands.

My eyes sharpened as I saw him holding it reverently and as he held it out, I placed the Power Pole down and slowly took it while softly unwrapping the cloth.

“These were made from Kami's bones and the staff he used as his tenure of being Earth's Guardian,” That surprised me as I looked up, finally noting the look of longing in his eyes before I narrowed my eyes as I sat and decided to handle it with more care.

“I thought his body had vanished after Mr. Piccolo was killed by the Androids?”

“Usually, it would, but he forced his soul to stay attached to his very bones in hopes that I would be able to forge you a weapon powerful enough to face off against the Androids. I only regret that it took me this long to figure out how to combine the two.”

“Better late than never,” I spoke with a smile and he nodded as he picked up the Power Pole, unravelling the last of the cloth before my eyes widened as I marvelled at the staff in my lap.

It was a bo-staff just like the Power Pole, but unlike its red form, the staff was a dark brown, inscriptions etched onto its sides while its ends were tipped with golden caps that had slight claws at the ends.

“I call it The Staff To Change The World or as Kami used to call it, Jingu Bang.”

'Wasn't Sun Wukong's staff named like that or at least something similar? Guess I really am the Monke King, huh?', I thought with a smirk as I stood up, lifting the staff in both hands while feeling its weight.

Twirling it in my hands, I could feel it shifting and twisting the air, feeling my ki wrapping around its caps before I thrust the staff forward and watched as it extended to triple its length in the blink of an eye.

“That's a lot faster than the Power Pole,” I murmured as I retracted it, watching as it shrunk to the size of a toothpick before I pushed it even further as this was the smallest the Power Pole could have gone.

To my surprise, I watched as it shrunk to the size of a ricegrain, marvelling at its size before expanding it back to its normal length and holding it in my off-hand

“It does. Its speed and ability to stretch is a reflection of Kami's love and vision to see the world in its entirety. As you grow, so will it and perhaps once day, you can hand it down to your son just as you did with the Power Pole,” Kami spoke as he handed it back and I stared at the red staff before shrinking it back down and putting it back in its spot in my ear.

“What else can it do?”

“Well, just like the Power Pole, it can extend and bend, but one added ability is that it can split.”

“Split? As in…split apart or cloning?”

“The latter,” He answered and I blinked as I looked at the Jingu Bang, lifting it once again and focusing my ki into the staff. I watched as the inscriptions began to glow faintly, feeling a pulse from the staff before it shimmered.

The next moment, my eyes widened and my right hand reached out as the original Jingu Bang leapt to my right hand, staring at the perfect copy that was now in my right hand before I watched as two more grew from the two staves with a thought.

“How many?'

“Depends on how many ki clones you could make,” He answered back and I grinned as the cloned staves vanished while I shrunk Jingu Bang back down to the size of a baton.

“You sure you don't want to come hang out once and a while with us?”, I asked as I attached the staff to my side, to which Mr. Popo just chuckled before shaking his head.

“If I ever wish to, you will be the first to know.”

“I'll hold you to that!”, I spoke with a grin as I held two fingers to my forehead, giving a final wave before vanishing and reappearing beside Bulma.

“Sweet gods!”, She exclaimed while clutching her portable computer to her chest, glaring at me as I gave an apologetic smile before raising an eyebrow as she noticed the new staff at my side.

“Don't you already have the Power Pole?”

“I do, but this one is just as good and can do a few more things too.”

“Hmm, wanted your own, didn't you?”, She said with a knowing smile, giggling as I just shrugged before I looked to where Shin and Kibito were in the room with her.

“Ah, hey, Shin, Kibito. How goes the treatment?”, I asked, looking at the slight wrinkles on Shin's face and the feel of his ki, which felt more mature and controlled.

“As best as it can. The aging process has been slowed down somewhat, but I believe it's still a bit of a struggle for Ms. Bulma to figure out exactly how to reverse the effects.”

“What about you, Kibito? You doing okay?”

“I…am doing my best,” Kibito spoke with a nod, having mellowed out over the past week after he had gotten used to us.

“I must say, though, it's enlightening to experience mortality inching closer with every day. It grants me an understanding of what you mortals experience on a daily basis in a way that I can't help but cherish.

“Yeah, that's the thing about being mortal. The short lifespans result in our minds trying to figure out the best way to leave a legacy behind for our children to pick up after us and continue forward,” Bulma spoke as she narrowed her eyes at something on her screen, to which Shin hummed while looking to be in thought.

“A legacy…I like the sound of that.”

“Why do I feel divine energy coming from your new staff?”, Kibito asked softly as the two of us stepped back when Bulma decided to continue her tests and I smiled as I patted the staff.

“It was made from the bones and personal staff that belonged to the former Guardian Deity of Earth.”

“Ah, so his essence was used to create it?”

“Something like that. I don't know the exact process that was used,” I answered with a shrug, but he seemed pleased with my answer as he crossed his arms and looked back at where Bulma was going on with her tests.

“Gohan, since you aren't doing anything, why don't you go and tell Videl that I need them to spread information about the new Senzu Beans?…And that I need a few volunteers to test them out?”

“What makes you think people would want to sacrifice themselves for your mad science?”, I asked even as I walked out and chuckled as she scoffed while Shin and Kibito looked wary.

“Because I am the smartest person on this planet. Now go.”

“Aye-aye, Ms. Genius,” I joked before holding two fingers to my forehead and vanishing, reappearing behind Videl and Erasa right as the two spun and kicked at my head.

“Oh, hello~”, Erasa waved with a sheepish giggle as they lowered their legs and I just looked at her with a smirk while a bit impressed at the impact I felt from their kicks.

It wasn't enough to hurt, but the fact that I could feel it at all means that they're at least getting somewhere in their training.

'Still a long way to go until they can keep up, but progress is progress no matter how small,'

“So, what do you need?”, Videl asked and I shrugged as I pulled a chair closer before sitting down in between the two of them.

“Bulma has made a new Senzu Bean strain. I'm sure you can figure out why I'm here from that.”

“Okay, she needs new guinea pigs, then?”, Erasa asked, nodding as I smiled while Videl turned on the intercom and cleared her throat.

“Attention, citizens of the Monke Kingdom, Our Grand Scientist has formed a new strand of the Senzu Beans. Please volunteer if you wish to be a part of the testing phase. I repeat, please volunteer if you wish to be a part of the testing phase. Thank you and have a good day.”

“When do I get the secretary voice?”, I asked as Videl turned the intercom off and she rolled her eyes despite her amused smile as Erasa giggled.

“You're going to have to try hard for her to use it. She hates using the voice unless it's either for announcements or to get the attention of certain people that don't listen when they're spoken to.”

“Ah, I know those types of people. They're really annoying,” I agreed with a nod, hiding my smirk as Erasa rolled her eyes while Videl smiled amusedly.

“I'm sure you're not just here for Bulma's message. What's up?”

“What, I can't come and visit my girlfriends when I want to?”

“Gohan, you're the king of not only our Monke Kingdom, but also the entire planet. You don't have time to visit people.”

“And what else am I supposed to do? Paperwork is handled by Mom, the Dragon Warriors are commanded by Yajirobe and Grandpa, Trunks, Vomi and Cell are in charge of scanning the planet for Babidi, Bulma is busy with the Kais and you two are on intelligence and logistics. That leaves security for me, which I'm always doing and looking good, which I can do in my sleep.”

“Believe me, you do not look good in your sleep. We would know,” Erasa spoke with a shake of her head and I rolled my eyes as Videl nodded in agreement.

“My point is that I have free time and from what I'm seeing, you guys are finished with your work, so…”

“You want to go on a date? With one of us?”, Videl asked and I scoffed as I held out both hands.

“No, both of you. Why would I pick one over the other?”

“Videl is your favourite and we all know it,” Erasa spoke with a smirk and I looked to Videl to see her raising an eyebrow at me before turning back to the amused blonde.

“You just love making my life a mess, don't you?”

“I'm the concubine. It's what I do.”

“Sister-wife. Stop calling yourself a concubine,” Videl spoke with a frown and I smiled as Erasa rolled her eyes while she gave a thankful smile.

“…So, date?”, Unfortunately, I cut through the precious moment and they both looked at me before I felt wary at the mischievous look that appeared in their eyes.

“What are you two thinking?'

“Oh, a date sounds very nice so let's start with…this one. You help us work!”, Erasa exclaimed with glee as she pulled me closer and I blinked as Videl thrust the intercom mic into my hands.

“Now, you're on.”

“…Anyone know a good place to eat dinosaur meat? I'm joking! Ahem! Hey, everybody! It's me, Gohan!”

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Throwing Jingu Bang into the sky, I held my hand up to it before flaring my ki and watched as the staff vanished mid air, reappearing in my hands while I grunted as it kept its momentum.

Spinning with said momentum, I expanded it before swinging it outwards in a wide arc, feeling the heavy pressure made from the staff as the air twisted wherever it passed.

Retracting it once again while stabbing behind me, I spun and threw it right as I activated the cloning ability. In the blink of an eye, a dozen Jingu Bang decimated a tree in front of me, the trunk slowly falling over while I called the staff back.

“Damn, this thing is a lot stronger than the Power Pole,” I murmured as I called it back, watching as the cloned staves vanished while the original appeared in my hands.

It's not just the fact that it felt lighter and more dense than the Power Pole, but also the fact that its abilities to clone itself and reappear in my hands while keeping its momentum instead of flying through the air and letting someone else take it.

'But the Power Pole is still a viable weapon,' I thought as I looked at where it was, watching in amazement as Mom easily copied my exact movements while extending and retracting the Power Pole with precision.

You know, I keep forgetting that she's one of the best martial artist on the planet and it shows whenever she's fighting. Her movements are fluid and efficient yet they're filled with power and precise enough to deliver devastating damage.

“How does it feel, Mom?”, I asked as I retracted the Jingu Bang to its shortened size, sticking it into my ear while watching as Mom retracted the Power Pole with a smile.

“It feels wonderful, reminds me of the times your father used to use it,” She spoke softly as she sheathed it onto her back into the same sheath that Dad used when he was younger.

“Glad to hear. So, you sure you can look over everything while I'm gone?”, I asked and she rolled her eyes while patting my cheek with a smile.

“Gohan, I've had to look over your kingdom while you were gone on Namek and Yardrat. I think I can watch over your planet for a few more days.”

“Okay, then.”

“Have you cleared it with the others, though?”, She asked with a raised eyebrow and I cracked my neck while nodding.

“I did. Videl and Erasa are coming with and Trunks promised to keep an eye out for Babidi and his men since they haven't tried to do anything in the past two days,” That was the part that stumped me as I expected them to have attacked already, but it appears this Babidi is just as patient and conniving as his counterpart from the canon story.

He was most likely trying to wait out Shin dying and releasing the seal of Majin Buu, which meant that we had to speed up the search which is why, Cell and Vomi have expanded their search radius to cover the entirety of the planet instead of just the continent we were on.

“Hey, Gohan!”, I looked up and smiled at the sight of Videl and Erasa landing, the two sharing a hug with a smiling Mom which was always a fun sight especially considering Mom tried to kill one of them.

“You guys ready?”, I asked and they both nodded as I held two fingers to my forehead, Videl and Erasa placing a hand on my back as I looked to Mom with a smile.

“Be safe and make sure nothing is destroyed when I get back.”

“I can't promise that,” She spoke and I shook my head with a chuckle before feeling an energy flaring up, focusing on it and smiling as I felt more being activated right beside the first energy.

“Instant Transmission,” With one final smile to Mom, the three of us vanished and disappeared out of the World of the Living, staring at the smiling figure in front of us as well as the few behind them.

“So, you finally came for your training, huh?”, King Kai asked with a smirk and I nodded as I bowed my head.

“I am. Please, teach me the same moves that you taught my father.”

A/N: The chapter ends here as Gohan is now going to train under King Kai in preparation for the massive battle against Babidi and his henchmen.

Will their training be enough? Find out next time.

Also, sorry for the late upload, but I finished it…and then I completely forgot the chapter was here. That's on me.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!