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Dragon Ball Manga Volume #8.
New Characters:
Senpyou: The short, squat cat holding a staff, that lives at the top
of Karin Tower. He guards the Chousei water, and is
initially faster and stronger than Gokuu.
Bora: Correction to the last chapter's guide. Bora is the big
Indian protecting the Seichi Karin holy grounds, and is the
father of Upa.
Violet Taisa -- One of the few women working for Red Ribbon (showing
that Blue Shogun lied to Buruma in the last volume, about women
not being accepted as RR soldiers. She uses Gokuu's Dragon
Radar to recover one of the other Balls, but is seen for only 3
panels. Another RR commander.
Fighting styles:
Dodon -- This actually a mimetic adjective used to describe something
that is very powerful (eg. -- That bull is dodon strong.) This
is the name Tao-pie pie uses for his finger-blast, which is
more powerful than Gokuu's Kamehame-ha. Dodon can also be
used as a sound effect for an explosion (kind of like calling
your bomb a "ka-whump".)
Other notes:
Seichi Karin -- The holy grounds surrounding the base of the tower
leading up to Senpyou-sama.
Chouseisui -- Or, the holy "chou" water. Rumored to bestow great
strength and speed on the person who drinks it. Gokuu climbs the
Karin Tower to reach the home of Senpyou-sama, to drink this water
in the hopes of becoming strong enough to defeat Tao-pie pie after
the assassin had killed Bora.
Senzu -- An edible seed. Just one can help you recover from fatigue and
physical damage. First appears at the top of Karin Tower.
Story:
Volume 8
As Bora is thanking Gokuu for rescuing his son, Upa, our hero notices
that the Indian is holding his grandfather's Dragon Ball in one hand.
Gokuu goes crazy celebrating, and Bora demands to know why people want
the thing so badly. At the same time, Blue Shogun is returning to Red
Ribbon HQ. One guard doesn't recognize him, and dies for his mistake.
Inside, Tao-pie pie is introducing himself to Red Sousui as the world's
greatest assassin. He demands 1 billion zenii for his services, and
Black wants to know if he's really the great Tao-pie pie. However,
since the assassin wants to set up a special assassins' "campaign," he's
willing to shave off half the cost if Red will help him. Black is still
dubious. Then, Blue rushes in. Red isn't impressed with Blue's
performance, even after Blue turns over Buruma's Dragon Radar. Although
the radar is better than anything that RR has, the only way Red will be
mollified is if Tao-pie pie uses Blue to prove if the assassin is as
good as he claims. Tao tells Blue to attack any way he wants, while the
assassin will limit himself to just using his tongue. Blue says that
this will be fun, attacks, missing the other guy, and then falls dead on
the ground after Tao pokes a hole in his temple. Tao slurps off his
tongue, Red and Black admit that he is what he claims, and then show him
a photo of his target. Tao is surprised that it's just a kid, but Red
warns him that Gokuu had already defeated a number of other talent.
(Note: On page 18, we get to see for the first time just exactly how
short Red really is.) Black offers Tao the use of a helicopter, but Tao
declines, saying that would take too long. He breaks off a section of
pillar, calculates the distance to Gokuu's current location, says he'll
be there in 30 mintes, throws the pillar, and then leaps on it for the
ride. Black is stunned, and Red is ecstatic in the knowledge that Gokuu
will soon be dead.
Bora comments on the nature of the Balls, and Gokuu says that he
doesn't want them to make a wish, he just wanted the one that has his
grandfather's soul. Then, he asks about the Tower, which leads into the
heavens. At the top, it's rumored that there's a magical water that can
give you great strength and speed. Gokuu is impressed, because even
Kintoen can't fly that high. As they remark on the water's ability, Upa
sees something approaching. Tao-pie pie lands ("Aloha,") announcing that
he's the world's greatest assassin. Bora tells him to leave, but Tao
says that he has business with Gokuu, and is working for Red Ribbon.
Upa asks his father to help, and Bora ignores Gokuu's pleas to stay out
of this. Tao calls Bora a fool, then shows Bora just how weak the Indian
really is. When Bora lands, with the spear through his chest, he's
dead.
Gokuu attacks, and Tao is surprised that the boy can survive his kick
into the tower. Gokuu swears, uses Kamehame-ha, and just manages to rip
up Tao's clothing. This pisses off Tao, who answers back with Dodon,
and kills Gokuu. Tao finds the Dragon Balls, and says that his job is
done. In anger, Upa throws a rock, which Tao blows back, says that the
boy is lucky he's not dead. Then Tao leaves on his pillar. Back at RR
HQ, Red is still gloating, but this turns to anger when the Radar board
shows Gokuu's three balls leaving the Seichi Karin (Note: the board
indicates that RR has one ball, and one is still in Seichi Karin.)
In a small town, Tao has found a tailor that will make him a copy of
his old uniform. The man says it'll take 1 week, Tao insists that it
only take 3 days. Tao then asks to use a phone, and calls in to tell
Red that he has all of the Balls. Red corrects him, saying one is still
back at the tower. However, the news that Gokuu is dead keeps Red from
getting too angry, and Tao promises to get the remaining ball.
After burying his father, Upa promises to grow up strong like him,
and starts burying Gokuu. But, the boy is still alive, and the Dragon
Ball that falls out of his ripped jersey shows why. His grandfather
saved him. But, he sees Bora's grave, and vows to get all of the Balls
to make a wish to bring Bora back. Upa is surprised that this is possible,
and Gokuu explains about the Dragon. However, he's not strong enough to
face Tao-pie pie by himself. That's when Upa tells him to climb the
Tower. Gokuu decides to do this, and rushes up the pillar, leaving Upa
behind in amazement. However, it takes him a full 24 hours, and as he's
about to give up, he sees the top. He starts searching for the water,
and a voice tells him to go up one more floor (where "the master"
lives.) There, he finds a big house cat, holding a staff. Gokuu asks
for the water, the cat gives him a hard time, and when Gokuu asks where
the master is, he's shocked to hear that he's talking to him. The cat
introduces himself as Senpyou (cat master)-sama, and points out where
the Chousei water is. He also knows why Gokuu wants it. So, when Gokuu
tries to take the water, he's very surprised that Senpyou hits him with
the staff. Turns out that Gokuu must take the water away from Senpyou,
first.
After a while, Gokuu gets tired, and Senpyou tosses him lunch -- a
senzu seed. Gokuu is disgusted at first, then very happy at being
completely recharged. They continue fighting for the water.
Eventually, exhausted again, Gokuu asks questions: No, he's not the
first person to come for the water; there was another 300 years ago.
And, Senpyou-sama is 800 years old. The other person was Mutenroushi
Kamesennin. Took Kamesennin "3" to get the water. ("3 minutes??!!"
"No, 3 years.")
Gokuu panics at first, then renews his attack. He uses everything,
including "One pattern" on a massive scale. Senpyou attacks the wrong
pattern by mistake, but Gokuu still misses when he lunges for the water.
Senpyou then escalates matters by stealing Gokuu's Dragon Ball and
throwing it over the railing. Furiously, the boy rushes down the
pillar, gets the ball, and rushes back up. He demands to know why the
cat did that, and Senpyou replies that Gokuu is already improving -- the
first time, it had taken 1 day to climb the tower, and now he's just
gone down and back up in 3 only hours. So, they get back to fighting
until finally breaking to sleep. Gokuu almost steals the water while
the cat is sleeping, but decides against it. The cat was just faking
sleep, and is happy with the boy's honesty, thinking that Kamesennin had
tried the same trick, too.
The next day, Gokuu lunges forward, and tickles Senpyou, making the
cat drop the staff and water. Gokuu also fakes a falling-to-his-death
scream, having grabbed the railing with his tail. Gokuu is happy, the
cat is stunned that it had only taken 3 days to get the water, including
the time to climb the tower. But, the Chousei water is just plain
ordinary tap water -- the true secret is that all of the fighting is
what makes you faster and stronger. Happy, Gokuu leaves.
At the base of the Tower, Upa is expecting visitors, and hopes that
his friend is ok, since three days have already passed. In town,
Tao-pie pie is pleased with the fit of his clothes, but annoyed that the
tailor doesn't recognize him as the world's greatest assassin, and has
demanded payment for the clothes. So Tao kills the tailor and returns
via his pillar to Seichi Karin. Arriving at the Tower, he demands to
know where the other Ball is, and when Upa attacks, Tao throws the child
at the Tower. Gokuu arrives just in time, yelling for Kintoen, to save
Upa and surprise Tao. Gokuu faces the assassin, saying that he's the
one with the Dragon Ball, and he wants the other 3 back. They banter
with each other, then fight. Tao can't believe that Gokuu has changed
so much in just three days, and is further shocked to hear that Gokuu
had been at the top of the Tower (Tao knows the rumors, himself.) He
prepares to have some fun with a real challenge. They fight some more,
until Tao's clothes get trashed again and he loses his temper. However,
when he unleashes his Dodon attack, Gokuu catches it in his hands. Tao
can't believe this, and Gokuu refuses to waste a Kamehame-ha attack on him.
Then the assassin gets mad, pulls out a capsule, and starts using his
sword to dismember Gokuu. Upa runs to the teepee and throws Gokuu's bo
to his friend. After breaking the sword, he discards the bo to continue
fighting hand-to-hand. They banter some more (Tao repeats his claim as
the world's greatest assassin,) then Tao gets in a really good attack
(Upa wants to know what's gone wrong.) Convinced that he's finally won,
Tao gloats about keeping his title. Then Gokuu stands up and says it's
his turn. Tao calls him a monster.
Gokuu beats up Tao some more, and Tao realizes that the boy is faster
and stronger then him. When Gokuu takes a stork-pose (ala Karate Kid,)
Tao admits that he's a bad man and surrenders. This takes Gokuu by
surprise, which gives Tao the chance to pull out a canister, throw it,
leap up, and yell out "Die!!!" Upa recognizes the thing as a bomb, and
Gokuu kicks it out of the way. Up beside Tao-pie pie. Where it
explodes. Killing him.
This ends the combat on a high note, and Gokuu promises to get the
remaining Balls and bring Bora back to life. But, two of the Balls are
in RR HQ, so Upa tries to talk Gokuu out of his quest. Gokuu won't be
swayed, and calls Kintoen before rushing off.
Black announces that Violet has arrived. The woman hands over a
Dragon Ball, commenting on the usefulness of the little Radar. Red is
happy. Then, a soldier announces that the 4 Balls are moving, and
everyone thinks that Tao-pie pie is returning to the HQ. Meanwhile,
Gokuu catches up to a strange little aircraft. It's a remote camera
that Buruma is controlling from Kamesennin's house. The people in the
house are surprised to see Gokuu, and wonder if the boy is coming back
home. But, their Radar screen shows that 4 Balls are moving away from
the island. Kushami realizes that the other 2 Balls are sitting at the
site of RR HQ, and Buruma sends the camera out to confirm this (Gokuu
tried asking the camera to accompany him on their flight, but is
surprised at being rebuffed. That, and the camera is faster than
Kintoen.) Flier 84 reports that he's shot down a UFO, and the radio
operator thinks that it may have been Tao-pie pie. But, the 4 Balls are
still moving. The pilot says that he sees Tao approaching, then yells
that it's not the assassin after all.
On the island, everyone is panicking over the idea of Gokuu
single-handedly attacking RR HQ. Buruma has to be reminded that she has
the equipment to call up Capsule Corp. Her father answers, and wants to
chat. She yells at him to have Yamcha put on the line. When she says
that Gokuu needs help in fighting Red Ribbon, Yamcha hesitantly voices
his support, but Oolong is caught trying to sneak out of the room.
The radio operator unsuccessfully tries to raise flier 84. Then a
camera is turned on to show Gokuu approaching. This causes some more
panic. Black realizes that Gokuu is too strong to face, but Red orders
out his men. Gokuu trashes everyone in his way, occasionally checking
the Radar to locate the 2 Balls. Once, he uses Kamehame-ha. In the
control room, Gokuu is being tracked, and Red realizes that his enemy is
after the Balls. Black wants Red to retreat to safety, but Red claims
that he has the best soldiers in the world, and orders out more men to
be trashed. One sniper shoots Gokuu in the face, but that just stings
the boy, and the sniper then cowers in fear. The control panel operator
says that Gokuu has entered sector 8, and Red and Black run to sector 8
to protect the Dragon Balls.
On the island, Yamcha, Oolong, and Pool are telling the others to
board the jet quickly. Buruma and Oolong complain about being dragged
along, but Kushami gleefully looks forward to a fight. They stop along
the way to pick up Kuririn, who had been out for a swim. Red and Black
have reached the room with the 2 Balls. Gokuu keeps coming. Since he
doesn't know what an elevator is, and he can't find the stairs, he busts
through the ceiling and ruins the trap that had been waiting for him if
he'd taken the elevator (Red complains about this.) The bazooka missile
explodes in Gokuu's face, but this just makes him mad. He kills the two
behind the table, and keeps advancing. The remaining soldiers yell
"monster" and run away. Black comments on the other soldiers escaping
too, and Red gripes about the loss of his dream. Turns out that he'd
really wanted the Balls to make a wish to become taller. All his life,
Red had been derided for being short.
Black is stunned that Red wasn't going to wish for world domination
(like he'd promised to.) Since he now realizes that Red isn't the
leader he'd thought, Black shoots Red in the forehead and declares
himself the new RR Sousui. This is when Gokuu busts in, demanding the
Dragon Balls. He asks who's in charge, and Black says he is. Black
wants to make a deal with Gokuu -- they can rule the world together.
Gokuu just wants to bring Bora back, and Black says that can happen
after they take over the world. Gokuu's not interested, so Black gets
ready to fight. When he realizes how strong Gokuu is, Black uses a
capsule to make a combat robot (called a "Battle Jacket.") Gokuu gets
pounded a bit, and Yamcha says that they'll reach the HQ shortly.
[Notice that when Gokuu is first hit by the robot, he's up against a
wall, but in the next scene he's in the middle of the room.]
Black gloats, saying that he's going to kill the boy. They do some
damage to the buildings, and Black thinks that his fist blast has killed
Gokuu (who'd leapt up to a tower to safety.) Black celebrates his
victory, until Gokuu leaps onto the robot (saying that Black is acting
like an idiot.) Black over-reacts and punches himself in the head,
causing Gokuu to insult him some more. Black launches himself upward,
shaking off his opponent. Then he fires his biggest missile. Gokuu
assumes that this is a bomb, like the one Tao-pie pie had used, so he
kicks it again. This hurts his foot. The missile destroys a mountain,
and Gokuu is impressed. Black decides to run away, and Gokuu launches
himself through the battle jacket. Saying that he can't believe this,
Black dies as the robot explodes.
Gokuu gets the two Balls, saying that only one remains.
In their jet, Yamcha and friends yell out "Hold on, Gokuu!! We're
coming to rescue you!!"
End of book 8.
-- Curtis H. Hoffmann
June 19, 1993
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