Goten: "Dammit! We're not making good time at all. I... I can't sense Yamcha's ki anymore," *Goten called out to his girlfriend as they tore through the dense upper clouds, trailing dual streams of white aura behind them.*
Melody's face darkened as they flew—her hands clenched into tight fists, her long white hair whipping wildly in the high-altitude wind.
Melody: "Yamcha… is gone?" *Her voice was tight with rising dread. If his energy signature had vanished completely from the planet, it could only mean one thing.*
Goten gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw working. They had been delayed too long—they should have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the others from the very start. But Snow had insisted on preparing energy-dense food for their journey back, knowing the strain Melody's power-boosting took on her body.
They had needed the energy. But now? Now they were paying for every wasted minute in blood.
Melody: "Goten, I think we should make a quick stop at Korin Tower. A bag of Senzu Beans might come in handy... I won't be able to continuously boost everyone's energy once the heavy fighting starts."
Goten nodded sharply—Melody's tactical call was spot on. She couldn't keep amplifying everyone's aura nonstop without collapsing. A fresh supply of Korin's miracle beans would give the team instant physical recovery when they needed it most.
Goten: "Good call," *he said, immediately veering their flight course toward the Sacred Land of Korin. The towering spire wasn't far—if they pushed their speed to the absolute limit, they could reach the summit in minutes.*
The thought of Master Korin and his supply of Senzu Beans offered a brief moment of hope... but sheer urgency still burned hot in Goten's chest. Every single microsecond counted now.
Goten: "Mel... I don't feel Pocari's ki either," *Goten added, his voice dropping to a grim, heavy register.*
Melody: *Her breath hitched sharply, her violet eyes widening in horror.* "Her… too?!"
The realization struck her like a physical blow to the chest. Not just one, but two of their friends had already been wiped off the map. How long had the battle actually been raging? How many more of their family and allies would fall before they finally touched down in the wasteland?
Goten pushed his flight speed higher, his jaw set with fierce, unyielding determination. They needed those beans—now. Every second they spent in the air was another life placed directly on the line.
Melody: "I'm so sorry, Goten. If we hadn't gone to Jingle Village in the first place—"
Goten: *He cut her off with a firm, protective shake of his head.* "No. Don't do that to yourself."
It wasn't Melody's fault they had gone to visit Snow. It wasn't anyone's fault—they had family ties and answers to seek. Carrying guilt into a warzone wouldn't bring anyone back.
Goten: "We did what we had to do," *he said softly, his tone resolute as Korin Tower finally broke through the horizon line in the distance.* "Now let's go finish this."