The Warrior of Pure Heart | Dragon Ball Z

17

17

The next day, very early, the entire group began to climb Korin Tower, with the looks and shouts of encouragement from Launch and Upa below them. They went up one after the other, Yajirobe going first in the lead, followed by Yamcha, Tenshinhan, Chaoz, and Krillin. At the end of the vertical row was Chi-Chi.

Everyone had warned her enough about how complicated that journey would be, directly and indirectly telling her that it was best not to try it. But Chi-Chi's resolution was absolute, and she was unwilling to give in to any difficulty. However, although during the first few hours it was somewhat easy for her to keep up with the others, as time passed and the top of the tower was still not visible at all in the distance, her body began to feel not only the exhaustion of such a heavy task, but on top of that the pain of her wounds that have not yet fully healed.

She forced herself to overcome the pain and exhaustion so as not to be left behind. Or, even worse, falling to the ground because, from the height at which she was already, she would most likely not survive.

Chi-Chi didn't dare look down, but she was pretty straightforward. The only thing that gave her some security was knowing that if anything happened, she could always count on calling the Flying Nimbus so as not to end up being a plaster on earth. Although, of course, as long as she didn't fall unconscious before she could do it.

Time passed, and the group kept climbing, with no sign that the end was near. They had even reached the clouds, a sight that Chi-Chi would have found wonderful if it weren't for how tired she felt.

It can't be. Who the hell built this? She thought, surprised and perhaps a little horrified. And yet Kamisama's Lookout was supposed to be even higher than that.

It was hopelessly impossible for her to keep up with the boys, and little by little, she fell behind. It was unheard of to her that Tenshinhan and the others seemed to still have enough energy. They had not stopped for a moment or reduced their ascent rate. It was incredible that they seriously had so much strength and endurance, and yet they were all supposed to be less strong than Goku. Chi-Chi always knew that there was a considerable margin between her husband and her, but knowing that she was not even on par with her other partners made her feel that the margin was even bigger than she thought.

What am I doing here? Chi-Chi questioned herself with regret, already finding it difficult to think due to exhaustion. I'm not a warrior, not like them, not like Goku... Why did I think I could do it? I should have listened to them. I should have stayed home, recovering from my injuries. I'm a fool; I should go back right now before I can't...

While all those thoughts were flooding her mind, one of her feet was misplaced on one of the ledges of the tower, slipping and falling downwards. Chi-Chi's body staggered, lurched downward, and came close to falling to the ground, just as she had feared. Luckily, that shock was enough to wake her up, enough to extend both hands and hold firmly on one of the edges, with her fingers tense and sore. Their entire body was left hanging, even slightly swayed by the cold wind blowing at that height.

"Are you okay, Chi-Chi?" Krillin's voice pronounced loudly above her. She looked up as best she could and saw how the young shaven-headed warrior quickly descended towards her. He stopped a little above her and extended a hand, offering it to her to take. "Let me help..."

"Krillin," Tenshinhan's voice pronounced loudly in the heights, like thunder. Everyone had stopped higher up and was looking down. Disapproval was immediately evident in the three-eyed warrior's voice. "If she's really so determined to do this, she has to do it alone," he said harshly. "If not, she'd better come back at once."