**Dragon Ball Z: System Rebirth**
**Chapter 1**
The soft hum of the waves brushing against Kame Island filled the early afternoon air. It was quiet, peaceful—just the way Goku liked it. Seated cross-legged on the porch of Master Roshi's house, the twenty-four-year-old martial artist stared across the ocean with his usual, absentminded grin. Gohan sat by his side, resting after an exhausting game of tag atop the Flying Nimbus.
"Heh, this kid's already faster than I was back then," Goku mused.
Roshi chuckled, sipping his tea. "You were quite the wild one. Still are."
Krillin laughed. "Remember when you first got here? Thought everyone was food or an enemy."
Goku scratched the back of his head. "Heh, yeah. I was... different back then."
He stared into the distance, the sea breeze brushing against his face, and let his thoughts wander.
---
**\[Flashback Begins]**
A long time ago, a child fell from the stars—found by Grandpa Gohan, raised in the wilderness. That boy would become Earth's greatest protector.
But Goku had never truly known how different he was. Not until years later did he learn the truth: he was not of Earth. He was a Saiyan.
Still, something else had stirred inside him early on.
It happened during the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. Facing Master Roshi—disguised as Jackie Chun—he pushed past his limits. In that clash of student and teacher, Goku sensed something spark deep in his soul.
He hadn't known it then, but **that** was the first time the System had activated.
> **Trigger Condition Met**: Jackie Chun's full power (PL \~139) and hostile intent (seriousness in combat).
> **System Activation: 30x Gain** = 4170
> **New Base Power Level: 90 (initial) → 4,260**
The change had been seamless. He hadn't even noticed it—only that he felt stronger, faster, better.
Later, fighting Mercenary Tao, Goku was already faster than bullets and strong enough to shatter walls. But Tao's power was still beneath the 10% mark of Goku's new strength.
The System had stayed silent.
Years passed. Training under Kami. Battles with King Piccolo. Every fight honed him, but the System remained dormant. Enemies were too weak to meet the threshold.
Until now.
---
**\[Flashback Ends]**
"So what brings you here today, Goku?" Krillin asked.
"Oh, just thought Gohan could use a little sunshine," he said, patting the boy's head.
Roshi nodded, but his expression darkened suddenly.
"What's wrong, Master Roshi?"
The old hermit adjusted his sunglasses. "That ki... coming this way. It's... not human."
A pressure fell over the island like a storm.
Something was approaching. Fast.
---
Far away, in the mountainous plains a few miles inland, a Saiyan space pod screeched through the sky and buried itself into the craggy terrain. The impact formed a deep crater and sent wildlife fleeing in panic.
From the dust rose a tall, muscular warrior with wild hair and a scouter blinking over one eye. His tail twitched.
**Raditz.**
He stood still, letting the wind blow through his mane. The beeping of his scouter brought him back.
"Multiple weak signals... but one of them..." He adjusted the device.
**Power level: 300.... Curious.**
"Found you, Kakarot."
---
Later that day, the quiet at Kame House shattered when Raditz appeared out of nowhere. One second the air was calm, the next it was cut by a howling wind and violent pressure. Raditz descended from the sky, landing just meters away from the group with a smirk.
Goku instinctively placed himself between the stranger and Gohan.
Raditz's scouter locked on to him. "Power level... still 300? But he looks like—"
He blinked.
"Kakarot. So you really did survive."
"Kaka-what now?"
"Kakarot. Your Saiyan name. You're my younger brother."
Everyone froze.
"I came to collect you. You've wasted enough time on this backwater rock."
Goku scowled. "I don't care who you say I am. I'm not going anywhere."
Raditz sneered. "Defiant, are you? Perhaps you need... motivation."
He raised his hand to fire a blast at Gohan.
Goku stepped forward. The pressure shifted.
Raditz's scouter beeped rapidly.
**Goku's power level began rising—slowly. From 300... to 600... to 1000...**
Raditz's eyes widened.
"What in the—?!"
**Trigger Condition Met: Hostile Intent Detected. Raditz PL: 1,500**
> **System Activates: 40x Gain** = 60,000
> **New Base PL: 64,260**
Goku's aura flickered briefly, but he didn't power up. The power was just there—effortless.
"You shouldn't have threatened my son."
Raditz took a step back. His tail flicked nervously.
**He's stronger than Nappa... Stronger than Vegeta?!**
"Damn it all," Raditz growled. "Fine. I didn't want to do this here—but you leave me no choice."
He leapt back and activated the ships hidden function via the scouter: **Moonlight Projection**.
A dome of artificial light shimmered above.
Goku's eyes narrowed. "That light...!"
Raditz roared, staring up. His body began to tremble.
Bones cracked. Muscles expanded. His size tripled.
**Great Ape Transformation: 10x multiplier**
**Raditz's PL: 15,000**
**System Triggered Again: Hostile Intent Detected; PL > 10% of Goku's base**
> **System Activates: 30x Gain** = 450,000
> **New Base PL: 514,260**
The Great Ape Raditz bellowed, sending a shockwave that flattened the surrounding beach. He slammed both fists into the ground.
"H-he's huge..." Krillin stammered.
"He just tripled in size!" Roshi cried.
But Goku didn't budge.
He took a deep breath and leapt into the air.
Raditz lunged.
Goku vanished from view.
He reappeared mid-air, feet planted on the beast's forehead, and kicked. The giant ape's head snapped back. Goku darted around Raditz's body, throwing rapid punches at key joints.
The ape roared and thrashed, but Goku moved too quickly—sliding under limbs, launching his enemy off balance, redirecting raw power.
It wasn't about strength anymore. It was martial skill versus brute force.
"You've lost control of your power! That's why you'll never beat me!"
A charged Kamehameha fired point-blank into the ape's chest, toppling him backward into the ocean.
Steam hissed. The waves hissed and boiled.
Raditz's form shrank, reverting to his original body.
He coughed blood as Goku approached.
"Why... are you so strong...?" Raditz rasped.
Goku stared down. "Because I have something to protect."
---
**Power Tracker Update: Son Goku**
**Base PL:** 514,260
**System Gains:**
* Jackie Chun: +4,170
* Raditz: +60,000
* Great Ape Raditz: +450,000
**Current Combat power Suppression Level:** Capable of lowering power to \~300
**Next Gain Threshold:** Opponent PL ≥ 51,426 with hostile intent
**To be continued...**