When Goku’s loyalty is twisted, heroes become enemies, and darkness consumes the light
After being separated from his usual mentors, Goku found himself on the doorstep of Master Shen, the Crane Hermit, master of the deadly Dodonpa technique and the sworn rival of Master Roshi. Shen, always seeking to surpass Roshi’s legacy, saw an opportunity in the naive, powerful young boy. With a sly grin, he welcomed Goku into his fold.
Shen’s training methods were grueling and unrelenting, far harsher than Goku had ever experienced under Roshi’s guidance. The Crane Hermit emphasized precision, speed, and ruthlessness. Goku, though confused by Shen’s darker philosophies, couldn’t help but excel under the intense regimen. Day after day, he honed his skills, mastering the Dodonpa and learning forbidden techniques that pushed his body and spirit to their limits. Shen fed Goku tales of betrayal, convincing him that Roshi had always held him back out of jealousy and fear of his potential.
Eventually, the time came for Goku’s final test. Shen, his eyes gleaming with malice, told Goku that his former friends and mentor were planning to destroy him, fearing what he had become. Though Goku hesitated, Shen’s manipulative words and the seeds of doubt he had planted began to take root. Fueled by a twisted sense of justice and loyalty to his new master, Goku set off for Kame House.
When Goku arrived, Master Roshi, Krillin, and Yamcha greeted him warmly, delighted to see their young friend. But Goku’s expression was cold, his usual cheerfulness replaced by an unsettling calm. Without warning, he unleashed the Dodonpa, obliterating the small island in a brilliant explosion. Roshi and the others barely had time to react before Goku attacked with a ferocity they’d never seen. Krillin and Yamcha fought valiantly but were no match for their former ally’s newfound strength and lethal techniques. Goku, his heart heavy yet consumed by Shen’s influence, ended their lives in mere moments.
Master Roshi, wounded but still standing, confronted Goku with a mix of sorrow and anger. “Goku, this isn’t you,” he said, his voice trembling. “Whatever Shen has done to you, you can fight it.” For a moment, Goku hesitated, the familiar voice of his mentor piercing through the fog of Shen’s lies. But Shen’s teachings had twisted his sense of loyalty and justice beyond recognition. With a devastating Kamehameha—now tainted with the Crane Hermit’s energy—Goku ended his master’s life.
As the smoke cleared, Goku stood amidst the ruins of Kame House, the weight of his actions beginning to sink in. Shen appeared, applauding his student’s triumph. “You’ve done well, Goku,” he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. But as Goku turned to him, tears streaming down his face, the Crane Hermit realized too late the price of manipulating such a powerful soul. With a heartbroken roar, Goku unleashed his full strength on Shen, obliterating his master in a single, devastating blow.
Alone and consumed by guilt, Goku wandered the world, a shadow of the carefree boy he once was. The memories of his friends and their final moments haunted him, a constant reminder of how far he had strayed from the path they had envisioned for him. The world knew him as a hero, but Goku would forever carry the burden of his darkest deeds.
