Just then, Piccolo suddenly let out a hoarse cry.
Everyone turned to look at him, faces flooding with alarm.
Chi-Chi clutched Gohan and hurried to hide behind Goku.
Bulma, jealousy forgotten for the moment, ducked behind Oryon.
A moment later, Piccolo strained, and a new arm—slick with mucus—regrew from the stump.
Krillin wiped away a bead of sweat.
“Oh, he’s just regrowing his arm. Scared me half to death.”
Piccolo ignored everyone else and looked straight at Son Goku and Oryon.
“Before he died, Raditz said his two comrades will reach Earth in a year, and their strength far exceeds his. I shouldn’t need to spell out what that means.”
Son Goku nodded.
“Don’t worry. I’ll train hard this whole year.”
With that, Piccolo turned and flew off.
Watching him go, Krillin asked quickly, “Goku, what’s actually going on?”
Goku repeated everything Raditz had said, and the group sucked in a collective breath.
“Can that guy really be more than ten times stronger than Raditz?”
Oryon nodded.
“It’s true. But there’s no need to worry—we still have a year. Train hard enough, and we can definitely beat him.”
Master Roshi nodded.
“That’s right—that’s the spirit of a true martial artist! No enemy is unbeatable, so long as you train hard enough…”
Then, a little hesitant, he asked, “Your name’s Oryon, right? Yesterday you said you wanted to train under me. I’ve been thinking it over, and, well, you’re already this strong—I don’t think there’s much left I could teach you…”
When Oryon had said that yesterday, he hadn’t yet realized just how powerful his System really was.
Now, he genuinely had no need to train under Master Roshi.
Oryon weighed Raditz’s strength against his own, then looked at Master Roshi and nodded.
“Fair enough. Getting more than ten times stronger within a year—ordinary training clearly won’t cut it anymore.”
Krillin’s face creased with worry.
“Damn it, more than ten times stronger than Raditz? How are we supposed to beat an enemy like that?”
Master Roshi turned to Goku.
“Goku, do you have any ideas?”
Goku scratched his head, at a loss for an answer.
Just then, Kami suddenly appeared, startling everyone.
“It’s—it’s Kami!”
Master Roshi asked, “Lord Kami, what brings you here?”
Kami’s gaze settled on Son Goku, and then on Oryon.
“I watched the whole fight from the Lookout. Honestly, there’s nothing more I can teach either of you. But I know of someone—if you can obtain his guidance, your strength is bound to leap to an entirely new level.” This chapter is updated first at novelping . com.
Goku’s face lit up.
“Who is it? Someone that strong?”
“King Kai!”
Goku scratched his head.
“Who’s King Kai? Is he even stronger than Lord Kami?”
Kami nodded.
“Of course. His cultivation is unfathomable, far beyond anything I could achieve. If he’s willing to guide you, your strength will be utterly transformed within a year—you might even stand a chance against the Saiyans to come.”
Krillin sucked in a breath and muttered under his breath, “Someone even stronger than Kami… just how strong is that…”
Son Goku perked up at once.
“Kami, where can I find King Kai?”
Kami said, “Lord King Kai lives at the far end of Snake Way, on the boundary between the realms of the living and the dead—at the very peak of the North Galaxy. But to reach him, you must walk the full million kilometers of Snake Way. And… whether Lord King Kai is willing to teach you depends entirely on his mood. Are you willing to try?”
“As long as it makes me stronger, I’ll go anywhere!”
With that, Son Goku suddenly turned to Chi-Chi.
“Chi-Chi, to protect Earth, let me go train under King Kai!”
Chi-Chi, holding Gohan, said, “As long as it doesn’t interfere with Gohan’s studies, go wherever you like.”
“Then come with me now,” Kami said.
Oryon shook his head at once.
“Goku, you go. I’ll pass.”
“What?”
Everyone froze, turning to stare at Oryon.
How could he just turn down a chance like this?
Oryon smiled and tightened his arms around Lunch.
“I’d rather train while staying by Lunch’s side.”
Warmth spread across Lunch’s face.
She buried her cheek against Oryon’s chest and murmured sweetly, “Oryon, you’re so good to me…”
Watching the two of them looking so loving, Bulma’s jealousy flared even hotter.
So Oryon really was this good.
For Lunch’s sake, he’d actually given up a chance that good to grow stronger.
It felt like letting him go had cost her decades of her youth all over again.
She stole another glance at the two of them from the corner of her eye.
Oryon’s hand still rested on Lunch’s shoulder; she was completely relaxed, nestled against him, wearing an expression of happiness Bulma had never once seen on her before.
“I regret this so much…”
“Huh, what’s this thing?”
She pulled the Scouter off Raditz and examined it closely.
Oryon glanced over and explained, “That thing’s called a Scouter. It can detect the Power Level of anyone nearby, and pinpoint their exact location too. But that thing’s linked to other devices—it could pick up our conversation. If you want to study it, you’d better switch off the communication function first.”
Understanding dawned on Bulma, and she nodded.
“You know an awful lot.”
Oryon smiled.
“It’s nothing, really. I just happen to know the basics—nowhere close to your level of knowledge.”
“Naturally. I am a genius girl, after all…” Bulma couldn’t resist a bit of bragging.
Kami turned to Goku.
“Let’s go.”
“Right!”
Kami, with Goku in tow, bid the group farewell and left.
Master Roshi said, “Let’s head back too, shall we?”
Krillin, Chi-Chi, and Bulma all nodded.
Bulma pocketed the Scouter and said, “Everyone, get on the aircraft. Let’s go!”
But Oryon just looked at Lunch and gently flicked a finger against her nose.
“Lunch, are you afraid of heights? Let me fly you there, all right?”
Lunch nodded.
“Sure. With you around, I’m not afraid of anything.”
Oryon swept Lunch up into a princess carry; she wrapped her arms around his neck and turned her head toward Bulma.
“Bulma, I won’t ride the aircraft back. I’m going with Oryon. Bye-bye…”
Bulma waved back on reflex.
“Bye-bye!”
A moment later, still carrying Lunch in his arms, Oryon rose up into the sky.
Beneath the clouds, Lunch’s laughter rang out like tinkling silver bells.
Watching the two figures vanish into the horizon, Bulma’s mouth twitched.
“Honestly! He’s still my ex-boyfriend, for crying out loud! Flaunting his lovey-dovey act right in front of me—give a girl a break.”
Krillin asked, somewhat curious, “Bulma, he was such a great boyfriend—why’d you dump him just like that?”
Bulma’s face went livid.
“Shut your mouth!”
Krillin flinched, startled, and scurried timidly onto the aircraft.
“That temper of hers… still as fierce as ever. Oryon probably wanted to dump her ages ago…”