On the Lookout’s training grounds, Goku sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Standing before him was Mr.
Popo, whose expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever.
“Goku,” Popo said quietly, “your friend has arrived.”
The moment he heard those words, Goku’s eyes flew open.
“Alvin?”
He leapt to his feet excitedly.
“I’ve been training here for three whole months!”
“This time, I’m definitely going to beat him!”
Watching the eager boy, Popo smiled faintly.
The Lookout had always been a quiet place with only himself and the Guardian.
Since Goku’s arrival, it had become far livelier.
“He’s very strong,” Popo said calmly.
“You may not be able to defeat him.”
He had sensed Alvin’s ki before.
Although Alvin was suppressing it now, Popo already knew how powerful he had become.
Goku simply grinned.
“We won’t know until we fight.”
Just then, Alvin climbed the ladder leading up from beneath the Lookout and stepped onto the platform.
“Hey, Goku.”
“Long time no see.”
He then turned respectfully toward Popo.
“Mr.
Popo.”
“These are gifts from the people of Radish Town for the Guardian.”
He handed over the box containing all the presents.
“I left the Dragon Balls out of the story.”
“I simply told everyone that the Guardian brought them back to life.”
“I wasn’t sure whether he’d be upset about that…”
“So these are the townspeople’s way of expressing their gratitude.”
Popo accepted the box with a nod.
“Keeping the Dragon Balls a secret was the right decision.”
“Popo is pleased.”
“The Guardian already knows everything that happened in Radish Town.”
“He isn’t bothered.”
“Do whatever you believe is right.”
Popo faithfully conveyed the Guardian’s message.
…
The instant their conversation ended, Goku rushed in front of Alvin.
“Alvin!”
“Let’s fight again!”
“I’ve been training at the Lookout for three months.”
“I’m way stronger now!”
He stretched both arms out dramatically, trying to emphasize just how much he’d improved.
Alvin laughed.
“Sounds good.”
“I’ve gotten stronger too.”
He already knew a battle was unavoidable the moment he came to the Lookout.
Fortunately…
He had prepared for exactly this before leaving home.
Standing nearby, Popo silently watched them.
His presence felt almost nonexistent.
His ki blended perfectly with the surrounding world.
If Alvin hadn’t been looking directly at him…
He wouldn’t have sensed anyone standing there at all.
The anime had never truly conveyed it…
But after arriving in this world, Alvin realized just how unfathomable Popo’s training really was.
“Could this be…”
“The beginner version of Ultra Instinct?”
Alvin couldn’t help wondering.
Popo interrupted his thoughts.
“Do not concern yourselves with anything else.”
“Fight seriously.”
“Clear your minds.”
“Your movements should be faster than lightning.”
“And never make unnecessary motions.”
After offering his guidance, Popo quietly stepped back to the edge of the Lookout.
He folded his hands behind his back and fell silent, signaling that the two were free to begin.
Goku lowered into his fighting stance.
His expression turned completely serious.
His ki became faint and elusive.
Although it still lacked Popo’s serene, boundless tranquility…
It was already beginning to resemble it.
“As expected of Son Goku…”
“Only three months have passed…”
“And he’s already grasped the basics.”
Although Alvin had trained diligently, he had only been practicing martial arts for a short time.
His fundamentals were nowhere near as solid as Goku’s.
He couldn’t achieve the calm, sky-like stillness Popo had described.
What he did have, however, was superior Power Level.
“Ha!”
Goku made the first move.
The tranquil aura surrounding him vanished in an instant as he exploded forward with lightning-fast speed.
Watching from the sidelines, Popo calmly evaluated him.
“Your mind is not yet empty.”
“You still have many unnecessary movements.”
“Your attacks are fast, but much of your motion is meaningless.”
“You’re wasting energy.”
“Still…”
“You’ve improved considerably compared to three months ago.”
Alvin sidestepped Goku’s rapid strike and immediately counterattacked.
Compared to Goku’s refined movements, however…
His own fighting style was far rougher.
Every motion contained unnecessary force.
Much of his strength leaked away unconsciously.
Seeing this, Popo frowned.
To him…
Alvin’s technique looked little different from children brawling.
“Everything relies on instinct.”
“You have almost no true martial arts foundation.”
“Too many unnecessary movements.”
“Your thoughts are too scattered.”
Compared to the way Goku had fought when he first arrived at the Lookout…
Alvin’s movements lacked structure entirely.
Goku noticed it as well.
“So Alvin isn’t perfect after all…”
With his improved vision, he immediately spotted numerous openings in Alvin’s technique and launched attacks aimed precisely at those weaknesses.
His lightning-fast assaults came one after another.
Even though Alvin possessed greater Power Level…
The advantage wasn’t overwhelming enough to let him crush Goku outright.
It merely ensured he wouldn’t lose easily.
Popo quietly summarized the match.
“Alvin still needs to build a proper foundation.”
At some point, without either fighter noticing…
The Guardian silently appeared beside him and watched the battle unfold.
“They’re both exceptionally talented children,” the Guardian said softly.
“Guide them well, Popo.”
“Don’t let them stray from the correct path.”
…
“Ha!”
Goku continued growing even as they fought.
The unnecessary motions in his technique steadily disappeared.
Every attack became sharper.
More efficient.
He had begun using every part of his body as a weapon.
Dodging Alvin’s punch, Goku suddenly wrapped his tail around Alvin’s arm while simultaneously driving a fist toward his face.
Before Alvin could recover…
Goku’s tail lashed out like a steel whip.
Smack!
Alvin sucked in a sharp breath.
“Goku’s improving way too fast…”
“If I hadn’t borrowed everyone else’s Power Level before coming here…”
“I probably would’ve lost just now.”
He couldn’t help thinking…
“If Goku had access to a gravity chamber…”
“And Krillin served as the traditional sacrifice…”
“He’d probably unlock Super Saiyan while fighting Piccolo at the World Martial Arts Tournament.”
…
“Haaah!”
Alvin caught Goku’s kick.
At the same moment, white ki erupted around his body.
His hair stood upright as powerful energy surged outward.
The Guardian watched quietly.
“As expected of the one who defeated King Piccolo.”
“He’s become even stronger since then.”
“But…”
“He still hasn’t learned how to properly control that power.”
Once Alvin stopped holding back…
The balance of the fight shifted completely.
Goku still possessed superior technique.
His movements were faster.
His fundamentals were more polished.
But…
His body simply hadn’t caught up yet.
Neither had the amount of ki he could command.
Defeat became only a matter of time.
Alvin surrounded himself with a dense layer of protective ki.
Most of Goku’s attacks barely affected him.
On the other hand…
Every punch Alvin landed inflicted heavy damage.
Even if only one out of every three attacks connected…
That was already more than Goku could comfortably endure.
Gradually…
The battle came to an end.
There was no suspense.
Overwhelmed by Alvin’s superior power, Goku finally admitted defeat.
Both of them dispersed the ki gathered throughout their bodies.
Then they smiled at each other and shook hands.
“I lost.”
As soon as Goku spoke, the familiar system notification appeared before Alvin’s eyes.
[Defeated Son Goku: +80 Power Level]
Understanding dawned on him immediately.
“No wonder Goku put so much pressure on me…”
“His current strength is already comparable to mine before I inherited everyone else’s Power Level.”
With the additional eighty points…
Alvin’s Power Level climbed to 655.
He was now one step closer to reaching the 1,000 mark.
…
Popo walked over to the two exhausted fighters.
“I believe both of you now understand your own weaknesses.”
“What you must do next…”
“is correct them yourselves.”
“I won’t teach you directly.”
“I’ll only give you hints.”
Just then, the Guardian stepped out from the temple and came to stand beside Popo.
Looking at that familiar green face…
Alvin’s emotions stirred for a brief moment.
But he quickly suppressed them.
The person standing before him wasn’t King Piccolo.
He was the Guardian.
Though they had once been a single being…
From the moment they separated, they had become two entirely different individuals.