Korin Tower

Hmph, a pathetic weakling with a power level of only 5!

Roland wasn't particularly powerful, but with the story yet to begin, he was fully entitled to say that. While Earthlings were still struggling in the range of one or two hundred and relying on hand-to-hand combat, Roland's terrifying power level of over four hundred was already beyond anyone's imagination.

Even the strongest person on Earth didn't have a power level like that.

He took out the Scouter and pointed it at himself.

"460!"

A clear number flashed into view, many times higher than any Earthling's power level. Even Goku as an adult wasn't that strong.

Of course, Roland was a Saiyan. Why would he gloat over being stronger than Earthlings?

Haha... Roland calmly surveyed his surroundings. The area was remote and high up on a plateau. For hundreds of kilometers in every direction, there wasn't a soul in sight. Even if a cargo ship landed here, no one would find it.

After arriving on Earth, Roland's mind had become much more active. The Dragon Balls, Senzu Beans, Hoi-Poi Capsule technology, and Earthling martial arts could all help him become much stronger. Of course he had to collect them. When he thought about it carefully, he realized there was quite a lot to do.

Good grief, I really was born to toil.

He said it, but inside, Roland was overjoyed.

What a delightful dilemma.

Still, some things were more urgent than others. He'd start with the things that were easy to do.

He could put off searching for the Dragon Balls for now, since he didn't have a Dragon Radar yet... After thinking it over, Roland had a rough plan: he should go to Korin first and get some Senzu Beans, then find a Dragon Ball and ask Bulma's father to make him a Dragon Radar.

As for where to get his first Dragon Ball, Roland had already more or less figured that out.

The original story gave the clearest hints about three of them: Son Gohan's Four-Star Ball at Mount Paozu, Master Roshi's Three-Star Ball at Kame House, and the Two-Star Ball in a storeroom at Bulma's house. But with more than ten years to go before the story began, the Dragon Ball might not be in Bulma's storeroom yet.

So if he wanted to get a Dragon Ball, he'd have to visit Mount Paozu or Kame House.

Of course, none of that was urgent.

First, he'd head to Korin Tower and get the Senzu Beans from Korin.

Senzu Beans hadn't seemed all that valuable in the early part of Dragon Ball. They'd been treated as a luxury snack to stave off hunger. But later on, they'd become genuine lifesavers—not only could they quickly restore one's stamina, they could also instantly heal all kinds of injuries.

Combined with a Saiyan's special physique, they were a perfect match!

Just think of the later parts of Dragon Ball, when Senzu Beans were in such short supply that Goku and the others had to split a single bean in half between several people. Often, when major crises struck, they couldn't get any at all. What a heartbreaking life!

So while Senzu Beans were still plentiful, Roland decided to collect every last one, lest Yajirobe the fatso waste them in the future.

With their incredible healing power, wouldn't his battle strength skyrocket?

Just thinking about it made Roland drool. He filtered out every reading below 100 on the Scouter, and the data on its display immediately became much clearer.

The few readings that drifted into view were all from elite martial artists on Earth.

Two readings caught Roland's attention.

"280!" "300!"

They were probably Kami and Mr. Popo, Roland thought. He'd better not provoke either of them if he could help it.

Even though his power level was 460, the thought of facing Kami and Mr. Popo still made Roland uneasy, especially Mr. Popo. His hidden power definitely exceeded what the Scouter could measure.

"Whatever. I'm not afraid of trouble either. Let's go!" He laughed loudly, rose straight into the air, and flew toward Korin Tower.

Korin Tower was beneath Kami's Lookout, so once he knew where Kami and Mr. Popo were, he could pinpoint the tower's location too.

Roland shot across the sky and left the plateau behind, then flew west toward the northwest of the Northern Hemisphere. Before long, a mountain range stretching for hundreds of kilometers appeared ahead. He crossed the towering peaks, perpetually covered in snow and ice, and beyond them found a vast basin that sloped downward.

The basin stretched for more than a hundred kilometers and was covered in dense trees. From a distance, it looked like a green ocean, swaying continuously in the breeze.

The martial arts Holy Land, Korin.

It was said to be the birthplace of Earth martial arts.

Korin's Tower, where Korin lived, stood in the great forest of Korin's Sacred Land.

Korin Tower was a sacred tower connected to the heavenly realm.

Legend had it that only those who climbed Korin Tower with their bare hands could meet the Immortal living at its summit and receive his guidance.

For hundreds of years, countless experts had come to Korin's Sacred Land to challenge the tower, but few had managed to climb it. Even the calamity more than three hundred years ago, which had plunged Earth's martial arts world into decline for a time, hadn't extinguished Earth's martial artists' desire to improve. Every so often, one could still see martial artists arriving to challenge the tower.

Legend had it that the last person to reach the top of Korin Tower was Master Roshi, known as the "God of Martial Arts."

A figure sped toward Korin Tower.

A blur passed over the dense forest. The distant, level horizon appeared curved in the vast expanse of the view.

As Roland flew over the great forest of Korin's Sacred Land, he could already see a towering pillar stretching into the sky. The tower rose from the horizon and pierced the clouds above, hidden behind brilliant white ones.

"So that's Korin Tower. Seeing it in person is far more awe-inspiring than it was in the anime."

Roland stared in amazement. He had no idea how tall Korin Tower was. Just looking at its massive ivory-colored shaft, vanishing into the clouds like a pillar connecting heaven and earth, made him wonder how it could possibly have been built.

But impressive as it was, Roland didn't waste any time at its base. As soon as he neared Korin Tower, he banked at a sharp right angle and shot upward with a whoosh, speeding along its ivory-colored walls toward the summit.

In an instant, Roland's movement generated a powerful shockwave, and his figure quickly vanished into the clouds.

Getting the Senzu Beans as soon as possible was what mattered most to him.