Son Mirai climbed Korin Tower again. Only two hours had passed.
"Korin, I'm back."
He assumed his opening stance again and said, "Senzu Beans really are amazing. I'm full of energy now!
"All right, let's continue."
Korin looked as composed as ever, but couldn't help marveling inwardly. What an incredible guy!
Soon, they resumed their struggle over the Ultra Divine Water.
In the days that followed, Korin Tower became Son Mirai's training ground.
He wasn't fixated on grabbing the useless Ultra Divine Water. Instead, he focused on observing and imitating Korin.
Every movement, every attempt to snatch the bottle, was a chance to imitate Korin's actions.
Son Mirai understood that Korin wasn't especially strong in terms of combat power.
But when it came to skill and understanding of martial arts, Korin, who had lived for over eight hundred years, far surpassed ordinary people.
His breathing and movements were remarkably coordinated, and his agility was far beyond Son Mirai's.
Korin's instinctive ability to dodge in an instant was especially impressive. Son Mirai couldn't help but admire him completely.
Even with his back turned to Son Mirai, Korin could dodge with astonishing precision.
Son Mirai was learning from Korin's strengths.
However, Korin looked down on his attempts to imitate him.
"You've got decent skills, but you think too much!"
Son Mirai scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Sorry, I still don't understand what you mean.
"I really don't know how I'm supposed to grab the Ultra Divine Water if I don't think about anything."
Korin explained, "If you want to grab it, your body has to move faster than your brain!"
"So stupid. My body has to be faster than my brain..."
Son Mirai's expression darkened. Wasn't that exactly what Ultra Instinct was all about?
But all this mysterious, abstract advice went over his head.
If he didn't understand something, he asked. Son Mirai wasn't at all bothered by people calling him stupid.
"That's easy to say, but what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Have you ever seen the wind blow through the leaves?" Korin asked. "Do the leaves 'think' about how to dodge?"
Son Mirai thought it over and said, "Sorry, I still don't get it..."
Korin explained, "When you're trying to grab the bottle, don't think too much.
"Just focus on one thing: grabbing the bottle..."
Son Mirai began to see what he meant.
Grabbing the bottle was a simple action. All he had to do was grab it.
Yet he had even been trying to imitate Korin's movements. He really had been thinking too much.
Son Mirai kept Korin's words in mind.
"Again!"
This time, Son Mirai was more focused, and his movements were smoother than before...
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Korin's face.
Time flowed like water, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.
During an ordinary chase, Son Mirai's foot shifted naturally.
His body twisted at a tiny, almost instinctive angle, and for the first time, his fingertips truly brushed the bottle!
"Hm?"
Korin exclaimed softly, surprise showing in his round eyes.
"You're a quick learner, kid. Almost frighteningly quick."
For a moment, Son Mirai didn't know what to say.
Was that a compliment?
It still felt awkward.
He remembered that Son Goku had grabbed the Ultra Divine Water within three days.
But Son Mirai had been at it for five days and had only managed to touch it. He still hadn't actually grabbed it...
Son Mirai lowered his head. "Again!"
Korin quickly yawned and said, "I'm exhausted. Let's do it tomorrow. I'm going to sleep..."
Son Mirai looked at the sun, which was about to set, and nodded. "All right. I should get some rest too..."
After eating a Senzu Bean, he didn't need three meals a day, even with the heavy toll of training every day.
Korin went to sleep, and Son Mirai did too.
Son Mirai also knew how to copy someone else's homework.
He slept just like Korin...
The days of training always passed quickly.
More than ten days slipped by in the rising and setting of the sun.
Finally, one morning, as the first rays of dawn broke, Son Mirai grabbed the bottle of Ultra Divine Water.
"Hey... You got it so soon. You really are something!"
Korin smiled, his expression filled with satisfaction and a hint of relief.
In fact, Son Mirai had been able to snatch the bottle easily for several days.
But he'd felt that his movements weren't smooth enough and his training wasn't complete, so he had refused to take it.
Korin said, "Drink it. The Ultra Divine Water should have been yours a long time ago."
Son Mirai looked down at the bottle, then shook his head. "I don't need to drink it, do I?
"I think I've already gotten what I came for."
Son Mirai knew full well that the Ultra Divine Water didn't exist. The training that supposedly increased his power was the process of trying to snatch it from Korin.
Korin nodded. "I didn't expect you to figure that out already. You're pretty clever.
"That's right. There's no Ultra Divine Water that can increase your power. The only way to get stronger is to train hard..."
Son Mirai wholeheartedly agreed.
Power gained through any improper means was never as reassuring as the strength earned through hard training.
"I understand!"
Korin stretched with a hearty yawn and said, "You can leave now. There's nothing else I can teach you."
The training, which had lasted less than a month, had been an enjoyable experience, and Son Mirai was reluctant to leave.
But it was time for him to go.
Before leaving, Son Mirai looked at the two jars, both filled to the brim, and said, "Korin, before I go, I'd like some Senzu Beans."
Korin laughed. "You're planning to save time on meals and spend it training by living on Senzu Beans, aren't you?"
"Something like that..." Son Mirai didn't explain.
He did intend to do that for a while. Besides keeping him from feeling hungry for ten days after eating one, the beans would also provide extra insurance while he trained in the Gravity Chamber.
Korin sighed. "Enjoying good food is one of life's great pleasures.
"You'd actually rather eat Senzu Beans. You really don't know how to enjoy yourself..."
Though he said that, he filled a bag with Senzu Beans and tossed it to Son Mirai.
"Here, take these!"
Son Mirai caught the bag and weighed it in his hand. It contained around thirty beans, which was already quite a lot.
Compared to Korin's supply, it was a mere drop in the bucket, but it was more than enough for him.
After all, even if he used a shortcut to rapidly boost his combat power, it wouldn't take many potential bursts before he was completely drained.
If he wanted to get stronger, serious training was the only way in the long run.
"Goodbye, Korin!"
"Goodbye!"
Son Mirai was about to jump down when he suddenly realized something.
Korin had just mentioned good food. Could he have been hinting that he wanted to eat some?
Son Mirai turned back to Korin and said, "I'll bring you something tasty next time I come by..."
Korin smiled. "I haven't eaten food from the human world in hundreds of years.
"Now that you mention it, I'm looking forward to it. I'll thank you in advance!"
"No need to thank me. Goodbye!"
After saying farewell to Korin, Son Mirai headed straight for West City.
However, when he arrived at Capsule Corp, he found that Bulma wasn't home.
Mrs. Brief smiled with her eyes narrowed. "Oh, ho, ho, ho! What a shame!
"Son Goku and Krillin came by the day before yesterday and asked Bulma to fix the Dragon Radar.
"Bulma thought studying at home was boring, so she went with them to look for the Dragon Balls!"
Son Mirai slapped his forehead and said, "How could I forget about that? Bulma really is a handful..."
"I'm going to find Bulma. Goodbye!"
With that, Son Mirai pulled the pillar out of the ground and prepared to fly off on it again.
Mrs. Brief looked a little disappointed.
"Oh dear, you're leaving so soon? Won't you stay for a meal first?"
At the mention of food, Son Mirai stopped just as he was about to toss the pillar.
"I could stay for a meal. It'd be even better if you could pack me some food to take along..."
Mrs. Brief smiled sweetly. "Of course, no problem. Would you like something to drink?"
Just then, Dr. Brief arrived on his little scooter.
"Son Mirai, thank goodness you haven't left yet. Perfect!
"Here's Bulma's Hoi-Poi Capsule. She took the wrong one, so could you take it to her for me..."
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