It Was Time to Learn Ultra Instinct

"Like a lizard's tail..." Krillin wiped the sweat from his brow.

"That's amazing... Piccolo, I didn't know you could regenerate." Son Goku smiled.

"Son Goku, I plan to take your son with me to train," Piccolo said, looking at Son Goku.

"What? What did you say? You're taking Gohan away?" Son Goku was stunned.

"That's right." Piccolo nodded.

"I get it! You're planning to eat him!" Krillin said, quickly growing wary.

"Why would I eat him?!" Piccolo shouted angrily.

Son Goku said nothing, silently looking at Piccolo.

"If Gohan gets proper training, he can become a powerful warrior. That way, he might be of some help against those two Saiyans a year from now," Piccolo mused. "So I've decided to train him."

"But even if Gohan needs training... doesn't Goku still have time to train him?" Krillin hurriedly said.

"Hmph. Son Goku's strength is certainly remarkable, but he'd never make a suitable teacher," Piccolo said with a soft laugh.

"Okay, take Gohan with you." Son Goku thought it over, then nodded in agreement.

"Goku... are you sure about this?" Krillin cried out.

Goku, you're really taking this far too lightly. That's your son, and you're just letting Piccolo take him away to train?

Shouldn't you at least ask your wife what she thinks?

"We'll meet again in a year." Piccolo smiled and took Son Gohan from Master Roshi.

"Whoosh!"

Piccolo shot into the air and quickly left.

"Hey, Goku, won't Piccolo lead Gohan astray?" Krillin asked helplessly.

"It's fine. I trust him." Son Goku smiled. "Piccolo's right. He might be better suited than I am to introduce Gohan to training."

Krillin: "..."

Master Roshi: "..."

Is Gohan really your son?

How can you just let him go like that?

"So, Goku, what are you planning to do next?" Krillin asked.

"Of course I'm going to train hard too! Otherwise, I might not be able to beat those two a year from now." Son Goku looked serious.

"Why don't we train together? We can be sparring partners," Krillin suggested. "Though I'm nowhere near as strong as you right now."

"Enough, both of you," Luo Tian replied. "From here on, I'll train Goku."

Krillin: "..."

Master Roshi: "..."

Bulma: "..."

Everyone was speechless.

Son Goku also looked at Luo Tian curiously.

"Goku, I have a new technique here. Once you learn it, those two Saiyans won't stand a chance against you," Luo Tian said with a smile.

"What?" Son Goku was taken aback.

"Ultra Instinct," Luo Tian said.

(Note: The anime calls it Ultra Instinct, while the manga translates it as Ultra Instinct and even explains that it is a technique, not a form of cultivation, so the word 'technique' is omitted. Since Akira Toriyama writes the manga, it's considered the definitive version, and the manga is still ongoing. This novel will therefore use the manga's translation and won't call it Ultra Instinct Technique!)

"Ultra Instinct? What's that?" Krillin asked, puzzled.

"It's the body's ability to dodge on its own," Luo Tian explained. "Once you master this technique, no matter how powerful your opponent is, you'll be able to deal with them."

→

"What do I have to do?" Son Goku asked.

"The principles are actually simple. All you need to do is contemplate the sky, the earth, nature, and so on... When one day you feel as though you've become one with the entire world, you'll have made some progress with Ultra Instinct," Luo Tian said with a smile.

"I don't understand..." Son Goku scratched his head.

"What is all this? Contemplating the sky and the earth? Luo Tian, now isn't the time to joke around. If Goku loses to those two a year from now, Earth is doomed!" Krillin said, looking troubled.

"Goku, I won't force you to learn my technique," Luo Tian said with a slight smile. "There's another option. I can send you to King Kai to learn his Kaioken. Once you learn it, your strength will multiply as long as your body can withstand the strain."

"Who's King Kai?" Master Roshi asked thoughtfully.

"Never heard of him." Krillin shook his head.

"You have two options: Ultra Instinct or Kaioken. You don't need to rush into an answer. I'll give you three days to think it over. Once you've decided, come find me," Luo Tian said with a smile.

"Goku, I feel like that Kaioken thing he mentioned sounds more powerful... It'll multiply your strength!" Krillin hurriedly said.

"I've made up my mind. I want to learn Ultra Instinct from you," Son Goku said seriously.

"Goku, have you really thought this through?" Krillin cried. "Maybe that Ultra Instinct Luo Tian mentioned won't do anything at all."

"Krillin, you don't need to say anything else. I've already decided." Son Goku smiled and nodded. "I trust Luo Tian. I'm sure he can make me a lot stronger."

Krillin fell silent.

Fine. If you've already made up your mind, what can I say?

"Okay. But based on my calculations, if you spend a year training in Ultra Instinct... you probably won't grasp it very well. I suspect you might still have trouble beating those two Saiyans," Luo Tian mused.

"See, Goku? I told you. You'd be better off learning that Kaioken," Krillin said.

"Thump!"

Bulma may have just punched him on the head as soon as he finished speaking.

"Shut up! You talk too much!" Bulma shouted angrily.

Krillin held his head and didn't dare say another word.

"But don't worry. At least I won't let you die," Luo Tian said with a smile. "I'll think more about how to teach you. At the very least, I'll give you a move that can save your life."

"Then... can I come find you in three days?" Son Goku asked.

"Three days... That'll work. Let's do that." Luo Tian nodded, then called to Bulma. "Bulma, we should get going too."

"Okay..." Bulma nodded.

"Whoosh!"

The next moment, Bulma took Luo Tian away in a helicopter.

"Goku... you're not serious, are you? You really plan to learn from Luo Tian?" Krillin asked with a bitter smile.

"Yeah. I don't have a suitable way to train on my own." Son Goku smiled.

"But... can Luo Tian really do it? He only knows healing techniques. That Ultra Instinct thing sounds like a defensive move to me," Krillin said helplessly.

"No, Krillin. I suddenly feel like Luo Tian is much stronger than he seems," Son Goku mused.

"What? How is that possible?" Krillin was stunned.

"You'll find out eventually." Son Goku smiled.

"I agree... Luo Tian's performance today showed he's definitely no ordinary person," Master Roshi said quietly.