"Uh? Can I really do it? I've never fought anyone before." Son Gohan froze, then asked nervously.
"You haven't realized the powerful energy hidden within you," Piccolo said. "That's why you need to train—to learn how to use that energy effectively."
"You're lying! There's no powerful energy inside me." Son Gohan looked hurt.
"Then let me show you the proof." Piccolo gave a sinister grin, grabbed Son Gohan by the head, and lifted him into the air.
"What are you doing? Let go of me! That hurts!" Son Gohan shouted, struggling desperately.
"Whoosh!"
Piccolo swung his arm hard.
Son Gohan shot toward a distant mountain.
Piccolo's face was filled with anticipation.
Show me your strength!
Let's see if you can smash that rocky mountain in the distance!
If you can't, don't blame me if you die.
I can always use the Dragon Balls to bring you back.
"Waaah!"
Son Gohan watched as he hurtled toward the mountain, his expression turning grave.
Suddenly, golden flames appeared around Son Gohan.
"Rumble!"
The golden flames slammed into the mountain.
With a deafening crash, the entire mountain was blasted to pieces.
A long crater appeared in the ground below.
Piccolo was stunned.
This kid was unbelievably strong.
He was even stronger than I'd imagined.
Son Gohan: "..."
Did I do that?
I didn't know I was this strong.
But I'm so scared.
Piccolo silently looked at Son Gohan, speechless for a moment.
I feel so conflicted. I might be raising a truly terrifying enemy for the future.
"D-Did I really do that?" Son Gohan asked.
"Now you understand, don't you?" Piccolo replied. "You can only bring out your hidden power when your emotions run high. But it only lasts for an instant, and that won't be enough to win. I'm going to teach you how to fight and make you the strongest warrior around."
"But I... I don't want to be a martial artist. I want to be a great scientist." Son Gohan shook his head.
"Of course you can. Once you've defeated the two Saiyans who'll come here a year from now, you can be whatever you want. It'll have nothing to do with me," Piccolo said. "They're planning to wipe out the people of Earth. If they succeed, you won't be able to become a scientist—and there might not even be an Earth left."
"But... I'm still really scared." Son Gohan trembled all over.
"Stop being such a coward. Do you want me to kill you?" Piccolo snapped. "There's no time. Let's get started. Take off your shirt first."
Son Gohan hurriedly took off his shirt, saying as he did, "I want my dad to teach me how to train."
"Hmph. I'm afraid he'd never make a good teacher. He's not strict enough. Seeing how spoiled you are, I can tell how he's been teaching you," Piccolo said with a smile. "Besides, your dad agreed to let me train you."
Son Gohan felt like crying.
Dad, are you giving up on me?
"Then, are we starting?" Son Gohan asked miserably.
"That's right. We're starting now! First, you do nothing—just stay alive." Piccolo smiled faintly.
"Stay alive?" Son Gohan stared at him.
"Exactly. All you have to do is survive here on your own." Piccolo smiled. "If you can last six months, I'll teach you how to fight."
"What? Six months? All by myself?" Son Gohan was startled. "I... I'll be bored to death."
"Don't worry, you definitely won't be lonely. Man-eating monsters often come out around here." Piccolo smiled.
"What? You're going to leave me all alone in a place like this? You're so cruel!" Son Gohan was terrified, his young face pale with fear.
"All right, I don't have time to waste talking to you. If you're still alive after six months, that'll prove you're an excellent warrior, both mentally and physically," Piccolo said calmly. "Don't forget, the fate of Earth is in your hands. Believe in your abilities, and learn to use them yourself."
"But... but I..." Son Gohan looked helpless.
"And don't even think about running away. This whole area is desert. You know about quicksand, right? If you fall in, even I won't be able to pull you out." Piccolo grinned.
"Wait... where's the food? Where's the bathtub and the bed?" Son Gohan asked.
"My young master, did you think I'd prepare any of that for you?" Piccolo smiled faintly.
Son Gohan: "..."
That's so cruel!
"If you want someone to blame, blame your fate. It's just like mine." After saying that, Piccolo shot into the sky and quickly flew away.
Back then, I grew up in this place all alone, too.
Son Goku's son, do your best to survive.
"Wait! Don't leave me behind! I'm scared!" Son Gohan chased after him with all his might.
But Piccolo had already flown out of sight.
Son Gohan burst into tears.
No one paid him any mind.
The Lookout.
Kami: "..."
"Kami, what's wrong?" Mr. Popo asked. "What happened?"
"Piccolo seems very different from before," Kami said. "He hasn't changed his wicked ways, but he's lost the cunning and brutality he once had."
"I feel it too. The Demon King of the past would never have helped Son Goku's son grow stronger," Mr. Popo said, nodding.
"Piccolo may have changed because he learned that Raditz, whom he killed, had made it safely to the Other World..." Kami said with a sigh. "Until now, those killed by the Demon Clan couldn't be reincarnated. They could only drift through the air in torment. But Raditz made it to the Other World."
Mr. Popo said nothing, remaining silent.
"And perhaps he's also realized that we'll die a year from now," Kami said.
"A year?" Mr. Popo replied, startled.
"Yes. Piccolo will be killed by those two Saiyans a year from now," Kami said with a nod. "As you know, Piccolo and I were once one person. If he dies, I'll disappear along with him. Though I'm Kami, knowing when I'll die still weighs heavily on me... Piccolo must have sensed what's coming, too, so he wants to leave something behind—like training Son Goku's son."
"Kami, that man named Luo Tian can use healing techniques. Do you know where he came from?" Mr. Popo asked.
Before you continue