But...
His second attempt ended in failure, too.
However, he managed to maintain his Super Saiyan form five seconds longer than he had the first time.
After Dende helped "recharge" him, Rix took Tarble's advice and began his third attempt.
This time, at last, he wasn't forced to return to his normal state.
To be safe, he tried a fourth time as well.
And, of course, he successfully mastered the Super Saiyan transformation.
Meanwhile.
Vegeta had only just flown home when he sensed Rix's energy surge, then remain steady for a long time. A smile crept onto his lips.
In private, they had asked Rix what he'd been through all these years.
Rix had been so conscientious, even on a remote planet, faithfully carrying out his duty and making Tarble's safety his responsibility every time.
According to Rix, the last time he and his other comrade, Tomato, encountered a tough enemy, they fought with everything they had to protect Tarble. Tomato had died taking the enemy down with him.
He was grateful to both Rix and Tomato.
Rix had also told him that after that, Tarble had become obsessed with training.
Of course, Vegeta couldn't simply take Rix's word for it.
Later, he spoke to Tarble alone and learned that what Rix had said was true.
From then on, he'd thought a little more highly of Rix.
He regarded him as practically family!
Because he knew that, under normal circumstances, Saiyans wouldn't obey orders from one of their own who was weaker than them.
Let alone risk their lives to protect him.
In the past, he would have sneered, "There's no point protecting a weakling."
But now, he felt only gratitude.
The way to repay him was simple: help Rix master the Super Saiyan form as quickly as possible.
But all along, he'd noticed that Rix's power was growing more slowly than his own had.
With conventional training, Rix would never meet the basic requirements for becoming a Super Saiyan in such a short time.
So Vegeta had planned to ask Dende for help on the day Tarble successfully became a Super Saiyan.
Besides, under normal circumstances, the easiest time to take a fatal hit was when you were caught off guard.
That was why he'd struck Rix hard without discussing it with him first.
He'd also anticipated that Rix would get angry.
And anger was the key to successfully transforming into a Super Saiyan, as far as he knew.
It killed two birds with one stone, and Dende was there. What was there to be afraid of?!
As he descended from the sky into the super mansion, Vegeta glanced back toward Kami's Lookout and murmured, "You've earned this."
"Hate me if you want. Resent me if you must."
"I, Vegeta, fear nothing!"
"Keep working to become stronger!"
Then he headed slowly toward the dining room.
In the glow of the setting sun, his shadow stretched far longer than he was tall.
Meanwhile.
The Z Fighters on Earth had also noticed the change in Rix's energy.
They had assumed he wouldn't be able to complete the Super Saiyan transformation anytime soon.
They never expected him to master it on his fourth attempt.
It was far beyond anything they'd imagined.
At Kame House.
Krillin gazed toward Kami's Lookout, a trace of envy in his eyes.
"Master Roshi, Saiyans have talent that ordinary people can only dream of, haha!"
There was a hint of envy in his laughter, along with bitterness and self-mockery.
In less than two months, Tarble and Rix had both become Super Saiyans.
Just over a month ago, not only Krillin but even Chiaotzu, the weakest of them, had been far stronger than the two of them.
But now?
The old guard had been surpassed.
He felt their training progress was even faster than Son Goku's.
Still, he guessed it was because they trained in the Gravity Chamber.
Even though he'd figured out the reason, he couldn't help but marvel:
Saiyan talent was truly outrageous!
If Android 18 hadn't been inside preparing dinner, she would definitely have tried to comfort him.
Master Roshi heard him and glanced at Krillin out of the corner of his eye before looking away.
He gazed up at the starry sky, a profound light in his eyes.
"Different people lead different lives.
The same is true of the path of training.
Why do you have to compare yourself to the Saiyans?
Krillin, you have your own life, too!
Look back. Aren't you hundreds, even thousands of times stronger than you used to be?"
At that, he deliberately paused, then glanced sideways at Krillin again.
Krillin looked astonished, as if lost in a daze.
Seizing the moment, Master Roshi continued, "If you want to surpass others, you must first surpass yourself."
"Krillin, all these years have gone by."
"Do you still remember why you started training to become stronger?"
"Of your generation, I've only seen Goku, Tien Shinhan, Piccolo, and Vegeta stay true to their original aspirations."
"What about you, Krillin?"
"Do you still remember yours?"
After saying that, he turned and slowly walked toward the house.
"Life is a long road. Staying true to your original aspirations is the hardest thing."
"The hardest thing of all..."
Hearing those words from behind him, Krillin's unfocused eyes lit up.
He murmured softly, "My original aspiration..."
After Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha sensed that Rix had also become a Super Saiyan, they all marveled that Saiyans were monsters.
After expressing their amazement, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu continued training.
As for Yamcha, he went back to his lazy life.
At Son Gohan's house.
Piccolo formally said goodbye to Son Gohan and prepared to leave.
Son Gohan gazed at Piccolo's retreating back, his eyes full of reluctance. "Uncle Piccolo, are you going off to train, too?"
They'd only been together for a little over a month, and now they had to part again. Of course he was sad.
Strictly speaking, Piccolo meant more to him than his biological father, Son Goku.
He wasn't his real father, but he might as well have been.
When Son Gohan was at his most impressionable, Piccolo had taught him everything, from how to fight to how to become a proper warrior.
Most importantly, Piccolo had risked his life to save him twice.
The first time was on Earth; the second was on Planet Namek.
Whenever Son Gohan was in danger, Piccolo was always the first to appear before him.
He could never repay that kindness and devotion, and he didn't know how he could.
But he knew even better that defeating his father, Son Goku, had always been Piccolo's dream.
Although Piccolo had kept training, the difference in their natural talents remained.
So he had never managed to achieve his goal.
Piccolo was so much more to him than just a teacher.
What Son Gohan didn't know was that Piccolo was just as reluctant to part.
The reason he was walking slowly instead of powering up and flying away was so he could stay a little longer.
Before you continue