A Year from Now

Hearing Piccolo's words, everyone finally snapped out of their daze.

That was right! There was still Wu Xiu!

"Senior Brother Wu Xiu!"

Krillin looked as though he had grabbed onto a lifeline. "Y-you... can you beat that Vegeta?"

Everyone's hopeful gazes once again focused on Sun Wuxiu.

Faced with their expectant eyes,

Sun Wuxiu did not answer directly.

He merely removed his sunglasses. His dark eyes gazed toward the distant sea as a mysterious, unfathomable smile appeared on his face.

Then, he raised his right hand and made a "tiny bit" gesture with his thumb and index finger.

"Mm..."

"I'm probably... just a hundred million tiny bits stronger than him."

"A tiny bit?"

Everyone froze.

Wasn't that quantifier... a little subtle?

Did he mean a narrow victory? Or...

But seeing Sun Wuxiu's confidence, so calm it was almost composed, everyone finally let go of half the worry weighing on their hearts.

"Whew... that scared me to death." Krillin patted his chest.

"Since Senior Brother says he's stronger, there definitely won't be a problem! Senior Brother never talks big."

"Yeah, yeah! With Wu Xiu here, even some prince would just be delivering himself to us!"

Yamcha recovered his spirits as well.

Only Piccolo and Goku still wore grave expressions.

They were true martial artists and could hear the deeper meaning in Sun Wuxiu's words.

Daring to say he was "a little stronger" in the face of a power level of eighteen thousand itself represented absolute confidence.

Sun Wuxiu looked at the reinvigorated group and laughed inwardly.

A little stronger?

With a normal power level of ten million against eighteen thousand, that was far more than a little stronger. It was like using a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito.

However, so that these people would not completely lie down and give up striving just because they had someone to rely on, he did not spell it all out.

Pressure was what drove people to grow stronger.

"Goku."

Sun Wuxiu turned to look at his younger brother.

"Though I said I can win,"

"this... is a battle that belongs to the Saiyans. It is also a battle to protect Earth."

Sun Wuxiu's gaze grew serious.

"If Vegeta comes when the time arrives, would you rather I step in and take him out directly..."

"Or..."

"do you want to exchange a few moves with him yourself?"

This was actually a multiple-choice question.

Would he choose an easy victory, or choose to break through his limits at the edge of life and death?

Goku was stunned for a moment.

He lowered his head to look at his fists, then glanced at Gohan, who was still unconscious beside him.

For Earth's safety, having his brother take action was undoubtedly the safest option.

But...

A surge of boiling hot blood rose from the depths of his heart. It was a Saiyan's battle-hungry instinct, as well as a martial artist's yearning for the strong.

"Eighteen thousand..."

Goku murmured to himself. Then he raised his head, and the fear in his eyes had completely vanished, replaced by blazing fighting spirit.

He grinned, revealing that familiar, confident smile.

"Brother."

"Even though that guy is ridiculously strong... I want to try!"

"I want to fight him myself!!"

"If I don't challenge people stronger than me, then I'll never become stronger! Even if it's eighteen thousand... I want to use this year to catch up to him!!"

Hearing that answer, Sun Wuxiu smiled with satisfaction.

This was Son Goku.

This was Kakarot, who grew stronger when facing the strong and was forever breaking through his limits.

"Good."

Sun Wuxiu nodded. "Then it's settled."

"This year, I'll create a hellish special training plan for all of you. Whether you can survive under the pressure of eighteen thousand will depend on your own fortunes."

"Yes!!" Goku shouted excitedly.

Just then,

Piccolo, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly snorted coldly and turned to fly away.

"Hey, Piccolo, where are you going?" Goku called out. "Want to train with us?"

"Cut the nonsense, Son Goku."

Without looking back, Piccolo's white cape billowed fiercely in the wind.

"I have no interest in playing house with people like you."

"Those two Saiyans... and that Vegeta..."

Piccolo slightly turned his head, ambition gleaming in his single eye.

"This planet will become mine sooner or later."

"Since it is mine, I absolutely will not allow anyone else to lay a hand on it! Not even aliens!"

"Before those two arrive, I'll become stronger in my own way. When the time comes..."

Piccolo glanced at Sun Wuxiu, a trace of challenge flashing through his eyes.

"After I kill those two Saiyans, you will be next!"

With that said,

"Whoosh—"

Piccolo transformed into a streak of white light and vanished over the horizon in an instant.

Though he spoke harshly, everyone knew that this former Demon King had already joined the united front defending Earth.

"What an unfrank guy," Krillin complained.

"Alright."

Sun Wuxiu clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back.

"Now that our goal has been set,"

"the special training officially begins tomorrow."

"Our first stop—Kami's Lookout."

"Goku, take everyone to meet the true Kami."

Watching the dark clouds gradually disperse from the sky, Sun Wuxiu knew that the true Dragon Ball Z saga had finally begun in earnest from this moment onward.

Above the towering Korin Tower, there lay an even more sacred realm, beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.

Passing through layers of thunderclouds and crossing the seemingly endless corridor of red bricks, a massive semicircular temple floated at the peak of the heavens.

"Whew... whew... The air up here is so thin."

Krillin panted heavily. Even though his power level was now vastly different from before, flying at full speed in such high-altitude conditions still made his chest feel tight.

"We're here."

Sun Wuxiu, leading the way, landed steadily upon the red tiles of the Lookout's plaza. His expression remained unchanged, and not even his breathing had grown the slightest bit uneven.

Close behind him, Son Goku, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and the others landed one after another.

"So this... is where Kami lives?"

Yamcha looked around, his eyes filled with awe. "It feels so quiet. So quiet that it makes you uneasy."

"Welcome, everyone."

A completely flat voice rang out.

Mr. Popo, round-bodied and entirely black, had appeared before them at some point.

His round eyes swept over the group before pausing briefly on Sun Wuxiu. He gave a slight bow.

"Kami has been waiting for you."

The group followed Mr. Popo deeper into the Lookout.

Soon, before a palace brimming with exotic charm, they saw an aged figure standing with his back to them, leaning on a staff.

"Kami, everyone has arrived," Mr. Popo said.

The old man slowly turned around.

His green face was covered in wrinkles, with pointed ears and two antennae.

"Gasp—!!!"

A synchronized chorus of sharp inhalations rang out.

Aside from the Sun brothers, who had known all along, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and the others instantly felt their hair stand on end. They instinctively assumed fighting stances, and some had even begun gathering energy blasts.

"P-Piccolo?!!"