Dark Despair

What did that mean?! The [Spirit Eye] secret art was basically a Scouter? That was kind of useless!

Karochi thought that since it was a secret art he could learn in just a month, it was only natural that it would be a little simple.

"Big Sis Tights, are you going to learn some more secret arts, or head back to Earth first?" Karochi asked, a little torn.

He wasn't too comfortable staying there to learn more secret arts by himself.

"Hmm~~ I think learning the [Spirit Eye] secret art is enough! Little Chi, take me back to Earth." Tights was perceptive and had naturally seen what Karochi meant.

That collapse really had been dangerous! Karochi had been learning a secret art at the time. If anything had happened, it would have been too late for regrets.

At first, Karochi had thought Yardrat was a pretty nice place! But ever since that so-called King of Yardrat had spoken to him in riddles, he'd kept feeling that there was something strange about the planet.

Karochi nodded and took Tights's hand. He pictured Earth's coordinates in his mind.

He didn't return until half a month later. Wasn't he allowed to enjoy himself after going a whole month without eating?! Besides, he'd brought plenty of food capsules before coming—enough to last a year.

Karochi continued his training. The [Space Secret Art] wasn't a single, standalone skill, but the complete application of spatial abilities! It was like gaining a space-based power.

Time always flew when he was training, especially here on Yardrat! Every time he closed his eyes and opened them again, several months had passed.

It was practically like a world of immortal cultivation. It was truly remarkable.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye~!

Karochi sat cross-legged on a mountain peak on Yardrat, his body glowing with a milky-white light!

He was like an old monk in meditation. This was the cultivation method he had learned from Yardrat over the past two years!

Yardrat's cultivation method focused solely on one's realm and didn't train the body. Even so, Karochi had been a little shocked to learn that King Supar of Yardrat had a power level of 100,000.

He looked frail, and his ki was so deeply concealed that Karochi wouldn't have been able to gauge his strength at all if he hadn't mastered the [Sixth Sense].

This realm cultivation method was quite unusual. To a certain extent, it could ease the strain that [Ki Burst] placed on the body! In other words, this cultivation method could solve the burden caused by transforming into a Super Saiyan.

It was amazing! Super Saiyans were great in every way! They looked cool, and their transformations brought a huge boost in power. The only problem was that they didn't last long! Their lack of stamina was a real pain.

Among the different Super Saiyan forms, it seemed that only Super Saiyan 1 could reach Full Power and reduce the burden to a minimum. Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan 3 both placed a tremendous strain on the body.

That was especially true of Super Saiyan 3. In the original story, Goku had only managed to transform successfully on Grand Kai Planet in Otherworld because being dead greatly reduced the strain the transformation put on his body.

Then there were the secret arts he had learned over the past two years.

The first was naturally the [Space Secret Art]. It had taken him a whole year, even though he already knew Kidd's [Instant Transmission] and had some understanding of space and time!

After learning this secret art, Karochi had developed many powerful techniques: the true-damage attack skill—[Dimensional Slash], which practically ignored physical defenses! Unless there was a huge gap between their strengths, the opponent couldn't defend against it.

The banishment skill—[Dimensional Rift], which tore open space and could throw an opponent into an empty alternate dimension.

And the storage skill—[Personal Space], which was useful for storing food! He'd tried it out, and it was convenient and worked great. Five stars.

The second secret art was the one Karochi had been longing for—the [Vacuum Technique], which let him breathe internally! It meant he could survive and fight in outer space.

The third secret art was the [Sixth Sense]. Karochi had originally wanted to learn Tights's [Spirit Eye] secret art! But he never got the hang of it, so he had to switch to this one.

That didn't mean the [Spirit Eye] was more advanced than the [Sixth Sense]. It just wasn't suited to him! If they really had to be ranked, the [Sixth Sense] was still superior.

This secret art could also reveal an opponent's power level. Though Karochi hadn't known that the [Spirit Eye] could also reveal someone's name, race, and whether they were good or evil.

But the [Sixth Sense] could activate a state of [Omniscience]! It didn't increase his power, but like the Observation Haki from One Piece, it let him see briefly into the future!

Put simply, it let him predict his opponent's attacks perfectly.

"Whew! Time flies. It's already been two years." Karochi breathed out the morning air and slowly got to his feet!

At just eight years old, Karochi was already 1.6 meters tall. If he kept growing, he'd soon be challenging the high jumpers.

"My power's increased so much!" Karochi clenched his fist and marveled. Honestly, two years ago, he'd trained himself to exhaustion overcoming gravity and only reached a power level of 200,000.

Now, after having his strength unlocked by the Grand Elder on Planet Namek, he'd gained about seven times his power, reaching 1.4 million with ease.

A month of practicing the [Space Secret Art] had not only stabilized his strength, but also let him make further progress. His power level had reached 1.53 million.

Now Karochi's power level had climbed to 2.1 million. He couldn't help but marvel at how incredible Yardrat was! Two years here had raised his power level by 700,000.

This realm cultivation method was truly astonishing! Goku probably had wanted to learn it in the original story, too, but his pure mind had made it impossible for him to understand such an abstract concept as cultivating one's realm.

"You've finished your training, Mr. Karochi," Husu's voice said. He had appeared without a sound. Even though his power level was far below Karochi's, Karochi still couldn't sense him.

"Mr. Husu, you really do come and go without a trace. Tsk, just like a ghost!" Karochi pursed his lips.

Huh? Was that a compliment? Husu gave a wry smile. "It's the difference in our realms, and my power is far below yours, Mr. Karochi. That's why concealing our ki works so effectively."

Using one's realm to contain one's power was the core of Yardratian cultivation! Their bodies simply weren't suited to training physical strength.

"Also, we hope you won't share the mental cultivation method we taught you. It's the foundation of our survival," Husu said earnestly.

Yardrat had entrusted Karochi with the very foundation of their existence.

"I've always had a question. Why? Why are you treating me like this?" It didn't make sense. They weren't related, and yet they'd handed over something so important to him.

They could be said to have laid everything bare before him. At first, Karochi had been quite wary of Yardrat! Now? Heh~ Yardrat was Karochi's second home. That was final.

Husu thought for a moment, then sighed. "There's no need to hide this from you, Mr. Karochi."

Karochi didn't interrupt, waiting quietly for him to continue.

"To borrow the words of that sister of yours who often visits, this is what you call an investment!"

An investment? Good! They had an eye for talent! They knew he was destined to become an extraordinary figure, with horns growing out of his head. Karochi was secretly pleased.

Over the past two years, Tights had often contacted Karochi and asked him to act as her driver, taking her to various planets to collect material! He really had become Tights's private car.

"The King and I sensed you when you arrived on Planet Namek!" Husu looked deeply worried, as if he had seen something terrifying.

"Uh! What did you sense? Get to the point!" People who spoke in riddles were the worst.

Husu gave a helpless, wry smile. "We saw nothing but darkness and evil! But when you came to Yardrat, it seemed that the future we had foreseen had changed."

Huh? Hadn't the Grand Elder said something like that, too? Back then, Karochi had thought it was about Frieza going to Planet Namek, but it seemed there was more to it.

The original story had barely mentioned Yardrat, with only a few passing lines! Could the planet be invaded by some mysterious powerhouse in the future?

"I can't see through it. I can't make it out! But since the King and I have seen that things are changing, we hope Yardrat can preserve its people through the disasters of the future." Husu looked at Karochi, leaving the decision in his hands. He had already offered his goodwill, but this was something that had to be willingly accepted by both sides. Forcing the issue was pointless.

"Tsk~ You don't trust my character?" Karochi said helplessly. Was he really that ungrateful? He thought he was pretty decent!!

Just kidding. He did have basic principles.

"Don't worry. I'll help however I can, as long as it's within my ability." Karochi made his promise solemnly, dropping his earlier playful attitude.

The part about it being within his ability was the key point. A local who'd never signed a contract would never think to include a qualifier like that.

Husu bowed to express his gratitude. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Karochi."

He let out a long breath. Good thing they hadn't invested in the wrong person! With that promise, at least their efforts hadn't been wasted.

"By the way, keep the communicator Tights gave you. If anything comes up, just contact me!" Tights had left them a communicator to make it easier for her to get in touch with Karochi, but now she could give it to Husu and the others.

After all, Karochi couldn't keep an eye on Yardrat all the time, could he? His goal was the stars and beyond. That was where he belonged.

Husu hesitated. Actually, they had a special technique for getting in touch, so there was no need to go to so much trouble! That piece of junk was a hassle to use, and it often failed to connect!

And just how many times had that little Earth girl taken you away? Had you lost count?

But after thinking it over, he decided to let it go. If the time came, he could just contact Karochi with their technique.

"Anything else? If not, I'm heading back to Earth!" His expression made him look exactly like a scoundrel who'd pulled up his pants and walked away.

Even Husu couldn't help questioning whether Karochi's promise could really be trusted. Probably? Right?

"N-no... nothing else!" Husu looked at Karochi with a complicated expression.

"Ah~! Don't look so sad. I'll come back to visit when I have time." Karochi naturally assumed that Husu looked that way because he didn't want him to leave. After all, they'd been together day in and day out for two years.

He'd only spent two years and a half with Big Sis Tights, and they'd hardly seen each other during those two years!! Of course, if he could help it, Karochi would rather Tights didn't contact him.

He really didn't want to be treated like a private car!! And it wasn't as if he got any thanks for it. Tights had even gone to Elf Planet for two weeks, and when she came back, she looked at him with nothing but disdain.

He had no idea what Rielbea had said to her. He hadn't done anything, had he? He'd only touched her ears to see if they were real, that was all???