Teaching Bulma

Time passed quickly. Half a month went by just like that.

During those two weeks, Tights left home. She said she'd found inspiration and wanted to find somewhere quiet to focus on writing.

Kasso wasn't sure what to make of Tights's plans. Everyone had a dream. He'd once dreamed of traveling to the Dragon Ball World himself—who would've thought it would actually come true?

But from the anime, he knew that Tights's novels weren't popular. It wasn't until she met Jaco and started using stories from beyond the universe as inspiration that her writing began to gain some traction.

That day, in the courtyard.

"Watch your posture. Don't move around!" Kasso pointed at Bulma's little bottom.

Bulma stood in a horse stance, sweat trickling down her little face. When she heard Kasso's words, she lifted her bottom, which had begun to droop.

Kasso's mouth twitched. Earthlings were really frail.

But if he wanted to teach Bulma to cultivate "ki," he first had to get her body into shape. It was just like when Master Roshi had trained Krillin and Goku. Without a strong physique, she wouldn't be able to sense or store "ki."

In the Buu Saga, Gohan had taught Videl the same way. The difference was that Videl had trained since childhood and had Satan's financial support, so her physique was naturally better. On top of that, she was a little genius, which was why she'd learned to cultivate "ki" so easily.

Bulma's situation was different from Videl's. Not only was she young, she'd also been a pampered little princess her whole life.

Cultivating "ki" was—

One word.

Hard!

Fortunately, Senzu Beans existed. Kasso smiled.

For half a month, he'd put Bulma through hellish training. He got her up before dawn, had her hold a horse stance for an hour every day, and made her run with weights for another hour...

A few times, he'd thought Bulma was about to collapse. Fortunately, a single Senzu Bean brought her right back to life.

Then Bulma continued to endure the inhuman torture.

By now, she was a little afraid whenever she saw Kasso. But she was determined to fly, and after coming this far, she would never give up.

Honestly, even Kasso found it unbelievable. In his mind, Bulma was a pampered little princess who'd set out to find the Dragon Balls just so she could get a handsome boyfriend.

He hadn't expected Bulma to put up with such horrific torture!

"Keep holding that stance. I'll be right back," Kasso said calmly.

He touched a finger to his forehead and vanished on the spot.

Bulma wasn't surprised to see Kasso disappear. Over the past two weeks, he'd vanished for a while every few days.

She shook her head and resumed her horse stance.

"I finally found the seventh Dragon Ball!" Kasso found one inside a castle.

Half a month ago, he'd found the first Dragon Ball in the storage room at Bulma's house. After making several trips out, he'd now collected all seven.

As he looked at the Dragon Ball in his hand, he suddenly heard a commotion downstairs.

"The Dragon Balls are all hidden, right?"

"Rest assured, Great King Pilaf. They're in the secret room on the second floor!"

Hearing those voices, Kasso smiled. So this Dragon Ball belonged to Pilaf and his little gang.

Kasso knew that those guys collected Dragon Balls on behalf of other people. They were nothing but hired hands. It wasn't until Dragon Ball GT that they finally made a wish of their own. But that wish...

Erm...

It was just too embarrassing to watch!

He didn't bother with them. Kasso used Instant Transmission and left.

He returned to the courtyard at Bulma's house.

Bulma was still gritting her teeth and holding her horse stance.

"This little girl's pretty impressive!"

Kasso nodded. Bulma had truly surprised him and completely changed his impression of her.

"Bulma, come over here."

"Okay."

Bulma sat down on the ground. After holding the stance for an hour, she was exhausted.

Still, after being put through the wringer by Kasso for half a month, Bulma felt much stronger. She could even lift one of the hundred-pound experimental machines at home with one hand.

Seeing that the training was working was the only reason she'd stuck with it. Otherwise, she would've given up long ago!

"Are you going to teach me how to fly now?" Bulma struggled to her feet and walked over to Kasso, her eyes shining.

Kasso: "..."

She'd only been training for a month and already wanted to fly?

Kasso said calmly, "I'll teach you how to sense the power inside your body first."

Flying wasn't actually difficult. You only needed enough energy within your body. Saiyans, for example, didn't know how to use "ki" at first, but they had enough power to support themselves, so they could fly with ease.

As for learning to use "ki," that would depend on her own talent.

He himself had endured a month of grueling training before he learned to use "ki."

Kasso thought to himself.

Then he had Bulma sit on the ground and summoned a ball of white energy in his hand.

As soon as the ball appeared, a strong wind swept through the whole courtyard. The surrounding trees rustled loudly.

Dr. Brief and his wife heard the commotion and hurried over. But when they saw Kasso teaching Bulma, they quickly left the courtyard again.

Clearly, they knew Bulma was training.

"Remember this feeling!"

Kasso tossed the ball of energy toward her. In the blink of an eye, it surrounded Bulma.

Kasso didn't really know how to teach her. To fly, she either had to learn to use "ki" or have a great deal of energy in her body.

But he didn't think Bulma could manage the latter. All he could do was help her sense "ki" and see if she might learn to use it someday.

The ball of energy flew toward her, enveloping Bulma in its white glow. She felt warm all over, like she was soaking in a perfectly heated hot spring in the middle of winter. The soreness from holding her horse stance disappeared, and she nearly cried out in delight.

"That feels so good!"

But even though it felt wonderful, she hadn't forgotten Kasso's words.

Remember this feeling!

Bulma soon quieted down and focused her whole mind on sensing the energy.

Kasso didn't disturb her. He let her figure it out on her own; no one could help her with this.

After looking back once, Kasso vanished from the courtyard.

On the other side of the courtyard.

A black metal room stood there. Every so often, the sounds of intense training rang out from inside.

"Ha!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Kasso appeared in front of the Gravity Chamber. Hearing the sounds inside, he called, "Little Biel, come see something interesting!"