Ultra Divine Water

As Master Roshi had said, Korin Tower's surface was smooth as a mirror, without a single bump or indentation to climb. There wasn't even a crack.

But Son Goku and Krillin were both accomplished martial artists. Their fingers dug into the stone wall like steel claws, and they pushed off with their toes against the vertical tower, surging upward like nimble apes.

"Hey!"

"Ha!"

The wind whistled past their ears as the clouds gradually fell beneath them.

By the first night, Krillin was breathing as heavily as an ox, and blisters had formed on his fingers. Son Goku slowed down and climbed alongside him.

"Goku... you..." Krillin panted. "How are you... not tired at all?"

"I'm doing all right," Son Goku said with a smile, deliberately keeping the Gravity Suit a secret. "Maybe eating a lot gives me more strength."

Krillin's determination is as strong as ever... In the original, he stuck with Goku all the way to the end. He's someone worth getting close to.

At dawn the next day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, Son Goku hauled himself onto the platform at the top of the tower.

Krillin followed soon after, utterly exhausted. The moment he climbed up, he collapsed on the ground without a shred of dignity, gasping like a fish out of water. "We're... we're here... Finally..."

If Son Goku hadn't been waiting for Krillin, he would have reached the top long ago. Training under twelve times Earth's gravity had made his basic physical abilities far superior to Krillin's current level.

And Krillin was already much stronger than he had been in the original story. But he was still building his foundation, so training in a Gravity Suit wasn't suitable for him yet. At most, he could use some weighted gear.

After all, Earthlings didn't have bodies as absurdly tough as Saiyans'.

"We made it!"

Son Goku opened a Capsule and set a fish tank down in an empty space, then began looking around.

The tower's peak was a spacious, circular platform paved with weathered stone tiles. A small shrine-like building stood in the center, while clouds swirled all around, making it seem like a place in the heavens.

A white figure lounged lazily on the stone steps, holding a slender staff. With its belly facing skyward, it let out a soft snore.

"Meow... Guests?"

It was a white cat, dressed in a blue martial arts uniform embroidered with the character for "martial," with a golden bell hanging around its neck. It slowly opened its eyes, a lazy yet sharp glint flashing in its pupils.

"Master Karin!" Son Goku bowed respectfully. "I'm Son Goku, and this is Krillin. We've come to train on Master Roshi's orders!"

Master Karin—Master Korin—slowly sat up and yawned, sizing up the two kids in front of him. When his gaze landed on the two tanks of live fish and the mountain delicacies, his eyes suddenly widened, and his whiskers trembled violently.

"Fish! So much fish! And they're alive!"

He practically pounced on the tanks, nearly drooling. "Th-these are for me?!"

"Yes," Son Goku said with a smile. "We thought you might like them, so Krillin and I each brought some."

Master Korin swallowed, then looked up at Son Goku and Krillin, who had just gotten to his feet. A playful, inquisitive glint flashed in his eyes. "Kid, what makes you think I like eating fish?"

"I guessed," Son Goku replied calmly, though his heartbeat quickened slightly. "Don't all cats like fish?"

That was close. In the original, fish really were his favorite, but it was pretty suspicious for a kid who'd supposedly never been here before to say that.

Master Korin was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. The bell around his neck jingled. "How amusing! Very well, in light of these fish..."

He suddenly stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes, his tone turning inscrutable. "I'll accept the gifts. But training at Korin Tower isn't something you can pass just by bringing me a few fish. Want to get stronger? Catch me first!"

Before he'd even finished speaking, Master Korin vanished with a whoosh!

"What?!" Krillin cried in shock.

Son Goku, however, had been ready. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Here it comes! The part where we try to steal the Super Holy Water, just like in the original!

"Krillin, watch out! He's incredibly fast!"

A chase erupted across the platform. Master Korin moved so quickly he left afterimages behind. Son Goku and Krillin tried to flank him, but couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

The next day.

"Too slow, too slow!" Master Korin's voice rang out from every direction. "With skills like those, you think you can get stronger?"

Son Goku's eyes narrowed, and the ki within him suddenly surged. His speed instantly jumped to another level!

Training under thirteen times Earth's gravity wasn't for nothing! My muscle memory and reaction speed have already surpassed what they were at this point in the original!

"Got you!"

His fingers brushed Master Korin's bell!

Master Korin came to an abrupt stop and landed on a stone pillar. For the first time, surprise showed in his eyes. "Oh? Interesting..."

A month later.

Dawn broke over the top of Korin Tower.

"Ha!"

"Hey!"

Two figures crossed paths on the platform, the dull thuds of their blows ringing out like firecrackers.

Krillin's bald head gleamed in the sunlight. His techniques were far sharper than a month ago, and his speed, strength, and reflexes had all improved by leaps and bounds. He could now just barely keep up with Master Korin's movements and could even predict where he would land from time to time.

But Son Goku... had already finished.

"Master," he said, lowering his fist and respectfully facing Master Korin, who had been watching from the side. "I've mastered everything you taught me."

Master Korin narrowed his eyes, his bell swaying gently. "Everything?"

"Yes." Son Goku nodded earnestly. "Sensing ki, achieving perfect control over my body, how to use the Super Holy Water... I've mastered it all."

"Master, could you give me some Senzu Beans? They're pretty important to me!" Son Goku almost forgot about the Senzu Beans, that overpowered resource.

"No problem!"

With that, Master Korin headed deeper into the tower. Before long, he came back carrying a large bag of Senzu Beans and casually tossed it to Son Goku.

"Come get more when you run out."

"Thank you, Master!"

Seeing that Son Goku still hadn't left, Master Korin looked puzzled.

A sudden fire kindled in Son Goku's dark eyes, making even Master Korin take notice. He looked at Master Korin and said, "I heard... you have another kind of water here."

Master Korin's body went rigid.

"Ultra Divine Water."

Those three words struck the still waters like a boulder.

Master Korin's pupils contracted sharply, and the bell around his neck stopped swaying. He slowly rose to his feet. His usual languid air vanished, replaced by the gravity and authority of someone who had lived for hundreds of years.

"You know about the Ultra Divine Water?" His voice grew hoarse and low. "Who told you?"

"Master Mutten," Son Goku answered calmly, though his heartbeat quickened slightly. I can't let on that I know too much... Blaming Master Roshi is safest. "He said it's a divine water that can draw out a person's potential, but... it's also deadly poison. Nine out of ten people who drink it die."

The air seemed to freeze.