Ultra Divine Water

The surface of Korin Tower was indeed as Master Roshi had described: smooth as a mirror, without a single bump or crevice to provide a grip for climbing.

However, Son Goku and Krillin were both accomplished martial artists. With fingers digging into the stone like steel claws and toes pushing off the vertical tower wall for leverage, they ascended with the agility of nimble apes.

"Hiyah!"

"Hah!"

The wind whistled past their ears as the cloud layer gradually fell beneath their feet.

By the first night, Krillin's breathing had become as heavy as an ox's, and his fingertips were blistered and raw. Son Goku slowed his pace to climb alongside him.

"Goku... you guy..." Krillin wheezed, "How are you... not tired at all?"

"I'm alright," Son Goku smiled, deliberately concealing the existence of his Gravity Suit. "Maybe it's because I eat a lot, so I have more strength."

Krillin's perseverance is still as strong as ever... In the original story, he was the one who walked all the way to the end with Goku. This person is worth befriending.

On the second morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, Son Goku stepped onto the platform at the top of the tower.

Shortly after, a completely exhausted Krillin scrambled up. No sooner had he climbed over the edge than he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air like a fish out of water. "Made... it... finally... made it..."

In truth, had Son Goku not been waiting for Krillin, he would have reached the top much sooner. His training under twelve times gravity had pushed his base physical fitness far beyond that of the current Krillin.

While this Krillin was already significantly stronger than his original counterpart, he was still in the foundation-building phase and not yet suited for training in a gravity suit; at most, he could handle some weighted equipment.

After all, Earthlings did not possess the monstrous physiology of a Saiyan.

"We're here!"

Son Goku opened a capsule, placed a fish tank in an open space, and began to survey his surroundings.

The top of the tower was a wide, circular platform paved with ancient stone bricks. In the center stood a small, shrine-like structure, surrounded by swirling mist as if it were a fairyland.

On the platform, a white figure was lounging lazily on the stone steps. It held a long, thin cane, belly facing the sky, emitting a soft snoring sound.

"Meow... have guests arrived?"

It was a white cat wearing a blue martial arts gi with the character "Martial" embroidered on it, and a golden bell hung around its neck. It slowly opened its eyes, a flash of lazy yet sharp light flickering in its pupils.

"Master Karin!" Son Goku bowed respectfully. "I am Son Goku, and this is Krillin. We have come by Master Roshi's order to train!"

Master Karin—Master Korin—slowly sat up, let out a yawn, and sized up the two brats before him. When his gaze fell upon the two tanks of live fish and mountain delicacies, his eyes suddenly widened into perfect circles, and his whiskers trembled violently.

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

He practically pounced toward the water tanks, drool nearly dripping from his mouth. "Th-this... is this for me?!"

"Yes," Son Goku smiled. "We thought you might like them, Master, so we each prepared some."

Master Korin swallowed hard, looked up at Son Goku and the newly risen Krillin, a hint of playfulness and scrutiny flashing in his eyes. "Kid, how did you know I'd like fish?"

"A guess," Son Goku replied, his expression unchanging despite his heart rate quickening slightly. "Don't all cats like eating fish?"

Almost let it slip... In the original story, he does love fish most of all, but coming from a kid who is "here for the first time," it does sound a bit suspicious.

Master Korin paused for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh, the bell on his neck jingling. "Interesting! Interesting! Very well, for the sake of these fish..."

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

Before the words had even faded, Master Korin's figure vanished with a "whoosh!"

"What?!" Krillin gasped in shock.

Son Goku, however, had been prepared. The corners of his mouth curled upward. Here it comes! The Super Holy Water snatching segment from the original story!

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

A chase erupted across the platform. Master Korin moved with such speed that he left afterimages behind; Son Goku and Krillin tried to flank him from both sides, but they couldn't even brush against his fur.

One day later.

"Too slow, too slow!" Master Korin's voice echoed from all directions. "With only this much skill, you want to get stronger?"

Son Goku's gaze sharpened, his internal Ki erupted, and his speed instantly jumped to a new level!

My training under thirteen times gravity wasn't for nothing! My muscle memory and reaction speed have long since surpassed the original timeline!

"Got you!"

His fingers grazed Master Korin's bell!

Master Korin came to an abrupt stop, landing on a stone pillar, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes for the first time. "Oh? Interesting..."

One month later.

At the top of Korin Tower, the dawn light was faint.

"Hah!"

"Hiyah!"

Two figures crossed paths on the platform, the dull thuds of fists and kicks meeting sounding like a continuous string of firecrackers.

Krillin's bald head shone brightly in the sunlight. His techniques were sharper than they had been a month ago, and his speed, strength, and reactions had all seen a qualitative leap. He could now barely keep up with Master Korin's movements, and could even occasionally predict where the cat would land.

But Son Goku... he was already finished.

"Master," he stood with his fists retracted, looking respectfully at Master Korin, who was watching the spar from the side. "I have already learned everything you have to teach."

Master Korin narrowed his eyes, his bell tinkling softly: "All of it?"

"Yes." Son Goku nodded earnestly, "Sensing ki, ultimate body control, the application of Super Holy Water... I have mastered them all."

"Master, please give me some Senzu Beans; they are quite important to me!" Son Goku had almost forgotten about the bug-like utility of the Senzu Beans.

"No problem!"

With that, he walked deep into the depths of Korin Tower, returning shortly after with a large bag of Senzu Beans, which he tossed casually to Son Goku.

"Come back and get more when you run out."

"Thank you, Master!"

Seeing that Son Goku had not yet left, Master Korin felt a flicker of confusion.

A light suddenly ignited in Son Goku's black eyes, a glow that even made Master Korin look askance, before he said to the cat: "I heard... that you have another kind of water here."

Master Korin's body stiffened.

"Ultra Divine Water."

The three words were like a boulder cast into a tranquil lake.

Master Korin's pupils contracted sharply, and the bell around his neck ceased its swaying. He slowly stood up, his usual lazy demeanor vanishing in an instant, replaced by a majesty and gravity that could only come from having lived for hundreds of years.

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

"Master Mutten," Son Goku replied, his expression unchanging, though his heart rate accelerated slightly. I can't reveal that I know too much... pinning it on Master Roshi is the safest bet. "He said it is a divine water capable of unleashing human potential, but... it is also highly toxic. Nine out of ten who drink it will die."

The air seemed to freeze.