Gambling with Life

Master Korin stared at Son Goku for a long time after hearing his request for the Ultra Divine Water. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, as if he were trying to dissect the boy's very soul.

Finally, he let out a heavy sigh: "Since you know the danger, why ask?"

[Showtime!]

"Because I want to become stronger."

Son Goku's voice was not loud, yet it seemed to carry a certain piercing power. He took a step forward, his small frame casting a long shadow under the sunlight:

"I know the Ultra Divine Water is poisonous. It could cause agonizing pain, it could make my heart burst, it could kill me instantly. But..."

He raised his head, his black eyes meeting Master Korin's gaze directly. There was no fear in them, only a near-maniacal obsession:

"If I don't dare to gamble my life, how can I transcend my limits? How can I become the strongest in the universe!"

Master Korin's eyes widened, and his staff clattered to the ground with a "clack."

"You, you little brat..." His whiskers trembled violently. "Do you know what you're saying?! That's gambling with your life! This isn't a fight! This isn't a tournament! If you die, everything is gone!"

"I know," Son Goku smiled, a smile so clean it was blinding. "But I am a Saiyan... no, I am Son Goku. I won't die in a place like this."

[In the original story, this is where Goku drank the Ultra Divine Water and went on to defeat King Piccolo. This is a node of fate... I must take this step. Besides, in the original, Goku didn't die after drinking it. Although the pain is inevitable—and no one can bear that pain for me—the outcome is certain: I won't die. Since I won't die, all that's left is to endure it. Enduring pain is something I've been doing every single day for the past few years.]

"You—"

"I don't agree!!!"

A sharp voice suddenly interrupted Master Korin!

Son Goku turned around to see Krillin running over from the other side of the platform, panting heavily. His bald head was glistening with sweat, and his face was full of anxiety and anger.

"Goku! Are you crazy?!" Krillin rushed up and grabbed Son Goku by the shoulders, his fingers turning white from the force. "What Ultra Divine Water... what deadly poison... you, you're going to drink that stuff?!"

"Krillin..." Son Goku was taken aback.

"I won't let you drink it!" Krillin's voice trembled, his eyes rimmed with red. "What 'becoming stronger'... what 'transcending limits'... you're already the champion! You're already strong enough! Why gamble your life away?!"

Son Goku looked at Krillin, a warmth surging in his heart.

[Krillin... in the original story, he was always this kind of guy. Even though he was incredibly weak himself, he was always the first to rush forward to protect others.]

"Krillin," he gently gripped Krillin's wrists, moving those trembling hands away from his shoulders, his voice softening. "Calm down."

"How can I calm down?!" Krillin shook off his hands and took two steps back, veins bulging on his bald head. "You're going to drink poison! You're committing suicide! How do you expect me to stay calm?!"

"I'm not committing suicide," Son Goku shook his head, his eyes as firm as iron. "I am choosing the path to become stronger."

"Stronger, stronger, stronger!" Krillin suddenly exploded, shouting at Son Goku with a tearful voice. "You only ever think about getting stronger! Have you ever thought about... thought about us, your friends?! If you die... what will happen to Bulma? What about Master Roshi? What about me?!"

The top of the tower fell silent.

The wind blew, and the bells chimed crisply.

Son Goku was silent for a moment, then he looked up at Krillin's red-rimmed eyes and suddenly smiled.

"Krillin," he stepped forward and patted Krillin's bald head hard. "When did you become such a crybaby?"

"W-who's crying!" Krillin wiped his eyes, glaring at him stubbornly.

"Listen to me." Son Goku put away his smile, his expression becoming unprecedentedly serious. "Tell me, why did you climb Korin Tower?"

Krillin was stunned: "Because... because you said you were coming, so I..."

"Wrong," Son Goku interrupted him. "It's because you want to get stronger too, right? You want to catch up to me, you don't want to be left behind, and in the next battle... you don't want to just stand on the sidelines and watch, right?"

Krillin opened his mouth, unable to speak.

"It's the same for me," Son Goku looked toward the rolling sea of clouds in the distance, his voice low and fervent. "I want to become stronger, strong enough that no one can threaten the people I care about. If someone stronger than me comes to Earth to do evil, and I can only watch helplessly as you all get hurt, I can't even bear to think of that pain, let alone experience it!"

He turned his head to look directly into Krillin's eyes:

"If I shrink back now, when the enemy comes, it won't just be me who dies—it will be all of you. By then... I won't even have the chance to regret it."

Krillin's body stiffened.

"So," Son Goku grinned, revealing his white teeth, his fist clenched in front of his chest. "Instead of regretting it later, I'd rather bet everything now. This isn't suicide; this is... the resolve of a martial artist!"

"Resolve..." Krillin murmured.

"And," Son Goku winked, his tail swaying behind him. "Did you forget who I am? I'm Son Goku! The champion of the World Martial Arts Tournament! How could I be taken out by a cup of water?"

Krillin looked at him, at this idiot he had grown up with, training and fighting side-by-side. That face was filled with a confidence that screamed "I will never lose," a radiance so blinding it was impossible to look away.

"...You really are a hopeless idiot." Krillin finally lowered his head, his voice muffled. "A super-duper idiot."

"Hehe, thanks for the compliment!"

"I wasn't complimenting you!"

Master Korin stood to the side, watching the scene quietly. He had lived for eight hundred years and had seen countless martial artists, countless greedy, cowardly, and arrogant souls. But these two children...

[One dares to gamble his life, the other dares to stand in the way of fate. That old ghost Master Roshi... he certainly took on some good disciples.]

He walked forward slowly, his staff tapping a dull rhythm against the floor: "...Brats, are you done reminiscing?"

Son Goku and Krillin turned at the same time.

Master Korin sighed, turned slowly, and headed toward the depths of the tower top: "...Follow me."

The interior of the tower top was dim and mysterious. The air was permeated with an ancient and heavy aura, as if time had stood still here for hundreds of years.

Master Korin took a pottery cup from a hidden stone niche, filled with a liquid as clear as crystal. Under the dim light, the liquid shimmered with a faint blue glow, as beautiful as the stars yet radiating a lethal aura.

"This is the Ultra Divine Water," Master Korin said, his voice low. "I'll ask you one last time... are you sure you want to drink it?"

Son Goku took the pottery cup, feeling the refreshing chill seeping into his skin.

In the original story, Goku drank the Ultra Divine Water and triggered the Saiyan potential for recovery from the brink of death, causing his combat power to skyrocket from 180 to 260. As for me now... my base combat power should be around 600. What level will I reach after drinking this?

Moreover, the true value of the Ultra Divine Water isn't just increasing combat power, but unlocking "future potential." It opens up the ceiling, not just the current numerical value.

He did not hesitate.

"I'm sure."

"Goku..." Krillin clenched his fists behind him, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Son Goku turned back, gave him a thumbs-up, and flashed a smile as bright as the sun: "Don't worry! Later, I'll treat you to some barbecue!"

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.