Gravity Training

When it came to gravity training, Son Goku knew its drawbacks inside and out.

Gravity training rapidly improved physical fitness, but if someone neglected ki control, combat intelligence, and mental awakening, it could lead to "illusory strength gains"—their physical abilities improved while their combat instincts and techniques stagnated. Making up for that later would take several times the effort.

What's more, if children immersed themselves in gravity training too early, their combat instincts could overwhelm their childhood experiences, leading to a distorted pattern of growth. In the original story, Son Gohan went from a "genius boy" to a "warrior driven by crises," while Son Goten and Trunks could transform at the age of seven but were unable to socialize normally. Both were examples of this.

Knowing the drawbacks of gravity training, Son Goku waited until most of the others had completed training with Master Karin and Mr. Popo before officially launching the Z Fighters' gravity training program.

With Son Gothao and Son Gochi on the way, he decided to give everyone a big present.

Taking Bulma's Dragon Radar, he tracked down Shenron ahead of time and had everyone make wishes for several small Gravity Chambers and one Large Gravity Chamber.

Now, in the backyard of Bulma's Estate, a massive metal building stood: the Large Gravity Chamber they had wished for! It covered a thousand square meters and could accommodate twenty people training at once! Its maximum gravity was 500 times normal!

Everyone gathered in front of the Large Gravity Chamber. Son Goku stood at the entrance and said to the group behind him, "Come on, let's go in and give it a try!"

Krillin looked at the Large Gravity Chamber, feeling rather moved.

"Goku's gravity training method! I can't wait! Mr. Popo said that Earthlings could only really use gravity training after completing his special training. Otherwise, it would be counterproductive and do more harm than good. But Saiyans are different. That freak Goku started gravity training when he was twelve. He tried to hide it during those eight months we trained together, but I'm not an idiot. And Goku—does he think I'm that fragile? Now I finally get to see what gravity training is like!"

They entered the Gravity Chamber. Its walls were made of silvery-white metal, and it had a simple control panel and every kind of training equipment.

Son Goku stood in front of the control panel and gave them a few pointers:

"There are three things you need to know about training in a Gravity Chamber. First, never rush it. Don't push yourselves too hard. At the beginning, increase the gravity one step at a time. There's an emergency stop button in here, so press it if you can't take it. Second, once you've adapted to the gravity, you need to bring your ki control and combat awareness under that level of gravity to the highest possible level. That's how you'll make steady progress. Third, you can only start gravity training after completing Mr. Popo's training. You can only learn true control of your ki when it's at its weakest."

The others nodded seriously, showing they had remembered his words. He continued, "I'll let you experience it first. I'm turning on the gravity now."

Piccolo took a deep breath and assumed a fighting stance. Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, and the others prepared themselves as well.

"Ten times gravity, activate!"

"Vmmm—"

In an instant, Piccolo felt as though a mountain had landed on him!

"Guh—!!!"

His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees. His forehead was pressed hard against the floor, and he couldn't move a single finger!

"S-so... heavy..." Piccolo gritted his teeth, his green face turning bright red.

Krillin and Yamcha let out cries and collapsed onto the floor like frogs that had been squashed flat.

"I... I can't breathe..." Krillin's face turned a deep purplish red.

"H-help..." Yamcha's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

Tien Shinhan dropped to one knee, all three of his eyes filled with shock, but he was still barely holding on. Chiaotzu lay on the ground, his little face covered in sweat.

Watching them, Son Goku sighed and turned off the gravity.

"Looks like... you'll need some time to get used to it."

He walked over to Piccolo and held out a hand. "Are you okay?"

Piccolo slapped his hand away, struggled to his feet, and panted heavily. "N-no need... for all that... I... I can still do it..."

"Do what?" Son Goku shook his head helplessly. "Take your time training in this Gravity Chamber. If you want to go home and train on your own, ask Bulma for another small Gravity Chamber in a Hoi-Poi Capsule."

He turned and headed for the exit, then looked back and added, "Remember, don't push yourselves too hard. And go see Master Korin to stock up on Senzu Beans!"

The others lay on the floor and nodded weakly.

After making arrangements for everyone's training, Son Goku began a peaceful training routine of his own.

A year later.

After more than a year of gravity training, everyone had mostly adapted to it, and their training had accelerated.

More than a year of training had at least tripled everyone's battle power.

Son Goku's improvement was even greater. In the backyard of Bulma's Manor, inside his Exclusive Training Room—

"Vmmm—"

Son Goku stood in the center of the room. His orange martial arts gi was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his well-defined physique.

"Hah!"

He punched, compressing the air into a visible white shockwave that left a shallow fist-shaped dent in the reinforced metal wall.

"One hundred and fifty times gravity... I'm completely used to it."

"Battle power... around one and a half million."

After having my potential unlocked, my battle power's grown incredibly fast. And from the looks of it, the higher the gravity I can adapt to, the more deeply my body's potential is brought out.

The potential awakened by the Ultra Divine Water, the potential unlocked by the Grand Elder on Namek, and years of daily, grueling training... My current base battle power is already far beyond what mine was at this point in the original story.

Feeling the surging power within him, he smiled.

Outside the Gravity Chamber, Bulma held one-year-old Son Gothao, while Chi-Chi held Son Gochi's little hand. They watched her husband through the reinforced glass.

"D-Daddy..." Son Gochi said in a babyish voice. His unruly black hair stuck up all over, and he pointed through the glass at the figure inside. "Amazing..."

"That's right," Chi-Chi said with a warm smile. She crouched down and picked Son Gochi up, letting his little face rest against the glass. "Daddy's the strongest. You're going to grow up just as strong as him, aren't you, Gochi?"

"Uh-huh!" Son Gochi nodded vigorously, clenching his little fists.

Bulma pushed up her glasses and looked at the numbers displayed on the Gravity Suit. The corner of her mouth twitched. "One hundred and fifty times gravity... That guy can still move around so easily, and he even has the strength to throw punches. He's not human anymore... No, he never was human to begin with."

She paused, as though she had thought of something. Then her cheeks suddenly flushed, and she gave a quiet scoff. "Hmph... At least his muscles are getting firmer..."

"Bulma?" Chi-Chi turned to her in confusion.

"N-no, it's nothing!" Bulma quickly waved her hands, her face growing even redder.