Goku's Training in the Other World

Goku trained in the Other World.

Preparations for battle in West City were proceeding in an orderly yet urgent manner, but a heavy weight pressed on everyone's heart: Son Goku, their strongest fighter, was still in the distant Other World, and no one knew whether he was alive or dead.

Lin Fan knew full well that without Goku, the Z Fighters would have very little chance against Vegeta and Nappa.

"We have to find out how Goku is doing and tell him about our preparations and the exact details on our enemies."

Lin Fan found Bulma and Master Roshi. "Master Roshi, you mentioned Fortuneteller Baba before. Can she really contact the Other World?"

"Oh-ho-ho! That old woman may be a little eccentric, but she has her talents."

Master Roshi adjusted his sunglasses. "She often travels between the worlds of the living and the dead, bringing the dead back to the land of the living for a day to visit their families. She charges an outrageous fee... But if you just want to send a message, it shouldn't be a problem. We're on fairly good terms."

There was no time to waste. Lin Fan and Bulma immediately took Master Roshi by plane to Fortuneteller Baba's mysterious palace. Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and the others stayed behind to continue training and help process the materials.

The palace still floated above a desert oasis, its appearance fantastical and surreal.

Fortuneteller Baba was still riding her crystal ball. Seeing the uninvited guests—especially Master Roshi—she gave an annoyed snort. "Hmph! You old lecher, what are you doing here again? And you've brought two brats with you. Let me make this clear: bringing the dead back costs double!"

Master Roshi stepped forward with an ingratiating grin. "Come on, don't be like that, dear old friend. We're not bringing anyone back this time. We just want to ask you for a small favor: could you pass a message to our disciple Son Goku, who's training in the Other World?"

"A message?" Fortuneteller Baba glanced at Lin Fan and Bulma with her tiny eyes. "That boy on King Kai's turf? He's a long way off, and finding him precisely will take effort! It won't come cheap!"

Bulma stepped forward at once and pulled out a black Capsule Corporation card, speaking with confidence. "Grandma, money's no problem! Name your price!"

At the sight of the black card, Fortuneteller Baba's expression instantly brightened. "Well, why didn't you say so? Now there's a sensible young lady! Unlike a certain old cheapskate!"

She shot Master Roshi a glare, then cleared her throat twice. "All right. Since you're so sincere, I'll go to the trouble."

She had them sit in a circle, then floated in the middle with both hands pressed against her crystal ball, chanting under her breath.

The crystal ball began to glow faintly. Clouds swirled inside it, as if it were connected to some unknown realm.

"Hey—! Son Goku over at King Kai's place—! If you can hear me, answer—! Your friends from the land of the living are looking for you—!"

Fortuneteller Baba's voice turned ethereal and distant, passing through the crystal ball toward the faraway world.

In the Other World, at the end of Snake Way, on King Kai's Planet,

Son Goku was drenched in sweat as he tried to catch Bubbles, who moved as fast as lightning. North King Kai sat leisurely off to the side, reading a newspaper and chuckling now and then.

"Aw! I almost had him!"

Goku missed and tumbled to the ground, but sprang right back up, full of energy. "King Kai, your training is so hard!"

"Heh-heh, of course it is! Otherwise, how could it live up to the name of North King Kai..."

Before King Kai could finish, an ethereal voice suddenly rang out of nowhere, echoing across the tiny planet.

"Hey—! Son Goku over at King Kai's place—! If you can hear me, answer—! Your friends from the land of the living are looking for you—!"

"Huh?" Goku paused and scratched his head. "Who's calling me? It sounds like it's coming from really, really far away..."

North King Kai lowered his newspaper and adjusted his sunglasses, looking surprised. "Oh? A communication spell from the land of the living. It's reached all the way to King Kai's Planet, so whoever cast it has some skill. Goku, it sounds like they're looking for you."

"Really?"

Goku immediately grew excited and shouted at the sky. "Hey! I'm Son Goku! Who's looking for me? Is it Lin Fan? Or Krillin? Bulma?"

His voice traveled through the same mysterious connection and returned to Fortuneteller Baba's crystal ball.

Goku's familiar, energetic voice came from the crystal ball inside the palace. Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and Bulma clenched her fists in excitement.

"Goku! It's me, Lin Fan! Bulma and Grandpa Master Roshi are here too!"

Lin Fan spoke into the crystal ball at once. "Listen, Goku! It's urgent! We found out from Shenron that two Saiyans will arrive on Earth in a year. One is called Vegeta, and the other is called Nappa. Vegeta has a battle power of over ten thousand! They're looking for you, and they plan to wipe out Earth!"

"Over ten thousand?!" Goku's voice carried a note of shock, but then his fighting spirit blazed. "Amazing! So there really are so many powerful fighters in the universe! King Kai, did you hear that? I've got to train even harder!"

North King Kai's voice came through faintly too. "Oh? A battle power of ten thousand? Tsk, tsk. It really does sound like a bad situation, Goku."

"Goku!"

Lin Fan continued shouting. "We're doing everything we can to prepare on Earth! Bulma's family is providing resources, I've set up a formation, and Piccolo has agreed to work with us for now! You have to learn some real skills from King Kai and get back in time!"

"Piccolo agreed to work with you?"

Goku sounded even more surprised, but he quickly became serious and excited. "Don't worry, Lin Fan, Bulma, Grandpa Master Roshi! King Kai's teaching me some really amazing techniques! They're hard, but I'll definitely learn them! I'll make it back in time, beat those Saiyans, and protect Earth!"

His voice brimmed with absolute confidence and soaring determination, as if no enemy, no matter how powerful, could make him back down.

"Tell him to hurry up and make the most of his time!"

Master Roshi leaned in and shouted. "And ask how King Kai's doing!"

"Hey, Goku! Give King Kai our regards!" Bulma called out too.

"Got it! King Kai, your friends on Earth send their regards!"

Goku's voice came through, followed by North King Kai's chuckle. "He's pretty polite, isn't he?"

The connection seemed to have a time limit. The crystal ball's light began to flicker unsteadily.

"Goku! Take care! We'll see you on Earth!"

Lin Fan called out one last time.

"Yeah! You all keep training hard too! See you on Earth!"

Goku's voice gradually faded away, disappearing at last along with the crystal ball's glow.

The palace fell quiet again, but everyone's face now held a little more confidence and hope.

"You heard him, right?"

Fortuneteller Baba wiped away sweat that wasn't there. "Job's done. That'll be ten million Zeni. Thanks for your business!"

Bulma paid with her card without hesitation.

On the flight back, Bulma gazed out the window and sighed with relief. "That idiot still has so much energy... I'm glad."

Lin Fan smiled faintly too. "Yeah. As long as he knows what he's aiming for, he can unleash an unimaginable amount of energy. What we have to do now is defend our home and grow stronger before he gets back—strong enough to fight alongside him."

His gaze grew firm once more. Goku's fighting spirit had inspired him too.