The Z Fighters Assemble, and Doubts Arise

A few days later, the Z Fighters who had received the message arrived one after another at Capsule Corp in West City.

Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu were the first to arrive. Their complexions were much better than when they had last met, clearly showing that the aftereffects of their resurrection had faded, and their eyes burned with a desire to grow stronger.

Right on their heels, Krillin arrived, travel-worn and weary. There was a hint of worry on his face, but his expression was mostly one of determination.

The last to arrive was Yamcha. He had his hands in his pockets and wore his usual slightly cynical expression, but deep within his eyes lay a trace of gravity.

Puar, transformed into a small plane, circled above his head.

"Yo, everyone's here."

Yamcha offered a greeting and looked around the backyard, which had been turned into a massive construction site. Seeing the mountains of strange materials and the busy robots, he let out a whistle. "Whoa, Bulma's family is really going all out this time. Making such a huge fuss?"

"No kidding! How else are we supposed to deal with those monster Saiyans!"

Bulma stood with her hands on her hips, taking on the air of a commander-in-chief. "You all heard what Lin Fan said, right? How critical the situation is."

"Yeah, we heard."

Krillin nodded, his expression serious. "Even Goku is preparing so intensely... we absolutely cannot drag everyone down!"

Tien Shinhan crossed his arms, his third eye flashing with a sharp light. "One year is a very short time; we must undergo hellish training. Lin Fan, you said you had a way to help us improve—what exactly is it?"

Everyone's gaze focused on Lin Fan.

Lin Fan didn't say much, taking two small jade bottles from his robes (containers he had crafted over the past few days from scrap jade to better lock in the medicinal properties).

He opened the stoppers, and instantly, a strange, refreshing fragrance permeated the air. Smelling it made one feel invigorated, and even the sense of fatigue seemed to lighten.

"These are pills I refined using special medicinal herbs and methods."

Lin Fan poured a few of each type of pill into his palms. One kind was pale gold and radiated a faint, warm sensation; the other was milky white, cool to the touch, and emitted a refreshing aura.

"The golden ones are called [Energy Boosting Pills]. They can slightly stimulate your potential in a short time, increase the speed and total volume of your Ki condensation, and assist in your training. However, do not take too many, or your body won't be able to handle it."

"The white ones are called [Recovery Pills]. They are mainly used for rapidly restoring physical strength and treating internal or external injuries that aren't too severe. They are much weaker than a Senzu Bean, but they should be more effective than any medicine you've ever seen."

Lin Fan distributed three Energy Boosting Pills and five Recovery Pills to each person. "There aren't many, as the materials are hard to find. Use them only when it's critical."

Krillin curiously picked up a Recovery Pill, feeling the cool aura seep into his skin, and said in surprise, "Wow! Just holding it feels so comfortable! Lin Fan, you have this kind of skill too?"

Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu also carefully sensed the peculiar energy contained within the pills, their expressions turning solemn.

They could feel that these things were extraordinary.

"Hmph, pills?"

Yamcha took his share and weighed them in his hand, a look of clear skepticism on his face. "Sounds like those scam 'super-strength' pills, doesn't it? Lin Fan, I'm not trying to be rude, but training and fighting rely on real, hard work and talent! Can eating a few little pills really make us stronger? If so, why bother with such grueling training?"

He pinched an Energy Boosting Pill and brought it to his nose to sniff. "It smells nice enough, but who knows what strange things are added inside? Could there be side effects? Let's not have us end up with problems before the Saiyans even arrive."

"Yamcha!"

Bulma glared at him in annoyance. "Do you know how much effort Lin Fan put into these? He practically turned the Earth upside down looking for materials! If you don't know what you're talking about, keep quiet!"

"I'm just being honest."

Yamcha shrugged. "This kind of thing is just too mystical. Who knows if it's just a placebo?"

Lin Fan looked at Yamcha, not angry, but calm. "Caution is a good thing. You can choose not to take them for now and keep them for observation. Or, you could try the effect of the Recovery Pill now. You were injured in an explosion before; although you've healed, there must still be some lingering internal damage, right?"

Yamcha's expression shifted slightly. He did occasionally feel that his Ki flow was somewhat obstructed, and he hadn't expected Lin Fan to see through it at a glance.

Krillin tried to smooth things over. "Oh, come on, Yamcha, just try it! Lin Fan wouldn't hurt us! Look, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu aren't saying anything."

Tien Shinhan said in a deep voice, "I trust Lin Fan. His power system is different from ours; perhaps this is exactly what we are lacking."

With that, he didn't hesitate to pop an Energy Boosting Pill into his mouth.

The pill melted upon contact, and a gentle yet powerful surge of heat instantly flooded his limbs and bones!

Tien Shinhan felt as if the Ki throughout his entire body had been ignited; its activity skyrocketed, and some of the bottlenecks he had encountered in his training seemed to show signs of loosening! He opened his third eye wide, beams of light shooting out. "Incredible! I feel like the growth rate of my Ki has increased by at least thirty percent! And it's very gentle!"

Chiaotzu ate one as well, floating up in pleasant surprise. "Mm! It's true! It feels so good!"

Seeing this, Krillin couldn't wait to swallow one, immediately feeling the surging medicinal power. He exclaimed excitedly, "This is amazing! I feel like I could train for another three hundred rounds!"

Yamcha watched his companions' reactions, half-doubting. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually picked up a Recovery Pill and put it in his mouth.

As the pill dissolved, a cool, refreshing sensation flowed through his entire body, as if he were experiencing rain after a long drought.

The spot in his chest that had been aching faintly and where his Ki felt obstructed was quickly soothed by this coolness, until it vanished without a trace!

His whole body felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, leaving him feeling refreshed and clear-headed!

"This..."

The skeptical look on Yamcha's face froze, replaced by deep shock and disbelief.

The effect was simply too obvious, too immediate!

This wasn't a feeling brought about by any modern medicine or the rule-based healing of a Senzu Bean, but a deeper, more profound nourishment and recovery originating from the very source of life.

He opened his mouth, looked at the remaining pills in his hand, then at the calm-faced Lin Fan. His face flushed with embarrassment, and after a long silence, he finally managed to choke out, "...Sorry, Lin Fan. Your medicine... it's truly impressive."

Lin Fan smiled. "It's fine, as long as it's effective. These pills are meant to increase our capital for survival. True strength must still be earned through your own arduous training."

He looked at everyone, his tone turning serious. "The coming year will be a hellish one. Everyone, get ready!"

The Z Fighters gripped the pills in their hands, their eyes becoming more determined than ever before.

"Yeah!!!" everyone shouted in unison, their fighting spirit soaring.