"If you want me to teach you how to transform into a Super Saiyan, that's no problem. But you're still too weak right now.
A Saiyan's transformation depends primarily on their power in their base form.
I've already told you this before: the stronger you are in your base form, the greater the boost you'll get after transforming into a Super Saiyan."
Soya spoke slowly.
"I've already told you this before, so you should remember it.
You should know that in your previous battles, especially after you learned to transform into a Super Saiyan, you gradually started relying on the transformation.
You haven't stopped training your base strength, but you haven't been putting in as much effort as before.
That's one of the drawbacks of transforming. Once it boosts your strength, it can make you complacent."
Soya spoke slowly.
After hearing Soya's words, Son Goku nodded.
He had noticed that himself a long time ago, so when he fought, he usually avoided transforming unless he had no other choice.
"I won't teach you how to transform into a Super Saiyan 4 right away.
But since you've already set your mind on it, the training ahead will be a huge challenge for you.
A Saiyan's power mainly comes from their tail, and you no longer have one.
But since you're a Saiyan, not having a tail isn't a big deal. You just need to grow it back."
Soya said with a smile.
"My tail?"
Son Goku froze for a moment and looked at Soya. He realized that Soya didn't have a tail either.
"Do you need a tail to transform into a Super Saiyan 4?
But you don't have a tail either. How can you transform into a Super Saiyan 4?"
Son Goku looked at Soya, confusion in his eyes.
Soya froze, unsure how to answer Son Goku. He had no answer to that question.
"Don't worry about all that. We'll start training now. That's what matters most.
But before we begin, there are a few things I need to tell you. I'll train you only if you can meet these conditions.
If you can't, then go with Vegeta to the God of Destruction Realm and choose the path of becoming a Super Saiyan God."
Soya spoke slowly. His voice was quiet, but his resolve left no room for argument.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't have come if I planned to back down."
Son Goku nodded. He was confident he could do that.
"That's good, then."
Soya said, nodding as he continued.
"My requirements are simple. There are only a few.
First, during my training, you must face me in your Saiyan base form. You're not allowed to transform into a Super Saiyan.
Second, you're not allowed to leave the valley for a year. You'll live here.
Third, in exchange, you have to teach me how to use Kaioken."
As he spoke, Soya listed the three conditions.
After all, he wasn't going to train Son Goku for nothing. He had to get something in return.
"No problem!"
Son Goku agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"Then let's begin!"
As soon as Soya finished speaking, an immensely powerful pressure erupted from within him.
The pressure was so powerful that it spread out and enveloped the entire valley.
"What?!"
In his base form, Son Goku had no way to withstand the pressure. His body shuddered, and he collapsed.
"This..."
Son Goku's body trembled. He tried several times to get back up, but his base strength wasn't enough.
"This is only one-tenth of the pressure I can exert in my base form. If you can withstand it, your strength should improve a lot.
Once you can move freely under this pressure, you'll have passed the first test."
Soya's voice rang out slowly.
Son Goku's face was deathly pale as he used every bit of his base strength to fight against the pressure.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
It had only been sixty days, which wasn't long, but every one of those days had been pure torment for Son Goku.
Even someone with his temperament had considered giving up. But in the end, he had forced himself to endure, resisting Soya's pressure with all his might.
Soya had gradually increased the pressure, from ten percent at the beginning to one hundred percent now.
After a full two months, Son Goku could finally move freely in his base form while facing the full force of Soya's pressure.
The process had been agonizing, but the results were just as remarkable.
At the very least, Son Goku's strength had increased tremendously.
"Not bad. After two months, you can move freely under my pressure. Your strength should have increased a lot. Why don't you feel it for yourself?"
Soya looked at Son Goku as he spoke. He could clearly sense the change in him.
"Boom!"
Without hesitation, Son Goku unleashed the full extent of his power in his base form.
A storm raged around him, and the rocks nearby crumbled beneath his aura, turning to dust.
"This..."
Son Goku's eyes filled with disbelief.
"How is this possible? How did my strength increase so much?"
Son Goku was utterly shocked. He realized that his strength in his base form was now on par with what it had been when he transformed into a Super Saiyan 2.
It was even greater than it had been back then.
"Surprised? Your base strength has already reached fifteen billion.
It's only been two months. Even I'm a little surprised by how much you've grown."
"Fifteen billion?!"
Son Goku clenched his fist, feeling the change in himself.
Now, even in his base form, he felt as though he could shatter the world with one punch, as if nothing in existence could stand in his way.
"This power is incredible!"
Excitement showed on Son Goku's face.
"You're celebrating too soon. This was only the first stage of training, and it was just the basics. I'm not surprised you made it through the first test, but you might not make it through the second."
Before Son Goku could celebrate for long, Soya's words reached his ears.
"Don't worry. I won't give up on getting stronger!"
Son Goku said firmly.
It was different from before. Back then, he hadn't known what to expect. But now that he could clearly feel how much stronger he could become, how could he possibly give up?
"I hope so."
Soya said with a smile, offering no further explanation.