"Successful draw. You obtained the Shadow Clone Technique. You can use the Clone Technique. Please note: if it hasn't reached 100%, your clones will reduce your own combat power!"
What kind of ridiculous lottery ability was this?
He'd actually drawn the Shadow Clone Technique?
You've got to be kidding. Could he really use this thing?
Though the Clone Technique reduced his combat power to create clones if it hadn't reached 100%...
If it reached 100%, would that mean he could create clones without reducing his combat power?
That would be utterly invincible!
Of course, the clones would still be weaker than the original. With his current Clone Technique, splitting into two clones would be impressive if each had even 10% of his combat power.
If he created a hundred clones, they wouldn't even have 1% of his combat power!
So even if he reached 100% proficiency, creating a hundred clones would only give him the equivalent of 10% to 20% of himself?
He could use those clones to deal with weak enemies, but if he had to fight someone strong, these trash clones would just be cannon fodder.
Regardless, he'd gotten a skill, so Gohan planned to improve it. It could be very effective when used at the right moment.
It all depended on how he used it!
Used properly, it could pack a decent punch!
At school, Gohan endured the long hours of classes. He'd felt someone watching him ever since earlier, but he didn't pay it any mind. He was still trying to figure out how to get his Ultra Instinct past 1%!
Otherwise, his strength wouldn't improve in any meaningful way.
The morning classes soon came to an end.
When class was over, Gohan wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
But before he could even get out of the classroom, a girl stepped in front of him and stopped him. The other students passing by saw it, too.
They couldn't help giggling and whispering among themselves.
"Videl's pretty bold, blocking Gohan's way like that. She's got a thing for him, doesn't she?"
"Damn it, Gohan! Videl's my goddess! Ah, my goddess is about to be stolen away!"
"What's going on? Is Videl interested in Gohan? Damn it!"
Videl didn't care at all about the other students' looks. She faced Gohan with a serious expression.
"You lied to me yesterday. You're not getting away with it today."
"Hmph! You suddenly took off yesterday. This time, I'm absolutely not letting you leave just like that!"
The students around them gave them even stranger looks, but Videl didn't seem to care. She really was stubborn.
Gohan smiled and couldn't resist teasing her. "Videl, even if you want me to go on a date with you, you don't have to be so eager!"
"I really was free yesterday, but I couldn't go out with you. How about we pick another day?"
The moment he said that, the other students covered their mouths and gasped.
His words had a lot of them jumping to conclusions.
"Whoa, no way! Videl really is chasing after Gohan! And this is Videl we're talking about!"
"I remember Videl's father is the world champion. She likes people who are stronger than him, doesn't she? Does that mean Gohan's even stronger than the world champion?"
"How could that be? Gohan's so skinny. There's no way he can beat Mr. Satan, the world champion!"
"Looks like Videl's into pretty boys after all!"
Videl's face turned bright red. Hearing her classmates tease her—and especially hearing Gohan say that—made her clench her fists in anger and embarrassment.
"Y-you can't just say whatever you want! I only want to know if you're the City Superhero."
"Were you the one who did all those things? Damn it, you—you can't just talk your way out of this!"
Gohan spread his hands, looking completely casual. "Like I said, I don't know anything about those things. But if you want to go on a date with me..."
"I could make a day free for you. I'm actually pretty busy, so if you miss your chance, you won't get another one!"
That was no joke. He was busy training, so finding free time really was difficult.
Hearing Gohan's words, Videl didn't know what to say. She stared at his teasing expression.
It was obvious he was saying it on purpose, trying to make her angry!
He wanted her to give up, but she wasn't about to. She set her jaw and agreed at once.
"Fine! I'm free this weekend. Whenever you have time, I'll go on a date with you!"
"Hmph! I'll see if you let your real identity slip!"
When Videl agreed, quite a few students gaped at her in disbelief.
Several boys glared at Gohan with murderous looks.
Gohan just replied casually, "How about Sunday? The day after tomorrow. I've got some special training to do over the next two days."
"I'll go on a date with you on Sunday. It's a deal, Videl."
With that, he waved and walked away.
Videl's face flushed. That way of addressing her made her cheeks burn, especially with the other students watching.
She really couldn't take it. She hadn't expected to agree to a date with him.
It took her half a day to come to her senses.
This was her first date. Why had she agreed so thoughtlessly?
"No! He's not as strong as my dad, Mr. Satan. I absolutely won't fall for him!"
Videl clenched her little fists, looking determined. She was convinced that Gohan couldn't possibly measure up to her father.
Her dad was strong, after all!
After getting away from Videl, Gohan returned home, only to find that little Goten hadn't come back.
He asked where Goten had gone. He'd been planning to get in some more training.
Chi-Chi sighed helplessly.
"Goten seems to have gone to see Trunks. Piccolo took him there, too. I have no idea what Piccolo's thinking."
"Oh, Gohan, go bring Goten back. He still hasn't finished some of his homework, and he has to get it done properly!"
Chi-Chi spoke to Gohan seriously, and he could only agree.
After all, without Goten, training with just Piccolo wouldn't be nearly as effective for him.
What had Piccolo taken Goten to Bulma's house for?
He really couldn't figure it out. All he could do was set off again and head for Bulma's place.
Bulma's family was the richest in the world. They developed all kinds of useful Capsules and had more money than they knew what to do with!
He'd already planned to borrow some money from Aunt Bulma to spend when he ran out.
He couldn't understand why Goku was always short on money. With such a powerful connection right there, it made no sense not to lean on him.
Keeping the world at peace cost money, too!
He flew into the sky. At his speed, it would take less than a few minutes to reach Bulma's home, hundreds of kilometers away.
On the way, he passed Master Roshi's house.
Krillin spotted him in the air and, his eyes lighting up, raised a hand to wave.
"Gohan, where are you going? Hey, it's been ages since I've seen you!"
Seeing Krillin, Gohan stopped flying and landed. Krillin walked up to him warmly.
With a broad smile, he tried to make conversation. "I heard you got sent off to a university in the city. It's tough, huh? Haha, Chi-Chi really is something."
"It must be a hassle going back and forth to the city. I'm surprised you can stick with it!"
After the battle on Planet Namek, Krillin and Gohan had gotten along quite well.
Gohan took Krillin's teasing in stride. "University life isn't bad. It's a nice change of pace, and it helps with mental training, too."
"By the way, Uncle Krillin, how's your training been going lately?"
It was obvious Krillin had long since given up on training. He rubbed his bald head and laughed awkwardly.
"I pretty much forgot about training a while ago. But I did happen to get a girlfriend. I'll introduce you two sometime."
Gohan looked curious. "Android 18?"
Krillin's expression changed. He was clearly a little wary, but he laughed awkwardly. "Just kidding. I wouldn't dare go after Android 18! No, she's a human girl."
"Marron. I'll introduce you to her sometime, haha!"
He hadn't expected Krillin still hadn't gotten together with Android 18, and was still entangled with his ex-girlfriend.
So Android 18 was still single?
He just didn't know where she was.
He remembered Android 18 was a stunning beauty, probably the most wife-like of them all. She was kind of wasted on Krillin.
Gohan glanced at Krillin, who was delighted to be back together with his ex-girlfriend. Given Krillin's strength, there was no point in asking him to be a training partner.
Krillin was the strongest human, but he still couldn't compare to the Saiyans!
Gohan left him with a parting remark and headed off.
"Uncle Krillin, I still have to go to Bulma's place. Let's talk again next time!"
Krillin nodded and waved goodbye. Gohan set off at once.
He arrived at Bulma's house!
As he approached, he immediately sensed a powerful energy fluctuation.
It was the strongest energy he'd encountered so far!
It was countless times stronger than Piccolo's—a sharp, piercing energy. The moment Gohan drew near, the other person sensed him, too.
They even probed him with their ki, but Gohan's Ultra Instinct activated on its own.
He evaded the other person's probe, clearly catching them by surprise!
They hadn't expected him to dodge such an overwhelming energy probe!
The strongest person on Earth right now had to be Prince Vegeta!
After all, Goku was still training in Hell, and Vegeta's potential was just as great as Goku's. His power was terrifying.
And Prince Vegeta was cold-blooded, showing no mercy when he attacked.
As soon as Gohan landed, he could feel someone watching him. Vegeta didn't show himself, only probing him from a distance with his energy.
Clearly, Vegeta already knew he was Gohan, so he hadn't shown even the slightest hostility.
Gohan pretended not to notice. It was still too soon for him to ask Vegeta to train him.
As he went to look for Goten, he saw Bulma's father and raised a hand to greet him.
Before you continue