The Hyperbolic Time Chamber

"You're here. I've been watching you for quite some time."

Kami spoke quietly, but his words left them puzzled.

"We don't know why you've summoned the two of us, Kami. Please, speak plainly." After seeing the Power Pole return to its place, Wuchen had formed a few guesses.

From what he knew, Korin had given the Power Pole to Master Roshi, who later passed it on to him and Goku's grandfather, Son Gohan.

Now, the Power Pole could connect Korin Tower to Kami's Lookout. It stood to reason that Kami had given it to Korin. Could his intention have been for Korin to find someone worthy of meeting him?

What kind of person counted as worthy?

Why seek out someone like that?

There was something else Wuchen couldn't understand. Kami's energy was strange. Judging by his ki alone, he was slightly stronger than the two brothers.

Yet he gave Wuchen a sense of insubstantiality, as if his essence were incomplete and his vitality damaged. Still, his presence was natural and peaceful, with no sign of injury.

It felt somewhat like a seal, yet Wuchen couldn't detect any traces of one. If he had to compare it to something, it reminded him of certain clone techniques from his previous life.

Hearing the hint of a challenge in Wuchen's tone, Kami smiled faintly and began to explain:

"About a year ago, at Mount Fry-Pan in the lower world, that was the first time I noticed you..." As he spoke, Kami seemed to drift into his memories.

That had been the last time Goku and Wuchen transformed into Great Apes. But Kami had noticed them in the instant after they ended their Great Ape forms.

At the time, the terrifying energy that flashed into existence for an instant had startled Kami, and he'd sensed a powerful threat. That was why he'd kept an eye on the two of them ever since.

"...Later, I discovered that you were practicing some extraordinary martial art, and a very special kind of energy began to appear in the world. When Korin started practicing it too, I could sense its wonders more clearly."

"Mr. Popo, you've felt it too, haven't you? That sensation—it seems to be growing stronger."

As he finished speaking, Kami turned to Mr. Popo for confirmation.

"Yes, Kami. I've felt it too." Mr. Popo nodded.

Wuchen considered this. "You sought us out because the spiritual energy is growing?"

"Don't be nervous. I mean you no harm, just as you mean no harm to the people of this world." Kami did his best to smile kindly again, though because of his appearance, the smile looked more like a grimace than a laugh.

"I noticed you because I need your help. That's why I asked Mr. Popo to bring you here."

"As Kami, I have my own duties and can't easily leave the Lookout. Please forgive me for not coming to you myself."

"Please tell us what you need, Kami. If it's within our power, my brother and I won't refuse." Wuchen seemed to accept, but in truth he made no commitment. His words left him plenty of room to change course as he waited to hear the rest.

"Please forgive me for not being able to explain the situation right away. For now, I hope you'll stay at the Lookout and improve your strength as much as possible," Kami said, apparently unwilling to say more.

Seeing that, Wuchen stopped asking questions. He still made no promises, though, and instead asked how Kami felt about the spiritual energy.

To his surprise, Kami was remarkably calm. He even explained the pros and cons of its spread.

In Kami's view, spiritual energy might certainly cause visible upheaval, but it was by no means the root cause of it.

After all, martial artists possessed powers that ordinary people could only look upon with fear.

Some, like Tao Pai Pai, were a source of calamity. But others had righteous hearts and protected the world, such as Mutaito several hundred years ago.

Besides, the weapons made by humans had also disrupted the balance between people. Good and evil, right and wrong, couldn't be lumped together.

So Kami wasn't opposed to spiritual energy spreading—or, put another way, to martial arts being taught.

That made Wuchen's eyes light up. Kami could be an ally in spreading martial arts. Regardless of anything else, his authority alone could make things much easier.

So Wuchen agreed to Kami's request and stayed to grow stronger. He also suggested spreading martial arts.

Kami didn't object. He said he could help, but not just yet.

Wuchen wasn't in a hurry, so he and Goku temporarily settled in at the Lookout.

At first, Kami had Mr. Popo guide them, mainly teaching them the theory of ki.

About half a month later, Mr. Popo took Goku and Wuchen to a mysterious room inside the Lookout.

Clocks hung all around the room. Beneath the largest one was a small, oddly placed pink door.

"Beyond this door is the Room of Spirit and Time, also known as the Hyperbolic Time Chamber..." Mr. Popo opened it and led the two inside, continuing his explanation.

"...If you spend a year inside, only one day will pass outside. I think that should be useful to you."

"Oh, and the gravity in here is ten times Earth's... The air is thinner too, and the temperature varies greatly between day and night. For humans, the conditions are extremely harsh."

"Also, apart from this platform beneath your feet, there's nothing here. Don't wander too far, or you might lose your way back..."

"...Look at the clock above you. It's connected to the large clock outside, and it only starts moving when someone enters."

Following Mr. Popo's gesture, the brothers saw a large clock ticking so slowly it was almost still.

"Every two turns of the hour hand, one day passes outside and one year passes in here. Four turns of the minute hand mark one month in here. Eight turns of the second hand mark one day. Strictly speaking, a day outside is only three hundred and sixty days in here, so it isn't a full year."

After explaining how to tell the time, Mr. Popo showed them the living area. There were two beds, a toilet and a bathroom, and food in storage.

"There's very little usable space in here, so we can only store a small amount of food. And because of the difference in how time passes, it may not be possible to replenish your supplies in time. That's why no more than two people can train in here at once. Make good use of your time."

"Also, everyone can spend only two years in here over the course of their life. If you exceed that limit, the exit will disappear, so be sure to keep track of time."

"But no one has ever managed to last more than three months in here. Popo is curious to see how long you can hold out."

After giving them his final instructions, Mr. Popo left so he wouldn't disturb their training. He also needed to prepare more food and bring it in before they ran out.

"Thank you for going to the trouble, Mr. Popo." The brothers watched him open the door and leave, then walked together off the platform.

The moment they stepped down, both brothers jolted as the weight of their bodies pressed them toward the ground.

"Goku, you can raise your ki a little, but don't use too much." Seeing Goku flare his ki to resist the tenfold gravity, Wuchen quickly reminded him. "That should do it. Take some time to get used to the environment."

Leaving Goku to move around on his own, Wuchen began looking around too.

Apart from the platform behind him and the building on it, there were no other structures. The place seemed almost boundless.

Everything was white. Mist curled over the ground, while the space above was utterly empty.

"It's certainly a good place to train, but it's too lifeless. Compared with the space-time secret realms I've encountered before, it lacks the breath of living things."

Wuchen then began adapting to the harsh environment.

After three to five days, both brothers had gotten much more accustomed to it.

Then Wuchen pulled Goku along to try to produce spiritual energy. There was no sun or moon here, but day and night still alternated, so he decided to give it a try.

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

The Yin-Yang Creation Art couldn't produce spiritual energy in this place.

They hadn't planned ahead, so they hadn't brought many pills, and most of them were meant for recovery.

And because they had Senzu Beans, they hadn't brought any pills for healing, much less any for training.

So Wuchen changed his plans and decided that he and Goku would focus on strengthening their bodies here.

Everyone, whether you're reading novels or doing something else, remember to get some rest.

Electronic devices have certainly made life more convenient, but using them for long periods also puts more strain on the body. The eyes are the clearest example.

Because of my health, mainly my eyes—I spent my school days treating internet cafés like a second home and stayed up all night playing on my phone, leaving me with lasting problems—I don't think I'll be able to update regularly or in sufficient quantity for quite some time.

There are plenty of flaws in this book, so I'm very grateful whenever someone points one out. I've already written quite a lot, and many things have become set in place; changing one can affect everything else, so I may not be able to fix every issue. But I read all your suggestions, think them over carefully, and reflect on them. They're valuable experience for me.

I'll finish the book. I'm writing sincerely to hone my craft and, yes, to support myself. I'm not trying to boast about my work. Of course, I won't feel sorry for myself or put myself down either.

If you genuinely enjoy reading it, feel free to keep an eye on it and see how it goes.

If you don't enjoy it, there's no need to let this book upset you. Happiness comes first; live freely and enjoy yourself.

Lastly, I'll make one small wish—a very big one:

May our country grow stronger and stronger, and may its people always live in happiness and good health. I want to benefit from its prosperity, and I also hope to do my part.