Raditz piloted the aircraft down in front of Kame House.
Bulma, Yamcha, Launch, and the others had been waiting anxiously for them.
As soon as the hatch opened, everyone hurried over.
"Master Roshi! Raditz! Are you all right?" Bulma asked anxiously.
Master Roshi looked exhausted. "We're fine now... The matter of King Piccolo is over."
"Did Shenron help defeat him?" Yamcha recalled that the sky had indeed gone dark for a while. Master Roshi and the others must have gathered all seven Dragon Balls and made a wish.
"No." Master Roshi turned to look at Raditz, who stood quietly beside him, and said with relief, "Raditz defeated him..."
"Raditz?!" Everyone cried out in surprise, their eyes all turning to him.
Tien Shinhan had mostly recovered. Recalling what had happened, he said, "I saw it with my own eyes. King Piccolo... could barely fight back against him."
Master Roshi recounted the events in broad strokes, leaving out the awkward details of the Evil Containment Wave being blocked and his own and Tien Shinhan's group being knocked unconscious. He focused on how Raditz had killed King Piccolo.
Even so, everyone listened in stunned silence.
Bulma stared blankly at Raditz, then suddenly remembered Fortune Teller Baba's vague prediction from before. She'd thought it was just a joke at the time, but who would have guessed... it had actually come true?
"Raditz, you've been hiding your true strength all this time!" Yamcha exclaimed, slapping Raditz on the shoulder. The boy from the Gravity Chamber had finally shown the fruits of his hard work.
Under everyone's gaze, Raditz grew a little embarrassed and scratched his head. "It was nothing. Too bad we couldn't save Shenron."
"Save what?" Bulma asked. "Oh, right. Didn't you wish for Krillin to be brought back to life? Or did you revive Goku?"
Master Roshi sighed. "There's a big problem now."
He then told them that Shenron had been killed.
Their joy was immediately dampened. With the Dragon Balls no longer working, Krillin couldn't be brought back to life.
"Kami... a god?" Yamcha repeated the unfamiliar word. "Even if someone like that really exists, where are we supposed to find him? In the sky?"
"Legend has it that Kami lives in a temple ordinary people can't reach." Master Roshi was at a loss, too. He'd only heard people mention it in passing.
Raditz knew how to get there, but meeting Kami seemed to require special qualifications, which Cat Hermit would have to assess. He couldn't be completely sure he qualified, but he knew someone who definitely did.
He didn't say anything just yet, instead reassuring everyone, "Don't worry. I checked with the Scouter. Goku's still alive, and he should be back soon."
"Maybe he'll know what to do."
Hearing that Goku was alive lifted everyone's spirits. Whether he had a solution or not, at least he hadn't died, and that was good news.
Early the next morning, the Flying Nimbus's distinctive whoosh grew louder as it drew near.
"Everyone! I'm back!" Goku's loud voice rang out outside Kame House.
Everyone rushed out of the house and saw Goku leap down from the Flying Nimbus, looking full of energy.
"Goku! You're really all right!" Bulma said happily.
"Yeah! Thanks to Yajirobe and Korin!" Goku replied with a grin. Then he turned to Raditz, his eyes blazing with excitement and eagerness to fight. "Raditz! You're amazing! Korin said you beat that guy in just a few moves! When can we fight again?!"
Raditz smiled. "We'll get our chance, Goku. You came back at just the right time. We were wondering how to use the Dragon Balls again."
"Right! That's why I came back!" Goku smacked his forehead, remembering what he'd come to say. "Korin said that to bring Shenron back, we have to meet Kami. He also said the Power Pole is the 'key' connecting Korin Tower and Kami's Lookout. I didn't have my Power Pole with me before..."
"It's here." Raditz retrieved the familiar staff from the aircraft and handed it to Goku.
"Great!" Goku took the Power Pole, then looked eagerly at Raditz, his eyes shining. "Raditz, come with me to Korin Tower! Korin said you qualify, too. Let's go meet Kami and ask him to bring Krillin back!"
Seeing the trust in Goku's eyes, Raditz nodded. "All right. Let's go together."
Training at Kami's Lookout was a must. Even if Raditz couldn't go this time, he'd head there once he'd mastered the Flight Technique.
After briefly explaining things to Master Roshi and the others, the two set off together toward Korin Tower.
One piloted the aircraft while the other rode the Flying Nimbus. They traveled quickly and reached the palace atop Korin Tower before long.
After putting away the aircraft, Raditz spotted Cat Hermit, who had been waiting for some time, and greeted him. "Korin, long time no see."
Then he glanced at the fat man standing nearby. "Yajirobe, you're here too."
Yajirobe wore an obnoxious expression that said, "Leave me alone." "Hmph! Why shouldn't I be here? If it weren't for me, your friend might not be standing here talking to you."
"Haha, thanks. I can't believe you rescued Goku from King Piccolo." Raditz patted Yajirobe's shoulder and praised him.
"Hmph!" Yajirobe straightened up, looking pleased with himself. "I was going to take care of King Piccolo myself, but since you've already done it, there's no need for me to get involved."
Raditz: "..." Tell someone they're getting fat, and they start acting like they're bursting with pride?
Ignoring him, Raditz turned to Cat Hermit, who had remained silent. "Korin, Goku told me what happened. How do we get to Kami's Lookout?"
Goku immediately pulled out the Power Pole he'd found and said excitedly, "Korin, I found my Power Pole, too."
"Good." Seeing that they were both ready, Cat Hermit wasted no time. He took two bells from his robe. "Take these. They're proof that you're qualified to meet Kami."
"Then insert the Power Pole into the slot at the top of the tower and make it extend. That's all there is to it."
"There's no time to waste. You should get going."
Following Cat Hermit's instructions, the two climbed to the top of the tower and inserted the Power Pole into the slot. When Goku called, "Extend!" the staff grew at an incredible rate, carrying them straight into the sky.
Watching them disappear, Cat Hermit murmured, "I hope they don't do anything outrageous when they see Kami's face."
"Heh. Especially Raditz."
Carrying the two of them, the Power Pole pierced the clouds and extended upward at an astonishing speed.
Before long, it reached its highest point.
"We're here!" Goku cried excitedly.
The two climbed the staircase beside them and reached the top in just a few steps.
The view opened up before them.
A vast platform floated high in the sky. Several ancient, mysterious buildings stood upon it, including a grand temple with its doors firmly shut.
In the center of the plaza before the temple, a figure stood motionless.
He was a dark-skinned, short, stout man dressed in unusual clothes.