Two years later.
Age 755.
The days of training at Kami's Lookout slipped by amid daily meditation, contemplation, and all kinds of exercises.
Raditz's growth was plain to see.
According to a Scouter, Raditz's battle power could exceed ten thousand when he unleashed his full strength—twenty times what it had been before!
And during those two years, Raditz had also entered the most mysterious place at Kami's Lookout: the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Its extreme environment—half furnace-hot, half bitterly cold like the polar regions, surrounded by an endless white void—placed an immense burden on the body and mind. It was a terrifying test of both physical and mental endurance.
Even with his willpower as it was now, he had managed to last only six months.
But those six months of intense training inside the chamber had been worth several years in the outside world.
The wild, outwardly expressed, somewhat rough aura he'd had at first had now become calm and restrained.
He had gained much finer control over his ki, able to release and withdraw his energy at will, with no hindrance to its flow.
"Lord Kami, Mr. Popo." Raditz came before the two and bowed respectfully. "I've benefited greatly from your guidance over the past two years."
"As Lord Kami said, Piccolo will appear at the next World Martial Arts Tournament. There's only one year left now."
"I plan to go down to Earth and train on my own, preparing for the battles ahead."
Kami looked at Raditz, whose demeanor was steady and gaze serene. Unconcealed approval and a hint of amazement showed in his eyes.
In only two years, Raditz had made far more progress than expected. Kami could no longer see through the young man's true strength.
At first glance, his aura seemed about the same as it had been two years ago. But back then, he hadn't known how to suppress it. Things were different now.
"Your foundation is already extremely solid, and you're on the right path." Kami nodded slowly. "There's really nothing more I can teach you. Just keep training as you have been."
"However..." His expression grew serious. "Piccolo has been growing in secret. He doesn't dare come to Kami's Lookout, but once you go down to Earth, there's a good chance he'll seize an opportunity to take revenge on you. I believe your current strength is enough to deal with him, but don't let your guard down."
"I understand." Raditz gave a serious nod, then turned to Goku, who planned to stay and continue training.
"Raditz, next time we meet, let's have another proper fight." Goku stepped forward, bumped fists with Raditz, and made the invitation again.
Over the past two years, apart from training, they'd also had a few formal sparring matches in their free time. Goku had lost every time.
Even after all those losses, he hadn't gotten discouraged. He often sneaked in extra training by himself during breaks.
He still wasn't as strong as Raditz, but his martial arts had improved rapidly.
"Sure." Raditz readily agreed. After a brief silence, he added mysteriously, "Let me give you a suggestion. You can eat more of the Senzu Beans I gave you, and try eating them when you're on the verge of death."
"Really? Will that make me as strong as you?" Goku asked curiously.
"Try it and see."
"Goodbye."
Raditz said his farewells once more, walked to the edge of the lookout's courtyard, and leaped off. After two years of training, his Flight Technique had long since become second nature.
With a thought, Raditz plunged rapidly downward. Before long, he reached Korin's palace.
"Korin, Yajirobe. It's been a long time."
Raditz landed lightly inside the hall, where he saw a man and a cat.
"Raditz, you've changed a lot!" Yajirobe exclaimed when he saw him fly in out of nowhere.
"You certainly have. Judging by how you look now, you must have gained a lot from training with Kami." Korin stroked his whiskers, his face showing approval.
"Hahaha, I did all right." Raditz rubbed the back of his head. "I came to ask you for some Senzu Beans, Korin. I've almost run out of the ones I had before."
That was a lie.
He'd eaten some of the jar of Senzu Beans Korin had given him and given some to Goku, but they'd only used up a small portion.
But Raditz remembered that there was a tank-built Yasuo here.
If he didn't ask for any now, then when the Senzu Beans he had ran out, he might have to wait around for more.
The annual yield amounted to only a miserly handful.
Would he have to split each Senzu Bean in half when he needed one?
"I've still got a few jars. I can give you some," Korin replied readily. "I only need to keep a portion for myself."
"That's wonderful!" Raditz exclaimed as he took the jars Korin handed over, quickly storing nearly a thousand Senzu Beans in a Hoi-Poi Capsule.
Now he no longer had to worry about running short. These beans would last him a long time.
After saying goodbye to Korin, Raditz quickly flew toward Kame House Island.
He'd missed everyone over the past two years and wondered if they were still at home.
As he thought about it, he sped up, drawing a white streak through the clouds ahead.
Kame House.
At that moment, Master Roshi was alone in his room.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes fixed intently on the television in front of him.
On-screen, several energetic young women in skimpy outfits were enthusiastically doing aerobics.
Their dazzling, long, pale legs danced to the upbeat rhythm.
"Heh heh heh... This one's good. What a figure! This one's nice too—she's so pretty when she smiles!" Master Roshi watched, enthralled. He didn't even notice his sunglasses fall to the floor, and a suspicious trickle of drool ran from his mouth.
"I'm back."
Raditz pushed open the door to Kame House and saw the television playing a "wonderful" show, with Master Roshi leaning closer and closer to it.
"Oh! That move! Look at that flexibility!" Master Roshi didn't notice anyone had come in. He kept watching and praising the performers, and his nosebleed looked ready to burst forth.
"Ahem!" Raditz cleared his throat.
"Who's there?!" Master Roshi jolted and snatched up the remote with incredible speed, switching off the television with a click. The room fell silent at once.
He grabbed his sunglasses from the floor, put them on, and wiped his mouth. When he turned around, his expression had completely changed, as if the old man who'd been drooling at the screen moments ago were someone else.
"Oh, it's Raditz. You're back?" He cleared his throat and looked Raditz over, feigning composure. "Hmm... Your aura is much steadier. Looks like your time with Kami paid off. How did your training go?"
"I gained a lot." Raditz held back a laugh, walked over, and sat down, pretending he hadn't seen what just happened.
"What about Goku? That kid didn't come back with you?" Master Roshi changed the subject.
"He's still at Kami's Lookout. He plans to do more training. I figured I'd had enough, so I came down first," Raditz replied. "Master Mutten, where is everyone else? Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Bulma?"
"They've all gone off to train on their own." Master Roshi took a sip of tea, his tone somewhat wistful. "After Shenron brought everyone back to life, they all heard that you two were training with Kami. Krillin, Yamcha, and the others were probably spurred on by it. One by one, they headed off to find places to train in seclusion. Bulma went back to West City, too."
He paused and looked at Raditz. "They're all fired up. Looks like you two put a lot of pressure on them."
Raditz nodded silently. He could understand how they felt.
After chatting briefly about how things were going, Raditz stood up. "Master Mutten, I'm going to West City to see Bulma and ask if she has any new equipment or anything..."
"Leaving already?" Master Roshi raised an eyebrow and put on a wounded tone. "So much for friendship when there's a woman involved. You only came to see an old man like me on the way, didn't you? Go on, then. I'll get back to enjoying my beaut—er, my health program."
He waved his hand dismissively.
Raditz smiled, said goodbye once more, and left Kame House.
As soon as the door closed, the room filled with the aerobics music again, along with Master Roshi's lecherous "Heh heh" laughter.