The gravity dial on the console had already been modified by Bulma, and it could go up to 100 times normal gravity.
Raditz activated the Gravity Chamber and slowly raised the gravity to 10 times normal.
A crushing weight descended, but Raditz felt perfectly fine. His body had adapted to this level of gravity, and he was as unaffected as usual.
He raised it to 30 times. Gradually, his body began to bend forward against his will.
"This is working great," Raditz said excitedly.
It was as if his body had returned to its previous state, and he needed to readjust to the new gravity.
His training at Kami's Lookout had focused mainly on ki. Later, he had spent half a year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, which was how he had reached his current level of strength.
Now his body had grown to a new stage, and there was still plenty of room to develop his Saiyan battle talent. He hadn't reached his limit yet.
He could finally use the Gravity Chamber and Senzu Beans together again!
"For the next year, I'll start gravity training at the same pace as before."
"Then, once I'm strong enough, it'll be time to go out and see the universe."
Raditz had no intention of staying on Earth forever.
With the crisis of King Piccolo resolved, there was nothing left on Earth that could threaten him. The planet would also enjoy five years of peace.
Staying on Earth for those five years would still let him grow stronger. Raditz could raise his battle power to three or four million.
But even then, he would have to avoid facing Frieza, the Universe Emperor, head-on.
Raditz wasn't confident he could transform into a Super Saiyan.
Even though he knew all the conditions for becoming a Super Saiyan.
Accumulating S-Cells, reaching the required base battle power, and experiencing intense anger.
S-Cells accumulated mainly through a calm heart, which could be achieved in a peaceful environment.
The required base battle power, based on Goku's first transformation into a Super Saiyan, was probably around three million. That would be easy enough, too.
The hard part was the last condition: the emotion.
Anger? How could he get angry? How angry did he need to be? It was entirely subjective.
Raditz wasn't as simple as Goku.
Now that he knew most of the secrets of the Dragon Ball world, even if Krillin were blown to pieces right in front of him by Frieza, he would know that the Dragon Balls on Namek could bring him back to life.
He would be angry, but probably not angry enough to transform.
He could follow the path of the second-generation Z Fighters instead. If he accumulated enough S-Cells, he could bypass the anger requirement and transform like Goten and Trunks.
That was why leaving Earth early was so important.
He couldn't overlook the system's abilities.
He could accumulate S-Cells and raise his battle power anywhere peaceful, but the system's sign-in missions only became available on new planets.
Before achieving the Super Saiyan transformation, he could visit a few planets, complete sign-in missions, and claim their rewards.
He could have his cake and eat it too!
Just as Raditz was considering the future, Bulma walked over with an oddly shaped machine in her hands.
"Here, this is an Interferer. It can disrupt abnormal signals over a wide area. Take it up to the roof for me."
Raditz took the machine from Bulma and stared at it in surprise. "You finished it already?"
"I rushed it, so it'll have to do for now." Bulma pursed her lips in distaste. "I'll make an even better device later and wipe out all those annoying bugs."
Raditz nodded, picked up the machine, and sprang lightly onto the roof. He turned it on. A buzzing sound rang out, then quickly faded.
"That should do it, right?" Raditz asked.
"Yeah, that's fine," Bulma replied. She looked Raditz over and asked casually, "Are you already good at flying?"
She had just seen him shoot up to the roof with the machine, smooth and steady—not at all like the awkward flying she'd seen before.
"Haha, I haven't been slacking off these past few years." Raditz smiled. Seeing Bulma's steady gaze, he ventured, "Want me to take you for a flight?"
"Eh? You don't have to," Bulma replied, a little hesitant, though she took half a step forward.
"Don't worry, I'll be steady." Raditz turned around and crouched slightly with his back to her. "Hop on."
Bulma looked at his broad back, her face growing a little warm. In the end, she climbed onto him slowly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hold on tight." Raditz stood up, gave her a gentle bounce, and adjusted their position.
"Mm..." Bulma murmured, her arms tightening around him without thinking.
Raditz gave a light push with his feet, and the two of them rose smoothly into the air.
Bulma instinctively held her breath, but the jolting and swaying she'd expected never came. Only the wind brushed past her ears.
"See? Nice and steady," Raditz said with a smile.
As they gained altitude, he picked up the pace a little and headed toward the outskirts of West City.
At first, Bulma kept her eyes tightly shut. After a few seconds, she dared to peek through a narrow slit.
The view widened from the rounded rooftops in Capsule Corporation's courtyard to the entire neighborhood, then the crisscrossing streets and scattered lights. The outline of West City spread out beneath them in the glow of the setting sun.
"Wow!" she couldn't help exclaiming at last. Her tense body gradually relaxed, and she let go of Raditz's neck.
"How is it? Pretty nice, right?" Raditz asked, turning his head slightly toward her.
"It's all right," Bulma said, trying to make her voice sound less excited, but the upward lilt at the end gave her away.
Raditz smiled.
He changed direction and flew smoothly along the river at the edge of the city.
Bulma's initial nervousness had vanished, replaced by the new and exhilarating sensation of weightlessness.
"This is more fun than flying a plane."
They made a wide circle through the air, then slowly descended onto the lawn behind Capsule Corporation. Once Raditz had landed, he crouched slightly so Bulma could climb down.
With her feet back on solid ground, Bulma found herself wanting to stay up there a little longer.
She straightened her wind-tousled hair, glanced at Raditz, and said, "You're actually a pretty good flyer."
"Thanks for the compliment," Raditz said with a smile. "If you want to see the night view again, just ask me anytime."
"Who said I wanted to see it all the time?" Bulma turned her head away, though the tips of her ears were a little red. "If this Interferer needs maintenance, you'll have to help me get up there again."
"No problem," Raditz readily agreed.
Bulma nodded and turned toward the house. After a few steps, she stopped, looked back, and quickly said, "Um, thanks." Then she hurried away and disappeared through the door.
Raditz watched her hurried retreat and couldn't help smiling.
He looked up at the darkening sky, then toward the city lights in the distance.
"Staying on Earth isn't so bad."