A year and a half later.
Kami's Lookout.
Goku sat quietly in the center of the courtyard, legs crossed and hands resting flat on his knees, eyes closed.
His breathing was long and steady. With every breath, it seemed as though he became one with the entire lookout.
Over the past few years, he had shot up in height. The youthful innocence had gradually faded from his face, and he was beginning to look like a young man.
"Whew—"
Goku let out a long breath, then slowly opened his eyes.
"Goku."
Kami's aged voice came from behind him.
Seeing that Goku had finished meditating, Kami came over to him, hands clasped behind his back and a hint of approval in his gaze.
"Your meditation is steadier than it was a year ago. Before, you could never settle down. Now, you're learning to feel the flow of ki itself."
Goku stood up and brushed the dust off his training clothes, then grinned. "Heh heh, Lord Kami, I think I'm almost done training here. Who do you think is stronger, me or Raditz?"
"Raditz..." Kami nodded slightly and pondered for a moment. "That young man is indeed extraordinary. I can't tell just how powerful he is."
"So he's still stronger than me? Just like I thought."
Kami watched Goku's excited expression, a helpless smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Your opponent today isn't him." Kami's expression turned serious. "Piccolo Jr. has confirmed that he'll compete in this World Martial Arts Tournament. You should understand what he's after."
Goku's expression grew serious too, and he nodded. "Yeah. I won't let him get away with it."
"Go on." Kami turned and walked deeper into the lookout. "Let me see the results of your three years of training."
"Yes, sir!"
Goku bowed toward Kami's retreating figure, then turned and walked to the edge of the lookout.
He looked down at the endless sea of clouds and the blue ocean barely visible below.
Without hesitation, he leaped into the air, his whole body shooting toward the world below like an arrow loosed from a bow.
The wind roared past, and his training clothes snapped in the rushing air.
Goku adjusted his posture and raced over the clouds at tremendous speed, heading for the island where the tournament was being held.
"I wonder if Raditz will compete this time. I really hope I get to fight him."
As soon as he said it, he sped up.
World Martial Arts Tournament venue.
There was still some time before the event officially began, but crowds already packed the venue inside and out.
Goku landed in the plaza at the entrance. The moment his feet touched the ground, he heard a familiar voice calling from the side.
"Goku! Over here!"
Krillin jumped up and down, waving, his round face beaming. Tien Shinhan, Master Roshi, and the others stood beside him.
Goku hurried over, his smile growing wider with every step.
"Krillin! Tien Shinhan! Master Roshi! It's been ages!"
"Hey, you!" Krillin looked Goku up and down, his eyes growing wider and wider. "How'd you get so tall?!"
"Heh heh, I just suddenly got taller." Goku scratched his head, grinning without a care in the world.
"Damn it." Krillin gritted his teeth, envy and frustration written all over his face. "Am I the only one who's not getting any taller? This is so unfair!"
"Krillin," Master Roshi said, leaning on his cane and adjusting his sunglasses with the air of a sage, "height isn't what matters. Strength is."
"But, Master Mutten, you've said that so many times already!" Krillin grumbled.
Tien Shinhan stood with his arms folded, looking Goku over. "Goku, you feel completely different. You must've trained incredibly hard these past three years."
"Yeah! Kami's training was strict, but it worked really well." Goku nodded, his eyes gleaming with eagerness to fight. "Tien Shinhan, let's have a good match when the tournament starts!"
"Just what I was hoping for."
Yamcha came over and patted Goku on the shoulder with a smile. "It's been three years, and you've grown into a real man. Oh, Bulma's over there, but she's been in a bad mood lately, so don't get on her bad side."
"In a bad mood?" Goku followed Yamcha's gaze and met Bulma's eyes. He strode over to greet her without a care in the world. "Bulma! Long time no see!"
Bulma stared at the tall young man in front of her, froze for a moment, then gave a cold snort and turned away.
"You've gotten taller too, Goku." Her tone was flat.
Goku didn't think much of it. He looked around, scratched his head, and asked, "Huh? Didn't Raditz come with you guys?"
At that, Bulma's expression immediately darkened, as if he'd hit a sore spot.
"Forget about him," she said irritably. "He's not on Earth anymore."
"What?!" Goku's eyes widened in disbelief. "If he's not on Earth, where else could he be? Don't joke around, Bulma."
"I mean exactly what I said." Bulma raised her voice a little. "He went to another planet."
Another planet?
Goku's jaw dropped. "What?! Raditz went off to another planet? That's crazy!"
"The problem is, he didn't even tell us before he left," Krillin said, hands on his hips, sounding displeased. "He could've at least let us see him off. He's still as secretive as ever."
"Wait a second, don't you think that's strange?" Yamcha looked at Bulma. "Bulma, Raditz used your spaceship to go into space, didn't he?"
Bulma snorted but didn't deny it.
"So what exactly is he doing in space? Did he say when he'd be back?"
"How should I know!" Bulma turned away, her voice sharp and hurried. "He said he wanted to get stronger, then took the spaceship my dad made, the one with a Gravity Chamber, and left. He didn't say where he was going. He's so secretive, and he even had to ask Shenron for the location."
She swallowed the words, "And he didn't take me with him," but her expression gave away how she felt.
They had only made their relationship official half a year ago, and before long, that jerk had said he wanted to get stronger and go to another planet. Then he'd left without looking back.
Krillin and Yamcha exchanged a glance, wordlessly deciding not to press her further.
Goku, on the other hand, clenched his fist with an innocent look. "Wow, so Raditz went looking for even stronger opponents! That's so cool! I guess he's way stronger than all of us now!"
Bulma stared at Goku, speechless.
She realized that his head might genuinely have no room for anything besides fighting.
Still, maybe he was right.
That guy really was a training fanatic. He spent all day in the Gravity Chamber and never came out.
"Forget it. Let's not talk about him." Bulma took a deep breath, patted her cheeks, and rallied herself. "Come on, let's go sign up."
"Right, signing up comes first," Krillin agreed. "There are going to be tons of strong fighters at this tournament. We can't miss it."
The group headed toward the registration area together, chatting and laughing. Before long, they had turned the conversation to the matches.
However, none of them noticed the tall green figure standing quietly in a corner on the other side of the plaza.
Piccolo.
He wore a white turban and cape, keeping most of his face hidden in shadow. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, stayed fixed on the group.
Piccolo's hearing was far beyond that of an ordinary person. He had heard every word they'd said, from the very first.
"Raditz isn't on Earth?"
Piccolo's pupils contracted slightly as the image of the man who had utterly defeated him again a year ago flashed through his mind.
The man who had crushed his ambitions with a single move had actually left Earth?
He didn't know how he felt.
Surprised? Relieved? Or perhaps a little disappointed?
"Hmph." Piccolo sneered, the corner of his mouth curling into a sinister smile. "If that guy isn't on Earth, then I'm the strongest person on the planet now, aren't I?"
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. His fists clenched unconsciously, cracking loudly.
The thought of conquering the world burned in his chest like a blazing fire.
"No."
Piccolo's gaze suddenly cleared again, and he shook his head.
"He'll come back."
Piccolo's instincts told him that the man wouldn't die out in space. He would come back, and when he did, he would be even stronger than before.
"In that case..."
Piccolo looked back toward the group.
"I'll start with these people."
"If they dare compete in this tournament, they must have some skill. I'll make them grovel beneath my might."
His gaze finally settled on the black-haired young man with spiky hair, surrounded by the others.
Sun Wukong.
"Especially you." A fierce fighting spirit blazed in Piccolo's eyes. "I'll crush you beneath my feet in this tournament."
He tugged at his cape, turned around, and headed toward the registration area.