Hyperbolic Time Chamber

"Gohan, I'm taking you somewhere. Maybe it'll help you break through your limits!"

Ōten said to Son Gohan.

The Hyperbolic Time Chamber was definitely the best place for Gohan to train right now.

Time flowed differently inside it than in the outside world. One year inside was only a single day outside.

Ōten planned to have Gohan spend two days in there, which would be the equivalent of two years outside. Gohan had a very good chance of breaking through his limits. Whether he could transform into a Super Saiyan Four would depend on his own efforts!

"What place?"

Gohan looked completely bewildered. Then his eyes suddenly widened.

"Do you mean the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?"

After all, Son Gohan had first entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Son Goku and mastered Super Saiyan 2, so he was very familiar with it!

Ōten smiled and nodded.

"Gohan, you're clever. Let's go!"

The two of them disappeared from Destruction God's Realm.

Somewhere on Earth!

Piccolo was floating in the air, training, when two figures suddenly appeared!

Their sudden arrival startled Piccolo so badly that he broke out in a cold sweat!

"Who's there?"

His eyes flew open. Seeing two familiar figures, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"So it's Gohan and Lord Ōten!"

Gohan was thrilled to see Piccolo. "Uncle Piccolo!"

Piccolo smiled too.

Ōten scratched his head. "We took a wrong turn. I sensed a Namekian's ki and thought it was Tien, the guardian."

"So it was Piccolo!"

The next moment, he sensed their surroundings again. Before long, Ōten's eyes suddenly opened wide.

"Gohan, I found it. Let's go!"

Gohan nodded and waved to Piccolo. "Goodbye, Uncle Piccolo!"

Piccolo smiled and nodded.

"Gohan, make the most of this opportunity. I hope you become even stronger!"

Kami's Lookout on Earth!

The next moment, Ōten and Son Gohan appeared at Kami's Lookout.

Tien and Mr. Popo also appeared in front of Son Gohan and Ōten.

"Tien!"

"Mr. Popo!"

As soon as Gohan saw them, he called out excitedly.

Tien and Mr. Popo walked up to Ōten, their expressions reverent and humble.

"This humble god pays his respects to the Inspector!"

As they spoke, both of them immediately dropped to their knees and pressed their foreheads to the ground!

Gohan was visibly stunned, his eyes wide as saucers.

He knew Ōten was a high-ranking official in the God Realm, but the Gods of Destruction and angels he'd met before had only bowed. He'd never seen anyone kneel outright!

And Tien was Earth's guardian. Why was he kneeling?

What Son Gohan didn't know was that the hierarchy in the God Realm was extremely strict. It was only natural for a guardian to kneel in greeting.

The Inspector was on the same level as the Grand Priest and commanded great authority. Even a God of Destruction who ruled a universe had to bow at a ninety-degree angle, let alone the guardian of a little planet like Earth!

"Get up," Ōten said calmly.

At the sound of his voice, Tien and Mr. Popo seemed as if a great weight had been lifted from them.

"Thank you, Inspector!"

They spoke in unison.

Then they respectfully stepped aside.

Gohan scratched his cheek, feeling a little awkward.

"Mr. Popo, I'm taking Son Gohan to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Please show us the way."

At once, Mr. Popo respectfully gestured for them to go ahead, not daring to walk in front.

Mr. Popo's origins had always been something of a mystery. No one knew how many generations of gods he'd outlived, and he had even trained a young Son Goku.

Astonishingly, Son Goku had become stronger than the guardian after training with him!

And later in Dragon Ball Z, he had been able to hold off two Saiyans, Son Goten and Trunks!

With Mr. Popo guiding them, the two entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber without trouble.

After settling them in, Mr. Popo respectfully took his leave.

Creak...

Ōten opened the door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Blinding light poured out. Son Gohan instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes, but Ōten didn't move at all. A little light like this couldn't affect him.

From Ōten's hazy memories, he recalled that one could only stay in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for two days. After that, its exit would disappear, leaving anyone inside trapped forever!

But for someone as powerful as Ōten, that wouldn't be a problem at all. He could open a rift through the space-time tunnel and return to Earth!

The moment Gohan stepped into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he felt gravity press down on him. The air was thin, and the temperature was much higher!

"It's just like before. Even staying in here is exhausting."

Son Gohan murmured.

"The gravity inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber is only ten times that of the outside world. It shouldn't affect you much at your current level."

"First, I want you to get back in touch with the feeling of fighting."

At Ōten's words, Son Gohan nodded.

"Lord Ōten, let's start training now!"

Gohan seemed eager to get started.

He wanted to quickly regain the strength he'd had back then—and become even stronger!

"Good. Let's begin."

"First, transform into a Super Saiyan."

As soon as Ōten finished speaking, Gohan powered up. In an instant, he transformed into a Super Saiyan!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!!"

Golden energy surged around him, but Gohan's power was only at the threshold between Super Saiyan 1 and Super Saiyan 2!

Watching Gohan transform, Ōten thought for a moment. "Gohan, first you need to find that feeling of rage again!"

"Think about how you felt when Cell killed Android 16 and slaughtered your friends!"

At those words, scenes from the past flashed through Son Gohan's mind. His whole body began to tremble, and the veins on his forehead bulged as his ki surged!

A few seconds later, Gohan collapsed to his knees.

"I can't do it. I can't find that feeling!"

Ōten walked over, his expression unchanged. "Gohan, focus on building your basic combat power first."

"The stronger your base, the more powerful you'll be after transforming!"

"Remember, this world is ruled by the strong. Goku and the others can't protect you forever!"

"When Earth's survival is really on the line, the helplessness you feel then will make you suffer unbearably!"

At those words, Gohan stood up, determination etched across his face, and began training one step at a time.

A month later!

Gohan had now transformed into Super Saiyan 2, silver lightning crackling around his entire body!

Ōten was quite pleased. In just one short month, Gohan had not only regained his fighting instincts, but had also transformed into Super Saiyan 2 again. His base combat power had risen considerably, too. His strength now far surpassed what it had been when he fought Cell!

Ōten let out a roar as golden energy surged around him and a terrifying aura erupted!

Super Saiyan!

"That's incredible! This ki is unbelievably powerful. No wonder you're Lord Ōten!"

Gohan exclaimed.

Their base combat power was different, so their strength after transforming was different, too. Ōten's combat power as a Super Saiyan had already surpassed Gohan's as a Super Saiyan 2. After all, Ōten's base strength had reached the level of an ordinary god!

"Alright, let's begin!"

Ōten beckoned Gohan over with a curl of his finger.

"Whoosh!"

Gohan charged forward in a flash, moving at incredible speed!

Ōten effortlessly dodged Gohan's attacks. At the same time, he clenched his fist, golden energy wrapping around it!

His heavy punch slammed into Gohan's abdomen!

A wave of agony instantly swept through Gohan's body!

But Gohan wasn't about to give up. Gritting his teeth, he charged at Ōten again!

"Clang, clang, clang!!!"

Ōten's hands moved swiftly, blocking every one of Gohan's attacks!