Chapter 5: The Storm Approaches
Six months have passed since the death of Goku and when the Z warriors learned of the Sayian threat heading to Earth.
Goku having faced many trials down the path of snake way made it to King Kais planet where he was challenged to catch the gods pet monkey and then hit his cricket friend over the head with a hammer before he could be trained. Having past the tests Goku found himself faster and stronger than ever and ready to begin his training to master the Kao Ken and Spirt Bomb techniques.
Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, Chiaotzu and Master Roshi have all made great progress with their training by using the time travelling room of Kami's lookout in order to fight against different members of the Sayian rac. We will join them later in the Chapter when Kami introduces them to a brand new training method that would give them more time before the Sayian's arrive.
This leaves us with the Namekian Piccolo and his newly acquired student Gohan. Having left and trained alone for six months Piccolo returned to the wilderness where he had left Gohan and was surprised at what he found. Gohan had under gone a metamorphosis and transformed from the whiney child he had left behind and into a man at the precious age of just four years old. The boy had experience trials and grifes not even a fully grown man could overcome.
"Get up Gohan! Today I am going to be teaching you how to control your K!" Piccolo growled at his student.
The sun had just risen in the sky showering the Demi-Sayian in its brilliant glow as Gohan awoke with a big yawn. He was still not use to his mentors early morning training routine. Piccolo would wake Gohan up at the crack of dawn and begin their morning training session up until Gohan's stomach would growl with anger and spit. This would be the queue for Piccolo to head off and bring back Gohan a hearty breakfast which the young boy would devour in glee. Piccolo had dually noted that like his father Gohan had to be kept well fed in order to keep his power and there was no point in starving the boy which would only lead to his progress being stopped.
Gohan had often wondered when the Namekian himself ate as he gobbled down breakfast but these though these thoughts were quickly pushed aside when their next training session began. This carried on until another food break with this pattern carrying on until the dead of night. At this point the young Demi-Sayian would collapse with exhaustion the last images of conciseness being his mentor using his own multi form technique in order to continue his own private training into the early morning hours. To Gohan it was if Piccolo never slept at all.
"Mr Piccolo why do we have to get up so early every day?" Gohan asked innocently
If it had been a few months ago Piccolo would have merely told Gohan to shut up and do what he was told however the Namekian was changing and as such he answered his students question a different way.
"Gohan do you believe your father would be resting right now at this second? If I know Goku like I think I do he would not be resting he would be training in otherworld none stop getting ready to fight the Sayian as we speak" Piccolo snapped at his student.
~DBAT~
In Otherworld on the plant of the great and powerful King Kia came a loud sound of snoring. Deep inside the house of the Norths Kia's home lay earths greatest hero Goku asleep on King Kia's bed snoring loudly as the dignity tried desperately to wake him up.
~DBZ~
That had done it a look of solid determination soon took hold of Gohan's facial expression. Piccolo smirked at Gohan while prided gripped at his heart but the moment was quickly push aside as Piccolo quickly reprimanded himself. Piccolo knew he was not meant to be getting close to the boy knew that he was merely meant to be a tool that the Namekian would use and manipulate to use for his own ends. But still Piccolo couldn't help but smile slyly as he thought of the reaction he would get from the boy when he showed Gohan his own favourite technique. One of the very few things Piccolos father had given to him.
"Listen up and watch closely I am now going to give you an example of how effective your Ki can be when you Mastered control of it. Now watch me"
Piccolo turned to face a large boulder in the distance before locking his hands above his head. The Namekian immediately began to focus his Ki into the palm of both of his hands. A yellow ball of pure red hot energy began to form in Piccolo hands. Satisfied with the power he had gathered into the attack Piccolo threw his hands forwarded and with a roar cried allowed.
"Masenkō-Ha"
A blinding light filled the surrounding area causing Gohan to put his hand above his eyes to shield them as a loud explosion could be heard in the distance. As the light dimmed in the distance Gohan put down his hand as his jaw dropped in amazement. In front of him Piccolo stood tall arms crossed in front of the creator that was once a boulder.
Piccolo allowed a smirk to cross his face at Gohan's amazement before quickly taking a hold of himself once again. "I will have to take more control of myself in the future, I'm beging to see the child as more as a son than as a minion and that will not go well with my plans" Piccolo's thoughts were quickly interrupted however as the Gohan began to stir into activity.
Piccolo watch with mild amusement as Gohan moved into the same stance he was in moments ago. The Namekian chuckled to himself as he thought aloud.
"The kid's defiantly got sprit he actually thinks he will be able to perform a technique like that on his first go? It took my father years to master it and even took me a couple of months after I was born to ….."
"Masenkō-Ha!"
Piccolos mouth hung open comically due to the shock at what he had witnessed before him. Not only had Gohan manage to master the technique on his first go a feat that was incredible impressive in its own. But he was able to produce a blast that was equal if not stronger than Piccolos own. Was there no limit to the boy's potential?
The Namekien continued to look on at the boy with pride and started to questions he had made regarding the boy's training he had made in the past.
"Was it really the wisest decision of me to leave the boy in the wilderness for six months instead of training him myself from the beginning? He certainly has come on very quickly since I've been training him who knows what that extra six months could have done for him" Piccolo mused to himself before continuing his internal monologue.
"No it had to have been necessary to leave the boy", Gohan had been a wimp a mummy's boy who needed to toughen up to learn to rely on anyone but himself much like Piccolo had to his own entire life. "Besides" Piccolo began to reason "I was their watching over the boy the whole time if I had saw any great changes in him I would have begun his training sooner"
But did Piccolo really keep a close eye on Gohan? The Namekian questioned again I his enteral struggle.
Gohan had shown great bravery and maturity when he tried to help save the orphans from capture and turned his back on his own in order to carry on his training with Piccolo. That had been where the Namekian decided to begin training Gohan. But could he have trained him earlier hadn't Gohan proven a couple of months earlier that he could rely on his own when he was surviving quite luxuriously in the wild even having the cunning to trick the T-Rex that would constantly be after him in order to get a slice of meat of his tail.
The T-Rex had been the very same one that Gohan fried had been killed by as the Demi-Sayian lay unconscious on the floor after being knocked out when he showed great courage when he rushed in to try and protect the dinosaur. Indeed before that Gohan had shown great compassion when he tended to the dinosaurs wound?
Compassion. That was something Piccolo had never really understood yet alone look for in his student but now the Namekian truly understood what the word meant and it went further than that Piccolo respected all thoses that processed the trait be it the young boy that was Gohan or the young man that was Goku.
Guilt was an emotion Piccolo was not accustomed to but right now guilt lay heavy on the Namekian's heart. He felt as if he had let Gohan down having to failed to see his strength sooner the Namekian had wasted precious training time something that could prove extremely costly and could even get killed.
Piccolo shook all the sentimental thoughts out of his head and clenched his fist's in determination the Namek made a vow at that moment to train Gohan as hard as he could and prepare the boy for the oncoming trial's he would face.
"I think it is time that we had another spar Gohan" Piccolo called to the boy his ice cold extort returning.
~DBAT~
Right Goku the key to the Kao ken technique is not to force the power out of you. You have to let it flow right through your body like a river as if it was as natural to you as Ki. Now watch me closely again while I perform it" King Kai spoke with a strong confident voice before bending his knees and pulling his elbows to his hips.
King Kia took in a big drag of air before yelling out to the heavens.
"Kao-Ken!"
With a roar a red aura engulfed the Kia increasing his power dramatically for a few seconds before it vanished into thin air.
It took the gods several seconds of recovery before he could muster the energy to speak to his student again though exhaustion was clear in his voice.
"Now remember Goku not even I the great and powerful King Kai can't hold the Kao-ken technique for more than a few seconds without finding it exhausting."
Ok I'll remember thanks King Kia" Goku chirped happily before dropping into a low stance.
With knee bent and arms to his hips the young sayian focused his mind and repeated his masters wise words though his head.
Remember the key is not to force the power but to let the power flow though you like a river.
Remember the key is not to force the power but to let the power flow though you like a river
Remnber….
"GOKU I CAN READ YOUR MIND YOU KNOW STOP REPEATING YOURSELF!" King Kai yelled in frustration
Goku flashed the high ranking god an apologetic grin before returning back into his stance a look of pure focus etched across his face.
"Kao-Ken"
The iconic red aura engulfed Goku immediately filling the young Sayian with it's incredible power. Goku stood up straight and turned to King Kai a huge smile was etched across his face at his own achievement.
"Hay King Kai it's not that bad"
As soon as those words left Goku's lips the red aura disappeared from sight as the young Sayian fainted due to exhaustion.
"Hay didn't he just last longer than you ever have King Kai?" Gregory asked innocently.
"I have a theory that Kao-Ken isn't as simple as multiplying the users power I believe it is more complicated than that. Instead of multiplying Kao-Ken is simple a way to release ones latent potential however it can appear to the untrained eye to be a multiplier" King Kai lectured cockily.
"I see" Gregory responded stroking his chin. "So that mean's Goku has a lot more potential than you do"
"I didn't say that" King Kai immediately shouted his pride hurt.
Oblivious to King Kai's frustration Gregory continued.
"And since Goku is already nearly as strong as you are that mean's he can become a lot strong…."
Whack! Out of nowhere King Kai had produce a large hammer out of thin air and smashed it down on the unsuspecting crickets head causing Gregory to join Goku in the land of the unconscious.
Walking away with his hands held behind his back King Kai was deep in thought over his newest student.
The boy certainly has come on more than even I could have predicted and he certainly has the potential to master the technique that not even I could perform. But maybe just maybe he can master the legendary Spirit Bomb technique.
With his thoughts finished King Kai set off towards his kitchen knowing that as soon as the Saiyan awoke from his slumber he would want feeding.
~DBZ~
The human fighters were all sparing on top of the lookout as Kami walked out of his palace towards the group. Immediately the Z-fighters stopped what they were doing and turned to face the guardian of earth who was curiously not being followed by Mr Popo.
"Hay Kami where's Mr Popo today?" Yamcha asked inquisitively.
"He is preparing the next stage of your training" Kami smiled as he spoke in his usual calm manner.
"What the next stage is of are training master" Tien asked bowing respectfully towards the god of earth.
"Please call me Kami" The guardian of earth chuckled before his face turned serious. "I have been thinking it over and normally I wouldn't suggest such an extreme method of training however the current situation has forced my hand. The Sayian's are fast approaching and I am worried that we may no longer have enough time to fully prepare for them. You have all become incredible powerful however I am fearful that it may not be enough."
The human fighter's remain silent they were all hurt by Kami's words. Each of them had made incredible progress with their training surpassing their previous limits to strength they previously could only dream about or like the case of Master Roshi developed new devastating techniques. To be told that all their efforts so far wasn't enough was devastating news to all those present. Noticing the dim mood Kami gave the earth warriors a warm smile before continuing.
"Don't misunderstand me I believe you are all very capable warriors and your resilient and dedication simple outstands me every day that is why I am going to offer you a form of training not even Goku could complete"
This perked all of the fighter's attention as they looked at the god with curiosity all thinking the same thing. What form of training couldn't complete? There was a mixture of excitement and worry in the group. Excitement over the fact that Kami thought they were able to complete training that Goku couldn't and worry over the thought of a form of training Goku couldn't be just how tough was it?
As if reading their mind Kami gave a warm smile before beckoning the fighters to follow him. The warriors followed as they walked through the lookout and to a door with a clock over his head. Turning to the group gathered before him Kami opened the door to reveal a strange room that seemed to stretch out for miles.
"This…" Kami paused "Is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Tien and Krillin you will be the first to enter"
Well another Chapter down in my re-write I hope you like the changes here.
I would just like to note that the idea for Piccolos thought process has come from a Ry111 and Gohan90 reviews where they mention about how they thought Piccolo should have trained Gohan from the beginning or saw him mature and thus train him quicker. It was a good idea and interesting and it is something I may look at in the future but I decided that I would use the idea to get some character development from Piccolo as he feels guilt over his decisions and to show he actually took note of Gohans achievements. I also wanted to show the change Piccolo is starting to make as he sees compassion now as a strength rather than a weakness and begins to respect Goku more I hope this was shown well :o).
I want to know what people think of my change to the Kao ken technique I know in Cannon it stated that the technique is a multiplier however if that was the case it made no sense why after Goku turned super sayian it was never heard of again. Now I can understand Goku not using it but the humans such as Tien who in fact trained with King Kia never used it and im sure they could of learnt so the potential thing is my way of fixing that plot hole :P.
So anyways I hope you liked this chapter though it was a bit shorter than previous please review and tell me what you think who knows I may incorporate your ideas into the story :o)
Power levels for this moment in time so you know how favourite warriors are are progressing: P
Piccolo: 1,750
Gohan: 500-2000 (escalates up and down there's no real set more down to how angry or emotionally pushed he is)
Goku: 2,500 normal, 3,750 as Goku can only manage a basic Kao-Ken (Training in ten times gravity is resulting in bigger increases in power than would normally have)
Yamcha: 600
Tien: 1000
Krillin: 950
Chiaotzu: 500
Master Roshi: 250