It had been nearly 3 months since Trunks and Gohan started training and the lack of increase in power added to the sense of loss they felt each time the small energy in an untrained human faded, they both felt just on the brink of madness. Each day they'd run until their legs were tired, then they'd do some light sparring before meditating. Gohan was frustrated by all the questions Trunks asked about his father, after spending so much time with the older boy Trunks could tell just by looking at Gohan.
Yet still day after day they repeated the same process of running, sparring, meditating, and then pigging out with a few dozen giant fish. However Trunks knew just as Gohan knew they were making little to no progress in their training, yet the both knew they needed to get stronger otherwise they wouldn't be able to save the human race. The entire time both saiyans trained their hardest, hoping one or the other would miraculously ascend to the next level.
"Ahem" Gohan and Trunks heard from somewhere and nowhere at the same time
"W-what was that, Gohan?" Trunks asked
"I'm not sure Trunks" Gohan replied
"Come to Korin tower," They heard from somewhere, "I can help you get strong enough to accomplish your goal!"
"Should we go?" Questioned Trunks after a few seconds of astonished silence
"It's worth a shot," Gohan responded, "but we should go by foot and stay on our guards."
"Yes" Trunks agreed
After that the boys ran off in the direction of Korin's tower, a tower that brought back so many memories for Gohan both good and bad. Gohan remembered his father telling him, when he was younger, about how Korin has helped him in his battle with Mr. Piccolo's father. Gohan only hoped this wasn't a trap and that Korin could somehow help Trunks and himself defeat the androids.
The run took about 6 hours with the boys running at full speed. They stopped only to drink, avoid the androids, and to say hello to the tribe living at the base of Korin's tower.
"Holy shit, It's huge" Trunks exclaimed
"Watch your mouth, Trunks," Gohan said, "and yes it is, it goes all the way up to the clouds and beyond."
"What," Trunks shouted, "you're kidding, right Gohan?"
"Nope," Gohan said in a assuring tone, "my dad told me, he's never wrong"
"C-cool" Trunks said with a smile at his mentor's smile of pride at the mention of his father
With that they boys began their ascension up the tower to what they hoped was good news and perhaps a way to become stronger. They took extra care not to use any ki so as not to attract the androids to a peaceful place. It took until near nightfall before they reached the top of the tower where Korin resided. When they were done climbing they could barely stand up but they managed to keep upright due to pure willpower.
"Greetings" Korin said as he came out from a dark room
"Korin, it's been a while," Gohan said, "but why call us here, not just for a reunion i trust"
"No, not for a reunion." Korin assured, "i've been watching you boys for a while now"
"B-but, why?" Trunks questioned
"Simple," Korin exclaimed suddenly, "a few years back Son Goku was in a similar predicament, on a much smaller scale though."
"You mean with Mr. Piccolo's father?" Gohan asked
"Exactly" Korin replied
"So what does this mean?" Trunks asked while Gohan pondered the same question to himself
"It means you're physically at your limit and you have no clue how to go beyond your current limits," Korin stated, "same as Goku so many years ago."
"Do you have a plan to help," Gohan asked, "or are you just going to make fun of us?"
"Gohan," Trunks began before getting cut off by Korin
"There is a certain room that can help you get stronger!" Korin exclaimed.
"A room" Trunks and Gohan exclaimed simultaneously
"Yes, it's up on kami's lookout" Korin informed them
"And it will help us get stronger," Gohan asked, "how?"
"Don't ask me, i don't know" Korin stated
"The power pole your father once used connects this place to kami's lookout, there is a man up there who will help you train!" Korin said
"I got it, i got it" Gohan said over his shoulder as he climbed to the top of Korins tower.
"Hey wait up Gohan!" Trunks shouted, "Thanks Mr. Korin"
"You're welcome." Korin said once again astonished by the willpower of the saiyans
Trunks hurried after Gohan as he scrambled up the power pole laughing as he remembered the days of his youth when he and Gohan had played tag. The climb was easy until they got up to the clouds when the climb got harder as the air began to thin out. The climb itself was the worse workout he had had since the year he trained with Mr Piccolo. After what seemed like forever, however Gohan and Trunks finally got to the top of the pole and began climbing up the dome that had appeared above them. When Gohan got to the top of the dome and began to climb over it he say two white orbs appear in front of him. After hearing the orbs say "Hi" Gohan was so shocked he lost his grip and fell only to be caught by something that felt like a hand, and pulled up onto what he guessed was Kami's lookout.
"Sorry 'bout that," The mysterious person said, "Scared ya, didn't i?"
"Y-yeah" Gohan muttered as Trunks finally pulled himself up onto the lookout
"I am Popo," Popo stated, "the caretaker of this lookout, what brings you here?"
"We came here to train in a certain room Mr. Korin told us about" Trunks replied
"A certain room." Mr. Popo echoed, "Oh! You must mean the Room of Spirit and Time!"
"Y-yeah," Gohan said, "that must be it"
"I see," Replied Popo, "Right this way"
"Just like that" Trunks pondered out loud
Gohan said nothing as the so called "Mr. Popo" lead them through the lookout, pointing at trees and archways as he bragged about tending them and being on the lookout for centuries. Gohan paid no mind to the talking, keeping his attention on Mr. Popo just waiting for the short man to do something. Mr. Popo finally stopped at a door.
"This is the Room of Spirit and Time," Mr. Popo stated, "please enter, but beware-"
"Yeah, yeah," Gohan interrupted, "Step aside"
Trunks followed Gohan into the room and went on to explore the space inside.
"Boy" Popo said to Gohan, "You just go into any room a strange man shows you? What makes you think you'll be able to get out?"
"My father must have been up here," Gohan replied, "if he met and trusted you then i guess i will as well"
"Good answer," Popo said, "but beware, if you go to far out in this room you will be lost, and time moves differently in here then outside. One minute in here is Six hours outside of this room so be careful."
"I will" Gohan said
"I-its surreal in here, Gohan" Trunks said amazed
"Admire it later, Trunks" Gohan said, "It's time for training now"
"Right," Trunks shouted, "Let's begin!"
The two began their training, time slowly slipping away, they sparred, and they ate and eventually fell asleep. When Gohan woke up he looked down at the watch he didn't remember putting on his wrist and notice only a few minutes had passed but his body felt as if half a day had gone by. Puzzled by this Gohan powered up to his super saiyan form and went off into the space a bit and began doing some training of his own. Gohan thought to himself, as he began going through the training exercises Mr Piccolo put him through years ago, that when they entered the time chamber they had 2 hours before their 3 month deadline was up. However, he also noticed after the training before the nap he and trunks had taken in here only about 5 minutes had passed on the outside somehow. Gohan though more about this as he trained harder than he had before, letting his body do its own thing as his mind wandered. 8 hours later Trunks woke up though the watch on Gohan's arm only said a minute or so had passed.
"Morning, Trunks" Gohan said cheerfully
"Hm," Trunks replied, "Oh no! I overslept"
After calming down Trunks Gohan explained what he had figured out about the still mysterious Room of Spirit and Time which seemed to calm the young boy down momentarily.
"Crap" Trunks shouted, "I missed 8 hours of training"
"You get upset at the strangest things" Gohan said, barely containing his laughter
"Don't laugh at me, Gohan" Trunks shouted at his mentor
"Okay, okay, don't blow your top" Gohan managed to get out between fits of laughter
"Now listen, Trunks" Gohan said after calming himself down, "I want to test out a theory of mine"
"What kind of theory?" Trunks said warily
"Don't be suspicious," Gohan said with a stern face, "I just want to try staying as super saiyans for the remainder of the time we're in here"
"Okay," Trunks said uncertain, "but why?"
I'm glad you asked," Gohan said happily, "We usually stay in our super saiyan forms for short bursts to fight strong opponent's right? Well what if we can stay in our super saiyan forms without trouble?"
"Then we could stay in the form longer," said Trunks, "and extend our stamina and..."
"And," Gohan continued, "we can push our power beyond its limits without using the excess energy needed to transform!"
"Then we may be able to gain the power to fight the androids!" Trunks exclaimed happily
"Exactly," Gohan said, "But Trunks, we only have 1 week in here in which time our deadline will be up outside of here. I can't hold back for you anymore, can you keep up?"
"Y-yeah, i think i can" Trunks said with a determined look in his eyes
"Alright," Gohan said as he powered up into his Super Saiyan form, "Let's begin"
"Right!" Trunks shouted as he to transformed
The Super Saiyan began trading punches, kicks, and ki blasts more determined than ever to become strong enough to defeat the androids and become the Saiyans their fathers expected them to be. They fought each other without sleep or restraint, pushing their bodies and minds to the limit. It was okay, Gohan had planned to train for 6 and a half days then rest on the last half day before leaving the chamber, but plans never do go exactly as planned...