Mount Paozu, Three Months Later
"Hah… Yaaah!!"
Nappa's face twisted in fierce concentration as he gathered ki exactly as Raditz had taught him. White energy flared around his body like a raging blaze.
"Kaio-ken!!"
With his roar, the white aura surged skyward, blasting away the dark clouds overhead. In an instant, the energy shifted to a deep, burning red, radiating waves of heat. His muscles swelled, veins bulging across his shiny bald head.
If someone had a scouter right now, it would read over 300,000.Bloodline still made a difference.
Raditz, as a low-class warrior, had a bottleneck around 100,000. Nappa, being a mid-class warrior, had a much higher ceiling about 150,000.
But to push past those limits required real, life-or-death battles. The old trick getting beaten within an inch of death and healing with a senzu bean was losing its edge.
It wasn't just that they knew they wouldn't die, which killed the desperation needed for a breakthrough; the body itself remembered the routine. Doing it over and over had dulled the effect, the body refusing to unleash any deeper potential.
"Gohan, looks like we've both hit our limits," Goku said.
"Dad, using senzu beans to break through was always cheating. Reaching this level is already pretty good," Gohan replied, unfazed.
"There are still three months before Frieza reaches Planet Namek… so, Gohan, when do we leave?" Goku's battle spirit was barely contained.
"We can go now. Everyone's maxed out any more training would be a waste. But… I've still got ten days left before school break."
"Ah… in that case… yeah, let's wait until your vacation." Just the thought of Chi-Chi's reaction made Goku shiver involuntarily.
South Central Academy, Class 1–3
"Gohan, where are you going for vacation? How about we go on a field trip together?" Videl asked, already excited with the break only ten days away.
"Sorry, I'm heading back to my hometown. It's far, and I might not be back until school starts again," Gohan replied, fumbling for an excuse.
"Aww… so I won't see you for two months?" Videl's expression clouded with disappointment.
Right now, Gohan was her best friend.At their age, those innocent feelings still needed time to grow.
Gohan smiled and gently patted her head. "If I get the chance, I'll come visit you."
Videl's cheeks flushed as she batted his hand away. "Geez… my dad says if kids get their heads patted, they won't grow tall!"
"Oh, okay… got it." And then he patted her again.
Smack! "You just said you got it!!" she pouted adorably, puffing out her cheeks.
Ten days later.
At the school gates, Videl reluctantly waved goodbye. "Make sure you come see me if you can!" Her eyes were shimmering.
"Don't cry, Videl. I'll definitely come play if I have time," Gohan reassured her.
"Let's go, Videl!!" A large, curly-haired man strode over, taking her hand while shooting Gohan a suspicious glare.
It was Mr. Satan already a somewhat well-known martial artist in South City at this point.
"Got it, Dad… just give me a minute!" Videl shook off his hand irritably.
That only made Mr. Satan more on guard. He glared at Gohan. "Hey, punk don't you dare bully Videl!"
Gohan facepalmed, exasperated. "Alright, Videl, just go with your dad before he decides to hit me."
"He wouldn't dare! I'll pull out his mustache!" Videl growled, glaring at her father with open threat.
"Sweetheart, come on now Daddy's a martial artist, I'd never hurt a kid… right?" Mr. Satan's confidence crumbled under his daughter's gaze.
After ten more minutes of reluctant chatter, Videl finally left.
As the car drove away, Gohan quietly slipped into a side alley, glanced around.
"No one's here."
Zwoosh!
In an instant, he teleported not to Mount Paozu, but straight to Kame House.
"Uncle Krillin, you home?"
"Gohan? What are you doing here and alone?" Krillin asked, surprised.
"I'm here for you. We're heading out soon, and with Instant Transmission, we can move fast," Gohan explained.
"Alright, let's go. Do I need to pack anything?"
"Nope. I've already taken care of it."
"Okay then. Master Roshi, I'm off!" Krillin waved.
"Mm. Stay safe," the old master said.
Gohan grabbed Krillin's arm and shoom they were gone.
A rocky desert.
"Krillin? Gohan?" Tien blinked at the two who'd just appeared.
"I told you I'd take you to your homeworld, remember? It's time," Gohan said calmly.
"Right. Chiaotzu, are you coming with me?"
"Mm-hmm. Wherever you go, I go," Chiaotzu replied, gripping Tien's hand.
"Then let's"
"Tien! You get back here right now!!" a furious voice roared in the distance.
"Gohan go! Hurry!" Tien panicked, sounding like a man facing execution.
WHOOSH!
Dust exploded as Launch the blonde, gun-toting version skidded to a halt on her hoverbike, kicking up a storm of sand.
"Damn it, missed him again!" she growled.
Mount Paozu
"Phew…" Tien wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Tien, you're unbelievable. Blonde Launch might have a fiery temper, but she's gorgeous! How can you be so cold?" Krillin teased.
"You don't understand. She scares me."
"Haha! Gohan, look at him what's the matter, Tien? Don't tell me you're" Krillin stepped back three paces dramatically. "gay?"
"Krillin! There's a kid here!" Tien snapped.
"Doesn't matter, as long as it's not uh…" Gohan's eyes flicked toward Chiaotzu, silently implying, Don't tell me it's…
"Gohan! Krillin! You two are dead Tri-Beam!!"
Tien's temper snapped, and energy blasts erupted from his hands
Biu! Biu! Biu!
The two dodged wildly, laughing the whole time, while Chiaotzu just stood there, utterly confused.
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