John rested on the bottom floor, lying down to replenish his energy with the remaining dry rations he had brought.
After resting, John climbed the stairs to the second floor, where he saw a large white cat lying on a bed, none other than Karin, the guardian of Karin Tower.
John knew that Karin must have been aware of his arrival, but since Karin didn't wake up to summon him, John decided not to disturb him. Instead, he found a clean spot and sat down to meditate.
John's meditation wasn't focused on training his ki but on cultivating his mental state. In the Dragon Ball world, the accumulation of ki was directly related to one's physical strength. The stronger one's body, the more ki they could contain, and it was difficult to draw ki from the air.
Karin, the guardian of Karin Tower, was well aware of John's arrival but chose to test his patience. If John disturbed him, Karin would teach him a lesson and send him away from the tower. However, if John remained calm and didn't bother him, Karin would give him a chance to prove himself.
The next day, Karin finally woke up. He had initially planned to delay his breakfast to test John's patience further, but to his surprise, John remained calm and continued meditating without any signs of impatience.
With no other choice, Karin got up and prepared breakfast for himself.
As Karin was about to eat, John woke up from his meditation and sat down across from Karin without waiting for an invitation. He began eating Karin's breakfast, leaving Karin speechless.
Karin, who had intended to maintain an air of superiority, was caught off guard by John's actions. He put down his chopsticks and asked, "Meow... Did you come here just to annoy me?"
John pretended to be innocent and said, "I didn't know you could talk. I thought you were just Karin's pet."
Karin, slightly annoyed, said, "Meow... You're really something. I'm Karin, the Karin Sage. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
John knew that he needed to maintain a good relationship with Karin, as he required Karin's certification to continue his training at the Lookout. So, he replied, "Hello, Karin Sage. My name is John, and my master is Master Roshi."
Since Master Roshi was the only person to have climbed Karin Tower in 300 years, mentioning his name might help John build a connection with Karin.
Upon hearing Master Roshi's name, Karin's expression softened, and he said, "Meow... I'm surprised to see such a young disciple of Master Roshi climb Karin Tower. It seems that each generation surpasses the last."
"Meow... Let's eat breakfast first, and then we can begin our training," Karin said.
John apologized, "I'm sorry, Karin Sage, but my appetite is quite large, and this food isn't enough to fill me up."
Karin was taken aback by John's words and silently turned around. He took out a Senzu Bean from a jar behind him and handed it to John, saying, "Meow... This is a Senzu Bean. Eating one will satisfy your hunger for ten days."
John had come to Karin Tower with two goals: to train and to obtain a Senzu Bean. Senzu Beans were incredible items that could heal any injury, internal or external, as long as the person wasn't dead. They were like a bug in the Dragon Ball world, and later in the series, the author limited their power by having Yajirobe eat most of them.
John took the Senzu Bean from Karin and ate it, immediately feeling his empty stomach become full, and any hidden injuries he had sustained during his training were completely healed. At that moment, John's physical condition was better than ever.
Karin stroked his beard and asked, "Meow... Young man, did you come here to drink the 'Super Holy Water'?"
John shook his head and said, "No, I'm not interested in the 'Super Holy Water.' I came here to train with you, Karin Sage, and to drink the 'Super Divine Water'!"
Upon hearing John's words, Karin's expression turned serious. He said sternly, "How do you know about the 'Super Divine Water'? Even Master Roshi doesn't know about its existence."
"Do you know the consequences of drinking the 'Super Divine Water'?" Karin asked.
John replied, "The 'Super Divine Water' is a treasure created by the gods in ancient times. It can unlock a person's potential, including strength, spirit, and stamina. However, it is also highly toxic. If one cannot resist the poison, the result is death."
"Do you know how many people have drunk the 'Super Divine Water' since I became the Karin Sage, and how many have survived?" Karin asked gravely, even forgetting his usual catchphrase, "Meow..."
John shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Karin continued, "Ten people have drunk the 'Super Divine Water,' and they were all top warriors in their time. However, every single one of them died from the poison. Do you think you're stronger than those ten people?"
John insisted, "They couldn't handle it, but that doesn't mean I can't. I can sense that my body has immense potential, but I haven't been able to unlock it all."
Karin fell silent for a moment, then said, "You don't need to take such a risk. You can continue training, and with your current strength, you'll become the world's strongest in a few more years."
John shook his head and said, "Time is of the essence. I can't afford to spend years training when stronger enemies are on the horizon."
Karin was taken aback, not fully understanding what John meant. However, he could see John's determination, so he said, "In that case, if you want to drink the 'Super Divine Water,' you'll have to defeat me. Otherwise, I won't give it to you."
"Okay, let's begin," John said, feeling full from the Senzu Bean and eager to start training.
"What? You're already full, but I still need to eat my breakfast. Wait for me," Karin said, sitting down to enjoy his breakfast of rice and a fish.