Chapter 3 – Martial Roots and Mortal Lessons (Part 1)
The morning air was clean, too clean. The sky above the forest was a soft blue, a far cry from the ever-reddened skies of Planet Vegeta. Birds chirped without fear, and a light breeze stirred the leaves overhead like a lullaby.
Raiku stood barefoot on the dirt clearing beside Roshi's campsite, arms folded across his chest. His armor, though compact, gleamed faintly in the sun. His tail flicked once with irritation.
"This planet is far too quiet," he muttered. "No alerts. No combat drills. Not even a proper gravity chamber."
Across from him, Roshi yawned and rolled his shoulders.
"Morning stretches first," he said casually. "Then some stance work."
Raiku raised an eyebrow. "You're training me with… stretches?"
"Well, you want to understand Earth, don't you?" Roshi smirked. "Start with the body. Respect its pace."
"I was sparring before I could walk."
Roshi tapped his cane against the ground. "Yeah, and I was lifting turtles before you were cryogenically frozen. Humor me, Prince High-and-Mighty."
Raiku clicked his tongue but didn't argue. He dropped into a stretch, grumbling under his breath.
"Your legs are stiff," Roshi noted. "You hold your breath when you move. That's tension. It'll hold you back."
"I hold power," Raiku said.
"Same thing if you don't know what to do with it."
> [System Notice: New Quest – Roshi's Fundamentals]
Objectives:
– Complete 3 Earth-style stances (0/3)
– Hold each stance for 5 minutes
– Suppress Ki to below 100
Reward: +2 Ki Control, +2 Physical Defense
> Current Ki Output: 640 (Suppressed)
Suppressing below 100 was… insulting.
He breathed slowly and let his aura fade. The wind carried his exhale, and his body began to relax—reluctantly. His pride resisted, but his training—his system—understood the purpose. Suppression wasn't weakness. It was control.
He lowered himself into the first stance Roshi demonstrated: one leg forward, back straight, arms steady like the trunk of a tree.
"Horse stance," Roshi said, sitting on a rock with his straw hat tilted over his eyes. "Basic stuff. All the greats start here."
Raiku didn't reply. He stared ahead, unmoving, the weight on his legs slowly becoming noticeable. The minutes ticked on.
At three minutes, his thighs began to ache. At four, he clenched his jaw. At five, sweat slid down his brow.
> [Stance One Completed: Horse Stance – 5:01]
[+0.5 Ki Control]
[+0.5 Defense]
Ki Output: 430
Still far above the requirement. His pride bristled.
"Next," he said firmly.
"You ain't gonna take a break first?"
"I'm not made of paper."
Roshi chuckled under his breath. "That's what the last guy said. He passed out after Crane Stance."
Raiku dropped into the next form without hesitation. One leg raised, both arms extended, body balanced. The wind tugged at him, but he held.
At one minute, his lifted leg trembled slightly.
At three, he closed his eyes and began drawing on the Calm Mind passive the System tracked. It stabilized him just enough.
At five, he lowered his foot and exhaled.
> [Stance Two Completed: Crane Stance – 5:00]
[+0.5 Ki Control]
[+0.5 Defense]
Ki Output: 310
"Your breathing's improving," Roshi said, arms behind his head. "Not bad for a spoiled space prince."
"I wasn't spoiled," Raiku said, fixing him with a flat look. "I earned my strength."
"Sure you did. But now you gotta re-learn how to hold it."
That stung—but it wasn't wrong.
Raiku moved to the final stance. One arm extended in front, legs shoulder-width apart, back lowered. It was awkward. Inefficient.
Or so it seemed.
As he held it, something shifted. The tension across his spine began to loosen. The stance forced his body to rely on core strength—internal alignment instead of explosive muscle. It burned differently.
He didn't say a word, but something in his expression softened slightly.
When the timer ticked past five minutes, he relaxed his limbs.
> [Stance Three Completed: Dragon Root – 5:07]
[+1 Ki Control]
[+1 Defense]
Ki Output: 180
[Total Progress – 3/3 Completed]
[Suppression Level Reached: Ki Output 180 / Goal: 100]
He frowned.
Still too high.
"You're gettin' there," Roshi said, standing. "But don't force it. Suppression's like… holdin' your breath under calm water. Not smotherin' a fire."
Raiku looked up at him. "How did you learn to control energy like that?"
Roshi tapped his chest. "Not from rage. Not from instinct. From years of stillness."
"Stillness doesn't win battles."
"Neither does burning out before you land a punch."
Raiku snorted. "You're very confident for someone weaker than me."
"Oh, I am weaker," Roshi said cheerfully. "But I've lived longer than most volcanoes. And I've met a few hot-headed warriors who couldn't keep up with a turtle."
Raiku smirked despite himself.
> [Quest Completed – Roshi's Fundamentals]
+2 Ki Control
+2 Physical Defense
Ki Output: 105
The number hovered in his vision—so close to the goal. He reached inward and twisted the last thread of excess Ki downward.
> [Ki Output: 99 – Suppression Achieved]
> [New Skill Acquired: Spirit Stability]
Description: Enhances Ki suppression and internal flow. Reduces detection by 35%. Increases meditation recovery speed.
He took a breath.
And for the first time since landing, the air didn't feel too light.
"You felt it, didn't you?" Roshi asked.
"…Yes."
"That's Earth's rhythm."
Raiku didn't respond immediately. His gaze was fixed on the trees beyond the cliff, where morning sunlight now poured through the canopy like falling silk.
"I thought I would hate it here," he said.
"And now?"
"I still might."
Roshi laughed. "Attaboy."
They returned to camp, where Roshi laid out bowls of rice and fish.
Raiku sat, eating quietly. For all his discipline, he still devoured food like a true Saiyan. Roshi watched in amusement.
"You've got pride," he said suddenly, between bites. "Not the loud kind. But the sharp kind."
"I was born with it."
"You're gonna need to bend it a bit."
Raiku looked up. "You think pride is weakness?"
"No," Roshi said. "But pride without growth is."
There was silence for a moment, then Raiku gave a small, amused huff.
"You're not as slow as you look."
"Neither are you, kid."