The Lookout.
After arranging training plans for Tien Shinhan and the others, Kami turned his attention back to the world below.
Every day, he closely monitored Piccolo's movements.
Piccolo possessed a technique that could interfere with divine observation, making Kami's vision unreliable at times. Fortunately, Piccolo had recently been too occupied to maintain this concealment, allowing Kami to observe the situation more clearly.
Standing atop the temple, Kami watched as Gohan and Piccolo exchanged blows on nearly equal footing, and he fell into deep thought.
The child's rate of growth was simply too fast.
His training time had not been long, yet he was already pushing Piccolo to his limits, even showing faint signs of surpassing him.
Such astonishing talent and power shocked even the Guardian of Earth.
It had to be remembered that Piccolo was born inheriting the Demon King's full power and talent. Yet even his original potential paled in comparison to what Gohan was displaying now.
Gohan's extraordinary gifts left Kami genuinely perplexed.
"Does something change when a Saiyan and a human have a child?"
Clutching his staff with trembling hands, Kami murmured to himself, "That must be a Super Saiyan…"
"Super Saiyan… Why does that name sound familiar?"
As he spoke the words, confusion flickered across his eyes, as though he had encountered the concept long ago.
Perhaps too much time had passed, or perhaps the memory had been lost when he split into two beings. Either way, he could no longer recall where the knowledge came from.
After a moment of reflection, Kami abandoned the thought and refocused on Piccolo.
He could sense that this Piccolo was fundamentally different from the Demon King of the past.
Though Piccolo still bore the title of Demon King, his nature had shifted. He was no longer purely evil, and qualities worthy of respect were beginning to surface.
Especially during this period of training with Gohan, Piccolo had changed in ways even Kami had not expected.
"Training together may lead them down a path none of us can foresee. Stay strong, Gohan… Piccolo."
For the first time in his life, Kami began to envision Piccolo's evolution.
---
West City. Capsule Corporation.
After a full month of effort, Bulma finally completed the gravity chamber from scratch.
Although she still harbored reservations about Piccolo, she contacted them anyway and invited them to train here.
Over that same month, both Gohan and Piccolo had made tremendous progress.
Gohan's natural talent was already exceptional. Combined with his strengthened soul, his learning speed became astonishing, sometimes even leaving Piccolo stunned.
And it was precisely Gohan's rapid improvement that forced Piccolo himself to grow stronger.
Just one month.
Piccolo felt that the gains he had made surpassed everything he had achieved through all his previous efforts combined.
And it was not only strength.
During his time with Gohan, Piccolo experienced something entirely new: the feeling of being relied upon. That quiet warmth slowly softened the darkness in his heart, though he himself had not yet realized it.
When they arrived at Capsule Corporation, Piccolo maintained his usual cold demeanor.
Gohan, however, greeted Bulma enthusiastically. "It's finished? Thank you so much, Aunt Bulma."
Bulma stared at Gohan intently.
She could tell he had changed again. The childishness had faded from his face, replaced by a sturdier, more resolute presence.
And yet, he was only four years old.
The thought made her chest ache.
She gently patted Gohan's head and smiled. "It's nothing. Especially if you two are going to save the world."
Gohan nodded seriously. "Don't worry. Uncle Piccolo and I will defeat them."
"Hmph."
Piccolo stood with his arms crossed as usual, but surprisingly, he offered no rebuttal.
Noticing the subtle interaction between them, Bulma seemed to realize something. She smiled and said, "I'll take you to the gravity chamber and explain how it works."
"The chamber is complete. Using Earth's gravity as a baseline, it can be adjusted from one to one hundred times gravity. However, high gravity places enormous strain on the body, so I strongly advise against pushing it too far. Otherwise, you might be flattened in an instant."
She led them to the structure and explained its operating principles.
Once inside, she demonstrated the control system and emphasized several critical safety precautions.
"I'll leave this place to you. You must work hard. Earth's fate is in your hands now."
Bulma excitedly ushered them inside.
This was not the first time she had seen people train to save the world, but watching the former savior's son train alongside the former Demon King stirred a new sense of anticipation within her.
"Goku always had a way of turning enemies into allies. Maybe his son inherited that too…"
With that thought, she left the gravity chamber area.
She had not gone far when something occurred to her. She stopped, turned back, and discreetly took out a lens-like device: the energy scanner once used by Raditz.
"I wonder just how strong they are now."
As she put on the scouter and pressed the activation button, streams of numbers immediately appeared on the display.
"Power level 1200. That must be Piccolo. How is that possible? That's far higher than Krillin or Master Roshi."
"Wait… power level 863? Is that Gohan?"
Bulma's eyes widened in shock.
These numbers were completely different from the readings she had taken before.
She remembered that Master Roshi's power level was only 139, and Krillin's was merely 206.
Yet now she was seeing a reading of 1200, nearly a thousand points higher than Krillin.
That alone exceeded all her expectations.
And the other number was even more unbelievable.
She had assumed the lower value belonged to Gohan, yet his power level had reached 863. The realization left her stunned.
After all, Gohan had only been training with Piccolo for about a month.
To reach such a level in such a short time…
Did that mean Yamcha and Krillin's years of training had truly not been in vain?
Or was the gap between individuals really that vast?
Could Gohan truly surpass a lifetime of cultivation in just a single month?
"It seems Gohan really is a genius, just like his father."
Fortunately, Bulma was not a martial artist. Despite the overwhelming difference in numbers, her shock did not last long.
A relaxed smile returned to her face. "That's great. Once Goku comes back and father and son fight together, they'll definitely win."
---
Inside the gravity chamber.
"Gohan, this was your idea. What gravity level should we start with?" Piccolo asked.
"Let's begin with ten times gravity," Gohan replied.
"Hmph. If you can't handle it, don't expect me to help you."
"I understand."
With that, the gravity chamber activated at ten times Earth's gravity.
Gohan instantly felt his body grow unbearably heavy, as if an immense force were pressing him into the floor.
Whoosh.
A pale aura expanded outward as Gohan gathered his strength to resist the crushing gravity.
Piccolo's body sank slightly as well, though only his expression changed. His arms remained crossed.
"Hmph. Ten times gravity is nothing," Piccolo said.
He unfolded his stance and declared, "Gohan, prepare yourself. I'm starting the attack."
"Yes, Uncle Piccolo."