After meeting Master Mutaito, Duran sat in meditation for three days.
Finally, he came to a realization.
Since he had arrived in the Dragon Ball world, if he didn't fight with all his might at least once, then what would have been the point of coming here?
But then he thought:
What if I get killed?
Duran smiled bitterly. His life here was already something he had picked up by chance. Even if he died in battle, at least it could be said that he sacrificed himself protecting Earth.
Over the next two years, Duran wandered the world, sometimes helping others when he saw injustice.
Eventually, he felt the time approaching when the Saiyans would arrive, so he decided to return to Kame House.
"Master, I'm back!"
Duran flew to Kame House using the Flying Technique, dressed casually.
"Duran, you're back," Master Roshi said. Krillin was also there.
"Master, Krillin, long time no see."
Duran brought many bags filled with local specialties and food from his travels.
"Wow! So much delicious stuff!" Krillin ran over excitedly. "Tonight's dinner will be amazing!"
Inside the house, Duran asked about Goku and the others.
Roshi told him they had invited Bulma and Goku to gather at Kame House soon.
Duran already knew what was about to happen.
Goku's brother Raditz would arrive soon…And within a year, Prince Vegeta would come to Earth.
Three days later, Bulma arrived in a flying vehicle.
Soon after, Goku arrived with his son Gohan.
But before everyone could even finish greeting each other—
An unexpected visitor appeared.
Raditz.
Goku's brother revealed a shocking truth:
Goku's real name was Kakarot, a member of the Saiyan warrior race. Saiyans conquered planets and sold them.
But Goku, kind-hearted and pure, would never allow Earth to be conquered.
Raditz kidnapped Gohan, planning to raise him as a Saiyan warrior.
"Goku, I'll go with you," Duran said when he saw Goku holding the Dragon Radar.
"I'll go first."
"Duran, that's my opponent," Goku replied. Even though he worried about Gohan, he was excited about the challenge.
"I just want to test my training results. I won't steal the fight."
Krillin wanted to go too, but Duran convinced him to stay behind.
Soon they found Raditz and his spaceship in a barren wasteland.
"Raditz, I'll be your opponent," Duran said as he stepped forward.
"Oh?" Raditz looked at his scouter.
Duran's power level was only around 200.
"You're a fool."
"Enough talk," Duran said. "If you won't attack, I will."
"Come on, human."
Duran immediately used the Afterimage Technique, appearing in front of Raditz in an instant.
"Good speed," Raditz said. "But that's all."
Raditz casually fired a ki blast.
At such close range, Duran couldn't dodge.
He blocked it with his arm, but his sleeve was destroyed.
Thinking back, Duran realized something.
Since arriving in this world, he had fought very few serious battles.
He had never experienced a true life-and-death fight against a strong opponent.
Even though his power level was high, his combat experience was zero.
That was why he had volunteered to fight first.
"Your reactions are impressive," Duran admitted.
"But it looks like I can't hold back anymore."
He adjusted the gravity limiter on his wrist.
"Ahhh!"
Raditz looked surprised.
"Your power level jumped to 900."
But Raditz still smiled disdainfully. From that first exchange, he had already realized something:
Duran was a complete amateur.
Duran attacked again with greater speed, launching a barrage of punches and kicks.
Raditz didn't even bother dodging.
"Fool."
Nearby, Piccolo had quietly appeared beside Goku.
"Your fellow student is still naive," Piccolo said. "He thinks this is a sparring match."
"He's strong—but he doesn't know how to kill."
Piccolo was right.
Before being transported here, Duran had never even killed a chicken.
Even when throwing punches with full strength, he subconsciously held back.
Goku also frowned.
Duran's techniques were good for sparring.
But in a fight to the death, they were too gentle.
In the battlefield, Duran kept switching techniques, but his attacks barely harmed Raditz.
"Damn it!"
"Rapid Ki Barrage!"
He unleashed the same technique he used against Goku.
Hundreds of ki blasts flew toward Raditz.
Raditz simply smiled.
"Ha!"
His hands moved so fast they blurred.
He deflected every blast.
Duran frowned.
He had no choice but to use his strongest attack.
"KAMEHAME—HA!"
The explosion created a massive crater.
"Did I win?"
Raditz was nowhere to be seen.
Then Goku shouted:
"Watch out! Behind you!"
Duran turned—
Too late.
Raditz struck the back of his head.
An experienced fighter would attack backward without turning.
But Duran lacked that instinct.
Raditz took advantage of it.
"Duran!"
Goku caught him before he fell.
"Listen," Goku whispered. "I'll hold Raditz down. You rescue Gohan."
Duran nodded, still dizzy.
Goku and Raditz clashed.
Soon Piccolo joined the fight.
While Raditz was distracted, Duran rushed to the spaceship, smashed the door open, and rescued Gohan.
Holding the crying child, Duran realized something.
Even though he knew Goku would later be revived by the Dragon Balls, he still couldn't say those words aloud.
From now on, Duran decided:
Maybe he should start in support roles, rather than rushing to the front line.
Meanwhile, Goku and Piccolo fought Raditz desperately.
Finally, Goku sacrificed himself, holding Raditz in place while Piccolo fired the Special Beam Cannon.
Both Goku and Raditz died.
For Goku, it was also an opportunity.
He would train with King Kai and learn the Kaio-ken.
"Goku's ki disappeared… Raditz's too," Duran said quietly.
The battle was over.
"Gohan, hold tight. Let's go back."
"Daddy… Daddy…" Gohan cried.
Soon Krillin and Master Roshi arrived.
Before dying, Raditz left a terrifying warning:
The Saiyan Prince Vegeta already knew about the Dragon Balls.
He would come to Earth soon.
That night, Krillin trained outside furiously.
Inside the house, Duran sat across from Master Roshi.
"Master… my power level is much higher than Raditz's. Why did I still lose?"
Roshi answered calmly:
"Before learning martial arts, your life was peaceful. Even after training, you never faced true obstacles."
"So you don't know what you really want."
"I want to defeat my enemies."
"How?"
"With my strength."
Roshi shook his head.
"Strength alone isn't enough. You also need a heart determined to win."
"And I don't feel that determination from you."
"Then how can I become like Goku?"
Roshi smiled.
"You don't have to."
"I never expected you to become someone else."
"Remember: fighting is not everything in martial arts. Victory is not the whole meaning of being a martial artist."
"Keep a calm heart."
Duran frowned.
"But can that defeat an enemy?"
Roshi looked at him.
"No."
Duran glared.
"Master… now I'm angry."
Roshi laughed.
"You think you already have all the necessary conditions—techniques, power, speed. Yet you still lost."
"That means only one thing."
"You must become faster, stronger, and more powerful."
"Strike your enemy with overwhelming force."
"Defeat ten times your enemy with ten times their power."
Duran finally understood.
If he had Super Saiyan-level power, defeating Raditz would have been effortless.
There were two possible paths:
Overcome his psychological hesitation to kill.
Become so powerful that he could defeat enemies instantly.
Duran was not a Saiyan.
He couldn't transform.
So he chose the second path.
He set his gravity limiter to 30× gravity.
And began brutal training.
Because he knew one thing:
Even though his current power level rivaled a Saiyan before transformation—
Goku would eventually surpass him.
And if Duran wanted to survive the battles ahead…
He had to grow even stronger.
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