Chapter 23 - Goku And Bardock's Power

The solar system, a collection of planets all held together by the pull of each other’s gravity, it contains many planets, and centers around one in particular, and that is a blue planet, mainly sea. This planet is famed for its livable habitats, and temperate climate. It has given birth to some of the best ever warriors that the world will see; yet somehow this planet has eluded Frieza for all this time. Maybe it’s due to the rumors of the power that rests there making the tyrant fearful of it, or perhaps it’s because of the way it hasn’t really had much of a history in intergalactic warfare or trading. It doesn’t really matter though, as Earth has kept Korosu, Bardock, and Vegeta safe all this time. Soon it will be time for them to return the courtesy by defending it from the imminent invasion from Frieza and his forces.

Goku and Bardock are scheduled to come out of the room of spirit and time in just a few hours, an event that is becoming a daily tradition due to the excessive use of it lately. Before they get there though, everyone wants to be as strong as possible to greet them, so that their power isn’t dwarfed as much as it would be. The question will always loom though, can the father and son duo become stronger than Piccolo and Gohan did? If they can even match the levels set by these great fighters then it would be more than adequate, surely. Soon the answer will come though, as everyone is forced to wait patiently, training hard to keep themselves occupied.

Tien and Krillen have been training together for a long time, pitting Earth’s finest humans against one another, with the result usually favoring Tien. Their strength increase has been gigantic, although they still aren’t sure whether or not it will be enough. They are going into this fight against an enemy they’ve never even heard of, apart from when Korosu and Vegeta have spoken of them, and that’s been a rare occurrence. Apparently this guy is massively powerful, and it will take everything they have to beat him. A year’s worth of training had to be enough though hadn’t it? The two still have their doubts, and therefore are forced to train as hard as possible, really pushing themselves to the limit.

Korosu and Vegeta had rarely spoken to each other during their time on the lookout, despite the fact that they will soon be spending a whole year together in the room of spirit and time. Everytime Korosu has tried to approach the proud Saiyan; he has been barked at and made to take his leave. Vegeta won’t be able to avoid him forever though, and Korosu knows that they will be able to talk in the near future, after all there’s a lot he needs to thank him for, if it wasn’t for the prince, then he would be dead. It is incredibly aggravating though, how this arrogant Saiyan can be so rude just because he doesn’t match his power. Well he will do soon, there’s no doubt about that. He has made a vow to greatly surpass Vegeta, and plans to stick very closely to it. This is currently is motivation for training so hard.

Korosu does his press ups, working as hard as ever, and wondering what surprises are in store for him, when Kami silently strolls up behind him. At first the Saiyan doesn’t notice the Namek, but after a hesitant pause he realizes that there is a figure looming over him. "Kami?" Korosu asks curiously. The Namek replies with a mere grunt, but doesn’t interrupt the press-ups that Korosu is working so hard on.

"See me in the training room as soon as you’ve finished these exercises, I need to show you something of great importance" Kami said after a brief contemplation. Korosu tries his utmost to nod whilst holding his excessive weight up at the same time, but his arms tremble, and all he manages is a sort of head bow.

Excited about what Kami wanted, and slightly anxious too, Korosu rapidly finishes his daily strength exercises, and runs off to the training room to find God, hoping that it is not bad news. His arms are in agony because he finished as fast as he could, rather careless really as an injury could easily be attained by using a method like that. He arrives at the entrance to the fairly large training room, took a deep breath, cranked his neck, and then casually walked inside. He sees Kami in the corner pondering over something, seemingly completely out of it. Korosu clears his throat intently, managing to attract the Namek’s attention.

Kami strolls towards Korosu, holding something behind his back, and a very stern look occupying his otherwise vacant and expressionless face. The Saiyan attempts to smile weakly, but fails in doing so, too nervous about what this is all about. Kami holds out the item he had behind his back, and Korosu takes it obligingly. He looks down in awe at it, and can’t believe his luck. "Is…is this for me?" He managed to say, unbelievingly. Kami nodded, and Korosu stared at it for a while, overcome with awe. "Can…"

"Yes, I will teach you to use it" Kami responded automatically, clearly expecting the question.

***

A roar can be heard from down on Earth as an extremely powerful warrior charges up to his full extent, before grunting heavily and muttering incessantly. His pupils have disappeared, and his hair is rigid, not willing to give way to the wind at all. A dark blue aura surrounds him, almost varnished with a white glow around it. His face is scrunched up in effort as he attempts to go onto the next phase of his training. The man is wearing a weighted GI which really doesn’t suit him at all, but assists in his training greatly. Of course, looks aren’t everything, but strength is, a fact well known by this proud man.

The figure breathes heavily as he is at his maximum, comparing himself to the other people on the lookout, and realizing that his power his unmatched. He gives a smug grin, before a voice comes from the general direction of a pillar behind him.

"Don’t tell me that’s your maximum Vegeta?" It asked mockingly. Vegeta trembles with rage, before the aura somehow became even bigger, breaking into the ground below him and forming a small crater.

"What did you say?" Vegeta demanded.

"You heard me. That’s not particularly powerful for the so-called prince of Saiyans." The voice responded.

"More than you Namek! And if you need proof it’s all here!"

"So you finally recognized my voice…or was it my overwhelming KI signature. So am I right to assume that you just challenged me?"

"Yes, unless you’re a coward!" Vegeta shouted, before turning round to see Piccolo leaning on a pillar, and grinning contently at the easily angered prince. The Namek pushes off, and then begins to power up himself, reaching an incredible level of power. Vegeta manages to hide his fear, albeit just barely, as he charges in at Piccolo, not allowing him a second to power up. He delivers a clenched right fist to the Namek’s cheek, then backs off and grins, waiting for Piccolo to respond. The Namek does so, but it is with a laugh.

"Don’t tell me that’s all you got prince?"

"Shut up!" Vegeta roared before coming at Piccolo with a multitude of punches and kicks, moving at an incredible rate of speed, but still not fast enough. The Namek dodges everything, then counters with a rigid elbow to Vegeta’s cheek. He knocks the Saiyan down on the floor in agony, before walking off in disgust.

"Ah well, what doesn’t kill you Saiyans only makes you stronger, right? Well you’ll need all the strength you can get to increase your pitiful power level!" Piccolo grunted, walking to the edge of the lookout and gazing down. He is met by Gohan who almost headbutts him in his anticipation to get back up to train with them. The two greet one another, but before they could go into any sort of formalities, and loud creaking is heard, followed by the unloading of steam, and then footsteps. Piccolo and Gohan step back in horror, not able to comprehend the absurd powers. "Goku?" Piccolo yelled curiously. The Saiyan walks out towards his long time friend, immersed in a white aura, as he gives off amazing power.

"D…d…daddy?" Gohan questioned, unable to understand how his father could possibly have accomplished such new heights of strength in just a year. Goku smiles at his son, and then lets his aura die down. A frustrated shout can be heard from over where Vegeta writhes in agony from the blow he took previously. The prince gets to his feet, and confronts ‘Kakarotto’ as if he had never seen him before. His eyes are wide, and his lip is stuttering as he can’t figure out what to say, as yet another person has surpassed his powers. Before he does say anything, another huge power ejects the room, only slightly lower than Goku’s. "Bardock?" was Gohan’s immediate calculation.

"Hey kid" the figure replied, smiling. He too is immersed in an aura, which gives off amazing energy, almost an impossible strength that has to be seen to be believed. He is obviously very happy with his training, and impressed at how much strength he achieved whilst in there with his son.

"No…impossible! How can you be so powerful?" Vegeta asked, refusing to understand what he could see. He clicks his scouter again on both Goku and Bardock, but the same reading is given. He crushes it in frustration, then clenches his fist and pushes right past the two. He yells out with rage, with it paining him to see others stronger than him. "I am the one with the royal bloodline, I surpassed both of you before, and I’ll do it again! You hear me? I’m going to become the strongest fighter in the universe!"

"Vegeta," came a serious voice from his left. "It’s time for us to go train in the room of spirit and time." Vegeta gives off an angry nod, and walks off by himself, entering the room long before the figure behind him could, and not even caring to turn round to see who it was. If he would have he would have seen it was Korosu, but he would have also seen that he bared a powerful, shiny weapon. A sword made from the finest materials given to him by Kami. "Thank you for all your training Kami. I will teach Vegeta the KI sensing and compressing techniques you taught me. I bid you farewell, and don’t let the others fight Frieza without us. You understand? This means a lot to me and Vegeta." Kami grunts his understanding, before Korosu turns and walks into the room, following Vegeta. Their training will be vital to the role that they play in fighting Frieza. It is unthinkable that either of these could become more powerful than Piccolo, let alone Bardock and Goku, but they will try their utmost best to do so anyway.