Stay here and fishā¦ every day?
Piccolo was completely dumbfounded. Was this divine being really that obsessed with fishing?
"Yay! That means I can keep eating the fish Uncle Gran grills!" Gohan didn't think much of it at allāhe simply hopped around happily.
Over the following days, just as Gran had said, he showed up at the riverbank every morning without fail, only leaving at nightfall.
This only deepened Piccolo's confusion. He couldn't figure out what this so-called god was trying to do.
Stillā¦
It was clear Gran held no hostility.
Piccolo had even tested him onceāhe deliberately encouraged Gohan, saying that when he grew up, he should seek revenge against Son Goku.
And yet, Gran showed no reaction at all.
After that, Piccolo stopped worrying about him. Every day, he took Gohan out to train, returning to the river only after their sessions.
A week passed.
Gran finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Isn't Piccolo supposed to be the brains of the Z Fighters? Why is he being so dense this time?
With a god sitting right here, and he still doesn't ask for guidance?
"Piccolo!"
Just as Piccolo was about to take Gohan out for another round of training, Gran set down his fishing rod and called out.
"Yes, Lord Gran?"
Piccolo turned around, Gohan stopping beside him as well.
"You've been training like this nonstopā¦ do you really think it's effective?" Gran narrowed his eyes slightly.
In the original story, aside from Goku and his son, Piccolo was one of the characters Gran admired most.
From turning back during Vegeta's invasionā¦
To his unwavering resolve on Namekā¦
To protecting Earth during the Android crisisā¦
To his wisdom during the Majin Buu disasterā¦
Even in the old Broly movie, when Vegeta lost his nerve, it was Piccoloāthe weakest among themāwho showed true courage.
So many iconic moments.
And yet, someone with such overwhelming character and resolve had nearly been reduced to irrelevance because of his racial limitations.
"What do you mean, Lord Gran?" Piccolo asked, unable to grasp his intent.
"Do you know how strong those three Saiyans coming to invade Earth are?" Gran pointed toward the sky.
"Saiyans?" Piccolo frowned.
"Gohan, and even Son Gokuā¦ they aren't Earthlings. They belong to the same race as those invadersāthe Saiyans."
"What?!" Piccolo's eyes widened as he glanced at Gohan.
So this kidā¦ just like him, wasn't from Earth.
That explained the transformation during the full moon. If he hadn't cut off the boy's tail in time, even he might not have been able to handle it.
"How strong are they?" Piccolo clenched his fists tightly.
"The Saiyans are known across the universe as a warrior raceāa people born for battle."
Gran continued calmly, "The strongest among them has a power level of three million. That's the level of a galactic overlord."
At this point in timeāAge 761āeven a power level of 530,000 like Frieza's was enough to dominate vast regions of space.
Three millionā¦
That was an entirely different realm.
"Threeā¦ million?!" Piccolo trembled.
He couldn't even comprehend that number.
"What about me?" he asked, pointing at himself.
Gran gave him a brief once-over and shook his head.
"You've trained hard, I'll give you that. But your power level is only around 1,000."
"You're far too weak."
In the original timeline, Piccolo had only 408 when Raditz arrived.
Now, due to the butterfly effect, he had reached 1,000.
But compared to Vegeta's millionsāit was nothing.
"That'sā¦ impossibleā¦"
Piccolo's heart shook violently. A crushing sense of helplessness rose within him.
So all his effortā¦
was a joke?
"Uncle Gran, what about me?" Gohan asked curiously.
"You?" Gran glanced at him. "You're weaker than Piccolo. Around 200."
Gohan counted on his fingers for a momentā¦ then froze.
"I'm that weak?!"
Then suddenly, his eyes lit up. He ran over to Gran, looking up eagerly.
"Uncle Gran, you're really strong, right? Can you teach me how to train?"
At that moment, a spark flashed through Piccolo's mind.
That's right!
If this divine being is stronger than those Saiyansā¦ why am I not learning from him?!
Understanding dawned on him instantly.
So that's why Gran had been fishing here all this timeā¦
He was waiting for them to ask.
A surge of excitement burst in Piccolo's chest.
"To think I'd be this fortunateā¦ to receive guidance from a godā¦"
"Lord Gran, please teach me as well!" Piccolo immediately bowed deeply.
"I can teach you," Gran said calmly. "But first, I have a question."
"Please ask."
Gran's lips curved slightly.
"Why do you want to become stronger?"
The question fell like a stone into still water.
Silence.
Only the gentle sound of the river flowing could be heard.
Gran didn't rush him. He simply waited.
Time passedāfrom noon to dusk. Shadows stretched long as the sky dimmed.
Piccolo stood there unmoving.
Even Gohan stayed quiet, afraid to interrupt his thoughts.
"Still haven't figured it out?" Gran glanced at the darkening sky, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
"If you don't even know why you want strengthā¦ then forget itā"
Before he could finishā
Piccolo suddenly raised his head.
"To kill Son Goku!"
"And this Earthā¦" He looked down at the ground beneath his feet.
"ā¦belongs to me, the Demon King Piccolo. I won't allow anyone to harm what's mine!"
Then, almost unconsciously, he glanced at Gohan beside himā
As if there was something more he wanted to sayā¦
But he held it back.
Gran caught that fleeting look and smiled faintly.
So the kid's already taken root in his heartā¦
"Are those reasonsā¦ enough?" Piccolo asked, uneasy.
From what he had overheard a year ago, Son Goku called this man "Big Brother Gran."
And yet, he had just openly declared his intent to kill Goku.
Under such circumstancesā¦
Being spared would already be mercy.
Could he really still be taught?
"Yes," Gran said simply.
"What?" Piccolo's pupils shrank. "Why?"
"It's getting late."
Gran didn't answer directly.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll train both of you for two months. Be ready."
With thatā
he vanished.
Piccolo stood there, stunned.
"ā¦?"
Gohan tugged at his clothes, pouting.
"Uncle Piccolo, you're mean! Why do you want to kill my dad?"
Piccolo snorted coldly.
"I told you alreadyāyour father abandoned you. I was the one who picked you up. When the time comes, I'll take you to get revenge."
"I don't want that! Uncle Piccolo, you're the worst!"
"..."
END OF CHAPTER
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