Mount Paozu
"Kaio-ken!!!"
A fierce shout echoed through the valley. Looking closer, Raditz was in the middle of attempting the Kaio-ken!
White ki flared around him, slowly tinged with crimson, and his long hair rippled with the shockwaves.
Bang!
His muscles bulged instantly, his whole frame visibly larger.
"That's it, steady now. Control your breathing. Let your ki ignite your cells, force rapid division!" Goku stood at the side, guiding him.
"Haa....yaaah!!"
Boom!
The shockwave from his aura blasted dust into the air, like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
He did it!
If a scouter were present, it would show Raditz's power level had reached 180,000.
It wasn't perfect first use of the technique always came with inefficiencies. With full mastery, he could likely push it to 200,000.
"What a powerful skill, Kakarot!" Raditz grinned with genuine joy.
"How does it feel? How long can you hold it?" Goku asked, clearly excited.
"In all-out combat, I could maintain this state until my stamina runs dry. But if I double the output again… I doubt I could last long," Raditz admitted.
"Then you've got a lot of work ahead of you. This is only double your base power!" Goku's tone carried faint disapproval.
"Kakarot… how many times can you multiply yours?" Raditz's eyes narrowed in surprise.
Goku simply extended his hand, then clenched his fist. "Tenfold. In full combat, I can keep it up until my energy's gone."
"What?! Ten times?! That's impossible!" Raditz's jaw dropped.
"That's because you haven't learned to truly control your ki. Honestly, your talent in this area is terrible," Goku frowned.
"That's not his fault, Dad."
The calm voice came from behind them. Both brothers turned to see Gohan walking toward them.
"What do you mean, Gohan?" Goku asked, puzzled.
"Dad, you're not like him. You grew up on Earth, in a peaceful environment. You even hit your head as a child, which dulled the Saiyan bloodlust you were born with. You had proper guidance from Grandpa Master Roshi, Kami, and Mr. Popo so you avoided many detours.
"But Uncle Raditz… he grew up fighting alongside Vegeta, waging war across the universe. Every battle added more killing intent, more malice, and the grudges of the ones he killed. That constant bloodlust is deeply ingrained. Sure, controlling ki for raw combat is easy for our race, but to use it as naturally as you do? That's going to take him a long time."
Raditz nodded slowly, clearly agreeing. "Exactly. Ki that flows seamlessly with your will… it's like trying to move a mountain with your mind. Nearly impossible."
"Impossible? Not at all." Goku clearly didn't buy it.
"You're joking, right? I've tried your method, it's like the ki rebels. It refuses to obey. If I don't crush it with killing intent, it won't cooperate!" Raditz growled.
"Dad, Uncle both of you, release your natural ki. Gather it into your palms," Gohan instructed.
Buzz
In Goku's hand, golden, pure ki flared to life.
In Raditz's… a pale, almost ashen aura rose.
"Now… really look. Feel each other's ki. What's different?"
Goku closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation.
Raditz did the same.
A moment later Goku's brow furrowed, while the harsh edge in Raditz's expression softened.
"Peace… tranquility… and a pure, unshakable fighting spirit," Raditz murmured.
"Resentment… killing intent… and bloodlust," Goku said at the same time.
Their eyes opened together.
"So that's it… Gohan, you're right," Goku admitted.
"Any way to fix it?" Raditz asked, concerned.
"Two ways." Gohan raised two fingers.
"One: abandon killing. Train peacefully on Earth for ten years, letting the planet's calm, balanced energy erode your resentment and bloodlust."
"That's… unrealistic," Goku said. Even in his simplicity, he knew this method didn't fit a Saiyan's nature. For a warrior race, abandoning battle was unthinkable.
"Two: kill. Kill one man and you're a criminal; kill ten thousand and you're a hero; kill a hundred million… and you're the greatest of the great. Drive your killing intent to the absolute limit then use that overwhelming will to suppress the rebellious ki inside you."
The smile on Gohan's young face twisted into something chilling, and his words sent an icy shiver through both brothers.
"Gohan, that method's far too dangerous! One wrong step, and you'd fall into pure evil. I forbid it!" Goku cut him off sharply.
"I'm not against killing," Raditz said slowly, "but"
"You're both overthinking this," Gohan interrupted. "Up to now, your killing was just following Frieza's orders slaughter without distinction, no sense of good or evil. But the killing I mean is different: killing true villains.
Kill one to save thousands do you kill or not? Save one at the cost of thousands do you save or not? With justice in your heart, killing isn't always evil; with malice in your heart, saving isn't always good.
That's the law of cause and effect. Sow good and you reap good; sow evil and you reap evil. Working for Frieza destroyed countless homes and worlds you think only the dead curse you? Even the living hate you. And that hatred, unseen, still clings to you.
But if you start saving people protecting them slaughtering those who destroy their worlds, their genuine gratitude will release waves of goodwill… and that will erode the resentment in your ki."
Gohan's words rang true. On the surface, the universe seemed like pure survival of the fittest but deeper laws governed it.
It was like the Gods of Destruction: to outsiders, they looked like chaotic destroyers, wiping out planets without care. But in truth, their role was to maintain cosmic balance and guide it toward a better future something shown by the fact that their lives were tied to those of the Supreme Kais.
Yes, some Gods destroyed worlds out of bad moods or poor meals but with countless planets in the universe, the loss of a few didn't matter much.
Back to the point.
"I think I get it now," Goku said. In his own life, he'd killed plenty but always to protect others. That's why his heart stayed light, his aura pure, without a trace of resentment or malice.
Cultivating the body… was cultivating the mind.
"I agree with your method, Gohan," Raditz said after a pause. "But… how do we start?"
"This will take time," Gohan said with a faint smile. "The opportunity hasn't come yet."
But in his heart… the plan was already forming.
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