"As for you…"
Gran turned his gaze toward Piccolo.
Piccolo had already guessed what was coming. His expression darkened.
"Piccolo, your battle power is only around 200,000."
Gran let out a quiet sigh.
This was the result after being personally trained by him—a candidate God of Destruction with angel-tier strength.
But because Piccolo had split from Kami, his constitution was fundamentally flawed. His growth had always been limited.
"So it really is like that…"
Piccolo clenched his fists tightly, disappointment surging through him. In the end, he couldn't even measure up to Son Goku's son.
"Uncle Piccolo, don't worry! When the time comes, Dad and I will protect you!" Gohan quickly tried to comfort him when he saw the look on his face.
That only made things worse.
"Kid, shut it! Even if I die, I will never accept protection from Son Goku!"
Furious, Piccolo turned and prepared to leave.
"Piccolo."
Gran called out again.
Piccolo stopped instantly. After a brief pause, he sighed.
"Lord Gran… forgive my rudeness just now."
"You should know why your improvement is so limited, right?"
"…I do."
Piccolo was slightly surprised. Gran even knew about his connection with Kami—that they were originally one being.
"Then go to the Lookout. The answer you need is there."
Gran spoke calmly.
"Even if he refuses to fuse with you, he'll still help you find a way to grow stronger. With two more days, it should be enough."
In truth, Gran had expected this outcome all along. That was why he wasn't surprised by Piccolo's limited improvement.
And during these two months, the divine pressure he had constantly applied wasn't just for training—it was to temper Piccolo's will, preparing him in advance for the conditions inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
After all, in the original timeline, Son Goku had entered the chamber as a child but couldn't endure more than a month.
Without sufficient willpower and physical strength, surviving inside it for long was impossible.
"Lord Gran… you…"
Piccolo hesitated before speaking again, his tone sincere.
"From what I overheard before, I know you don't interfere with Earth's affairs… so why are you helping me?"
Why?
Gran clasped his hands behind his back and glanced up at the sky, a faint smile on his lips.
"In this world, there aren't always reasons for everything. I act simply because I want to."
"..."
Piccolo fell silent.
To him, that answer felt contradictory. If Gran wanted to act, there had to be a reason behind that desire… right?
But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand.
In the end, he gave up.
The thoughts of someone this powerful were beyond him.
"Thank you for your guidance once again, Lord Gran. I'll head to the Lookout now!"
Grabbing Gohan, Piccolo prepared to take off—but Gran stopped him once more.
"Piccolo, your talent is lacking. But Gohan is different. He doesn't need the Hyperbolic Time Chamber—so there's no need to take him with you."
Gran's voice was calm, yet to Piccolo, it felt like the decree of an ancient god.
His very soul trembled under it.
"…Understood!"
Piccolo nodded immediately.
He hadn't yet fused with Kami, so he didn't know what the Hyperbolic Time Chamber truly was—but he obeyed without hesitation.
Moments later, he looked up.
Gran was gone.
Vanished without a trace.
"Uncle Gran is amazing! I didn't even see how he disappeared!" Gohan swung in Piccolo's grip like he was on a swing, fists clenched in excitement.
"..."
Piccolo's mouth twitched.
Looking at this kid now just annoyed him.
Only four years old… and already at 500,000 battle power.
How was that even fair?
"As expected… Son Goku's son."
Yet soon, a smile crept onto Piccolo's lips.
Even if this little monster was Goku's son…
that might not always remain the case.
"Hahaha!"
With a loud laugh, Piccolo soared into the sky, his voice echoing through the air.
The Lookout
Kami and Mr. Popo stood quietly at the edge of the Lookout, gazing down at the world below.
"He's here," Mr. Popo said expressionlessly.
"…So he still came."
Kami sighed softly.
"Will you fuse with him?"
"No. Unless absolutely necessary, I will not."
Kami looked toward Mount Paozu.
"I already brought Son Goku to the Other World. He trained under King Kai for a year. He'll be able to handle the Saiyans—Piccolo won't be needed."
"Then what about Piccolo?"
"…Him?"
Kami paused, then said:
"Mr. Popo, I'll have to trouble you to take him to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
"Understood."
Before long—
Piccolo arrived at the Lookout, carrying Gohan.
The moment he landed, he saw Kami and Mr. Popo standing not far away.
They locked eyes.
Kami glanced at Gohan briefly, then back at Piccolo.
"I didn't expect you to change this much in just a few years."
"Enough talk. You know why I'm here."
Piccolo tossed Gohan aside and spoke coldly.
"Forget it. Despite your growth, I will not fuse with you unless it's absolutely necessary."
Kami shook his head.
"What did you say?! Do you not understand that Earth is about to face a crisis in a few days?!"
Piccolo erupted in anger.
"I understand. But this crisis doesn't require you. Son Goku can handle everything."
"You!"
Hearing even his other half place such faith in Goku only deepened Piccolo's frustration.
Kami remained unmoved.
He raised two fingers.
"You have two options."
"First, force me to fuse with you. But if I refuse, then after the fusion… who controls the body is uncertain."
"Second, give up on fusion—and I will take you somewhere to grow stronger."
Kami's voice echoed across the Lookout.
Piccolo clenched his fists tightly… then slowly relaxed them.
He had no real choice.
"…Then take me to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
"You already know about it?"
Kami was briefly surprised, but then remembered Piccolo had just been with Gran—and the surprise faded.
"Mr. Popo, I'll leave it to you."
"Please follow me."
Mr. Popo turned and walked into the temple.
Piccolo instructed Gohan to stay where he was, then followed him inside.
As they headed toward the chamber, Mr. Popo explained its rules and conditions. Only then did Piccolo fully understand what kind of place it was.
Before long, Mr. Popo returned.
"Son Gohan, your father once trained here with me. From now on, you will train under me as well."
"…Huh?"
Gohan blinked, then nodded obediently.
"Okay! Thank you, mister… um…uncle!"
"..."
Mr. Popo: …
Kami: …
END OF CHAPTER
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