As a martial arts master, Master Roshi hoped that more outstanding young people would emerge so that Earth's martial arts could flourish.
After thanking him, Ethan began thinking about his next training plan.
After sending Roshi back to his residence, Bulma, Yamcha, and the others flew toward West City. On the way, Yamcha asked Ethan in confusion, "What is Korin Tower?"
"It is a legendary sacred place. It is said that a hermit lives on Korin Tower, and if you can find it and climb to the top to meet this hermit, you can gain great power."
"That kind of legend is probably fake, right?" Yamcha thought immediately. Roshi had told Ethan the exact location of Korin Tower, and recalling the conversation between them proved that Korin Tower truly existed. "You are planning to climb Korin Tower?"
"With my current ability, I cannot climb Korin Tower yet."
The first time Goku climbed Korin Tower, it took him more than a day to reach the top. Ethan's strength was far inferior to Goku's, so he definitely could not climb to the top right now.
If he could not climb to the top and defeat Korin, it would be difficult to gain Korin's approval, and even harder to ask for enough Senzu Beans. What he needed to do now was continue training diligently.
"So after you go back, you are going to continue training?"
"I am going to train even harder."
The short term goal had been set. Climb Korin Tower, gain Korin's approval, and obtain enough Senzu Bean reserves. Ethan remembered that Korin had several large jars of Senzu Beans at that time. He was not greedy. Getting one jar would be enough.
"This competition made me realize that my strength is not enough. After I go back, I also need to train harder."
It was not just Ethan and Yoruichi who had this thought. Yamcha also felt his strength was insufficient and prepared to train hard.
"When you are going to climb Korin Tower, remember to call me."
"No problem."
Did this count as changing Yamcha's destiny? Ethan wondered whether the determined Yamcha could bridge the gap in talent and change his lifelong record of zero wins.
He was quite curious about this, but he would not deliberately push Yamcha forward. Strength in this world had almost no upper limit. Even ignoring the issue of talent, if someone did not work hard, they would eventually be left behind. So if Yamcha wanted to change his destiny, the most important factor was himself.
After returning to West City, everyone went back to rest. Starting the next morning, Ethan removed the twenty kilogram weights that he had completely adapted to and no longer felt pressure from, and put on a forty kilogram weight suit.
"It does not feel as uncomfortable as when I first used the twenty kilogram weights."
"Everything is hardest at the beginning."
The first step was always the hardest. The initial stage was the most painful, but once you got through it successfully, things became easier later.
Just like Ethan. When he first started weight training, even ten kilograms made him feel like he was dying. During the first few days, he even doubted his life choices. Although his willpower was strong enough and he knew he had to do it, he considered giving up more than once.
Later, when he switched to twenty kilograms and now forty kilograms, he no longer had that feeling of wanting to die.
Carrying forty kilograms of weight, his daily morning routine remained the same warm up exercises, followed by basic movement practice such as punching and kicking.
The martial arts in the Dragon Ball world were practical. After mastering basic movements or learning how to properly exert force, the rest depended on actual combat. You learned how to use your strength in real battles.
As for techniques and forms, they existed at the beginning, such as Yamcha's Wolf Fang Fist, which imitated the movements of a wolf for attacks. This predictable attack method was completely eliminated before even reaching the middle of the story.
Soon, the main characters understood that the most important things in battle were power, speed, and endurance, along with making correct judgments in intense combat. Techniques and forms were completely abandoned. What remained were powerful killing moves tested in real combat, such as the Kamehameha and the Destructo Disc, or techniques with special effects like the Solar Flare.
During sparring with Ethan, Yamcha began to grasp this point early. For example, he used the Wolf Fang Fist less and less during their sparring sessions. Every time he used the technique, Ethan would interrupt it and beat him up.
"Your punches are getting heavier."
Covering his cheek, Yamcha stepped back and created some distance between them. As a sparring partner, he could directly feel Ethan's growing strength.
"Have you not noticed that your own punches are getting heavier too?"
Yamcha, who had also adapted to weight training, was steadily increasing in strength. Although his speed and agility advantages were limited by the weights, the weight of his punches was real.
"I have been practicing martial arts for many years already, and my strength is not much greater than yours."
"Have you ever trained as hard as you are now?"
"That is true."
After chatting for a moment, the two began another round of sparring. While they fought, Yoruichi practiced alone nearby.
Bulma sat on a lounge chair, eating snacks while watching. Since she was close to Yoruichi, she chatted with her from time to time.
"Why do you like practicing martial arts so much?"
"Practicing martial arts can improve your figure."
Bulma's eyelids twitched. She suddenly realized that Yoruichi's figure was indeed very good. Could practicing martial arts really have this benefit?
"Really? Should I try practicing too?"
As a girl, who would not want to become more beautiful and have a better figure?
"But it looks really tiring."
As a rich young lady, Bulma did not like hardship. Although she encountered many troubles during the adventure to find the Dragon Balls, it did not mean she enjoyed those experiences. Whenever she encountered trouble, she complained a lot.
"This kind of strenuous exercise is bound to be tiring, but you get used to it."
"Forget it. I will just do some simple exercises. Anyway, I do not like fighting people." Bulma felt that yoga and aerobics suited her better.
While Ethan and Yamcha trained diligently, Ethan also took the opportunity to recall the events of this period.
In the original story, when Kid Goku clashed with the Red Ribbon Army, the Dragon Radar was damaged during battle. This forced Goku to go to West City to find Bulma to repair it. Then Bulma, who was bored at home, skipped school and went out to play with Goku.
Now Goku was using the improved radar from Ethan, which was much more durable than the original. In this situation, Ethan wondered whether Goku would still come looking for them.
"Probably not."
Would this cause a major change in the plot? Ethan could not say for sure. Even if there were changes, they probably would not deviate too much. After all, the Dragon Ball storyline connected everything, and the Red Ribbon Army was a fixed enemy. The main events should remain the same, with only some details changing.
"What will not?"
"I was thinking that if I tried climbing Korin Tower now, I probably would not fall halfway down."
They had already agreed to climb Korin Tower together once their strength reached a certain level. So Yamcha was also concerned about this question.
"With our current strength, is it still not enough to climb the tower?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "We should be able to climb it. It might just take a little more time."
His current strength, even if it was not equal to Goku's in the previous World Tournament, should not be too far behind. If Goku could take more than a day to climb to the top, then as long as he persevered and took more time, he should also be able to climb up.
"Then when are we planning to go?"
"Since it already feels about right, there is no need to wait for a specific day. Let us pack up and go now."
"You are impatient too."
Yamcha, who was drinking a beverage, noticed that Ethan was somewhat similar to Goku in one way. They both had the personality of acting immediately once they made a decision. Perhaps this personality allowed them not to overthink things, which helped their strength improve so quickly.
After packing their things and bringing a box of Hoi-Poi Capsules, Ethan thought for a moment and went out again.
"What did you go to get?"
Yoruichi knew that Ethan liked to prepare everything in advance. The fact that he suddenly left before departure meant he had gone to get something. She was curious about what it was.
"Some gifts."
The fact that Korin was a cat was something many people probably would not guess. After thinking about this, Ethan bought a large amount of fresh fish and canned food, packed them in a large cooler, and prepared them as gifts for Korin.
Even just because of these gifts, Korin should be easier to talk to, right?
After preparing everything, Ethan finally looked at Bulma.
"Are you coming with us?"
"I will not go. I cannot climb Korin Tower anyway."
Earlier, Ethan had briefly explained the situation of Korin Tower. After hearing it once, Bulma lost interest. Oolong was also not interested. So besides Yoruichi and Yamcha, only Puar, who always followed Yamcha wherever he went, would accompany them.
"Alright then, we are leaving."
Dr. Brief and Mrs. Brief even came out to see them off. The couple were very fond of Ethan and Yamcha, and having them stay at the house made it livelier. The large number of animals they kept made the house look like a wildlife sanctuary, which reflected their personalities.
"Come back soon."
"Okay."
The plane started, set its course, and flew toward Korin's Sacred Land. With the detailed coordinates, they quickly found the sacred land and met Bora, the guardian of the land, along with his son Upa.
"Who are you people?"
"Hello, we are here to challenge Korin Tower."
Bora was still alive and well. Had the Red Ribbon Army not found this place yet? Just as Ethan thought about this, a group of soldiers suddenly appeared and surrounded them.
(To be continued.)