Kami's Lookout – Month 1
High above the clouds, where time seemed to pass slower, the Earth's Guardian stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes closed. Though physically still, Kami was far from idle.
He watched the world—his world—through spiritual vision. Each aura below pulsed with growing strength.
Kami (softly): "They've come far… all of them. But is it enough?"
Beside him, Mr. Popo stood silent, watering the heavenly orchids.
Popo: "They have the heart, Kami-sama. Now they need the focus."
Krillin – Orin Temple Ruins (Month 1–4)
Krillin returned to the place where his journey began—the Orin Temple. The ruins were overgrown, the dojo floor cracked, but the memories remained.
He trained in Turtle School forms, but added meditation, heavy stone training, and weighted shadowboxing. After his breakthrough inside the HBTC, he focused on Ki efficiency and chakra flow, developing a signature technique: a refined Destructo Disc, sharper, faster, and more precise.
Krillin (grinning): "If I can't be the strongest, I'll be the smartest."
Tien & Chiaotzu – Northern Wastes (Month 1–6)
In a frozen mountain range, Tien and Chiaotzu trained in bitter cold winds, surviving snowstorms and thin air. Tien, determined to surpass his limits, began developing a new version of the Tri-Beam—one that didn't shorten his life.
He sparred with Chiaotzu daily, focusing on pressure-point strikes, speed, and psychic coordination. The cold honed their resilience.
Tien: "Pain is part of the path."
Chiaotzu: "And we'll walk it together."
Yamcha – Diablo Desert (Month 1–5)
Yamcha returned to the vast wastelands where he first met Goku.
He trained with sabertooth tigers, dodged sandstorms, and slept under stars. His goal: master wolf-style combat. Blending martial arts with beast-like agility, he created a faster, sleeker version of Wolf Fang Fist—a spiraling technique called "Lunar Fang Assault."
Yamcha (laughing): "Who says I peaked early?"
Piccolo – Gizard Wasteland (All Months)
Piccolo chose solitude. He meditated atop cliffs, absorbed sunlight, and sparred with wild beasts. When not training physically, he honed his telepathy and developed a new, faster version of the Special Beam Cannon—one that could fire in 3 seconds flat.
He occasionally trained with Gohan, whose emotions helped push him harder than expected.
Piccolo: "That boy… he's going to surpass us all."
Master Roshi – Kame House (Intermittent Months)
Though older, Roshi continued his training privately, refining his inner Ki. He reworked old techniques and even sparred with Krillin when invited. His presence wasn't about power—but wisdom. He offered guidance to the others through letters and occasional visits.
Roshi (sipping tea): "Sometimes, the best fighters know when not to throw a punch."
Raditz – Dino Mountain Base (All Months)
Now living in a cozy capsule house in the wild mountains, Raditz trained daily against dinosaurs and under natural gravity shifts in canyons. He occasionally visited Goku for spars and started meditating—awkwardly at first.
His style became more brutal but controlled. He renamed his old attack "Riot Rush Cannon" and began to evolve into something more… grounded.
Raditz: "I may be Saiyan by blood… but I'll be Earth's warrior by choice."
Goku, Chi-Chi, and Gohan – 439 Mountain & HBTC (On Rotation)
The Son family alternated between normal life and intense training. Goku taught Gohan how to maintain composure in combat, focus Ki through emotions, and improve reaction speed. Chi-Chi honed defensive martial arts and spiritual control, allowing her to sense movements even blindfolded.
They often sparred together. Gohan's combat instincts were blooming.
Goku: "You're strong, Gohan… but don't forget why you fight."
Chi-Chi (smiling): "And don't forget to eat."
Kami's Lookout – Month 10
Kami opened his eyes, his expression grave but hopeful.
Kami: "They are ready."
Popo (smiling faintly): "They still have time."
Final Countdown – One Month Left
In the night sky, two faint comets became visible. To the trained eye, they weren't comets at all—they were Saiyan pods, drawing closer.
The Z Fighters began to gather again—one by one returning to the Son family mountain, stronger, leaner, and more focused than ever.
11 Months earlier
Somewhere in deep space...
A faint beeping echoed through the cramped confines of a space pod.
The transmission repeated in a loop—Raditz's voice filled with frustration, desperation... and awe.
"Kakarot's power is over 5,000... and he defeated me without effort. Something's different about this planet. It's... worth checking out."
The message cut off.
Inside his own pod, Vegeta's crimson eyes opened slowly, his scouter blinking in sync with the recorded transmission.
He played it again, lips curling into a sneer.
Vegeta (smirking): "So the low-class runt actually grew a spine."
From the pod beside him, a much larger warrior yawned and cracked his neck.
Nappa: "What's with the noise, Vegeta? That your alarm clock?"
Vegeta: "Raditz. He's still alive—and he claims Kakarot beat him."
Nappa (raising an eyebrow): "Kakarot? That Earth baby? He had a power level of 2 when we sent him!"
Vegeta (serious): "Now it's over 5,000."
A brief silence. Nappa's grin widened into something feral.
Nappa: "Hah! If it's true, I can't wait to stomp that planet flat. We'll make it our new base."
Vegeta: "Maybe. Or maybe I'll make him kneel."
He leaned back in his seat, arms folded.
Vegeta: "Course is set. Earthfall in twelve Earth months."
Nappa: "Let's make a stop first. That rebel planet we've been tracking… It's been asking for a fireworks show."
3 Months Later – Planet Shikera VII
The skies of Shikera VII turned black as two Saiyan pods streaked from the heavens like falling stars. They landed with thunderous impact, flattening entire hills in their wake.
Shikera VII's capital city mobilized quickly—hover tanks, plasma drones, elite shock troopers. They had prepared for pirate attacks, but what came was far worse.
Vegeta and Nappa stepped out of their pods without a word.
The king of the planet appeared, a cloaked figure flanked by armored guards. His Ki burned at 2,500—enough to crush most threats.
He pointed at the Saiyans.
King Shikera: "This planet belongs to the Shikeran Empire. Leave. Now."
Vegeta responded with a smirk.
Vegeta: "Not anymore."
Without warning, Nappa vanished in a blur and reappeared behind the king. The guards were dead before they even blinked. A crater opened beneath their feet as Nappa's punch caved in the king's chest, sending him spiraling through five buildings.
Screams erupted across the city.
Vegeta raised two fingers lazily and whispered.
Vegeta: "Big Bang Pulse."
A spark of light expanded into a silent detonation—half the capital vanished in a dome of blue fire. The survivors barely had time to scream.
A few hours later, Shikera VII was a scorched wasteland—mountains leveled, oceans boiled, and no survivors.
The Saiyans stood atop a ruined spire, eating meat off skewers from their capsule stash.
Nappa (grinning): "That was fun. A good warm-up."
Vegeta: "Next stop... Earth."
They returned to their pods and launched once more.
Inside the cramped pod, Vegeta reviewed planetary data, eyes cold and calculating.
Vegeta (thinking): "If Kakarot really grew strong enough to humble Raditz, then Earth might hold more than just weaklings. Perhaps even… secrets."
He pulled up Earth's coordinates, and for a moment, a faint smirk returned.
Vegeta: "He'd better entertain me."
In the pod beside him, Nappa cracked his knuckles.
Nappa: "Whoever's on that rock… better be ready to die screaming."