Chapter 3

For combat, Duran was a complete novice. Although he had watched various fighting videos before his穿越 (note: this term is not clear in context, but it likely means "before his journey" or "before his adventure"), and although he had hunted in the Dragon Ball world and even stolen the Ultra Divine Water from Karin Tower, he was still a complete beginner when it came to actual combat. Therefore, to prepare for the endless battles to come, Duran needed more training. The Crane School students were still decent, but during the fights, they hadn't yet learned to hold back, and Duran's face suffered. "Baldy, are you jealous of my good looks, which is why you keep hitting my face?" Duran, holding his face, said indistinctly. Krillin scratched his smooth scalp, "Hahaha, how could that be."

However, while Krillin wasn't angry at being called "baldy," it did irritate Chaoz. During the fights, Duran often lost control of his body, and the flow of ki within him became sluggish. But Duran keenly realized that suppressing his ki was still beneficial for his training. So, ignoring Chaoz, Duran charged at Krillin again, knowing that to protect his good looks, he needed to keep growing. In physical combat, Duran was clearly no match for Krillin. But this was exactly what Duran aimed for. "Let's go!" Duran was full of enthusiasm. "Come on!" The young Krillin was also a battle maniac.

'Peng, Peng—' The sound of the air being split by their movements echoed continuously as the two of them moved back and forth on the island. The intensity of the fight was no less than that of the World Martial Arts Tournament. Tenshinhan, watching from the side, was eager to join in. He jumped into the fray, and Duran's face was hit on both sides. Master Roshi, holding a dirty magazine, observed the battle between Krillin, Tenshinhan, and Duran with a sideways glance. The growth of Krillin and Goku made Master Roshi proud, especially Goku, his grandchild and also his own grandson, who had already grown to the point of being able to fight Mr. Popo. Master Roshi's lips curled up, "Alright, let's eat."

Lanqi, with her split personality, had prepared enough food, and the six of them, including a sea turtle, gathered around the table. "By the way, what's your name?" Krillin asked with a mouth full of meat. Tenshinhan and Chaoz also stopped and looked at Duran. Duran then realized he hadn't introduced himself, "I'm Duran, a man who plans to travel the world." Duran had already set his goal to document the customs and culture of the entire Earth. "Not bad, young man," Master Roshi nodded, agreeing with Duran's ambition. Krillin, however, didn't care much; he had no interest in traveling. Tenshinhan and Chaoz didn't show much reaction either; their presence was always low-key. Although Tenshinhan would appear again in the Buu saga, and his Kamehameha was a standout technique in the entire Dragon Ball series.

After the meal, Duran asked Master Roshi for advice on his training, and Master Roshi answered each of his questions. Finally, Duran remembered that he needed to change his weighted gear, so he asked Master Roshi, "Master Roshi, do you know where I can get weighted gear? The set I have is no longer sufficient for my needs."

"Ah?? You've been wearing weighted gear all this time??!!" Krillin exclaimed. Tenshinhan and Chaoz also looked at Duran in surprise. Duran nodded, "Just a 15 kg set. I've been wearing it since climbing Karin Tower. Now I can't even feel the weight."

Hearing it was just 15 kg, Krillin felt relieved. He and Goku had started with 20 kg turtle shells. Recently, Krillin had planned to switch to 40 kg, the same as Master Roshi, "Duran, why don't you wear 40 kg like us?"

Master Roshi nodded, "Follow me." They stopped in front of a wardrobe, which contained not clothes but turtle shells. Duran broke out in a cold sweat; he had forgotten that Master Roshi's weighted gear was turtle shells, which made him feel very pressured, "Is there anything more normal?"

Master Roshi sneered, "Take it or leave it." Duran quickly apologized and obediently put on the turtle shell, thus beginning his days of hardship. Since they were overseas, Krillin and Duran had to go to the shore to buy supplies, and Master Roshi required them to wear the turtle shells at all times. So Duran felt that each trip to the shore was a torment, a shameful play.

With the increased weight, training became even more arduous, but Duran clearly felt his physical strength improving, and he could mobilize more ki within his body. Fighting with Krillin and the others every day, he gradually became familiar with their combat techniques and no longer got hit in the face as often. Occasionally, he could even knock Krillin down, which made Duran very satisfied. After half a year, Duran changed his weighted gear again, from 40 kg to 50 kg. Tenshinhan and Chaoz, along with Krillin and Yamcha, planned to climb Karin Tower. Training alone was boring, but to participate in the next World Martial Arts Tournament, Duran had to endure the monotony. Finally, the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament began.

"Kamehameha—" Duran's first full-power attack split the sea in front of Master Roshi's house in two. Duran estimated that his combat power was now on par with Mr. Popo. "Duran, are you ready?" After Krillin and Tenshinhan left, Master Roshi focused on training Duran, this novice in combat, and took him as a disciple, his last closed-door disciple. "Teacher, I'm ready." After three years of training, Duran, dressed in a black suit, had grown taller and more upright. "If you're ready, let's go. Don't make me, an old man, remind you of everything." Master Roshi threw a bag to Duran and leered at Lanqi, who was descending the stairs, "Young people these days, they don't know how to respect their teachers."

Duran was speechless. After taking him as a disciple, Master Roshi had become more perverted, treating him like one of the family. However, Duran still respected Master Roshi. After Krillin and Tenshinhan left, Master Roshi moved the Kame House to the continent where Krillin and Goku trained. He started training Duran from scratch, increasing his weighted gear from 50 kg to 80 kg, and it took Duran three years to no longer feel the weight.

"At the tournament, I'll see Goku and Krillin again." Duran grew up reading Dragon Ball comics and was fond of the characters. Krillin and Tenshinhan were also his combat mentors. "Do you know Goku?" Master Roshi thought Duran only knew Krillin and Tenshinhan. "Yes, three years ago at Karin Tower. I was stealing the Ultra Divine Water and met Goku once," Duran replied, but it was just a brief encounter. This time, Duran was confident he could stand as an opponent before Goku. The tournament venue was on a small island, which had seen its fair share of disasters, as the Saiyans and their opponents were not ordinary warriors, often causing destruction.

"I wonder when Goku and Krillin will arrive." At this moment, Master Roshi seemed like an ordinary old man worried about his juniors. "Don't worry, Master," Duran said, eating a hamburger, "They will definitely come." Lanqi also comforted Master Roshi. Before seeing his seniors, Duran first met the famous genius scientist Bulma. Seeing a beautiful woman, Master Roshi reverted to his perverted gentleman self. Duran also met other supporting characters like Oolong. "This is my last disciple, Duran," Master Roshi introduced him to the group. Duran wasn't a super handsome guy, so he didn't make Bulma swoon. However, Duran knew that after meeting her, he could ask her for help in the future.

While chatting with the group, Duran suddenly felt a powerful aura approaching from behind. Since coming down from Karin Tower, ki had become a part of him, though he hadn't yet mastered it to its full potential. The aura was very strong, and Duran turned around to find someone standing behind him. "Grandpa, it's been a long time," the person behind Duran said happily. Master Roshi and Bulma looked at the person, feeling familiar but unable to recall where they knew him from. "It's me, Grandpa, Goku, Goku," the person said, and it was Goku, who had just returned from the Other World. "It's really you, Goku," Bulma said, still finding it hard to believe that Goku, who was now taller than her, had grown so much. She was the first person to meet Goku, and seeing him grown up was quite emotional.

"It's good that you're here. Krillin and the others haven't arrived yet, but we'll go register together soon," Master Roshi said with a relieved expression. "By the way, let me introduce you. Goku, this is Duran, my last disciple." Duran extended his hand, "It's been a long time, Goku." Goku's memory was good, and Duran had only grown taller, not changed in appearance. "Ah?! You're the guy from Karin Tower," Goku said, shaking Duran's hand, "You could sense me just now, you're really strong. Let's have a match sometime!" "I'd be honored," Duran said, feeling very excited. Being recognized by his idol felt great.

"Here they come," Goku's ki sensing ability was no worse than Duran's. Duran also sensed four familiar auras. "Hey, Krillin, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Chaoz," Goku greeted them with a smile. "Is it really you, Goku??!!" Krillin felt inferior again, thinking he had grown a lot in three years, but compared to Goku, he was still short. However, Krillin had grown a lot and no longer dwelled on his height, "Thank you, Goku." Krillin hugged Goku, "I never got the chance to thank you for bringing me back to life with the Dragon Balls." "No problem," Goku also hugged Krillin. "Alright, let's go register. We don't have much time left," Master Roshi reminded them.

In the preliminary rounds, they met Mr. Popo's son, Piccolo. Piccolo's aura was evil and oppressive, but the group, being mentally strong, recovered after he left. Duran put on the Turtle School gi, knowing that Master Roshi hadn't prepared clothes for his seniors, but they had been foresighted and had already prepared their own Turtle School gis. Then came the groupings, and with Chaoz's psychic powers, they avoided facing each other in the early rounds.

"Is that Goku, Son Goku?" A pleasant voice reached Duran and the others. Duran, of course, knew that the cute lady was Goku's future wife, Chi-Chi, but seeing Goku not recognize her and make her run away, he found it quite amusing.