Chương 6: Chapter 6: The Bond of Rivals
After the grueling race up the mountain and back, Krillin and I lay on the sand, utterly exhausted but proud. The weight of the turtle shells had tested every ounce of our strength, but we had finished the challenge—together. Master Roshi had watched us with a knowing smile, as if he had expected no less.
Krillin was panting, his hands behind his head as he stared up at the sky. "I… didn't think… I'd make it," he said between breaths, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and disbelief.
I grinned over at him. "You did great, Krillin! That was tough, but we both made it. We're getting stronger!"
Krillin gave me a small smile, though I could tell he was still processing everything that had happened. He had pushed himself harder than ever before, and the fact that he had finished the race seemed to surprise him as much as it did me.
Master Roshi, who had been watching us from his spot under a palm tree, got to his feet and walked over, his cane tapping softly on the sand. "Well done, boys. You've both shown great progress, but don't get too comfortable just yet. This was only the beginning."
Krillin groaned, sitting up and rubbing his sore legs. "You mean there's more?"
Roshi chuckled. "Oh, you have no idea." He turned to me, his eyes twinkling behind his sunglasses. "Goku, you've done well, but remember—strength without control is like a storm without direction. You have power, but you still need to learn how to focus it."
I nodded, already understanding what he meant. I had been trying to hold back during training, not wanting to reveal just how much strength I had. But I was still struggling to control my energy—my Ki. If I couldn't master it soon, I wouldn't be ready for the challenges that lay ahead.
"And you, Krillin," Roshi continued, turning to my new friend. "You've shown a lot of spirit today. Don't let that frustration hold you back. Strength comes in many forms, as you'll soon learn."
Krillin nodded, though I could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He was still trying to find his place, still trying to prove himself. But I knew that, in time, he would become one of the strongest fighters I'd ever meet.
Roshi waved his hand dismissively. "That's enough for today. You boys have earned a good rest. Tomorrow, though… tomorrow is when the real training begins."
The Challenge of Control
The next day, Master Roshi introduced us to a new form of training: controlling our Ki.
"Up until now, you've been focusing on your physical strength," Roshi explained, pacing in front of us as we stood on the beach. "But martial arts is about more than just muscles and endurance. If you want to become true warriors, you need to learn how to harness your energy—your Ki. Without control over your Ki, you'll never reach your full potential."
Krillin and I exchanged curious glances. We had heard about Ki before, but neither of us had any real experience with it. I had a rough idea of what Ki control was, thanks to my memories from my old life, but doing it was something else entirely. I still hadn't mastered it, and I knew that this was a crucial step in my training.
Roshi raised his hand, palm facing the sky. A small, glowing orb of light appeared in his palm, flickering gently like a flame. "This," he said, "is Ki. It's the energy that flows through all living things. Controlling it isn't about strength—it's about focus and balance."
I watched closely, fascinated by the way he effortlessly controlled the energy. This was the foundation of the Kamehameha, the powerful energy attack that Goku would one day master. If I could learn to control my Ki now, I'd have a huge advantage in the battles to come.
"Now," Roshi said, turning to us, "I want you both to try. Focus on the energy inside you. Feel it, and guide it into your hands."
I closed my eyes, focusing on the energy within me. I could feel it, just beneath the surface, like a current of electricity running through my body. Slowly, I raised my hand, trying to pull the energy into my palm. For a moment, nothing happened. I furrowed my brow, concentrating harder, willing the energy to move.
And then, slowly, a small ball of light appeared in my hand. It flickered weakly, like a candle struggling to stay lit, but it was there.
"I did it!" I exclaimed, grinning as I stared at the tiny orb of Ki in my hand.
Master Roshi nodded, though his expression remained serious. "Not bad, Goku. But don't get too excited. That's just the first step. You need to be able to control it completely, or it'll backfire on you."
I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. Ki control wasn't just about creating energy—it was about mastering it, shaping it, and using it with precision. If I couldn't do that, I wouldn't be able to perform the techniques I needed to survive the battles ahead.
Krillin, meanwhile, was struggling. He had his eyes closed, his face scrunched up in concentration, but nothing was happening.
"I don't get it," Krillin muttered, opening his eyes and looking down at his empty hand. "I can't feel anything."
Roshi watched him carefully, then sighed. "You're trying too hard, Krillin. Ki isn't something you can force. It's something you have to feel."
Krillin frowned, clearly frustrated, but he nodded and closed his eyes again, trying to focus. I could see the tension in his body, the way he was straining to make the energy appear. But it wasn't working.
I wanted to help him, to tell him everything I knew about Ki control, but I held back. Krillin needed to find his own path, just like I had. I knew he would get there in time.
A New Rivalry
As the days passed, Krillin and I continued our training under Master Roshi. The physical exercises were still intense—hauling boulders, running with weights, doing all kinds of seemingly mundane tasks—but the real focus was on mastering our Ki. I was making progress, slowly but surely. I could summon small orbs of energy with more consistency, and I was starting to feel more in control of the power inside me.
Krillin, however, was struggling. He had always been competitive, always pushing himself to be the best, but Ki control was different. It wasn't something he could force, and that was driving him crazy.
One afternoon, after another failed attempt to summon his Ki, Krillin snapped.
"This is ridiculous!" he shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I've been training for weeks, and I still can't do it! How is Goku getting it so easily?"
I blinked, surprised by the outburst. I hadn't realized just how frustrated Krillin was. I knew he had been struggling, but I didn't think it was affecting him this much.
"I'm just practicing, like you," I said carefully, not wanting to make things worse. "It'll come to you, Krillin. You just need to keep trying."
But Krillin wasn't listening. He was too wrapped up in his own frustration. "It's not fair! You make it look so easy, and I… I can't even get a spark! How am I supposed to keep up with you if I can't even do this?"
Before I could respond, Master Roshi stepped in.
"Krillin," he said calmly, "you're focusing too much on Goku. This isn't a competition. You need to stop comparing yourself to him and focus on your own progress."
Krillin clenched his fists, his face red with frustration. "But I want to be strong too! I want to be the best! How am I supposed to do that if I can't even control my own Ki?"
Roshi sighed, shaking his head. "Strength isn't something you can rush. It takes time, patience, and understanding. If you keep trying to force it, you'll never get there."
Krillin didn't respond. He just stood there, his jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists. I could see the doubt in his eyes, the frustration that was eating away at him.
I wanted to say something, to reassure him, but I knew that this was something Krillin had to figure out on his own. He was my friend, but he was also my rival—and part of being a rival meant pushing each other to grow, even when it was hard.
The First Breakthrough
The next morning, something changed.
Krillin and I had been training together as usual, practicing our Ki control on the beach. I was making slow progress, my control growing little by little, but Krillin was still struggling. He was getting better, but the frustration was still there, bubbling just beneath the surface.
But then, as we were wrapping up for the day, something unexpected happened.
Krillin was standing a few feet away from me, staring down at his hands, his face set in deep concentration. For a moment, I thought he was going to give up again, but then… something flickered.
A tiny spark of light appeared in Krillin's hand, glowing softly for just a moment before fading away.
Krillin gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "Did I… did I just do that?"
I grinned, feeling a surge of excitement for him. "You did it, Krillin! You're getting it!"
Krillin stared at his hand in disbelief, then looked up at me, a huge smile spreading across his face. "I… I did it! I finally did it!"
Master Roshi, who had been watching from a distance, nodded in approval. "Well done, Krillin. You're starting to understand. Keep practicing, and it'll get easier."
Krillin was practically bouncing with excitement, his earlier frustration completely gone. For the first time since he had arrived, I could see the confidence in his eyes, the belief that he could do this.
And in that moment, I knew that Krillin was going to be just fine.
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