14 One Year
Above Earth.
At this moment, the atmosphere is incredibly tense.
Upon learning about the formidable power of the two Saiyans soon to arrive, Goku and Piccolo are stunned.
The scene is so quiet it's uncomfortable.
Undoubtedly, with their power levels just in the hundreds and struggling to reach just over a thousand, a few hundred points difference seems an insurmountable gap.
Compared to Lin Chuan, which has a power level of 5000, it's even more night and day.
Now, knowing about the enemy's power level of 18,000, they realize just how formidable their opponent is.
Even if Goku and Piccolo are confident, even though they have overcome countless difficulties in the past, this time, it's different.
Lin Chuan stands by, choosing not to break the silence.
It's not appropriate for him to intervene now; they need to come to terms with it themselves and find their fighting spirit.
Otherwise, even if he changes the storyline, it could backfire.
After a long silence, Goku takes a deep breath and comes back to his senses.
He soothes his uneasy son and then takes the initiative to ask, "Big brother, how long will it take for that Saiyan named Vegeta to reach our Earth?"
How long until they reach Earth?
Goku's question, undoubtedly, indicates a choice to confront the issue head-on.
He realizes he has no choice but to face the challenge. To just watch Earth be invaded and hide? He couldn't do it!
Piccolo frowns, listening intently, his gaze filled with seriousness.
He's not someone who would sit back and wait for doom either, so he understands Goku's intent.
Despite the frightening numbers, he's not someone to be easily scared by just a number.
As shocking as it is, the enemy might be powerful, but he's not about to surrender without a fight.
"Based on the time it took me to get to Earth, from the Ortal Nebula where Vegeta and his team are coming from, it would take at most a year to reach Earth! Even possibly sooner!" Raditz says with a grim face.
At this moment, he clearly doesn't understand his younger brother's intentions.
"A year, huh... that's good! It means we still have time to train," Goku relaxes a bit upon getting the answer, also feeling relieved inside.
If they had only a few days or a month, then he really would have no other options.
Even with that time to train, surpassing his brother Raditz might be feasible, but they certainly couldn't match Lin Chuan.
If they couldn't even reach a power level of 5000, how could they contend with an enemy with 18,000?
Equivalent to if their power levels can't even break ten thousand, they wouldn't even qualify to challenge the enemy.
But with a year, at least, they have time to train.
Piccolo nods in agreement, understanding Goku's thoughts.
Although Piccolo of this era has yet to shed his demon king persona completely, he's already changing.
The evolution of the situation has forced him to change and adapt to this new era.
Hearing Goku's words and seeing his clenched fists filled with hope, Raditz is flabbergasted.
"Hey! Kakarot. You don't really think that a year of training will let you turn the situation around and defeat Vegeta and his team, do you?" Raditz's face twitches, unable to accept his brother's naivety.
He doesn't know that driven by fate, Goku will indeed achieve it.
But such an outrageous idea is unbelievable until it happens.
"Heh! I can't say that. We can't just give up because the enemy is too strong, right?
"A year isn't long, but it's not short either! Even if I can't reach such high levels of power, at least I've tried and won't have any regrets," Goku responds firmly.
His words are also filled with encouragement.
No wonder he's the protagonist, the core of the Z fighters.
Even if he sometimes seems foolish or selfish, at the end of the day, he's always been the one to face all dangers boldly.
"You're right! And just because others can't do it, doesn't mean we can't!"
"We've been limited by our understanding of power for years! Now it's different; we've seen higher realms as possible, so one year is enough to make us stronger!"
Piccolo joins the conversation.
He stands by Goku's side, and for a moment, even Goku is surprised.
But Goku is pleased since he had hoped Piccolo could someday fight alongside him.
Although initially he had his motives, wanting a constant rival for himself, Goku truly wanted to be friends with Piccolo.
Hearing the two speak, Raditz bursts out laughing, his irritation uncontrolled.
He thinks he's already speaking very peacefully, and this Namekian is
Just asking for trouble.
"Not recognizing reality, that's you!!!"
"Only existing on Earth, how would you know the actual gap caused by power level differences?!"
...
"Forget it! Your power level is 5000, you talk!" With those words, Raditz shuts his mouth, visibly stressed, as he rests his hand on his forehead.
...
