Krillin vs. Piccolo

Krillin had walked along frigid mountain ridges, crossed deathly deserts, and dived into thousand-meter-deep seas to battle colossal sea creatures.

Now, he was traversing a winding valley shaped like a serpent, likely carved by an ancient river. Occasionally, thunder rumbled through the gorge, echoing ominously.

Wiping sweat from his forehead, Krillin muttered, "Any ordinary person would probably be scared out of their wits. But thunder like this is just a physical phenomenon… though I don't quite understand the science behind it."

Krillin glanced at his system panel and nearly wept. He had spent 1,000 energy points to activate light-speed training, but the results weren't what he expected.

"System, can I undo this? Why does light-speed training only increase my power level by 50 points a day when it was supposed to be 100?"

"Your poor potential isn't my problem. And no, you can't undo it. Ever."

Krillin grumbled to himself. He'd activated light-speed training purely out of curiosity, eager to experience its effects, only to feel cheated by the diminished gains.

"Light-speed training isn't just about increasing your power level," the system explained. "Its true purpose is to enhance your understanding of martial arts. Progress isn't just about effort—it's about enlightenment."

Krillin nodded in agreement.

Sometimes, insights that eluded someone for years could be grasped in an instant, while other truths remained beyond reach for a lifetime. Light-speed training compressed decades of potential enlightenment into a single day.

Reflecting on this, Krillin felt a newfound respect for the system's capabilities.

Attributes Panel:

Potential: 860

Energy: 78

Training Speed: Light-speed

Usable Energy: 9,778

Krillin settled into a secluded cave, crossed his legs, and began meditating. He reflected on his life's training, analyzing the flaws in his techniques, his past battles, and how to exploit his opponents' weaknesses. Time passed unnoticed as Krillin underwent a profound transformation.

If Master Roshi had been present, he would have marveled. Martial arts seemed to radiate tangibly from Krillin's body, like a translucent aura of discipline and skill.

Three days later, Krillin opened his eyes. His gaze was sharper and more profound, as if he could discern all the flaws in those around him with a single glance.

Exhaling deeply, he grinned. "The harvest was bountiful."

Attributes Updated:

Time: Age 756

Name: Krillin

Age: 20

Species: Earthling

Power Level: 700

"I've become the strongest Earthling!" Krillin declared with a cocky grin.

Though his status as the strongest was only temporary, the satisfaction was undeniable.

After spending a week in the valley, Krillin realized he'd hunted almost every large predator into extinction. Dusting himself off, he decided it was time to move on.

"Given my remaining energy reserves, I can push to my limit without worry. For now, I'll take things slow and look around. Speaking of which, I wonder where Piccolo is. Beating him up sounds like fun!"

Krillin chuckled as he remembered that Piccolo had retreated to Yunzabit Heights after being defeated by Goku.

"Perfect. That's my next stop!"

The Journey to Yunzabit Heights

The trek to Yunzabit Heights wasn't easy—it was on the edge of the Earth, after all. Krillin braced himself for a long journey.

Flying across rivers, mountains, and plains, the scenery gradually became barren and desolate. Five days later, Krillin arrived at a landscape resembling Earth's ancient Yardang formations. Jagged rock formations, sculpted by relentless winds, stretched as far as the eye could see.

"Living and training in such an environment... Piccolo's determination is truly admirable," Krillin murmured in awe.

He scanned the vast area, unsure where to find Piccolo. "I haven't trained with Popo to master sensing energy systematically. After this fight, I definitely need to visit the Lookout and learn more about controlling ki."

Flying aimlessly for hours, Krillin endured biting winds and swirling sand. The harsh environment was draining, even for someone of his caliber. With his food supply nearly depleted, he began considering retreating.

Just as he was about to give up, Krillin spotted a figure perched atop a high stone pillar. His face lit up. "That's him!"

The Confrontation with Piccolo

Krillin concealed his energy as he approached the pillar. As he drew closer, he finally got a good look at Piccolo.

The Namekian sat cross-legged in mid-air, eyes closed in meditation. His green skin contrasted with his dark blue gi, which bore the symbol for "Demon" on the chest. A white cape draped over his shoulders, and his antennae were hidden beneath his turban.

Krillin landed softly in front of Piccolo.

"You here to die?" Piccolo asked without opening his eyes.

Piccolo had sensed Krillin long before his arrival but didn't consider him a threat.

"You'll know soon enough," Krillin replied with a smirk. He had already scanned Piccolo's attributes.

Attributes:

Name: Piccolo

Age: 6 (new Piccolo's age)

Species: Namekian

Power Level: 260

"Little baldy," Piccolo sneered. "Let me show you who's boss!"

A ki blast shot from Piccolo's hand, obliterating the stone pillar beneath him. Piccolo barely dodged his own attack, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Before he could recover, Krillin flashed behind him. "Gotcha!" With a swift kick, Krillin sent Piccolo flying through several mountains.

The Fight Intensifies

Krillin relentlessly pursued Piccolo, launching him skyward with an upward kick before slamming him back down to Earth. The impact created a massive crater, dust billowing into the air.

"Get up, Piccolo. Stop pretending. That level of force didn't seriously hurt you," Krillin taunted.

Bruised and bleeding green, Piccolo slowly rose from the crater, glaring at Krillin. "How... how did you get so strong?"

"I know plenty of things you don't, Piccolo. Remove your weighted gear and fight seriously, or you might die."

Piccolo hesitated but complied, discarding his cape and turban.

With a roar, Piccolo charged at Krillin, launching a flurry of attacks. "Taste my wrath, baldy!"

Krillin smirked, easily evading Piccolo's punches. "Is that all you've got?"

Enraged, Piccolo unleashed his Special Beam Cannon. Krillin took the hit head-on, disappearing into a cloud of dust and debris.

"I did it!" Piccolo celebrated prematurely. "The world belongs to me again!"

A calm voice interrupted. "You're celebrating too soon."

Piccolo turned to see Krillin, unscathed, standing amidst the dust.

The Finishing Blow

With newfound power, Krillin unleashed a devastating combo. Piccolo became little more than a ragdoll, his body pummeled and thrown in every direction.

"Ka…me…ha…me…HA!" A brilliant blue beam engulfed Piccolo, leaving him in a smoldering crater.

As Krillin approached, he found Piccolo struggling to rise. His arm hung limp, and his body trembled.

"Relax, Piccolo. I won't kill you," Krillin said. "I just wanted a good sparring match."

Piccolo glared at Krillin but remained silent.

"I'm leaving now. Take care, and remember—don't just aim to surpass Goku. Think bigger."

With that, Krillin flew off.

Piccolo, still on edge, waited until he could no longer sense Krillin's energy before collapsing.

"What did he mean by that?" Piccolo muttered. After a long silence, he growled, "Krillin… you've become a formidable rival!"

For 20 advanced chapters: https://www.patreon.com/c/Ely225