Chapter 8 — The Trial Within
Two weeks.
That was how long it had been since Zach began training with Korin.
Fourteen days of gravity training.
Fourteen days of martial arts.
Fourteen days of getting knocked around by a cat who somehow managed to be both adorable and terrifying.
And Zach was finally beginning to understand something.
Korin was a monster.
Not literally.
Probably.
But as a martial arts teacher?
Absolutely.
"Again."
Zach wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He was breathing heavily.
His arms were shaking.
His legs felt like they were made of stone.
Yet he raised his fists again.
Korin sat several feet away, calmly eating.
"You've been training for fourteen days," Korin said. "Your body has adapted considerably."
Zach took another stance.
"Then let's keep going."
Korin smiled.
"That attitude is why you're still alive."
Zach stared at him.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"No."
Korin jumped forward.
Zach barely reacted in time.
BOOM!
His body flew backward.
He hit the ground, rolled several times, and stopped.
Zach groaned.
"Still fast."
Korin walked toward him.
"You saw me move."
"Yeah."
"You reacted."
"Barely."
"But you reacted."
Zach slowly stood.
Korin nodded.
"That is the difference between the Zach who entered this chamber and the Zach standing before me now."
Zach looked down at his hands.
He could feel it.
His body was different.
Stronger.
Faster.
More responsive.
Most importantly—
His Ki was no longer something he simply tried to control.
He could feel it.
Deep inside his body.
Like a current running beneath his skin.
The Dragon Ball Training System appeared.
Training Analysis Complete.
Physical Conditioning: Greatly Improved
Ki Control: Improved
Martial Arts: Improved
Combat Adaptation: Improved
Gravity Adaptation: Advanced
Power Level: 120
Status: Significant Growth Detected
Zach stared at the number.
120.
His eyes widened.
"Korin."
"Yes?"
"What's your power level?"
Korin smiled.
"Why don't you tell me?"
Zach closed his eyes.
He focused.
His ability to sense energy had improved tremendously.
Korin's power felt immense.
But Zach could sense it now.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
Zach opened his eyes.
"You're holding back."
"Obviously."
"By a lot."
Korin laughed.
"You're learning."
Zach looked at the system again.
His power level was now comparable to the level of power Goku had when he first arrived at Korin's Tower.
That thought should have made him excited.
Instead, Zach felt strangely conflicted.
He had spent his entire life watching Goku grow stronger.
Now he had reached the starting point of one of Goku's greatest training milestones.
But Zach wasn't Goku.
He was Zach.
And there was still something bothering him.
Something he hadn't wanted to admit.
Korin seemed to notice.
"You're thinking too much."
Zach looked at him.
"About what?"
"About becoming someone else."
Zach went silent.
Korin turned away.
"Come with me."
The Ultra Divine Water
Korin led Zach deeper into the tower.
They entered a small room.
In the center was a container.
Inside was a strange liquid.
Zach immediately recognized it.
His eyes widened.
"That's…"
Korin nodded.
"The Ultra Divine Water."
Zach stared at it.
He had expected something dramatic.
A glowing treasure.
A legendary artifact.
Instead, it looked like an ordinary container.
But the energy surrounding it made Zach's instincts scream.
Korin placed the container in front of him.
"This is the real Ultra Divine Water."
Zach looked at him.
"The real one?"
"Yes."
"The one that can kill someone?"
Korin nodded.
"Yes."
Zach swallowed.
"So why are you giving it to me?"
"Because you've reached the point where training alone is no longer enough."
Zach looked confused.
Korin continued.
"The water does not simply make someone stronger. It reveals the potential buried within them."
Zach looked at the container.
"And if I fail?"
"You die."
Zach stared at him.
"You really don't sugarcoat anything."
"I am a martial arts master."
"That doesn't answer my question."
Korin smiled.
"You asked for strength."
Zach looked at the Ultra Divine Water.
He thought about the journey.
About Aqua.
Kazuma.
Megumin.
About Axel.
About the world he had entered.
About the system.
About everything he had left behind.
Then he reached for the container.
"I'll drink it."
Korin nodded.
"Then prepare yourself."
Zach lifted the container.
He drank.
The moment the liquid entered his body—
Everything went black.
The World Within
Zach opened his eyes.
He was standing in a strange place.
There was no tower.
No Korin.
No system.
No Axel.
Nothing.
Just darkness.
Then—
Footsteps.
Someone emerged from the darkness.
Zach's eyes widened.
Black hair.
Orange clothing.
A familiar smile.
A familiar stance.
Zach's heart stopped.
"Goku?"
The figure smiled.
"Hey."
Zach couldn't move.
This was the person he had watched since childhood.
The hero who had inspired him.
The warrior he had admired.
The character whose world had become the foundation for his own training.
Goku looked at him.
"You wanted my power."
Zach shook his head.
"No."
"You wished for a Dragon Ball training system."
"Yes."
"You wanted to train like me."
"Yes."
"You wanted to become stronger like me."
Zach hesitated.
"Yes."
Goku smiled.
"Then why aren't you happy?"
Zach didn't answer.
Goku stepped closer.
"You've been trying to become me since the day you arrived."
"No."
"Yes."
Zach clenched his fists.
"No!"
Goku's expression became serious.
"Then prove it."
The world changed.
First Trial — The Past
Zach suddenly stood inside a familiar home.
His heart dropped.
He knew this place.
His family.
His younger siblings.
Two younger brothers.
And his younger sister.
They were there.
Laughing.
Talking.
Living their ordinary lives.
Zach stared at them.
His chest tightened.
He had not expected this.
His entire journey had forced him to focus on survival.
Training.
Power.
Getting stronger.
But he hadn't allowed himself to truly think about what he had lost.
His younger brother ran toward him.
"Zach!"
Zach froze.
He wanted to reach out.
He wanted to hug him.
But his hands wouldn't move.
His sister looked at him.
"Why did you leave?"
Zach's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't choose to leave."
His second brother looked confused.
"Then why aren't you coming home?"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
The scene began changing.
His siblings started fading.
Zach reached for them.
"Wait!"
They disappeared.
Zach fell to his knees.
"No."
Goku stood behind him.
"You're carrying this."
Zach turned around.
"Of course I am!"
"You think becoming stronger will bring them back."
Zach shook his head.
"No."
"You think if you become strong enough, you can protect everyone."
Zach clenched his fists.
"I should have been there."
"You weren't."
"I should have protected them."
"You couldn't."
Zach screamed.
"I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING!"
Silence.
Goku looked at him.
"Maybe."
Zach froze.
"But you weren't there."
Zach's breathing became unsteady.
Goku continued.
"You cannot change what happened."
Zach looked down.
"Then what's the point?"
"The point is that they're part of you."
Zach looked up.
"You don't have to forget them."
Goku's voice softened.
"But you can't spend the rest of your life trying to punish yourself for something you couldn't control."
Zach's eyes closed.
He remembered his family.
Their voices.
Their smiles.
The memories hurt.
But they were his.
Not chains.
Not weaknesses.
Memories.
Zach stood.
"I'll carry them with me."
Goku smiled.
"Good."
The scene shattered.
Second Trial — The Saiyan Dream
Zach opened his eyes.
He was standing in a massive arena.
Across from him stood Goku.
This time, Goku's hair was golden.
Super Saiyan.
Zach stared.
He had seen it countless times.
The transformation that had defined an entire generation.
The transformation he had secretly wished he could achieve.
Goku smiled.
"You're angry."
Zach frowned.
"I'm not."
"You are."
Goku walked forward.
"You're angry because you're human."
Zach's fists tightened.
"I never said that."
"You don't have to."
Goku pointed at Zach.
"You wanted Super Saiyan."
Zach remained silent.
"You wanted Zenkai boosts."
Still silent.
"You wanted Saiyan biology."
Zach finally snapped.
"Yes!"
His voice echoed through the arena.
"I wanted it!"
Goku didn't move.
"Why?"
"Because it's unfair!"
The words came pouring out.
"You get stronger because you're a Saiyan!"
"You can transform!"
"You can get stronger after recovering from a near-death battle!"
"You have Super Saiyan!"
"Super Saiyan 2!"
"Super Saiyan 3!"
"God!"
"Blue!"
Zach's breathing became heavier.
"And what do I have?"
Goku stared at him.
"Human."
Zach looked down.
The word hurt.
Goku continued.
"You think being human means you're inferior."
Zach shook his head.
"I know humans can become strong."
"But?"
Zach looked up.
"But I wanted what you had."
Goku smiled.
"Then you're looking at this the wrong way."
Zach frowned.
Goku transformed.
Super Saiyan.
Then Super Saiyan 2.
Then Super Saiyan 3.
The transformations flashed before Zach.
Each one represented another wall Zach could never simply climb.
Goku returned to normal.
"You can't become me."
Zach stared at him.
"And that's a good thing."
Zach blinked.
Goku continued.
"If you could become me, you'd only ever be a copy."
Zach's fists slowly relaxed.
"You're saying I shouldn't want to transform?"
"No."
Goku smiled.
"You should want to become stronger."
"But?"
"But don't chase my transformations."
Goku pointed at Zach's chest.
"Find your own."
The system appeared.
Potential Transformation Path Detected.
Compatibility: Unknown
Requirement: Self-Definition
Warning: Do not attempt to replicate Saiyan-exclusive transformations.
Zach stared at the message.
For the first time, he didn't feel angry about it.
He smiled.
"I'm human."
Goku nodded.
"Exactly."
Zach raised his fists.
"And I'll become the strongest human I can."
Goku smiled.
"Now you're getting it."
The golden aura around Goku disappeared.
The arena shattered.
Third Trial — The Idol
Zach opened his eyes again.
He stood in a massive stadium.
Thousands of people surrounded him.
Everyone was cheering.
"GOKU!"
"GOKU!"
"GOKU!"
Zach looked around.
Confused.
Then he realized—
The crowd wasn't cheering for him.
They were cheering for Goku.
Goku appeared behind Zach.
Zach stared at him.
"What is this?"
"This is your biggest problem."
Zach frowned.
"My biggest problem?"
"You admire me."
"Yeah."
"You look up to me."
"Yes."
"You've studied me."
"Yes."
"You've based your training on me."
"Yes."
Goku nodded.
"But you've started worshipping the idea of me."
Zach's expression changed.
"I don't worship you."
Goku pointed toward the crowd.
"Then why are you standing in my shadow?"
Zach looked up.
Goku's shadow stretched across the stadium.
Zach stood inside it.
Goku's voice echoed.
"You keep asking yourself, 'What would Goku do?'"
Zach didn't respond.
"You're afraid to make your own decisions."
Zach shook his head.
"No."
"You're afraid that if you stop following my path, you'll stop becoming stronger."
Zach looked at his hands.
Goku continued.
"You don't need to stop admiring me."
Zach looked up.
"But you need to stop worshipping me."
The crowd disappeared.
The stadium disappeared.
Only Zach and Goku remained.
Goku smiled.
"I inspired you."
"Yes."
"But I don't own your future."
Zach's eyes widened.
"You're right."
"Then say it."
Zach took a breath.
"I am not Goku."
Again.
"I am not Goku."
His voice grew stronger.
"I don't need to be Goku."
The world shook.
"I don't need Super Saiyan."
Another crack appeared.
"I don't need Zenkai boosts."
The ground shattered.
"I don't need to follow his path."
The stadium collapsed around him.
"I can create my own!"
The entire world exploded into light.
The Final Battle
Zach stood in darkness.
Goku stood across from him.
No transformations.
No special techniques.
Just martial artists.
Goku smiled.
"One final test."
Zach raised his fists.
"Let's do it."
They charged.
BOOM!
Zach threw a punch.
Goku blocked.
Zach followed with a kick.
Goku dodged.
Zach turned.
Elbow.
Blocked.
Knee.
Dodged.
Punch.
Countered.
Zach flew backward.
He landed on his feet.
His breathing was heavy.
Goku smiled.
"Better."
Zach rushed forward again.
This time, he wasn't trying to imitate Goku.
He wasn't thinking about what Goku would do.
He simply fought.
His movements became his own.
His footwork.
His timing.
His instincts.
His Ki.
Zach gathered energy into his fist.
Not Goku's technique.
Not a copied move.
His own.
"HYAAAH!"
He struck.
Goku blocked.
The impact sent a shockwave through the darkness.
Goku slid backward.
Zach stared.
He had actually moved him.
Goku smiled.
"That's it."
Zach charged again.
Goku met him head-on.
Their fists collided.
The entire world shattered.
Awakening
Zach opened his eyes.
He was lying on the floor.
Korin stood over him.
Zach gasped.
"Where…?"
"The real world."
Zach slowly sat up.
"How long?"
"Several hours."
Zach touched his chest.
He felt different.
Not dramatically.
Not like a transformation.
But deeper.
His Ki felt more stable.
His mind felt clearer.
His body felt more connected.
Korin smiled.
"You defeated it."
Zach looked at him.
"The Ultra Divine Water?"
"Yes."
Zach looked confused.
"That's it?"
"No."
Korin reached behind him.
He pulled out a folded set of clothing.
"Your reward."
Zach unfolded it.
His eyes widened.
It was a familiar outfit.
Blue vest.
White gloves.
White boots.
Dark undershirt.
The clothing looked strikingly familiar to the fusion warrior Vegito.
Zach stared at it.
Korin smiled.
"Not Goku's clothes."
Zach looked at him.
"Then what are they?"
"Yours."
Zach smiled.
For the first time, the outfit didn't feel like something he was borrowing from Goku.
It felt like something that represented the path he had chosen.
His own path.
Then another item appeared.
A small bag.
Zach opened it.
Inside were thirty small green beans.
His eyes widened.
"Senzu Beans?"
Korin nodded.
"Thirty."
Zach carefully picked one up.
The system appeared.
Reward Acquired
Vegito-Inspired Martial Artist Outfit
Durability: High
Special Properties: Training-Compatible
Senzu Beans ×30
Effect: Restores physical condition and accelerates recovery from fatigue and minor injuries.
Warning: Does not replace proper training or eliminate the consequences of reckless behavior.
Zach smiled.
Then another notification appeared.
Ultra Divine Water Trial Complete
Mental Barriers Overcome: 3
Potential Unlocked
Self-Definition: Complete
Saiyan Transformation Dependency: Removed
New Long-Term Objective Updated
CREATE YOUR OWN LEGEND
Progress: 12%
Zach stared at the screen.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he didn't feel like he was chasing Goku.
He wasn't trying to become a Saiyan.
He wasn't trying to steal Goku's identity.
He wasn't trying to recreate Dragon Ball.
He was going to use what inspired him and create something of his own.
Korin walked toward the exit.
"Your training isn't finished."
Zach stood.
"Three weeks, remember?"
Korin smiled.
"You have one more week."
Zach's eyes widened.
"One more week?"
"And the gravity is going up."
Zach stared at him.
"How high?"
Korin smiled.
"Enough."
Zach sighed.
"Of course."
Korin walked away.
Zach looked down at his new outfit.
He put it on.
The clothes fit perfectly.
He looked at himself.
For a moment, he remembered Goku.
The person who had inspired him.
The hero he had admired.
But then Zach smiled.
"Thanks, Goku."
He clenched his fist.
"But from here on out…"
His Ki flickered around his body.
"I'm going to do this my way."
Meanwhile, in Axel…
Kazuma was lying face-down on the floor.
"I can't feel my legs."
Aqua was sitting nearby.
"I can't feel my arms."
Megumin was lying beside her.
"I can't feel anything."
The three looked at each other.
Kazuma sighed.
"How long until Zach gets back?"
Aqua looked at the clock.
"Probably tomorrow."
Megumin nodded.
"Then we have one day to recover."
Kazuma smiled.
"Finally."
The front door opened.
Zach walked inside.
All three froze.
Zach smiled.
"Training starts again tomorrow."
Kazuma's smile disappeared.
"No."
Aqua screamed.
"WHY?!"
Megumin immediately grabbed her staff.
"I refuse!"
Zach placed his bag of Senzu Beans on the table.
"Don't worry."
Kazuma stared at the bag.
"What are those?"
"Something that might help us recover."
Kazuma slowly smiled.
"So we can finally stop training?"
Zach shook his head.
"No."
Kazuma's smile disappeared again.
"They'll help us train harder."
Silence.
Kazuma looked at Aqua.
Aqua looked at Megumin.
Megumin looked at Kazuma.
Then all three shouted at once.
"WE HATE YOU, ZACH!"
Zach laughed.
For the first time in a long time—
He felt completely at peace.
He had lost things he could never replace.
He had regrets he couldn't erase.
He had dreams he couldn't simply abandon.
But he finally understood something.
Strength wasn't about becoming someone else.
It was about becoming the best version of himself.
And his journey had only just begun.
End of Chapter 8