The training room was quiet in the early morning.
I had called Raditz here without much explanation.
To a certain degree, he had become like a brother to me—the kind I never had. These days, he was also acting as my personal assistant, whether he liked it or not.
Raditz crossed his arms as he stepped into the room.
"You dragged me here this early," he said. "What is it this time?"
Instead of answering, I held up a baseball-sized mechanical sphere.
"Just watch."
I channeled a small amount of ki into it—just enough to simulate a basic Kamehameha-level output—then tossed it forward.
The moment it hit the ground, the sphere unfolded.
Metal shifted.
Limbs formed.
Within seconds, it transformed into a humanoid shape.
A faint holographic layer flickered over it, giving it a human-like appearance.
Raditz narrowed his eyes.
"I don't sense any ki from it."
"That's because it doesn't generate its own," I replied. "It's powered externally."
I tapped the side of my head.
"Linked to my Oracle module. I control it directly."
Raditz looked unimpressed.
"So… a puppet."
"It's a remote-controlled battle unit," I corrected immediately.
He smirked.
"Same thing."
Ignoring him, I gestured toward the machine.
"Go ahead. Test it."
Raditz didn't hesitate.
He moved instantly.
At a power level of around 6,000, his attacks were fast and precise.
The machine didn't stand a chance at first.
It was overwhelmed—struck repeatedly, unable to respond.
But I stayed focused.
Through the Oracle module, I adjusted its movements.
Gradually, it began to react.
Block.
Dodge.
Shift.
After a few minutes, the difference became noticeable.
The machine was no longer being overwhelmed.
Raditz paused slightly.
"…It's adapting."
"Of course it is," I said calmly.
The machine absorbed both kinetic force and residual ki from each hit, feeding energy into its core.
Raditz grinned.
"Then let's push it further."
He activated his mechanical heart.
His power level rose to around 10,000.
The pressure in the room shifted instantly.
Even with the Oracle assisting me, I felt it.
My perception couldn't keep up.
"...Too fast," I muttered.
The machine moved to intercept—but instead of counterattacking, I forced it into a defensive stance.
It held its ground.
Barely.
Raditz's strikes landed, but the machine no longer broke under the pressure.
Instead, it endured.
After a few more exchanges, Raditz stepped back.
He glanced between me and the machine.
"So… the more force I use, the stronger it becomes."
"Yes," I said. "It absorbs energy and converts it to durability and output."
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"And why does it look like you?"
I shrugged.
"Easier to visualize control. Familiar structure improves reaction mapping."
He stared at me.
"…You just like making things complicated, don't you?"
"And you like simplifying things too much," I shot back.
Raditz crossed his arms again.
"How many can you control at once?"
"At this stage?" I answered honestly. "Two."
"And more?"
"I lose spatial awareness," I said. "If I push beyond that, I get disoriented. I might not even perceive my surroundings properly."
He frowned.
"So you have to think for them… and yourself at the same time?"
"Yes."
"And move them?"
"Yes."
"And fight?"
"Yes."
Raditz shook his head.
"That's ridiculous."
"It's efficient."
"It's a puppet."
"It's not a puppet."
"It doesn't think. It doesn't move on its own. It looks like you."
"…It's a remote-controlled battle unit."
Raditz smirked.
"It's a puppet."
I sighed.
"…You're impossible."
After a short pause, Raditz spoke again.
"You said something before," he said. "About us being… siblings."
I glanced at him.
"Genetically, yes."
"Half-siblings?"
"More or less."
He looked thoughtful.
"…Then why have I never seen your actual sister?"
I smiled slightly.
"She never stayed in one place long enough."
Raditz raised an eyebrow.
"She's always chasing something," I continued. "Adventures. Secrets. Whatever catches her interest."
He nodded slowly.
"…Sounds troublesome."
"She is."
I turned back toward the machine.
"Anyway," I said. "Do you want one?"
Raditz didn't even hesitate.
"No."
I blinked.
"That fast?"
"Thinking for myself in a fight is already enough," he replied. "You expect me to think for something else too?"
"It's manageable with training."
"Not for me."
He shook his head.
"Even with the Oracle, controlling something like that while fighting… I'd just mess up both."
I smiled slightly.
"Fair enough."
Raditz looked at me more seriously this time.
"…Are you okay doing all that?"
I paused for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"It was difficult at first."
I looked at the machine.
"But now I can control two at the same time without losing awareness."
Even if someone tried to sneak attack me—
—I wouldn't miss it.
"With proper coordination," I continued, "I can fight alongside them."
A slight smile formed on my face.
"It makes battles easier."
Then I added quietly:
"But it doesn't make me invincible."
If the opponent's power level exceeded mine too much, even this system had limits.
Raditz nodded.
"Good."
Then he turned toward the exit.
"I'm done here."
"Breakfast?" I asked.
"Or a shower," he replied.
"That thing made me sweat more than usual."
I chuckled.
"Go."
After he left, the room became quiet again.
I sat down on the floor and closed my eyes.
Meditation.
At the same time, a thought crossed my mind.
Should I really call it a puppet?
I frowned slightly.
Remote-controlled battle unit… sounds too long.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Battle Puppet."
A compromise.
Not quite his term.
Not quite mine.
I opened my eyes and raised my hand.
"Recall."
The humanoid machine collapsed inward, returning to its original baseball-sized sphere.
I converted it into capsule form and stored it on my belt.
Then I closed my eyes again.
There was still more work to do.