Chapter 82: Kaio-ken
Regarding North Kai, Turles not only had no ill intent but greatly respected this blue fatty. Being able to create two miraculous techniques like Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb proved North Kai's martial arts was definitely not low.
But he hadn't expected North Kai to directly refuse his request to learn Kaio-ken. So he was very curious.
North Kai swallowed, nervously watching Turles, very afraid the next second he'd be torn apart by this Saiyan before him.
In his eyes, Saiyans were hyenas under Frieza—a bunch of outright villains. If not for Goku's pure heart, he probably wouldn't have taught him Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb either.
Now being stared at by Turles, having learned Turles's battle power from Goku's mouth, North Kai truly felt somewhat anxious.
"Because... because... you haven't told me a joke yet!"
Stammering, North Kai finally gave this reason.
Thud!
Hearing this, both Turles and Goku were absolutely floored.
Racking his brain, Turles finally found a joke from his previous life memories.
"Why does a camel have three humps?"
"Because it's pregnant!"
After hearing Turles's not-really-a-joke joke, North Kai immediately burst into laughter. He exaggeratedly clutched his belly, laughing as he agreed to let Turles learn Kaio-ken.
Turles looked deeply at North Kai, then walked aside to begin learning Kaio-ken's key points from Goku.
Actually, Turles had previously attempted to recreate Kaio-ken—this technique that could massively boost battle power in a short time. But somehow, there was some trick he hadn't figured out. Ultimately, he never succeeded.
But with Goku's explanation, Turles easily understood the key.
Kaio-ken wasn't really a specific technique. It was just an ingenious use of one's own ki.
According to Goku, everyone's internal ki, through precise control using an ingenious method, could make ki rapidly surge in a short time—thus multiplying the user's strength, speed, attack power, and defense.
Achieving this required two foundations: powerful physical endurance and powerful ki control.
Powerful physical endurance ensured that when ki surged, it wouldn't rupture the body. The body could withstand the massive load from ki explosion. The stronger the physical endurance, the higher the Kaio-ken multiplier.
Powerful ki control was the means to guide internal ki's changes and expansion. Otherwise, there was no way to guide this power.
Turles already met both conditions. He only lacked the method to guide ki expansion and change.
So with Goku's guidance, Turles quickly grasped Kaio-ken's principle.
Understanding Kaio-ken's principle, Turles naturally wanted to test the effect first.
He walked to an open area, assumed a stance, and used Kaio-ken's method to mobilize his internal ki, making it rapidly expand within his body.
Turles's movements attracted the still-laughing North Kai. He stared intently at Turles's actions.
"Ha!"
Turles let out a loud shout. White ki flames first appeared around him. But soon the white flames turned red, like wrapping Turles in a layer of blood.
"How is this possible?"
North Kai felt somewhat incredulous. He hadn't expected Turles could use Kaio-ken just from hearing Goku's explanation once. Moreover, it seemed Kaio-ken's physical burden was still far from his limit.
"Two times Kaio-ken!"
Turles shouted loudly, raising Kaio-ken's boost to double.
Turles's normal battle power was 2.5 million. Under double Kaio-ken boost, his battle power reached 5 million. This boost naturally couldn't compare to Turles's humanoid Great Ape form's 10 times boost.
But 5 million battle power was already a formidable force even in the afterlife. So many strong people in the afterlife had their attention drawn by Turles's battle power.
"That direction! Is that North Kai's location?"
"Looks like it. Wonder where North Kai found another strongman?"
"Yeah. Looks like there'll be excitement at the next Grand Kai's martial arts tournament."
"You mean..."
Naturally, Turles didn't know his ki explosion had already attracted some masters' attention. He just continued raising Kaio-ken's multiplier.
"Five times Kaio-ken!"
This time Turles didn't hesitate. He directly raised Kaio-ken to five times. Terrifying air waves immediately spread outward from him as the center.
Turles's previous training fully showed its effect. Training under the gravity reorganizer not only comprehensively trained his body—even his internal organs received effective training.
Combined with his already excellent ki control, even five times Kaio-ken didn't make Turles feel any discomfort.
However, North Kai was caught off guard. He was directly blown away by Turles's ki emission. If not for Goku grabbing him in time, he'd already been blown beyond King Kai's planet.
But Goku could only barely manage. His feet sank into the ground. With one hand holding North Kai, his eyes shone as he stared at Turles.
Suddenly, Turles withdrew Kaio-ken. The ki around him gradually calmed. Finally, he perfectly concealed it again—showing no trace of having just been at 12.5 million battle power.
Seeing this scene, North Kai couldn't help feeling surprised at Turles's talent. Even he hadn't achieved perfect ki concealment yet. But Turles had done it.
North Kai glanced at Turles, then turned to look at Goku. Finally, he shook his head.
Turles didn't notice North Kai's actions. He just frowned, quietly experiencing the sensation from using Kaio-ken just now.
He discovered he'd thought somewhat simply. Kaio-ken's ki explosion wasn't as perfect as he'd imagined. Because after using Kaio-ken, the ki became too violent. This greatly reduced his ki control.
Just now, at five times Kaio-ken, he'd tried stacking humanoid Great Ape transformation but failed.
Decreased ki control prevented him from perfectly controlling the balance of Saiyan bloodline within his body. Ultimately, he couldn't use humanoid Great Ape transformation.
After thinking, Turles decided to switch approaches.
"Ha!"
North Kai had just straightened his clothes when he heard a loud shout. Before he could react, another air wave blew toward him. Together with his two pets, they tumbled and crashed into the house wall.
This time, Goku also couldn't maintain his position. His feet sank into the ground as the fierce wind pushed him backward, leaving two deep tracks in the ground.
After everything calmed, Goku and North Kai finally saw Turles had now changed appearance.
Turles's upper body clothing had vanished. Except for his chest, everywhere was covered in dark brown fur. His crab-like hairstyle had grown dense. Red eye shadow marked his upper eyelids. A wild aura constantly emanated from Turles.
This was precisely Turles's humanoid Great Ape transformation.
This was Goku's first time seeing Turles's humanoid Great Ape transformation. He moved close to Turles, reaching out to continuously roam over Turles's body, occasionally pinching Turles's muscles.
"Boss, you're so cool! How about teaching me this move?"
Just as Turles was about to kick Goku away, Goku raised his head, looking at Turles with anticipation.
"You... back off first!"
Turles felt somewhat uncomfortable from Goku's enthusiasm. He directly had Goku step back.
"Okay, Boss!"
Seeing Goku retreat aside, Turles inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, secretly wiping sweat from his forehead.
Being interrupted by Goku nearly made Turles forget his actual business.
He maintained humanoid Great Ape transformation, attempting to use Kaio-ken in this state.
The next second, joy flashed across Turles's face. It really worked.
Though somewhat affected, Kaio-ken could be used in humanoid Great Ape form. Moreover, because humanoid Great Ape form boosted the physical body more, Turles estimated the Kaio-ken multiplier would be higher in transformed state.
With this, Turles felt somewhat relieved.
He now had 25 million battle power after transformation. As long as he could use four times Kaio-ken, he could remain undefeated against Frieza's complete transformation state.
Considering Kaio-ken and humanoid Great Ape transformation's stamina consumption, he'd better end the battle quickly at five or even six times Kaio-ken.
Confident now, Turles released his humanoid Great Ape transformation state.
After exiting transformation, Turles walked before Goku. Seeing his expectant expression, Turles said irritably, "Forget about this move. Wait until you grow your tail back!"
"What? This move needs a tail? Damn it! If I'd known, I wouldn't have let Kami seal my tail."
Hearing this transformation required a tail to complete, Goku's expression immediately fell. He even complained about Kami Piccolo.
Turles had long expected Goku's childish nature. So he wasn't surprised. Just shook his head, then looked toward North Kai.
Currently, North Kai hadn't recovered from Turles's transformation just now. Only after noticing Turles looking at him did he say with a strange expression, "Since you can already transform 10 times, why do you still want to learn Kaio-ken?"
Turles naturally wouldn't reveal all his trump cards. He randomly found an excuse to brush off North Kai. Only then did he say, "North Kai, sir, I'm hoping you can check how much time remains before Frieza reaches Red Stone Planet?"
North Kai wasn't that tactless. Seeing Turles didn't want to explain, he stopped pressing. He directly closed his eyes and began searching for Frieza's traces.
As one of the galaxy's administrators, North Kai had many miraculous abilities. Goku's earlier mental communication with him was one type. Checking life signs across the universe was another.
Moreover, unlike Turles's Instant Transmission which could only roughly sense life's ki, North Kai's ability could directly see the life form he wanted to find.
North Kai's two forehead antennae constantly trembled. Soon they stopped.
Moments later, North Kai opened his eyes. Somewhat embarrassed, he said to Turles, "Turles, there are now two pieces of news—one good, one bad. Which do you want to hear first?"
After speaking, North Kai was amused by his own words. Covering his mouth, he began laughing.
Watching North Kai's constantly shaking shoulders, Turles felt somewhat speechless.
Why wasn't there a single reliable god in Universe Seven?
Sleeping ones sleep. Sealed ones get sealed. This one before him had his brain short out from time to time.
After a moment of silence, Turles suppressed his temper and asked, "North Kai, sir, let's start with the good news!"
"The good news is Frieza isn't heading for Red Stone Planet. He's just going to West Galaxy to find Slug!"
"Hm?"
Hearing this news, Turles was full of question marks.
Wait—if Frieza wasn't looking for him, why did they tell him earlier Frieza was coming for him? Scaring him into immediately coming here to learn Kaio-ken for emergency power boost.
But since Frieza wasn't coming for him, that truly was good news. He couldn't really blame North Kai. He could only glare at the equally embarrassed Goku.
Since Frieza wasn't looking for him, what could the bad news be?
"What's the bad news?"
North Kai immediately grew serious. "The bad news is someone else is coming for you. West Galaxy's Slug. He's currently on a ship heading for Red Stone Planet. Moreover, only one week remains!"
Now Turles was truly surprised. Earlier, he'd only battled Slug briefly. But he knew he currently wasn't Slug's match. If Slug really came for him, the final result probably wouldn't be better than Frieza coming.
But Turles felt somewhat puzzled. He'd escaped using Instant Transmission. Logically, Slug shouldn't know about Red Stone Planet. Why would Slug head directly for Red Stone Planet?
Soon, Turles thought of a possibility. A trace of killing intent appeared on his face. He said through gritted teeth:
"Ve! ge! ta!"
Now only this possibility remained. Turles had never felt such intense killing intent toward anyone.
Guessing it might be Vegeta who led Slug there, Turles immediately asked North Kai, "North Kai, sir, please check if there's a Saiyan presence near Slug?"
Though North Kai felt somewhat puzzled, he continued checking. Moments later, he said, "There really is a Saiyan. I remember he seems to be the Saiyan Prince."
Getting definite confirmation from North Kai, Turles took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart.
This fury wasn't just directed at Vegeta—more at himself. Seemed he'd still been too merciful.
At this moment, Goku also recalled Vegeta's identity. Though not knowing what role Vegeta played in this, judging from Turles's reaction, it probably wasn't anything good.
Not knowing what motivated him, Goku still pleaded with Turles, "Boss, can you spare Vegeta once?"
Turles looked at Goku with surprise, not understanding why Goku would think to plead for Vegeta. Perhaps this was the fated bond between these two.
"I already gave him a chance. He just didn't know how to cherish it. Since he didn't cherish it, he can't blame me!"
After speaking, Turles directly used Instant Transmission, leaving King Kai's planet.
Goku looked somewhat worried at where Turles vanished. Finally, he could only sigh deeply.
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