📖 CHAPTER 21 – Training and Tension
The morning sun rose over the island in gentle gold, stretching long shadows across the sand. The rhythmic crash of waves set a steady heartbeat for the day, and the smell of salt and earth hung thick in the air.
Three trainees prepared for another day under Master Roshi's watchful eye. Goku stretched eagerly, already vibrating with excitement, while Krillin, arriving slightly later than usual, wiped the sweat from his brow and adjusted his stance. He'd arrived in silence this morning, the result of some butterfly effect delay that kept him from reaching the island on time, but his eyes were sharp and focused, trying to measure what had already changed in the time he'd missed.
I stood at the water's edge, watching my reflection ripple across the tide. In base form, without exoskeleton or wings, I felt the familiar thirty percent drop in raw defensive strength, yet the stamina recovery in my body was remarkable. Even with Ki expended the day before in rigorous sparring, I had regained full capacity within moments of minimal exertion. My body, honed far beyond ordinary humans, absorbed strain like water flows around stones. Roshi noticed immediately, his sunglasses reflecting the morning light, as if measuring some secret metric.
"Interesting…" he muttered under his breath, eyes flicking from me to the rising sun. "Even without armor, his endurance… and rapid recovery. I've never seen it in someone his age—or anyone who carries Ki like that. Remarkable."
I didn't respond. There was no need. Observing the island, the wind, and the waves, I already understood that every environmental factor could be harnessed in training.
Goku ran toward the water with a laugh. "Let's race!"
Krillin stepped forward, hesitating slightly. "Wait—uh, I think Roshi said we have to train first, right?"
Roshi waved them both forward. "Start with the basics. Strength, balance, and speed."
Blue Launch appeared behind me, carrying a small tray of water and food for the group. She smiled softly. The faint morning breeze caught strands of her hair as she walked beside me. Blonde Launch, triggered by an unexpected sneeze, arrived seconds later, fiery and sharp-eyed. Both versions of her presence were quietly shifting the rhythm of the island.
"Time to see who can handle the shell first," Roshi said, tossing a weighted turtle shell at Goku. Another at Krillin. And then one at me.
The shells hit my palms with force. Normally, without exoskeleton reinforcement, I would have felt the weight acutely, yet my grip remained firm, my stance unshaken. Even accounting for the base strength reduction, my body absorbed the shell as if it were merely resistance training against a natural opponent. Roshi's brow lifted slightly.
"Hmm. Rapid adaptation… Stamina usage is controlled. Strength under load—remarkable. You're beyond normal."
Goku struggled under his first shell but laughed uncontrollably. "Whoa! This is heavier than I thought!"
Krillin stumbled, nearly losing balance, but quickly righted himself, though he still lagged behind. His gaze swept over me, curiosity and subtle wariness mixing. I didn't try to dominate—just moved methodically, controlled, precise. The difference in efficiency between us was visible, and even Krillin noticed.
Blue Launch whispered softly as she watched from the shore. "He… really is different."
Blonde Launch sneezed suddenly, muttering, "Tch… can't let him outshine everything." Her tone carried a mix of challenge and something unspoken—perhaps admiration or simply the thrill of a worthy presence.
Roshi gestured for us to start a sparring session. Goku and I moved first. This time, without wings, every jump, every pivot, every swing of my arms relied entirely on strength, agility, and the intuitive combat sense honed from previous battles. I could feel the flow of energy around Goku, the way he prepared his strikes instinctively, the subtle shifts in his balance before launching forward. But I didn't calculate—they were felt.
Our movements were seamless and fast. Sand erupted beneath our feet, energy pulses marked each clash, and the sound of wind slicing across muscle and stone filled the air. Goku's grin widened with every exchange. He didn't mock or doubt—he simply pushed harder.
Krillin joined soon after, testing his own balance and striking techniques. He and Goku exchanged playful jabs, but his timing wasn't perfect. I remained observant, stepping in only when necessary to maintain pace with both without letting the intensity drop. Roshi muttered approvingly from the porch.
"Watch him closely," Roshi said quietly to himself, "there is no wasted motion… and yet the output is strong enough to match even Goku. Recovery… efficiency… control… his body is… extraordinary."
Later, when Krillin struggled to lift a heavy log as part of strength conditioning, I approached. Without thinking, I adjusted my stance and lifted alongside him, showing the proper angle and balance to distribute weight. He looked at me, startled.
"Wow… how do you do that so easily?"
I shrugged lightly. "Muscles are trained. Balance is intuitive. Force is directed—not exerted unnecessarily."
He nodded, attempting again with proper technique. The log lifted. Slightly. Progress was visible immediately.
Blue Launch watched quietly from the shade of the palm tree. "He's… teaching, too," she said softly to herself, blue eyes wide with fascination. Blonde Launch sneezed, muttered something unintelligible, and glared. Yet there was tension in her eyes too—respect, admiration, curiosity.
By midday, the group had exhausted several drills. Goku laughed, sweaty and exhilarated. Krillin wiped his brow, slightly frustrated but improving. And I—still steady—felt the subtle ebb of Ki flow in every limb. Even without armor, my body remained more resilient than any human counterpart, adapting quickly to the constant strain. Roshi, observing, scribbled notes in a small book, his expression both amused and intrigued.
"Excellent," Roshi said finally. "You three have potential—but…" He looked directly at me, lowering his voice, "you… are something else. Even without enhancements, your body recovers faster, adapts quicker, and responds better than anyone else I've seen at this stage. Control is… impressive. Truly anomalous."
Blue Launch smiled, her hands clasped together as she watched. Blonde Launch smirked, slightly flustered by the praise but clearly observing silently.
Later, as the sun began to set and the sky turned gold and pink, I stood alone near the waterline. The tide lapped at my feet. Blue Launch approached, hands tucked neatly behind her back. Blonde Launch followed a moment later, arms crossed, observing me with careful attention.
"You're… different from everyone," Blue Launch said softly.
"Yes," I replied simply.
Blonde Launch sneezed, muttered something like, "Tch… and you're frustratingly competent," before retreating slightly. Yet her eyes lingered, sharp, assessing, intrigued.
The sun sank lower. Krillin and Goku were inside the house, laughing and recounting their day. Roshi leaned back, sipping tea, sunglasses reflecting the fading light.
And I stood between the two versions of Launch, calm, grounded, aware, yet already planning the next step in training.
The anomaly on Master Roshi's island had not just survived the first wave of instruction—it had begun to blend in, adapt, and even form bonds. Bonds that might prove crucial for the challenges ahead.
The currents of the island had shifted again, quietly, subtly—but irreversibly.
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