A month had passed in a blur. Vegeta and I had trained relentlessly, pushing our limits day after day. As a result, my power, which was once twenty-one thousand (21,000), had now reached a staggering fifty-two thousand (52,000). And that wasn't even the best part. In our daily spars, I'd started to create ki weapons instantly. The intense concentration I used to need was gone; it had become a natural, almost instinctive part of my body. My ki control had simply taken a massive leap forward by being forged in combat rather than in a controlled environment as before.
In our sparring, however, I made sure to avoid creating anything that could kill him in one shot, like a ki blade slicing his head clean off. No, I generally stuck to bludgeoning weapons—staves, nunchucks, chains, things of that nature.
I'd also been working on a raw, brute-force technique that I hoped would help me close the distance on enemies who were a little too strong. I figured it would be incredibly useful.
And it wasn't just Vegeta and I who were training this month. Nappa and my mother joined us, too. After seeing how much our power had skyrocketed, there was no way such proud Saiyans wouldn't want to follow our path to greater strength. They definitely got stronger, but their progress wasn't nearly as high as ours.
After a few training sessions, Vegeta and I didn't verbally attack each other so much. We started talking normally, without the constant barbs and threats. I guess that's what a month of close proximity does to people. Maybe it's because I'm stronger than him now and I'm the one who's responsible for making him so strong, which might have had a big effect on why this happened.
Now, we had just finished another sparring session. I was lying on the floor, absolutely exhausted. Vegeta was also on the ground, breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath with his eyes closed.
Huff... huff... huff...
"I think we'd better rest. I heard Nappa say we're getting very close to the planet," I said slowly, trying to conserve as much energy as possible.
"Do you know the name of the planet we're going to conquer?" Vegeta asked, still with his eyes closed.
"I have no idea, and it doesn't make a difference." I raised my torso, sat on the floor, and started taking off my weights. "The species that named it won't exist anymore; we'll leave it to the race that buys it to rename it."
As I took off the weights, I felt how light my body was. After a month of not taking them off even to take a dump, what was once three weights on each limb had become five even in my tail. When the exercises became comfortable, I would just increase the weight. Comfort wouldn't make me stronger.
Vegeta simply nodded. "Makes sense." He finally opened his eyes and started taking off his weights as well.
"You know, Vegeta, I was thinking..." I began, still feeling the new lightness in my limbs. "Why do you want to be strong? Is it just to be king, or is there more to it?"
Vegeta scoffed, but his voice lacked the hostility from before. He was too out of breath for that. "Of course it's to be king, you idiot. A king must be the strongest. It's the only way to be respected, to impose your will. No one will kneel to a weakling."
"But what about after? After you become king?" I said, getting closer. "You know that above the king is the emperor. What will you do about him?"
With a serious look, Vegeta said, "The Saiyans will be the top of the universe, Leekon." He paused, then looked at his own clenched fists. "The universe is too small for us and those lizards." His boyish voice took on an intensity I'd never heard before, not even in our fights. "So, when they no longer exist, the entire universe will know the name of Vegeta."
"Hey, man, that was cool, but let's see who kills that family first."
He then looked at me with a serious stare. "And you, Leekon? Why do you fight? Why do you train so much? Why do you desire power?"
"Ah, Vegeta, where do I even begin? It's nothing so glorified or with a greater goal like yours. I simply love to fight—for the thrill, for the adrenaline. For the challenge of facing someone who could destroy me and still coming out on top. It's what makes me feel alive. Even when I was losing to you, every punch you landed just made me happier. When I headbutted you and saw you bleeding, I was on cloud nine from the sheer euphoria." I said with an uncontrolled smile spreading across my face.
"And why do I train so much? Well, I'm addicted to the feeling of gaining power. Every ounce of strength, every time I get stronger, it's just a trip. It's like electricity running through my veins with every power jump I get." I said, finally standing up, feeling my body protest from the pain of the recent exertion. I turned my back to Vegeta and approached the door.
Tchhh~
The hydraulic sound of the automatic door opening echoed in the silent room. "Well, that's why," I said with a smile and my eyes closed as my head turned back toward Vegeta, finally stepping through the door, which closed behind me.
In the empty training room, Vegeta, still sitting on the floor and looking at the spot where Leekon had been, let his voice echo: "You are just saiyan."
Then, all the ship's crew felt a jolt; the vessel had finally landed at its destination.
Power Levels
Leekon:52,730 (after intense training and constant fights)
Vegeta:45,349 (after intense training and constant fights)
Vanie:9,230 (after some training with Vegeta and Leekon)
Nappa:6,340 (after some training with Vegeta and Leekon)