Supreme Kai's World
"Well now? Tsk tsk tsk?" The Old Kai circled Gohan once, hands behind his back, eyes gleaming.
He stared like he was looking at some rare, shiny treasure. Then he said, "Kid, how did you get a trace of godly ki?"
"Old ginger really is spicier," Gohan said. "Elder Kai, you may be a bit of a perv, but your eyes are scary sharp."
"Come on then. Who helped you?" the Old Kai asked, curious.
"Whis. My master." Gohan said it calmly.
"Whis? Your master?" The Old Kai was so shocked he actually took a few steps back.
"Is it really that surprising?" Gohan looked helpless.
"An angel like Whis took you as a disciple?" The Old Kai couldn't believe it.
"I called him master. He didn't say no," Gohan shrugged.
"Hah. Your luck really is ridiculous." The Old Kai could only sigh.
"Let's skip that. I came because I need something."
"What?" he asked.
"A Realm Core. Do you have a spare? A while ago…" Gohan told him everything: Krillin's request, what he'd discussed with Whis, and what they'd found in 18's body.
The Old Kai rested his chin on his palm and thought about it for a long while. "So even Whis agrees to this?"
"Yup. Teacher Whis even told me to use his name to ask you for it," Gohan said.
"All right. Hey, Shin, do we still have the Realm Core from the Thirteenth Supreme Kai?" the Old Kai called to Kibito Kai (Shin) beside him.
"It's here, Elder," Shin said respectfully, stepping forward.
"Go get it. Give it to Gohan. That Earthling kid isn't bad either. His martial arts heart is steady. His talent can't compare to a Saiyan's, but if he really becomes an android, his future will be very promising," the Old Kai said.
"Yes, Elder." Shin left.
A few minutes later, he returned and handed the core to Gohan.
"Thanks, Elder Kai. I owe you one," Gohan waved.
"Hmph. You owe me a lot more than one. You'll pay it back sooner or later," the Old Kai muttered as he walked back toward his tea table.
Shin quietly went to make tea.
...
Mount Paozu, Earth
"Krillin, come with me." Gohan had just run to Beerus's World, then to the Supreme Kai's World. A lot of time had already gone by.
And he'd promised Videl he'd teach her how to fly today.
He was supposed to pick her up in the morning. Now it was almost noon.
So he didn't waste any more time. He grabbed Krillin and Instant Transmission'd straight to Capsule Corp.
"Bulma, we found the core of the infinite energy module. You can fuse it to Krillin, right?" Gohan said.
"So that's what this weird thing was. Relax, I'm absolutely sure I can do it. And I'll make Krillin even stronger than 17 and 18. I've got all their data. And it won't affect his normal life." Bulma's eyes instantly lit up when she saw the core.
"Good. Then I'll leave Krillin to you. I've still got something to do." Gohan disappeared on the spot.
"Hmph. That little brat is getting awfully casual with me these days," Bulma said with a hint of mock annoyance.
"Bulma, when can we start?" Krillin could barely hold back.
"Right now. After you left last time I already built an outer casing just like theirs. If you want to use this core, your body needs a medium like that to channel the energy into you." Bulma headed for the lab.
Krillin followed closely.
"Krillin, we say 'android,' but in your case it's really just taking out your old heart and replacing it with this energy unit. A heart is just an engine that keeps the body running. We're just swapping yours for a heart that's several orders of magnitude stronger. So don't start thinking of yourself as some kind of freak," Bulma said to comfort him.
"Don't worry, Bulma. I chose this path. I won't regret it. Let's start," Krillin said, lying down on the table.
Bulma began anesthesia. At the same time, she called in Capsule Corp's most trustworthy surgeons to do the actual operation while she guided.
...
At Videl's home
"Gohan, you're finally here!" Videl ran over, delighted.
She was still young, but she'd trained since she was little. Her body was more developed than girls her age.
She threw herself right into Gohan's arms.
"That kid is the one the little junior sister likes?" The students Mr. Satan had taken in were whispering from the side.
"Who knows. Probably. I actually admire him though. He dares to chase the little junior sister."
Smack.
The senior disciple walked over and smacked the one who spoke.
"What nonsense are you talking about. She's still young. Watch your mouth."
"Yes yes yes, senior. My bad!" the disciple said quickly.
Back to Videl.
"Videl, I'll take you out to train in the wild. It's easier to sense ki in nature. Okay?" Gohan asked.
"Yes yes, let's go!" Videl couldn't wait. She grabbed Gohan and rushed for the door.
"Too slow on foot…"
Gohan stopped, took her hand, and vanished.
"M-m-magic trick!" Satan's students were stunned.
"Stage illusion! Definitely a trick!" Even the senior disciple didn't want to believe it.
...
A forest not far from the city.
"Wow, Gohan, you have superpowers?" Videl was amazed.
"Something like that." Gohan smiled.
"Gohan, you just keep getting more and more mysterious. You've got so many secrets," Videl said, eyes bright with curiosity.
"Hehe. You'll find out more in the future. Sit. I'll teach you how to sense ki and how to fly." Gohan helped her sit on the grass.
Then he carefully walked her through sensing ki.
Ten minutes later.
Bzz...
Videl sat cross-legged, hands relaxed, arms forming a circle, and in the center of that circle a faint ball of energy appeared.
"Not bad. You've already sensed it." Gohan nodded.
"Then I can fly?" Videl jumped up, excited.
"Slow down. First try to guide your ki to your feet…" Gohan kept explaining patiently.
Another ten minutes later, Videl's feet left the ground. She hovered.
"I did it!" Plop.
The moment she spoke, the ki she'd finally gathered scattered. Luckily she was less than a meter off the ground.
She didn't get hurt.
"Your mind has to be calm. You have to focus, then you can use ki. This is just the beginning, but you did great." Gohan praised her without holding back.
Kids respond to praise more than scolding.
"Mm mm, I got it, Gohan. I'll keep practicing just like you said!" Videl was very serious.
"Hm? It's done?" Gohan suddenly looked up at the sky. That direction was Capsule Corp.
At the same time, every fighter on Earth who could sense ki looked in the same direction.
"Gohan, where, where's that monster?" Videl had just learned to sense ki too, and she'd felt a presence so strong it was indescribable.
"Don't worry. That's not a monster. And not an enemy. He's a friend of my dad's. Videl, I'll take you home. Keep practicing like I showed you, okay? See you at school!" Gohan said gently.
"Okay…" Videl was a little disappointed.
"Don't be sad. I've got something I have to do. We'll see each other Monday. At school." Gohan comforted her.
He took her home, then Instant Transmission'd to Capsule Corp.
"Bulma, that's weird. Aren't androids supposed to have no ki? How come Uncle Krillin still does?" Gohan pointed at the excited Krillin.
"Who do you think I am? I'm a genius scientist. I'm not like Dr. Gero, doing things backward, turning a flesh-and-blood human into a half machine. 17 and 18 can live normally and even have kids, but their bodies still have a bunch of non-human modifications. Krillin doesn't have those flaws. He can still train his body and get stronger fast. The infinite energy module in him doesn't just power him, it strengthens his body and optimizes his genes," Bulma said proudly.
"Yeah yeah yeah, you're a genius. We know."
"Gohan… I feel… really strong," Krillin came over, eyes shining.
"No kidding. Right now your battle power, based on the readouts, is around twenty billion. And that's just fresh out of surgery. Once you adapt, you'll be even stronger," Bulma said. Of course she had a scouter at home.
"This really is 'flesh is weak, machinery ascends,' huh," Gohan said, looking him over with interest.
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