Having mastered his local hunting grounds and established his routine with Goku, Tatsu's restless Saiyan nature begins to demand a greater challenge. The dense forests of the valley, once a territory to be tamed, now feel too familiar, too easy. His raw, untamed power seeks a new mountain to climb, both literally and figuratively.
The ascent of a new challenge
Tatsu, without a word, begins his exploration. His powerful legs propel him toward the highest peaks surrounding Mt. Paozu, and he climbs higher than he has ever been before. As he nears the summit, he encounters the same challenge that would face any Earth-based martial artist: the thin air.
The burn: With every lungful of thinner air, a new type of pain, a burning sensation, courses through his chest. It's not a wound or a broken bone, but a deep, systemic ache that comes with oxygen deprivation. His body, not yet accustomed to the strenuous demands of high altitude, pushes back against his ascent.
The Saiyan response: Tatsu's Saiyan mind, however, processes this pain differently. For him, "harder to breathe" is not a medical condition but an opponent. It's a new obstacle, a new weakness to be overcome through sheer force of will, just as he did with his tail.
The "beat it eventually" mantra: His inner Saiyan warrior is unfazed. He's not thinking about acclimation or red blood cell count. He's thinking about victory. He pushes forward, clenching his fists, his body shuddering with the exertion. He will "beat it eventually" through brute force and unwavering Saiyan stubbornness.
The self-inflicted conditioningTatsu's high-altitude exploration becomes his new, solitary training regime.
Repeated ascents: He repeatedly climbs the highest peak, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion and discomfort each time. He reaches the point where his vision blurs and his lungs burn, but he refuses to stop until his muscles give out.
Increased tolerance: Over time, his body, with its incredible Saiyan physiology, begins to adapt. The burning sensation in his lungs lessens. The exhaustion fades more quickly. The thin air, once a formidable opponent, becomes a manageable challenge.
A new peak of endurance: Tatsu learns to control his breathing in this harsher environment. He's not learning a technique but rather brute-forcing his body into a higher state of endurance.
His lung capacity and his ability to fight while under physical duress increase dramatically.The new lesson for GohanWhen Gohan finds Tatsu on the highest peak, the Saiyan is meditating, not in a meditative state of peace, but in a state of controlled exhaustion. He's regulating his breathing, channeling his ki in a new way, and demonstrating a profound new layer of his physical and mental toughness.
Gohan, though aware of the dangers of high-altitude training for mortals, is in awe of Tatsu's ability to conquer this new obstacle through pure, Saiyan grit.Tatsu isn't just getting stronger physically; he's broadening his understanding of what it means to be powerful.
It's not just about hitting harder; it's about enduring more. He's forging his own path to power, one where every hardship, every challenge, is simply an enemy to be brutally and relentlessly overcome.