Two to three days had passed since the final match of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament—since Son Goku claimed the championship.
And yet, the echoes of that battle still refused to leave my mind.
Watching the finals had made one truth painfully clear: I was weak.
Not just in raw strength—but in every sense that mattered. Firepower. Technique. Mastery. The gap between me and the fighters who stood at the summit was vast, humiliatingly so. That was an undeniable fact.
But for the first time in my life, something else had ignited alongside that realization.
Hunger.
A deep, gnawing desire to grow stronger—to reach the pinnacle I had witnessed with my own eyes.
I needed correction. I needed training.And more than anything, I needed to understand ki.
There was only one place that came to mind.
Korin Tower.
According to rumor, it was a spire that stretched endlessly toward the heavens, its summit hidden beyond the clouds. It was said that anyone who climbed it would return many times stronger than before.
So I decided to go.
There was just one problem.
It was far—very far—from where I was. And after spending everything I had to buy a black-market ticket for the final match, I was broke.
Even with a body strengthened through combat, traveling on foot without money was suicide. Food alone would be an issue. I didn't have endless stamina—three or four days without eating was my limit, maybe a week if I pushed it. And this journey would take weeks, not days.
So, for the next several days, I worked.
The island that hosted the tournament had been reduced to rubble during the final match. Before reconstruction could begin, the debris needed to be cleared. I joined a builder crew, hauling stone, clearing wreckage, pushing my body from dawn until night.
It took almost five days—but when it was done, I had enough money to survive the journey.
And so, I hit the road.
I refused all transport. If I were going to train, it would start now. I covered vast distances on foot, stopping only to eat, stretch, and do light conditioning. When I found a cheap motel, I rested there. Otherwise, I slept beneath the open sky, camping in the woods.
It took longer than expected.
Three and a half weeks passed before I saw it.
Even from a distance, Korin Tower was unmistakable—a thin, impossible spire piercing the clouds like a spear aimed at heaven itself.
By evening, I reached its base.
I wiped the sweat from my brow, breathing heavily after the long journey.
That's when I noticed it.
A settlement.
Just beyond the base of the tower, modest but sturdy huts. As I approached, a figure stepped forward form the hut—a muscular man holding a spear.
He wore clothing unlike anything I'd seen before, patterned and simple, reminiscent of the West Indies. Compared to him, my own build felt almost small.
He leveled the spear toward me, eyes sharp.
"State your business, stranger."
I raised one hand calmly and pointed toward the towering spire behind him.
"I came here to climb the tower."
At my words, his muscles relaxed slightly—but the spear remained steady.
He opened his mouth to speak—
—and then stopped.
There was movement behind him.
A boy, perhaps seven or eight years old, stepped out of the settlement. He wore the same style of clothing as the man and stood quietly at his side, watching me with curious eyes.
The man spoke again.
"My name is Bora."
He gestured to the boy.
"This is my son, Upa."
Upa gave a small nod.
"Our tribe are the guardians of the Korin Sanctuary."This time, Bora pointed toward the tower. "That is the sacred Tower of Korin. It is said that anyone who climbs it with their bare hands will meet the hermit master who lives at the summit. And if one drinks the holy water offered by that holy being, their strength will increase manifold."
His gaze softened slightly.
"I attempted the climb when I was young. I failed."
I nodded. The rumors matched—though the holy water part was new to me.
Bora continued, "Those who challenge the heavens are guided by us. As guardians of this sanctuary, it is our duty." He glanced at the sky. "Night is already upon us. Come—stay with us tonight."
I accepted gratefully and introduced myself.
The fire crackled softly at the center of the settlement, its light flickering across the three of us. A spiced fish hung from a rod over the flames, the aroma alone making my mouth water after weeks of dried rations and foraged berries.
Suddenly, Bora spoke.
"Yuji… is there a reason you seek strength from climbing the tower?"
Upa tilted his head toward me, eyes bright with curiosity.
I kept my gaze on the fish as I answered.
"To be honest… It's not just strength. I fought in the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. I lost badly."I paused. "And then I watched the finals."
My fingers clenched unconsciously.
"It was on a completely different level. Like witnessing a heaven above heaven. I realized how small I was. So I came here—not for holy water. I was hoping the hermit master might teach me."
Bora nodded slowly.
"Your will is strong. But will alone is not enough to climb that tower. It tests patience. Endurance. Your body, your spirit—everything."He stared into the fire. "When I was your age, I climbed until my supplies ran out. With no food or water, the tower felt endless. I gave up."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Sometimes, I wonder… if I had kept going, would I have reached the top?"
Upa suddenly spoke, voice firm despite his age.
"But Dad, you know it's possible! Goku climbed the tower! It's not a legend!"
Bora chuckled, placing a hand on his son's head.
"One day," Upa continued, eyes shining, "when I'm stronger, I'll reach the top and meet Karin-sama myself."
I blinked.
"Wait… Goku?"
Upa nodded enthusiastically. "You know him? He climbed the tower three years ago. He fought super-strong fighters to save my dad after he died. Then he used the Dragon Balls to bring him back."
Dragon Balls.
Wishes.
I exhaled slowly. "I've never met Goku personally. But… he's one of the fighters I was talking about earlier. I admire him."
We talked late into the night—about Goku, about strength, about the tower—until the fish was cooked and our bellies were full. Exhaustion eventually claimed us.
In the morning, Bora gifted me extra supplies.
"Good luck," he said simply.
With that, I stepped forward, only one thought burning in my mind.
This would be my first benchmark.
I launched myself upward with explosive force.
Hands and feet slammed into the jagged stone as I began the climb, gripping uneven surfaces carved with ornate—but razor-sharp—patterns that tore at my skin. I moved like lightning, rocketing higher and higher, vanishing into the clouds until the world below became meaningless.
This was only the beginning.
As I climbed, the air thinned, clawing at my lungs. The tower devoured stamina mercilessly, draining me faster than any battle ever had. Muscles screamed, fibers burning as exhaustion slammed into me like a hammer.
I clung desperately to the stone, gasping.
"Phew…!"
I wiped sweat from my eyes and snarled through clenched teeth.
"Gah—I still can't see the top…!"
Day faded into night. Stars emerged, amplifying the crushing isolation. Darkness pressed in like a living thing. My breathing became tortured rasps—gasp, pant—hunger gnawing violently at my core.
I stopped.
Still clinging to the tower, I opened my supplies and ate, using RCT to mend my battered body. The burning eased slightly—but the tower continued to sap my strength, second by second.
My grip slipped.
Instinct screamed.
I hooked one arm over a narrow, eroding ledge—my body dangling over a bottomless abyss of certain death.
My vision blurred. My eyes threatened to close.
My mastery of RCT wasn't enough.
This had become a losing battle—against starvation, dehydration, and gravity itself.
Then—
Dawn.
Sunlight pierced the haze.
And above me… a glimmer.
"I see… something…!"
I roared and surged upward, unleashing everything I had left. Flowing Reverse Scales erupted, faint markings spreading across my face as I clawed higher, fingers leaving bloody trails in the stone.
Dizziness. Nausea. Weakness.
I didn't care.
With a final, desperate pull, I dragged my battered body over the summit.
"Yes—!!"
The world spun.
And I fell unconscious.
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well donote stone and comment and good night and do tell in case of mistake