Chapter 06

Please check out the Auxiliary chapter 'information'

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{Age 743}

Coming down from the Tower was kinda easier than climbing it, I just did some small drops and reached the ground in half a day. As I came down from the Tower, some tribesmen from the village ran towards me.

"Arlic, you came back, did you finish the challenge?" one of the tribesmen asked.

"Did you meet Immortal Korin?" another one asked.

"Calm down guys, I have finished the challenge, and even met Master Korin," I replied before someone could ask more questions.

"Arlic, so you've returned," an old voice came.

The crowd parted and Village Chief Hata entered, he walked straight to me.

"I'm happy that you're safe, Arlic," Hata said with a smile, "After so long, someone has finally finished the Challenge of Korin Tower,"

"Did you get the Sacred Water, Arlic," Hata asked with excitement, "You must've become super strong, right," 

"No, I've declined to drink the sacred water until my training with Master Korin is finished," I explained.

"I see, then why did you come down," Hata asked.

"I came to catch some fish," I replied with a smile.

"Fish?" The surrounding crowd murmured together.

"Yes, Master wanted to eat some fish, so he sent me down here to catch some," I said to them, 

Then I motioned everyone to come closer and said in a low voice, "You see, Master Korin is a fat cat, and he loves to eat fish,"

Hearing my words, the crowd started snickering. Hata cleared his throat to indicate to them to stop.

"Little Arlic, I think you should go and finish the task Immortal Korin has given you," Hata said and continued, "Maybe it's some kind of test,"

"Oh no, he just wants to eat fish, he even started sulking when I declined in the beginning," I replied with a serious face.

"Cough…. I think you shouldn't let your Master wait, Arlic," Hata said with an awkward smile, "Go, catch some fish for him,"

"Okay," I nodded, "Oh before I go, I have something for you guys,"

I brought out the small bag with Senzu beans and gave it to Hata.

"What are these, Arlic," Hata asked in confusion.

"These are Senzu beans, I borrowed them from Master Korin," I replied, "They can heal injury and recover stamina, they can also help you sustain without food for 10 days," 

"Arlic, we can't have these, Immortal Korin gave these to you, you should use them for yourself," Hata said and tried to return the bag.

"It's okay, I don't need them," I replied, "This is a gift for letting me stay here",

"Thank you, little Arlic, this will help us a lot," Hata said with a soft smile and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Can someone tell me, in which part of the forest river, I can get some big fish," I inquired, "Master Korin said he wants some Big Juicy Fishes"

"Pfft.... Cough… Cough… it's in that direction, 4 km straight." Hata said pointing towards a particular direction.

"Thanks," I replied and took off towards the direction Hata pointed.

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-//-Scene Change-//-

Korin was standing on the edge of the Korin tower, he wanted to know the reason why Arlic borrowed Senzu beans from him. But as he was watching him interact with the villagers, he heard the talk between Arlic and the villagers.

"Sigh," Korin sighed and then looked up towards the sky, "I didn't want to do this, but it's you who chose the hard way, Arlic"

"Don't blame me for what is going to happen, it's you who has brought this upon yourself," Korin muttered.

"Kekeke, I can't wait for your return," Korin said while snickering.

"Ahem," Korin heard Kami's voice in his head.

"Kami," Korin yelped, "Since when were you listening?"

"Um… the… beginning," Kami replied awkwardly.

"You heard, nothing," Korin said in a serious tone.

"Uhh… Okay," Kami replied with an awkward tone.

"So… Big Juicy Fishes, huh," Kami said.

"Ugh… not you too," Korin said, getting annoyed.

"Hey, it's okay, everyone has their secrets," Kami said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, just like how you secretly peep on mortals doing deeds," Korin scoffed.

"Hey, I do no such things, I'm an elderly respectable Guardian" Kami retorted.

"Hey, don't lie you perverted Guardian, I've seen you blushing various times while you watch over the earth", Korin blurted out, "For yours sake, you are Earth's Guardian, so behave like one".

"Hey, these kinds of things just happen by accident", Kami said with a low tone, "You can blame me because these humans are too horny, I can't stop my duty in the middle because some humans want to do the deed"

"So, you do peep on them," Korin said indifferently.

"Oh come on," Kami said annoyingly.

"Pfft… Hahaha," Korin started laughing and shortly Kami also joined him.

"Hah, hadn't had such a good laugh in a long time," Kami said with a happy tone.

"Yeah, it was needed," Korin approved, "We never had these kinds of conversations since the days your trust over humanity started to crumble,"

"Hmm, you're right, I became too grumpy," Kami replied with a chuckle.

"Or maybe it was just your age catching up to you," Korin replied with a grin, "After all you're a 300-year-old grumpy grandpa," 

"Says the 800-year-old cat, who likes Big Juicy Fishes," Kami retorted.

"Cough… okay that's enough, let's get to the topic," Korin said with a serious voice, "Why did you contact me, Kami,"

"It's about training, Arlic, I was thinking to send some weight bands to you, they can help you train, Arlic,"

"Hmm, this would be helpful," Korin replied, "Be ready with an even heavier set after he gets used to the current one"

Then Kami and Korin started sharing their ideas about training Arlic. Korin wanted to use the lightning attack on Arlic while he climbed the tower to increase his resistance, but Kami declined and forbade Korin from using lightning on Arlic. Korin then suggested increasing the Tower's difficulty using magic when Arlic climbs it, to which Kami agreed and even suggested helping by slightly increasing the gravitational force on Arlic. At the end of the meeting, Kami and Korin both agreed on giving Arlic basic combat training, which would help him learn Martial Arts faster.

Although Kami and Korin didn't say it to each other, but, the moment they had seen Arlic giving away Senzu beans to tribesmen, they understood one thing, even though Arlic was a kid, he had a heart of gold. At that moment they decided on training Arlic to their best capabilities.

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-//-Scene Change-//-

After catching 5 Big Juicy Fishes, I tied them to myself using the rope Korin gave me and returned to climb the Tower.

I had only climbed about 30 feet when I noticed something.

'I'm feeling like this Tower is kind of harder to climb than the last time,' I thought as it was clear that my body was getting more strained than the previous time.

I know what you must be thinking, I'm carrying five fishes on me, I should feel strained, but the thing is I know my power level should've increased after I climbed the tower last time.

It can only mean two things, either Korin or Kami is using some kind of magic to increase the burden over my body or these fishes are just too Juicy for me to carry.

'Nah, it must be magic,' I thought and continued to climb the tower.

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[Time Skip - 4 Days]

This time it took me four days to climb the tower, the magic that was cast on me was effective, I could feel that my body was getting extra strained. 

The thing that most annoyed me was that as I was climbing the tower, the fishes, I was carrying suddenly froze. I know Korin doesn't want the fish to go bad, still, feeling ice on your back constantly, I mean it didn't hurt me, but it was annoying as hell.

As I entered Korin's home, I saw Korin already present there smiling at me or was he looking at the fishes, anyway he was there. I untied the rope and placed the fishes on the floor.

"Here Master, I have brought you your fishes," I replied.

"He-he, thanks kid," Korin replied, 

"Hey kid, are you okay," Korin asked while scanning me with his eyes, "You must be tired, right, you've been climbing the tower continuously for four days straight"

"It's okay, I'm not tired at all," I replied. 

"Hmm, that regeneration of yours is a cheat ability," Korin said in annoyance. 

"Regeneration? Master, what is regeneration," I asked with confusion. 

"What, you don't know about your ability to regenerate," Korin asked in shock and I nodded. 

"Sigh," Korin sighed, "Arlic, you have the ability to heal yourself, and it is called regeneration," 

"Really, I thought I have a lot of energy in me, that's what everyone says about me," I replied. 

"I think we need to have a class over basic knowledge," Korin said and nodded to himself. 

'Yes, that's what I was waiting for,' I thought and got excited internally. 

"Also, I have come up with a good way to train you," Korin said, and I tilted my head in confusion, "Look at your arms and legs, kid"

I lowered my vision and raised my hands to my chest level and suddenly, thick black armbands appeared on my wrists and ankles. This took me by surprise, as I wasn't able to adjust myself to the change in weight, I… well fell face-first on the floor. 

"Hahaha, be careful, kid," Korin said while laughing. 

"Master, what are you trying to do," I asked with my face still placed on the floor. 

"These are weight armbands, they will help you train", Korin explained, "Each one of them weighs 50 Kg," 

"Get used to them first, then we'll start your training," Korin said, "Now, go to the upper floor and start training," 

"Master, can you help me stand," I asked, raising my head. 

"He-he", Korin chuckled, "No" 

Korin then walked back to the upper floor, leaving me alone on the lower floor. 

"Ugh," I cried out in annoyance. 

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[Time Skip - 10 days]

After training for 10 days with weight bands, I was able to adjust myself to them. Although it's still difficult, but I can make some movements.

During these 10 days, I didn't rush my training, now that I finally know the timeline, I have made an excellent plan to leisurely train myself with all the knowledge I have.

During these 10 days, Korin gave me lessons on the basic knowledge, he taught me about Ki, different kinds of abilities he has seen in his life, and most importantly Magic. Although he only went over the knowledge of what is magic and magical energy, but he unknowingly gave me the knowledge I wanted the most. 

Magic is, as known by many, the most underrated power in the Dragon Ball world, because if you are proficient enough you can even control the strongest with a sliver of magical energy, and I had decided from the beginning that I would go for the close combat mage route. If only team 7 brought a fighting magician to TOP, they could've easily healed themselves while fighting, and this would've helped in lots of things.

"Hey, kid" Korin yelled, and brought me out of my meditative state.

"Yes, Master," I replied with my eyes still closed

"I think you're enough used to the weight bands, right," Korin inquired.

"Yes, I'm able to move enough," I replied.

"That's good, say kid, can you run a small errand for me," Korin asked.

"What is it this time, Master," I asked.

"Well, I am really happy that you brought fish for me, but you see, we don't have any wood here to cook them," Korin explained, "So, I want you to go down and bring some wood here," 

"Wha… but you know magic, cook it with magical fire," I retorted.

"Kid, fish doesn't taste good if cooked in magical fire," Korin replied, "That is why I want you to go fetch me some wood,"

"But, master…" I tried to deny it.

"Kid, do you want me to train you or not", Korin said with a serious voice.

"Okay," I replied with a pout.

I stood up and started walking towards the stairs to the lower floor.

"Make sure to bring evenly cut wood blocks," Korin said happily as I was on my way to the lower floor.

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[Time Skip - 8 days ]

After 8 days, 1 day of slow descent and 7 days of challenging climb, I have returned to the top of the tower. This time, climbing the tower made me powerful enough that I'm now comfortable in these weight bands. As I placed the wooden blocks on the side, I saw Korin entering the lower floor.

"Master, I have brought you the wood," I said with a bow,

"Hmm, great, now why don't you go to the upper floor, so we can start your training," Korin said with a chuckle, "Also your new weight bands are there make sure to wear them by the time I'm there,"

"New weight bands?" I inquired 

"Yeah, each one of them weighs 80 kg," Korin replied, "Now, go, or do you want to climb down again"

Hearing his words I immediately turned and ran towards the upper floor.

"Kekekeke, I'm loving it," Korin said while grinning ear to ear.

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{Current Power Level - 145} 

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A great shout out to my friend 'noble_anime', although it was pre-decided that MC will learn magic, but my friend here suggested it before it was revealed, so great idea my friend.

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If you have any suggestions for me, please help me and comment them.

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If you have any ideas that I can use in this story, tell it to me, if you're idea is selected in the story I'll give you a shout out.

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