"Are you certain they are a million times stronger than you and me?" Gohan tries to reconfirm the unbelievable things he just heard.
He only gets a nod in return.
"If that's really the case, the world... no, the universe is truly amazing," he blurts out.
"Yes, the universe is so unimaginably immense that if some aliens decided to invade us right now, the power we earthlings currently possess wouldn't even be worth mentioning. There are beings out there who can erase us in an instant," Shen says firmly.
"But didn't you say we have better martial-art techniques than them?"
"Our martial arts are worthless if we get exterminated on a whim. That's why I ask for your help. You don't have to do much... just stay alive, grow stronger, and train strong disciples. Only if we can do that much, will we have a chance at survival."
"But can we truly resist the aliens with just that?"
"I can't exactly say what will happen in the future, but we can survive. Human resilience, at least, is unmatched in the whole universe."
"So how do we grow stronger? I don't see how I can get stronger at this age."
To that, Shen stays silent. He just reprimands Gohan in his heart: 'Even old Roshi, a 300-year-old fossil, could get strong enough to fight in the Tournament of Power, so why can't you? Your innate talent shouldn't be worse.'
Although he thinks all that, he obviously can't say it... and it's also not like he doesn't understand Gohan's uncertainty.
It is only natural to doubt his words. Before coming here, Shen had worried if Gohan would even believe anything he said. Thankfully, such worry turned out to be unfounded as at least Gohan is willing to listen.
So he further reasons with Gohan.
"Of course, it's hard for humans to reach the dominating power that some races are just born with, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. If we can utilize every opportunity and talent we have, we can usher in a new age for humanity."
"Are there such opportunities available here on Earth?" Gohan excitedly asks.
"Yes, there are, and even in other places in the universe where we can find such opportunities. Are you willing to start a new journey after the end?"
Gohan takes a long breath. "So a different future from dying a stagnant death? Of course I am in," Gohan affirms with a convincing voice.
"Hahaha, I knew you would agree. So why don't we get to it right now! Hahaha," Shen laughs confidently.
"You want us to start now?"
"Yes, we are going to climb the Korin Tower."
"Ehh? But I am still recovering," Gohan's fatigued face pales.
"Worry not! It will take us some time to reach there by vehicle. You can recover on the way."
"But still!" Gohan's eyebrows twitch with unwillingness.
After three days...
In a vast forest, somewhere along the northern hemisphere
A tall, imposing structure comes into view from inside a peculiar car.
The vehicle flies slightly above the treeline. It is on its way to the tall tower.
While the car rapidly approaches its destination, inside it, one of the passengers, Son Gohan, exclaims something...
"I thought the name Korin Tower sounded familiar. So it's really the tower of the god of martial arts that Master Roshi had talked about long ago."
"Exactly! Now we just have to climb this tower and do a sort of training there. Although I heard it took Roshi three years to pass the test, we could probably do it in three days."
"Can we really?"
Shen is adamant in belief. "Rest assured, Roshi was nothing but a youngster when he climbed the tower. We, on the other hand, are already old men. It would be more weird if we didn't complete it in three days."
...
Halfway through the tower, the two old fogies are already heaving like donkeys.
Night has already fallen; however, darkness hasn't completely enveloped them, as the starry sky has provided them with sufficient light.
"Looking up from the base, I knew it would be tall, but not to such a degree," Gohan grumbles.
"Phewww! Just bear with it. I have a feeling we are almost there. At the very least, we must have reached the halfway point. It is only a matter of time until we make it to the top."
Shen tries to console the man, though he himself wasn't faring any better...
Continuing the journey in their exhausted state could prove to be dangerous, so they decide to take ample rest until morning.
They strap themselves tightly with ropes around the circumference of the tower.
The next day, after hours of grueling climbing, they finally catch a glimpse of the top.
At last finding their solace, the two men hurriedly climb the tower, desperately aiming to reach the top...
Only after accomplishing it do they catch their breath.
They are now standing on a dome-like platform at the top. Looking down from here, they reflect on how it took them nearly a whole day in total of ascending the tower to arrive at this place.
A short while later, the two men see a fat bipedal cat approaching, surprising the two... but deep down, not really, as Shen already knew the truth.
More weirdly enough, the cat starts speaking.
"Who would have expected, rather than young people, it is two old guys that have climbed the tower..."
"I am Korin; the Cat Hermit, by the way," the old cat states, further surprising the two—minus one.
"Are you really Korin-sama?" Gohan, witnessing the legendary Korin, the so-called god of martial arts, couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, got any problem with it?"
For a few seconds, Gohan deeply looks at Korin, trying to discern the validity of the cat's identity. "Oh well!" Somehow, he quickly accepts it. [A/N- It's a reference, did you get it??]
"As you two have done well reaching here, what do you want from me?" Korin can already guess, but he still asks for the sake of formalities.
Gohan is compelled to look at Shen, waiting for him to speak first...
"Strength! We want you to make us stronger."
Korin nods. "It turned out as expected. You seek strength, as anyone should."
Right then, Gohan couldn't help but ask,
"Korin-sama, I heard you give out magical water to whoever climbs the tower. Is that true?" He tries to confirm if the rumors circulating around are true or not.
"You could say it is true, but it is also not."
Gohan wonders, "Which is it?"
Korin just scoffs and starts to laugh weirdly. "H-o ho ho H-o!" Following that, he points his wooden cane at an ornate platform to the side. "Look on top, the sacred water is in that container."
"So can we drink the water?"
"You can... after you get through me." The old cat swiftly picks up the kettle with the end of his cane and starts dangling it midair.
"So who is going to come first?" Korin tries to taunt the two.
"I will. it will end in no time." Shen declares while stepping forward.
"Ho ho, we will see about that." The old cat knows, the old guy is not bluffing. he could actually do it... Shen's strength isn't very far off from his-own, Korin can feel it.
The water inside the container sways and makes a gurgling sound, marking the start of the test.