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It was late at night.
Harry was already home, lying on his bed, lost in thought.
The battle with Raditz had given him a lot to think about — and a lot to gain.
Sure, there'd been a few unexpected moments, but in the end, none of that really mattered.
Thinking back on what Bardock had said to him and Raditz, Harry realized something important: even if he could fight above his weight and give Raditz a hard time, that didn't mean he was stronger — just clever. A lucky edge, nothing more.
If they fought again, Raditz would quickly figure him out.
Unless Harry came up with a new strategy, Raditz would defeat him even faster next time — with less effort too.
The truth was, Harry still had a long way to go. His experience was thin, and the only way to grow was to fight, fail, and learn. Real experience — no shortcuts.
What he didn't expect, though, was Bardock suddenly saying he'd personally train him and Raditz over the next few days.
That was unheard of.
Even Raditz had begged his father before, and Bardock had always refused.
For him to offer now, completely on his own — Harry could tell it meant something. Bardock must've sensed the storm that was coming. This was his way of preparing them, of giving them a better chance to survive.
He was even including Celari.
"Training together, huh? Bardock's not subtle at all… Does he really think I've got a thing for that little girl?" Harry sighed to himself. "She's cute, sure, but she's a bit… forceful. And besides, I'm not into little girls."
He rubbed his forehead, exasperated.
Celari's crush on him was obvious — anyone could see it.
To be honest, Harry had thought about it more than once. But he didn't want to get attached. Didn't want to drag anyone else into his mess.
Because he knew he couldn't save everyone.
He'd thought about that girl more than once these past few days, but even now, he wasn't sure if his plan would work. No point in getting emotional before he had answers.
"While Bardock's training us, I'll start putting my plan into action — little by little."
Murmuring to himself, Harry meditated for a while longer, then drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Harry woke up feeling refreshed. After a quick wash, he stepped outside — Celari was already waiting.
She looked excited, probably because of Bardock's promise to train them.
For any low-class Saiyan, Bardock's status was legendary. His strength alone made him someone to look up to.
Celari, too, was driven by the desire to grow stronger. Among warriors her age, she was one of the best.
She could've easily taken a support role, working logistics like most female Saiyans. But that wasn't her style — she refused to be left behind. That fiery spirit was part of why Harry thought she was so strong-headed.
Maybe it also had something to do with losing her parents on a mission last year.
A few minutes later, Raditz came stumbling out of his house, half-awake and clearly not a morning person.
The three greeted each other, though Raditz and Celari didn't say much beyond that.
Inside, Gine had already prepared a feast — as always, Saiyans had huge appetites, and every meal looked like a banquet.
After breakfast, Bardock led them to a small hill just outside the city.
"I'll only have about two hours today," he said. "After that, Raditz and I need to head to the palace. So I'll just go over some basic power control and breathing techniques."
As Bardock began teaching, his serious side took over.
And as expected — his methods worked.
For two straight hours, he drilled them on fundamental techniques: energy control, body coordination, and the rhythm of breathing during combat.
To Raditz and Celari, it was priceless knowledge.
For Harry, who already had a decent grasp of ki cultivation, it was easy. He picked it up in minutes.
It reminded him why mastery of ki was such a big deal in the first place — once your ki control reached a certain level, everything else improved faster.
Even though the future would bring the era of divine energy, surpassing ki training in power, true ki mastery would never go out of style. At the highest level, it could rival any god's power.
After Bardock and Raditz left for the palace, Harry and Celari stayed behind to keep training.
It quickly turned into Harry teaching her instead.
Kind of ridiculous, but that's how it went — he'd grasped the lessons so fast, while Celari kept fumbling through them that he couldn't stand to just watch.
Under his patient guidance, she finally started to get it.
Harry didn't realize it, but it was these small moments — his quiet kindness, his attention — that made the girl fall for him even more deeply.
Meanwhile, in the royal city — inside the palace.
After parting ways with Raditz, Bardock went alone to meet King Vegeta.
No one knew what was discussed in that meeting. Not a single guard, not even the elite soldiers standing outside.
Though Bardock was technically a low-class warrior, King Vegeta treated him with an unusual amount of respect.
They exchanged a few pleasantries first, before the conversation turned to Frieza's army — and what had happened on Planet Cereal.
Bardock didn't hold much back. His words were sincere, even loyal.
As he described what he'd seen, King Vegeta's anger boiled over — but there was nothing he could do.
He forced himself to calm down, suppressing his rage before assigning Bardock his next mission.
"This time, when you go to Planet Kanassa," King Vegeta said, his tone low and heavy, "keep your eyes open. Frieza's unusually interested in that planet — I want to know why."
Then his expression hardened.
"We Saiyans will not remain Frieza's dogs forever. For years we've conquered worlds in his name — and what have we gained? Lies, manipulation, betrayal!
"Bardock, once you complete this mission, I'll summon all the elite and upper-class warriors in secret.
"When you take Kanassa, I'll prepare a little gift for Frieza myself."
The ambition burning in King Vegeta's eyes said it all.
He'd long set his sights on the throne of the universe.
"Yes, King Vegeta," Bardock answered firmly. "I'll depart in ten days — no, within a week. I'll capture Planet Kanassa as fast as possible."
The king nodded, expression stern but satisfied.
"Good. And don't worry about your son. I've made all the arrangements. In a week, Prince Vegeta will lead a squad to invade Planet Lampa — your boy will be under his protection."
"Planet Lampa, huh? Understood," Bardock said, not arguing, not resisting.
King Vegeta saw the hesitation in his eyes but didn't press the issue. "Go. Spend some time with your wife and sons while you can. I heard your youngest has a power level of only two — don't let that trouble you too much."
A calculated mix of authority and reassurance — King Vegeta knew how to handle his warriors.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave."
Bardock bowed deeply, then turned and walked out of the great hall.
"..."
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