A Warrior in Hell

Picking Up the Pieces

Bulma asks about Kami taking Goku's body, and Kame-Sen'nin expresses relief that a god is involved. Kuririn spots the Four-Star Ball on Gohan's hat and declares they must gather the remaining six to bring Goku back. Piccolo explains the scouter device Raditz wore, which detects strength and location. Bulma retrieves it from Raditz's corpse and plans to tinker with it at home, hoping it can track down Yamcha and Tenshinhan.

When Kame-Sen'nin asks Piccolo his plans, Piccolo responds by regrowing his severed arm, startling everyone. He announces he will take Gohan. Kuririn suspects Piccolo intends to eat the boy, earning a furious denial. Piccolo explains that Gohan has enormous latent fighting potential and he intends to draw it out before the Saiyans arrive. He threatens anyone who interferes and promises to return Gohan in one year.

The Road to King Kai

In the afterlife, a grand station sits among the clouds where souls file through a building marked "WELL COME." Kami stands before the towering desk of Enma-Daio, judge of the dead, requesting that Goku receive training from King Kai. Enma-Daio reviews Goku's record and warns that reaching King Kai means braving Serpent Road rather than simply passing into Heaven. Kami confirms this is the plan.

Goku asks whether all the dead come here, even aliens, and learns every soul in the universe is judged at this station. Enma-Daio recalls sending Raditz to Hell and boasts about subduing him. Goku is impressed and suggests training under Enma-Daio instead, but Kami whispers that King Kai is stronger still. With Enma-Daio's blessing, Goku heads out. An oni drives him to the starting point and explains the path stretches one million kilometers. Goku asks the oni to relay through Uranai Baba a message for Kame-Sen'nin: do not wish him back for a full year. Then he takes off running.