Son Gohan, the Inconsolable

Survival Begins

Piccolo explains that before any real combat training, Gohan must endure six months of survival in the wild, completely alone. The boy is horrified, insisting he will die out here by himself. Piccolo tells him he will have bloodthirsty beasts for company and that roughing it will toughen him both mentally and physically. He reminds Gohan that the fate of the world rests on his shoulders, then tells him to believe in his own strength and learn to bring it out.

With that, Piccolo departs and warns Gohan not to run. This area is paradise compared to the surrounding terrain. Gohan cries out, asking where the food, bathroom, and bed are, and Piccolo simply laughs. Gohan calls him cruel, and Piccolo agrees, saying cruelty is in his nature.

Kami's Observation

On the Lookout, Kami reflects on Piccolo's unusual behavior. Mr. Popo agrees that the original Piccolo Daimao would never have bothered strengthening Goku's son. Kami notes that Raditz moved on to the afterlife normally after death, something that should not happen to victims of the Demon Tribe. This confirms that Piccolo is genuinely different. Kami suspects Piccolo knows he will likely die when the Saiyans arrive, which means Kami will perish as well. Perhaps Piccolo is trying to leave something behind, even if that legacy is Goku's child. Mr. Popo brings up the Dragon Balls, and Kami solemnly reveals that the next use will be the last.

Alone in the Wild

Gohan wanders the wilderness, terrified and crying. A dinosaur appears, and the boy bolts. He trips and falls, but leaps clear just as the beast snaps its jaws. Somehow he lands atop a tall mountain far above the creature, then wails about being stuck. By nightfall he lies sniffling on the summit until he discovers a few apples nearby. He eats them eagerly, though they taste sour and there are no apple trees in sight. Gohan cries for proper food while Piccolo watches from a distance, visibly annoyed. Meanwhile, Goku continues hopping along Serpent Road.