Dragon Ball: The Strongest Training

Lazuli's expressionless gaze, as if she were looking at a stranger, left Krillin deeply distressed. It was genuinely painful.

"Is it because of Ciel?" Krillin wondered uneasily.

Before meeting Ciel, Krillin thought having Lazuli in his life would be enough. His plan was simple: steadily grow stronger, wait for Lazuli to awaken, then marry her and start a family.

But after meeting the ethereal Ciel, Krillin realized he might have fallen for her prematurely. Yet he didn't feel unworthy—he was a man with a system, after all. By growing stronger and biding his time, he was confident he could gain the strength to protect Ciel.

The fact that he had come to the Dragon Ball world to live in Krillin's place must have been fate. If he was going to live this life, he wouldn't hold back. Forget making choices like a child—he wanted everything!

He vowed to gain unparalleled strength before Lazuli awakened so he could be worthy of both pursuing and protecting her.

Lazuli, in Krillin's view, was a tsundere. He defined her as: "Someone who speaks harshly, acts proud and strong-willed, but under the right circumstances becomes shy and deeply affectionate." Lazuli perfectly fit that description.

As for Ciel, Krillin felt deep down that she was still the lively, adorable, and thoughtful girl she used to be, but the weight of her responsibilities had forced her to suppress that side of herself.

No matter what, Krillin liked them both. Forget childish decisions—he would have them all!

Having sorted out his feelings, Krillin's mood lightened considerably. His most pressing task now was to increase his strength. This was a world where power reigned supreme.

The night had passed, and dawn was breaking.

"Krillin? What's gotten into you?" Skar, who had just woken up, walked over to Krillin's resting spot, looking puzzled.

"What do you mean? Can't you see how happy I am?" Krillin snapped, still holding on to some frustration from the previous day. Of course, he wasn't truly angry at Skar—he was just venting a little.

"You didn't sleep at all last night, did you? Look at those dark circles under your eyes!" Skar teased with a grin.

"What? It's that bad?" Krillin quickly checked his reflection in a shiny object and saw his weary appearance.

"It shouldn't be this bad just from skipping one night of sleep. Could it be... that weird texture I got lost in yesterday drained too much of my mental energy?" Krillin speculated. It was a reasonable guess. For someone as strong as him, it was rare to experience dreams, let alone fatigue.

Krillin quickly popped a Senzu Bean, knowing he needed to look his best when meeting Ciel later.

"Can we go see Ciel now?" Krillin asked Skar.

Skar didn't understand why Krillin was so eager to meet the princess. Was it for the Perseus Stones? Still, he replied without hesitation, "No problem this time. Let's go!"

If Krillin knew what Skar was thinking, he'd scoff. "Perseus Stones? Ha! Such a low-level tactic. Once Ciel is mine, the entire Perseus System will follow!"

Skar led Krillin toward the central temple. As they approached, Krillin carefully examined its architectural style. The structure featured high, vaulted arches, creating an impressively spacious interior.

Upon entering, Krillin noticed the stark contrast between the temple's exterior and interior. The inside was simple and unadorned, lacking the opulence of a typical royal palace.

Ciel was seated inside. When she saw Krillin, she gave him a slight nod.

The moment Krillin entered, his attention was drawn to Ciel. She was no longer wearing the crimson battle robe from the previous day but instead donned a scarlet dress. Her silver hair and glassy, jewel-like eyes gave her an ethereal presence.

Ciel seems a bit more spirited today. Her pale face has regained a hint of color, but it doesn't look like the treatment had much effect, Krillin speculated silently.

Ciel noticed Krillin staring at her. His gaze was bright and free of any impure thoughts. In her calm, soft voice, she said, "Krillin, please have a seat."

Hearing her words, Krillin snapped out of his thoughts. He smiled awkwardly and replied, "Oh, sure." He quickly sat down.

"Damn it, how embarrassing. It's just a new outfit. Why did I space out like that?" Krillin berated himself internally.

"I didn't get a chance to thank you properly yesterday for helping the Perseus people. Thank you so much, Krillin," Ciel said in her gentle, melodic voice.

"It was nothing, really. Just a small effort on my part. No need to thank me repeatedly," Krillin said with a smile.

Ciel's expression remained calm, but her impression of Krillin improved slightly. After hearing "Princess" countless times, it felt refreshing to be addressed by her name. Since her father's passing, no one had called her "Ciel."

"Oh, by the way, Ciel, try this," Krillin said as he pulled out a Senzu Bean from his portable capsule.

Standing nearby, Skar's eyes lit up when he saw the familiar bean. He exclaimed, "Princess, this bean is miraculous! I was seriously injured before, but after eating one, I recovered instantly!"

Ciel looked at the shriveled bean in Krillin's hand with some curiosity. Still, she trusted Skar's words.

"I'll give it a try," she said calmly.

Instead of tossing the bean to her, Krillin walked over.

Ciel extended her hand slowly. Her small, delicate hand was as smooth and white as jade—exquisite to behold.

Krillin gently placed the Senzu Bean in her palm. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her hand, which was silky smooth and cool like fine jade, sending ripples through Krillin's heart.

After handing over the bean, Krillin turned and walked away. As he glanced back, he caught Ciel's bright, clear eyes, filled with a serene intelligence.

Krillin gave her a firm look as if to say, "This will definitely heal you!"

Ciel seemed to understand his unspoken message. She nodded slightly without realizing it. Even after Krillin had returned to his seat, she was still puzzled by her own instinctive reaction.

Studying the Senzu Bean, she murmured softly, "I can sense a strong vitality within it."

Ciel slowly opened her petal-like lips, which gleamed faintly, and placed the Senzu Bean in her mouth, chewing it carefully.

"Well? How is it?" Skar asked eagerly.

Suddenly, Ciel's eyes opened. Her face looked noticeably more vibrant, and even her gaze seemed livelier.

But Krillin noticed she still appeared somewhat fatigued. "You're not fully recovered yet?" he asked anxiously.

Ciel nodded slightly. "The physical injuries are completely healed, but the mental trauma won't be as easy to recover from."

From her voice, Krillin could tell she was suppressing her true feelings, trying to sound composed and detached.

In that moment, Krillin couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.

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