Beyond A Failed Future - Chapter 4.1 (Patreon)

Training with someone else was a whole other kettle of fish Ronan was quick to learn.

Especially someone massively stronger and more skilled than you.

Especially training under Son Goku.

The man was a maniac when it came to training. And previously, Ronan thought he was going above and beyond when it came to training.

As it turned out, what he considered going above and beyond, was nothing compared to Son Goku's definition of it.

Sparring.

Sparring

And more sparring.

Fighting at his maximum with no break for hours on end. Beaten straight into unconsciousness and being forced back awake with a transfer of energy and then getting right back into it with technique training or training his body.

Hell, even while he was in the depths of a raging manic episode while drawing on the demonic power within his body, Goku was literally talking in his head, coaching him…with telepathy of all things.

He was exposed to it so much that it was probably no surprise he ended up picking it up himself among a few other techniques.

"…So this is the one that turned up a month ago," a deep voice he did not recognise spoke from above him, rousing him from his unconscious state after he'd been crushed once again by Goku during a spar, "When he turned up at first I thought Garlic Junior was making another return attempt."

"He does kind of feel like him doesn't he?" Goku's familiar laughter rang in his ears a moment later.

"Well, he's at least not as ugly as that fool," the other voice snorted, "Still from a time in the future where we're all dead huh? This kid's got a long way to go before he's a threat to something stronger than you are as a super saiyan."

"Eh, I dunno, he's pretty talented, his power has increased by a lot and he in that demon form of his he could beat Frieza's first form, maybe his second one as well with the Kaioken." Goku replied and Ronan could practically hear him shrug.

"Hmph, I never said he didn't have talent, just that he's up against some real monsters," the other voice responded, "And speaking as someone who was formerly part of the Demon Clan, I can tell you you're using that power wrong boy."

He was speaking directly to Ronan…meaning he knew he was awake.

Ronan opened his eyes and stared up into a tall, broad shouldered green skinned man with elfin ears.

Piccolo.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Oh, you were awake?" Goku blinked and laughed again, apparently not having noticed.

Piccolo snorted, "I will say you're way of going about it is rather unique and you've given me some ideas myself," the Namekian crossed his arms, "But using it as a transformation is counter productive right now for you. Balancing it while trying to use the kaioken requires a lot of control, at this rate you'd be better off embracing the power in full and becoming a member of the Demon Clan. Not only will it raise your base power and increase your life span and potential, it will make your body better able to handle the kaioken, not to mention as a Demon Clan member you'd be able to learn how to use magic."

…Wait, if he became a demon clan member in full he could use magic?

Wait, that wasn't important right now, "A multiplying transformation is better in the long run." Ronan shook his head and pushed himself up to his feet.

"Debateable, if it was a form like a super saiyan I'd agree, but the multiplier isn't that massive," Piccolo snorted, "But let me ask you something, do you have that time? Well I suppose if you want to stick around here you do."

Ronan grimaced.

He wasn't expecting Piccolo to just show up out of nowhere like this. But…he did need to return soon. This wasn't actually the past and more like a simulation. Time was still flowing normally in his actual time.

And a month had passed.

In that month, his power had ballooned massively in scope, near five times over by his reckoning and with Goku's help he'd not only got the basics of the Kaioken down, but even learned to control his demon transformation.

"Bit harsh Piccolo aren't ya?" Goku pointed out, "He's got the first bit of Kaioken down already in just a month, that's pretty amazing."

"Only because a simpleton like you knows how to break something like that down for others to understand easy," Piccolo replied with a shrug, "It will take him a while though before he can push it to any further states, he doesn't have that convenient saiyan biology like you after all. And controlling it while using a transformation not innate to his body, will limit how far he can get with it I'm sure, or is there another reason why I never see you use that technique as a super saiyan?"

Goku rubbed the back of his head sheepishly at the probing look the Namekian gave him, "…Yeah I tried it once and nearly exploded." he admitted.

"Exactly," Piccolo scoffed, rolling his eyes. He turned his attention back to Ronan, "You need all the advantages you can get kid, like this." the green skinned man thrust two fingers out and a beam of light erupted from it and hit the ground.

As it did, a book poofed into existence?

"Use it that as you will, but I won't hold your hand." Piccolo huffed and turned around…promptly blasting into the air and flying away.

Ronan stared after him blankly.

"What was that about?" he wondered. Piccolo just turned up, berated him and left.

That was so weird.

And not at all how he thought his possible first meeting with Piccolo would go. And to think he'd been looking forward to it.

"Eh, don't mind him, Piccolo's just a big softy inside and wanted to help," Goku laughed again, reaching down to pick up the book, "Looks like he left instructions on how to use some basic magic stuff."

….Huh.

Though, that was kind of useless to him. He could try and memorize it, but he really should be leaving soon. He couldn't exactly take things with him from here.

'Become a full member of the demon clan huh?' he mused thoughtfully. Piccolo wasn't wrong in how tough it was to hold the kaioken with the demon form. He could only sustain it for like two minutes at this point and it took all his concentration.

He thought he'd be able to get over it with more time training, but Piccolo implied it would be pretty hard.

Even if he could fully control it now though, it was still a pretty big commitment.

'…I do have a camera in my dino capsule.' he idly thought. It was one of the many items he'd scrounged while he was living in West City.

"Well, don't think on it too hard, take your time," Goku pat him on the shoulder and grinned, hanging him the book, "In the meantime, how bout' we go catch some grub?"

"Alright." Ronan agreed, putting it out of mind for the moment.

"Let's go then!" Goku cheered and shot off into the air, Ronan following behind him.

Less than a minute later they arrived at a large river and Goku wasted no time stripping down to his boxers and diving straight in.

Snorting, Ronan sat down at the edge of the river and retrieved the camera he looted from his dino cap and began to snap pictures of the pages while he waited for Goku to return.

It wouldn't be long before he returned with a giant fish bigger than both of them combined and set up a camp fire to cook it.

'…I'm gonna miss this.' Ronan noted as Goku drooled over the roasting fish. It was fun to just…relax after training, and while he the fish never filled his belly, the taste was still good.

It wasn't just fighting techniques he learned from the saiyan.

And every night since he'd got here, he'd camp out under the stars with his teacher in Goku and just…talk to him. Asking about his adventures, his friends, his family, his techniques, things he enjoyed.

It was just all too bad, he'd all but accomplished his goals here and would be returning to his own time soon.

Really, the only thing he didn't get from Goku that he wanted to, was learning Instant Transmission. Apparently, he didn't have good enough 'Spirit Control' to teach it to someone else and in his own words was bad with it.

He would need to seek the Yardrats out himself if he wanted to learn it.

______________

On his last night before he turned to his time, Ronan talked with Goku right up until the man fell asleep.

And then he pondered.

On Piccolo's words.

And he decided, to take his advice.

When Goku awoke the next morning, it was to find Ronan red eyed and sat serenely cross legged, idly flipping through the book Piccolo had left him.

While he had taken the photo's of it, it wasn't as good as the book itself and it would be rude to not use the book at all at that.

"So you decided to take Piccolo's advice, huh?" Goku noted with a grin, before it faded into a frown, "Guess that means you're leaving soon."

"….Yeah." Ronan replied simply. He'd asked about and learned everything he needed from techniques to even where Frieza died and the condition of his and his father's bodies.

There was a possibility of him having another avenue to power through them after all. And once twenty four hours had passed, he'd fully become a member of the demon clan.

"Well…that's…a bit disappointing," Goku clicked his tongue in disappointing, letting loose a sigh, his muscular shoulders slumping, "It's been a fun month training with you Ronan."

"Yeah…I'll never forget it." Ronan replied, looking wistfully up into the sky.

Goku said nothing for a moment and they both just basked in the silence, before he abruptly clapped his hands, "Alright then, since it's your last day here, how about we have a spar?" he grinned, "We'll go all out against each other!"

Ronan snorted, "I don't even come close to your full strength." he pointed out.

"It would make for a fun challenge though, right?" Goku's grin widened.

Ronan couldn't help it, he laughed, "Alright, sure, but there's one thing I need to do before I leave." he agreed.

"Oh, what's that?" Goku grinned his black hair flickering gold and eyes flashing a powerful teal.

"Can you take me to meet Korin?" Ronan asked. He needed to know if there was any possibility of him growing senzu beans in the future.

"Sure," Goku nodded, "If you can land hit on me that is." he added teasingly, a huge burst of golden power erupting around his form as he ascended into the Super Saiyan form and a truly monstrous weight of power pressed down on his shoulders.

"….That's just not fair." Ronan deadpanned.

___________

Suffice to say, Ronan lost.

It wasn't even a contest. Never mind landing a blow, he couldn't even see Goku moving casually.

He did manage to get a hit in by technicality. A fan that could conjure a hurricane was helpful like that.

He was still a good enough sport to take him to see Korin though. Even if, what he wanted to hear, wasn't good news.

"….Looks like I'm back." Ronan sighed, finding himself once again in a familiar dark clock filled room. As soon as he heard what he needed to from Korin, the world had turned hazy around him and he'd returned.

He hadn't even been able to say goodbye, not that the Goku there would remember. He didn't exist after all.

Sorrow thrummed in the teens chest and he sighed, slumping to his backside and just staring at the wall.

…He honestly felt like crying.

The future timeline truly did suck. Why did he have to find himself in this timeline? It really wasn't fair. What he heard from Korin was enough to confirm that.

…There was only one senzu bean stalk in existence and it could only grow beans within at a specific altitude and position. That was why Korin's home was located where it was apparently.

He just had to hope the senzu stalk was still in existence in this world. Korin had told him of a spot where he'd hide it, now he just needed to check if Korin of this time had actually sensed his death approaching and hid it.

God, knowing his luck it wouldn't be. Not fair at all.

"…But then life isn't fair." he grimaced, sighing in defeat, but soldiering on and pushing himself up.

There was still shit to do after all and if he didn't, this world was fucked until a time machine was made and Trunks came back strong enough to defeat the androids.

Assuming this wasn't the timeline the original Cell came from and went to the past. At which point where would be no Gohan or Trunks in the future to help fight off any crazy strong monsters that came from space.

He left the Pendulum Room behind.

__________

Son Goku SSJ1 Battle Power: 587,500,000
Ronan Demon Form + Kaioken Battle Power: 798,758