Dragon Ball Human

Why is Son Goku stronger than Vegeta?

The answers lies in the difference in how Goku and Vegeta view strength, their perspectives are different.

Vegeta has chased Kakarot for most of his life, always seeing only his back. The reason behind this, Vegeta only realized at the end of the Buu saga, on the divine land of the Supreme Kai's planet. It was only then that he truly understood the gap between him and Goku, and why Goku always managed to stay a step ahead.

The two approached strength with different hearts.

In terms of mindset, Vegeta, the prince of the warrior race, had always been inferior to that lowly warrior, Kakarot.

---

More than three months later.

On the edge of a steep cliff, the view was expansive, the vast Paozu Mountain range stretching as far as the eye could see.

The setting sun bathed the landscape in a golden-green hue, like a field of ripened wheat. The beauty of the sunset was boundless. At the cliff's edge stood a small figure, performing a one-handed handstand, training alone. The position was dangerously close to the edge, and one misstep could send him plummeting to his death, but the boy executed the move smoothly without fear or hesitation.

This boy, of course, was Yamiru.

Since he had gained a preliminary understanding of martial arts and successfully learned the Kamehameha over three months ago, Yamiru's strength had seemed to break through some invisible barrier, steadily improving during this time.

Yamiru, however, did not possess the sharp judgment of other transmigrators. At the time, he had not noticed any wearable battle power scouter in Son Goku's flying machine, so he didn't have a clear numerical grasp of his own battle power — though it wasn't that Yamiru couldn't gauge his strength at all. Rather, with his growing training, he felt more and more that the energy within a martial artist was not directly proportional to the power they could display. It was also not directly tied to specific opponents or the outcomes of particular battles.

He had no idea about the Frieza Force's battle power calculation system, nor how much the "biological energy" of target lifeforms contributed to their formula, nor the specific coefficients they used. But the linear method of calculating battle power clearly didn't apply to martial artists.

The Frieza Force's commonly used battle power evaluation system was based on the idea that most warriors in the universe naturally grew stronger as their bodies developed — except for the Saiyans, whose powers grew with each battle, sometimes increasing dramatically after a fight. It was this predictable pattern of strength increase that allowed them to create a numerical system to measure battle power.

But martial artists were different from most warriors in the universe.

Martial artists were cultivators.

Cultivation meant breakthrough.

A breakthrough meant a leap forward.

It was often said that after the Dragon Ball series entered in its latter arcs, the battle power numbers became wildly exaggerated, with characters growing stronger at an unbelievable pace. However, this exaggeration was based on the fact that the Frieza Force's battle power evaluation system was used to measure Goku and others' growth.

If we discard the Frieza Force's numerical system and look at the parts where the battle power system was "broken", we see that when Raditz arrived, his power far exceeded that of Earth's strongest warriors at the time, Goku and Piccolo. This was not an isolated event, as Piccolo Daimao had once been far stronger than young Goku. Later, after training on King Kai's planet, Goku surpassed these powerful Saiyans, just like he did when he defeated Piccolo Daimao years ago.

When facing a strong opponent, Goku simply overcame them.

Whether it was Vegeta or Frieza, no matter how strong they were, Goku always fought to the death to surpass them.

The numbers, the battle power values, were just something the alien forces babbled on about. As Earth's martial artists, Goku and the others never truly acknowledged that kind of nonsense. The difference between a 520,000 battle power and a 90,000 battle power wasn't really a 5.8 times difference in power, as the Frieza Force believed. For Goku and his friends, they wouldn't be fooled by such mathematical games.

The true difference in strength was something high-level martial artists could judge by themselves, not by relying on a string of numbers.

In fact, after the Namek saga, the numerical battle power system ceased to appear — even in Vegeta, who had once been obsessed with such numbers.

Even the tech genius Dr. Gero, who had collected data on Vegeta and other aliens, was aware of the existence of battle power detection systems in extraterrestrial technology, yet he completely ignored it. Dr. Gero's technological level far surpassed that of the Frieza Force, and his decision to discard the system was rather telling.

If we set aside the numbers, the essence of the so-called "battle power collapse" was just Goku repeatedly growing stronger, defeating increasingly powerful opponents - nothing more.

This was something that had happened countless times, even when Goku was a child.

For martial artists like Goku, as long as there was a strong enemy to defeat, there was always the potential for a breakthrough.

This breakthrough mechanism was something most warriors in the universe would never experience in their entire lives. For the Saiyans, it was a passive skill activated by near-death experiences, a more visible active skill after reaching Super Saiyan, like the different Super Saiyan forms.

For martial artists, however, it was a continuous drive for progress, a strong desire to surpass themselves.

This belief in one's own potential to grow stronger, even to the point of necessity, was something no barbaric alien warrior possessed.

This breakthrough was not something that could simply be measured by numbers — just like how Cui was incredulous at Vegeta's transformation, Vegeta was also astonished at Goku's changes. This was because Vegeta had yet to completely free himself from the rigid numerical formula of the Frieza Force.

His heart had not yet awakened...

Tap tap.

Yamiru stood on his hands, his eyes closed, sweat dripping onto the ground. The mountain wind blew across his skin, bringing a refreshing coolness.

He enjoyed thinking things through during his training. Especially now that he had made some initial progress in his martial arts journey, he liked to ponder these fundamental aspects. Through this self-exploration process, he was slowly starting to understand the connection between ki and mind. Without the concern for his friends or the desire to surpass Frieza, how could Goku have made such a drastic breakthrough on Namek?

And speaking of mind...

Yamiru balanced himself on one hand, his golden eyes gleaming as they opened. The hue was deeper and more solid than it had been months ago when he first arrived at the mountain — a reflection of his strengthened resolve. He understood this transformation well; the Golden Veil mirrored the fluctuations of his inner heart, glowing or dimming based on his clarity of purpose.

The Golden Veil shone brighter now, aligned with his unwavering intent.

To Yamiru, these eyes seemed to possess traits akin to the essence of ki. He couldn't discern the deeper connection, but he was certain it carried profound significance. Perhaps being a transmigrator wasn't all bad luck after all.

Satisfied with his solo training, Yamiru pushed off the ground with one arm, flipping effortlessly onto his feet. He clenched his fists, testing his strength.

At this time of day, he would usually be hauling bricks at the construction site, tilling the fields with his bare hands, or undertaking some other grueling exercise. But over the past few days, such tasks had become too easy, rendering them ineffective for his training. After finishing the morning milk delivery and lunch, Yamiru had finally approached his master with a request: he no longer wished to engage in these mundane tasks.

Son Gohan had been slightly surprised at first, scrutinizing his disciple carefully before breaking into a pleased smile.

"A true martial artist must learn to judge their own capabilities accurately," he had said. "Following authority blindly won't help you grow; independent thought and judgment are crucial."

Yamiru had realized then that his master had been silently observing him for some time, waiting for him to notice this bottleneck and take initiative. His self-awareness had not disappointed.

This revelation left Yamiru deeply impressed with the wisdom of the Turtle School, which emphasized subtle, self-driven growth over explicit instructions. Even so, the truth remained: his training had hit a wall. He had asked Gohan what to do next.

It seemed the old man had already thought of a plan. He suggested Yamiru train alone for a few days while he prepared for a trip.

"Battle power..." Yamiru muttered, staring at his hands. "Who cares? As long as I'm getting stronger, that's enough. Strength and weakness can only be judged through experience!"

He was satisfied with this budding martial mindset of his. Yet, he couldn't help wondering what came next. Was Gohan preparing to take him and Goku to Master Roshi's house? That seemed like the most logical conclusion.

"Yamiru~!"

A familiar voice called out, drawing him from his thoughts. Turning, he saw the little figure of Son Goku approaching. Though he had only uttered his first words recently, the boy's speech skills had grown rapidly. Within a month, he was forming sentences and could now communicate with surprising ease. While complex phrases were still beyond him, he understood most of what he heard.

"Goku, huh," Yamiru greeted him. "Have you had dinner?"

Goku nodded, trailing beside him. "Uh-huh! Grandpa's packing something."

This matched Yamiru's expectations. When they reached the house, they found Son Gohan indeed preparing two bundles — one large, one small.

The fire pit was ready, and a spread of wild beats awaited them, courtesy of Gohan's hunting earlier that afternoon — perhaps with Goku's help. Though small in stature, Goku's strength far surpassed that of ordinary humans. While larger predators like tigers or bears might still pose a challenge, smaller game was no match for him, especially when driven by his bottomless appetite.

The three of them — grandfather, disciple, and grandson — enjoyed a harmonious meal together.

As usual, Goku devoured his food with pleasure, paying special attention to a particularly succulent roast fish. Both Yamiru and Gohan indulged his voracious appetite, silently offering him the best portions without complaint.

"Master," Yamiru eventually asked, "what exactly are you planning?"

Gohan smiled. "It's nothing extraordinary. Your training has lost its edge because the physical strain is no longer challenging you. Back when I trained under Master Roshi, he had me and Ox-King carry specially crafted Turtle Shells. They were incredibly heavy and greatly aided our development. I plan to visit him to request shells of varying weights for your continued training."

"I see," Yamiru nodded in understanding. His gaze shifted to the gleefully munching Goku. "So, does this mean you've decided to formally train Goku as well?"

Gohan chuckled. "This boy truly has a good heart."

Yamiru laughed and said, "In that case, we'd better be careful not to let Goku's tail grow back."

Son Gohan also chuckled and nodded.

"If all we need is the turtle shell..." Yamiru suddenly shifted his tone, as if an idea had occurred to him. He enthusiastically suggested, "Master, I think we don't need to go all the way out. Maybe there's another way to have the turtle shell delivered right to us."

"Oh?" Son Gohan asked curiously, "What method?"

Yamiru smiled and replied, "I remember telling you before, I once summoned the Flying Nimbus, right?"

Son Gohan responded, "You did mention it. The Flying Nimbus is a creation of the immortal beings that responds to a pure heart. The fact that you could summon it means your heart was temporarily elevated to a very pure state. However, to call the Nimbus, you either need the owner's consent or to maintain that pure state..."

"I can't do it now." Yamiru shook his head. "I don't know what got into me back then, but I managed to summon the Nimbus... But, Master, don't you also meet the Nimbus' requirements?"

Son Gohan chuckled, "Child, detaching oneself from worldly concerns and having a pure heart are two different things. My current state is much like many older, experienced folks, nothing special. If this could summon the Nimbus, then every old man and woman on the street should be able to do it."

He shook his head, adding, "Also, Master Roshi never passed the Nimbus down to me."

Yamiru understood, but he responded, "But even so, we can still summon the Flying Nimbus, Master."

"Hm?" The old man suddenly turned to see little Goku munching on some meat and then realized, "Ah, Goku! Of course, if it's Goku, he can definitely call the Nimbus."

Yamiru nodded with a smile, "Exactly! When it comes to pure hearts, I've never seen anyone more fitting than Goku."

Son Gohan agreed, but even though the Nimbus could be summoned, what did that have to do with what Yamiru had suggested about having the turtle shell brought to them? Seeing the confusion on his master's face, Yamiru explained, "I once rode the Nimbus, and at the time, I was so injured and disoriented, I barely remember what I said. But I did tell the Nimbus to fly towards Paozu Mountain before I lost consciousness."

He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "And sure enough, the Nimbus flew directly toward Paozu Mountain! Master, I only knew roughly where the mountain was, and I never told the Nimbus directly where to go. Unless it can read my memories, it could only mean that the Nimbus, which has been passed down through ancient times, knows the geography of Earth like the back of its hand! The Nimbus itself has intelligence. All it needs is for you to tell it where you want to go, and it'll take you there — even if you don't know where it is on Earth."

Son Gohan pondered carefully. His disciple's explanation made sense.

Although he was a disciple of Master Roshi, Master Roshi himself could no longer ride the Nimbus and hadn't planned to pass it down to his two disciples. So, Son Gohan didn't have the same familiarity with the Nimbus as Yamiru, who was a transmigrator familiar with the original story.

In fact, Yamiru had only realized that the Nimbus must have had built-in navigation functions that covered all of Earth! Wherever you point, that's where it will go.

So, the master and disciple called out to Goku to summon the Nimbus.

As long as it didn't interfere with his food, Goku was quite obedient. Wiping his greasy mouth, he raised his voice to the sky and called out, "Nimbus!"

Son Gohan and Yamiru watched the sky closely.

The dark sky suddenly lit up with a small glimmer, which quickly turned into a dark yellow streak, cutting across the sky at an incredible speed. With a "whoosh", it screeched to a stop right in front of Goku. The cloud billowed with rolling waves, and the little tail flicked, just like it had in the animation or the last time Yamiru had seen it.

Son Gohan couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic; it had been many years since he had last seen the Nimbus.

"Hehe, what's this?" Goku, curious as ever, asked. After shouting for the Nimbus, a fun-looking cloud had dropped from the sky. He immediately moved closer, took a bite, but found it wasn't edible. Unhappy, he climbed onto the Nimbus and began gnawing on it everywhere. The Nimbus, as if playing with him, would shift its clouds to prevent him from biting it. The monkey and cloud seemed to be having fun together.

It was clear Goku had no trouble! The master and disciple quietly admired this.

"Long time no see. Do you remember me, Nimbus?" Yamiru said, walking over.

Was he trying to butter up the cloud? Son Gohan quietly chuckled, watching as his disciple carefully placed his hand on the cloud and — it passed right through.

Yamiru dusted off his hands as though nothing had happened and returned to his master's side.

"Master, you should give it a try," Yamiru urged.

"Heh..." Son Gohan smiled gently. As an elder, he wasn't keen on losing face. "No need. I need to go back and write a letter. I'll have the Nimbus take it to Kame House. After Master Roshi sees my letter, he can have the Nimbus bring the shell we need for training." After saying that, he headed back to pack up his things and write the letter.

Goku was happily rolling around on the soft Nimbus, and Yamiru couldn't help but envy him. He knew the more he envied, the less likely he was to ride the Nimbus himself.

After a while, Son Gohan came back outside with a slightly smaller bundle, scooped Goku off the Nimbus, and placed the bundle on it.

Inside the bundle was the letter explaining the situation and some local specialties for Master Roshi.

Son Gohan patted Goku on the shoulder and said, "Goku, tell the Nimbus to take this to Kame House."

"Okay!" Goku nodded without thinking, waving his little hand and calling out, "Nimbus, take this to Kame House!"

Yamiru clearly saw the Nimbus' head bobbing up and down, responding with intelligence. Then, it carried the bundle and shot into the sky, disappearing into the night.

Goku clapped his hands in awe. "Wow, this thing is so fun!"

"Grandpa, will the Nimbus come back?" Goku asked, looking up at Son Gohan.

"Do you want it to come back?" Son Gohan asked kindly.

"Yes!" Goku said eagerly.

Son Gohan stroked Goku's head affectionately and said, "If you want it to, it will come back. That's the Nimbus for you; it answers the wishes of good children."

Goku, delighted, began dancing around in joy. Then, he suddenly turned to Yamiru and asked, "Isn't Yamiru a good kid?"

"I'm sorry for not being a good kid!" Yamiru rolled his eyes.

Son Gohan laughed heartily.

The three waited through the night, but the Nimbus didn't return, so they all went back to rest.

The next morning, at dawn.

There was a soft knock at the door, and someone called out, "Is Son Gohan here?"

The voice belonged to an old man.

Goku rubbed his eyes and opened the door to find an unfamiliar old man with a bald head, carrying the turtle shell. Still yawning, Goku asked, "Who are you, old man?"