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In a sprawling Marine training ground, the scorching sun baked the earth until the air shimmered with heat. Despite the intensity, the field was alive with activity. One soldier, his uniform drenched in sweat, gritted his teeth as he performed bicep curls. His veins bulged with effort as he focused entirely on the heavy dumbbell in his hand.
Suddenly, a small figure appeared in his line of sight. It was Goku, looking at the metal object with intense curiosity. "Hey, what's that you're holding?" the boy asked in a clear, chirpy voice.
The soldier nearly dropped his weight in surprise. Looking down, he saw a child who looked like he belonged on a playground, not a military training field. Assuming he was the son of an officer who had wandered off, the soldier offered a kind smile. "This is a dumbbell, little friend," he explained, setting the weight down.
"A dumbbell? So that's what it is," Goku chirped, nodding as if a great mystery had been solved. He had heard Krillin mention them back at Master Roshi's, but this was his first time seeing one in person.
"That's right. But you should be careful; it's dangerous here," the soldier said, patting Goku's head while scanning the area for a frantic parent. He saw Major Lanza approaching and assumed the father had arrived, though he couldn't help but think the Major looked a bit young for the part.
The soldier turned back to Goku to tell him his "dad" was here, but the words died in his throat. His smile froze, and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
Goku was playing with the dumbbell. He wasn't just lifting it; he was tossing it back and forth between his hands as if it were a light feather or a small ball. "Is this really a dumbbell?" Goku asked, sounding disappointed. "Why is it so light? Didn't Krillin say you could use these to exercise?"
The soldier's gaze darted left and right, following the arc of the heavy iron as Goku juggled it effortlessly.
"Sorry for the interruption," Lanza said as he reached them, eyeing the shell-shocked soldier with pity. "This is a new recruit Vice Admiral Garp brought in. He's a... very rare genius". Lanza emphasized the word 'genius' to try and preserve whatever was left of the soldier's morale.
The soldier just nodded blankly, his mind unable to reconcile his years of hard work with the ease of a child.
"Goku, put that down. It's for training, not toys," Lanza instructed. Goku obeyed, looking at the Major with wide, innocent eyes. "Lanza, are all dumbbells this light?"
Lanza felt as if he heard the audible crack of the soldier's spirit shattering into a million pieces. He quickly ushered Goku away before any more damage could be done. "Dumbbells come in different sizes," Lanza explained once they were at a safe distance. "That was just a standard one. It might be a bit light for someone like you".
Goku's eyes lit up. "I knew it! Krillin wouldn't lie to me! Where are the heavy ones? I want to try!"
Lanza smirked, a mischievous idea forming. "Do you want to see how strong you really are?" When Goku nodded eagerly, Lanza pointed toward a vast open space at the edge of the grounds. "Then let's go over there. Only those things can truly test you".
The area was filled with massive boulders, ranging from one to three meters in height. Dozens of muscular men were grunting and straining, their uniforms bulging as they tried to push the rocks forward. Some managed to move them slowly, while others turned beet-red without budging the stones an inch.
"Lifting dumbbells is superficial, Goku," Lanza said with a teasing smile, gesturing to the field of stone. "Being able to push these heavy rocks—that's what's truly impressive".
Goku surveyed the boulders, but instead of being impressed, he looked disappointed. "But they're all so small. They aren't as big as the rocks I used to push back home".
Lanza's smile faltered. "Small? You've pushed rocks before?"
Goku nodded, gesturing widely with his arms. "I used to push rocks THIS big! It took me a long time to get them to move".
Lanza didn't know whether to believe him, but given what he had seen on the ship, he didn't count it out. He pointed to the largest, most immovable rock on the field—one that no soldier had yet conquered. "Then go ahead. Give that one a try".
"Alright!" Goku ran over without a second thought.
The nearby muscle-bound Marines stopped their training to watch, laughing and joking amongst themselves. "Hey, look at the kid! He thinks he's going to move the big one!"
"Look at that confidence! Maybe he'll move it a whole millimeter!"
One soldier laughed particularly hard. "Tell you what: if this little guy moves that rock even a hair, I'll eat it!"
Under the skeptical gaze of the strongest men in the yard, Goku braced himself against the massive stone. He tensed his muscles, his feet digging into the dirt.
"He-yah!"
With a sudden, explosive burst of strength, Goku shoved. The rock, which weighed thousands of pounds, didn't just budge—it shot forward a considerable distance across the training ground.
Goku stood up, clapped the dust from his hands, and turned to Lanza with a 'V' sign and a bright grin. "Lanza, look! I pushed it!"
The laughter died instantly. Jaws hit the dirt as the soldiers stared at the repositioned boulder in horrified silence. After a long pause, one Marine slowly turned to the man who had made the bet. He gestured toward the rock and said simply, "Hey... you can start eating now".