Chapter Summaries

Puar combined Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu’s Ki and transformed into a powerful likeness of He-El to face Goku. Goku charged at him with hundreds of punches, but Puar’s transformed body evaded every strike with ease.

• Puar gathered Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu’s Ki and used the Eightfold Transformation Technique to become He-El.
• Krillin, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha recognized Puar’s transformation as their strongest chance against Goku, though Yamcha explained it was only a portion of He-El’s strength.
• Goku prepared himself for battle and told Puar he wanted to test the results of his cultivation against He-El’s likeness.
• Puar warned Goku that his transformed techniques and power were formidable, then declared that he was done warming up.
• Goku rushed forward and unleashed hundreds of punches, but Puar’s transformed He-El effortlessly dodged them all.

Puar used Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu’s Ki to transform into He-El and overpower Goku in a fierce battle. Goku admitted defeat, while Piccolo looked toward the god in the sky and heard him praise their training.

• Tien Shinhan used his third eye to see Puar precisely evade Goku’s attacks with an advanced Afterimage Fist.
• Puar struck through Goku’s Kamehameha and drove him through a mountain as the battle continued.
• As his transformation time ran short, Puar blasted the severely injured Goku with a powerful energy attack.
• Krillin caught Goku as he fell, and Goku admitted that he had lost while expressing satisfaction with the fight.
• Piccolo was shocked by Goku’s defeat, and the god in the sky told them they had trained well over the past few years.

He-El sensed Puar transforming into him during the battle with Goku and used their connection to study long-distance telepathy. After Puar and Goku fought to a draw, He-El took over Puar's body and descended to Earth, where everyone recognized him as the real He-El.

• He-El sensed Puar transform into him and watched Puar battle Goku through Puar's vision.
• He-El studied their connection and learned how to send telepathic messages across the universe in both directions.
• Puar and Goku clashed with their final moves, and Goku remained conscious while Puar lost consciousness.
• He-El took over Puar's body while keeping Puar's transformation and slowly descended toward the others.
• Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, Piccolo, and Goku recognized that the descending He-El was real.

He-El learned why Goku and Tien Shinhan had fought over Raditz, who had been scared to death while watching their battle. He warned the group that Raditz’s stronger companions would arrive in one year, and told them to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

• He-El explained that he had temporarily possessed Puar after Puar transformed into him, then praised the group’s battle.
• Goku admitted defeat, and Krillin recounted the argument over Raditz and how the group had decided to settle his fate through a fight.
• He-El concluded that both Goku and Tien Shinhan had understandable reasons for their positions, but revealed that Raditz had died of fright while watching the battle.
• Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, and Goku accepted that Raditz’s companions would arrive in one year and resolved to become stronger.
• He-El left Puar’s body after telling the group to find Kami and train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

After He-El departed, the fighters discussed the coming alien invasion and the techniques they had developed from his teachings. Tien Shinhan revealed that Three Heads and Six Arms was only an incomplete stage of his path, leaving Piccolo and Goku astonished by his resolve.

• He-El's will left Puar, who reverted to his own form and collapsed unconscious; Krillin caught him and Yamcha confirmed he was merely exhausted.
• Piccolo warned that stronger aliens would arrive in a year, while Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and the others argued over who would face them before agreeing to decide later.
• The fighters discussed their training, and Tien Shinhan explained how he had developed Three Heads and Six Arms through his commitment to justice and unwavering will.
• Piccolo realized Tien Shinhan's technique was incomplete and felt shaken by how far Tien Shinhan had surpassed him; Goku admired Tien Shinhan's resolve.
• Yamcha described Spirit Manipulation God Mode as a perilous technique that fused the body with heaven and earth and could cause the user's soul to dissolve into nature.

The fighters shared their training experiences and agreed to exchange martial arts insights regularly before training for the aliens expected to arrive next year. Tien Shinhan and Launch searched for the Dragon Balls to revive the dead, and they confirmed their relationship along the way.

• Yamcha warned Krillin that Spirit Manipulation God Mode could dissolve its user's soul into nature without an anchor point.
• Goku, Piccolo, Krillin, and the others exchanged cultivation experiences, and Piccolo resolved to train harder after comparing his abilities with theirs.
• The group agreed to hold regular training exchanges and use rock-paper-scissors to decide who would fight the aliens arriving next year.
• Tien Shinhan stayed behind with Chiaotzu to search for Dragon Balls and revive six Red Ribbon Army soldiers and a farmer, while Krillin helped them.
• Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu obtained the Dragon Radar at Bulma's home, but Chiaotzu left Tien Shinhan to search with Launch.
• Launch helped Tien Shinhan calm down during their Dragon Ball search, and they confirmed their relationship.

He-El, Bulma, and Dandy turned back toward Planet Namek to arrive in time for its predicted crisis, where Goku and the others were also expected to gather. Bulma prepared gifts for their reunion, then spent the voyage being trained by He-El.

• He-El returned from descending into Puar and told Bulma he had briefly visited Earth to see Goku, Yamcha, and the others.
• Bulma learned that more than five years had passed and reflected on the much longer time she had experienced in the Dreaming.
• He-El ordered Dandy to turn the ship toward Planet Namek, explaining that they would arrive when the planet's prophesied crisis began.
• Dandy accelerated the ship, while He-El said Goku and the others would come to Namek at Kami's request after dealing with Vegeta.
• Bulma spent three months preparing gifts for their friends, then passed the voyage making babies with He-El and training in psychic combat.

After a year of training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Goku emerged as the last of the warriors to finish his allotted time, and the group gathered at Kami’s Lookout to compare their progress. Kami stopped them from fighting so they could save their strength for stronger enemies, but a powerful alien aura then approached Earth.

• Kami limited the warriors to two days apiece in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, requiring them to finish their training within a year.
• Goku emerged from the chamber and joined Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Puar, and Krillin at Kami’s Lookout.
• Piccolo and the others described their new strength and techniques, while Goku and Tien Shinhan exchanged eager challenges.
• Kami told everyone to control their fighting spirit and save their strength for stronger enemies.
• A powerful aura descended from outer space toward Earth, and the warriors realized aliens had arrived.

Vegeta and Nappa landed on Earth, where Vegeta planned to eliminate its lifeforms and use the planet as an excuse to delay working for Frieza. Goku and the others confronted them, and Nappa discovered that several of the Earth fighters had higher battle powers than his own.

• Vegeta dismissed Raditz as trash and said he and Nappa would wipe out Earth's lifeforms and sell the planet.
• Vegeta sensed several approaching Kis and recognized them as the natives who had killed Raditz.
• Goku, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Krillin, Chiaotzu, and Puar landed and surrounded Vegeta and Nappa.
• Nappa's Scouter revealed that Goku had a battle power of 10,349 and several other fighters also exceeded Nappa's 4,000.
• Nappa realized why Raditz had died on Earth but remained confident that he and Vegeta would defeat the fighters.

Vegeta and Nappa faced Goku and the others, who argued over how to choose their opponents. Yamcha won the first round and was matched with Nappa, while Vegeta challenged everyone to fight him together.

• Yamcha judged Vegeta to be the stronger of the two Saiyans, and Vegeta scorned him for calling him short.
• Piccolo and Tien Shinhan stopped Yamcha from choosing an opponent, while Krillin suggested that he, Chiaotzu, and Puar handle Nappa.
• Vegeta ordered Nappa to torture and kill his opponent, and the group used rock-paper-scissors to decide who would face him.
• Yamcha won the game and was matched with Nappa, who prepared to fight him under Vegeta's command.
• As Goku called for another round to choose Vegeta's opponent, Vegeta challenged all of them to attack him together.

Vegeta challenged the group and attacked Tien Shinhan, but Tien evaded him using the Four-Body Technique and Afterimage Strike. Vegeta unleashed his Prince Battle Method across the battlefield, and eight unharmed Tien Shinhans emerged from the dust.

• Vegeta fired Ki blasts at Goku, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Krillin, Chiaotzu, and Puar, but all six dodged them.
• Chiaotzu, Puar, and Krillin withdrew from competing for the right to fight Vegeta, while Vegeta declared that he would kill them anyway.
• Goku asked Vegeta to wait, and Vegeta recognized him as Kakarot before charging at Tien Shinhan.
• Tien Shinhan created three solid bodies and four afterimages, making Vegeta's attack miss; Piccolo insisted the group settle the right to fight with rock-paper-scissors.
• Vegeta furiously unleashed his Prince Battle Method across all eight Tien Shinhans, but eight unharmed Tien Shinhans appeared through the dust.

Tien Shinhan dodged Vegeta's attacks, but Goku intervened before Tien could fight him, claiming Vegeta as his own opponent. As Goku and Vegeta prepared to battle, Tien Shinhan organized the others to protect nearby people and keep the fight contained to the Western Plains.

• Vegeta was stunned when Tien Shinhan evaded all his Ki blasts despite their vast difference in Battle Power.
• Piccolo called out to Tien Shinhan, and he joined Goku and Piccolo in playing rock-paper-scissors; Goku won, while Piccolo lamented losing to Son Goku again.
• Vegeta destroyed Tien Shinhan's clones and charged at him, but Goku arrived and blocked Vegeta's punch with his elbow, insisting that Vegeta was his opponent.
• Tien Shinhan told Krillin, Chiaotzu, and Puar to guide nearby humans away from the Western Plains and instructed Piccolo to stop Vegeta if he tried to flee toward a city.
• Krillin, Chiaotzu, and Puar flew off to clear the area, while Piccolo stayed to watch Goku and Vegeta face each other.

Yamcha defeated Nappa in two attacks despite their similar battle power, leaving Vegeta shocked by the gap in their martial arts and technique. As Yamcha stood over Nappa’s lifeless body, Goku challenged Vegeta to fight him at full strength.

• Yamcha evaded Nappa’s attacks while wishing he could fight Vegeta instead.
• Yamcha struck Nappa with a whip kick and then stomped him, shattering his arm and ribs.
• Nappa died in the crater, and Yamcha remarked that He-El’s guidance made their skill and Ki control superior.
• Vegeta saw Nappa’s defeat and was stunned that Yamcha’s Scouter reading remained 4,177.
• Goku praised Yamcha and told Vegeta to use his full strength, claiming he was stronger than Yamcha.

Goku outmatched Vegeta’s attacks with the martial arts He-El had taught him, pushing Vegeta to transform into a Great Ape. Goku then used his twelvefold Ki Burst to catch and throw Great Ape Vegeta, leaving Vegeta shocked by his defeat.

• Vegeta furiously attacked Goku, but Goku dodged and blocked his blows while Tien Shinhan, Krillin, Chiaotzu, and Puar detonated stray Ki blasts in the air.
• Vegeta unleashed an Explosion Wave at close range, but Goku sensed it, defended himself, and emerged unharmed.
• Vegeta created a full moon, transformed into a Great Ape while retaining his reason, and knocked Goku into a crater with a 180,000-battle-power attack.
• Goku activated his twelvefold Ki Burst, caught Great Ape Vegeta’s foot, and flipped him into the ground.
• Vegeta lay near collapse, stunned that Goku had resisted his Great Ape form without transforming.

Great Ape Vegeta fired a devastating beam at Goku, but Goku pierced it with a Kamehameha and knocked Vegeta out of his transformed state. Vegeta lay defeated in a crater, overwhelmed by the collapse of his pride, while Goku hoped he might someday learn He-El’s martial arts.

• Great Ape Vegeta fired a crimson beam with 180,000 Battle Power, prompting Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, and Yamcha to prepare to protect Earth.
• Goku countered Vegeta’s beam with a twelvefold Kamehameha that pierced it and exploded in front of Vegeta’s mouth.
• The blast sent Great Ape Vegeta crashing into the ground, and Goku withdrew his attack to avoid killing him.
• Goku considered Vegeta’s potential and hoped he would learn He-El’s martial arts and become strong enough to fight him again.
• Vegeta shrank back to normal, curled in a crater, and trembled as his defeat shattered his pride.

After Goku defeated Vegeta, he chose to spare his Saiyan kinsman, promising to keep him from harming Earth. Tien Shinhan agreed to let Goku handle Vegeta while the Red Ribbon Army monitored him.

• Piccolo asked Goku why he would not kill Vegeta, and Goku said he wanted to give his only surviving Saiyan kin a chance.
• Piccolo warned that he would kill Vegeta if he threatened Earth or its people, while Goku and Yamcha reacted with surprise to Piccolo’s protectiveness.
• Tien Shinhan, Krillin, Chiaotzu, and Puar returned and saw that Vegeta had been defeated; Goku and Tien Shinhan both remarked that the fight had been disappointing.
• Goku promised to watch Vegeta and prevent him from harming Earth, and Tien Shinhan said the Red Ribbon Army would monitor him as well.

After defeating the alien invaders, Goku and the others returned to Kami's Lookout and asked when they should travel to Planet Namek. Puar contacted He-El aboard his spaceship, and He-El possessed Puar to speak with them.

• Goku and the others brought the badly injured Vegeta and Nappa's corpse to Kami's Lookout after resolving the alien invasion.
• Kami praised the group for following He-El's teachings, while Krillin and Puar teased each other about Krillin missing the fights.
• Piccolo asked Kami when they would go to Planet Namek to reunite with He-El and face the powerful enemies there.
• Kami said they could leave now, and the group decided to try contacting He-El through Puar.
• Puar transformed and called to He-El, who heard him aboard the spaceship bound for Planet Namek and possessed Puar so he could speak with the others.

He-El warned the Earth fighters that Planet Namek would be lethally dangerous, but they resolved to join him and train during the flight. After learning Vegeta and the others had never heard about the Dragon Balls, He-El realized the events he had foreseen might not happen and decided he could take the fighters to Frieza instead.

• He-El told Goku, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Krillin, and Chiaotzu that their current strength would not keep them safe on Planet Namek, but they all insisted on going.
• He-El said Dr. Briefs had equipped their spaceship with a hundredfold Gravity Chamber and urged them to train with their Senzu Beans during the journey.
• Kami thanked the group for helping Planet Namek, and Piccolo denied that he was going for Kami's sake.
• Tien Shinhan explained that Raditz had been scared to death, while Vegeta and Nappa had come to Earth to clear it out and sell it.
• He-El learned that Vegeta and the others had never heard about the Dragon Balls, and realized Frieza might not attack Planet Namek as he had predicted.
• He-El decided he could take the fighters to Frieza's headquarters and defeat him, treating that as fulfilling his prophecy.

He-El realized that his training had changed events so much that Frieza would never learn about Earth's Dragon Balls, and he decided to take Goku and the others into space to challenge Frieza anyway. North Kai grew worried as He-El asked where Frieza was and tried to warn him away from the Cosmic Emperor.

• He-El noted that Raditz, Nappa, and Vegeta had been defeated before they could reveal Earth's Dragon Balls to Frieza.
• He-El decided to take Goku and the others to find Frieza and test their training against him.
• He-El contacted North Kai and asked where Frieza was.
• North Kai worried that He-El would provoke Frieza, whom the Kais avoided because he served Beerus.
• He-El explained that he wanted to meet Frieza before their inevitable clash, while North Kai warned that Frieza was powerful and had responsibilities.

North Kai warned He-El that Frieza operated with the tacit approval of the universe’s highest authorities and that opposing him could bring severe consequences. After learning about the divine hierarchy and Frieza’s reach, He-El persuaded North Kai to reveal where Frieza’s forces were located.

• North Kai explained that Frieza used Beerus’s commission to occupy and sell planets, while the Kais and Galactic Patrol generally turned a blind eye.
• North Kai warned He-El that Frieza had powerful backing and that no one might be able to help if He-El opposed him.
• He-El reassured North Kai and learned more about the responsibilities and structure of the universe’s divine offices.
• He-El argued that he would eventually encounter Frieza regardless, so North Kai agreed to share what he knew.
• North Kai revealed that Frieza’s forces controlled territory around the center of the Milky Way, spanning nearly seventy percent of it, and described Frieza as cruel, cunning, and feared even by his own subordinates.