Chapter Summaries

He-El recognized that he had entered the Dragon Ball universe and decided to prioritize strengthening his body while using Ki to support his growth. At one year old, he hunted a giant python, escaped the predators drawn to its carcass, and left the wolf pack to face a tyrannosaurus.

• He-El identified his body's energy as Dragon Ball Ki and resolved to focus on physical training rather than relying mainly on Ki.
• He-El survived in the forest by eating meat and plants, and a year passed until he was one meter tall.
• He-El attacked a giant python with a crude spear, pursued it after it escaped, and found it dead.
• He-El ate most of the python, then scattered the leftovers and fled through the trees as Wild Wolves approached.
• The Wild Wolves began eating the remains, but a tyrannosaurus arrived, killed one wolf, and chased the pack through the forest.

He-El spent his childhood studying plants, developing unusual breathing techniques, and steadily refining his Ki and physical training in the forest. At twelve, his isolated life was interrupted when a girl arrived at his cave with a Dragon Radar and found a Dragon Ball inside.

• At two, He-El used Paralysis Grass to poison a fish, killed the Black Bear that ate it, and claimed its cave as shelter.
• From four to six, He-El developed and tested many breathing techniques, discovering that the Dragon Ball universe altered their effects in strange ways.
• From seven to ten, He-El refined his Ki control, strengthened his body and senses, and became the strongest creature in the forest.
• At eleven, He-El trained relentlessly every day, taking joy in each small improvement to his physical strength.
• At twelve, a young girl carrying a Dragon Radar arrived at He-El’s cave and announced that the Dragon Ball was inside.

Bulma tracked a Dragon Ball to a dark cave and found the Five-Star Dragon Ball, but a tall, muscular figure appeared behind her. Terrified, she fainted before discovering who the figure was.

• Bulma followed her Dragon Radar to a cave in the Northern Forest, hoping to collect Dragon Balls and wish for a perfect lover.
• Bulma entered the dark cave with a flashlight and pistol, following the glow resonating between her Two-Star Dragon Ball and another Dragon Ball.
• Bulma found the Five-Star Dragon Ball on a stone table and celebrated excitedly.
• A tall, muscular figure appeared at the bend, and Bulma dropped the Five-Star Dragon Ball and fainted in fright.

He-El frightened Bulma when she found him in his cave, covered in dirt and blood, and she fainted twice. He tried to make her more comfortable by lighting a fire and cooking T. rex meat, leaving them with Bulma asking whether he planned to eat her.

• He-El caught the Five-Star Dragon Ball after Bulma fainted at the sight of him and placed her on a table in his cave.
• He-El ate raw T. rex meat while training, then saved a tender piece for Bulma and returned to the cave.
• Bulma woke, saw He-El and the bloody T. rex meat, and fainted again, believing she had been eaten.
• He-El gathered branches, lit a fire to warm the cave, and began grilling slices of T. rex meat.
• Bulma woke again, aimed her pistol at He-El, and asked what he was; He-El offered her grilled meat, and she asked if he was going to eat her.

Bulma recovered from her fear of He-El and learned he was a human martial artist training in the Northern Forest. She tried to get the Five-Star Dragon Ball as compensation for being frightened, but He-El saw through her scheme and left her embarrassed.

• He-El reassured Bulma that he was human and offered her roasted Tyrannosaurus meat.
• Bulma accepted that He-El was training as a martial artist, then spat out the rancid meat.
• Bulma spotted the Five-Star Dragon Ball and schemed to demand it as compensation.
• He-El repeatedly offered Bulma the Tyrannosaurus bones instead, prompting her to blurt out that she wanted the Five-Star Dragon Ball.
• He-El picked up the Dragon Ball, and Bulma realized he had known what she wanted all along.

Bulma explained that the seven Dragon Balls could summon Shenron and grant a wish, then persuaded He-El to join her search. The two agreed to begin their journey, with Bulma insisting He-El wash himself first.

• Bulma admitted she had come to find He-El's Five-Star Dragon Ball and explained that gathering all seven Dragon Balls could summon Shenron to grant a wish.
• Bulma offered He-El a deal: he would lend her his Dragon Ball, and she would tell him what the Dragon Balls did.
• He-El agreed to join Bulma's search for the Dragon Balls.
• Bulma revealed that she wanted to wish for a perfect lover and insisted she would make her wish first.
• Bulma announced that their happy journey would begin and told He-El to wash himself.

He-El prepared to clean up and continue the Dragon Ball search with Bulma, then washed twelve years of grime from himself in a lake. Bulma arrived just as he emerged, stunned by his handsome appearance.

• Bulma told He-El to wash himself and said they would search for the Dragon Balls the next morning, but He-El kept the Five-Star Dragon Ball.
• He-El trained, slept, and made clothes from animal pelts before leaving his cave for the lake.
• Bulma woke, packed up her house in a Hoi-Poi Capsule, and went looking for He-El after hearing a splash.
• He-El used Ki to remove the mud from his body, washed in the lake, and cut his hair to shoulder length.
• Bulma saw He-El emerge from the lake and stared at him in stunned amazement.

Bulma woke to find He-El bathing and became infatuated with him, abandoning her Dragon Ball wish in favor of trying to make him her boyfriend. After learning He-El was twelve, she decided to pursue him as an older girl, while he remained focused on breakfast and continuing their search.

• Bulma recognized He-El as the martial artist she had met the night before and blushed when she saw him bathing naked.
• Bulma decided that meeting He-El was better than finding the Dragon Balls and followed him back to the cave.
• He-El dressed in tiger hides, prepared their supplies, and cooked the fish while Bulma fantasized about a future with him.
• Bulma offered He-El her wish if he would be her boyfriend, but he rejected her and said she was attracted only to his appearance.
• He-El told Bulma he was twelve, and she resolved to win him over before he flicked her forehead and told her they would leave after eating.

Bulma’s attempts to get closer to He-El continued as he ran alongside her car, until she struck a tailed child and the child threw her car. He-El caught it, and the child became wary of the strong stranger after learning Bulma and the car were human-made.

• Bulma repeatedly tried to ride with He-El, but he refused and continued running beside her car to train.
• Distracted while watching He-El in the mirror, Bulma hit a tailed child dragging a blue fish.
• The child lifted Bulma’s car and threw it, but He-El caught it before it hit the ground.
• The child mistook Bulma and her car for Yokai, and He-El explained that she was a girl and the vehicle was a car.
• The child lowered his weapon after learning about girls, then raised it again and warned that He-El was strong.

He-El invited Goku to spar so he could test his strength, and Goku’s powerful punch bruised He-El but rebounded off his tough body. They fought until He-El struck Goku on the head three times, leaving Goku in tears and admitting defeat.

• He-El asked Goku to spar and told him to attack with full strength.
• Goku punched He-El in the abdomen, bruising him slightly, but the impact rebounded and made Goku stagger.
• He-El and Goku exchanged punches and kicks, with He-El holding back half his strength.
• He-El chopped Goku on the head three times, and Goku cried out in pain and conceded defeat.

He-El defeated Goku, healed him with Ki, and agreed to teach him once his research was complete. As they followed Goku home with the fish, Bulma realized Goku had mistaken He-El for the legendary wild man of the Northern Forest.

• He-El estimated his combat power after defeating Goku, then used Ki to ease the pain caused by his attack.
• Goku praised He-El’s abilities, offered him the fish, and invited him home to roast it together.
• He-El agreed to follow Goku, while Bulma noticed the route led toward the nearest Dragon Ball and hurried after them.
• Goku told He-El about the legendary wild man in the Northern Forest, unaware that He-El had lived there for twelve years.
• Bulma pointed out that He-El was the wild man Goku’s grandfather had warned him about.

He-El and Bulma met Goku, who recognized He-El as the legendary Wild Man of the Northern Forest and led them to his home. There, Goku discovered that he was eleven, not fourteen, and the Four-Star Dragon Ball made him think his grandfather had appeared.

• Goku recognized He-El as the Wild Man of the Northern Forest, and Bulma corrected him and introduced herself as He-El’s girlfriend.
• Goku explained that his grandfather had died and that he had been living alone in the forest; He-El knew Goku had unknowingly trampled Son Gohan to death as a Great Ape.
• Goku said he was fourteen, but Bulma worked out that he was eleven because he thought fourteen came after eleven.
• Goku brought He-El and Bulma to his home, where they saw the Four-Star Dragon Ball on an altar and Goku exclaimed that his grandpa had appeared.

Goku, Bulma, and He-El discovered that their Dragon Balls resonated with one another, and Bulma explained how gathering all seven could summon Shenron to grant a wish. He-El shared his desire to gain the universe’s knowledge, while Goku considered what he might wish for.

• Goku mistook his glowing Four-Star Dragon Ball for a message from his grandfather, then joined Bulma and He-El in placing their Dragon Balls together.
• Bulma explained that the three orbs were Dragon Balls and that collecting all seven would summon Shenron to grant a wish.
• Bulma described her romantic fantasies about marrying He-El, while He-El said he wanted to obtain all the knowledge in the universe.
• He-El asked Goku what he wanted to wish for, then suggested bringing his grandfather back to life.

He-El told Son Gohan that Shenron might be able to bring his grandfather back, and Son Gohan eagerly agreed to search for the Dragon Balls. After they shared a meal at Son Gohan’s home, they stayed the night before setting out.

• He-El explained that Earth’s Shenron might revive Son Gohan’s grandfather, though he knew the wish had strict limitations and Namek’s Porunga could be another option.
• Son Gohan excitedly asked Bulma about reviving his grandfather, and Bulma said it should be possible.
• He-El invited Son Gohan to search for the Dragon Balls with them, then spun him until he passed out from dizziness.
• Bulma and He-El prepared a large fish feast while Son Gohan rested, and Son Gohan joined them to grill fish after waking.
• Son Gohan ate until he could barely walk, so He-El stayed overnight at his home.

He-El, Bulma, and Goku shared a huge breakfast before He-El taught Goku the Super Stomach Digestion Technique. Goku learned the technique, and the three prepared to set off in search of the Dragon Balls.

• He-El returned from hunting with five velociraptors and two saber-toothed tigers, explaining that the extra meat was for Goku and their later meals.
• Bulma cooked breakfast, and Goku joined her and He-El; the two boys ate most of the food while Bulma watched them fondly.
• After breakfast, He-El used Ki to guide Goku's stomach and teach him the Super Stomach Digestion Technique.
• Goku quickly learned to control his stomach movements and began flattening his swollen belly as He-El offered further tips.
• Bulma finished packing, and the three prepared to leave to search for the Dragon Balls.

He-El began training Goku in the Super Running Training Martial Art while they ran after Bulma's car. As Goku quickly mastered the basics, He-El noticed a fighter jet descending toward Bulma ahead of them.

• Bulma prepared to drive ahead, but He-El insisted that he and Goku run after her as training.
• He-El taught Goku to coordinate his breathing with his strides, and Goku carefully copied him despite stumbling at first.
• Goku quickly grasped the basics of the Super Running Training Martial Art and picked up his pace alongside He-El.
• He-El saw a fighter jet descending at low altitude toward Bulma's car.

He-El saved Bulma from a fighter plane that crashed into her car, then confronted its battered survivors, Ashu and Mai. When Bulma realized her Dragon Balls were still in the burning wreckage, Ashu and Mai noticed their chance to seize them.

• He-El raced ahead and pulled Bulma from her car just before Ashu and Mai's out-of-control fighter plane crashed into it.
• The crash left Ashu, Mai, and a wolf badly battered, and Ashu and Mai explained that a wolf had caused them to lose control while they searched Dragon Valley for Dragon Balls.
• Bulma confronted Ashu and Mai over destroying her car, but their apology and offer of compensation calmed her down.
• Bulma reached for her waist pouch, discovered it was missing, and realized her Dragon Balls were still in the burning wreckage.
• Ashu and Mai's eyes flashed when they heard Bulma's Dragon Balls were in the wreckage.

Mai and Ashu planned to steal the Dragon Balls from Bulma while He-El and Goku dealt with the burning car. He-El used Super Stomach Training to blow sand over the wreckage and extinguish the flames, astonishing Goku, Mai, and Ashu.

• Mai persuaded a hesitant Ashu to befriend Bulma and steal the Dragon Balls after separating her from He-El and Goku.
• Mai and Ashu apologized to Bulma for crashing into her car and learned that her Dragon Balls were inside it but would not burn.
• Goku tried to approach the burning car, but the intense heat forced him back.
• He-El told Goku to dig sand, then used a powerful blast of air to carry it over the car and fighter jet and smother the flames.
• Goku, Mai, and Ashu watched in astonishment as He-El put out the fire with his breath.

He-El extinguished the crash fire with Super Stomach Training, while Ashu and Mai eyed Bulma’s Dragon Ball but backed down under his watch. After Bulma discovered her kitchen capsule had burned, Goku heard a faint cry for help and turned toward it.

• He-El blew out the flames engulfing the fighter plane and car, astonishing Ashu and Mai and inspiring Goku to imitate his technique.
• He-El recovered Bulma’s Two-Star Dragon Ball and tossed her pouch back to her, while Ashu and Mai tried to catch it before retreating under his watchful gaze.
• Bulma found that half her Hoi-Poi Capsules and her kitchen capsule had burned, and Ashu and Mai promised to replace her supplies in the next city.
• Bulma tested her scorched Dragon Radar and confirmed it still worked, revealing to Ashu and Mai that her group was searching for Dragon Balls.
• Goku practiced Super Stomach Training, then stopped when he heard someone weakly calling for help and saying they could not turn over.

Goku and He-El helped an exhausted sea turtle and agreed to take him back to the sea, while Bulma, Ashu, and Mai joined them on a motorcycle. The group headed south, with Goku carrying the turtle and Mai holding Bulma’s Dragon Ball pouch.

• Goku found an overturned sea turtle and flipped him upright after the turtle asked for help.
• Bulma brought the sea turtle salt water and kelp, and he explained that he had been lost for a year after getting separated while picking mushrooms.
• Mai told the sea turtle that the sea was 120 kilometers away, and Goku suggested taking him home so he could see the sea.
• He-El agreed to go, and Bulma tried to get him to carry her by claiming her transportation was destroyed, but he saw through her lie.
• Bulma took out a motorcycle capsule, made Ashu and Mai ride with her, and gave Mai her pouch with the Dragon Ball to hold.
• Goku carried the sea turtle while He-El ran alongside Bulma’s motorcycle as they traveled south toward the sea.