Wish

"What do we do next? Summon Shenron directly?" In an open area, Tights followed close beside Roland, her face full of anticipation.

"Yeah. Let's get started."

Roland nodded. He looked at the glowing Dragon Balls on the ground, barely able to contain his excitement. After taking a deep breath, he shouted toward them:

"Come forth, Shenron!"

After shouting, Roland stood quietly waiting. Since this was his first time summoning Shenron, he could only imitate the lines from the original story. That should be enough to summon him.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the seven Dragon Balls on the ground began flashing faster and faster. Their buzzing grew more intense, like high-voltage electricity crackling right beside their ears. Soon, a vast bank of dark clouds rolled across the sky. The heavens, which had been clear and sunny, plunged into terrifying darkness in an instant.

Tights nervously took a few steps back. Seeing Roland standing firm beside her, calm as a god, she blushed and thought, How embarrassing. I'm not even as brave as a little boy.

Mustering her courage, she pulled out a camera and aimed it at the Dragon Balls, eager to capture the thrilling moment that was about to unfold.

"Rumble!"

Thunder boomed through the darkness. The golden light shining from the Dragon Balls pierced the clouds and gathered in the sky, forming a magnificent spectacle. Before long, a mighty green dragon with a long, powerful body coiled among the dark clouds, its eyes glowing red as it gazed down at them.

"Humans who have gathered the Dragon Balls, state your wish. I can grant it, but you may have only one."

Looking up at the majestic dragon in the sky, delight flashed through Roland's eyes. Tights grabbed his shoulder, excited yet a little afraid, and pointed at Shenron. "He really appeared! So this is what Shenron looks like. He's incredible! He's telling you to make a wish!"

"Mm." Smiling, Roland collected himself and looked at Shenron.

"Shenron, I have an older sister named Sephiria. I wish for you to bring her to me." Roland called out his wish to Shenron. Sephiria was his older sister, after all. He had agonized over it, but couldn't bring himself to abandon her. So he wished for Shenron to transfer her to Earth.

By his reckoning, Planet Vegeta would be destroyed before long. He could leave the other Saiyans to their fate, but he had to save Sephiria.

After hearing Roland's wish, Shenron fell silent for a moment and began to gather his power. But a little while later, he spoke again. "I'm sorry, but I cannot grant that wish. The person you named has refused your request. Please choose another wish."

"What?" Roland's expression turned to one of shock. This was completely unexpected.

She refused?

What was Sephiria thinking?

Shenron's resonant voice rang out. "The Sephiria you mentioned is more powerful than I am. I cannot forcibly transfer someone whose power exceeds my own. She also does not believe the information I gave her, so please choose another wish."

Roland furrowed his brow slightly and rubbed his head.

Shenron really couldn't force his power upon someone stronger than himself. In the original story, Oolong had once tried to use the Dragon Balls against the Saiyans invading Earth while wishing to revive Goku, but ended up being told it couldn't be done. Even when the Namekian Shenron tried to bring Goku back from his travels through space, it still needed Goku's consent.

If Sephiria didn't cooperate with Shenron, there was nothing he could do.

Was he supposed to give up on her?

After thinking it over, Roland shook his head. He was definitely going to save Sephiria. She was the only family he had in this world, and rescuing her was the least he could do after the few months they'd spent together. It seemed he would have to go to Planet Vegeta himself and bring her out.

You foolish woman. I've put so much thought into saving you.

"Shenron, please grant me the ability to use 'Instant Transmission,' like Apprentice Supreme Kai Kibito!"

"I'm sorry, but that ability is granted to Apprentice Supreme Kai by the laws of the universe."

Shenron's reply was as calm as ever.

Roland nodded. He'd already expected Shenron wouldn't be able to grant this wish. He'd hoped to find a loophole, but it seemed that wasn't possible. The ability to teleport freely, like Apprentice Supreme Kai Kibito, was a reward bestowed by the laws of the universe. It wasn't something an ordinary person could simply acquire.

Then he would have to settle for the Yardratian version of Instant Transmission. It might not be quite as good as Kibito's, but it would still be extremely useful.

Just as Roland was about to make his wish, he suddenly realized that Yardratian Instant Transmission required sensing the other person's Ki, and he didn't know how to do that. Even if the Dragon Balls taught him, he wouldn't be able to use it for a while. Missing his chance to save Sephiria would be a serious problem.

"Human, state your wish, provided that it does not exceed Kami's authority," Shenron urged.

Roland considered this for a moment, then looked at Shenron and asked, "Is there a technique in the universe that allows someone to teleport without sensing Ki? If there is, please teach it to me."

Shenron hovered in the air, silent for a long while. Just as Roland was beginning to lose hope, Shenron spoke. "Planet Metamor has a technique called 'Transfer Technique.' It is similar to 'Instant Transmission,' but requires sufficient energy. Do you wish for me to grant this?"

Planet Metamor. Transfer Technique.

Perhaps it was a technique like Fusion Technique.

Roland answered firmly, "Yes. Please teach me this technique!"

"Understood. Your wish can be granted!" Shenron's voice rang out, and his eyes glowed red.

When Tights saw the blood-red light suddenly shine from Shenron's eyes, she jumped in fright. Roland knew Shenron was using the power of the Dragon Balls. In the next moment, a series of complex teachings appeared in his mind, and he quickly mastered them, as though he'd learned them through firsthand experience.

This knowledge was the Metamorans' Transfer Technique!

Like Fusion Technique, Transfer Technique used special methods to guide the energy within the body and produce effects several times greater than the body's limits. Transfer Technique focused on spatial movement. It was somewhat like the wormhole technology in science fiction: it used human power to open a passage through space, but required the user to know the destination's location in advance.

Otherwise, it was easy to cause an accident and end up in dangerous outer space or inside a star.

After receiving a flood of complex knowledge, Roland's head began to ache. Then Shenron's voice sounded in his ears. "Your wish has been granted. Farewell!"

With that, Shenron flew into the sky, then split into seven points of light that shot off in different directions around the world. The darkened sky immediately brightened again.

"Roland, are you all right?" Tights asked with concern when she saw him still standing with his eyes closed.

"I'm fine. I just took in too much information at once and need a moment to recover."

"That's a relief. By the way, that Sephiria is your older sister? How come even the Dragon Balls couldn't bring her here?" Wasn't Shenron supposed to be all-powerful? It seemed ridiculous that he couldn't even bring over one girl.

"That woman's a savage!" As soon as Sephiria came up, Roland remembered how she'd tormented him on Planet Vegeta, and his head began to ache again.

Well, I should try out the Transfer Technique I learned from Shenron!

He'd mastered the knowledge, but he still needed to test it out in practice.

Seeing that Roland didn't want to dwell on Sephiria, Tights nodded and picked up her camera with a beaming smile. She watched the footage she'd recorded over and over. If she released it to the public, it would cause an enormous sensation.

At Kami's Lookout, Kami had been watching the situation below ever since Roland and the others summoned Shenron. Shenron's appearance was no small matter. If it fell into the hands of an ambitious person, it could cause considerable turmoil.

When Kami discovered that Roland was the one who had summoned Shenron, his heart sank. This mysterious visitor from another planet was young, yet terrifyingly powerful. If he used his strength for evil, even Kami himself would be no match for him. Fortunately, Roland hadn't made any wicked wishes, and Kami breathed a sigh of relief.

After the Dragon Balls disappeared, Kami murmured with a complicated expression, "To think there are people even Shenron's power can't affect. What kind of powerful beings are out there..."

For no clear reason, a powerful sense of urgency welled up in Old Kami's heart.

Then he let out a long sigh. Compared to the unknown reaches of outer space, Earth was still far too weak.