Namek
"All right, everyone, shut up!! You're too loud!"
Before the Grand Elder could speak, Nail stepped in to silence the noisy crowd of Namekians!
"My people, return to your villages!"
Once the crowd had fallen silent, the Grand Elder ordered the assembled Namekians to go back.
"Yes, Grand Elder!"
Whoosh! Swoosh!!!
"Sorry for the trouble, young Gohan!" the Grand Elder said warmly.
"No worries!!" Son Gohan shrugged.
Might makes right! Son Gohan's terrifying display of power had won the Grand Elder over completely.
"Forgive me for asking, but since you're so powerful, why not just kill Frieza and solve the problem at its source?" the Grand Elder asked.
Son Gohan shook his head. "The enemy before us might not be the ultimate threat. The universe is advancing, and the times are changing. Right now, I could beat Frieza with ease, but there are countless beings in this universe stronger than he is! I'm still no match for them! But by making use of the time I have, I'll keep getting stronger—strong enough to face and defeat every enemy who appears in the future!"
"Stronger than Frieza? Countless powerful beings you can't defeat? Heh, young Gohan, you can't be serious, can you?" The Grand Elder finally lost his usual composure and stared wide-eyed at him!
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"..."
"I'll grant your request. Moori will take you around to the villages to gather the Dragon Balls and make the wish you want. Piccolo, stay behind. I have something to discuss with you!" In the end, the Grand Elder agreed to Son Gohan's request.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Grand Elder. I'll protect Namek!" Son Gohan ended his Super Saiyan transformation and returned to normal.
"By the way, I heard you have the ability to unlock other people's potential, Grand Elder. I was wondering..." Son Gohan was tempted.
But his power was already far beyond what it had been in the original story, and he wasn't sure whether the Grand Elder could unlock his potential.
"Son Gohan, the Grand Elder doesn't have much time left, and you're already so powerful. I'm afraid he won't be able to unlock your potential!" Before the Grand Elder could speak, Nail refused on his behalf.
"Don't worry, Nail. I can give it a try. As long as I don't push beyond what I'm capable of, it won't affect my lifespan. Young Gohan, come over here! I'm curious to see just how much potential you have." The Grand Elder waved him forward.
"All right. If you can unlock it, great. If not, don't force yourself. Your life is deeply connected to the existence of the Dragon Balls!" Son Gohan strode forward.
The Grand Elder lifted his enormous hand and placed it on Son Gohan's head!
"An endless well of potential, with no limit... This is terrifying!!!" The Grand Elder's expression turned fearful as soon as he used his ability.
As his power took effect, a tiny fraction of Son Gohan's immeasurable potential was unleashed!
Three million... three and a half million... four million... five million points!!
"Whew... This is all I can do!!" The Grand Elder had only used his ability for a few seconds, yet he was already panting heavily!! His chest heaved like a bellows!!
"About five million. Fifty times that as a Super Saiyan gives me 250 million in battle power. That should be enough for the events I'll face over the next few years!" Son Gohan muttered to himself.
"Moori, take young Gohan to gather the Dragon Balls!" After resting for a while, the Grand Elder had recovered somewhat.
"Yes, Grand Elder. Young Gohan, please follow me!" Moori flew off first, and Son Gohan followed close behind.
"Piccolo, Nail, come here!!"
"Grand Elder!" Nail replied respectfully.
"Piccolo, when you return, you must fuse with Kami's good side. That will make your body completely whole. If you fuse, our Namekian race may gain a Super Namekian—you definitely have that potential! Nail, whether I'm alive or dead, if Namek ever faces a crisis and Piccolo comes to you to fuse, you must not refuse. Do you understand?" The Grand Elder's expression was stern.
"Him??"
"Do you have a problem with that??" The Grand Elder gave him a cool stare.
"No, Grand Elder. I understand!" Nail quickly replied.
"Piccolo, my child, come closer!" The Grand Elder turned his kindly gaze toward Piccolo.
Piccolo walked forward almost against his will.
Hum!!!
The Grand Elder unlocked Piccolo's potential!!
White-hot energy flared around Piccolo's body!!
His battle power surged from a thousand to over ten thousand in an instant!!
Whoosh!!
"Such a tremendous surge of power... I've never felt this strong before!!" Piccolo could barely contain his excitement!
"Potential and a powerful body go hand in hand. Your potential is also immeasurable, though it doesn't match that young man's. You have far more potential than your current power shows, but to draw it all out, you must train your body and strengthen your resolve!" The Grand Elder saw Piccolo's frustration and offered him words of encouragement.
"Thank you, Grand Elder!!" For the first time, Piccolo bowed respectfully to him.
"All right, you may go. I'm tired. Remember what I told you!" The Grand Elder waved a hand and closed his eyes, signaling them to leave.
Seeing the exhausted Grand Elder close his eyes, Nail and Piccolo carefully slipped out of his home!
As for the damaged home? That wasn't a problem. The Namekians were versatile, and the Grand Elder restored it with a simple trick!
"Heh. If the day the Grand Elder spoke of really comes, I hope your battle power isn't too low. Otherwise, I'll be the one in control when we fuse!" Nail said scornfully to Piccolo after they came outside.
"Just wait and see. Next time we meet, I'll make you admit defeat!" Piccolo knew he wasn't Nail's match right now, so instead of challenging him, he left him with a bold promise.
He was arrogant, not stupid! Charging in to die when he knew he couldn't win would be idiotic!
The two of them felt awkward around each other. Piccolo was the first to set off, heading toward Son Gohan's energy.
Nail sat cross-legged, keeping watch in front of the Grand Elder's door.
Meanwhile, Son Gohan had Moori personally go out and gather the Dragon Balls.
It didn't take long to collect six of the soccer-ball-sized Dragon Balls!
The last one was in his village!
"Dende, you summon Porunga!"
Son Gohan looked toward the child hiding behind Second Elder Moori.
Dende would eventually become Earth's Kami in the original story! Though he wasn't a warrior-type Namekian, he had many other talents and was a gifted member of the Dragon Clan, capable of creating Dragon Balls!
"Hello, Dende!" Son Gohan gave him a friendly smile, the first time he'd smiled in a way befitting his age.
"Y-hello..." Dende seemed a little shy.
"Go on, Dende!" Moori gently patted Dende on the head.
"Yes, Second Elder!" Dende answered respectfully, then ran up to the seven Dragon Balls!
He spread his arms and faced the Dragon Balls, summoning the dragon in the Namekian Language!
"Come forth, Porunga! Come and grant my wish!"
The sky darkened, and lightning crackled!!