Planet Namek
The days on Planet Namek were extremely long, but night had fallen once again. Everyone on the planet knew it was because of the Dragon Balls!
The sky darkened, thunder roared, and a fearsome beast burst out of the seven Dragon Balls!
Its body tapered from thin to thick, its shoulders bulged with muscle, and two black, cone-shaped horns jutted from either side. A row of black spikes like a fish's dorsal fin ran down its back!
Its eyes were crimson, and its face was bizarre!
"Earth's Shenron is much more to my taste. Porunga looks like a monster from Ultraman!" Son Gohan muttered as he looked at the Namekian Dragon.
"State your wish! I can grant three!" Porunga paid no attention to Son Gohan's comment and, following his programming, prompted them to make their wishes.
"Gohan, what do you want to wish for?" Dende turned and asked.
"I want to have the same Instant Transmission ability as the Supreme Kai!" That was a wish he'd thought of long ago.
Instant Transmission was an all-purpose technique in the Dragon Ball world!
"Jiriwala gurudun..." Dende translated Son Gohan's wish into Namekian Language and made it to Porunga.
"This wish... is impossible!" Porunga's crimson eyes glimmered faintly before he informed them that he couldn't grant it.
"Why?" Son Gohan frowned.
"The Supreme Kai's Instant Transmission can cross the entire universe and even reach Lord Zeno's palace. My power can't cross the Seventh Universe, so I can't grant that wish!" Porunga explained.
"I see. Then what's the strongest version you can give me?" Son Gohan asked.
"I can combine the Supreme Kai's Instant Transmission with Planet Yardrat's Instant Transmission. Within the Seventh Universe, you'll be able to teleport anywhere without sensing ki. In other universes, you'll be able to sense a target's ki and teleport to them!" Porunga offered the perfect solution.
"Do that!"
"Very well. Your first wish has been granted. State your second wish!" Porunga used his power, sending a stream of information into Son Gohan's mind.
Son Gohan closed his eyes, and a map of the Seventh Universe appeared in his mind.
With just a thought, he could instantly reach anywhere he wanted!
"For my second wish, I want to be able to transform into a Great Ape without losing my reason, and to control the transformation easily!" Son Gohan stated his second wish.
Transforming into a Great Ape was an essential part of becoming a Super Saiyan 4. As far as he knew, after Son Gohan transformed into a Great Ape, he would lose his reason and become a savage beast!
Dende translated Son Gohan's wish for Porunga as well!
The Namekian Dragon Balls were better than the Earth Dragon Balls in this regard. They required wishes to be made in a specific language!
"That's easy. I'll just strengthen your soul!" Porunga's eyes glowed again!
"Your second wish has been granted!" Porunga successfully fulfilled Son Gohan's second wish.
Son Gohan immediately felt his mind clear and his thoughts sharpen!
Things that had once seemed complicated now seemed simple!
He hadn't just gained the ability to control his Great Ape transformation—his intelligence and comprehension had improved as well!
It was like hitting two birds with one stone!
"For my third wish, I want to be able to survive in the vacuum of space!" Son Gohan made his third wish.
"That's easy!"
Hum!!!
Son Gohan suddenly felt that even if he held his breath, he could survive by slightly opening the pores across his body and absorbing nutrients drifting through the air!
There was no air in a vacuum, but there were countless kinds of energy!
"All right, all three wishes have been granted. Until we meet again!" Porunga's body glowed gold before returning to the seven Dragon Balls, each about the size of a soccer ball!
The seven Dragon Balls turned to stone for the time being!
"Thank you, Second Elder, Dende!" Having achieved his goal, Son Gohan turned and thanked them both.
Whoosh!!
A figure landed—it was Piccolo, hurrying over!
"No need to thank me. I was only following the Grand Elder's instructions," the Second Elder said.
"Gohan, will you come back someday?" Dende asked.
"I will. We'll be seeing each other again before long." Son Gohan gently touched Dende's cheek.
"Second Elder, I won't say goodbye to the Grand Elder in person. Please tell him for me! If Planet Namek ever faces a crisis, you can contact Lord North Kai and have him reach me. I'll come right away!" Having accomplished what he came for, Son Gohan didn't want to waste time, so he said his farewells to Moori directly.
"All right. I'll pass your message on to the Grand Elder! Goodbye, young Gohan!"
"Goodbye, Gohan!" Dende waved.
"Dende, I'm sure we'll see each other again before long! Farewell! Piccolo, grab my hand, please," Son Gohan said.
"Is that really necessary?" Piccolo asked, sounding annoyed.
"If you want to stay on Planet Namek, I think the Namekians here would be happy to have you," Son Gohan said with a shrug.
"Hmph!" Piccolo reluctantly placed his hand on Son Gohan's shoulder.
Whoosh!!!
Their figures faded away in an instant!
The scene shifted. When they appeared again, they were back at the Earth's Lookout!
"You're finally back. How was it? Did you see your people?" Kami asked, visibly excited.
"You talk to Piccolo. I have a few words to say to Mr. Popo! Mr. Popo, could we talk for a moment?" Son Gohan couldn't be bothered to explain, so he used Mr. Popo as an excuse to leave the two of them.
Piccolo was even more aloof. He directly transferred the memories of their journey to Kami, then flew down and left the Lookout!
"Son Gohan, is something the matter?" Mr. Popo still looked as calm as ever.
"Mr. Popo, if I go to the Underworld to train with King Kai, could something unexpected happen? For example, could it cause Beerus, the God of Destruction, to wake up?" Son Gohan asked tentatively.
"What makes you think I know about that?" A hint of curiosity flickered across Mr. Popo's face.
"Because I can't see through you. I know all the famous, powerful people in the universe—even Beerus, the God of Destruction, and Whis, the Angel. But I know nothing about you. I don't know who you are or why you're on Earth." Son Gohan's expression was grave.
He wasn't worried about exposing himself anymore. The most dangerous thing was letting someone's imagination run wild. Mr. Popo had already suspected that a powerful person's soul had been reincarnated with its memories intact!
Those words only confirmed Mr. Popo's suspicions!
"So you really were reincarnated with your memories intact!" Mr. Popo said calmly, as if everything had gone exactly as he expected.
Little did he know, that was exactly what Son Gohan had intended!
"Mr. Popo, you still haven't answered me!" Son Gohan played coy and pressed him again.
"My identity is not something you can know. But no matter what happens to Earth, I won't intervene, even if the planet is destroyed. Even if Kami orders me to, I'll do no more than offer you some assistance. Of course, I won't stop you from doing what you want, either. Where you train is up to you. Whether the God of Destruction wakes up is outside my jurisdiction!" Mr. Popo still didn't reveal who he was.
"There's no need to rush. We have plenty of time, Mr. Popo." Son Gohan didn't ask any further.