Spirit Bomb

North Kai stopped Son Goku, wanting to teach him the ultimate technique, the Spirit Bomb.

[Here it comes! Finally! The Spirit Bomb... one of the strongest ultimate techniques in the original Dragon Ball! A trump card against Majin Buu, and one of the few techniques that could take down an enemy far stronger than its user!]

He forcibly tamped down his excitement and pretended to be curious as he blinked. "The Spirit Bomb?"

"That's right." North Kai nodded, his round face turning solemn. "Its power far surpasses the Kaio-ken. But there's one condition: the user must be kind and pure of heart to borrow the Energy of All Things."

[The Energy of All Things... It's just like when Grandpa Son Goku taught me to sense ki. I felt the energy of all things back then! And in the original story, you had to raise both hands and borrow energy from the life across the planet, even the universe. This technique is especially effective against the wicked, but it won't harm those with good intentions.]

Son Goku pricked up his ears and listened carefully, while rapidly recalling every detail from the original story.

North Kai turned to gaze across the barren landscape of King of Worlds Planet. His voice was low and distant. "The Spirit Bomb is a technique that borrows strength from all things in heaven and earth. Flowers and trees, mountains and rivers, birds and beasts—even every speck of dust on this planet possesses a faint ki. When you approach them with good intentions and ask for their help, they'll answer you and lend you their strength."

He turned back, his gaze fixed intently on Son Goku. "But the process is extremely difficult. First, you must empty your mind and sense ki so faint it's almost nonexistent. Then, you must reach out with kindness and earn the trust of all things. Finally, you must gather that scattered ki into a sphere. Even a single stray thought will make the Spirit Bomb fall apart."

[It's exactly like the original description... But Goku was a genius, too, and managed to form one on his first try. The body I'm in now should be just as gifted as the original.]

Son Goku listened intently, his fist unconsciously clenching. "It sounds... really hard."

"Hard is an understatement." North Kai gave a wry smile. "It took me decades just to get the hang of it. And it takes time to gather a Spirit Bomb, so it's hard to find an opportunity to use one in battle. But once you succeed... its power is enough to destroy any evil being."

[Any evil being... Even Majin Buu, with his immortality, was reduced to nothing when hit head-on by a Super Saiyan 3 Spirit Bomb. Frieza didn't quite die, but he was left half-dead. I have to learn this!]

Son Goku said earnestly, "King Kai, please teach me!"

Looking at his earnest expression, North Kai nodded with satisfaction. "All right. First, sit cross-legged and close your eyes. Draw in all your own ki. Don't sense your own ki. Instead, sense... the ki on King of Worlds Planet that doesn't belong to you."

Son Goku did as instructed, sat down, closed his eyes, and began to steady his breathing.

[Draw in my own ki... Goku did the same thing in the original story, sensing the Energy of All Things first. I know what to do—not search for it actively. I need to let my awareness spread naturally, like water gently covering everything.]

At first, he could sense the ki of nearby objects, but anything farther away was beyond his reach.

[Just as I thought... the Energy of All Things is too faint at a distance. But if Goku could do it in the original, so can I. The key is my mindset—I have to be sincere and kind, and let them feel my resolve to protect life.]

"Don't rush," North Kai said gently. "The Energy of All Things isn't as strong as the ki inside us. It's like... a whisper in the wind, a reflection in the water. You must listen with your 'heart,' not search with your 'ki.'"

[Listen with my "heart"... That's what the original said, too. So I'm not supposed to search for it actively!]

Son Goku took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. He stopped searching and let his awareness spread like water, gently covering everything around him.

Once he changed his approach, he gradually began to sense countless ki signatures.

The ancient, sluggish pulse deep within the rocks, like a sleeping heartbeat.

The faint but resilient life force of grass roots stretching through the soil.

The free, intangible energy of the wind passing through cracks in the rocks.

Even the almost imperceptible spark of life from a little bug crawling beneath a stone in the distance.

The ki signatures weren't just nearby. He sensed those far away, too—even things on planets much farther off.

[I can feel them. The range is incredible... This is the Energy of All Things! It's even more beautiful than the original described... Every wisp of energy is a living thing breathing.]

A feeling beyond words welled up in Son Goku's heart. He had never imagined that, aside from the powerful ki of warriors, the world was filled with so many faint yet beautiful pulses of life.

"Very good." North Kai seemed to sense the change in him, and his voice filled with delight. "You've sensed them. Now ask them for help. Don't command them—ask them. Let them know through your kindness: I need your strength to protect those who matter to me."

Son Goku silently sent out his thoughts, recalling the pure kindness of Goku in the original story:

[Please lend me your strength... I want to protect Earth, my family, and my friends. I want to stop the demons who would destroy planets. Please help me...]

At first, those faint ki signatures only trembled slightly, as if they were hesitating.

Son Goku didn't grow impatient. He continued to convey his kindness and determination. He thought of Grandpa Son Gohan, Bulma, Krillin, Master Roshi, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu, and everyone on Earth. More importantly, he knew what the future held: the Saiyans' arrival, Frieza's terror, the Androids' threat, and the calamity of Majin Buu.

[I need this power... Not to rule, not to kill, but to protect. I promise I'll never misuse it.]

As if they sensed his sincerity, those faint ki signatures began to gather around him.

At first, there were only a few, like the light of fireflies. Then more and more streamed in from all directions, gathering above his palm.

Son Goku opened his eyes and stared at the sight in shock—

A ball of soft white light, about the size of his fist, slowly spun above his palm. Its glow wasn't dazzling. Instead, it felt warm and reassuring.

"Is... is this the Spirit Bomb?" Son Goku's eyes widened, his voice full of astonishment. This time, he wasn't pretending; he was truly shaken by its power.

[I did it... And it feels even warmer than the original described. Is this the power of the Energy of All Things? No, this is only the most basic version. When Goku fought Majin Buu in the original, he gathered energy from the whole Earth—and even the universe—to make a gigantic Spirit Bomb!]

North Kai stood completely stunned, his fan tumbling from his hand once again. "Y-you did it? On your first try...?"

He hurried forward, disbelief written all over his round face. "It took me three months to form my first Spirit Bomb, and you... You succeeded on your very first try?!"

Son Goku gazed at the tiny ball of light in his palm, feeling the gentle yet vast power within it. A warmth welled up in his heart.

[So this is... the strength all things have lent me. It feels completely different from the fierce power of the Kaio-ken. This feels like... the whole world is embracing me.]

"But," North Kai said, quickly regaining his composure, his expression turning grave, "this is only the most basic Spirit Bomb. To use it in battle, you'll need to gather a bigger, stronger one. And—"

He looked at Son Goku sternly. "The Spirit Bomb is extremely effective against the wicked, but if its user harbors evil thoughts, the technique will turn against him. Goku, remember: no matter how strong you become in the future, never lose that kind heart."

[The original said the same thing... The Spirit Bomb is a weapon of justice. Luckily, even though I'm a transmigrator, the Son Goku in this body has always been pure-hearted.]

Son Goku nodded solemnly. "I understand, King Kai."

He stood and gazed toward the distant stars, where Earth lay.

[The Spirit Bomb... the Kaio-ken... I should be stronger than Goku was at this point in the original story. Frieza, just you wait. And Cell, Majin Buu... In this life, I won't let those tragedies happen again!]

After practicing for a few more days, Son Goku had completely mastered the Spirit Bomb.

Son Goku went to find North Kai, his signature cheerful smile back on his face. "King Kai, thank you for teaching me all this time! I think... it's time for me to go back."

North Kai smiled and nodded, his round face full of both reluctance and pride. "Go on, Goku. Take Snake Way back. Though I doubt Snake Way will be much of a challenge for you now."

Son Goku grinned, then leaped into the air, streaking toward Snake Way like a shooting star.

North Kai remained where he was, watching that figure disappear beyond the horizon of King of Worlds Planet. He picked up his fan and gently waved it, a knowing smile appearing on his round face.

"Son Goku... That name will one day resound throughout the entire universe."