Porunga

The Namekian Dragon Balls were different from the Earth Dragon Balls.

They were much larger, each one the size of a basketball, their surfaces shimmering with golden light. The seven Dragon Balls sat in the center of the stone house, radiating an ancient, mysterious aura.

"Make your wish," the Grand Elder said weakly. "The Namekian dragon, Porunga... will grant it... Nail, translate the Namekian Language for him."

Son Goku took a deep breath.

He knew these three wishes would determine the path ahead. He had to be careful, precise, and... maximize their benefits.

Three wishes... In the original story, when Frieza came to Namek, Porunga granted Dende three wishes: revive Piccolo, bring him to Namek, and finally send everyone except Frieza and Goku back to Earth. But now, I've changed all of that.

I have to be careful. I need to maximize the benefits of every wish and prepare for every crisis ahead—the Saiyans' arrival is only the beginning. Frieza, the Androids, Cell, Majin Buu... each one is a world-ending disaster.

"First wish—please teach me Instant Transmission from Yardrat!"

Nail translated the wish loudly into the Namekian Language.

"That's easy!"

Porunga's eyes flashed red, and a beam of golden light shot straight into Son Goku's head.

"BOOM—!!!"

Son Goku felt a flood of information pour into his mind—the folds in space, the coordinates of ki, the bending and leaping between dimensions... This was a secret technique the Yardratians had spent thousands upon thousands of years developing, yet now it was imprinted on his soul like a brand.

He closed his eyes and sensed the space around him. The wilderness of Namek, the faint ki of the children in a distant village, even... the direction of Earth in the far-off reaches of space. Every place had a unique "ki coordinate." As long as he could sense it, he could cross light-years in an instant.

"Amazing..." He opened his eyes. With this, he wouldn't have to travel to Yardrat to study, or waste more than a year doing so.

With this, I can reach anywhere in an instant, no matter how far away it is. After Goku returned from Yardrat in the original story, how many times did this move save the day? Against Cell, against Buu—without Instant Transmission, Earth would've been finished.

And combined with my next wishes, even if I encounter danger in space, I can teleport somewhere safe. Its tactical value is limitless!

The golden light faded, and the first wish was granted.

Porunga's enormous form flickered in the beam of light, its red eyes like two blood moons.

"Second wish!" Son Goku's voice was firmer now, and his fists clenched involuntarily. "Please let me survive in outer space! I don't want to need oxygen or protection. I want to be able to move freely through a vacuum with my body alone!"

Nail translated again.

The Dragon Balls shone once more. This time, their light carried a hint of life.

Son Goku felt a subtle yet profound change take place in his body.

His lungs seemed to have gained a strange ability to convert cosmic rays directly into life energy. An invisible protective film made of ki formed over his skin, shielding him from the vacuum and extreme temperatures. His cells were subtly altered, allowing him to sustain his vital functions with ki in the absence of oxygen.

He clenched his fist, felt the changes in his body, and grinned.

That means...

Even if my spaceship is damaged or I get lost in space, I'll still survive. With Instant Transmission, I'll be almost impossible to trap anywhere. In the original story, Goku had to take a spaceship to Namek. From now on, I can cross the stars with my own body!

"Third wish!"

Son Goku took a deep breath and made his most important wish. His voice was steady, carrying an undeniable determination.

"Please... teach me how to cultivate Godly Qi!"

The stone house fell silent.

Nail's voice faltered as he translated, and his three eyes widened. "G-Godly Qi?! What are you talking about?! That's—"

"I know," Son Goku said calmly, though his thoughts raced. "Godly Power is the threshold to becoming a god. No matter how great your talent or how pure your bloodline, without it, you can't reach the true divine realm."

He looked at the Grand Elder, his eyes full of determination.

"Beyond Frieza, there are even stronger enemies. Beyond Super Saiyan, there are even higher levels. I need... the key to reaching them."

The Grand Elder fell silent.

He looked at Son Goku with cloudy eyes that seemed to see right through him. Then he smiled, as though he understood.

"Nail," the Grand Elder said softly. "Translate it. Let Porunga... answer this wish."

Nail swallowed and finished translating the wish in a trembling voice.

Porunga's blood-red eyes widened in the sky. Its voice no longer rang hollowly as before; now it carried a note of... reluctance.

"This wish... cannot be granted."

Son Goku's heart sank. Cannot be granted?! Even the Namekian Dragon Balls can't do it?

But Porunga's voice continued to rumble like thunder.

"Godly Power... is not something we can force upon another. Divinity is a manifestation of the laws of the universe. It is not 'power,' but 'authority.' If your mortal body were forcibly infused with Godly Power, only one fate would await you—body and soul destroyed."

Son Goku froze, his mind racing.

Authority? It's not power, but authority?! Right... Becoming a Super Saiyan God in the original story required a ritual performed by six righteous Saiyans, while Ultra Instinct required a breakthrough in one's state of mind. Godly Power has never been something that could simply be "given." It has to be cultivated!

Porunga's voice rang out again, its cadence ancient and solemn.

"I can impart the 'method' to you, but you must prove yourself worthy of the 'result.' The method for cultivating Godly Qi can be implanted in your soul. But whether you can master it depends entirely on your heart, your will, and your understanding. This is the limit of my power, and the law of the universe."

The Grand Elder nodded weakly. His voice was hoarse but clear. "Child... Porunga is right. Godly Power involves the very origin of the universe. If the Dragon Balls could create gods at will, the order of the universe would have collapsed long ago. God of Destruction Beerus and Supreme Kai Shin... some are born divine, while others attain it after countless trials. There is no such thing as 'reaching the heavens in a single step.'"

Son Goku fell silent.

So that's how it is... Porunga isn't unwilling to give it to me; he can't. Godly Power isn't energy that can be infused like battle power. It's a kind of "authority," a kind of "realm." Just as Whis trained Goku and Vegeta in the original story, he taught them the "method" rather than directly giving them power.

And the Grand Elder is right. I'm still too weak. If a godly status were forced into me now, I really might explode.

He raised his head, his eyes clear once more.

"I understand. Then... please implant the method for cultivating Godly Qi into me."

Porunga slowly lowered its enormous head. Its blood-red eyes blazed with golden light one last time. This time, the light was no longer dazzling. It was deep and distant, as though the entire history of the universe flowed within it.

"As you wish."

"BOOM—!!!"

The golden light became a beam that enveloped Son Goku completely.

In an instant, an immense amount of information flooded his mind—

The nature of Godly Power: a force that transcended "ki." It was not destruction, but "rules."

The balance between destruction and creation: Godly Power required its wielder to understand both destruction and renewal, like the very breath of the universe.

The method for cultivating Godly Qi: begin by sensing the ki of nature, then resonate with heaven and earth, and finally let the "rules" become part of the "self."

The information was so vast that it struck his consciousness with tremendous force. Fortunately, Son Goku's transmigrator's soul withstood the onslaught. But the agony of the transmission still forced him to his knees. He clutched his head, gritted his teeth, and broke out in a torrent of cold sweat.

"Ugh... Aaaah!"

It hurts... Not my body—it feels like my soul is being stretched apart! This information isn't meant for me "now." It's for the me I'll become in the "future"!

The golden light lasted a full three minutes.

When it finally faded, Son Goku collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Godly Qi, Godly Power..." he murmured to himself.

The method for cultivating Godly Qi was too profound, like a heavenly text written in the language of the universe at the moment of its birth. Every page weighed heavily on him. Even though the information had already been implanted in his mind, Son Goku felt he might not finish "reading" it even after two years.

This is the key to opening the door to the divine realm. Though I can't use it yet, and can't understand even a tenth of its mysteries... one day, I'll complete the evolution of my life...

He struggled to his feet. His legs were still unsteady, but he held his back straight.

All three wishes had been granted.

Son Goku walked to the Grand Elder's stone bed and bowed deeply, bending at the waist until he was at a ninety-degree angle. His voice was hoarse but sincere.

"Thank you, Grand Elder. I, Son Goku, will never forget this kindness."

The Grand Elder smiled weakly, his antennae drooping without strength. His breathing was even fainter than before. "Go... child... Go get stronger..."

Son Goku nodded firmly.

For a while afterward, Son Goku remained on Namek to master Instant Transmission.

Although the dragon had saved Son Goku more than a year of studying Instant Transmission, learning the theory was only the first step. He still had to put it into practice.

A month later, Son Goku had completely mastered Instant Transmission. He said goodbye to the Grand Elder and used it to return to Earth.

And so, his journey to Namek came to a perfect end.