Awakening Power

Jiang Che's throat bobbed, and he blurted out, "Claim it! I have to claim it!"

The words burst out of him, urgent and forceful, as if he wouldn't let anyone stop him.

He still had no idea how he'd ended up here, let alone what this so-called "system" was all about.

But he knew one simple thing: when a benefit fell into your lap for free, don't hesitate—grab it. Only a fool would turn it down.

As for what was going on—why worry about that?

There was no reason to refuse a gift delivered right to your door.

Even if there really was a trap up ahead, he could jump in first and figure it out later.

As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp notification rang out in his mind: "Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully claimed the beginner's gift package!"

Right after that, a cold, mechanical voice listed off a string of items: "Obtained: Super Saiyan God (and Super Saiyan) power, transformation ability, ki control, Sky Dance Technique, basic combat skills."

Before the last word had even faded, a searing energy suddenly exploded from his chest with a rumble.

Like a volcano erupting, molten energy poured out and swept through his limbs and every part of his body, following his blood vessels and nerves.

Jiang Che felt his chest swell abruptly. His heart seemed to be clutched in a giant hand, then released all at once, and the wave of heat poured through his body like a waterfall.

He sucked in a breath. His breathing grew rapid, his chest heaving violently. Every breath felt as if he were inhaling molten iron.

His lungs burned, but every muscle in his body was rejoicing in the new power.

A faint golden glow appeared on his skin. It wasn't blinding, but it carried an innate, divine pressure, as if a god had personally stamped him with its seal, shrouding Jiang Che in a hazy radiance.

Even the air around him trembled faintly. The ground beneath his feet quivered too, shaking loose tiny stones that hopped and rolled aside.

Jiang Che clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. A muffled pop sounded in his palm—"Bang!"

The air groaned under the pressure. It was a direct release of power.

He looked down at his fist. An invisible ring of rippling air seemed to waver between his fingers.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"This is..." He slowly raised his head, eyes wide, the golden light reflected in his pupils.

His shock gradually turned into disbelieving delight. "This feeling... it's insane!"

He raised his other hand, spread his fingers, then suddenly clenched them—a second "Bang!"

It was as if something in the air had been crushed.

He had never experienced this kind of power before.

It was as though the entire planet trembled in his palm.

Jiang Che spread his arms, feeling the energy inside him threatening to overflow.

His heart surged so wildly that he nearly lost his balance.

The earth beneath his feet seemed fragile, and the sky above him felt small.

How could he put it—

Right now, he felt like he could smash that entire stretch of mountains over there with a single punch.

And that wasn't all. He could probably shatter the planet beneath his feet with one punch, too.

This power had long since surpassed the meaning of the word "strong."

Was this the power of a god?

Jiang Che couldn't help grinning. His smile slowly widened until a hearty laugh rang out across the open sky.

The memories of his previous life flooded back all at once: the cold bed in the orphanage, the moldy rental room, the daily crush on the early bus to work before dawn, and collapsing at home each night, too exhausted even to shower, wanting only to sprawl on the bed and watch anime on his phone.

On the screen, characters called Saiyans, Angels, and Gods of Destruction turned heaven and earth upside down. He could only lie beneath a yellowed quilt and think, If only I could have that kind of power, too.

He'd spent his life muddling through without even a proper dream.

And now, the heavens had finally opened their eyes. They'd tossed him into the Dragon Ball world he loved most, and given him god-tier starting gear right off the bat.

"This is amazing." Jiang Che took a deep breath and closed his eyes, sensing the rich vitality in the air—the scent of plants, the smell of earth, the feel of the wind, and the low growl of some creature in the distance.

He slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was firm and bright as he nodded. "Since I'm here, I'm going to live this life to the fullest."

He didn't rush to do anything else. Instead, it took him nearly an hour to calm down from his euphoria.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, hands resting on his knees, and looked up at the clear blue sky as he went over everything that had just happened.

His breathing gradually slowed, and his heartbeat steadied.

Little by little, he calmed down and turned his attention inward, trying to sense the so-called "system."

Deep in his consciousness, an invisible door seemed to swing open.

A vast, intricate interface unfolded before him, its countless entries glittering like a river of stars.

The so-called "God-Tier Exchange System" was really just a massive marketplace, packed with so many goods that it made his head spin.

The bloodline category was full of Saiyans, Angels, gods, demons, and more. The skills section listed Ultra Instinct, Spirit Bomb, Instant Transmission, Dragon Fist Explosion, energy blasts... The names alone were enough to make Jiang Che's heart race.

There were also physique upgrades, enhancements, talent awakenings, time-space travel... Every option looked like a temptation tailor-made for him. Just looking through the list left him dazzled and eager to bet on everything.

But each item had an exchange cost beside it, along with a cold notice: Current balance: 0.

The corner of Jiang Che's mouth twitched, then he grinned again.

He scrolled through the list, eyeing those absurdly high numbers and committing them to memory.

The only way to earn exchange points was by completing system missions. In other words, if he wanted to become a god, he'd have to fight for it himself.

It wouldn't be easy.

But he wasn't afraid.

He had a tail, power, and a dream.

This world had only just begun, and its possibilities were endless.

Jiang Che stood up and clenched his fist, feeling the lingering warmth in his palm as a confident smile curved his lips.

The wind swept past him, and his tail swayed gently along with it.

"I know how this works." Jiang Che shrugged, his smile tinged with amusement, looking as if he'd seen right through it all.

As he spoke, he brushed the dust off his shoulder and glanced around casually. "First, they give you a little taste. Then you have to grind away at it, bit by bit."

He straightened up again, feet slightly apart, standing firm.

He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes, as if preparing to unleash a storm.

The air suddenly seemed to solidify. Everything around him went quiet, until all he could hear was his own heartbeat.

He lowered his head and sank his mind into the depths, releasing the Super Saiyan God ki inside him.

The power of a Super Saiyan God coursed through his blood, granting him an almost superhuman level of perception.

His awareness spread like ripples on water, and the surrounding ki immediately appeared in his mind as a clear picture.

He could feel every faint tremor in the air, the rustling of leaves in the distance, even insects crawling through the soil.

These different energies intertwined into an invisible web, and he picked them out one by one.

"Five ki signatures..." Jiang Che murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Two are relatively strong, and three are weaker."

His brows furrowed, lines forming across his forehead as he thought.

At the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, there weren't many fighters strong enough for him to sense as "powerful."

These ki signatures were stronger than those of ordinary Saiyans, but they didn't feel like Frieza or Cell, either.

So the timeline... clearly, this wasn't right at the beginning of the story.