After unlocking the potential of the five of them, the Grand Elder looked even older. His breathing grew labored, and Nail hurried over to support him. "Grand Elder, are you all right?" Krillin asked worriedly. "I'm fine. I've just used up some energy." The Grand Elder waved a hand. "I'll be better after a few days' rest." Kashu stepped forward and took a Senzu Bean from his system inventory. "Grand Elder, this is a Senzu Bean from Earth. Eating one restores your strength and heals your injuries. Give it a try." The Grand Elder accepted the bean and put it in his mouth. Its miraculous effects took hold at once: his complexion grew much healthier, and his breathing steadied. "What a wonderful thing," the Grand Elder said with a smile. "Thank you, Kashu." "You're welcome." Kashu turned to the others. "We should get going." "Wait," Piccolo suddenly said. He walked over to the Grand Elder and knelt on one knee. "Grand Elder, I want to know... about my origins." The Grand Elder looked at Piccolo with affection in his eyes. "You are Katatz's son. Three hundred years ago, Katatz fled Namek for Earth to escape a disaster. He had you there—no, he split into the Guardian and Demon King Piccolo. You are the descendant of Demon King Piccolo, and a child of the Namekians." Piccolo's pupils contracted. "Katatz... Is he still alive?"
"He has passed away. But his other half—the Guardian—is still on Earth." Piccolo fell silent. He and the Guardian had always been enemies: the Guardian had sealed him away, and Piccolo had hated him. But now he knew the Guardian was his other half, his father. "You may have a chance to reconcile with him," the Grand Elder said. "The day you let go of your hatred, you can fuse again and become a complete being." "Fuse?" A complicated look flashed through Piccolo's eyes. "Would I still be me?" "You'll keep your memories and personality, but you'll become stronger and more complete," the Grand Elder said. "There's no rush, child. Time will give you the answer." Piccolo stood and nodded. Kashu patted him on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's go home." The five of them left the Grand Elder's village and flew to the New Hope. As they departed, the Grand Elder stood at the entrance to the village and watched them go. "Nail," he said. "Yes?" "Remember these Saiyans. They're different from the others. They're Namek's friends for all time." "I'll remember, Grand Elder." The New Hope took off, bound for Earth.
On the ship, Krillin eagerly showed off his new strength. He did a thousand push-ups in the gravity chamber without breaking a sweat. "A power level of 1.2 million! I never even dared to dream of this!" Krillin said excitedly. "The Grand Elder is incredible!" "Your ki is purer than before," Tien Shinhan said, examining Krillin with his third eye. "Your third eye has gotten stronger too," Krillin said. "When you looked at me just now, I felt like you could see right through me." "That's the effect of the Grand Elder unlocking our potential," Tien Shinhan said. "I can now anticipate my opponent's movements a fraction of a second ahead. In a real fight, that's practically precognition." Piccolo sat alone in a corner of the cabin with his eyes closed. He was sensing the Namekian blood within him. It was a feeling he'd never had before, as if something were taking root and growing inside him. "Piccolo, how do you feel?" Krillin came over. "Great," Piccolo said, opening his eyes. "Better than ever." "We're real partners now," Krillin said, holding out a hand. Piccolo looked at his hand in silence for a moment, then took it. "Yeah." Son Goku lay against the observation window, gazing at the stars outside. "Brother, when we get back, should we challenge even stronger opponents?"
"Stronger opponents?" Kashu asked. "North King Kai said there are Gods of Destruction, Angels, the Grand Priest, and Grand Zeno in the universe. They're all countless times stronger than Frieza," Son Goku said. "I want to fight them." "It's not time yet," Kashu said. "You're still no match for a God of Destruction. Train for a few more years, and when you've mastered the Realm of Gods, we'll go find them." "All right!" Son Goku clenched his fist. "I'll get even stronger—strong enough to protect everyone!" Kashu looked at his younger brother, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "By the way, brother," Son Goku said, suddenly remembering something. "Do you think Frieza will come back?" "He will," Kashu said, "but not now. He's badly injured and will need at least ten years to recover. After that, his father, King Cold, might bring him here to get revenge." "Then let them come," Son Goku said. "We're not afraid." "We're not afraid." Five days later, the New Hope landed in New Vegeta City. Kashu stepped off the ship and saw three familiar figures running toward him. "Dad!" Kariel rushed up first and threw herself into Kashu's arms. "I missed you too, sweetie." Kashu lifted his daughter and kissed her cheek. "Dad, I learned how to make a Ki Blast!" Kabrun ran over, a tiny blue Ki Blast forming in her palm. "Well done." Kashu patted his daughter on the head. Kassis didn't say anything. She simply walked up to her father and took his hand. "Kassis, have you been training hard?" "Yeah. I can sense ki within a hundred kilometers now." "That's a big improvement." Bulma, Launch, and Tights came over too. The three women looked at Kashu with longing and concern in their eyes. "You're back," Bulma said. "I'm back," Kashu replied. "Hmph! If you'd dared not to come back, I would've gone looking for you in space!" Launch wiped at the corner of her eye. "No need. I'm right here." Tights said nothing. She simply walked over to Kashu and leaned against his shoulder.
Kashu wrapped his right arm around the three women and drew them close.
In the distance, Son Goku embraced Chi-Chi. Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu stood side by side. Piccolo stood off by himself, but a faint smile touched his lips. Luo Ling emerged from the crowd and looked at Piccolo. "You've gotten stronger." "So have you," Piccolo said. "I can tell." "Hmph." Luo Ling turned away. "Next time we spar, I won't lose to you." "I'll be waiting." Vegeta stood behind the crowd with his arms crossed, watching Kashu and the others return. His gaze lingered on Son Goku for a moment. He could sense that Son Goku's ki was several times stronger than before. "Kakarot, you've gotten stronger," Vegeta said. "You've improved too, Vegeta," Son Goku said. "Your ki feels heavier than before." "Of course. I'm the prince of the Saiyans." Vegeta turned and walked away. "One day, I'll surpass every last one of you." That evening, New Vegeta City held a grand celebratory banquet. At the banquet, Kashu told everyone how the Grand Elder had unlocked their potential. "The Grand Elder said my potential was so immense that he couldn't unlock it," Kashu said, "but he gave us plenty of advice." "Did all of you have your potential unlocked?" Gore asked. Krillin nodded. "I went from 500,000 to 1.2 million! Tien Shinhan went from 800,000 to two million! Goku went from three million to 25 million! Piccolo went from two million to five million!" "Twenty-five million?" Vegeta's expression darkened. His power level was only 300,000—nearly seventy times lower than Son Goku's. "Don't rush, Vegeta," Kashu said. "You have great potential; it just hasn't been unlocked yet. If you get the chance to visit Namek, you can ask the Grand Elder to unlock it too." "Really?" A glimmer of hope appeared in Vegeta's eyes.
"Really." Bulma walked over with a glass in her hand. "Kashu, did the Grand Elder say when Namek's Dragon Balls could be used again?" "In a year," Kashu said. "Namek's Dragon Balls work just like Earth's. After they're used, they turn to stone and take a year to recover." "Do you want to make a wish?" "I want to wish for Capsule Corp's stock to increase tenfold!" Bulma said. "How boring." Launch rolled her eyes. "Then what would you wish for?" Bulma asked. "I'd wish... for the Earth to always be at peace," Launch said softly. Bulma fell silent, then patted Launch on the shoulder. "Then I'll make the same wish." Tights pushed up her glasses. "Only one person can make a wish. The three of us should talk it over and come up with the best one." The three women began discussing it. Kashu watched them and smiled, shaking his head. He left the banquet hall and went to the training grounds. Beneath the moonlight, the grounds were empty, and only the wind stirred. Kashu closed his eyes and felt the Legendary Super Saiyan Bloodline within him. The Grand Elder had said that the true condition for awakening the Legendary Super Saiyan Bloodline was a "heart devoted to protecting others." He had always protected others—Saiyans, Earth, and his family. Perhaps that was why he could keep breaking through his limits. "System, display status."
[Legendary Super God-Level System] Host: Kashu Age: 21 Power Level: Base 4.5 million (↑500,000), Legendary Super Saiyan First Grade 360 million, Legendary Super Saiyan Second Grade 720 million, Legendary Super Saiyan Third Grade 1.8 billion, Legendary Super Saiyan Fourth Grade 3.6 billion Legendary Super Saiyan Awakening: 64% (↑2%) Family: 3 wives, 3 children Current Mission: None
"Three point six billion." Kashu clenched his fist. A peak intermediate-level God of Destruction. He opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. The story on Namek had ended, but the story of the universe was only just beginning. Frieza's father, King Cold, was still out there. The forces of the Demon Realm were awakening, and the rifts between parallel worlds were growing ever more unstable. "There's a long road ahead," Kashu said to himself, "but every step counts." He turned and walked back to the banquet hall. Beneath the moonlight, New Vegeta City shone with lights. This was his home, his roots, the place he would protect with his whole life.
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