Potential Development

Meanwhile, on the other side of Namek.

An Xiu was traveling at full speed.

Besides defeating Frieza and using the Dragon Balls to make a wish, he had come to Namek for another purpose: to have the Namekian Grand Elder unlock his potential.

He wanted to see whether unlocking his potential through the Grand Elder would allow him to transform into a Super Saiyan.

At the very least, it would greatly increase his combat power in his normal state.

When he arrived on this planet, An Xiu had sensed the Grand Elder's distinctive aura, which was how he learned his location.

In mere moments, An Xiu arrived at the Grand Elder's residence, a house built atop a pillar of rock.

Before he could even land from the air, a Namekian flew out of the house and blocked his path.

"Who are you?"

Nail stared at An Xiu with a grave expression.

He could sense that the other's strength was unfathomable, far beyond anything he could contend with.

Moreover, the man's identity was unknown. It was impossible to tell whether he was friend or foe, so Nail did not attack rashly.

But the Grand Elder was here. No matter what, he would never allow any harm to come to him.

"My name is An Xiu. My companions and I come from Earth. We came only to revive a Namekian named Piccolo, and I hope to meet your Grand Elder."

An Xiu kept it brief.

"Why should I believe you?"

Nail's guard did not lessen in the slightest.

"You should leave. Given our current circumstances, we cannot help you revive your companion."

"Relax, kid."

An Xiu spread his hands, his tone calm. "I know your situation. I came here to help you."

"Help us?"

Nail frowned.

"Yes. I assume you already know that a group of powerful, utterly evil people has appeared on this planet. I can help you drive them off this planet—or eliminate them."

An Xiu spoke slowly. "But there are conditions. Aside from gathering the Dragon Balls to revive my friend's companion, I need the Grand Elder to help me with one more thing: guide and unlock the potential within me. Only then will I have a better chance of taking them out."

At those words, Nail hesitated.

Clearly, he did not fully trust him.

Before Nail could continue, the Grand Elder's voice came from inside the house.

"Let him in."

The Grand Elder had watched their exchange from beginning to end. At this point, he could only choose to trust the other party.

An Xiu walked into the house.

Nail followed close behind, his face full of vigilance.

"Come over here. I will unlock your potential," the Grand Elder said in a deep voice.

An Xiu understood the process and immediately walked over.

The Grand Elder placed a hand on his head. As he unlocked An Xiu's potential, his expression gradually turned puzzled.

"Strange. Your soul is far too strange. Your memories are hazy, and your behavior completely contradicts the environment in which you grew up. It is as though you were naturally precocious, as though some special existence has been constantly driving you forward..."

"Grand Elder, everyone has their own secrets. Some things do not need to be understood so clearly."

An Xiu spoke indifferently.

The Grand Elder fell silent at those words. After a moment, he continued, "Very well. However, your potential is astonishing—simply beyond belief. With my abilities, I can only unlock part of it, and it certainly will not take a short time. You will need to wait patiently."

"I understand."

An Xiu nodded slightly. He could feel the power within him continuously swelling. In just a few minutes, it had already surpassed the total gains from his training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

While the Grand Elder was unlocking his potential, An Xiu suddenly noticed that Son Goku's aura had changed.

That guy... don't tell me Ginyu still managed to switch bodies with him... An Xiu's feelings were complicated.

Half an hour later.

The Grand Elder had reached the limit of his abilities and could no longer unlock any more of An Xiu's potential.

"Fine, this will do. To thank you, I will drive those invaders off this planet."

An Xiu stretched slightly, forcibly suppressing the constantly surging power within his body.

The Grand Elder said nothing.

Seeing this, a thin sheen of cold sweat appeared on Nail's forehead, and sorrow filled his face. "You need to move quickly. The Grand Elder... probably does not have much time left."

The Grand Elder's aura was weak. After unlocking An Xiu's potential, he had very little lifespan remaining.

An Xiu understood and did not waste any more words.

After confirming with Nail that the One-Star Ball had not yet been taken, he immediately sprang into action.

He remembered that in the original story, Vegeta had controlled nearly all the Dragon Balls at this point.

Although An Xiu's arrival had changed many things, judging from the current situation, that outcome should not have changed.

After all, he could sense every powerful aura on the planet, including Vegeta's, which had been hidden as thoroughly as possible.

The arrival of the Ginyu Force meant Frieza had no one left to use, and Vegeta had most likely caused that.

Vegeta had successfully collected all the Dragon Balls from Frieza except for the One-Star Ball.

And the facts were just as An Xiu had expected.

On a secluded island somewhere on Namek.

Vegeta had just buried the Dragon Balls he had stolen. Just as he was preparing to search for the final Dragon Ball—

"Who?!"

Suddenly, he sensed an extremely powerful aura rapidly flying toward him.

"Is it Frieza...?"

"No, that's not right. This aura is..."

Vegeta's pupils shrank. The instant he realized who it was, he flared his ki and tried to flee.

However, in the next second—

"Yo, long time no see, my dear Prince."

An Xiu's tall figure blocked Vegeta's path.

Vegeta's face changed drastically in fright, and he quickly pulled away from An Xiu.

"What? Didn't you say that the next time we met, you'd tear me to pieces?" An Xiu raised a brow.

Damn it, why was this guy here...

Vegeta gritted his teeth, but quickly composed himself.

"Sorry... I was disrespectful before."

He had long understood the gap in strength between them. No matter how much he despised the other man, he had no choice but to lower his head now.

Vegeta knew very well that since An Xiu had not attacked him immediately, there was still room for negotiation.

"Oh?"

An Xiu was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Vegeta to admit defeat so readily.

But after thinking it over, he found it perfectly normal. In the original story, Vegeta during the Namek arc had indeed known when to bend and when to stand firm, and he knew how to use his brain.

He did not waste any words and went straight to the point. "Vegeta, hand over the Dragon Balls, and I'll spare your life."

So this guy had come for the Dragon Balls too...

Vegeta's heart sank, and he could only pretend not to know.

"What are you talking about? What Dragon Balls..."

Before he could finish, An Xiu punched him.