A New Battlefield

Gohan pressed himself against the porthole of Yajirobe's spaceship, watching the clouds drift slowly past below.

Honestly, he really wanted to sleep right now.

But the string in his mind was stretched taut, making it impossible for him to lie down.

Vegeta had been rescued by Nappa.

That was a good thing. This was what made a transmigrator's information advantage so broken—you knew who was expendable and who could be useful in the future.

In three years, when they fought Frieza, wouldn't having one more Saiyan prince as a combat powerhouse be a good thing?

"Gohan, you look terrible." Krillin came over. "Want to get some rest?"

"Uncle Krillin, you look even worse." Gohan rolled his eyes. "You were practically fighting for your life just now."

"I was—"

"All right, all right." Gohan waved a hand. "Just treat me to a meal when we get back."

Krillin froze for a moment, then smiled. "Sure. Ten meals, no problem."

The spaceship landed on Mount Paozu.

Goku was rushed to Bulma's Capsule Corporation, where they had better medical equipment.

Gohan went along.

It wasn't because he was worried about his dad—well, he was worried, but more importantly, he had something else to do.

The Namekian Dragon Balls.

In Capsule Corporation's medical room, Goku lay on a hospital bed, his body covered in all kinds of tubes.

Bulma's parents were busy adjusting the equipment.

"Goku's vital signs have stabilized." Bulma let out a breath of relief. "But he needs rest. It'll take at least a month for him to fully recover."

One month.

Gohan calculated silently.

There were probably still... several months before Frieza reached Namek? He couldn't remember the exact timing, but it would definitely be enough.

The key was, could Uncle Piccolo recover?

"Where's Piccolo?" Gohan asked.

"Piccolo was taken to the Lookout," Bulma said. "Kami is taking care of him."

Kami.

Gohan's eyes lit up.

The old Kami knew that Namek existed. No, Piccolo knew even better—he was a Namekian himself!

"Big Sister Bulma." Gohan jumped down from his chair. "I want to go see Uncle Piccolo at the Lookout."

"Now?" Bulma frowned. "You're exhausted too—"

"Just one look!" Gohan had already run to the door. "Uncle Krillin will take care of Dad!"

Krillin shouted from behind him, "Hey! Why me—"

"Bye!!"

The door shut.

Gohan jogged all the way, flying toward the Lookout.

The Lookout.

When Gohan landed, he saw Piccolo leaning against a tree, his chest wrapped in bandages.

Kami stood nearby, his expression complicated.

"Gohan?" Piccolo opened his eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Uncle Piccolo!!" Gohan rushed over. "Are you okay?!"

"...Not dead yet." Piccolo's tone was as cold as ever. "I didn't expect you to still be alive."

"That's a terrible thing to say." Gohan's mouth twitched. "I fought Vegeta with everything I had and won."

"I saw." Piccolo's gaze sharpened. "Your power... isn't normal."

Gohan's heart tightened.

Piccolo was a Namekian, naturally sensitive to the life force of others. He must have noticed how his battle power had surged when he got angry.

"It was an anger burst." Gohan put on a relaxed act. "I don't know what happened either."

Piccolo was silent for a moment and didn't press further.

"...Fine." he said. "No matter what, we have you to thank for this battle."

"Hehe." Gohan scratched his head.

Was Uncle Piccolo praising me? Screenshot, screenshot!

Kami spoke. "Gohan, there are some things I have to tell you."

"What things?"

"The Dragon Balls." Kami's expression turned serious. "There are seven Dragon Balls on Earth that can grant any wish... but there are only seven, and they can only be used once."

"I know." Gohan nodded.

"But what you don't know is..." Kami took a deep breath. "Earth's Dragon Balls were brought here by Namekians."

Gohan's eyes widened in "surprise."

"Really?!"

Pure acting. Nothing but acting.

"Yes." Kami nodded. "Long ago, Namekians came to Earth and created the Dragon Balls."

"Wait." Gohan caught the key word. "Namekians? Are there other Namekians still alive?"

"One." Kami said. "The Grand Elder of Namek. He also has the ability to create Dragon Balls."

Here it comes!

Gohan was ecstatic inside.

On the surface, he wore a "shocked" expression. "Namek has Dragon Balls too?!"

"Yes." Kami nodded. "If... if Namek's Dragon Balls still exist, then they should be able to..."

"Be able to do what?"

Kami and Piccolo exchanged a glance.

"They can revive the dead," Piccolo said. "Including those killed by the Saiyans."

Gohan fell silent.

Master Roshi, Tien Shinhan's disciple, and the other warriors...

If the Namekian Dragon Balls could be used...

"Where is Namek?" Gohan looked up.

"Very far from Earth," Kami said. "With Earth's current level of technology, it's almost impossible to reach."

"Almost?" Gohan caught the key word.

Kami froze slightly, then gave a bitter smile. "You're clever, Gohan. Yes, almost impossible—but not completely impossible. With enough technological support..."

"Bulma!!" Gohan had already turned and flown away.

"Hey—" Piccolo wanted to say something, but Gohan had already vanished into the clouds.

Kami watched the direction Gohan had left in, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

"This child..." he murmured. "It seems he knows more than I imagined."

Piccolo said nothing.

He merely stared toward where Gohan had disappeared, his gaze deep.

Capsule Corporation.

Gohan burst headfirst into Bulma's laboratory.

"Bulma!!"

"Whoa!" Bulma jumped. "Gohan, what are you—"

"Namek!" Gohan panted. "Can you build a spaceship that can go to Namek?!"

Bulma froze.

"Namek? What's that?"

"A planet far away!" Gohan grabbed her hand. "Bulma, you're a genius scientist. You must have a way, right?!"

Bulma blinked.

"How do you know about Namek?"

"Uh..."

"Wait." Bulma's expression changed. "You went to the Lookout just now, didn't you? Kami told you?"

"More or less." Gohan nodded. "Bulma, there's no time! Vegeta said they came to take the Dragon Balls, right? If they find out Namek has Dragon Balls..."

"They'll send people to take them!" Bulma's face changed.

"Exactly!!"

A sharp glint flashed in Bulma's eyes.

"Give me three days."

"Three days?!"

"Three days, and I'll modify a spaceship." Bulma turned toward the control panel. "On the condition that you tell me how you know all this."

Gohan choked up.

"I..."

"Forget it." Bulma waved a hand. "We can talk about it later. Right now, the most important thing is..."

She opened her computer and pulled up a set of blueprints.

"These are the spaceship plans we found in the Red Ribbon Army before. I'd wanted to modify it for a long time, but I never had a good enough reason."

"Now we have more than enough reason!" Gohan clenched his fist.

"That's right." Bulma smiled. "Go get some rest. We leave in three days."

Gohan nodded.

"Bulma." He stopped at the door. "Thank you."

"Go on, go on." Bulma waved him off. "See you in three days."

Gohan grinned and ran off.

Three days later.

A brand-new spaceship stood in Bulma's backyard.

Gohan stood before the ship, with Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Yajirobe behind him.

"You're all coming?" Gohan was a little surprised.

"Of course." Krillin had a turtle shell strapped to his back. "We're going to revive our fallen companions."

"Goku is still recovering, so he can't come." Tien Shinhan said. "But I'll go in his place."

Yajirobe carried his greatsword over his shoulder. "I don't know where Namek is, but more people means more help."

Gohan looked at them.

So this was... what companions were?

"Let's go." He took a deep breath. "To Namek!"

The spaceship rose into the air, tore through the sky, and vanished into the clouds.

Behind them, in the direction of the Lookout, Kami and Mr. Popo stood among the clouds.

"Will they succeed?" Mr. Popo asked.

Kami fell silent for a moment.

"I don't know," he said. "But one thing is certain..."

"On Namek... a truly terrifying presence is awakening."

His gaze was deep, as though it pierced through the endless starry sky.

"I only hope... they can return alive."

Namek.

A jade-green planet.

Inside a cave somewhere, a small alien trembled uncontrollably.

"This is bad..." he muttered. "That monster... is coming..."

At the same time, in the depths of distant space.

A massive spaceship sailed onward.

At its prow stood a blue figure.

"Vegeta sent word," a subordinate said respectfully. "There are Dragon Balls on Earth... but he failed."

The blue figure, Frieza, smiled faintly.

"No matter." His voice was cold and elegant. "After all... I'll soon go take a look myself."

He raised a hand, and dark purple light flickered at his fingertips.

"Bojack... should be about ready to awaken as well."

"Yes, Lord Frieza."

A cruel curve tugged at Frieza's lips.

"I'm looking forward to it..."

"Earth, and Namek..."

"They are both under my control."

The spaceship continued onward.

Ahead of it, a jade-green planet slowly grew larger.

Namek.

A new battlefield.