Unleashing Potential

Son Gohan stared at Vegeta, who looked as if he had gone completely mad. He widened his eyes, wondering what kind of heaven-defying comprehension ability this was.

Forget it, he would just trick him into going to Earth first.

If he left Vegeta to wander the universe, he would likely end up as nothing more than a second-rate warrior, wasting the talent of a Saiyan prince.

These were all indispensable talents for the Tournament of Power in the future.

"Where are we going next?" Yamcha asked for everyone's opinion.

"I want to return to Earth and use the Earth's Dragon Balls to revive the deceased Namekians."

Piccolo looked at the devastated Namek. After assimilating with Nail, his sense of identity with this planet had grown even stronger.

The Earth's Shenron had a restriction regarding mass resurrections: it could only revive those who had died within the past year; otherwise, the world would fall into chaos.

If that restriction didn't exist, wishing to revive everyone killed by Frieza and his crew would mean all the Saiyans would come back to life as well.

Time was limited, and Piccolo wanted to return to Earth as soon as possible to get this matter settled.

"No rush, Uncle Piccolo. Since we're already here, let's go pay a visit to the Grand Elder of Namek."

Son Gohan looked at the small bottle in his hand. He felt it would be a waste to just keep Slug sealed away like this; perhaps the Grand Elder had some way to deal with him, so it was worth asking.

Besides, the Grand Elder of Namek could also unlock a person's potential, which would help everyone's strength reach the next level.

"You want to see the Grand Elder? I can lead the way." Dende had followed them as well. He was a bit timid, but he still gathered his courage to speak up.

He knew that it was these very people before him who had saved Namek.

"That would be great, thank you, Dende," Son Gohan said gratefully.

Vegeta hesitated for a moment before following along. With Dende leading the way, the group of nine flew toward the Grand Elder's residence.

Soon, the tallest mountain on Namek appeared before them, with a small hut sitting atop it where the Grand Elder lived.

"I'll go in first to announce you." Dende landed at the entrance and trotted toward the house.

"No need, let them all come in," a frail, aged voice drifted out from inside.

The group filed in one by one. The room was very cramped and lacked any decoration; usually, only Dende, Nail, and the Grand Elder lived there.

Now that eight more people had squeezed in, it immediately felt crowded.

A Namekian three times the size of Piccolo, looking incredibly aged and frail, sat on a special chair with pointed armrests.

"Sorry to disturb you, Grand Elder. I apologize that Nail has chosen to assimilate with Uncle Piccolo, but we have come to ask for a favor." Son Gohan looked up at the Grand Elder, speaking with a hint of apology.

The old man sat in his chair with his eyes closed, as if he had fallen asleep, and did not answer Son Gohan.

Krillin whispered, "Did he fall asleep?"

The Grand Elder's weak voice suddenly sounded: "My life is coming to an end. Thank you for protecting Namek."

"I am very pleased with Nail's choice."

"You are called Piccolo, aren't you? Child, come here, come to my side." The Grand Elder looked kind and benevolent, his cloudy old eyes seeming to see through everything.

Piccolo, usually unruly and defiant, became docile upon hearing the Grand Elder's words. He walked slowly to the side of the chair and stood to the Grand Elder's left.

"You are the child of Katatz, aren't you?"

The Grand Elder looked at Piccolo with affection. Katatz was of the same generation as him, but after the crisis on Namek, he was the only one who had survived.

Piccolo shook his head blankly; he did not know what had happened in the past.

The Grand Elder did not explain further and looked at the group: "What is it you seek by coming here?"

"We came here to ask you, Grand Elder, to unlock our potential," Piccolo replied respectfully, following Son Gohan's earlier suggestion.

"Since my time is running out anyway, consider this my thanks for saving my children and protecting Namek."

The Grand Elder slowly extended a withered hand and placed it on Piccolo's head. His massive palm easily covered Piccolo's entire head and began to draw out his potential.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

Piccolo couldn't help but let out a loud cry of release. A pillar of white light enveloped his body, continuously drawing out special energy, and his combat power surged significantly.

"Cough, cough, cough!" The Grand Elder lifted his hand, his body suddenly wracked by violent coughing.

Dende rushed to the Grand Elder in a panic, clutching the elder's hand with both of his own, and asked worriedly, "Grand Elder, are you alright?"

"I am fine. It is just that guiding out potential is very taxing on the body. It seems my life is truly coming to an end."

The Grand Elder coughed a few more times. He remained calm, showing no fear of death.

"Your potential is immense. In our history, there has never been a Namekian as strong as you."

"I was only able to guide out a portion of your potential," the Grand Elder said, looking at Piccolo with satisfaction.

He beckoned to the others, signaling for Son Gohan and the rest to come forward.

Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu each received the Grand Elder's potential unlocking, and everyone's strength increased to varying degrees.

"This feeling is amazing! It saves so much time on bitter training," Yamcha shouted excitedly.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!"

The Grand Elder's coughing became even more severe, and Dende's small face was filled with worry.

Son Gohan felt terrible watching this and tried to persuade him: "Grand Elder, maybe we should stop. The rest of us don't need to have our potential unlocked."

"Cough!" The Grand Elder said weakly, "It is no matter. I also wish to see just how strong the potential of a Saiyan truly is in these final moments of my life."

Following this, Son Goku and Vegeta both had their potential unlocked by the Grand Elder. The white pillars of light around them were even brighter and more blinding than when Piccolo's had been unlocked.

Son Goku, in particular, felt he was only a step away from becoming a Super Saiyan, though that step was the most difficult of all.

"Astonishing. Is this the potential of a Saiyan? Truly worthy of being a warrior race in the universe," the Grand Elder exclaimed.

"Saiyans really are monsters," Krillin muttered.

Son Gohan was the last to go. The moment the Grand Elder placed his hand on his head, he widened his eyes in shock. A force so vast and terrifying suddenly exploded from within every fiber of his being.

The pillar of white ki turned into a tangible force that shot straight into the sky, blasting a hole through the roof with a loud boom.

The Grand Elder's withered hand recoiled as if struck by lightning, and his entire body trembled slightly, a fine layer of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Grand Elder, what's wrong?" Dende asked with concern.

"We cannot continue," the Grand Elder gasped for air. His cloudy eyes held a trace of fear, but even more excitement.

"This child's potential is a bottomless pit. If I continue to unlock it, my remaining life will come to an immediate end."

Son Gohan felt a surge of heat flowing through his entire body, his blood boiling as power continued to well up. He felt closer than ever to reaching Super Saiyan 2.

"So powerful!" Krillin and the others cheered.

"Damn brat!" Vegeta felt intense jealousy in his heart.

"Thank you, Grand Elder. I have one more thing I would like to ask," Son Gohan said, taking out the small bottle, ready to release Slug.

"I already know," the Grand Elder interrupted before Son Gohan could finish.

He looked at Piccolo and said earnestly, "Are you willing to assimilate with Slug?"