"My ability is to help any warrior awaken their latent energy, allowing them to far surpass their original limits."
Old Kai bragged about his abilities like a vendor praising his own wares. When he finished, he stood there, waiting for everyone to praise him.
"Sounds pretty similar to the Grand Elder's ability on Namek," Yamcha remarked.
"Not even close! How could Namekians compare to me? Do you even know what it means to surpass your original limits?!"
Old Kai got furious and rushed over to Yamcha, grabbing him by the collar with both hands. He was so worked up that he sprayed spittle everywhere.
"Is it stronger than a Super Saiyan?" Vegeta suddenly asked.
"Transforming isn't necessarily a good thing. Super Saiyan, huh? That's nothing but a crooked path." Old Kai stretched and looked thoroughly disdainful.
"That sort of thing puts too much strain on the body and shortens your lifespan. Using it to gain tremendous power goes against the laws of nature."
"And those Dragon Balls made by the Namekians—don't rely on them too much."
Old Kai was unusually serious, his words carrying a faint warning.
Son Goku, Vegeta, and Trunks fell silent, lost in thought. What Old Kai had said upended everything they had believed for so long.
Son Gohan had known all of this already. That was why, after reaching Super Saiyan 2, he chose to evolve into Mystic Gohan, a form that didn't require transforming, rather than break through to Super Saiyan 3.
"Hey, come stand in front of me. Since you managed to pull out that sword, I can definitely help you become the strongest human in the universe."
Old Kai beckoned to Son Gohan. He was not only confident, but also very precise in his claim.
"I thought it would be a Supreme Kai from some generation who pulled out the sword. I never expected a human to be the one who saved me. The world really has changed."
Old Kai glanced back again, his voice carrying a hint of resentment.
"I'm... truly sorry!" Supreme Kai bowed his head like a child who had done something wrong.
"Okay, stand right there and don't move."
Old Kai hummed a strange rhythm as he danced around Son Gohan in a circle, taking bizarre little steps. The sight was downright comical.
Everyone present stared in bewilderment. Could this really make someone stronger?
"I don't know, he just doesn't seem reliable to me," Krillin said under his breath, scratching his bald head.
"Quiet. I'm performing an important ritual," Old Kai said solemnly.
"How long will the ritual take?" Trunks asked. He still had to get back to the future.
"The ritual takes five hours. The power boost takes twenty."
"That long?!" everyone exclaimed at once.
"Then we'll go get some sleep. We've been through one battle after another lately, and our nerves have been on edge the whole time. I'm exhausted." Yamcha rubbed his shoulder.
"Supreme Kai, do you have anything to eat?" Son Goku felt ravenous.
"We do. Please, follow me," Supreme Kai said, leading everyone away.
Old Kai continued performing the ritual with all his might, a few beads of sweat appearing on his face.
Five hours later, the ritual finally ended. Old Kai dropped onto his backside and panted heavily. "You can sit down and rest now, too."
Son Gohan didn't feel tired, just bored. Seeing that nobody else was around, he gave Old Kai a sly smile.
"Old Kai, once you've finished unlocking my potential, could you also help the other humans who came with me?"
"You want me to unlock the potential of eight more people? Are you trying to work me like a mule?!" Old Kai glared and puffed out his beard, leaning forward where he sat to shout.
"I'll bring two beautiful women next time," Son Gohan said with a suggestive wink.
"Deal!"
Old Kai sealed the bargain with a decisive nod. His eyes narrowed into slits as a lecherous smile spread across his face.
Everyone's potential was different, so the ritual took a different amount of time for each person. Old Kai could tell the others didn't have as much potential as Son Gohan.
In particular, four of them had so little potential that unlocking it wouldn't take much time at all. He figured it was a pretty good deal.
"Let's continue. All you need to do now is sit quietly, focus your mind, and stay still."
"Then you'll gain power that surpasses your own limits."
Old Kai held out both hands toward Son Gohan, as if preparing to cast a spell. Then he pulled out an old-fashioned television and started watching a women's aerobics program, chuckling lecherously as he watched.
What a dirty old man, Son Gohan thought.
"Brat, who are you calling a dirty old man?" Old Kai said, drooling over the women on the TV without turning around.
Damn, I forgot Old Kai could read minds. Son Gohan gave an awkward smile.
"Is that Launch you mentioned, and Android 18, pretty? What are their figures like?" Old Kai grinned, his expression both eager and greasy.
"Don't worry. They're world-class in every way," Son Gohan assured him.
They were world-class, sure, but not necessarily the real deal. He didn't dare think that part, lest Old Kai read it.
"Excellent. No time for more chatter. I need to pick up the pace!" Old Kai's cheeks suddenly flushed, as if the women had already bewitched him.
Twenty hours was a long time. Everyone got some sleep, but when they woke up, Son Gohan's potential still hadn't been fully unlocked.
"Tch, what a waste of my time!" Vegeta's eyes betrayed his impatience.
"Don't rush, Vegeta. The buns on the Sacred World of the Kai are pretty tasty," Son Goku said, his mouth full of food. He'd just woken up and was already eating again.
"Once I'm done with Son Gohan, I'll unlock each of your potentials in turn," Old Kai offered.
"We don't even know if your ritual works," Krillin grumbled again.
"This is a bad deal, a bad deal! This kid's potential is too enormous. I thought I'd be done in twenty-five hours, but it's already been almost thirty."
Old Kai sounded anxious and pained, but his face couldn't hide his astonishment. He was rarely wrong about someone's potential.
Three more hours passed. Old Kai withdrew his outstretched arms, stretched his muscles, and said slowly, "Finally, it's done."
"It doesn't look like anything's changed." Yamcha and the others circled around Son Gohan.
"I'll just have to try it and see." Son Gohan flew to an open area. He knew Old Kai wouldn't lie.
"Hah!"
Son Gohan gave a short cry. Silver-white energy erupted around him and shot skyward. His majestic, surging aura rolled outward like a torrent of crashing waves.
A tremendous upheaval swept through the entire Sacred World of the Kai. Terrifying pressure rode the fierce winds, filling every inch of space and refusing to subside.
Luckily, Krillin and the others were far enough away to avoid being blown into the sky, but the gale forced their eyes shut.
"How is that possible? Just how much power was Gohan hiding inside him?" Even Son Goku gaped in shock.
"Old Kai's abilities really are terrifying," Piccolo said, his face full of astonishment.
Son Gohan had only broken through to Super Saiyan 3 two days ago, yet now he was already nearing the Super God level.
He thanked Old Kai, then asked the ultimate question that had brought him here: "Old Kai, do you know a way to contact Lord Beerus?"
Before you continue