One's Own Path

Namek's Grand Elder had passed away. Before his death, he had passed his legacy on to the elder Moori. The Namekians were steeped in grief, and even the excitement from Son Wuling and Vegeta's recent duel faded away.

"Thank you, Son Wuling! I never expected that I could become young once more!"

The Grand Elder looked at Son Wuling, Son Gohan, and Videl one last time, then vanished with a smile. His body shattered like an illusory bubble, and the Dragon Balls turned back into stone because of the Grand Elder's death.

"Farewell, Grand Elder. It was thanks to you that I found the path of cultivation meant for me, so I no longer had to train without direction."

Son Wuling watched the Grand Elder leave this world. When Namekians died naturally, their bodies dissipated like bubbles.

Ever since his grandfather had begun teaching them martial arts, Son Wuling had spent more than ten years searching for a method of cultivation suited to Earthlings in this world of Dragon Balls, one that could break the shackles of life itself.

Looking at the Earthlings in the original Dragon Ball story, Krillin and Tien Shinhan had continued striving to catch up, but talent had its limits, as did Earthlings. Yamcha had abandoned martial arts later on, while the others had remained ignorant, huddled within their tiny circles and unable to see how vast the world truly was.

There was no need to mention the Androids. Even Piccolo would eventually become unable to stand on the front lines. The stage would belong only to Goku and Vegeta, the two Saiyans, while Earthlings became a joke.

Son Wuling had never complained about having no system or cheat abilities. Nor had he considered making a wish to Shenron to change his bloodline or anything of the sort. He wanted to forge a martial path belonging to Earthlings, and now he had found it. After more than ten years of searching, he had finally found it.

At this time, Namek's new Grand Elder, Moori, endured the grief of the former Grand Elder's passing and organized the other Namekians, taking on his new responsibilities.

King Kai sent word that Son Goku had killed Frieza and left Namek aboard a spaceship. However, he had not headed toward Earth, leaving Son Wuling, Bulma, and the others speechless. Just as he had predicted.

Kame House was too small, so Bulma brought all the Namekians to stay at her home, along with Vegeta. Bulma's father, Dr. Brief, used the spaceship they had traveled in as a model and built another one, complete with an identical gravity chamber, though much smaller in size.

At Son Wuling's suggestion, the new Grand Elder Moori modified the Dragon Balls. Earth's Dragon Balls could revive many people in a single wish, while Namek's Dragon Balls could not, so he improved them accordingly.

Once everything was over, Videl and Son Gohan returned home with Son Wuling. The moment Satan and Chi-Chi saw Videl and Son Gohan, they burst into tears and held them tightly in their arms.

"Dad!"

"Mom!"

Son Wuling smiled contentedly at the side. The new Grand Elder Moori had already remade the Dragon Balls, but modifying them would take another 130 days. During that time, all the Namekians would temporarily stay at Bulma's home.

"I missed you so much, my Gohan! Your clothes are all torn up! Waaah... Wuling, how did you take care of Gohan? Gohan is only five years old! You let him wear so little—do you think he's you?"

Chi-Chi saw that Son Wuling's martial arts uniform was also in tatters. All the Namekians and Vegeta had left with Bulma, and even Piccolo had gone along. He seemed to have a great deal he wanted to say to his people.

As for clean clothes, they were still in the spaceship. Son Wuling had overlooked that. In the future, he would have to keep spare clothes in a Capsule whenever he went out. Even Videl's purple martial arts uniform was now tattered.

"Mom, it wasn't Uncle Wuling's fault. I was just too useless. Uncle Wuling was even killed by that awful Frieza while protecting me!"

Son Gohan immediately protested, clenching his fists unwillingly. Only after experiencing it himself did he understand how painful and enraging the things Son Wuling had described truly were.

Son Gohan made up his mind. His voice was clear and loud, tears glimmering in his eyes. He still could not let go of Son Wuling's death. "Mom, Uncle Wuling, Videl, and Dad, I'll definitely become stronger. I don't want to see any of you disappear before my eyes ever again."

"Me too, Master Wuling, Dad, everyone. I'll become stronger. Master Wuling, please keep training me. I want to become stronger, surpass Vegeta, and surpass that awful Frieza too!"

Videl clenched her fists, raised her head, and looked at Son Wuling with utter seriousness.

"Of course!"

Son Wuling helped Videl straighten her hair. Everyone had gained a great deal from this trip to Namek. From the moment he had seen Videl bring back the Dragon Balls, with that unyielding determination of hers, he had already decided to train her as his successor. More importantly, like him, Videl was an Earthling.

Son Wuling glanced teasingly at Satan and said, "Videl, you can help me train your dad now. Let him see how much you've grown!"

"Yes..."

Videl excitedly clenched her fists. Like a child receiving a favorite toy, she was filled with excitement and could not wait to show it off.

"Wuling, you... you died?"

"Master Wuling, you..."

After hearing Son Gohan's words, Ox-King, Chi-Chi, and Satan all looked at Son Wuling with worry. Satan would no longer make a fuss about ghosts or anything like that, because he knew about the Dragon Balls now. When the sky and earth had gone dark, they had understood that Krillin had summoned Shenron.

"Yeah. I died."

Son Wuling remained calm. Looking at Son Gohan and Videl, he pointed at his tattered martial arts uniform and smiled. "Krillin revived me with the Dragon Balls. Dying feels awful. I don't want to experience it again. As for everything else, let's talk about it later. Let's change clothes first!"

One hundred and thirty days passed, and Satan finally learned Flight. He could fly now.

On this day, Son Wuling, Son Gohan, Videl, Satan, Chi-Chi, and Ox-King came to Bulma's home.

Because of him, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, Krillin, and Piccolo, who had originally died, were all alive. Instead, he was the one who had died once!

Even though he knew what might happen next, Son Wuling calmly watched Dende summon Shenron.

Krillin, Master Roshi, Yamcha, and blue-haired Launch were here as well. Aside from Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu, all the Z Fighters were gathered here now!

The heavens darkened as Namek's Shenron towered over West City, causing panic among the pedestrians. However, the city issued a notice stating that Capsule Corporation was testing a new high-tech product, allowing the people of West City to settle back into their usual routines.

"Dende, sorry to trouble you. Tell Shenron to bring Goku back."

Son Wuling spoke to Dende.

"Mm! All right!"

Dende spoke in the Namekian language, and a red gleam flashed through Shenron's eyes!

"I am sorry, but this wish cannot be granted. Son Goku has refused. He said that he will definitely return."

Shenron answered in an ancient voice tinged with beastly ferocity, completely different from Earth's Shenron.

"What?"

Other than Son Wuling, who had known already, Chi-Chi, Son Gohan, and the others could not understand why Son Goku was unwilling to return.