For example, your way of training or a particular choice you made was like taking a different fork in the road. In the end, all of them would influence and determine how far you could go.
Now, back to the Grand Elder's heaven-defying ability!
Potential Unleashed!
It was practically a divine skill!
As far as Turles knew, there was one other person in the entire Dragon Ball world who possessed a divine skill in this area.
That was Old Kai from fifteen generations ago.
Old Kai was even more outrageous. If the Grand Elder's ability was Potential Unleashed, then Old Kai's was Potential Unlock!
To use a road as an example again, the Grand Elder could help you go straight to any point on the road you could see!
Old Kai, on the other hand, would give you directions. Even routes beyond your sight would become clear to you, and you could reach your destination at your leisure!
And right now, Turles was just as the Grand Elder had said.
He was anxious!
Anxious about his power!!
If the Grand Elder was willing to unleash his potential, he naturally couldn't ask for more!
Just as Turles stepped forward.
Behind the Grand Elder's chair.
A small figure darted out.
It was Dende, who had been hiding back there from the very beginning.
"G-Grand Elder..." He looked worried, and he also seemed to disagree with the Grand Elder's decision.
"Huh, there's a kid here too?" Tights jumped in surprise.
The Grand Elder forced a gentle smile, though it clearly took effort.
"It's all right, Dende. I'll be fine. My time hasn't come yet..."
Turles stopped in his tracks.
He realized it too.
He had been so excited just now that he had forgotten about that. If he remembered correctly, using this ability seemed to cost the Grand Elder some of his lifespan!
Turles began to hesitate.
He truly longed for power.
But if it came at the cost of the Grand Elder's lifespan, he didn't think he could necessarily accept it without misgivings.
Ever since Turles had arrived on Planet Namek, the Grand Elder had shown him sincere kindness and had readily lent him the Dragon Balls.
If he then took advantage of the Grand Elder's lifespan, wouldn't that be repaying kindness with enmity?
Seeing Turles hesitate, the Grand Elder's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible hint of surprise.
"You seem to know more than I imagined. Don't worry, I really will be fine. This is part of my plan."
"My mission as the Grand Elder is actually almost over..." The Grand Elder turned his gaze to Dende.
"Many outstanding members of the Dragon Clan have been born on Planet Namek. Dende is the most outstanding of my children, the most gifted Dragon Clan Namekian aside from Katatz back then..."
"If not for the calamity that might come, I could have passed away peacefully of old age long ago. Helping you increase your power won't affect me much, though I may not be able to do it..."
"There is meaning in this. From what I have observed, Planet Namek's future may be entangled with yours in ways that are hard to explain. I'm also doing this for Planet Namek's sake, so you needn't blame yourself..."
"Come, child."
Turles raised his eyes and met the Grand Elder's kindly gaze.
He spoke solemnly.
"Grand Elder, I promise you, no matter what happens to Planet Namek in the future, I, Turles, will not stand by and do nothing!"
The Grand Elder nodded. "I'm certain you'll keep that promise."
Turles walked over to the Grand Elder's chair.
The Grand Elder slowly raised his wrinkled arm and opened his palm.
He gently placed it on Turles's head.
A soft white light glowed beneath his palm.
The faint white glow around Turles grew stronger and stronger.
An inexplicable aura burst forth from him.
About two or three minutes passed.
Under Tights's curious gaze, the light gradually faded.
The Grand Elder removed his hand from Turles's head.
A weary look had appeared on his face.
"Grand Elder..." Dende stood worriedly beside the chair.
The Grand Elder reassured him with a look.
Then he turned back to Turles and spoke slowly.
"That's all I can manage..."
"The power inside you is astonishing. It was harder to unleash than I imagined. I'm sorry..."
Turles shook his head gratefully.
"Grand Elder, please don't say that. I don't even know how to thank you..."
"You don't seem well at all. You only said it wouldn't affect you much to reassure me, didn't you..."
Turles bowed to the Grand Elder with solemn sincerity.
"It's all right... Child, don't feel burdened. My time really hasn't come yet... Go on. Nail has brought the Dragon Balls back. They're just outside."
He paused and looked at Dende. "Dende, go help them..."
Hearing this, Dende quickly glanced over Turles, then Tights behind him and Cacao farther back.
Only then did he walk stiffly toward the door.
He was almost over the threshold before he spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. "Y-you... follow me..."
With that, he slipped away and vanished from the room.
"That kid is so shy." Tights waited until Dende had left before covering her mouth and laughing.
"Dende is my youngest child and hasn't had much contact with the outside world. Though he's a little timid, his abilities are already very close to those of the other elders. Let him help you communicate with Porunga..."
After thanking the Grand Elder once more, Turles left the room with Tights and Cacao.
Outside, they could see Nail and Dende waiting in a clearing not far away.
"Hey, Turles, um, what are Dragon Balls? And what about that Porunga..."
"That Grand Elder said Dende was his child. He looks so old, but his child is still so little. Can Namekians still have children when they're that old?"
Along the way, Tights poured out all the questions she hadn't had a chance to ask in the room.
Clearly, she had been holding them in the whole time.
She simply hadn't understood a word of Turles's conversation with the Grand Elder from beginning to end.
Especially the Grand Elder, who spoke like some of those mystics she remembered from Earth who liked to keep people guessing.
Everything he said was vague and suggestive.
No wonder she had been bursting with questions.
"What's the rush?"
"You'll find out in a moment. Whatever you don't know, you'll gradually learn later." Turles, however, wasn't in much of a mood to answer her questions.
His eyes were fixed on the large golden spheres at Nail and Dende's feet.
As soon as Turles approached.
Nail sensed something.
His brows knitted tightly.
Turles's ki had grown much stronger!
He turned to look at Dende, wanting to confirm something.
Dende lowered his head, somewhat afraid to meet his eyes, effectively confirming it.
When Nail looked at Turles again, his eyes were filled with resentment.
Although he knew this had been the Grand Elder's decision.
He still couldn't help blaming Turles at least a little.
In the end, he simply turned his head away.
He didn't want Turles in his sight anymore.
The three of them came over to Dende.