At Mount Paozu, everything was peaceful, serene, and harmonious between humans and nature.
Goku truly enjoyed life here.
With mountains and rivers, flowers and grass, and plenty of animals to eat and play with, the place was spacious enough to stretch his muscles and bones without restraint. He couldn't be happier.
But in reality, Goku didn't dislike city life either.
Cities were bustling, full of people, cars, noise, and so many interesting things… The only downside was that most things in the city seemed to be linked to money. And wherever money was involved, there were calculations, and Goku... hated math. It gave him a headache. If only people didn't need money. In any case, Goku liked Mount Paozu, but he didn't hate the outside world either.
A few months ago, he had planned to go out for a while.
His martial arts training had hit some roadblocks. The outside world was vast, and there were many powerful people. Goku thought maybe traveling around could help him improve, and he hoped that the next time he faced Yamiru at the World Martial Arts Tournament, he could defeat him fair and square. But Grandpa Gohan was increasingly unable to keep up with Goku's pace and tireless energy. Even Goku's endless passion for challenges was starting to wear on Grandpa Gohan. However, Gohan had asked Goku not to leave Mount Paozu for the entire year—and to watch over the four-star Dragon Ball.
Goku didn't mind this. He wasn't someone who kept his worries inside, so since Grandpa had said so, he decided to accept it.
Today, the two of them were practicing their martial arts.
Neither of them was using their full strength; it was just a friendly match.
"Ha!"
"Hi!"
Gohan was blocking Goku's heavy punches and kicks, sweat beading on his forehead, and he thought to himself, "Goku's strength is getting stronger. Maybe I should let him train with Master Roshi for a while... Although Goku's current abilities might not be weaker than Roshi's, there's something different about training under him, living with him, and experiencing the Turtle School techniques."
"Heh heh..." Goku chuckled, but suddenly his expression froze.
Gohan noticed his grandson's abnormal reaction and asked in surprise, "What's wrong, Goku?"
"I'm not sure..."
Goku only felt that in that instant, his hair stood on end, and his heartbeat quickened. He stared blankly at his hands, "It just felt... like something was off?"
"..." Gohan suddenly realized something and thought, "A few days ago, the four-star Dragon Ball was restored, and based on the timing, maybe Yamiru is coming back now..."
Meanwhile, through the Spirit Glasses, Goku's face appeared somewhat confused, and right in front of him, just within arm's reach, Gine's soul was floating there. Her fiery form reflected in Goku's widened pupils, but he couldn't see her.
"Goku seems to have some kind of premonition," Tights said as she took off the Spirit Glasses. "Is it a special connection between mother and child?"
Yamiru spoke gently, "Just like the children who can ride the Flying Nimbus, Bulma can faintly sense the presence of spirits, and Goku's feeling for his mother's soul... I suppose it's understandable..." He then recalled how, in the comics, after Master Mutaito's failed attempt to use the Evil Containment Wave on King Piccolo, Goku had felt an inexplicable discomfort, almost like a spiritual connection at that exact moment.
"..." Bardock's soul wasn't as excited as Gine's, but he followed behind Yamiru and the others, and now he appeared before Gohan and Goku.
"Master, I'm back," Yamiru greeted as he approached.
"Good day, sir," Tights said in a friendly manner.
Gohan smiled faintly at Yamiru, "As expected, you're back. Not bad, your strength has improved a lot." After a pause, he asked, "So, following with you..."
"Grandpa, here you go." At this point, Bulma handed a pair of Spirit Glasses to Gohan.
Tights explained the function of the glasses to Gohan. He was surprised, but when he took them, he immediately put them on Goku, who had been quieter since Yamiru arrived. As Goku's vision was blocked by the lenses, a completely different scene unfolded before his eyes.
Right in front of him, there was a floating ball of flame.
It felt so familiar...
Goku instinctively raised his hand, and he saw a tongue of flame split off from the fire in front of him, reaching towards his small hand.
"Oo..." Tights felt moved by the sight, and couldn't help but feel her nose tingle with emotion.
Yamiru squeezed her hand.
Tights smiled at Goku and said, "This is your mother, Goku. Her name is Gine. And the one beside us is your father, Bardock. You'll be able to meet them soon."
Goku indeed looked up at them and noticed the soul of Bardock above their heads. The nearly ten-year-old Saiyan child quickly ran back to the small hut, emerging with a yellow-orange sphere in his hands—the four-star Dragon Ball. Bulma said, "He's not dumb, you know~" as she emptied the bag, revealing the six other Dragon Balls.
Gohan smiled, "Goku is always quick-witted. He's a good child." His tone seemed to be speaking to the invisible presence of the two souls in the air.
The atmosphere seemed to grow heavy with emotion... Tights clapped her hands and cheerfully said, "Anyway, let's summon Shenrong first~ Yamiru, you can do it!"
Yamiru nodded, and everyone stepped back a few paces.
"Come out, Shenrong!" Yamiru shouted at the seven resonating Dragon Balls on the ground. Instantly, the seven spheres erupted with brilliant golden light, and a golden lightning bolt shot up towards the sky. At the same time, the previously bright sky rapidly darkened. This magnificent spectacle left Bardock and Gine, still in their soul forms, in awe.
As Shenrong materialized, he lowered his head and looked down: "......"
For some reason, Tights and the others felt that Shenrong's descent had momentarily stiffened.
Although it would be quicker to disband right now, the proper procedures still had to be followed.
"The one who gathered all seven Dragon Balls, speak your wish…" Shenrong's grand and solemn voice echoed, "Any wish, I can grant it…"
Tights looked up, "Did you guys feel that Shenrong put extra emphasis on the word 'speak'?"
Bulma agreed, "Yes, indeed…"
Yamiru, however, seemed oblivious, pretending he didn't hear or see anything. He first looked around and asked, "Before we make the actual wish, I'd like to ask Shenrong a few questions. It's actually something that would benefit Bardock and his family. Is that okay?"
Tights and her sisters had no objections, and Gohan and Goku nodded. Then, with his keen eyes, Yamiru noticed the subtle approval from Bardock and Gine as well.
Bardock had remembered that Yamiru had indeed mentioned asking Shenrong some questions earlier.
After receiving the consent from everyone, Yamiru looked up at Shenrong with a friendly tone, as if chatting casually, and said, "Don't tell me you didn't hear or understand what we were talking about, Shenrong~ Well then, please allow this humble and confused mortal to ask you some related questions before I can clearly describe my true wish. How does that sound?"
"......" Shenrong remained silent, thinking to himself, If you have any sense, just pretend I didn't agree, alright?
But Yamiru didn't stop, continuing, "My question is, I'd like Shenrong to provide a full and detailed introduction about…"
Shenrong, clearly annoyed, thought, Really? You just had to drag this out, huh...
Yamiru pressed on, "In the past history of the Saiyans, or in their potential future, are there more advanced evolutionary forms? We've detected a strange S-cell in the body of the Saiyan Kakarot, also known as Goku. Could this be related to his potential evolutionary abilities? Perhaps a super-powerful Saiyan? Or even a god? A demon?" Yamiru asked, implying something with his tone. "That's the end of my question, please answer, Shenrong."
"......" Shenrong might have been internally mocking, All this rambling just to get me to tell you everything I know?
Just as everyone felt the strange silence from Shenrong and thought they might have upset him, the motionless Shenrong's originally red eyes suddenly shifted to gold.
Then, with golden eyes, Shenrong lowered his massive dragon head and brought it closer to Yamiru, scrutinizing him closely...