Dark golden demonic energy churned ominously, casting an eerie gloom over Mount Five Elements.
Yet inside the Supreme Elderly Lord's palace, warmth and laughter filled the air, along with the rich aroma of hot pot.
The colossal Furnace of Eight Divisions had been repurposed into Annin's personal cooking pot, fueled by demonic energy to keep the broth boiling fiercely.
Amid the billowing steam, Yamiru sat on the edge of the furnace, holding an enormous bowl of dipping sauce.
Annin, in her giant form, occasionally fished out thick, juicy slices of meat from the bubbling broth and dropped them into his bowl as they chatted.
Joey ate with unrestrained glee, even growing impatient and enlarging herself to snatch meat directly from the furnace with oversized chopsticks. She huffed and puffed, blowing on the scalding-hot bites before devouring them.
Each mouthful was a burst of tender, fragrant bliss—infused with the Supreme Elderly Lord's legendary hot pot base, perfected over millennia. The rich flavors danced on the tongue, spreading warmth from the belly to every limb.
Tears of joy welled up in Joey's eyes. "Coming to Earth was the best decision ever…"
Once the cozy meal ended, the two former deities effortlessly cleaned the Furnace of Eight Divisions and tableware with a wave of magic.
Yamiru retired to rest alone, while Annin carried a food-comatose Joey (still clutching her thumb like a pillow) to the mountaintop.
Gazing past the dark clouds at the starry sky, Annin wondered where her master was now.
Meanwhile, Yamiru sat in meditation—but didn't close his eyes immediately.
He stared at the ground, lost in thought.
Finally, without further action, he slowly shut his eyes.
The secrets of the Spirit Bomb, the basics of Ultra Instinct, the awakening of divine cells…
Within a several-kilometer radius of Mount Five Elements, faint specks of light drifted from the sky, earth, flowers, and streams—all drawn by an invisible force.
They converged into the palace, swirling around the masked man in deep meditation before merging into his eyes.
Yamiru's breathing steadied as he entered a state of cultivation.
His body, now almost entirely composed of divine cells, could no longer be considered mortal.
Even without the sustaining halo of the afterlife, he could enter prolonged hibernation-like training—no need for food, water, or movement—without fear of physical deterioration.
---
Meanwhile, With the Younger Yamiru…
The younger Yamiru tucked away the prophecy—"The power to destroy a planet lies in Mount Five Elements"—and rejoined his friends at Kame House, where they gathered all seven Dragon Balls.
Seeing the Earth's Shenron for the first time, he was awestruck.
(Though the dragon, upon recognizing him, mentally sighed: "So much for 'we'll chat later.'")
From the Dragon Realm, Dorag nearly facepalmed as the Earth's Shenron dutifully intoned:
"Speak your wish, summoner…"
But instead of making a wish, the younger Yamiru launched into a monologue:
"Over three years ago, I left the Temple on Papaya Island after the World Martial Arts Tournament and began my journey to find Mount Paozu…"
Dorag (in the Dragon Realm): "????"
"...After leaving Slope City, I ran into the Rabbit Gang."
Dorag: "(Deep breaths) Is this a wish or a therapy session?!"
Finally, the younger Yamiru asked:
"Shenron, can those killed by the Rabbit Gang be revived?"
Dorag paused.
This wasn't a wish—it was a question.
Dorag (exasperated): "If I answer, does that count as granting a wish?! And just because future-you at Mount Five Elements has the Dragon God's mark doesn't mean you can bully dragons! What am I, customer service?!"
Shenron's deep, resonant voice echoed in response:
"Unfortunately, those who perished after being turned into carrots were neither great saints nor sinners. Their souls have already passed into the afterlife and swiftly reincarnated. Without souls remaining, even I cannot revive them."
(Please just make your damn wish already. I don't want to see or hear you anymore.)
The young Yamiru was disappointed but decided to put Shenron on hold, turning to discuss with his friends.
Dorag, now thoroughly exasperated, could only channel a slightly impatient tone through Earth's Shenron:
"State... your... wish..."
"Is he mad?" Goku whispered nervously. Little Bulma nodded in agreement.
But Yamiru wasn't done. He continued his "customer service interrogation":
"If I wanted Goku to fully control his Great Ape transformation, Shenron, how much could you actually help with that?"
Dorag (in the Dragon Realm): "IS THIS EVEN A WISH?! Was this guy always this insufferable when he was young?!"
Suppressing his irritation, Shenron replied that it was possible.
"NICE!" Yamiru cheered—but just as Dorag thought this nightmare was finally over, the brat had the audacity to ask:
"Hey Shenron, if I made this wish, do you have any... suggestions for how to improve it?"
Dorag felt his draconic blood pressure spike.
Up on the Lookout, Kami Piccolo accidentally snapped his wooden staff in half, his expression eerily calm.
Finally, after endless haggling, Yamiru worked out a "mutually acceptable" wish. He then leaned over to Master Roshi, whispering for him to take off his shell and get ready to jump.
Through Shenron's ears, Dorag heard the little schemer plotting to snatch at least two Dragon Balls after they scattered post-wish.
"So you've planned EVERYTHING except the actual wish itself?!"
"Alright, alright..." Yamiru finally raised his hand in an "OK" gesture and declared:
"MY WISH IS—LET SON GOKU MASTER HIS GREAT APE TRANSFORMATION!"
"This... wish... is... EASY..." Shenron practically sighed in relief. His eyes flashed crimson, fulfilling the wish before hastily reciting his exit lines. The seven Dragon Balls shot into the sky as lightning—
(Take a few if you want, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE. JUST LET ME LEAVE.)
(Earthlings, DO BETTER. Next time, someone ELSE summon me.)
---
May 7th, Year 740 – The 19th World Martial Arts Tournament
Jaco, Goku, Tights, and Master Roshi waited impatiently as Yamiru rushed back from putting out a fire at Fry-pan Mountain.
Meanwhile, Master Shen and Tao Pai Pai had deduced that if the brat who escaped them years ago had joined the Turtle School, he'd likely show up at the tournament. They arrived with Tien and Chiaotzu to investigate...
By dusk, on the shores of Papaya Island, Yamiru fought a life-or-death battle against Tao Pai Pai—finally conquering his long-standing nightmare.
Sharks circled in the bloodied waves as this scene played out in the Supreme Elderly Lord's crystal ball. She slurped her noodles loudly, scowling—
Then, when Tights rushed to comfort the bloodied Yamiru, the goddess hmphed and aggressively slurped even louder.