"The Guardian is not home. He went out to visit a friend."
"U fuc—"
On the sacred plaza of the Guardian's Temple, upon hearing Mr. Popo's answer, the champion's face twisted into pure confusion, nearly blurting out—"U fking kidding me?!"
The Guardian went out to visit a friend? Since when did Kami have that kind of backstory? Who would he even visit? It couldn't be that he went diving into the ocean to dig up his old buddy sealed in a rice cooker, right?!
Swallowing a torrent of unspoken complaints, the champion suddenly noticed that Gine's soul, Mr. Popo, and Bardock's soul were all staring upward at the sky.
Something felt off.
He snapped his head up.
And there—hovering high above them—was a shadowy figure gazing down.
Backlit by the unfiltered sunlight, the figure was nothing more than a dark silhouette, his face obscured. Only his white robes and billowing cape were clearly visible, fluttering in the wind. His eyes, cold and unreadable, sent a shiver down the champion's spine.
That looming perspective triggered something in Bardock's soul—his spectral flames flickered violently, as if recalling painful, bitter memories.
Ignoring them all, Kami flew past and landed at the far end of the plaza, right before the temple entrance.
"It seems the Guardian does not wish to see you," Mr. Popo said to Yamiru and the others.
Gine's soul floated over to Bardock's, whispering reassurances—until the Guardian at the temple entrance suddenly spoke.
"If it were you… perhaps one day, you could become the new Guardian."
And with that cryptic remark, he vanished into the temple, maintaining his aloof, untouchable demeanor.
"Heh. This kid really can't stand the idea of Goku surpassing him, huh…?" Far away at Mount Five Elements, Annin hugged her crystal ball, thoroughly entertained by the unfolding drama.
None of the group understood who the Guardian had been addressing—except Mr. Popo, who now turned to Gine's soul, sweating slightly.
"If you were to obtain a physical body… you truly might become the next Guardian."
Of course, Mr. Popo knew better. If Kami had already made his stance clear, then there was no "if". The Dragon Balls were his creation—what couldn't he do? A resurrected body was child's play.
Looks like soon, the one I'll be serving as Guardian… will be this lady who's currently just a floating soul flame. Mr. Popo sighed internally.
Gine's soul, slow on the uptake, suddenly (°▽°) "Wait, he was talking about me?!"
The champion also mentally facepalmed. What kind of absurd development is this? Goku's mom is gonna be the next Guardian?!
As they left the temple, Mr. Popo returned inside, where Kami sat meditating.
"Annin-sama said… this will likely be his last slumber…"
---
Flying down from the temple, passing through Korin Tower, descending past the Flying Nimbus layer—
Among the three, only Gine's soul was "intercepted" by the Nimbus, bouncing (Duang!) harmlessly off its surface before awkwardly circling around to catch up.
Watching this, the champion's mind suddenly clicked.
The Flying Nimbus's judgment of purity… it's eerily similar to something else I know…
The Spirit Bomb!
---
Back in his bedroom, feeding an exhausted Tights a Senzu Bean, the champion activated his Golden Veil, observing the bean's restorative mechanism.
Ah, I see!
The Senzu Bean isn't the cure itself—it's a catalyst, drawing upon Heavenly Energy!
It instantly replicates a "clone" of the body, repairing whatever is missing—and it's smart enough to only restore what's needed.
Whoever made these is a genius!
---
Gine could see her own soul's reflection in her youngest son's eyes—yet he couldn't perceive her at all.
Goku's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He stared blankly at his hands, an inexplicable tension gripping him.
Nearby, the golden-eyed champion and Tights (wearing her special glasses) exchanged knowing smiles.
Not long after, atop Mount Paozu, a golden dragon-shaped bolt of lightning shot into the sky—and for the third time in just a few years, the world was plunged into sudden darkness.
On the Dragon Star Ring, Dorag received the summoning signal and immediately sat cross-legged, channeling his magic to link with Earth's Shenron.
The moment he saw that man on the ground, he took a deep breath and leaned back in sheer exasperation.
"Mortal who has gathered the seven Dragon Balls… state your—" He forced Shenron to recite the script, putting extra emphasis on "state."
But it was useless.
The champion acted like a deaf man, pretending not to hear. Instead, he turned to his friends, chatted for a bit, then finally looked up with a grin.
"Oh, don't tell me you didn't hear or understand our little conversation just now, Shenron-sama~ So, before this humble, lost mortal clearly states his true wish… how about allowing me to consult the all-knowing, all-powerful Shenron on a few relevant questions first? Hmm?"
Dorag on the other end: "…"
(This guy… has gone too far! I've had ENOUGH!)
But outwardly, Shenron remained silent—hoping the champion would take the hint and just drop it already.
In reality, the champion didn't even give Shenron a chance to refuse.
Without pause, he continued rambling:
"Now, my question is—could the almighty Shenron kindly provide a complete and comprehensive introduction to whether the Saiyan race, in its past history or latent potential, possesses any higher forms of evolution? We've detected peculiar S-Cells in the body of Kakarot, also known as Son Goku. I wonder if these might be connected to his potential evolutionary abilities? A super Saiyan? Or perhaps… something divine? Or demonic? That concludes my question. Please enlighten us, oh great Shenron~"
"..."
Shenron—no, Dorag—fell silent.
What the hell kind of question is this?!
You might as well just drag your future self from Mount Five Elements here and have him explain it to you! Wouldn't that be easier?!
As Dorag internally drafted a response, a vast, overwhelming will suddenly descended from the Dragon Realm's core, gently "disconnecting" him and forcibly taking over the Earth's Shenron account.
"Ah… Lord Zalama…" Dorag sighed in relief.
Time to clock out!
Meanwhile, on Earth, Shenron's eyes shimmered with a resplendent golden hue as he lowered his massive head, peering closely at the champion…
Dragon God Zalama had initially logged into this "junior's account" out of casual interest—after all, the champion's wish involved matters touching upon the divine.
But the moment he took a proper look at the man before him…
Hmm?
This… doesn't add up.
In that instant, Zalama's consciousness transcended the timeline, synchronizing with his other iterations across existence—and in a flash, he understood everything.
Maintaining his composure, he pondered the champion's question before finally speaking in a measured, ancient tone:
"The Saiyans… Indeed, in the most distant past, among their kind, there once existed extraordinarily powerful warriors."
This was true.
Based on the divine bloodline of the Progenitor Saiyan, the path of secondary sublimation from the original S-Cells had birthed warriors of monstrous might—whether it was the demonic S-Warriors, or legendary figures like Yamoshi, the Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan God…
And yet, the man standing before Zalama now—or rather, his future self training in Mount Five Elements—was akin to those ancient Progenitor Saiyans.
He had forged a new path, a divine road unique to Earthlings.
He had stepped into the realm of Ultra Instinct, begun the metamorphosis of his mortal cells into divine Cells… and was on the verge of succeeding.
In the future, his descendants might even give rise to beings akin to Yamoshi—a "Super Earthling," or even a "Super Earthling God"…
This man truly has the potential to inherit the mantle of the All God…
If only he can…
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Zalama sighed like an old man reminiscing:
"The Saiyans, the fortunate ones across the multiverse… they are all beings blessed by the scattered radiance of the All God…"
Born with fragments of divinity, carrying the "genes" of Ultra Instinct—of course they were favored.
"…But is that truly a good thing? Not necessarily…"
Those accustomed to borrowed divine power—though they may enjoy strength, speed, and convenience far beyond ordinary life—would they still have the will, or even the ability, to tread the thorny path of Ultra Instinct alone?
Those drunk on power, those obsessed with supremacy…
Who among them could ever grasp the true essence of Ultra Instinct?
Zalama's profound gaze lingered on the champion before him—and on Yamiru, training in Mount Five Elements.
The latter's pure divine cells, resonating with the essence of Ultra Instinct, stirred a rare flicker of emotion in the ancient Dragon God.
---
[Memory Fragment — The Dawn of Creation]
"Hey, Zalama, Bartender—your worlds are so boring! All rules and hierarchies! How dull!"
A youthful figure—the All God—spread his arms excitedly, addressing his only two companions.
"What I want to create is a world of challenges—of limitless possibilities!"
Beside him, the God of Destruction Bartender pretended disinterest but listened carefully, yawning lazily. Zalama set down the mechanical star ring he was assembling, puzzled.
"The beings in my realm will start weak—but they'll always strive, always yearn! Maybe one day, one of them might even become our equal!"
The All God's eyes sparkled with that same yearning.
"Now that sounds fun, doesn't it?"
"Tch. Finally lost it, have you?" Bartender scoffed.
---
"Zalama… you're saying too much."
A voice, cold and authoritative, suddenly echoed beside Zalama in the Dragon Realm.
The Celestial God had arrived.