The Lookout Above Korin Tower
"Mr. Popo, that boy Son Gohan… there's something unusual about him, isn't there?" Kami frowned slightly.
"Mm. His soul is far stronger than that of ordinary people," Popo replied, his dark face giving away no emotion.
"I don't know whether his existence will be a blessing or a curse for Earth," Kami said, his voice laced with concern.
"Since he's Goku's son, I doubt he'd bring harm to the planet," Popo said calmly.
"…I hope so."
…
Korin Tower
"All right, Korin, enough small talk. Where's the Ultra Divine Water?" Gohan asked directly.
"This way."
Korin led him down to the storage chamber beneath the platform.
"That's the jar that produces the Ultra Divine Water naturally. There should be over half a jar left. Even the strongest Earthlings can only manage a sip. Your father, Son Goku, once drank half the jar." Korin tapped the wall niche with his staff, indicating the porcelain container resting inside.
"Half a jar, huh?"
Gohan walked over, picked up the jar, and without hesitation began gulping it down.
"Hey, hey! You're only two years old! No matter how strong you are, you can't drink that much!" Korin yelped.
But it was already too late.
Burp!
"Move aside, Korin. Clear the stairs. I've gotta get out of here!"
Even speaking was difficult as Gohan forced himself to contain the violent surge of ki inside him. His face took on a faint greenish tint no normal human could have.
Korin quickly stepped out of the way.
In the next instant, Gohan shot away from the tower like a meteor, stopping only in midair beyond its perimeter.
"Yahhh!"
A terrifying, overwhelming aura erupted from his body, shaking the Earth itself.
Some active volcanoes erupted outright.
Martial artists of name and skill all turned their heads toward Korin Tower.
"Korin Tower? That ki feels both familiar and strange… is that Goku?" On a small island in the middle of the ocean, a bald man looked skyward, muttering to himself.
In the desolate wastelands.
"Why…? Why is it that no matter how hard I train, there's always someone so much stronger?!" Piccolo's nails pierced his palm, purple blood dripping to the ground.
"Tien, is that Goku's ki?" Chiaotzu asked.
"…It's similar, but not quite." Tien's brow furrowed.
Mount Paozu
"Gohan… Korin Tower… the Ultra Divine Water?" Goku murmured, as if putting the pieces together.
…
Back in midair near the tower, Gohan's breathing roared like a giant bellows.
The toxicity is insane! he thought. No wonder Dad ends up with that viral heart disease in the future. So the Ultra Divine Water's real effect is to push the heart's capabilities to their absolute limit increasing blood output, speeding circulation to boost battle power. But to refine it, you need immense ki and a body strong enough to endure it.
When Dad drank it, his power level must have been barely a hundred. The toxin lay dormant in his heart. As his power grew, it couldn't harm him, but the strain from using the Kaio-ken gave that hidden poison the chance to flare up!
From just this one drink, Gohan had deduced the future cause of Goku's illness.
He clenched his fists. This half-jar had smashed his bottleneck completely. He could now transform into a Super Saiyan at will.
More than that, his base form's limit had broken, his potential surging endlessly.
3,050,000… 3,100,000… 3,300,000!
His body even grew about ten centimeters taller.
Once he'd stabilized his ki, Gohan returned to Korin's platform.
"Gohan… your ki is unreal. I can't even sense your upper limit anymore," Korin said, eyes wide in disbelief.
"I have no limit," Gohan said with absolute authority.
"Monster. Even more of a freak than Goku," Korin muttered, at a loss for words.
"You heading up top?" he asked.
"Yeah. I still need to visit the Lookout, I'm curious about Mr. Popo."
"See you around, Korin."
…
Gohan rose along the central pillar until he reached the Lookout.
"Kami. Mr. Popo. Greetings," he said politely.
"Gohan… you're very strong," Kami said with a furrowed brow.
Popo's face remained unreadable.
"Earth is my home. My family is here," Gohan replied, knowing exactly what Kami was implying.
"Then good. Did you come to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?" Kami asked.
Gohan shook his head. "Not yet. I want you to invite Piccolo here. I'm sure you're curious about your own origins, aren't you? The people of Earth come in all shapes, but none can regrow lost limbs or create Dragon Balls."
"You mean… I'm not from Earth? Who are you? How do you know all this? You're only two years old!" Kami's voice rose in shock.
"Before I answer, I'd like to hear Mr. Popo's thoughts," Gohan said, turning his gaze to the dark-skinned attendant.
"In this universe, many mysteries exist," Popo said calmly. "Some powerful beings, upon death, keep their souls intact. They can reincarnate without passing through the realm of King Yemma."
Gohan let out an inward sigh of relief. Popo's words were the perfect cover for his own situation.
Following Popo's lead, he said, "My past life no longer matters. I was born on Earth, so I am of Earth. Even if my father's an alien, in his heart this planet is his home."
"That's good," Popo said flatly.
"Mr. Popo, compared to my story, I'm even more curious about yours." Gohan's tone hardened, every muscle tensing as he raised his guard.
"Curiosity kills the cat," Popo replied, offering nothing more.
Suddenly, an invisible pressure crushed down on Gohan, making it hard to breathe.
"Mr. Popo!" Kami's voice cut through.
"Yes, Kami-sama." The pressure vanished instantly.
"Hah… so you do know Mr. Popo isn't simple," Gohan panted, catching his breath.
"I wouldn't have become Earth's Guardian if I were a fool," Kami said. "I don't know where Popo came from, but in all the history of the Lookout, he's never harmed Earth or interfered in its development. That's enough for me. In truth, Popo's the real god of this planet."
"I pried too much. My apologies, Mr. Popo. I'm sure I'll trouble you again in the future," Gohan said with a respectful bow.
In the end, power was the ultimate truth, and his wasn't yet greater than Popo's.
"Kami, could you contact Piccolo for me?" Gohan asked, finally turning to his main purpose.
"Hold on. I don't know if he'll agree to come," Kami said uncertainly.
"Tell him this, if he doesn't, he'll never surpass my father as long as he lives."
It was a killing blow aimed straight at Piccolo's pride.
"…I think he'll come," Kami murmured, sending out a telepathic call.