"I don't need to turn into a Great Ape that huge. I just use the transformation to boost my energy!" Zarbon said with a grin.
"Then show me this transformation of yours." Vegeta looked utterly unconcerned.
"You'll regret it." Zarbon's smile twisted into a cruel sneer.
Smack!
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zarbon's body changed in an instant. His face morphed into something like a toad, and his body became bulkier and far more muscular.
Vegeta's eyes flew wide in shock.
Whoosh!
Zarbon shot toward Vegeta like a cannonball.
Vegeta's pupils shrank several sizes.
Before he could even react, Zarbon was already right in front of him, both hands clamping down on Vegeta's head.
Bang!
Zarbon slammed his forehead brutally into Vegeta's face.
Blood immediately welled from Vegeta's nose and mouth.
Then Zarbon swung hard and hurled Vegeta high into the air.
Vegeta twisted in midair, forcing his battered body back under control, then dove down from above, refusing to accept defeat.
Zarbon rocketed up to meet him.
Boom!
The two collided in the sky, each driving a heavy punch straight into the other's face.
For a moment, even the air felt frozen.
Waves of energy blasted outward from them, making the ground shudder violently.
A second later, they broke apart.
Vegeta floated in the air, panting hard, his expression ugly.
Zarbon, by contrast, looked almost completely fine.
"Hmph. When I found out I was the type who could transform, even I was surprised," Zarbon said with a smile. "Vegeta, with that level of power you've got, you want to challenge Frieza-sama? Let me tell you something even scarier: Frieza-sama is also the transforming type."
"Y–you… what did you say?" Vegeta's face went from bad to worse.
"Like I said, you can't even beat me. And you still plan to challenge Frieza-sama?" Zarbon swept his hand forward as he spoke, and a massive blast of energy roared toward Vegeta.
Vegeta hurriedly shot higher into the sky to dodge, destruction energy already gathering in his right hand.
But just as that destruction energy finally took shape, Zarbon grabbed him from behind in a tight bear hug.
"Your precious destruction energy can't even hit me now, can it? Some 'divine ultimate technique' that is!" Zarbon jeered, then suddenly dove, dragging Vegeta down from the sky.
Vegeta's face went pale.
Halfway down, Zarbon simply let go.
Rumble!
Vegeta's body hit like a howitzer shell, slamming straight into the ground and punching out a deep, bottomless crater.
The nearby lake poured in, flooding the pit and swallowing Vegeta completely.
Watching Vegeta vanish beneath the rising lake water, Zarbon curled his lip in disgust.
"Can't see him anymore. He's probably dead. Even if he's still alive, once he knows how huge the gap between us is, he'll learn to behave," Zarbon muttered to himself as he reverted to his normal form. "I'll go report this to Frieza-sama first."
Whoosh!
Zarbon vanished from the scene in a flash.
Vegeta clawed his way up from the water with great difficulty, eyes full of unwilling rage.
"I have to get stronger. I have to become even stronger!" he snarled through gritted teeth. His whole body felt utterly wrecked.
Snap!
Right then, a vague silhouette suddenly formed in front of him.
The shadow gradually solidified into the figure of a young man.
He had silver-white hair, wore angelic divine attire, held a staff in his hand, and even had a silver-white tail flowing behind him.
"Ken!" Vegeta was both startled and delighted. "Hurry up and heal me!"
"Even if I heal you, can you defeat Frieza?" Ken asked with a gentle smile.
Vegeta: "…"
Did you have to stab me in the heart like that?
"Vegeta, there are many ways to fight. Don't you like using the Great Ape transformation?" Ken said calmly.
"I do want to use the Great Ape transformation!" Vegeta nodded, grinding his teeth. "But it has a huge weakness! The moment my tail is cut off, or the artificial moon is destroyed, I instantly go back to normal!"
"Do you remember that transformation Broly used?" Ken asked with a smile.
"Tch, of course I remember. That guy with the gold and green light pouring off him," Vegeta answered, still unwilling to accept it. "Too bad the Legendary Super Saiyan wasn't me."
"No, I'm talking about the transformation where his body bulked up," Ken shook his head.
"Bulking up…? You mean that moment when his body suddenly grew a size larger?" Vegeta finally caught on.
"Exactly," Ken nodded.
"What's so special about that transformation?" Vegeta frowned, then suddenly remembered his condition and felt even worse. "No, this isn't the time to be talking about that. I'm seriously injured here. Heal me first!"
"This body I'm using is just a projection sent over from Universe 6. It's very hard for me to treat you like this," Ken said, shaking his head.
Vegeta: "…"
"So… what's the point of you saying all this?" Vegeta was honestly speechless.
Ken fell silent and just looked at him.
"Fine, fine, just say it. I'll listen," Vegeta shivered slightly, then hurried to give in.
"Broly's transformation lets him draw out a Great Ape's power directly, without needing a full moon," Ken explained.
"Really? Figures the Legendary Super Saiyan wouldn't play by the rules," Vegeta snorted. "So why tell me this? It's not like I can just copy his ability."
"Even if you're not the Legendary Super Saiyan, don't forget—you're a genius warrior of the royal bloodline," Ken encouraged him. "If Broly can do it, I believe you can too."
Vegeta fell quiet.
Can I really do that…?
"The next time you turn into a Great Ape, try to truly understand that power. It'll be a huge help for your growth later," Ken went on. As he spoke, his voice gradually grew faint.
Shff!
The next moment, Ken vanished on the spot.
Vegeta: "…"
"Hey, Ken! Easy for you to say! I'm dying here!" Vegeta was on the verge of tears.
What was the point of all that talk
if I feel like I'm about to die…?
….
One of Frieza's other subordinates had managed to locate the Namekian village Vegeta had visited earlier.
But following Vegeta's advice, the village elder had already led everyone away to hide somewhere safe.
"The whole village's empty! And no Dragon Balls either! Maybe Vegeta came here first, took the Dragon Ball, and told everyone to evacuate," Frieza's subordinate muttered after searching the village top to bottom, finding no trace of a Dragon Ball.
I'd better report this to Frieza-sama.
….
Aboard Frieza's spaceship.
Frieza hovered in front of the massive viewing window, staring out in brooding silence.
"Frieza-sama, it's Zarbon," came Zarbon's voice from outside the door.
"Come in," Frieza ordered without turning around.
The door slid open and Zarbon stepped in.
"Did you find the Namekian village?" Frieza descended slowly from midair, turning his head to look at Zarbon.
"No, Frieza-sama, I haven't found the village yet. But I did find Vegeta, and I defeated him," Zarbon replied with a smile.
"Oh? Is that so? You beat Vegeta by transforming, I take it? So, is he dead?" Frieza asked.
"I didn't confirm whether he died. Even if he's still alive, he should be on the verge of death," Zarbon answered.
"Why didn't you confirm it?" Frieza frowned.
"Because Vegeta sank into the water," Zarbon said quietly, looking down.
"Then dive in and check. You just didn't want to get yourself wet, is that it?" Frieza's tone took on an edge of irritation.
"My apologies. I'll go confirm it at once!" Zarbon said quickly, reading the mood.
Just then, another of Frieza's subordinates rushed in and shouted, "Frieza-sama, I found a village, but everyone there had already disappeared! I searched for a long time but couldn't find a Dragon Ball anywhere. I'm guessing Vegeta went there, took the Dragon Ball, and had the villagers leave!"
"What did you say? That doesn't sound like Vegeta at all," Frieza's expression turned ice-cold.
"He didn't take the Dragon Ball at all!" Zarbon blurted, then his face darkened as he added, "I get it. He must have hidden it somewhere!"
"Zarbon, bring Vegeta here at once. Alive, this time," Frieza ordered. He then turned to the other subordinate. "You contact the Ginyu Force immediately and have them come here—with some scouters. They'll need about five days to arrive, correct?"
"Ah?" Zarbon's face changed color.
"Y-yes…" the subordinate yelped, startled.
"Frieza-sama, why do we need to mobilize the Ginyu Force?" Zarbon asked anxiously.
"Do you see anyone else around me who's actually useful right now?" Frieza shot him a sideways glance and snorted. "Now hurry up and bring Vegeta back."
"Yes, sir!"
Zarbon shot out of the ship and into the sky.
It didn't take long before he was hovering over Vegeta once more.
"Wonderful, Vegeta! You're still alive!" Zarbon said in delight. "You've got pretty stubborn life force, I'll give you that. I'll just take you back and save you. Today's your lucky day."
Grabbing Vegeta by the wrist, Zarbon hauled him into the air and flew back to Frieza's spaceship.
A moment later, he shoved Vegeta straight into a healing pod.
….
After a long journey, Goku and Piccolo finally arrived at the chamber where the Grand Elder lived.
"This place really does stand out," Goku murmured.
"I don't even know if the Grand Elder of Planet Namek is actually here," Piccolo said under his breath.
Just as the two were about to descend, both Goku and Piccolo suddenly sensed Krillin, Gohan, and the others coming up behind them.
They both paused, a little surprised.
Moments later, Krillin and Gohan appeared, with Dende flying alongside them.
"Krillin? You guys got here fast!" Goku said, pleasantly surprised.
Piccolo stepped forward and ruffled Gohan's hair, his face full of affection.
"Weren't we supposed to keep our ki hidden? Flying this fast makes it easy to give yourselves away," Piccolo said, puzzled.
Then his eyes fell on Dende.
Dende stared back at Piccolo in shock, just as curious.
"Long story short, the guy we saw earlier is named Frieza. He really is collecting Dragon Balls," Krillin explained with a laugh. "Fortunately, their scouters are all destroyed, so we can fly at full speed now without them sensing us." He then introduced Dende and asked, "Dende, is this where the Grand Elder lives?"
Dende nodded gravely.
"Let's go down and take a look," Piccolo said, dropping slowly from the sky.
Goku and the others followed, landing at the entrance to the Grand Elder's chamber.
The door opened, and a Namekian stepped out.
"Nail!" Dende cried excitedly.
"You've come at the right time. The Grand Elder already knows everything that's happened," Nail said with a nod. His gaze swept over Goku and the others one by one, lingering on Piccolo for several seconds.
Piccolo likewise looked Nail up and down, feeling that he looked very similar to himself.
"The Grand Elder really is amazing," Dende breathed.
"That's great. Saves us the trouble of explaining… But wow, Piccolo, he looks a lot like you," Krillin whispered, lowering his voice.
"He really does," Goku chuckled.
"Come with me," Nail said, leading Goku and the others into the Grand Elder's chamber. He bowed respectfully and announced, "Grand Elder, Dende and our guests have arrived."
"He's huge…" Krillin couldn't help exclaiming when he saw the Grand Elder.
"So big," Goku nodded, deep in thought.
Piccolo said nothing. He simply studied the Grand Elder of Planet Namek in silence.
"Welcome. You must all be from Earth, yes? First, let me thank these two youngsters for saving my child, Dende," the Grand Elder said from his seat, eyes closed. His voice was frail with age.
More than twenty years had passed. The Grand Elder was now in the twilight of his life, with very little time left.
He could no longer fly. Even moving his body was a great effort.
"Those villains killed all of my children… It pains me deeply," the Grand Elder went on, his voice heavy. "Their goal is simple: to seize our Dragon Balls. Dragon Balls are the symbol of the wisdom and power of the Namekians. They are our hope."
"I'll be blunt, Grand Elder," Piccolo said, not wanting to drag the conversation out. "The reason I came to Planet Namek is simple. Ken told me that if I fuse with many Namekians, I can become a powerful warrior known as a Super Namekian."
"Ken? You know Ken?" The Grand Elder started slightly, forcing his eyes open.
"Yes. Ken said it's the fastest way for me to power up," Piccolo nodded.
"About twenty-five years ago, Ken came to Planet Namek once," the Grand Elder said with a soft sigh. "How is he? I remember his goal back then was to become a great god. After all these years, did he succeed?"
"Yes. Ken has already become a god," Goku answered from the side.
"He's truly remarkable, then, having finally achieved his wish," the Grand Elder said, nodding lightly.
"Let's get back to the fusion thing," Piccolo urged.
"You're Katas's child, aren't you? I'm glad you made it safely to Earth," the Grand Elder said, unable to keep the emotion from his voice. He continued, "Ken was right. Long ago, our people faced many, many crises. We survived most of them by fusing together like that to repel invaders and ensure our race endured."
"So you agree?" Piccolo asked.
"Unfortunately, you've come too late. The surviving Namekians can be counted on one hand—no more than twenty," the Grand Elder sighed helplessly. "If you only fuse with those twenty or so, the power you gain will be limited. It may not be enough to defeat that so-called emperor of the universe, Frieza."
Piccolo: "…"
"Then take my body," the Grand Elder said suddenly, making his decision.
Piccolo blinked.
"I can't give you much power, but I can give you wisdom," the Grand Elder said solemnly.
"Grand Elder!" Nail cried, stunned. "You can't do that… And if you do, the Dragon Balls will vanish immediately."
"You came here for more than fusion. You need the Dragon Balls too, don't you?" the Grand Elder said, waving his hand and turning back to Piccolo.
"That's right, Grand Elder. We heard the Namekian Dragon can bring back someone who's died twice. We have a friend who died in battle against the Saiyans. He's already died twice, so Earth's Dragon Balls can't revive him," Krillin explained quickly.
"Are you the one who made the Dragon Balls on Earth?" the Grand Elder asked Piccolo.
"I can't make Dragon Balls," Piccolo replied flatly.
The Grand Elder: "…"
Silence fell for a moment.
"If you can't make Dragon Balls, then how did Earth's Dragon Balls appear? Only Namekians can make them," Nail said incredulously. "Don't tell me these Earthlings made them?"
"Here's what happened…" Krillin stepped forward to explain.
"I'm sorry, Earthling. Please come here," the Grand Elder interrupted gently, pointing to the space beside his left hand.
Krillin paused, then obediently walked over.
"Let me see your past," the Grand Elder said, placing his hand on Krillin's bald head.
Krillin: "…"
Very quickly, the Grand Elder read Krillin's memories and understood what had happened with Piccolo.
"So that's it. To cast off his evil, Katas's child split himself into two," the Grand Elder murmured. "I can indeed sense a trace of evil in your heart, but there's very, very little left."
Piccolo's face remained calm. He didn't speak.
"You're a genius among Namekians. If you fused with your other half, your power would increase tremendously," the Grand Elder told Piccolo.
"That's pointless right now. It took us over thirty days to get to Planet Namek. We can't just turn around and go back now. Besides, I don't want to fuse with that guy," Piccolo said with a shake of his head.
"I'm glad your wishes are pure, and these two youngsters have been very brave. I'll give you this Dragon Ball," the Grand Elder said. He raised his hand, took down the Dragon Ball set above his chair, and handed it to Krillin.
Krillin received it with both hands and thanked him repeatedly.
"As for fusion… if you need Dragon Balls to grant your wish, you'll have to wait a bit," the Grand Elder said gravely. "Sadly, I have only a few days left to live. In those few days, can you seize the Dragon Balls from that terrible man? Remember, the moment I die, the Dragon Balls will disappear with me. So if you plan to fuse with me, stay by my side and perform the fusion right before I die."
Piccolo said nothing, but his silence was as good as agreement.
This was probably the best option.
Nail also remained silent.
At this point in time, Nail certainly wasn't about to nobly offer his own body for Piccolo to fuse with.
After all, he was uninjured and very much alive.
"Now, let us all pray," the Grand Elder sighed. "If that Frieza comes here, even this Piccolo and Nail together likely won't be a match for him. Still, although you're all from Earth, you possess extraordinary power. It's just that your power hasn't fully awakened. I can help you awaken the power that sleeps within."
"Awaken the power that sleeps within?" Krillin echoed, stunned.
"Yes. In your terms, your hidden potential," the Grand Elder said with a smile.
As he spoke, a layer of mysterious energy flowed from his hand, enveloping Krillin's entire body.
Krillin immediately froze in shock, then his face lit up, overflowing with disbelief and joy.
"T-this is… amazing! I can feel my power skyrocketing! This is incredible!" Krillin shouted.
"Krillin, that's awesome. I can feel how strong your energy is now," Goku said, genuinely happy for him.
"Goku, hurry! You try it too!" Krillin rushed over and grabbed Goku's hand. Then a thought struck him and he asked worriedly, "Grand Elder, can you keep awakening this sleeping power? Will it shorten your lifespan?"
"As long as it's sleeping power, I can awaken it," the Grand Elder answered with a gentle smile. "And what I did just now was only guiding it out. It won't affect my lifespan."
"That's great! Grand Elder, please awaken all of Goku's sleeping power! Goku is the strongest one among us!" Krillin said, barely containing his excitement.
"Very well. Son Goku, please come here," the Grand Elder nodded without objection.
Goku stepped up beside him.
The Grand Elder placed his hand on Goku's head.
Then he fell silent for a long while, unable to say a word.
"What's wrong? Do I not have any sleeping power?" Goku scratched his head. "I once drank Ultra Divine Water. That stuff was supposed to awaken sleeping power. Is it because of that?"
"No… It's… It's that the power inside you is too strange. I can't awaken it," the Grand Elder said slowly, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?" Goku asked, baffled.
"To put it simply, the power inside you is somewhat similar to Ken's power… It may be a special kind of divine power. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. I can't guide divine power," the Grand Elder replied, his tone grave.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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