How could anyone visit the Dragon Ball world without witnessing Shenron? This was Raditz's first time summoning the Eternal Dragon, and as he shouted those five simple words, his voice echoed across the entire island.
Excitement surged through him as he stared at the seven glowing orbs, not daring to blink for fear of missing even a moment of this crucial scene.
The dappled light beneath the coconut trees gradually faded as the sky was suddenly shrouded by an iron-black curtain. A powerful gust of wind stirred the waves, whipping through Raditz's long hair and tugging at everyone's clothing.
Seabirds, startled by the sudden change, took flight as golden light shot skyward, transforming into thunder and lightning that pierced the heavens. Simultaneously, a deafening roar seemed to emerge from the void itself, the dragon's long chant echoing in everyone's ears, striking a soul-stirring chord amidst the darkness!
"The dragon... it's much larger than I expected..." Raditz gazed up at the enormous creature before him, feeling his heart race. Such a majestic sight had previously existed only in his dreams!
The others had seen Shenron before and remained remarkably calm, their reactions subdued by familiarity.
The brilliant light climbed higher and higher, circling in mid-air. Amidst the shimmering golden glow, scales, sharp claws, flowing whiskers, and mighty horns gradually took shape... Finally, the complete dragon emerged from the golden light, its massive head lowering toward the group, red eyes glowing intensely:
"Speak your wish. I shall grant any single desire you have."
Raditz composed himself, but a sudden thought crossed his mind. "Shenron, do you know where I truly come from?"
Everyone was stunned. What kind of question was this? Weren't they planning to be sent to King Kai for training? Why was he asking about his origins? Not only Shenron but everyone present already knew this—he was from the planet where the Saiyans were currently battling.
Yet Raditz gazed solemnly at Shenron, barely concealing the powerful expectation in his eyes.
He hoped Shenron could explain how he had crossed dimensions, and even tell him whether he could return to his original world. After all, he had arrived here through a wish—couldn't he wish to go back?
Shenron remained silent for a moment before finally responding: "I know your origin. But I cannot return you there. That lies beyond my dimensional reach."
Dimension? Raditz was taken aback, nodding slightly in disappointment.
Indeed, he had come from another dimension entirely, one that perhaps even Shenron couldn't bridge. But how could he arrive yet never leave? Had he truly become Raditz permanently? This felt like a cruel joke! Originally, he had only planned to experience the thrill of combat in the Dragon Ball world, meet legendary warriors, and eventually return home. Now faced with this definitive answer, Raditz momentarily lost his composure...
But what could be done if even Shenron declared it impossible?
Raditz closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling an indescribable emptiness in his heart, as if his world had been torn apart. He could handle playing this role temporarily, but permanently replacing Raditz—who could immediately accept and adapt to such a fate? Like convincing Piccolo and the others to trust him, it would take time.
Suddenly, a voice resonated within his consciousness: "The power that summoned you shares the same source as mine, yet it is not my doing. Perhaps you must seek that original power."
This was... Shenron's voice, communicating directly with his mind! Raditz instantly understood.
He lifted his gaze to the dragon, his thoughts racing. Could it be other Dragon Balls? The Namekian set, or perhaps the Super Dragon Balls?
"I cannot say. These mysteries lie beyond my knowledge. You must discover the answer yourself." After imparting these words, Shenron fell silent.
Raditz's expression suddenly hardened with renewed determination. He would find the answer! For now, he was Raditz, and he would embrace this new life! Besides, even if he couldn't return, he had to make the most of his existence here!
"Is everything okay? Something wrong?" Goku approached with concern, noticing Raditz's rapidly shifting expressions.
"It's nothing. I've never seen Shenron before, so I was just curious. No time to explain more—everyone, stand beside me." Raditz motioned for the group to gather around.
Piccolo and the others positioned themselves next to Raditz, with Gohan brought along as well. Master Roshi, however, declined to join the training, preferring to remain at Kame House with his beloved magazines. In his heart, the world's future had long since been entrusted to the younger generation.
Shenron's enormous head lowered once more as he prompted: "What is your wish? Speak now, or I shall depart."
"Please send me and those gathered around me to King Kai's planet."
"King Kai? A simple matter." Shenron's ancient voice intoned.
As his eyes flashed crimson, a faint aura of light enveloped everyone. In the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight.
Shenron's voice echoed across the empty beach: "Your wish has been granted."
With that, the Eternal Dragon transformed into a beam of light that shot skyward, splitting into seven Dragon Balls that hovered momentarily before dispersing to the far corners of the world.
The dark clouds dissipated, returning the sky to its azure blue. White birds soared beneath high clouds, their calls sharp and jubilant. The sea breeze continued to blow, waves creating a melodious, rhythmic soundtrack.
Master Roshi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, muttering to himself: "I can't shake this feeling of unease. Maybe those Saiyans really are coming. It's quite remarkable that Piccolo has joined the side of good..."
"Why is he talking to himself?" Bulma wondered.
"Could be senility setting in," Oolong suggested with a smirk. "Must be thinking about pretty girls—perverted old man."
The ancient turtle could only shake his head helplessly and sigh.
Meanwhile, the warriors were teleported to King Kai's planet. With a sudden shift, eight people descended onto the tiny world, making the already small planet feel even more crowded.
The moment they arrived, everyone's legs buckled beneath them—everyone except Raditz. Gohan collapsed completely, unable to move at all.
Ten times Earth's gravity!
Though Raditz felt the increased pressure, he quickly adapted. After all, his body had been trained on Planet Vegeta, where the gravity was similar to King Kai's world.
"What... what's happening? Everything feels so heavy!" Krillin gritted his teeth as he struggled to stand upright, the effort clearly strenuous.
By comparison, though Goku and Piccolo weren't completely comfortable, they adjusted with noticeably less difficulty.
"The gravity here is ten times that of Earth, approximately the same as my home planet Vegeta. This is the environment that produced the powerful enemies you'll soon face."
"Saiyans... truly are formidable!" Tien couldn't help but grimace.
Even his powerful physique struggled under the increased gravity, making simple walking exceedingly difficult. It was hard to imagine how Saiyans had been conditioned since childhood in such an environment.
Seeing Raditz move freely under these conditions filled them with both envy and determination, igniting their fighting spirit anew!
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