Raditz and Nappa exchanged glances, smiles appearing on both of their faces.
Vegeta really was the type who had a soft heart beneath a stubborn mouth.
However...
Goku shook his head.
"You guys go ahead first. We still have a spaceship."
The ship Goku was referring to was Kami's white spacecraft—the very ship he, Bulma, and the others had used to travel to Namek.
It was still parked near the Grand Elder's residence.
"Hmph! Suit yourselves!"
Vegeta grabbed Tights' hand and strode into his medium-sized spacecraft.
"Kakarot, then we'll be leaving first. Take care of yourself."
Raditz and Nappa also remembered the ship and stopped worrying.
They followed Vegeta aboard.
Soon, Vegeta's group departed from Namek.
Little did they know that their haste would cause them to miss out on two enormous opportunities.
"Dad, are we finally going home?"
Gohan's face was full of anticipation.
He had been away for two months and was starting to miss home.
"Yeah."
Goku nodded.
"We've accomplished everything we came here for. It's time to head back to Earth."
He looked toward the direction of the Grand Elder's residence.
"Before we leave, let's stop by and say goodbye to the Grand Elder."
No one objected.
The group flew into the sky together.
Not long afterward, they arrived at the Grand Elder's home.
Their spaceship was still parked in the clearing beneath the giant stone pillar.
"Nail, we'd like to see the Grand Elder."
Goku looked at Nail, who was standing guard outside the entrance.
"The Grand Elder already knows you've arrived. You may go in directly."
These people were the heroes who had saved Namek.
Nail's tone was exceptionally respectful.
"Then we'll go in."
Goku led Krillin and the others into the house.
After climbing to the second floor, they saw the Grand Elder once again.
Compared to a month ago, his appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation.
If the previous Grand Elder had resembled a century-old tree on the verge of withering, the current Grand Elder was like a towering ancient tree overflowing with life and vitality.
"You're preparing to leave?"
the Grand Elder asked warmly.
"Yes."
Goku nodded.
"We came to say goodbye, Grand Elder. We're heading back."
The Grand Elder slowly rose from his chair and bowed deeply to them.
"Thank you all for helping us. Without your assistance, Namek would have been doomed."
"You don't need to be so polite, Grand Elder. By helping you, we were also helping ourselves."
"No, no."
The Grand Elder shook his head.
"Frieza was defeated by you. No matter how you look at it, all of you are the benefactors of the Namekian people."
His gaze swept across Goku and the others as he spoke gratefully.
"Therefore, before you leave, I wish to give you a great gift."
A great gift?
Goku and the others looked at one another in confusion.
"Yes."
The Grand Elder turned toward Krillin.
"Krillin, you first."
Krillin froze for a moment.
After glancing at everyone else, he walked over to the Grand Elder.
"Remember—do not resist."
"Okay."
Although confused, Krillin knew the Grand Elder would never harm him.
He simply stood still.
The Grand Elder placed a hand on Krillin's head.
A radiant light suddenly bloomed from his palm.
Moments later—
BOOM!!!
A powerful aura erupted from Krillin's body.
Measured in combat power, it had reached approximately 15,000.
Before this, Krillin's power level had only been around 3,000.
His strength had increased fivefold in an instant!
"This... this is impossible!"
Everyone stared in shock.
Even Krillin himself couldn't believe he had suddenly become so much stronger.
"Grand Elder, what's going on?"
they asked after recovering from their astonishment.
"This is one of my abilities."
The Grand Elder smiled.
"I can draw out a portion of the latent potential hidden within you."
"Who's next?"
Only then did everyone realize that the "great gift" he had mentioned was potential unlocking.
Their eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
"Me! Me! Me first!"
Gohan bounced excitedly toward the Grand Elder.
Standing where they were, Piccolo and Goku exchanged smiles.
Neither of them competed with the little boy.
"Remember, little one. Don't resist."
"Mm."
A short while later—
An even more terrifying power burst forth from Gohan.
His power level soared directly from 500,000 to 1,000,000!
The Grand Elder withdrew his hand from Gohan's head and exclaimed in shock:
"This is unbelievable. I've never seen anyone with such monstrous potential!"
Krillin's eyes widened.
"Grand Elder, what do you mean by that?"
"If your potential is a stream,"
the Grand Elder replied,
"then Gohan's potential is an endless ocean."
"I just unlocked some of his power, yet I haven't even released one percent of his true potential."
Sweat dripped from the Grand Elder's forehead.
It was obvious that unlocking Gohan's potential had required considerable effort.
"..."
Krillin's face instantly darkened.
Comparing people really was infuriating.
Over on the side, Piccolo crossed his arms and smiled faintly.
"Goku, your son is incredible."
"Hahaha! Of course he is!"
Goku scratched the back of his head and laughed foolishly.
One was Gohan's godfather.
The other was his biological father.
Both knew better than anyone just how extraordinary Gohan's potential truly was.
"Who's next?"
After taking a moment to recover, the Grand Elder looked toward Goku and Piccolo.
"I'll go."
Piccolo stepped forward.
Not long afterward, his aura also changed.
His power level rose from 3,000,000 to 3,500,000.
At first glance, it looked like the same increase of five hundred thousand that Gohan had received.
In reality, however, the improvement was much smaller.
Gohan's power had doubled.
Piccolo's had increased by only one-sixth.
A gloomy expression appeared on Piccolo's face.
He knew exactly why.
When he and Kami split into two separate beings, their talent and potential had been divided as well.
That was why his gains had been limited, both under Gran's personal guidance and now through potential unlocking.
Goku and the others also understood Piccolo's situation.
They couldn't help but sigh on his behalf.
"What a pity."
The Grand Elder withdrew his hand.
He had already seen through the secret hidden within Piccolo.
Piccolo remained silent and turned to leave.
"Piccolo."
The Grand Elder suddenly spoke.
"There is still a way to make up for your current condition."
"What way?!"
Piccolo spun around instantly.
His eyes filled with anticipation.
"The first method is for you and your other half to merge back into one."
"..."
Piccolo clenched his fists.
Of course he knew that method.
But Kami had no intention of merging with him again.
The Grand Elder raised a second finger.
"The second method is to find another Super Namekian and assimilate him."
"That would compensate for the defect within you and restore what you've lost."