Master Roshi stepped forward, staring at the completely plowed battlefield with a heavy expression.
"Goku… what exactly happened? That terrifying ki…"
Goku's expression immediately darkened when he saw Master Roshi.
He glanced at Bulma, then at Krillin. His lips moved, but he couldn't find the words.
Krillin took a deep breath and spoke softly.
"Piccolo… sacrificed himself to protect Gohan."
"Chiaotzu, Tien Shinhan, and Yamcha… they also…"
Krillin couldn't finish. His eyes instantly turned red.
"What?!" Bulma's smile froze.
She stared at Krillin in disbelief, then slowly turned to Goku.
"Yamcha… he… how…?"
Goku nodded sorrowfully.
Bulma's legs went weak. She collapsed to her knees and burst into tears.
Chi-Chi hugged the healed Gohan tightly, tears streaming down her face.
The fear still lingered—she had almost lost her son.
Master Roshi sighed quietly. He patted Goku's shoulder, then turned his gaze to Loren.
He knew better than anyone that earlier, there was a ki far beyond Goku's level.
Now Goku and the others were alive, but the enemy was gone.
The conclusion was obvious.
Master Roshi walked up to Loren, straightened his robe, and performed the most solemn martial artist's bow.
"Sir… This old man, Master Roshi, thanks you on behalf of this world—on behalf of all living beings on Earth."
Goku hurried to explain to the others.
"It was him! Mr. Loren saved us!"
"That Saiyan, Vegeta, transformed into a Great Ape. None of us could stop him. I saw Mr. Loren with my own eyes… he…"
Goku tried to find the words, but in the end, he could only say two plain ones:
"Drove him away."
"Drove him away?!" Bulma stopped crying for a moment, staring blankly at the handsome, lazy man in front of her.
Master Roshi was shocked as well. He could imagine how terrifying that battle must have been.
"Um… Mr. Loren!" Goku stepped forward, gathering his courage.
"May I ask… who are you really? Why do you possess such incredible power?"
Loren glanced back at him as if he were looking at an idiot.
"Just a passerby."
"A salted-fish Saiyan who's just here for the ride."
"I just want to quietly lie down in the sun and take a nap."
Loren was about to leave when Bulma's crying and the group's sadness grew louder.
He paused.
He thought for a moment, then decided to say what he needed to say.
Loren sighed lightly and turned back.
"Hey."
"What's the point of crying?"
"People can be revived, you know."
Krillin suddenly raised his head, stunned.
"Mr. Loren, what did you say?!"
"Shenron disappeared because Kami died. We… we have no way left—"
"Earth's Kami died, so Earth's Shenron disappeared. That's simple logic," Loren said flatly.
"But who told you that Kami is an Earthling?"
His words struck everyone like lightning.
"Kami… isn't an Earthling?!"
Loren raised a finger and pointed upward impatiently.
"Whether it's Kami or Piccolo, they come from the same place."
"A planet called Namek."
"Namek…?"
"Oh right!" Krillin recalled. "That Saiyan earlier did call Piccolo a Namekian."
"On Namek, there are dragon balls just like Earth's—except they're the original ones. They have far greater power."
"Find them, and not only can you revive your friends—you can restore this whole planet if you want."
Everyone stood frozen.
Loren frowned slightly.
"Understand?"
"So stop crying. It really ruins my mood for taking a nap."
Bulma stood up, shocked.
"Are you serious?! There are other dragon balls?!"
Goku rushed in front of Loren.
"Mr. Loren! How do we get to Namek?!"
But the only answer was silence.
Loren's figure vanished without a trace.
Goku, Krillin, and the others stood dumbfounded among the ruins.
"He… just left like that?"
Krillin muttered.
"So… amazing…" Gohan's eyes sparkled with admiration at Loren's overwhelming power.
Goku clenched his fists in determination.
He had to go to Namek.
He had to revive their fallen comrades.
And next time… he couldn't rely on Mr. Loren.
On a tall mountain peak…
Loren's figure appeared silently.
He found a sheltered spot, lay down comfortably, and let the warm sunlight wash over him.
[Ding! Obstacle "Saiyan Invasion" has been cleared.]
[Basic Mission Reward: Battle Power +1830.]
[Special Reward for completing "Investment in Future Choices": Battle Power +20,000!]
[Rewards have been distributed!]
A massive surge of energy instantly flooded Loren's body.
It flowed like warm spring water through every cell.
His battle power rose rapidly—steadily—unstoppably.
Absolute strength meant absolute safety.
And only with absolute safety could Loren enjoy his peaceful life.
Feeling satisfied, Loren summoned his status panel.
Name: Loren
Battle Power: 52,350
Skills: Flight Mastery, Blutz Wave Immunity, Autonomous Great Ape Transformation
Description:
Congratulations, you are one step closer to your great dream of "sleeping as long as you want."
At your current strength, within Frieza's army, only a few beings can defeat you.
Loren nodded contentedly.
A power level above fifty thousand—he was already a high-ranking existence in Frieza's forces.
And on Earth? No one could touch him.
Finally, he could sleep in peace.
[Ding! Daily mission has refreshed.]
[Mission: Watch the rolling clouds from the top of the world for two hours.]
[Reward: Battle Power +150.]
A genuine smile appeared on Loren's face.
This was life.
But just as he relaxed—
A thought slipped into his mind.
"That guy Vegeta… once he recovers, he'll head straight for Namek."
"And then he'll run into Frieza… that lunatic who blows up planets when he's bored."
Loren frowned slightly.
"Sigh…"
"Looks like living a peaceful life is really a long, difficult journey…"