After a few days of rest, Krillin and Gohan resumed their exploration.
This time, they suppressed their ki to the extreme as they moved carefully in one direction.
What they found was a burning ruin.
Amidst the scorched earth stood a familiar pink, bloated figure.
In an open area, several surviving Namekians were surrounded by Frieza's soldiers.
"Hehehe… look at these little green things. Still dreaming of escaping?"
"Talk! Where are the Dragon Balls?!"
Dodoria casually killed one of the adult Namekians, then ordered his soldiers to slaughter the children to force out the location of the Dragon Balls.
Just as the last young Namekian was about to be killed—
"Gohan!"
Krillin couldn't stay quiet anymore.
Seeing beings who looked like Piccolo being slaughtered triggered Gohan's memories of Piccolo sacrificing himself to save him. His rage erupted.
The two powered up together and instantly knocked down several of Frieza's soldiers.
"Oh? Two little rats still jumping around?"
Dodoria finally noticed them.
Krillin knew well that the gap in power between them and this pink monster was enormous.
He yelled urgently at the young Namekian, Dende.
"Run! Find a place to hide!"
Before Dodoria could react, Krillin grabbed Gohan and fled in the opposite direction at full speed.
"Run? Did you get permission from Lord Dodoria?!"
Dodoria sneered, his bulky body turning into a pink blur as he easily closed the distance.
Krillin felt the pressure closing in and came to an abrupt stop. His hands snapped to his forehead.
"Solar Flare!"
A blinding flash exploded.
"ARGH! MY EYES!"
Dodoria clutched his face, roaring in pain.
Seizing the moment, Krillin and Gohan dove into a large lake and suppressed their ki.
"Damn bugs! Get out here!"
Dodoria fired blast after blast into the lake, but eventually gave up and flew off to another village.
Only after confirming his terrifying ki had vanished did Krillin and Gohan crawl out of the water, drenched and gasping.
Dende was waiting anxiously on the bank.
Dende soon guided them to the Grand Elder.
At the Grand Elder's home…
"Earthlings, I sense great courage and kindness in your hearts," the Grand Elder said calmly.
"To protect the life of this world, I am willing to awaken your hidden potential."
The Grand Elder gently placed a massive hand on Krillin's head.
Buzz—
Warm, overwhelming energy surged into Krillin's body, breaking through every invisible wall that had held him back.
Power!
A wave unlike anything Krillin had ever felt burst within him.
Then the Grand Elder placed his hand on Gohan.
The energy that erupted from the child made even the Grand Elder's eyes flash with surprise.
"A child… with limitless potential."
After expressing their gratitude, Krillin and Gohan left with a one–star Dragon Ball—a gift from the Grand Elder.
But as soon as they cleared the sanctuary's protective area, a familiar pink figure appeared in midair.
Dodoria.
He had detected their sudden surge in power through his scouter.
"Oh? Quite the surprise. Your power is much higher than before…"
On his scouter, both Krillin and Gohan's battle powers had exceeded ten thousand.
"But in front of Lord Dodoria… you're still bugs."
He didn't waste another word. His massive body blurred forward, attacking instantly.
Even with the Grand Elder's unlocked potential, fighting a twenty-two-thousand power level monster was impossible.
Bang! Bang!
Both Krillin and Gohan were smashed into the ground, carving deep craters as they fell.
"The game ends here."
"GOHAN!"
Krillin cried out, but he was too injured to move.
On a distant mountain peak…
Loren was lying comfortably, moments from drifting into a perfect nap.
[Ding! Warning: Important associated character Son Gohan is in critical condition! Host must intervene immediately to save the key plot character!]
The sudden alarm jolted Loren awake.
"Seriously? They ran into a boss already?"
"A guy can't even take a peaceful nap on this damn planet…"
[Ding! God-Level Choice triggered. Please select!]
Two light screens unfolded before him.
[Choice One: Continue watching. Let the Z Fighters survive on their own until Goku arrives on Namek.
Reward: None.]
[Choice Two: Intervene! Rescue Gohan and punish Dodoria!
Reward: 10,000 battle power points + unlock skill Kamehameha.]
Loren stared at the first option and snorted.
"What kind of bullshit reward is 'None'? Of course I'm picking Option Two. This time the reward is Kamehameha—I'm definitely taking it."
"If I don't show these idiots something, they'll think anyone can come here, shout loudly, and ruin my sleep."
[Ding! Host has selected strong intervention. Reward issued: +10,000 battle power points. Skill acquired: Kamehameha.]
A surge of power filled Loren's body as the essence and mechanics of the legendary Kamehameha technique imprinted clearly into his mind.
Perfect.
The Kamehameha was his.