Getting to Namek would be the easy part. I already had the coordinates thanks to Kami's old spaceship.
The real challenge was everything that came before it.
Preparation.
The knowledge of how strong Frieza truly was weighed heavily on my mind. I had seen it before in another timeline, and the memory of that overwhelming power refused to leave me.
What made it worse was the fact that I couldn't tell anyone.
If I did, they might think I had lost my mind.
To clear my thoughts, I called Krillin to the training room for a sparring session.
Since he technically worked for me—just like Goku did—it wasn't something he could easily refuse.
Our power levels were closer now after my transformation, but Krillin still had something I lacked: the instincts and experience of a seasoned fighter.
Without the Oracle module assisting me, I quickly realized how large that gap still was.
Goku remained in the hospital recovering from the strain of Kaioken. Raditz, meanwhile, was sparring with Nappa in another training room.
After the surgery, Nappa's power level had risen to around eight thousand.
Raditz's base was still around six thousand, but the mechanical heart easily closed the difference whenever he activated its multiplier.
My match with Krillin revealed something uncomfortable.
I depended on the Oracle module too much.
That didn't mean I would stop using it—it was too valuable for that—but it reminded me that I needed to sharpen my own instincts as well.
Krillin ducked under one of my punches and slid backward across the floor.
"Wow," he said with a nervous laugh. "You've gotten way stronger, Bulma."
"Don't flatter me," I replied, catching my breath. "You're still holding back."
Before he could respond, the quiet chime of the doorbell echoed through the training room.
I had installed a speaker system that alerted me whenever someone arrived at the house, especially when I was buried in my laboratory or training area.
A screen flickered to life.
To my surprise, the visitors were Chi-Chi and Gohan.
I invited them inside and guided them to the training room.
Krillin immediately greeted them.
"Chi-Chi! Gohan! What brings you here?"
Chi-Chi smiled politely, though there was a serious look in her eyes.
"I actually came because I need your help, Bulma."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
She explained that her training with Gohan had been going surprisingly well. Even though she hadn't pushed him too hard, his power had grown rapidly.
"So much that he's already stronger than me," she admitted.
Krillin blinked in surprise.
"Really?"
Chi-Chi nodded, then turned back to me.
"I was wondering if you could make an armor like the one you use."
She hesitated slightly.
"I'm willing to pay if necessary."
I waved the idea away.
"That won't be necessary," I said. "Technically, you and Goku work for me anyway."
Chi-Chi blinked in surprise.
"Wait, really?"
Krillin chuckled.
"Yeah… welcome to Capsule Corporation's employee program."
I walked over to a nearby console.
"I actually prepared spare armors for everyone already," I continued. "But there's something important you should know."
She tilted her head.
"What is it?"
"The Oracle module."
I tapped the console, bringing up a holographic diagram of the armor.
"It doesn't just predict an opponent's movements," I explained. "It also collects combat data from every fight."
Chi-Chi frowned slightly.
"You mean… it records information about me?"
"Yes."
I folded my arms.
"It could technically be considered a breach of privacy, so I need your permission before activating it."
She thought about it for a moment.
"Well… if it's just battle data, that doesn't sound too personal. Anyone who can sense ki already knows our power levels anyway."
"Fair enough," I said.
Then I looked down at Gohan.
"Well, while you're here… how about a light sparring match?"
Chi-Chi answered immediately.
"That's fine."
I blinked in surprise.
In my original timeline, Chi-Chi would never have agreed so easily.
Gohan stepped forward confidently.
His stance resembled Chi-Chi's fighting style almost perfectly.
Compared to the timid boy I remembered from the past timeline, he looked far more confident now.
My scouter display flickered.
Power level: 1,500.
Half of mine.
I could handle him easily, but the fact that he was already this strong at his age was impressive.
Chi-Chi's power level was around eight hundred.
Stronger than she had been in my original timeline, but still far below Gohan.
"Alright," I said. "Let's begin."
The spar started gently.
Gohan moved quickly, throwing a series of punches and kicks. His technique was clean and disciplined.
But after a moment, Chi-Chi spoke.
"Gohan."
He glanced at her.
"Go all out."
I looked at her curiously.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"He's been practicing something."
She turned back to me.
"Gohan can increase his power by using his anger."
Krillin raised an eyebrow.
"Wait… he can just get stronger by getting mad?"
"Something like that," Chi-Chi said. "But he's learning to control it."
I leaned forward slightly.
"I want to see it."
Gohan nodded.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
For a moment, the room went silent.
Then he opened his eyes.
His aura flared.
The scouter reading jumped.
Power level: 3,000.
Krillin nearly choked.
"He doubled his power!"
We resumed sparring.
Gohan's attacks became far more aggressive.
Unfortunately, they were also more predictable.
He was trying too hard to control his anger, which made his movements easier to read.
Still, if someone didn't know what was happening, the sudden increase in strength would be extremely dangerous.
After a few minutes, the energy faded.
Gohan collapsed onto his back, breathing heavily.
"W-Wow…" Krillin said. "That took everything out of him."
Gohan tried to stand but failed.
Chi-Chi sighed.
"That's the drawback."
I nodded thoughtfully, storing the data in my system.
"Well… as promised."
I handed Chi-Chi a capsule.
Inside was her armor.
"This will multiply your power up to twenty times," I explained. "But don't use the full output immediately."
She looked at the capsule carefully.
"The output can be adjusted?"
"Yes."
"Twenty-five percent. Fifty percent. Seventy-five percent. Or full power."
Chi-Chi smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Bulma."
Soon after, she left with Gohan resting against her shoulder.
Krillin stretched his arms.
"That kid's gonna be a monster someday."
I watched them disappear down the road and smiled quietly.
Gohan still had his incredible potential.
But in this timeline, he could grow stronger without losing his childhood.
And that… was something worth protecting.