After swallowing the Senzu Bean, Nail's injuries vanished completely, and his stamina surged back to its absolute peak. His eyes widened, shock etching his features. A single, unassuming seed possessed such miraculous power? His gaze toward Rhode shifted noticeably, the sharp edge of hostility replaced by a flicker of grudging respect and newfound trust. If the Saiyan was willing to part with such a treasure, perhaps the Grand Elder's judgment was correct.
He had no way of knowing Rhode carried a literal fortune in Senzu Beans, their number vast enough to be considered trivial.
With his strength restored, Nail wasted no time. He bowed to the Grand Elder and shot into the sky, a streak of green light heading to gather the tribal elders and the scattered Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Rhode and Aira were invited into the Elder's simple, serene dwelling.
As a being of immense age and wisdom, a creator who had mastered ki over centuries, the Grand Elder was a living library of knowledge. Recognizing this, Rhode shed any pretense and began asking pointed, insightful questions about energy manipulation and technique refinement.
Though Rhode possessed a theoretical framework from his past life and a Saiyan's innate talent, his practical experience was still limited. A direct discussion with such a master could save him years of trial and error.
Their exchange flowed. The Elder's answers were precise, cutting to the core of complex issues. Rhode's questions, in turn, were often novel, proposing angles that surprised and intrigued the ancient Namekian. It was a meeting of deep experience and brilliant, untapped potential, satisfying for both.
The only one not wholly engrossed was Aira. While she had learned the basics on Earth, this level of profound, abstract discussion was beyond her current focus. She tried to interject a few times, but her questions felt simplistic in comparison. The Grand Elder answered with infinite patience, and Rhode offered no mockery, but the contrast was stark. Seeing Rhode not only grasp but expand upon every concept, while she struggled, wounded her fierce pride. Soon, she fell silent, choosing to stand like a statue rather than expose her perceived inadequacy again.
Rhode sensed her frustration but didn't intervene. Humility in learning was no weakness, but Aira's pride was a wall only she could choose to scale.
As their discussion reached a natural pause, Rhode felt a familiar ki signature approach. Before he could mention it, the Grand Elder's expression softened.
"Nail has returned," the Elder said, rising. "Let us go outside."
They stepped out to find Nail, accompanied by two other tall, muscular Namekians. Nail held a single, massive orange sphere—a Dragon Ball far larger than its Earthly counterpart.
"Grand Elder, the Dragon Balls are here," Nail reported, bowing with the others.
"Thank you for your efforts," the Elder replied gently.
"So big!" Aira blurted out, her earlier sullenness forgotten in the face of the impressive orbs.
"Indeed, they are not small," the Grand Elder agreed, a hint of amusement in his voice as he glanced at her.
He directed Nail and the others to place the gathered spheres in a cleared area. Then, he turned to Rhode, his tone becoming instructive. "Once all seven are gathered, you must summon Porunga to make your wish. You should also know… Porunga can grant a maximum of three wishes. Prepare your thoughts accordingly."
He offered the information freely, a guide for the guests who had come seeking his planet's greatest treasure.
Rhode listened intently to the Grand Elder's explanation and gave a firm nod of understanding.
Aira, meanwhile, was openly amazed, her eyes roaming over the seven massive orbs, each larger than her own head. They're bigger than Earth's, grant more wishes… they must be more powerful, she thought, though she kept the comparison to herself. She waited silently, curiosity burning: Is this 'Porunga' like the Earth dragon?
"Come forth, Porunga! Please grant my wish!"
The Grand Elder, standing before the assembled orbs, spoke the ancient invocation in the Namekian tongue.
The moment the words left his lips, the bright Namekian day was snuffed out, plunging the world into an eerie twilight. Then, a pillar of blinding golden light erupted from the Dragon Balls, spearing into the darkened sky. From this radiance, a colossal form coalesced—a titanic, serpentine dragon, green-scaled with a white underbelly, its long tail still connected to the orbs. It was Porunga, the Namekian Eternal Dragon, a being of immense, primal power distinct from Earth's Shenron.
"O gatherer of the seven Dragon Balls, speak your desires," Porunga's voice boomed, ancient and resonant, speaking in Namekian. "Within my power, I may grant you three."
Rhode and Aira could only stare, the words meaningless to them.
Turning to Rhode, the Grand Elder translated. "What is your wish?"
"Hmm..." Rhode focused. This was the moment. He stated his desire clearly: "Grant Aira and me the ability of Super Instant Transmission. One that can cross different universes, including the Demon Realm, and can be activated by thought alone."
It was the same ultimate wish he'd attempted on Earth. With such a technique, mobility and safety would be virtually absolute.
"Very well." The Grand Elder showed no judgment, only a flicker of surprise. He turned and relayed the wish to the towering dragon.
Porunga's immense red eyes glowed. A moment of silence stretched. Then, the Grand Elder turned back. "Porunga cannot grant this wish."
Rhode's hope dipped, but he was prepared. "Then remove 'different universes'. Grant us Super Instant Transmission that can traverse any location within a single universe, including the Demon Realm, activatable by thought."
He watched Porunga closely. This time, the dragon's eyes flashed with a sustained, brighter light. A complex, three-dimensional star map—a cartography of the entire universe—unfolded instantly within Rhode's mind. He focused on Namek, and the map zoomed with perfect clarity to their exact location. It worked!
He was just beginning to grasp the sheer scope of this new ability when the Grand Elder's voice pulled him back.
"Good. There is one wish remaining. What is your final desire?"
Rhode blinked, pulled from his internal exploration. "Only… one left?" The math didn't add up. They had just used one. There should be two more.