The air in the grand hall buzzed with a unique vibrational frequency as a spatial gate, reminiscent of polished mercury, swirled into existence. From its shimmering surface, Rhode stepped through, his emergence as silent as a thought.
The boy who had entered the Time Chamber was gone. In his place stood a young man.
A single Yardratian year had passed, but within the accelerated timeflow, Rhode's body had lived and trained through eight. He was now sixteen, his physical growth having surged into a stable, mature form he would maintain for the coming decades. He stood over 180 centimeters tall, his frame lean and powerfully built without brute bulk, his features sharpened into a handsomeness that carried a gentle façade over eyes of latent, terrifying acuity.
Most striking was his aura—or lack thereof. The once-discernible power was now folded inwards, sealed under a layer of perfect control. To casual senses, he seemed like any ordinary, if exceptionally composed, youth. Only a master of perception like Elder Pybara could sense the ocean of potency resting in profound stillness beneath.
Seeing Rhode materialize, Pybara's ancient eyes widened a fraction. The transformation was more profound than he had anticipated. The Saiyan had not merely learned; he had integrated.
"It seems," the Elder said, his voice a low rumble of approval, "your year has been… fruitful."
"Indeed," Rhode affirmed, his voice now deeper, carrying a new resonance. He offered a respectful bow to his mentor. The year had been a cycle of intense tutelage under Pybara and even more intense, solitary refinement within the Time Chamber. Mastery had been the goal, and mastery had been achieved.
Instant Transmission, Forced Spirit Fission, the Multi-Form Clone Technique, Giantification, and the profound Recovery Technique—all five were now extensions of his will, deployable with thoughtless ease. He had even woven their principles together: his clones could now swell to giant size or wield regenerative energy. Additionally, he had incorporated the Protective Barrier, rounding out his defensive capabilities.
Yet, for all this progress, his grander theories—cellular manipulation, perfect regeneration, size reduction—remained on the drawing board of his mind, concepts requiring further epochs of dedicated research to birth into reality.
"Elder," Rhode said, straightening. "The techniques are mastered. If it is permissible, I would seek to learn others."
Pybara regarded him, his expression unreadable for a moment before a smile of deep satisfaction broke through. "There is no issue. Name your interest, and if it is within my knowledge, I will instruct you."
A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Rhode's features. Such generosity with celestial knowledge was rare. He had expected limits, conditions.
Sensing his pupil's wariness, Pybara's smile softened, his tone becoming one of gentle explanation. "Do not overcomplicate it. Our openness stems from two truths. First, your spirit is not malevolent. The exchange and cultivation of Spirito is a natural, even sacred, dialogue between earnest beings."
"Secondly," Elder Pybara continued, his gaze holding a weight of cosmic significance, "a seer of great wisdom has foreseen that you hold profound importance for this world. He has counseled me to aid you without reservation."
Prophecy. The word settled in Rhode's mind, illuminating the Elder's unprecedented generosity. The depths of Yardrat's mystical arts ran even deeper than he had imagined.
"In that case, Elder," Rhode ventured, a new idea forming, "is there a technique for reading minds? If it exists, I would learn it."
His intent was not invasion, but defense. If Pybara could so readily sense the direction of his thoughts, he needed a shield against such intrusion, a way to fortify his own mental space.
"A Mind Reading Technique does exist," Pybara confirmed, studying him with an understanding look. "I will provide you with the principles. Mastering its reverse application for defense is a wise pursuit." He agreed without hesitation.
Rhode expressed his gratitude, and their conversation drifted into a theoretical discussion on the nature of ki. When Rhode cautiously broached concepts of temporal manipulation and lifespan extension, however, the Elder's demeanor shifted instantly to one of grave solemnity.
"Techniques involving time and lifespan are forbidden," Pybara stated, his voice leaving no room for debate. "To meddle with time is to invite catastrophic instability. To tamper with the essence of life is a profound desecration. These are paths we do not walk."
Rhode accepted the rebuke outwardly, but inwardly, the goals remained fixed. To navigate the threats of cosmic erasure and to secure true immortality, he would need to touch these taboos eventually. The Super Dragon Balls were one path, but he desired inherent mastery, not a borrowed wish. Earth, he thought. That unassuming, anomaly-rich planet was likely the key to such forbidden knowledge.
Shifting focus, Rhode dedicated himself to learning the Mind Reading Technique from Pybara. Building upon his formidable foundation and aided once more by the dilated time within his chamber, he achieved mastery—and its defensive inverse—in what felt like a blink.
His power had solidified, his arsenal of techniques was complete. His purpose on Yardrat was fulfilled.
Swish.
He appeared not in the grand hall, but on the familiar training ground of needle-point cones. The scene had progressed. Aira was no longer in static meditation but was now a figure of intense motion, her body a study of concentrated force as she navigated the dynamic balance phase, her movements sharp but still bearing the telltale tension of conscious effort.
Her eyes, scanning the field during a pivot, caught his new form. She halted, her balance wavering for a fraction of a second before she corrected it. Her gaze narrowed, scanning the tall, unfamiliar-yet-familiar young man.
"Rhode?" The name was a question, tinged with uncertainty and a dawning recognition. The boy was gone. The being who stood before her was something else entirely.
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