The moment I landed back on Kami House Island, Master Roshi's voice rang out, sharp as ever.
"Where did you go so urgently?"
"Well," I replied, putting on a calm expression. "I went to check out the asteroid… and I, uh, collected a sample."
I held back any mention of Goku. Roshi would have expected me to bring back the child, and it would be too difficult to explain. I also had the unsettling feeling that Earth's guardian, Kami-sama, might be watching. The last thing I wanted was to look selfish in his eyes, as if I'd left an innocent baby behind. I hoped this half-truth would satisfy Master Roshi.
But as I thought, far above the clouds in the Heavenly Realm, Kami-sama himself had been watching everything.
---
(Flashback to Kami's Lookout)
High above the world, hidden from human sight, the Lookout floated in silence. Kami-sama stood there, gazing down through the swirling clouds at me with a deep, discerning look.
"When did such a powerful martial artist appear on Earth?" Kami mused. "And why is he heading toward that alien?"
Beside him, Mr. Popo stood at attention. "Master Kami-sama, I've never seen him before in any tournament or training ground. I think… we should keep an eye on him."
"Let's see what he does with the alien," Kami responded, his voice grave.
Minutes passed, and they watched as I approached the space pod, took something from inside, and left.
Kami's brows furrowed. "He took something from that alien child. But what? And for what purpose? Popo, keep a close watch on this one."
Mr. Popo nodded. "Yes, Master."
---
Back on the island, I could feel Kami-sama's gaze still on me, but I pushed it from my mind. Now wasn't the time to be distracted.
"Master," I said, "I've nearly mastered my Ki control. When will you teach me your techniques?"
Roshi crossed his arms. "Not yet, Kairos. You'll need to master Ki fully before you're ready for my skills."
I nodded, hiding my impatience. "Yes, Master."
---
Three Weeks Later
At last, I'd done it. Full mastery of Ki. Yet, I knew telling Roshi wouldn't be wise; he'd make the training even harder if he realized how fast I was progressing. Besides, I had other plans now—my research was calling.
My progress panel appeared in my mind, detailing everything I'd accomplished over the last year:
---
[
No Pain No Gain Panel
Name: Kairos
Year: 738
Power: 510
Life Stage: 0.00089
Intelligence: 178
Endurance: 360
Ability: None
Techniques: Floating Technique (Level 2), Ki (Level 5), Afterimage Fist (Level 2)
Bloodline: Human
Physique: None
Evolution Stage: 0.00002
Talent: Mechanical Engineer (Level 7), Biological Researcher (Level 8), Mathematician (Level 8), Cellular Biologist (Level 9), Researcher (Level 7)
]
With my newfound Ki control, my Floating Technique and Afterimage Fist had become almost effortless. But now, it was time to put my knowledge to use on something revolutionary—the DNA of a Saiyan.
After four years of studying in this world, I had earned multiple PhDs and built my own research lab. Financial success followed naturally, leaving me with 20 million Zeni in reserve—more than enough to fuel my research.
Using my Floating Technique, I made the quick journey to my lab, relishing the silent thrill of moving undetected through the sky.
As I landed and entered, Mia, my secretary, looked up, her blonde hair neatly styled, her suit professional but flattering. She was reliable, one of the few people I could trust with managing my affairs in my absence.
"Boss! You're back," she said, a warm smile on her face. "I missed you."
"We don't have time to chat right now, Mia," I said, focused on the task at hand. "I need you to find a genomics specialist, someone skilled in genetic engineering and gene expression data analysis. I'm diving into some new research, and I need the best."
Mia nodded, taking notes quickly. "Yes, Boss, I'll get on it right away."
She looked at me for a moment, her face flushed. I could tell she was drawn to my intensity, but I brushed it off. I had a singular purpose, and there was no time for distractions.
Entering my lab required both a pass card and an iris scan. The security was strict, but necessary. Inside, the quiet hum of machines greeted me, a comforting sound that only heightened my focus.
I carefully placed the Saiyan hair sample in a sterilized glass vial, securing it in a preservation chamber. Just the sight of it set my heart racing. Here, in this single strand, was the potential to unlock secrets of unfathomable power. A human could only train so far, but a Saiyan… their potential seemed boundless.
With the sample safely stored, I began preparing the lab for genetic research.