Saiyan Primal Ascension

As the dust settled around us, I took in the scene. Gohan, Krillin, and Piccolo were barely standing, bloodied and exhausted. Vegeta lay a short distance away, his armor cracked, blood streaming from his mouth and nose. But he was still breathing, and I knew he'd get stronger after this. A Saiyan never came out of a battle like this without a reward, Vegeta would feel that zenki boost soon.

Nappa strode over, his chest heaving, bruises and cuts lining his body. He grinned despite the blood trickling down his chin. "Those two freaks are done for," he said, spitting on the ground. Jeice and Burter were nothing but dust now, their bodies obliterated in classic Saiyan fashion. Despite the damage he'd taken, Nappa looked like he'd enjoyed every moment of it.

I turned my attention back to the others, concern flickering as I looked over Gohan, Krillin, and Piccolo. They were struggling to stay on their feet. I had to give them that, even though they were so weak they did pretty well all things considered. But they were in bad shape, and from the scraps of a bag on the floor it seemed they didn't have any senzu beans.

We needed a healer, and I knew exactly who to find. Only I had the advantage of being reincarnated with knowledge from another world, and that was about to pay off. Dende was out there if we could reach him, he'd be able to patch up our wounded.

"Krillin," I said, stepping over to him as he clutched his side, grimacing through the pain. "Do you remember meeting a young Namekian, by any chance?"

Krillin looked up at me, wincing as he nodded. "Yeah… Yeah, I think so. Dende, right?" He turned to Gohan who nodded weakly.

"Good. We're going to need him," I replied. "Hanasia," I called, glancing over at her. "Take Krillin with you and find Dende. If anyone can patch them up, it's him."

Hanasia grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Consider it done." She grabbed Krillin, slinging him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and without another word, took off. 

I watched them go, letting out a small breath of relief. **You'd think being reborn would come with less baggage**

I glanced back at the battered form of Vegeta, who was lying against a jagged rock, glaring at the ground, clearly furious with himself. The Vegeta I respected was not this version.

"You'll get your zenki boost from this, Vegeta," I said. "But don't go thinking you're anything special right now. I respect you for who you're gonna become."

Vegeta looked up, scowling, though there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "You… What the hell are you talking about?"

I smirked, shaking my head. "Nothing you'd understand right now. But maybe one day you'll get it."

Vegeta grunted, narrowing his eyes at me before turning away, clearly frustrated but at least quieted for the moment. I could feel a faint energy signature nearby, fading but still alive, it had to be Nail, it's the only thing that would make sense with a power level like that, and I knew what had to be done.

I turned to Piccolo, who was watching me with an intense gaze, clearly suspicious of something. "Come on, Piccolo. You're coming with me. There's someone we need to find."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with skepticism. "And why would I go anywhere with you?"

I shrugged. "Because you need to trust me on this one. I think you could give me that much after everything that has happened"

He didn't argue further, sensing that I wasn't about to give him a straight answer. He fell in line, albeit begrudgingly, as I led the way towards Nail's dwindling power. I kept the specifics to myself, knowing that the less he knew about my knowledge, the better.

We touched down near the source of Nail's energy. As we approached, I could see him slumped against a rock, his green skin marred by deep bruises. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his breathing was ragged, he was barely hanging on.

Piccolo stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he took in the state of the dying Namekian. Nail looked up, his gaze steady despite the pain etched across his face. Recognition flickered in his eyes as he saw Piccolo, and he managed a weak smile.

"You… You're one of us," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can sense your power… I don't have much time....."

Piccolo stood silently, taking in Nail's words. But Nail, sensing the hesitation, continued, his tone firm despite his injuries.

"Fuse with me," Nail said, his voice filled with resolve. "Together… we can make sure Freeza is stopped. It's the only way."

I hung back, watching the scene unfold, my thoughts elsewhere. Even with Piccolo and Nail's combined strength, The thought of Kakarot unlocking Super Saiyan crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if the transformation would be enough. The Super Saiyan form granted a 50x boost, but with everything I'd changed, I wasn't certain it would be enough against Freeza now. The butterfly effect had a way of snowballing, and for all I knew, I'd only made things harder for us.

A part of me worried that my actions had pushed Kakarot off course. If he couldn't unlock the transformation, or worse, if it wasn't enough, Freeza could tear through everyone here and on earth plus if He got his wish Im not sure how to stop him. The usual triggers that might push a Saiyan to the edge weren't in place. Gine wasn't here, so the emotional catalyst she'd represent for someone like Tato, Hanasia, or me wasn't a factor. The idea of simply focusing on the back tingling sensation that Universe 6 used was laughable, I'd already tried that, and it hadn't worked.

I was shaken out of my thoughts as Nail continued, reaching out to Piccolo. "You don't have time to think about it. If we don't fuse, all of this is over." His gaze shifted to me for a brief second, almost as if he knew more than he let on. "Freeza… he's a monster. Please help me avenge our race!"

Piccolo's expression softened, and he finally nodded, placing a hand on Nail's shoulder. I could see the subtle change in his stance, his aura flaring as their energies merged.

The transformation was immediate. Piccolo's power skyrocketed, his body glowing briefly before settling, his presence now far stronger. He clenched his fists, testing out his newfound strength. 

As Piccolo adjusted to his new form, I kept a watchful eye on the horizon. "Alright let's head back."

As Piccolo and I flew back toward the group, the silence between us was thick with unspoken questions. I could feel Piccolo's eyes on me, his curiosity almost palpable after the fusion with Nail. But I wasn't in the mood for explanations.

We landed softly near the others. Kakarot was sitting on a rock, catching his breath. His orange gi was torn in several places, and he looked deep in thought. Nappa stood a short distance away, arms crossed, his eyes shifting between the weakened Vegeta and the horizon where Freeza's ominous ki loomed.

I walked over to Nappa. His massive frame cast a long shadow, and despite the bruises and cuts from his fight, he seemed restless, eager for more.

"Nappa," I called out.

He turned to me, a hint of surprise flickering across his rugged features. "Celera. You did well back there."

I shrugged. "You weren't so bad yourself. Holding off those two clowns on your own."

He chuckled a deep rumble that matched his towering presence. "They were a challenge."

There was a brief pause before he spoke again, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I never got to thank you properly, for back on Earth. You saved my life when Vegeta tried to finish me off."

I waved a hand dismissively. "Don't mention it. Couldn't let Vegeta kill you off when theirs not many of us in this universe, could I?"

He smirked, but his gaze shifted to Vegeta, who was glaring in our direction, clearly irritated by our conversation. " I owe you. If there's anything I can do to repay that debt, just say the word."

I raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"

He nodded firmly. "Anything. I'll protect you with my life if I have to."

I laughed softly. "That's generous, Nappa, but I don't need protecting. Besides, there's someone else who could use your strength."

He looked at me quizzically. "Who?"

"Queen Gine," I replied, watching his reaction carefully. "Once all this is over, she'll need someone strong by her side."

Nappa's eyes widened slightly. "Gine? Bardock's mate? I thought she was..."

"Dead?" I finished for him. "No. She's alive and well. And she's not the only Saiyan out there."

He stared at me, confusion evident on his face. "What do you mean?"

I glanced around, noticing that Vegeta was still within earshot but didn't care. "There are others, Nappa. Saiyans who survived the destruction of Planet Vegeta. They're living in another universe."

He blinked. "Another universe? How is that possible?"

I leaned against a nearby rock. "I can open portals between universes. It's... complicated. But I found a place, a world in the Toriko universe. It's a place where Saiyans can live without fear of the frost demons."

He looked skeptical. "And you didn't think to tell anyone?"

I met his gaze steadily. "Why would I ever trust anyone back then with that information? Back before Planet Vegeta was destroyed, I managed to save some of our people. Mostly children and a few adults who weren't inclined to fight."

Realization dawned on his face. "So that's why those kids and some adults went missing back then. That was you."

I nodded. "Yes. I took them to the Toriko universe. A place filled with incredible creatures and even more incredible food. A world where we could repopulate our race."

He was silent for a moment, processing this information. "Why didn't you save the warriors? The strongest among us?"

I sighed. "Because they were the least likely to adapt peacefully. The Toriko universe is... different. The people there are strong, some stronger than Freeza. But they're not our enemies. Bringing battle-hungry Saiyans there could have caused more problems than it solved."

He grunted. "Saiyans are warriors. It's what we do."

"I know," I replied softly. "But sometimes, survival means adapting. Those children deserved a chance to grow up without having to slaughter whole planets' worth of people as we did."

Nappa crossed his arms, his gaze distant. "So there are others out there. Saiyans, alive in another universe."

"Over a hundred of them now," I said with a small smile. "They've built lives there. Some have even started families."

He looked back at me, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Families? With who?"

I chuckled. "The people of that world. Humans, mostly. Funny thing is, when they have children with Saiyans, the kids are full-blooded Saiyans."

He raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't make sense."

I shrugged. "A lot of things in that Universe doesn't make sense."

Nappa shook his head, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Sounds like a strange place."

"It is," I agreed. "But it's home for them now."

From behind us, Tato approached, his expression relaxed as always. "Talking about the Toriko universe, Celera?"

I nodded. "Just filling Nappa in."

Tato grinned at Nappa. "You should see it. The food alone is worth the trip."

Nappa scoffed. "Food? What's so special about it?"

Tato's eyes lit up. "Everything there revolves around food. The beasts, the plants, they're all ingredients. The best part is you can grow stronger just by eating a good meal, Now it won't replace training but it does help."

He leaned in conspiratorially. "And the people there are something else. My teacher, Mansam, is one of the strongest humans I've ever met."

I smirked, catching Nappa's confused expression. "Oh, did I mention that Mansam is Fasha's husband?"

Nappa's jaw dropped slightly. "Fasha? Your aunt? She's married to a human?"

Tato laughed. "Not just any human. Mansam is a powerhouse. You'd be surprised at what humans are capable of over there."

Nappa seemed to struggle with this information. "Saiyans marrying humans... And having full-blooded Saiyan children?"

"Exactly," I said. "It's a place where Saiyans eat and fight dangerous beasts to their hearts fullness."

He looked thoughtful. "And these strong people, why haven't they come here to help us against Freeza?"

"Because it's not their fight," I replied firmly. "I not about to drag them into our mess. This is our responsibility. We need to handle it ourselves."

He nodded slowly. "I suppose that makes sense."

Vegeta's voice cut through the air, sharp and mocking. "So that's your grand plan, Celera? Hideaway in another universe with weaklings and humans?"

I turned to face him, unbothered by his words. "It's called survival, Vegeta. Something you might want to consider."

He sneered. "A true Saiyan doesn't run or hide."

I met his glare. "A true Saiyan rule does what's necessary to ensure the survival of their people. even someone like your father understood that."

He scoffed, turning away. "Pathetic."

Nappa watched the exchange silently before speaking again. "So, you think I should protect Gine?"

I nodded. "She'll need someone strong to watch her back. And you'd be perfect for the job. Well until I find a way to find someone I promised to bring to her."

He seemed to mull this over. "Maybe. But what about you? What will you do after this?"

I looked out toward the horizon, where Freeza's presence lingered like a dark cloud. "I have a score to settle. And after that... I have a Viltrumite to kill"

Tato clapped a hand on Nappa's shoulder. "You should come with us sometime. Visit the Toriko universe. You might like it."

Nappa gave a small smile. "Maybe I will."

There was a moment of comfortable silence before Nappa spoke again. "You did a good thing, saving those kids."

I shrugged. "It was the least I could do."

He nodded. "You know, I always thought of Saiyans as warriors first. But maybe there's more to us than that."

I glanced at him. "No, not really, Just very few of us don't like fighting."

Kakarot walked over, his usual cheerful demeanor a bit subdued. "What are you all talking about?"

I smiled. "Just catching Nappa up on some things."

He grinned. "Sounds serious."

I chuckled. "Not too serious."

Piccolo approached as well, his gaze sharp. "We should focus. Freeza won't wait forever to get the other dragon balls."

I nodded. "You're right."

Tato looked around. "Where's Hanasia? She should be back by now."

As if on cue, Hanasia's energy flared nearby. She landed beside us, Krillin in tow, and a small Namekian boy clutching her hand.

"Found him," she announced.

I smiled at the sight of Dende. "Perfect timing."

Dende looked around at the assembled group, his eyes wide with a hint of fear. "I can help heal everyone," he offered quietly.

Kakarot beamed at him. "That's great! We could use the help."

As Dende moved to heal Gohan and the others, Vegeta watched from a distance, his expression unreadable. But I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes.

I turned back to Nappa. "Once this is over, we'll get you to the Toriko universe. I think you'll find it... enlightening, I feel you and Mansam would get along."

He gave a short laugh. "I'm starting to think you're right."

Tato nudged him playfully. "And who knows? Maybe you'll find someone there who can win your heart."

Nappa snorted. "Unlikely."

We all shared a brief laugh, a small moment of levity amidst the tension.

After Dende healed everyone, I took a moment to sense the difference in power among us. The spike was undeniable; Kakarot, Vegeta, Gohan, and even Nappa radiated a new strength that was hard to ignore.

Kakarot's energy was almost blinding. He stood at **600,000** now, a level far beyond any of us had. I caught his gaze, but he just grinned, This was classic Kakarot, no fanfare, just that humble, innocent smile of his. Shame he was with Chichi, cause if Not Id have loved to be with him.

Vegeta, on the other hand, stood tall, his energy sharp and fierce at **300,000**. He smirked when he caught me sizing him up, folding his arms in that smug way of his. "What's wrong, Celera?" he sneered, clearly amused. "Afraid I might catch up?" He radiated confidence, and honestly, the boost was probably feeding his ego more than anything.

Gohan was next. For a kid, his power was impressive, sitting at **200,000**. The look on his face was something else – wide-eyed, but a little nervous. He turned to Kakarot, clearly seeking reassurance from his father. Kakarot just patted him on the shoulder, giving him a warm, proud smile. "Don't worry, Gohan. You're strong. Just remember what I taught you." Gohan beamed, his confidence growing under Kakarot's approval.

And Nappa… well, he was reveling in it. His power had jumped to **500,000**. I saw him clench his fists, feeling the power flow through him. "Feels good to have real power," he chuckled, his tone eager. "About time we give Frieza a real fight, huh?"

Just then, Dende spoke up, interrupting our moment. "If you all want to get stronger quickly, I could take you to the Elder, Super Kami Guru. He has the power to unlock your potential."

Kakarot scratched his head, looking a little uncertain. "Uh, I dunno. Unlocking my potential sounds like some kind of shortcut… I think I'd rather work up my power my own way." It was typical of Kakarot, always wanting to earn his strength with his own hands. Even here, facing an enemy like Frieza, he didn't want to rely on anything other than his own hard work.

Vegeta scoffed, clearly on the same page. "As if I'd need anyone unlocking my potential," he muttered, dismissing Dende's suggestion. "My power will speak for itself." He glanced back at me, as if to make sure I was watching. That Saiyan pride ran deep, and he'd rather die than take a shortcut.

Nappa shook his head. "Thanks, kid, but I'm with them on this. I'd rather put in the work myself." He shot me a grin, his eyes full of that Saiyan bravado. "Besides, we've got some unfinished business with Frieza."

Kakarot nodded, determination hardening his features. "We'll hold off Frieza while you guys go get that potential unlocked. I think we'll be alright until you catch up."

Gohan and Krillin nodded as well. They'd already had their potential unlocked back with Guru, so they were ready to follow Kakarot into battle. Krillin shot me a grin, his energy now much stronger than when we'd arrived, thanks to the elder's gift. "We'll try not to take too long. Just don't keep us waiting too long, alright?" he joked, though I could tell there was a hint of seriousness there too. He knew just how dangerous Frieza was.

I nodded, then turned back to my group. me, Tato, Hanasia, Raditz, and Piccolo. "Alright, then. Dende, lead the way. We'll catch up with you all once we're finished."

As I watched Kakarot, Vegeta, Nappa, Gohan, and Krillin head off toward Frieza's ship, Well no doubt Vegeta would attack first. So we had time to kill before Frieza got serious.

Dende led us in the opposite direction, through Namek's plains, toward Guru's dwelling. Raditz was grinning while Hanasia and Tato were silent. Piccolo, meanwhile, was deep in thought. He barely said a word. 

Finally, Guru's dwelling came into view. The structure was massive, exuding a calming energy that seemed to resonate with the entire planet. Dende signaled us to follow his lead as we approached, his head bowed in respect.

Guru was an imposing presence, with an aura that seemed to reach every corner of his dwelling while not really strong. His eyes, filled with wisdom, settled on each of us. "Welcome, warriors," he said in a voice that rumbled through the room. "You seek to unlock your potential please step forth."

Piccolo stepped up first. As Guru's hand rested on him, I felt a sudden surge of energy building within him. The boost was unmistakable, it was as if Guru had torn away a limitation Piccolo had. When he was done, Piccolo's power level sat at **786,029**. He gave a brief, almost imperceptible smile, flexing his hand as he tested his newfound strength. "This'll do nicely," he murmured, clearly satisfied.

Next up was Raditz. He was practically buzzing with excitement. Guru's hand rested on his head, and Raditz's energy spiked rapidly, climbing higher than I'd ever sensed from him. He grinned as his power reached **1,961,750**. Raditz looked over at Tato and Hanasia, pride in his eyes. "Guess my little brother's not the only one with power now, huh?"

Hanasia and Tato stepped forward together, their expressions resolute. Guru placed his hand on each of them, and their power skyrocketed. Hanasia settled at **2,190,120**, while Tato's rose to **2,422,125**. They exchanged a glance, both of them clearly exhilarated. As they stretched and threw a few punches in the air.

Finally, it was my turn. As Guru's massive hand rested on me, I felt an intense surge of energy flow through every part of my body. It was as if every limitation I'd felt before had been stripped away, leaving nothing but raw potential. When he removed his hand, I stood there, feeling my power settle at **2,880,048**. Every muscle, every cell, felt charged. "So this is what that felt like. So I have an idea, I need you Dende to get the dragon balls from Frieza's ship once you have a chance. Get Gohan to help you while we deal with Frieza."