Dragon Ball: The Strongest Training

The ground was soaked with thick green liquid, seeping continuously from Nehru's severed arms. A shallow layer of green blood pooled beneath him. Nehru lay motionless, eyes closed, appearing lifeless. Only the faintest pulse every few minutes betrayed that he was still clinging to life.

Krillin stared blankly at the sky, his breathing slow and labored. He thought about reaching for a Senzu Bean, but even the slightest movement sent waves of pain through his body, threatening to make him faint again.

Far from the battlefield, the Guardian of Earth was growing increasingly anxious. "Great Elder," he asked urgently, "why haven't they returned yet? The energy I sensed earlier was so overwhelming it felt like I couldn't breathe."

The Great Elder smiled faintly. "No need to worry. Let us wait quietly for their return."

The Guardian nodded, though the worry on his face did not abate.

Two days later…

Krillin's energy had been restored by the system, but his body felt as if it had been disassembled. Every bone ached, and he still couldn't move. The Senzu Beans were stored in his capsule, but he was unable to retrieve them. Growing increasingly concerned, Krillin could sense Nehru's life force fading rapidly.

Nehru was an exceptional warrior. To lose him now would be a tragedy. If the other Namekians learned Nehru had died in battle against Krillin, even the Great Elder's approval might not be enough to secure their cooperation with the Dragon Balls.

"System, is he still alive? Say something if he is."

Ding! Thanks for calling, how may I assist you?

"Cut the crap! Get me a Senzu Bean, now!"

Heh, no problem.

Deducting 10,000 energy units, the system replied smugly.

"Figures. I knew it wouldn't be free. But I can't waste time. Nehru's life force is almost gone!"

Krillin suddenly felt a sweet, familiar taste in his mouth. A Senzu Bean had materialized. He chewed and swallowed it. Instantly, his eyes snapped open, and his injuries healed completely. Wasting no time, he retrieved another Senzu Bean from his capsule and leaped toward Nehru.

Seeing Nehru's motionless body, Krillin noted the extent of his injuries. Nehru was barely clinging to life, with only a faint pulse remaining. Unlike Krillin, whose injuries would heal with time, Nehru was on the verge of death.

Kneeling beside Nehru, Krillin gently pried open his mouth and placed the Senzu Bean inside. Infusing Nehru with a bit of his own energy, Krillin watched as Nehru's body twitched slightly. After a long moment, a faint crunch broke the silence as Nehru swallowed the bean.

Moments later, Nehru's eyes flew open. He saw Krillin looking down at him and gave a weak smile. "I lost," he said simply.

Krillin smiled back, saying nothing as he helped Nehru sit up. The wounds on Nehru's severed arms had closed, and the bleeding had stopped, though the arms had yet to regenerate.

Krillin couldn't help but wonder: If Nehru could unleash such immense power, why hadn't he used it in the battle against Frieza? Then it clicked—Nehru's power surge was unsustainable. It was likely a deliberate strategy to achieve a specific purpose.

Nehru's fight against Frieza had been a stalling tactic. If he unleashed his full power, he'd quickly exhaust himself, leaving Frieza to kill him and move on to the Great Elder. By drawing out the battle and revealing his strength incrementally, Nehru had managed to hold Frieza's attention long enough for Dende to carry out his mission.

"Never underestimate a battle-type Namekian," Krillin thought with a wry smile.

Nehru slowly stood up, turning to Krillin. "Apologies. It's been so long since I experienced a fight like this. I gave it my all… and nearly caused a disaster."

High-powered bursts like the one Nehru used come with severe limitations. After using such power, a long period of weakness is inevitable. Even with his surge, he was no match for Krillin, a fact that Nehru now accepted wholeheartedly, though it left a bitter taste.

Krillin laughed heartily. "Don't worry about it. Fighting you was an eye-opener for me. It deepened my understanding of martial arts."

"Yeah… but if I had died, who would've protected the Great Elder?" Nehru joked, feigning seriousness.

Krillin was speechless. "..."

Nehru burst out laughing. "Just kidding!"

"Krillin, stand back," Nehru said suddenly.

"Alright."

With a low grunt, veins bulged on Nehru's forehead. His severed arms began to squirm and pulse. Suddenly, two jets of liquid shot out, and his arms regenerated.

"The thing you gave me is amazing," Nehru remarked, flexing his new limbs. "Not only am I fully healed, but even the post-surge fatigue is gone."

Nehru rotated his shoulders and smiled. "Feels pretty good."

"How long have we been out here?" Nehru asked Krillin.

"Three days," Krillin replied.

"Three days?!" Nehru shouted, startled.

He quickly took to the air, flying back toward the Great Elder's location.

"Wait for me, Nehru!" Krillin called, flaring his aura and following close behind.

Nehru pushed himself to the limit, racing back to the Great Elder. Arriving moments later, he hovered above the Elder's home, breathing heavily. Seeing everything intact, he finally relaxed. "Thank goodness the Great Elder is safe. Otherwise, I'd be the greatest sinner on Namek."

"You flew like your life depended on it," Krillin said, catching up. "With the two of us here, nothing would've happened to the Great Elder."

Nehru glanced at Krillin, his eyes filled with gratitude. He nodded with a smile. His thanks were twofold: for Krillin's promise to protect the Great Elder, and for the exhilarating fight that had fulfilled his inner desire for battle. From now on, Nehru resolved to focus solely on his duty of protecting the Great Elder—until the Elder's inevitable passing.

Inside, the Guardian of Earth was chatting with the Great Elder. Having reunited with his people after so long, the Guardian was like a lost child who had found his way home, eager to share everything on his mind. The Great Elder, however, often drifted off to sleep mid-conversation. The Guardian simply waited patiently for him to wake and continue speaking.

"Great Elder, I'm back," Nehru said respectfully as he entered.

"Already?" the Great Elder replied, noticing the renewed vigor in Nehru's demeanor. His spirit seemed lighter, filled with joy. Smiling, the Elder said, "Nehru, you belong on the battlefield."

The Great Elder didn't ask about the outcome of the battle. To him, the result wasn't what mattered; the journey was. Nehru's transformation and energy told him everything he needed to know. The Elder closed his eyes once more, slipping into peaceful slumber.

Namek had no night—only eternal daylight, perfectly suited for the Namekians' photosynthesis.

Yawning, Krillin muttered, "I don't think I'll ever get used to this. Nehru, I'm counting on you to gather the Dragon Balls."

"Leave it to me," Nehru replied confidently. "I'll summon the village elders and have them bring the Dragon Balls here."

With that, Nehru floated into the air and assumed a meditative posture, reminiscent of Piccolo's training. Centering himself, he released a unique Dragon Clan signal, a special transmission only Namekians could perceive:

"By the Great Elder's decree, all village leaders are to bring their Dragon Balls to the Elder's home immediately."

For 20 advanced chapters: https://www.patreon.com/c/Ely225