Dragon Ball: The Strongest Training

"A Namekian?"

"So, I'm an alien… no wonder I've always been different from others," Kami said, his expression heavy with thought.

"Kami…" Popo called out softly, concerned.

Kami continued, "When I created the Dragon Balls, there was a faint sense of familiarity... Could it be that something similar was made on my distant home planet? Perhaps it's the memory of my ancestors that guided me…" he murmured to himself.

Krillin nodded. "That's right. Kami's home planet is the distant Namek. Hundreds of years ago, when the climate on Namek changed drastically, your parents sent you to Earth. Unfortunately, they didn't have time to save themselves…" Krillin explained slowly.

Kami added, "I grew up in the Sabito Highlands. There was a house there, and inside, a letter. It said, 'I'll come for you. Wait for me!' So I believed my parents would return. But I waited… for so long. The land was barren, with no food to be found. I waited, and waited… perhaps twenty years. No, thirty. Finally, I lost hope and left the highlands, leaving that house behind."

Kami chuckled bitterly. "Looking back, that house was strange, wasn't it?" A faint smile appeared on his face as the mystery that had plagued him for centuries began to unravel.

"That house was the spaceship that brought you to Earth," Krillin explained.

"I wonder what Namek is like now… I've been away for hundreds of years…" Kami said, his voice filled with longing for his homeland.

For an old soul, the desire to return to one's roots is deeply ingrained. As a descendant of Earth, Krillin deeply understood Kami's emotions.

A Plan to Leave Earth

"Kami, remember when I told Korin I'd be leaving Earth for a while? The thing is, Earth's current technology can't produce a spaceship capable of interstellar travel. The ship you arrived in is our best option," Krillin said gently.

Kami nodded in agreement.

"Kami, why don't you come with me? Let's go to Namek together."

Kami's eyes lit up for a moment but quickly dimmed as he shook his head. "As Earth's guardian, it's my duty to remain here. I can't leave my post."

Popo interjected, "It's okay, Kami. I can manage things here while you're away."

Krillin added, "Exactly! Plus, we have Goku down below. There's no need to worry."

Kami hesitated. Should he really leave Earth, even for a short while?

Krillin pressed further, "The spaceship is fast. It'll only take a few days for a round trip."

Finally, after a long pause, Kami sighed and said, "Alright."

Kami felt a pang of guilt as he muttered to himself, "Because of me, the Earth suffered under King Piccolo. I may not be fit to be a guardian after all…"

"Kami, you've already done so much. Don't blame yourself too harshly," Krillin reassured him.

Kami waved off the comforting words. "No need to say more," he said.

Retrieving the Spaceship

"Let's head to the Sabito Highlands and retrieve the spaceship. It's been so many years—hopefully, it's still functional," Krillin said, vaguely recalling that the ship had repair systems.

Popo brought out his magic carpet. "Come aboard. The highlands are far, but my carpet will get us there quickly," he offered.

Krillin and Kami climbed on, and Popo muttered an incantation. Suddenly, the surroundings shifted dramatically, and a gust of wind roared past.

"What the…!?" Krillin exclaimed internally. "I've got to learn Instant Transmission someday!"

At the Sabito Highlands

"We're here," Popo said softly.

Kami looked ahead, his face filled with distant memories. "It's just up ahead," he said, though those memories were far from pleasant.

The house was round, standing on four legs, resembling some sort of beetle.

"So, this is the distinctive architectural style of the Namekians," Krillin thought to himself.

Approaching the structure, Kami muttered, "There's no door handle or lock. It opens with a single command…"

"Piccolo," Krillin said, recalling the Namekian word meaning "different world."

Kami softly repeated, "Piccolo."

With a hum, the bottom of the ship opened, revealing a lift that carried Krillin and Kami inside.

Inside the Ship

"Unfortunately, I don't know how to operate this ship," Kami admitted helplessly.

Krillin laughed. "You don't have to. It's fully automated and responds to voice commands—in Namekian, of course. The same language you and Piccolo used during the World Martial Arts Tournament."

Kami's face lit up with realization. "Ah, so that's it."

Krillin grinned. "Try saying, 'Fly to the Lookout.'"

Kami nodded. "*&%^#%!" he said in the strange, guttural Namekian tongue.

The control panel lit up with a series of characters.

"It understood," Kami said, somewhat surprised.

In the blink of an eye, the ship landed back at the Lookout.

Preparations for Departure

Krillin and Kami stepped out, smiling. Krillin said, "Teach me a few simple phrases in Namekian."

Kami chuckled and obliged, though Krillin sighed heavily at the difficulty of the language.

"Let's prepare to leave tomorrow," Krillin said. "We'll need food, and maybe a bathroom in the ship…"

Kami simply smiled. "I can survive on photosynthesis."

Farewell on Earth

Krillin stopped by Goku's house to bid him farewell.

"Goku, you can't come with me this time. You've got to stay and take care of Chi-Chi—she's about to give birth!" Krillin pleaded, trying to reason with him.

Hearing Chi-Chi's name, Goku paused, then nodded. It seemed Krillin's earlier lectures on responsibility had finally sunk in.

Relieved, Krillin thought, Looks like my lessons are paying off.

"Goku, when the baby is older, have Chi-Chi join the Sea Dragon Group for work. I'll talk to Launch and make arrangements," Krillin added.

"Sea Dragon Group? What's that?" Goku asked, wide-eyed.

Krillin sighed and muttered, "Never mind. I'll explain it to Chi-Chi."

Blast Off

On July 1, Age 756, Krillin and Kami boarded the spaceship.

"Time to go!" Krillin said.

Popo wiped away tears, waving goodbye.

As the ship rose into the sky, Kami's heart lightened. Soon, he would return to his homeland.

"Fly to Namek," Krillin commanded the ship.

"Understood. Estimated time: five days," the ship replied.

The spacecraft shot into the sky, leaving Earth far behind.

From Korin Tower, Korin and Fanny waved at the departing ship. "I wonder how much stronger he'll be when he returns," Korin murmured.

From a distant mountain, Piccolo sensed Kami's departure. "What's that old fool up to now?" he growled, glancing at the sky.

Krillin gazed out the window at the shrinking blue planet, clenching his fists. "Wait for me, 18. I'll be back soon."

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