Power Trip: I Got Reborn in Dragon Ball with Broken Adaptation

The air outside Capsule Corp shimmered with heat and excitement. The ship was parked like some beast waiting to be unleashed, gleaming under the sunlight with its sleek, curved exterior and a Capsule Corp logo that looked like it was made for intergalactic PR. The ramp lowered with a mechanical hiss as the team began to board one by one — Goku humming with excitement, Gohan lugging snacks, Krillin slightly anxious but trying not to show it, Piccolo quiet as always, and Kai… quietly absorbing everything.

Inside, Bulma gave the tour like a theme park guide with a caffeine buzz.

"Living quarters are to the left — shared bunks for Gohan and Goku, Krillin gets his own, and…" she paused, glancing at Kai for half a second, "…other arrangements will be explained later. Food capsules are here, bathrooms over there, no flushing random tech, I'm looking at you, Goku."

"Hey, that happened one time!"

"Uh-huh," she said, already moving on. "Gravity chamber in the rear — max 300x gravity, which you shouldn't touch without me checking your bones first. If it breaks mid-session, we're gonna find pieces of you in the ceiling."

As they settled in, Goku suddenly paused mid-stretch. His head tilted, eyes squinting like he was trying to hear something faint. Everyone turned.

"Uh… Goku?" Krillin asked.

Goku blinked. "Guys. King Kai's talking to me."

Piccolo folded his arms. "Now?"

Goku nodded. "He says… we're heading to a planet called Namek. He gave the coordinates — 9045YX in the direction of… SU83? Sounds weird."

Bulma nodded and immediately spun around to the controls. "Got it. That should take thirty-four days at this speed."

Goku continued, "He also said Namek used to be really populated, but weird weather changes wiped out most of the people. The planet's not dead, but it's… quiet now. Still, they might have their own set of Dragon Balls."

Kai's heart ticked a little faster, but he stayed silent. Good. King Kai was doing the heavy lifting. He didn't need to "coincidentally" know anything. He just leaned back and let things unfold.

The ship rumbled to life, engines purring, and within moments they shot off into the sky — Earth shrinking behind them as the stars opened wide.

A few hours into the flight, the others made their way to the gravity chamber. Gohan was excited to try, Krillin less so, and Goku practically sprinted there like it was Disneyland. Even Piccolo followed, arms folded but curious.

Kai, however, remained in the central lounge — silent, still.

His system pinged softly as he stared at the readout.

[Current Power Level: 450,000,000]

He didn't blink. Just sat there, staring at the number like it might change if he looked long enough.

'Four hundred and fifty million. Just from training. Just from breathing in that chamber, sparring with Goku a bit, and existing with this weird body. Kaioken's strain didn't just fade — my body adapted up.'

He sighed.

'Is this what it's like for the top dogs? Beerus, Saitama, Superman, whatever? Just floating above it all — no challenge, no risk. No one to catch you off guard. Is that why they all act so… weird? Joking, sleeping, eating like maniacs. Is that just… coping?'

The thought stung more than he liked.

'If I keep going, if I keep climbing, will I lose everything that makes me human? Emotions? Fear? The spark?'

He didn't notice Bulma until she sat down beside him, her steps softer than her usual stomp.

"You're not in the gravity chamber?" she asked.

He gave her a lazy glance. "Me? The guy who eats kettlebells and punches meteors before breakfast? Nah, not feeling it."

She stared at him. "No. Seriously. What's wrong? You're the one who usually won't stop training."

He exhaled. "…I don't know. I just feel… bored."

"Bored."

"Yeah. Like, I'm already so far past what I thought was possible that training more just feels… pointless. If I keep going, I don't know what's left. I'm afraid I'll just… stop feeling things. Stop being human. What's the point of being the strongest in the room if I'm also the emptiest?"

Bulma was quiet for a moment.

Then she reached out and placed her hand over his.

"You're still human, Kai. Strength doesn't erase that. You're scared because you care. You want a reason for all this. That's human. And honestly?" She smiled. "You don't have to always be the strongest. Sometimes, it's okay to focus on the smaller stuff. Like talking. Eating. Sleeping. Annoying the people around you until they give in and make you a sandwich."

He smiled faintly. "You really always know what to say."

She smirked. "Yeah, well… I've got one more thing to say, and I swear if you laugh, I will turn this spaceship around."

"Hit me."

"When Dad and I were finishing the ship… we realized we didn't have enough materials for everyone to have their own room."

"Okay…"

"So I put you in mine."

Kai blinked.

"You're bunking with me."

A slow grin crept across his face. "An honor, Miss Bulma. Truly."

She blushed and turned her head. "Shut up."

He kept teasing, gentle but smug, as they walked together toward the sleeping quarters. The hallway lights dimmed as they reached her room — surprisingly tidy, blue-lit, cozy. She flopped onto her bed without ceremony.

Kai leaned on the doorway.

"You sure you trust me in here?" he asked.

"Just don't get any weird ideas," she mumbled into her pillow.

"I make no promises. I am a known menace."

She laughed quietly. "You're an idiot."

"True."

Eventually, they both ended up lying on opposite sides of the bed, the hum of the ship filling the silence. She spoke about the upcoming journey, about the science behind the ship, and the challenges of building artificial gravity in a cramped capsule while dealing with her dad's constant smoke breaks.

Kai mostly listened, but it was enough.

"You're gonna get some rest too, right?" she asked.

He turned his head. "Guess I've got no excuse."

"Good. Cause I'm planning to sleep as much as I can in the next thirty-four days."

He nodded, eyes already fluttering.

As the lights dimmed further, she shifted a little closer and muttered, "...Don't kick in your sleep."

"No promises."

They both drifted off — one carrying the weight of unimaginable power, the other the patience to deal with him.

And somewhere in the stars, the path to Namek opened wide.

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I know I don't communicate with you guys but do you guys think if you had all the power in the world and no one could match you, you would grow bored and feel empty?