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

The hum of the chamber faded as Goku and Vegeta emerged from recovery, both now fully healed. Outside the others were already gathered—Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, Bulma, and Kai—waiting near the ship's training deck. Vegeta stepped out last, arms crossed, scowl firmly in place.

Kai nodded to him. "Good. You're awake. You're coming to Earth with us."

Vegeta's lip curled. "Why would I lower myself to live on that backwater mud ball?"

Kai tilted his head lazily. "The legend. Tell me about it."

Goku raised an eyebrow. "Legend?"

Kai gave him a sideways glance. He already knew the tale, of course—but it had to come from Vegeta. He couldn't just pull facts out of thin air without raising suspicion.

Vegeta studied Kai for a moment, then scoffed. "Fine. You've heard whispers of it already, haven't you? The Super Saiyan. The strongest warrior in the universe. A Saiyan of legend. Power so immense, it turns the tides of fate."

Gohan blinked. "Like… stronger than Frieza?"

"Much stronger," Vegeta muttered, fists clenching slightly. "It's said he appears once every thousand years. An unstoppable force."

Kai crossed his arms. "So why not try to become it?"

Vegeta sneered. "You think it's that simple?"

"I think," Kai said, his voice low and calm, "that if you come with us, I can help you—and Kakarot—and Gohan—reach it. Together."

Goku straightened. "Wait, you think I could become that, too?"

"With training, pressure, and drive?" Kai shrugged. "Why not? You've already done the impossible more than once."

Piccolo raised a brow. "And us?"

Kai turned to him. "I'm not leaving anyone behind. Piccolo, Krillin—you've seen what's out there now. If Frieza was just one obstacle, imagine what else could be waiting. I'll train all of you."

Krillin whistled. "Not gonna lie, hearing that from the guy who vaporized Frieza like a snack cake? That's encouraging."

Vegeta grunted, arms still crossed. "Why help us?"

Kai met his gaze. "Because Earth needs you. And whether you believe it or not, you need Earth. If you stay, I'll even help you start rebuilding the Saiyan race."

Vegeta's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

Kai turned to the ship's main corridor. "Enough talk. Gravity chamber. Let's see what you've got."

Inside the reinforced training room, the gravity controls were already humming. Kai adjusted the dial casually.

"Alright. 100 times Earth's gravity. Nothing crazy," he said, glancing at the others.

Gohan, Goku, Piccolo, and Krillin all nodded, bodies tensing in preparation. They'd trained like this before. But Vegeta staggered slightly as it hit, his muscles locking up for a moment under the crushing weight.

He bared his teeth. "Tch… I've handled worse."

"Sure you have," Kai said with a grin. "Let's warm up."

They began stretching, light movement at first. But soon, the chamber was filled with rapid movement—blurs of motion as fists clashed, air cracked, and energy flickered.

Kai stood in the center, completely relaxed, arms behind his back.

"Okay," he said. "All of you. Hit me."

Krillin blinked. "Uh… what?"

"You heard me. All five of you. Come at me. Don't hold back."

Vegeta's eyes flared. "Are you mocking us?"

Kai smirked. "Little bit."

With a roar, Vegeta was the first to charge. He launched a right hook aimed at Kai's face—only for Kai to pivot slightly, letting the punch pass inches from his nose.

"Oh, you were serious. My bad," Kai said, and then flicked Vegeta in the chest. The Saiyan warrior flew backward, crashing into the far wall.

Piccolo attacked next, followed by Krillin and Gohan from opposite sides. Goku closed in from the front, his fists a blur.

Kai danced between them, barely even moving from his spot. He leaned back to avoid Piccolo's elbow, tilted his head to let Krillin's punch miss by a breath, caught Gohan's leg mid-kick, and deflected Goku's flurry with one hand.

"You call this brutal?" Kai teased, spinning and lightly tapping Gohan's forehead. "This is like getting swarmed by mosquitoes with attitude problems."

Vegeta roared, back in the fray, powering through a blast to drive his knee forward—but Kai sidestepped and casually patted his back like he'd missed a high five.

Krillin tried a Destructo Disc.

Kai caught it with two fingers. "Neat trick," he said, before flicking it aside where it exploded harmlessly against the ceiling.

The chamber shook from the continuous combat, but Kai remained completely untouched, only using the tiniest fraction of his power.

"C'mon," he said brightly. "Surely Earth's mightiest warriors have more than this?"

Goku and Piccolo exchanged a glance, then nodded. They went full speed, Goku's fists a storm of red blurs, Piccolo weaving in coordinated blasts.

Still, Kai flowed between their strikes like water, always just out of reach, always grinning.

"You're coordinated. I'll give you that. But predictable. Remember—power's great, but it's how you use it that makes the difference."

Finally, the five of them landed in a huff, sweat pouring, muscles straining. Kai hadn't even broken a sweat.

He stretched his arms behind his back. "Great session, everyone. I'll mark you down as 'participated with enthusiasm.' Gold stars for all."

Vegeta snarled. "You're not even trying."

Kai winked. "You're catching on."

He turned toward the exit. "Let's take a break. But remember this—what you felt in there? That wall? I'll help you smash through it. If you want to reach Super Saiyan… and beyond? You're going to have to earn it."

Krillin wiped his forehead. "Beyond?"

Kai didn't answer. Just smiled and left the room.

The others stood there in the chamber, still catching their breath, the silence thick with something between awe and frustration.

Even Vegeta, beaten and furious, looked thoughtful now.

The path forward was clear.

But it wasn't going to be easy.