The gale roared across the courtyard, as if it meant to tear the entire Capsule Corporation estate out by its roots.
High above, the colossal Shenron coiled within ink-black clouds. His eyes, glowing like massive red lanterns, looked down with cold indifference at the tiny figures below.
The pressure of a higher-dimensional being weighed heavily on the air itself, making every breath feel thick and sluggish.
"State your wish…"
Shenron's voice was not merely sound. It was like thunder striking directly against the soul.
"No matter what you desire, I can grant it… but only one."
In the courtyard, everyone held their breath.
Yamcha crouched behind a pillar, swallowed hard, and whispered to the floating Puar beside him.
"Hey, Puar, what do you think Krillin's going to wish for?"
"If it were me, I'd ask for money I could never spend. Or maybe make every beautiful girl fall in love with me?"
"You're hopeless," Puar snapped, rolling his eyes, the frying pan still clenched in his hands. "Master Krillin is the son-in-law of the world's richest family. Do you really think he cares about money?"
Nearby, Oolong's eyes were shining, his mouth hanging open as if he were about to shout something extremely inappropriate.
Before he could make a sound, Master Roshi reacted instantly and brought his cane down on Oolong's head.
"Idiot! Don't cause trouble! This concerns the future of Earth!"
Even so, Master Roshi's own heart was pounding. He stole a glance at the group of stunning blonde attendants nearby and sighed inwardly.
If only I could wish for a pair of X-ray glasses…
Everyone's attention finally settled on Krillin.
He stood at the front, his formal suit snapping loudly in the violent wind. His gaze was lifted upward, calm and calculating, without a trace of fear.
As a transmigrator, he understood this world's rules far too well.
Money?
Bulma's family had more than he could spend in ten lifetimes.
Immortality?
That was a sweet trap.
Leaving aside the possibility of creating evil dragons in the future, immortality alone would rob a martial artist of the desire to challenge limits.
In this world, only by dancing constantly on the edge of life and death could one reach higher realms of power.
At least until he was strong enough to punch an evil Omega Dragon into nothingness, immortality was not an option.
Right now, he possessed the Saitama template. His strength and durability were steadily increasing.
But he had a fatal weakness.
Environment.
Where would future battlefields be?
The oxygenless skies of Namek, the freezing vacuum of space, perhaps even the surface of a star.
If Earth were destroyed, or a spaceship lost, then even if he could kill Frieza with a single punch, he would still suffocate like a frog trapped in a jar.
In the original story, even Goku nearly died that way after defeating Frieza.
This flaw had to be fixed.
"Shenron!"
Krillin took a deep breath, steadied his core, and projected his voice through the storm so it rang clearly between heaven and earth.
"My wish is to remove part of the genetic limiters of everyone present here, and grant us absolute survival physiques."
He paused, his tone growing firmer.
"Let us survive like the most resilient lifeforms in the universe."
"No need to breathe. Immune to cosmic radiation. Resistant to extreme heat and absolute zero. Let our bodies fully adapt to the sea of stars."
Silence fell.
Only the howling wind remained.
Yamcha's jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the ground.
"What does that even mean? Not needing to breathe? Is this to save oxygen or something? Or does he want to catch fish underwater more easily?"
Tien blinked, all three eyes narrowing. As a martial arts fanatic, he sensed the implication, yet still found it hard to believe.
"Removing genetic limiters… does he think the human body is restricting his growth?"
Even Bulma froze. She had expected a wish for eternal youth or beauty. Instead, she got something this hardcore and strange.
"Hey, Krillin!" she called out despite herself. "Are we planning to tour the universe now?"
Shenron fell silent.
His enormous red eyes flickered faintly, as if he too were analyzing the logic behind this wish.
A few seconds later, his voice rang out again, carrying a hint of surprise.
"This wish involves modifying the fundamental genetic structure of your species, but it is within my power."
"It is simple."
The moment he finished speaking, Shenron's eyes erupted with blinding red light.
A thick, warm pillar of golden radiance descended from the heavens, instantly enveloping everyone in the courtyard. Krillin, Bulma, Goku, Chi-Chi, Master Roshi, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and even Puar and Oolong were all bathed in it.
"Whoa!"
Goku suddenly clutched his chest with a grunt.
"This feels weird! Like ants crawling around inside my bones!"
"Oh my!" Master Roshi dropped his cane and stared at his hands in disbelief.
His age-spotted, shriveled skin rapidly regained elasticity and shine within the golden light. The crushing sense of old age that had followed him for decades receded like a retreating tide.
Krillin's sensations were the sharpest of all.
He felt every cell in his body cheering.
The heavy shackles that had bound his flesh for so long, the so-called racial limits, shattered silently in that instant.
His lungs restructured. An invisible biological force field formed across his skin.
At the same time, the long-silent system notifications exploded in his mind.
[Ding! High-dimensional rule-based energy detected.]
[Earthling genetic limiters shattered. Host life level has ascended.]
[Passive Talent Acquired: Starborn Adapter (S-Rank).]
[Description: You are no longer a mere Earth-based organism. The stars are your backyard, the vacuum your playground. All resistance attributes increased by 50%. Environmental adaptability maximized.]
[Updating data…]
The golden light lasted a full minute before fading away.
"Hah…"
Krillin exhaled slowly and clenched his fist.
The air exploded in his palm with a crisp crack.
This was not just improved survivability. It was a higher ceiling altogether.
From this moment on, he was no longer confined by the label of "weak Earthling."
"Your wish has been granted," Shenron said again, his voice tinged with fatigue.
Krillin lifted his head, his sharp gaze sweeping across the seven Dragon Balls floating in midair.
He noticed it instantly.
Deep within their once-clear orange cores, a faint trace of black, mist-like residue had appeared.
Negative energy.
It was tiny, but glaring, like an ink stain on white paper.
Krillin's heart sank.
"So overusing the Dragon Balls really does accumulate negative energy. These can't be used recklessly anymore. They need to be saved for absolute emergencies."
"Farewell."
With a long roar, Shenron's massive body broke apart into seven streams of light, carrying the Dragon Balls skyward. They scattered across the world, turning into ordinary stones.
The dark clouds dispersed, and moonlight once again flooded the courtyard.
"That's it?" Yamcha rubbed his face and flexed his fist in confusion. "That's all? But I feel lighter. And breathing… feels optional?"
He tried holding his breath. The panic and suffocation never came. His body seamlessly switched to another internal circulation.
Bulma blinked, looked down at her hands, then at Krillin.
"So I can survive in space now? That's impossible. It makes no scientific sense!"
Krillin turned toward her, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her slender waist.
"Science or not, why not test it?"
"H-how?" Bulma asked, her heart racing as she instinctively took half a step back.
"Hold on tight, wife."
Krillin whispered into her ear.
The next second, the lawn beneath their feet detonated.
Boom!
A white shockwave blasted skyward.
Cradling Bulma, Krillin shot upward like a meteor falling in reverse, brutally shattering the sound barrier as they streaked into the vast night sky.
"Aaaaaah! Slow down! My hair!"
Bulma's scream stretched thin in the wind before vanishing beyond the clouds.
The others were left behind, staring at one another.
Goku scratched his head, eyes full of envy.
"Wow! Where'd they go? I want to play too!"
Chi-Chi grabbed his ear and twisted hard.
"Play? We're going home!"
"And don't forget the gold Krillin gave us. We need to plan how to buy you some proper clothes. And no more relieving yourself wherever you want!"
"Ow ow ow! Chi-Chi, be gentle! I never do that!"