Dango stood there, completely naked, his necklace clutched tightly in his hand, facing the village elder Moori and a strange young Namekian warrior who watched him with sharp intensity. Moori asked his question once more, his voice calm yet firm, demanding to know who he was.
Before Dango could answer, the elder gently closed his eyes and placed a hand on his head. The sudden touch caught Dango off guard, but there was a strange warmth in it, something he couldn't quite explain.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Dango asked, confused.
After a moment, Moori opened his eyes and smiled. He spoke Dango's name as if he had always known it, introducing himself as an elder of Namek and the one who had healed him. He then gestured to the warrior beside him, introducing him as Cargo, one of Namek's greatest talents.
Dango stared at him for a second, clearly confused, and asked how he knew his name. Before Moori could respond, Cargo spoke up, his tone confident. He said someone like Dango wouldn't understand that Elder Moori's telepathy was on a level far beyond anyone else.
In an instant, Dango was in Cargo's face, his sudden movement not shaking the warrior in the slightest. Ignoring his comment, Dango looked him up and down, then smirked and patted him on the shoulder, saying he was strong, but nowhere near his level. Just like that, he turned and walked back to Moori as if nothing had happened. Behind him, Cargo's face twisted with rage. Who did this kid think he was talking to? He would make sure to humble him.
Dango thanked Moori, saying that if it wasn't for him, he would have definitely died. Moori calmly admitted that he likely would have, though Dango's race, the Kottans, seemed to possess a minor yet dominant healing factor, even more potent than his Saiyan half. Moori smiled gently as he said this.
Before Dango could question what Moori meant, Cargo suddenly shouted, challenging him to a battle. Dango turned, a devilish smirk forming on his face as he accepted without hesitation.
Though he asked for some clothing, Moori simply raised his hand and released a wave of energy toward Dango, instantly materializing a purple Namekian battle gi just like Cargo's. Dango looked down at himself, surprised, noting it was a clear step up from what he usually wore.
Then he paused, slightly confused. Did he grow taller? He looked a little older… different. He brushed it off for now, tucking his necklace inside his shirt as he got ready to battle.
Both of them powered up, their energy flaring as they tried to intimidate each other. The surge caught the attention of the villagers, along with three other Namekian warriors of the village, Hammer, Screw, and Saw.
After a quick explanation from Moori, the three watched closely, all believing Cargo would dominate the fight. After all, he was said to be the second strongest warrior on Namek.
Stepping forward to face Cargo, the two lifted into the sky. Without another word, the fight began.
Dango struck first with a kick, but Cargo shifted to the side, narrowly avoiding it before countering with a sharp uppercut. The hit connected cleanly, yet Dango barely reacted, pressing forward as he drove two rapid jabs into Cargo's stomach, forcing him backward through the air.
Cargo is stunned by his strength, opting to unleash two blasts, which Dango slaps away, going in to strike.
Below them, the villagers watched in alarm, believing Cargo was under attack, but Moori calmly reassured them that it was nothing more than a spar.
The three warriors stood in shock, unable to believe that a child could keep up with Cargo. Moori simply told them that the boy was far more than any of them had expected.
They clashed again and again, locking into a test of strength, one that Dango quickly overpowered, flinging Cargo into the air. Laughing, he shot forward, unleashing a flurry of blows that Cargo barely managed to block.
As they continued to trade strikes, it became clear who held the advantage. Dango weaved through Cargo's punches and kicks with ease, even mocking him by sticking out his tongue, clearly not taking the fight seriously.
Then, powering up for just a moment, Dango decided to end it. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing behind Cargo and driving a powerful kick that sent him crashing down into the ground. The Namekians of Moori's village watched in shock as one of their strongest warriors was defeated so easily.
Dango landed shortly after and extended his hand. Cargo took it, admitting that Dango could definitely back up his words. The two shared a brief laugh as the tension faded.
Looking around at the villagers, Dango admitted that if this had been a month ago, Cargo would have given him serious trouble, maybe even won. Cargo frowned slightly, questioning what could have possibly changed in such a short time.
Moori stepped forward and began to speak, his voice calm but firm. He revealed that Dango was a Saiyan, or more precisely, a half-breed. Whispers spread through the village as the name settled in.
Hammer spoke up, asking if that was the same race as the one who called himself the king of the universe, Vegeta.
Dango tensed at the name. Vegeta. It kept coming up, the same man who had sent Tarpon after him.
Moori continued, explaining that Dango's mother was truly his biological parent, but his father must have been part of that accursed race. It explained the tail and the sudden surge in power he experienced after being brought to the brink of death.
Dango stood there in shock, trying to process it all. Why would his mother hide something like this? And if it was true, did that mean he and his brother weren't fully related?
His expression hardened as he looked at Moori, asking for everything he knew about his race. Moori told him that such knowledge was recorded in the Namekian Book of Legends, kept at another village, under the care of the Grand Elder Tsuno.
Without hesitation, Dango prepared to take off, but Cargo quickly stopped him, saying he didn't know the way, nor could he sense the Grand Elder's ki well enough to guide him.
Dango's serious expression instantly dropped as he turned to Cargo and began begging him for help. Cargo folded his arms, still a bit salty from the loss, and told him to grovel properly if he really wanted it. The villagers and the three warriors burst into laughter at the sight, the tension from earlier completely gone.
Far away from the village, the scene shifted to Guru's house. Inside, the massive throne sat in solemn silence. Standing beside it was a lone Namekian warrior, revealed to be Nail. He gazed at the empty seat and admitted quietly that nothing had been left behind, for Guru's wisdom and spirit now resided within him.
"Isn't that right, Grand Elder?" Nail asked, his voice low and respectful.
Back with Dango, we see him flying alongside Cargo toward Grand Elder Tsuno's village. As they travel, the two fall into conversation about their lives. Dango realizes they share more in common than he expected. Both love to fight, both were seen as once-in-a-generation talents among their people, and both had a tendency to be hot-headed.
Cargo mentions that he is 12, which catches Dango off guard. He looks older, while Dango himself is only a few months away from turning 14. In his mind, Dango notes he has only gotten a little taller. Seeing his reaction, Cargo explains that Namekians of the warrior class age much faster, so their bodies can be ready for battle early on.
He goes on to say he is the second strongest warrior on Namek, but compared to the first the gap between them is massive. Hearing that, Dango wonders out loud if he thinks he could defeat number one. Cargo quickly shuts that down, admitting that while Dango is strong, he is nowhere near Nail's level.
As they touch down in the Grand Elder's village, the villagers quickly gather around, greeting Cargo and Dango while asking what brings them there. Cargo explains the situation without wasting time. Just then, Dango notices two older Namekian warriors nearby. Cargo greets them with clear respect, calling them Plier and Drill.
Curious, Dango asks who they are, and Cargo explains that they are Namekian warriors. They may not be the strongest, but they have plenty of experience behind them. The two warriors then point them in the direction of Tsuno.
As they move on, Dango notes to himself that this world seems to have plenty of interesting fighters.
Soon, they reach Tsuno, who stands quietly watching over the villagers as they tend to the Ajisa trees, carefully watering them.
Without turning around, Tsuno calls out both Cargo and Dango by name. Dango is caught off guard, but Cargo does not look surprised at all, assuming Moori had used telepathy to relay everything to Tsuno.
Dango, however, suddenly appeared right in front of Tsuno, blurting out that he looked exactly like Moori. Cargo calmly extended his arm, grabbed Dango, and pulled him back, apologizing quickly to the Grand Elder. Tsuno only laughed, clearly amused, and then motioned for them to follow him.
They soon arrived at a massive library. Tsuno approached a towering shelf and carefully picked out an enormous book, the Namekian Book of Legends. Using telepathy, he flipped through the pages with ease, stopping at a section about the Saiyans.
Calling Dango forward, he explained that only a few pages were dedicated to the Saiyans, which made our hero gulp. When Dango asked what the pages contained, he learned that the ancient text described the Saiyans as a fierce warrior race, driven by conquest and violence. Among the stories was the tale of a righteous Saiyan named Yamoshi, who became the first Super Saiyan while leading a rebellion against his evil kin. The book also spoke of a sacred ritual: five pure-hearted Saiyans could combine their energy into one, allowing that Saiyan to ascend into the legendary Super Saiyan God.
Curious, Dango asked if the book mentioned the enormous monkey form the Saiyans could transform into, completely ignoring the legends of the Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan God. To his surprise, it did.
Calling Dango closer, Tsuno continued, "Among the Saiyans, there is a terrifying transformation known as the Oozaru. A Saiyan with a tail who absorbs the light of a full moon grows into a giant, rampaging ape, multiplying their power tenfold."
He paused, letting the words sink in, then added, "The Oozaru form grants immense destructive strength, but it often comes at a cost. The Saiyan loses control, consumed by rage and instinct, becoming little more than a wild beast."
Dango asked if it was possible to control this power, to which Tsuno replied that with enough practice, it was very likely.
Dango thanked Tsuno, and as they flew back toward Cargo's village, Tsuno instructed them to give his regards to Moori.
While flying, a worried look crossed Dango's face. Cargo noticed and asked what was wrong. Dango admitted he was concerned about losing control in that form and thought he might need to leave the planet.
Surprisingly, Cargo interjected, pointing out that their planet didn't have a moon but three suns. Dango looked up at the sky, taking in the strange sight and realizing how different things really were.
Cargo knows that Dango will eventually have to leave, but after hearing his story, he believes there's still a lot Dango could learn from the Namekians.
Hovering in midair, Cargo calls out, "Dango, how about you stay here for a bit?"
Dango hesitates, surprised by the suggestion. But with no luck finding a true master elsewhere, he thinks maybe this planet could give him a breakthrough, or even a rival worthy of his strength. He reaches for Cargo's hand, only for Cargo to twist and fling him into the water with a grin.
"Last one back to the village is a dirty slug!" Cargo shouts, rocketing forward.
Dango smirks briefly, then clenches his fists in anger and blasts off after him.
The chapter closes with both Dango and Cargo racing through the air, their faces lit with excitement and rivalry, sharing a grin.
To Be Continued!