Shenron's arrival above us was accompanied by an immediate souring of mood when he noticed my presence. His lingering resentment over my previous summoning mishap was surprisingly petty for a creature of his age and stature. Nevertheless, in the presence of his master and creator, Shenron adopted a more respectful demeanor, demonstrating a marked change in attitude. When Kami articulated his wish, even Shenron seemed offended by the mere suggestion, but I disregarded his accusatory glance, focusing instead on the fact that we had successfully convinced the Earth's guardian to entertain our request. It had taken an hour of humbling ourselves, but the outcome was well worth the effort.

Once the wish was granted and the Dragon Balls dispersed across the globe, Kakarot and I acted swiftly to secure two of them for our convenience—he claimed the four-star ball, while I took the two-star ball. I recalled Bulma mentioning that she had found the latter in Mr. Brief's laboratory.

Kami observed his rejuvenated body quietly, testing its newfound vigor with movements and flexes. His once-yellow patches now sported a healthy pink hue, and his deep green complexion had transformed into the vibrant green of summer leaves, lending him a dignified appearance. His antenna stood more erect, and his smile, now devoid of wrinkles, was less disconcerting.

"This feels quite refreshing," he admitted with a hint of a smile, his initial reluctance giving way to evident satisfaction. "I feel rejuvenated."

He stretched contentedly, hummed in approval, and looked down at himself. In moments, his attire had shifted to a matching gi adorned with the same kanji proudly emblazoned on his chest. He set aside his cane, no longer needed, and faced us with a serious demeanor.

"Before we proceed further, I must clarify my reasons for accepting both of you," he began, prompting Kakarot and me to exchange a knowing glance. It was no surprise that Kami had his own motivations for engaging with us. "I suspect neither of you is familiar with King Piccolo."

King Piccolo? The Demon King Piccolo of whom Master Lao spoke, often with a wry smile? Kami met my gaze, seeming to read both my thoughts and expression before nodding knowingly.

"It's not surprising that you recognize the name. Master Lao had a habit of involving himself in others' affairs—a troublesome trait that proved beneficial in the end," Kami recounted. "Centuries ago, I sought to succeed the Kami before me upon his impending demise. But he deemed me unworthy due to the darkness within my heart. Through rigorous training, I expelled that darkness, which took form as the demon King Piccolo. I assumed Kami's mantle while Piccolo fled."

"Oh, Grandpa Gohan mentioned something about this," Kakarot interjected, gazing skyward in recollection. "There was a battle with him centuries ago, and Master Roshi and other martial artists attempted to fight him, eventually sealing him away."

"Yes, that's correct," Kami confirmed.

"He's become a problem again?" Kakarot inquired.

"Not yet," Kami responded.

"You're concerned he may escape the seal," I deduced. If Piccolo were located and freed, he could wreak havoc once more.

"Yes, precisely," Kami affirmed.

And that's where we come in.

"You're already stronger than I," Kami pointed to me, then turned to Kakarot. "And you're rapidly approaching that level. I intend to train both of you for the inevitable battle against him—to ensure Piccolo's final defeat."

"Defeat him?" This unexpected directive caught me off guard. Was Kami instructing me to kill? Ah, so that's my role in this.

"Yes. He's irredeemable, and his return would lead to needless death," Kami asserted gravely.

His stance seemed somewhat hypocritical. Hadn't he previously spoken against the right to decide who lives or dies? Did this mean he alone held such authority?

"But he was once a part of you," I countered, sensing a flaw in his reasoning. "You expelled him—a part of yourself. Doesn't that create a connection between you?"

"She's astute," Mister Popo remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Kami sighed, seeming resigned or perhaps defeated.

Kakarot looked between us, realization dawning on him. He adopted a contemplative expression.

"So, if he dies, you die," Kakarot deduced, and Kami didn't deny it. "But if you die, the Dragon Balls disappear."

"Do not concern yourselves with that," Kami dismissed swiftly and firmly. "It will be handled."

"How?" I pressed.

"That's not for you to question," Kami retorted sharply, shutting down further discussion.

"You will accept my conditions," he declared firmly.

"Of course, Master," Kakarot and I replied in unison, bowing respectfully.

"Good," Kami acknowledged, his expression pleased.

Mr. Popo remains an enigma, his power elusive and movements too swift for us to follow. Despite our efforts, even with Kakarot and I working in tandem, our progress against him is minimal. The thin air at this high altitude hampers my stamina, rendering my usual endurance ineffective. Minutes stretch into hours as we spar with Popo, each encounter ending with us defeated, exhausted, and struggling to catch our breath.

"I can't breathe," Kakarot gasps, prompting a much-needed break. He struggles to sit upright, swaying precariously until I offer him water, which he quickly drains before requesting more.

"You must be as calm as the sky and swift as lightning," Popo advises once we've regained our breath.

"Easy for you to say," Kakarot replies breathlessly.

"You must empty your soul," Popo continues, tapping my forehead. "Not just your mind, as you're accustomed to."

Emptying the soul sounds more challenging than simply clearing the mind, a skill I've honed to move on instinct in battle. Kakarot seems to possess similar instincts. But Popo's words hint at a deeper level of focus.

"Is that why I can't sense you?" I ask, to which he cryptically smiles.

"One of the reasons, yes," he confirms. "Next, you must learn to see without using your eyes."

In a flash, Popo moves behind us, prompting Kakarot to turn in surprise.

"It seems you both understand the need for blindfold training," Popo remarks, sounding pleased. "One more than the other."

"I guess all those blindfold exercises paid off," Kakarot jokes.

Indeed, learning to empty our souls seems to be the first step toward mastering Popo's elusive techniques and building our strength.

I produce a senzu bean, and Kakarot eagerly accepts it. Learning to cultivate these beans would certainly prove useful.

"Ohoho, ready for more, I see," Popo chuckles.

Our subsequent attempts show slight improvement, though Kami remains absent after assigning Popo as our trainer. I wonder what Kami is doing in his seclusion, though curiosity doesn't compel me to ask. Kakarot has grown faster since we met, but Popo's speed remains unmatched. I struggle to block or counter his attacks, managing to succeed only once after clearing my mind and settling my nerves.

A painful realization dawns as Popo grabs my tail and later attempts the same on Kakarot, whose tail proves more resilient due to years of training. I endure numerous tail grabs, each nearly paralyzing me, but I recognize their value in strengthening my weakest link. Kakarot staunchly defends his tail as a source of power, but Popo questions the perilous transformation it brings.

"If it's such a problem, we'll find a way to harness that power without transforming," Kakarot declares.

An excellent idea, though the challenge lies in achieving it.

Subsequently, Popo shifts our training focus from physical confrontation to meditation, an art with which I am familiar. Recognizing my proficiency in ki control, he dedicates more attention to Kakarot, who struggles to maintain stillness.

"I feel like I might fall asleep," Kakarot confesses after an extended session. "It's hard to stay focused."

It's going to be a long journey for him.