Following a burst of intense brilliance, a mass of crystalline structures appeared before Axis. These crystals shared the exact golden hue of the Dragon Balls and accumulated to a volume of several hundred cubic meters.
This quantity was substantial enough for the Namekians to forge over a dozen sets of super-sized Dragon Balls with material to spare. As for the Earth's Dragon Balls, a mere sliver would likely suffice to create a full set, leaving an abundance of excess material.
The sheer volume startled Axis. He had anticipated mere scraps, yet the quantity of these remnants was unexpectedly vast.
"These are the fragmented remains of the Super Dragon Ball, constituting all that was left within the Seventh Universe. You who have gathered the Seven Dragon Balls, your wishes have all been fulfilled. Farewell."
The Dragon Porunga nodded toward Axis, then ascended into the sky. He vanished instantly, transforming into seven streaks of light that scattered across the planet of Namek.
"The amount really is terrifying," Goku remarked, eyeing the pile of Super Dragon Ball remnants on the ground with curiosity. "I didn't expect there to be so much. What exactly is this stuff? It looks like it's the same color as the Dragon Balls."
The color was indeed identical to the Dragon Balls. Had the shape not been distinct, Goku would have assumed Axis had wished for a mountain of Dragon Balls themselves.
"One could describe them as the most primitive version of Dragon Balls," the current Grand Elder of Namek stepped forward to explain the nature of the substance to Goku and the others.
"The material our Namekian dragon balls are forged from is this very same scrap material, left over from when the Dragon God Zalama created the Super Dragon Ball."
"That is why the color matches the Dragon Balls perfectly. These crystals are the primordial raw materials for their creation. Without them, even one who knows the method of crafting Dragon Balls could never create a complete version."
The Grand Elder found the situation somewhat peculiar. How did this Saiyan named Axis know of the Super Dragon Ball? That was intelligence typically reserved only for the gods.
Even among Namekians, only the successive Grand Elders inherited this knowledge through memory, and none had ever leaked it. This tradition of secrecy had been upheld by every generation.
"Is that so? This is the raw material for making Dragon Balls?" Goku scratched his head. "I always thought Kami-sama just took lumps of clay, molded them, and made them directly. I had no idea this was how they were actually formed."
Goku had formed a bond with the Dragon Balls at a very young age. Back when the Shenron was destroyed by King Piccolo, Goku had learned about the existence of Earth's Kami from Korin Tower.
Using his family's heirloom, the Power Pole, he had successfully reached the Lookout and learned that Kami and Piccolo were originally a single entity.
At that time, Mr. Popo had mentioned that Kami created the Dragon Balls, and indeed, Kami had restored them without much effort.
Later, after Kami and Piccolo merged, the Namekian child Dende came to Earth to serve as the new Guardian.
That young boy was also a genius at crafting Dragon Balls. Just like the previous Kami, Dende had merely waved his hand and chanted a strange incantation to manifest the dragon.
"These items represent the fundamental components for crafting Dragon Balls," the Grand Elder said. "Theoretically, as long as one possesses sufficient power and masters the method, any Namekian could create them."
If Dende had not left, he would have been one of the candidates for the next Grand Elder of Namek.
The child's potential was not far behind Earth's Piccolo, placing him firmly within the ranks of the Super Namekians. Despite his young age, he had already completely mastered the art of Dragon Ball creation.
"Ah, if that's the case," Goku said, a look of realization dawning on his face. "Does that mean neither Kami nor Dende actually 'made' the Dragon Balls from scratch, but rather used this material? Through specific spells, they simply refined this substance into Dragon Balls."
"The Dragon Balls possess miraculous power. They can easily accomplish feats that the Guardian of Earth cannot," Axis said with a smile. "You didn't really think they were entirely fabricated by the Guardian or a Namekian, did you?"
This was, in fact, the greatest anomaly of the Dragon Ball world. Before the advent of Dragon Ball Super, the Namekians were a race even more broken than the Saiyans. While Saiyans had their Super Saiyan transformations, the Namekians possessed the Super Namekians.
In terms of comprehensive ability, the Namekians were superior. In the broader meta-context of the universe, the conceptual standing of the Namekians had been elevated to an infinitely high level.
In subsequent arcs involving the Demon Realm, a certain figure appeared who was truly extraordinary. The three Dragon Balls created by that entity possessed abilities that rivaled Porunga.
The Guardian Deities protecting those three spheres had battle powers at the level of a Super Saiyan 2 or perhaps even higher. In a one-on-one fight, even the Kings of the Demon Realm could not defeat them.
There was, of course, a minor anomaly in the lore. After acquiring a third eye, a Demon King's power was boosted to a level where he could thrash a Super Saiyan 4. If one used that kind of combat power to confront the three Sphere Gods, retrieving the Dragon Balls should have been effortless. Perhaps the true trial was simply the mini-game that followed the battle.
Axis was extremely covetous of that third eye from the Demon Realm saga. The boost it provided to combat power was simply too massive. To take a Demon Realm civil servant with abysmal combat strength and elevate him to a point where he could dominate a Super Saiyan 4 was a terrifying upgrade.
Axis wondered if that Demon Realm third eye could be obtained through a Dragon Ball wish. He intended to test that theory after returning.
"Mr. Axis, these Super Dragon Ball materials are extremely precious. They were created by Lord Zalama himself," the Grand Elder of Namek looked at Axis gravely. "I ask that you use them with caution."
The Grand Elder had naturally deduced Axis's intentions. Axis wanted to utilize the power of the Dragon Balls repeatedly, perhaps even to forge a set of his own.
However, this was no easy task. One required the bloodline of the Dragon Clan and the blessings of the Dragon God Zalama to create Dragon Balls.
The Dragon Balls on Earth were inferior in power to those on Namek, and the Namekian Dragon could not bestow the power of creation upon others, so the Grand Elder was not overly worried about that specific aspect.
"I give you my assurance, Grand Elder of Namek. I absolutely will not abuse the power of the Dragon Balls within this world, or this universe," Axis said with a smile.
He could guarantee that much. However, once he arrived in a different world, that would be a different matter entirely. He intended to use them extensively.
"Hearing you say that sets my mind at ease."
"Grand Elder, thank you for allowing me to use the Dragon Balls. I cannot use all of these materials, so I will leave a portion here with you," Axis said. "This large chunk should be sufficient to craft another set of Dragon Balls, or if made smaller, several sets would not be an issue."
Axis separated roughly one cubic meter of the Super Dragon Ball fragments and left it on Namek, placing it into the hands of the Grand Elder.
"Then I thank you, Mr. Axis." The Grand Elder did not refuse the gift.
The Namekians were in dire need of such things.
Possessing the most miraculous and powerful force in the universe without the means to protect it was untenable.
Although Goku was powerful, he was an outsider, and Saiyans were not an ageless race. When Goku, his companions, and his descendants eventually passed away, there was no guarantee that a new calamity would not befall the Namekians.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Axis returned to Earth with Goku. During the trip, having observed Goku use Instant Transmission, Axis committed the technique to memory completely.
It seemed his aptitude was somewhat lacking compared to true prodigies. Villains in the Dragon Ball world like Cell and Kid Buu had learned the technique immediately after seeing it once.
Axis, however, had only grasped the general concept after the first observation and formally mastered it only after the second.
Upon returning to Earth, Axis took Kratos and settled temporarily in a secluded corner near Son Goku's home.
"Well then, Axis, you should rest here for now. We'll meet again in two weeks," Goku said. "I plan to use this time to go with Vegeta to train with the Angel Whis."
"No problem. You and Vegeta should concentrate on your training. However, I have a request. I wonder if it would be permissible?" Axis nodded and spoke.
"No problem at all, Axis. Just say the word. If I can help, I will," Goku replied.
"Since you are going to the Angel Whis to train, could you take my son, Kratos, along with you? The boy has realized the power of Super Saiyan 4, but he has not yet grasped the power of the Super Saiyan God or Super Saiyan Blue. I think if he were to accompany you to train under the Angel Whis, it would be beneficial."
The reason the Angel Whis instructed Goku and Vegeta was, in large part, to cultivate a candidate for the next God of Destruction, or rather, an apprentice Destroyer.
While the food on Earth was undeniably excellent, an Angel's true duty was the mentorship of a God of Destruction.
Therefore, Axis wanted his son to go to the Destroyer's planet to see if Whis would be willing to offer some guidance.
"Is that so? Kratos?" Goku nodded almost immediately without hesitation. "Of course, no problem. I'll put in a word for him. When Whis comes to pick us up next time, I'll bring Kratos along."
If Kratos hadn't intervened previously, Earth would have been obliterated by Frieza. Goku owed them a massive favor, so this was a small service to render.
Furthermore, having another person to train with would speed up his own progress. In fact, Goku was tempted to invite Axis as well.
"Axis, why don't you come along too? We could all train together."