June, Age 761 -Earth
"Elder Guru, my father should have explained everything to you by now, right?" After escorting Merus back, Gohan went straight to Namek's Grand Elder.
"Yes. Thank you, young Gohan. Without your help, the Namekians might have been wiped out entirely." The Elder's tone trembled with genuine emotion.
Gohan chuckled. "Not annihilation, perhaps, but heavy casualties would've been inevitable." His mind drifted briefly to the "original" timeline he once knew.
The moment Raditz first appeared, history had already swerved off course. Goku had survived, Vegeta and Nappa had landed a year earlier, Frieza had rushed to Namek a year and a half ahead of schedule. Even Cooler had appeared in the Namek saga. And Beerus had awakened early. Everything was happening far sooner than it should have.
That realization forced Gohan to accept he could no longer walk the path of the story he remembered. He had to grow stronger, fast. The unexpected could arrive at any time.
"Elder, Namek may have survived, but it's badly scarred. You can return with your people, but I'd advise shifting the planet's coordinates. Too many out there harbor ill intent. After this incident, plenty of eyes will be watching."
"You're right. I'll arrange it. But Porunga won't be restored for another six months. During this time, I must trouble you again, young Gohan." The Elder's face showed embarrassment after all, they were now dependents under another's shelter.
"No need for politeness. The Namekians are among my dearest friends. Bulma will take care of your arrangements. If anything comes up, reach out to me. I'll be on Earth for a while."
The Elder's eyes softened. "If you ever need Porunga's power, say the word. Right now, that's the greatest aid I can offer."
Gohan grinned. "Haha, then I'll be sure to rely on you in the future."
Once the Namekians were settled, Gohan returned to Mount Paozu.
"Damn it, Kakarot I still can't do it!" Raditz roared, ki flaring before sputtering out. He collapsed back, unable to transform.
Goku frowned, stroking his chin. "Seems like it's not enough. Without a solid base power level, your body just can't handle the transformation."
"Not exactly, Dad." Gohan approached slowly, his tone calm and measured. "The Super Saiyan form requires a high concentration of S-Cells. But S-Cells are only produced in peaceful environments, and they're triggered by a flash of intense rage. It's a paradox serenity breeds the fuel, but fury lights the spark."
"Wait, if that's true, shouldn't I have transformed a long time ago?" Goku scratched his head, baffled.
Gohan tilted his head. "Haven't you noticed what you're missing compared to Uncle Raditz and Nappa?"
"You mean… a tail?" Goku blinked at Raditz's swishing appendage.
"Exactly. The tail is tied directly to the Super Saiyan gene pool. You've had enough S-Cells for years, but without the tail, the trigger was incomplete."
In truth, Gohan had once thought pure-blood Saiyans needed a base power of three million before transformation. He realized too late he'd overlooked Goku's missing tail. It wasn't until Vegeta's case jogged his memory that he recalled the official lore: S-Cells were essential.
Vegeta had been the exception. In the original history, he had stayed on Earth at Bulma's home, training relentlessly in her gravity chamber. With time, Bulma became pregnant with Trunks, and Vegeta tasted the peace of family life. That tranquility had sparked his own S-Cell growth. But aware of his stagnation, and consumed by Goku's transformation, Vegeta left Earth. Out in the cosmos, his crushing pride, his rage, and his obsession with surpassing Kakarot finally forced his breakthrough.
But without his tail, it had been a bitter, unnatural process. Had he known about S-Cells, he might have regretted it bitterly.
"So I really can break through into Super Saiyan one day?" Raditz's eyes gleamed.
"Given time. But you'll still need to raise your base power significantly. When I transformed, I was around three million. That isn't an absolute requirement, but think about it: Super Saiyan multiplies power fiftyfold. To wield that much energy, your body has to be built like iron."
Raditz slumped, a little crestfallen. "I see…"
"Don't be too discouraged. There's a shortcut." Gohan's eyes narrowed, a small smile tugging his lips. "For now, you can achieve something else Pseudo Super Saiyan."
"Pseudo?" Raditz, Nappa, and even Goku exchanged puzzled looks.
"Yes. Watch haaah!"
Gohan's aura exploded into gold. His hair rose slightly, his eyes sharpened, but his locks remained black, his irises their normal color.
The strength boost was enormous twenty-five, maybe thirty times base.
"This form is simple. Take the portion of ki you control best, run it along your spine, then ignite it with rage. That's all. S-Cells are what normally make ki easier to command. My father called it 'mastery of self,' I called it 'suppression.' It's all the same learning to bend your ki like a tool. Find the method that fits you." Gohan let the form fade.
Goku whistled. "Wow. That's way easier than the way I did it!"
"Uncle Raditz, you should try. You've been on Earth long enough your violent edge has mellowed. You might just manage it."
"All right, I'll try."
Raditz closed his eyes. He drew in his ki, as Gohan instructed, channeling it down his spine. He summoned memories that stoked his fury.
One minute later
"Haaah!" His aura erupted.
His long mane didn't spike, but it flared wildly. Golden energy wrapped him head to toe.
"I did it…! Incredible. Not even the Kaio-Ken at twenty times feels this strong!" Raditz exulted.
Nappa's eyes burned with desire.
"You'd better wait," Gohan warned. "Your bloodlust is worse than Raditz's. It'll take at least a year before your S-Cell count catches up enough for even this."
Nappa groaned, deflated.
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