Chapter 51: The Promise from Long Ago

In three lifetimes combined, Taro had never witnessed such a majestic and divine being.

A golden lightning bolt shot skyward from the seven Dragon Balls on the ground, twisting and turning like a celestial dragon against the darkened heavens. Eventually, within the radiant golden light, a green, four-clawed dragon materialized.

 The divine dragon's features were a blend of majesty and mysticism: antlers like a deer, scales like a fish, whiskers like a man, a body like a snake, and claws like a phoenix. Its blood-red eyes seemed to encompass all of existence, as though capable of piercing through the cause and effect of the universe.

 Sensing the presence of the summoner, the dragon coiled its massive body into the shape of an "∞" in the sky. Slowly, its head descended toward the ground.

 The seven colorful birds perched on Taro's shoulders grew tense as the dragon approached, instinctively nestling closer to his neck and head. However, Taro, with his head raised, kept his gaze fixed on the divine dragon, paying no mind to the birds clinging to him.

 The dragon's solemn voice echoed, grand and ethereal, as though speaking directly to Taro's soul:

 "You who have gathered the seven Dragon Balls, speak your wish. Any wish you desire, I can grant…"

 It was time.

 Taro clenched his fists, the wish he had buried deep in his heart for countless years almost escaping his lips:

 "Grant me the ability based on my eyes—"

 His eyes had turned crimson, with three black tomoe spinning rapidly until they transformed into the shape of a four-pointed pinwheel: the Mangekyou Sharingan, a power he had not used in years.

 But as quickly as it appeared, the Mangekyou Sharingan faded, reverting to ordinary black irises.

 Taro stopped mid-sentence.

 Was this the right moment to voice that wish?

 Summoning the dragon caused the global sky to darken, and Taro was certain the Namekian in the heavens was watching. If he revealed his true wish here, how could he explain it?

 Years ago, when Mutaito was on his deathbed, Taro had fabricated tales of "fragments of future visions" and "eye mutations" to comfort his master. Lies he had been reluctant to tell.

 If he now made this wish under the Namekian's watchful gaze, more lies would be necessary to conceal the truth—that he was not truly Taro, the disciple of Mutaito.

---

 The Lookout

 Mr. Popo gazed at the blackened sky above and murmured:

 "So, someone really has gathered all seven Dragon Balls and summoned the divine dragon…"

 Having sculpted the model for Earth's dragon with his own hands, he was familiar with the phenomenon described by Kami.

 At the edge of the Lookout, the white-robed Kami leaned on his staff, observing the mortal realm below.

"What are you hesitating for?" - he muttered softly.

---

 "Speak your wish. Any wish you desire, I can grant… but only one." the divine dragon repeated, its commanding voice resonating in Taro's ears.

 The birds on Taro's shoulders and head preened their feathers nervously, occasionally glancing at the dragon above. They pecked gently at Taro's hair and skin, sensing his hesitation as though sharing his inner turmoil.

 Finally, Taro looked up at the dragon with calm resolve, meeting its blood-red, mysterious gaze. He voiced his wish:

 "I wish to possess the ability to instantly travel anywhere in the universe, at will, by my own power."

 As he finished, he locked his gaze on the dragon, watching intently.

 The divine dragon's crimson eyes glowed even brighter, emanating an intense light:

 "That wish… is a simple one."

 Whoosh—

 Taro slowly opened his eyes, feeling a strange new energy course through his body, like a refreshing breeze sweeping across his soul. He glanced at his hands in silence, then closed his eyes to sense the change within him.

 In the blink of an eye, he vanished.

 With the wish fulfilled, and even the summoner gone from sight, the divine dragon reacted as it always did, its majestic voice resounding:

 "Your wish has been granted… Farewell."

 The golden radiance enveloping the green dragon intensified as its form gradually dissolved into the pure golden lightning. On the ground, the seven Dragon Balls—source of this brilliance—rose into the air, transforming from vibrant orange orbs into ordinary white stones.

 Suspended in midair, the seven stones pulsated with latent energy.

 Crack!

 Golden lightning split into seven distinct beams, each carrying a stone, scattering across the Earth in seven directions to await their next summoner.

 At that very moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the path of one of the golden flashes.

 It was Taro, reappearing after testing his newfound ability. The colorful birds perched on his shoulders and head fluttered nervously, seemingly confused by the abrupt shift.

 Smack!

 Taro extended a hand to catch one of the Dragon Balls hurtling toward him.

 Sizzle…

 A wisp of white smoke rose from his palm, the heat of the transformed Dragon Ball searing his skin. He studied the now-ordinary white stone briefly before letting out a carefree laugh. Without hesitation, he tossed the stone onto the ground, not sparing it a second glance.

 To hoard the Dragon Balls, summon the dragon every year, and make a wish?

 To intercept the scattered Dragon Balls, collecting them again for another wish?

 Perhaps the Taro of his first life, a simple, ordinary young man, might have entertained such thoughts. But now, as a martial arts master who had lived for three lifetimes and spent sixty years in this Dragon Ball world, such schemes felt beneath him.

 Making the Dragon Balls a crutch for his ambitions would go against everything he stood for. Taro's principles, his martial path, his pride, and his very self-respect would never allow him to stoop to such disgraceful and petty behavior.

 Using shortcuts might be forgivable in moments of desperation, but to rely on them habitually was a betrayal of his own ideals.

 Suspended midair, Taro raised his arms. The seven colorful birds, as if sensing his thoughts, obediently perched on his outstretched arms, tilting their tiny heads to gaze at him curiously.

 "I'm leaving now. What about you, little ones? Wouldn't you like to return to the wild?"

 With a gentle shake of his arms, he sent the birds fluttering into the air. They hovered before him, their wings flapping, chirping incessantly as though bewildered by his words.

 "Chirp chirp…"

 The birds flitted around Taro's head and chest, softly pecking at his skin, their cries filled with sorrow and confusion.

 Taro sighed softly.

 He could ignore the existence of his own daughter or the disciples he had mentored because they were mature, independent humans capable of charting their own paths. He had no desire to overly interfere in the lives of the younger generation, so he chose to drift away.

 But these seven birds, raised by his own hands and instrumental in his quest to gather the Dragon Balls, stirred a rare reluctance within him. With their pampered dispositions, how could they possibly survive the harsh realities of the natural world?

 They would probably become some predator's meal in just a few days.

 Taro stroked the smooth, colorful feathers of the seven birds and murmured softly:

 "Alright, alright. If you refuse to leave, then I'll take you with me."

 "Chirp chirp chirp!"

 The seven birds cheered, fluttering joyfully around Taro. Their infectious excitement drew a faint smile from his lips.

---

 Meanwhile, on the far side of the Earth, atop Korin Tower, a certain cat was still puzzled.

 "What was that just now? Did Taro really appear and vanish like that? Or are my old eyes playing tricks on me…"

---

 At the Lookout.

 Standing on the edge of the circular platform, Kami continued to observe the Earth—or more precisely, a specific individual within it.

 "The sky has brightened again… Has the wish been granted?" murmured Mr. Popo, his eyes fixed on the sky. It was his first time witnessing the Dragon Balls in action, and his curiosity was palpable.

 Kami's gaze was distant, unimpeded by the spatial barriers of Earth.

 "Instant transmission? Across the entire universe?" He muttered to himself. "What exactly are you planning to do… and that wish you were about to make at first… What was it? Did you stop because you knew I was watching?"

 A faint flicker of respect crept into Kami's tone.

 "To so easily discard the Dragon Balls, to remain unmoved by their temptation… Taro, Taro… You truly are a terrifying human."

 At that moment, Kami's far-reaching vision caught sight of Taro in midair, letting the seven birds settle back onto his body. Taro looked up, his gaze calm. For a brief instant, it felt as though their eyes met, as if Taro knew he was being watched.

 The next moment, Taro vanished from Kami's sight.

 His presence reappeared behind him.

 Mr. Popo turned in surprise, staring at Taro, who had suddenly appeared on the Lookout.

 "How did you get here?" He asked.

 Taro smiled but said nothing. Seeing Kami standing at the edge of the platform, he immediately understood—this old Namekian had indeed been observing the scene of his wish all along.

 The seven birds on Taro's shoulders chirped in confusion as they surveyed their new surroundings. However, they quickly grew quiet, drooping as the thin air began to take its toll on them.

 Gently stroking the weakened birds, Taro turned to face Kami, who had also turned toward him. Without hesitation, Taro declared:

 "I've come to ask the Guardian of Earth to fulfill a promise made decades ago."

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