A year in the Time Chamber had refined not just their power, but their mastery over it. This was the true reason Rhode could dominate Yunba in his base state—when raw numbers were close, efficiency and control became the deciding factors.
Beyond power control, their year had been devoted to mastering the Super Instant Transmission granted by Porunga. Unlike Yardrat's technique, it required no life-sign lock, only a conscious thought. However, it demanded knowledge—a spatial coordinate, an image, a memory of the destination. Without it, the ability was inert. Rhode now carried a three-dimensional star map of the universe in his mind, a vast atlas he had only begun to memorize. A year was a blink against the cosmos; they had mastered familiar locations and techniques, not the map's entirety.
One such technique was the fusion of Instant Transmission with combat, a maneuver requiring split-second timing and spatial awareness most Saiyans would never conceive. Aira's point-blank Kamehameha was proof of their progress. Her disheveled state was a choice, a savoring of the fight. Had she been serious, Simoreka would have fallen in seconds.
Now, hearing Rhode tacitly approve her idea of confronting Frieza, Aira's eyes blazed with excitement. "So, do we go take down Frieza now?"
Take down? Rhode's lip twitched at her audacity, but a part of him was fiercely intrigued. With Super Instant Transmission as their escape hatch, the risk was calculated.
"Not yet," he said, reining in her momentum. "First, we should bid farewell to the Grand Elder."
Their entire sequence on Namek—arrival, wish, training, battle—had transpired in less than two Earth days from the outside perspective. To leave without a word after receiving such generosity would be discourteous. More importantly, the Grand Elder possessed unique abilities, including the power to unlock latent potential. That was an opportunity Rhode had no intention of overlooking.
"Let's go."
Before Aira could argue, he focused and vanished.
Aira scoffed but followed instantly.
They reappeared amidst the ruins of the Grand Elder's garden. The ancient Namekian and Earth's Kami stood amidst the rubble, relief washing over their features as they saw the two Saiyans unharmed.
"Are you two alright?" Rhode asked, observing them first.
"We are fine," the Grand Elder replied, his voice warm. "And the two pirates?" Kami added, unable to hide his concern.
Facing Kami's question, Rhode replied with a calm, undisturbed air. "Naturally, I sent them to where they belonged."
His gaze then swept over the devastation surrounding them—the once-peaceful garden was a scarred wasteland, the gentle hills now rubble. The area around the Grand Elder's home had been utterly ravaged.
A pang of genuine remorse struck him. "Grand Elder," he said, turning to the ancient Namekian, "I am deeply sorry for the state of your home."
Though he couldn't be certain, Rhode suspected this invasion might have been drawn, at least in part, by their presence.
"Do not apologize," the Grand Elder countered firmly, taking Rhode's hand in his own. "You saved us. You are our benefactors."
Seeing the Elder's sincere gratitude, Rhode let the matter drop. What was done was done; the only path was forward. "Then let's say no more. We'll help rebuild."
Over the following week, with assistance from neighboring Namekian villages, the Grand Elder's dwelling was restored, and a fragile peace returned. At Kami's request, Rhode used his Instant Transmission to return the Earth guardian home.
It wasn't until the settlement was complete that Rhode broached another subject with the Grand Elder. During a discussion about the Elder's unique abilities, Rhode humbly asked if the ancient being could help unlock his own latent potential.
The Grand Elder was honored by the request, yet pragmatic. "I can assist, but there are limits. Your power is already immense, far surpassing my own. I fear any improvement I can provide will be… modest."
Rhode merely smiled. "Any improvement is welcome. I would be grateful for your help, Grand Elder."
Seeing his resolve, the Elder agreed. As he predicted, the effect was not the explosive, multiplicative surge seen with lesser-powered beings like the future Gohan or Krillin. For Rhode and Aira, whose foundations were already titanic, the boost was a significant, but linear, addition.
Their power increased by roughly a quarter.
Rhode's battle power, previously around 800,000, now brushed against the one million mark. Aira's strength solidified in the 700,000 to 800,000 range.
After this infusion of new power, the two Saiyans spent additional time in focused meditation, re-honing their control to match their enhanced capabilities. Once their mastery was once again razor-sharp, they bid farewell to the Grand Elder, leaving a means of contact, and launched themselves back into the silent, star-filled expanse of space. Their destination, though unspoken, hung between them—a challenge, a test, and perhaps a reckoning.