Planet Vegeta.
Ever since Tights arrived, Lynx had taken her on a quick tour of Planet Vegeta and some nearby planets. Once that was done, he left her in the care of Hannah, who accompanied her on an interstellar journey now that she had finally learned Instant Transmission.
Lynx himself returned to focused training.
The recent stretch of deep meditative training had significantly improved Lynx's mental strength—it was a noticeable leap. Encouraged by the results, he decided it was time to settle down and dedicate himself entirely to a new breakthrough.
After all, things on Earth had calmed down for now. Goku's latest adventures had wrapped up, and the next major story event—the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament—wouldn't happen for another three years.
"I heard Goku went to Korin Tower. The plot might have shifted slightly, but it shouldn't affect his strength much."
With that thought, Lynx shifted his attention back to his own training.
Mental training was different from physical training. You couldn't just pop a Senzu Bean if your mind was exhausted. After each session, full recovery could only come through time and relaxation—there were no shortcuts.
Well… almost no shortcuts.
There was something that worked similarly to a Senzu Bean for the mind—Fruit of the Tree of Might.
Lynx had confirmed this using the last few fruits in his system inventory. Though they no longer gave him a noticeable power boost, they were astonishingly effective at restoring depleted mental energy. Just a bite would replenish him almost instantly.
"Ugh, if I'd known how useful these were, I never would've destroyed that tree…"
Scratching his head in regret, Lynx wondered whether he should summon Shenron someday and wish for more Fruit of the Tree of Might.
While pondering, he casually headed toward the council hall.
Lately, to unwind between training sessions, he would visit the council chamber to watch King Vegeta and Paragus handle governmental matters. He even offered the occasional suggestion—playing at kingship as a form of stress relief.
But before he could reach the council, King Vegeta, Paragus, and a group of guards arrived at his palace instead.
"Your Majesty Lynx! That artifact you left behind suddenly lit up—it might mean something's happened on Namek!"
King Vegeta presented a green crystal sphere, similar in appearance to a Dragon Ball.
Lynx recognized it immediately.
It was the communication orb the Namekians had given him when he left their planet. Created through a wish to Porunga, the orb came in a pair, capable of connecting the two users regardless of distance across the universe.
If the orb glowed, it meant Namek was in trouble and needed his immediate help.
Back before heading to a parallel timeline, Lynx had entrusted the orb to King Vegeta for safekeeping.
Now, as the orb pulsed with a dim blue glow, Lynx knew—Namek was calling.
"King Vegeta, I'll go check it out."
After giving a few instructions, Lynx used Instant Transmission and vanished.
Namek—this was where it had all started. It was the Grand Elder's unlocking of Lynx's potential that had given him the strength to challenge Vegeta for the throne in the first place.
He owed them a lot.
But as Lynx arrived on Namek, he quickly realized… things weren't what he expected.
He had assumed the planet was under attack, but everything looked peaceful. There was no smoke, no chaos, no evil ki in the air.
What was going on?
Puzzled, Lynx teleported directly to the Grand Elder's residence.
Still—no signs of battle.
Something felt off.
Just as he was about to land, the front door opened, and Nail stepped out, bowing towards him.
"Mr. Lynx. The Grand Elder has been waiting for you."
"Nail, what's going on? Isn't Namek under attack?"
"Namek is safe. The Grand Elder simply has a personal matter to discuss with you."
"A personal matter?"
"You'll hear the details from him directly."
Lynx didn't press further and followed Nail inside.
"Long time no see, Grand Elder."
The elder Namekian looked noticeably older than before—his lifespan clearly nearing its end.
Lynx knew this was coming. The Grand Elder's death was inevitable.
"Long time indeed, Mr. Lynx," the old Namekian said, his eyes opening briefly. "You've grown even stronger."
"I try." Lynx smiled. "Grand Elder, what did you want to see me for? Nail mentioned it was a personal favor?"
"Yes," the Grand Elder said softly, "I want to ask you to deal with someone. A Namekian…"
"A Namekian?" Lynx raised an eyebrow.
The Grand Elder sighed deeply. "Not long ago, a stranger arrived on Namek. Someone who felt both familiar and foreign. He is the one I need your help with—an evil Namekian… a purely evil being."
"Evil… and Namekian?"
Only one name immediately came to Lynx's mind.
Apart from King Piccolo, who was still sealed on Earth, there was only one other pure evil Namekian he could think of…
A Super Namekian…
"Slugg?" Lynx asked.
The Grand Elder's eyes flickered in surprise. "You know of him?"
"Well… yes. He once fought for galactic dominance, didn't he?"
"Indeed," the Grand Elder nodded gravely. "He was once one of the most feared beings in the universe, rivaling even the Frost Demon clan."
Lynx's mind raced.
Slug, or Slugg, was a villain introduced in a Dragon Ball Z movie. Like Earth's Kami, he was one of the Namekians who escaped the planet's great cataclysm as a child. But unlike Kami, Slugg embraced darkness and became a Super Namekian, with incredible power fueled by evil.