Dragon Ball Z: The Beast Within

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Currently on CH15

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Enjoy you sexy bastards.

Update Schedule: Monday and Friday.

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[Escarot POV.]

After forty days of travel, I arrived at Namek, my pod cutting through the atmosphere like a meteor before slamming into the ground with a heavy, sound-shattering thud.

The impact kicked up dust and cracked the earth beneath me. A second later, the pod's hatch hissed open, the stale, recycled air inside rushing out as I took my first steps onto alien soil.

"Just like I remembered," I muttered, looking around.

Everything was green and blue. The sky was a deep teal, the grass an unnatural shade of emerald, and the water—so much water—stretched out in every direction, breaking only for scattered islands. It really looked just like it had in the anime: desolate, peaceful, and strange.

I took a deep breath. The air was… fresh. Much cleaner than Planet Vegeta's. Lighter, too.

Alright. Namek. Step one of the plan.

A loud thud signaled another landing behind me. Then another. I turned as two more pods cracked the ground, their doors popping open with the same mechanical hiss.

Okara was the first to step out, stretching her arms over her head with a loud groan. "Ugh. I think I hate space travel." She stomped the ground a few times like she was testing it. "At least we didn't land in the water."

Garlik was next, stepping out with much more caution, adjusting his scouter as he scanned the area. His tail twitched slightly as his gaze landed on me. "Sir," he said, standing at attention. "What are our orders?"

Right. I was the team leader. Technically.

I crossed my arms, looking over the open landscape.

Step one: get our bearings.

Step two: find the locals.

Step three: don't get killed.

Step three was very important. If Nail was here—which he had no reason not to be—he was more than capable of wiping us out.

Diplomacy was the key here.

Simple enough.

"Make camp," I replied, then turned to Okara. "And you—keep up with our training. Help Garlik if he needs anything. I'll be back after I scout the area."

Okara immediately scowled, crossing her arms. "The hell do you mean I'm staying behind?"

I smiled, already expecting this reaction. "It means you're staying here and continuing your training," I said, adjusting my scouter. "We talked about this. As you are now, you're too weak to assist me."

To be fair, as I was now, I wasn't exactly strong enough to assist myself either. But what I needed here was diplomacy, not brute strength.

"Tch. That's bullshit." Her tail bristled behind her, her glare sharp. "You get to go off exploring, fighting and stuff, while I sit here lifting rocks? What if you run into a fight? I should be there."

I snorted. "What, so you can punch them with all the force of a gentle breeze?"

Her eye twitched, and for a second, I thought she was going to lunge at me. But she didn't. Instead, she huffed, turning away sharply. "Just wait. Once I get stronger, I'm kicking your ass."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be waiting for that."

Garlik, wisely, stayed silent through the whole exchange, though I caught him trying to hide a smirk.

I adjusted the straps of my armor and turned away. "Just stay put and train. If anything happens, I'll deal with it. And help Garlik if he needs anything."

Okara muttered something under her breath but didn't argue further.

Good enough.

With that handled, I took flight.

The first thing I noticed was the gravity.

It was much lighter than Planet Vegeta's.

I felt faster, more agile—like I had just taken off weighted gear. Every movement required less effort, and the air resistance felt almost nonexistent. It was strange, but not unpleasant.

Still, the heavier pull of Planet Vegeta felt more… natural.

Pulling up my scouter, I scanned the area, letting it lock onto any nearby energy signatures, until eventually, my scouter detected something.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

A cluster of readings appeared on the display. A village.

The power levels varied—most were low, ranging from 10 to 100, but a few stood out.

Some warriors read at 1500 and above, with the highest reaching 2517.

Those had to be the protectors of the village.

I adjusted my course, heading straight for them.

It was time to introduce myself.

I landed gently in the center of the village.

And it was exactly like I remembered from the anime—clusters of white domed houses with weird horns, Namekians moving about their daily routines, farming, working, talking.

And just like I had expected, no one looked surprised to see me.

They were already waiting.

A group of warriors stood at the front, arms crossed, their expressions wary but not outright hostile. Behind them, villagers—elders, children, healers—watched with quiet curiosity.

Of course. They knew I was coming.

They could sense ki. They probably knew I was coming the second I entered their atmosphere.

I exhaled slowly, then raised my hands in what I hoped was a non-threatening gesture.

Then, before anyone could react—

CRACK.

I grabbed my scouter and crushed it in my fist, letting the shattered remains fall to the ground.

A few Namekians exchanged glances, most of them confused.

I smiled. "That should keep others from eavesdropping."

The warriors didn't lower their guards completely, but at least they weren't immediately attacking me.

Then, from the center of the village, an elder stepped forward.

He was taller than most, but noticeable shorter than the warriors blocking my path. A dark green Namekian with a stocky build, wearing a red vest, white collar, white pants, and brown shoes.

I recognized him instantly.

Moori.

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[Nail POV]

The moment the outsider had entered Namek's atmosphere, I had known.

I had felt his energy; a foreign power, unlike anything native to our world. It wasn't massive, not in comparison to my own strength, but it was still impressive.

Too strong for comfort.

Now, standing at the edge of the village, I took in the sight before me.

The outsider was young—practically a child. But he carried himself differently than most outsiders I had encountered.

Saiyan.

There was no mistaking it. The armor, the tail wrapped loosely around his waist, the sharp eyes scanning his surroundings, taking in everything.

But something was off.

According to our elders, and their visions, Saiyans didn't come alone. They came in squads, arrogant and destructive, leaving ruin in their wake. Yet this one had arrived by himself, leaving their team behind, and instead of attacking, he had destroyed his own scouter.

I watched as Elder Moori studied the boy, his expression unreadable.

I wasn't sure what to make of this. Not yet.

But Grand Elder Guru had foreseen his arrival.

And he was waiting.

I stepped forward, making my presence known.

The young Saiyan turned to face me immediately, his body tense for a fraction of a second before he forced himself to relax. Smart. He could already tell I was stronger.

Good.

I crossed my arms. "The Grand Elder is expecting you."

The Saiyan blinked, surprised. Then, after a moment, he grinned.

That was unexpected.

I was told that Saiyans didn't smile like that—not unless they were about to fight.

And yet, there was no hostility in his stance.

Just curiosity.

Interesting.

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[Grand Elder Guru POV]

The doors to my chambers creaked open as Nail stepped inside, his usual rigid posture in place. And beside him—the outsider.

I had felt his presence long before he arrived, as I had seen his approach in my vision. Still, seeing him in person was… interesting.

A Saiyan child.

Young, yet carrying himself with an awareness far beyond his years. He wasn't like the others of his kind; not entirely. I could sense a thirst for battle within him, but no evil intent.

His sharp gaze flicked around the room before settling on me, his expression shifting from focused to outright astonished.

Then, before anyone could speak—

"Holy shit. You are big."

A moment of silence.

I turned my eyes to Nail, who had gone completely stiff. His brow twitched, his jaw clenched. He had taken offense to that comment.

I chuckled.

"I am."

The Saiyan blinked, then chuckled, his tail flicking behind him.

Nail exhaled sharply, clearly unamused.

This one… would be interesting.

"So, what is it that you want here, child?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

The Saiyan boy's expression shifted, his posture straightening as he met my gaze. There was no hesitation in his voice. "I want the Dragon Balls."

I had already known this. I had foreseen it. Yet, the reason eluded me.

I studied him carefully. His Ki did not reek of greed. There was no malice in his words, no arrogance, no demand for power or immortality.

This was… different.

I folded my hands together, voice steady. "I know this, young one. But what I do not know is… why?"

The Saiyan chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh. Yeah, uh—"

Then he said it.

"It's for Lord Beerus."

Silence.

The air in the chamber shifted. My old heart skipped a beat.

Nail stiffened beside me. Despite not knowing who this being was, he could feel the fear emanating from me.

For the first time in many, many years—a chill ran down my spine.

Lord Beerus.

The Destroyer.

The God of Destruction.

The name alone sent an ancient, primal fear through me. I had felt his presence once before, long ago, as a mere whisper in the universe. A force of nature, capable of erasing all of Namek with a flick of his wrist.

And now, I was hearing his name from a child's lips.

I pushed myself upright, my voice no longer calm.

"Nail! Gather all the Dragon Balls. Immediately!"

My son did not question me. He turned on his heel and vanished in an instant.

The Saiyan, to his credit, just blinked. "Huh. That was fast."

I closed my eyes, exhaling deeply. This was no longer about curiosity.

If Beerus the Destroyer wanted our Dragon Balls, there was no room for negotiation.

There was only compliance. Or Destruction.

The chamber was silent now. Nail had already left, moving with urgency to retrieve the Dragon Balls, leaving me alone with the young Saiyan.

He did not seem nervous. If anything, he looked slightly amused—as if my reaction had been far greater than what he had expected.

I studied him carefully. His energy was strong for his age, but it was his presence that stood out the most. There was something about him that felt… displaced.

Ancient, in a way.

Like a soul older than the body it inhabited.

Still, he was young. And blunt.

He crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. "You freaked out pretty hard back there."

I exhaled slowly. "You speak the name of a God so casually, child. Do you not understand what Lord Beerus is?"

He shrugged. "I do. That's why I'm here."

I frowned. "You claim to seek the Dragon Balls for him… but why? What does a Destroyer desire that he cannot simply take?"

The boy coughed. "A pillow…"

I blinked.

For a long moment, I simply stared at him, waiting for him to continue—to clarify.

He did not.

"…A pillow?" I repeated, voice slow, uncertain if I had misheard.

He nodded. "Yeah. The best pillow in the universe."

Silence.

I… was not sure how to respond to that.

I had feared war. Destruction. A demand for something impossible.

But this?

The boy must have noticed my expression because he sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Sounds stupid. But hear me out."

I said nothing, simply motioning for him to continue.

He sighed, his tail flicking behind him. "What's the easiest way to get the best pillow in the universe?"

I did not answer. I already knew.

The realization settled in my mind, like the final piece of a puzzle snapping into place.

Of course.

A wish.

The fastest, simplest way to please the Destroyer was to give him exactly what he wanted.

A single wish upon the Dragon Balls could create an object that fulfilled Lord Beerus' desires perfectly. No searching, no trial and error, no risk of failure.

The Destroyer would be satisfied.

And the universe in turn, would remain untouched.

I let out a deep breath, my shoulders relaxing for the first time since this conversation had begun.

This child… was clever.

He had found the safest, most efficient solution to a problem that could have ended in destruction.

And in doing so, he had spared the universe from Beerus' wrath.

"…I see," I finally said, nodding slowly. "That is… an acceptable reason."

The boy sighed. "Told you it wasn't stupid."

I gave a low chuckle, shaking my head. "No, child. It is perhaps the wisest course of action you could have taken."

"Sorry for the… scare, it can't be good for you," The child sighed.

"It is not," I replied, as I leaned back slightly, exhaling as the weight of realization settled. This child was different. Not at all what I had expected.

His presence… there was something unusual about him.

And I needed to see more.

I lifted my hand slightly, motioning him forward. "Come closer, child."

The Saiyan blinked, his tail twitching behind him. "Huh?"

I did not repeat myself. I simply extended my arm further, my large palm open.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.

I placed my hand atop his head.

And then I saw.

It was not a complete vision—not yet. But flashes of what was to come.

A journey. A path of battles, trials, growth. Strength beyond what he currently knew.

And a purpose.

He had not come to Namek only for Beerus' wish, that was just the initial push that had started this journey. Fate had pulled him here for something more.

He had come to train. To learn, to grow, to break free of his shackles.

I opened my eyes, my gaze settling on the young Saiyan before me.

"I understand now."

He looked up at me, confused. "Understand what?"

I let out a deep, knowing chuckle. "Why you are here."

This child would grow stronger beyond anything.

His potential was… massive. Were all Saiyans like him?

A vast, untapped reservoir of strength waiting to be drawn out. No—waiting to be awakened.

What little power he had now, was nothing compared to what lay dormant within him. This child... would reach heights beyond my imagination. Few in this universe were blessed with such potential for growth. It was a rarity, even among the strongest warriors.