Chapter 18: Senzu Beans

Embedded along the walls of the spiraling main corridor were golden bas-reliefs about half a meter high, vibrant and lively as if carved by the Incas themselves. These depicted scenes of ancient human interaction with nature—tilling the land with fire and hunting with spears.

Xavier noticed that the labyrinthine corridors were punctuated every few meters by resplendent golden doors, each leading to rooms behind them. Some were ordinary storage rooms, while others, like the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, were spaces enhanced by magic.

After wandering the complex maze of passageways, he finally found his way back to the entrance of the temple.

It was then that Kami, leaning on his cane, approached him.

"Xavier, there you are! Celine has already filled me in on your situation. It's hard to believe there are so many formidable beings out in the universe; by comparison, Earth really does seem insignificant," Kami said, his aged face showing a hint of helplessness.

After hearing from Master Roshi about the strength of other beings in the universe, Kami was haunted by the fear of stronger forces threatening Earth, potentially leading to widespread devastation.

Seeing Kami broach the topic, Xavier spoke plainly, "Yes, Earth's overall power is indeed quite low, probably one of the weakest planets in the cosmos."

"But you shouldn't underestimate yourselves. While individual Earthlings may not possess great strength, Earth has some advantages that other planets can't match. Your martial arts philosophies are far more advanced than those of many extraterrestrials. If you leverage your strengths well, I believe Earthlings are not necessarily weaker than others."

Xavier's words were not just to comfort Kami. The weakness of Earthlings was not a permanent state. When the Dragon Ball warriors truly rise, even pure Earthlings like Krillin would surpass most beings in the universe by far—a matter of destiny and the right opportunities.

Kami paused, a hint of surprise on his face. He hadn't expected Xavier to hold Earth's martial arts in such high regard.

"True, but the formidable warriors on Earth are few and far between," Kami sighed deeply, the weight of the truth settling in. "In recent centuries, the true martial artists of Earth have been dwindling, and those worthy of nurturing are exceedingly rare."

The martial arts schools of the Turtle Hermit and Crane Hermit were renowned across the world, but a generational gap in young martial artists had emerged, creating a perilous gap in readiness—particularly with the ever-present threat of alien invasions looming over Earth.

Realizing Earth's precarious situation, Kami began devising ways to enhance the power of Earthlings.

"By the way, I heard that you possess many mystical powers, Kami. I need your assistance with something!" Xavier suddenly exclaimed with a grin.

"I do know a bit of magic. What do you need help with?" Kami asked curiously, seeing no issue with Xavier seeking his aid.

In the universe, a jungle law grants the powerful excessive privileges—like the weak serving the strong—a natural and obvious order, isn't it?

Xavier turned, and a brown, furry tail detached from his waist, swaying in midair. Since severing it under the full moon on Planet Selma, it had regrown over the months.

"This is our Saiyan tail. I hope to use your powers to prevent it from growing back," Xavier explained.

Kami, having never seen a human with a tail before, stared intently at it, musing that it might be a racial trait of the Saiyans. Just then, an image of a massive, roaring Great Ape burst into his mind, overwhelming him with a brutal, savage aura that battered his spirit.

Kami’s eyes widened in horror as he quickly averted his gaze.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he confessed, feeling shaken, "That was a terrifying psychic assault. What in the world was that Great Ape, and that ominous aura almost tore my spirit apart."

"First, sever the tail, and then I will cast a spell to ensure it cannot regrow."

"Okay!"

Xavier nodded and, cooperating fully, concentrated to form a Ki Blade, slicing off the tail with a single stroke. Blood dripped from the fresh wound.

Kami, impressed by Xavier's decisiveness, nodded in approval. He then extended his arm from his white robe, fingers poised, chanting an incantation. A glimmer of radiant light flickered briefly before flying towards Xavier's wound.

The magic enveloped Xavier, a warm, soothing sensation permeating his flesh as flickering emerald halos of light danced, gradually dimming until they vanished completely. The wound on his posterior healed swiftly.

After stretching and moving around a bit, Xavier immediately noticed a difference. He was amazed to find that, without his Saiyan tail, his control had slightly improved.

"Thank you, Kami. If Earth ever faces any trouble, just let me know, and I will certainly come to help," Xavier promised generously. Whether he could fulfill this promise depended on whether he was on Earth at the time, but he knew that at least until the start of Dragon Ball Z, Earth would face no major threats. After that, he reckoned Goku and the others would have grown stronger.

Kami, unaware of these future events, simply smiled at receiving Xavier's promise.

"We might need your help again in the future."

The two had quietly made a beneficial exchange. Xavier eliminated the potential instability his tail could cause, and Kami secured a promise of assistance should Earth face any threats, a perfect mutual benefit.

After chatting for a bit more about training, Xavier raised several questions, to which Kami responded knowledgeably. While Kami was not as powerful as Mr. Popo, his vast understanding of martial arts far exceeded Xavier's, providing him with invaluable insights.

Enlightened by Kami's guidance, Xavier felt as if many of his previous doubts had been cleared.

As the day wore on, knowing there was still time before Celine and the others would emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Xavier decided to leave the lookout and flew straight to the top of Korin Tower.

His goal was to obtain Earth's healing wonder, the Senzu Beans, from Korin. Although he had been busy with his training and had not previously requested the beans from Korin, obtaining them was now a priority. The combination of a Saiyan's physiology and the healing properties of Senzu Beans was something he eagerly anticipated.

Atop Korin Tower, on its flat, spherical top, Korin lay leisurely on a lounge chair, resting. Suddenly, he sensed a powerful energy approaching and opened his eyes to see Xavier already standing in front of him.

Korin yawned, stretching as he got up from the chair, and asked with a casual tone, "Xavier, aren’t you supposed to be training up there? What brings you down here?"

After spending several days together, Korin felt he had gotten to know Xavier's character quite well and spoke in an easygoing manner.

Xavier got straight to the point: "Korin, I heard you have something called Senzu Beans here. Could I have some?"

"Senzu Beans?" Korin's half-closed eyes opened slightly, nodding nonchalantly, "Yes, I have those. Eating one can keep you full for ten days. I can give you some if you'd like."

"Hold on, let me find them. I remember putting them around here somewhere."

Korin started rummaging through his belongings, overturning boxes and sifting through various items, until finally, he pulled out five sealed earthenware jars from the back, each labeled with the red characters for "Senzu." Upon opening them, they indeed contained dried, vibrant green beans.