Should Dragon Ball Finally Explore the Ancient Past?
From the first wish ever made to the origins of the Kais — it’s time to dive into the mythic beginnings of the Dragon Ball universe.
Why the Past Still Matters in a Series About the Future
I’ve always been fascinated by how big the universe has gotten. We’ve got multiverses, time travel, gods, angels, mortals with divine power, and dragons that can bend reality. And yet... so much of the origin of it all remains a mystery.
That’s why I find myself asking: Why hasn’t Dragon Ball ever truly explored its ancient past? I’m talking way back — the very first wish ever made, the beginning of the Kais, how the Gods of Destruction came to be, and who truly created the Dragon Balls. With a franchise this massive, there’s no excuse to keep skipping over the foundation that started it all.
The First Wish: A Moment That Changed Everything
We all know the Dragon Balls are the backbone of the series. They’ve saved the Z Fighters, revived entire planets, and been used for everything from cosmetic changes to universal resets. But let’s back up. Who made the first wish ever? And what was it?
Was it for power? Revenge? Redemption? That moment could’ve set the tone for how Dragon Balls are perceived across time and space. It could also answer why they require a dragon, why certain wishes are restricted, or what toll is taken on the universe when these wishes are made.
A flashback arc or even a mini-series about the first person to summon Shenron — or even Super Shenron — would be incredible. Imagine watching that wish unfold and seeing the consequences ripple across history, maybe even planting the seeds of imbalance that would one day give rise to the Gods of Destruction.
Where Did the Kais Come From, Really?
The Kais are supposed to be gods of creation — the counterpart to the Destroyers. But let’s be real: they often act more like high-level babysitters or commentators than divine architects. Outside of brief mentions, we know shockingly littleabout their true origin.
What if there was a time where the Kais were mortals themselves? Or better yet — what if there were warring factions of Kais? Maybe not all of them agreed on how creation should function. That would open up so many storytelling possibilities. We could get rivalries, betrayals, even ancient divine wars that mirror the multiverse tournaments we see today.
Seeing a young Grand Supreme Kai, or even the first Kaioshin ever born, would expand our understanding of balance, creation, and morality in the Dragon Ball universe.
The Birth of the Gods of Destruction: Power With a Purpose?
I have so many questions about the Gods of Destruction. Why were they chosen? Were they mortals once, like Belmod or Toppo hinted at? Who created the position itself? And how did beings like Zeno and the Grand Priest come into play?
This is prime storytelling material. We’ve already seen the multiverse system and the Tournament of Power, but none of that means anything if we don’t understand why those roles exist.
A prequel arc that focuses on the very first God of Destruction — and how the role was created — could give us powerful insights into the morality (or lack thereof) behind destruction as a universal function. Was it a necessary evil? A punishment? A divine experiment?
The idea that Goku and Vegeta might one day inherit these roles hits different when you understand the legacy of those who came before.
Dragons, Magic, and the Makers of the Dragon Balls
We know Namekians created the Dragon Balls. But where did that knowledge come from? What if that magic was passed down from a higher source — or worse, stolen?
The Namekian lore got a nice boost in Dragon Ball Super with the introduction of Monaito and Toronbo on Planet Cereal. But imagine going further back. Like ancient times when the first Namekians discovered how to manipulate wish-granting energy.
What if the dragons themselves are echoes of ancient deities? Maybe Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron are modeled after real divine beings that once roamed the cosmos. Their personalities, their limitations, their power tiers — it could all be explained by their origins.
There’s a certain magic that comes from mystery, yes. But in a story where dragons literally grant wishes, I think it’s time to tap deeper into the magic system and spiritual legacy behind them.
Why Fans Would Actually Care About This
I get it — not everyone is into lore-heavy storytelling. But Dragon Ball has always had a bigger world than it gives itself credit for. And trust me, fans do care. The success of the Granolah arc, with its connections to Bardock and the Saiyan past, proved that backstory matters. It gives weight to the present.
If we can spend 30+ chapters building up Cell Max or the Gammas, surely we can dedicate one arc — just one — to exploring the origin of the cosmos we’ve been watching for decades.
A “Mythos Arc,” if you will. Something that starts at the beginning of time and shows how everything came to be. The fans who’ve stuck around for this long deserve it. And it would add a new kind of depth that could energize the series for years.
Final Thoughts: The Past is the Key to Dragon Ball’s Future
At this point, Dragon Ball has done almost everything. Time travel. Parallel universes. Power levels beyond reason. But what it hasn’t done is slow down and look back. And I think that’s the missing piece.
Exploring the ancient past — the first wish, the original Kais, the purpose behind the Gods of Destruction — wouldn’t just be “cool lore.” It would give everything we’ve seen so far a stronger foundation. It would make characters like Goku, Vegeta, Beerus, and even Zeno feel more connected to a legacy.
It’s not about who can punch the hardest anymore. It’s about what that power means. Where it comes from. And what happens when that power runs unchecked.
So yes, I believe Dragon Ball should explore its ancient past. Not to dwell in nostalgia, but to give this ever-expanding universe the roots it needs to keep growing. Let the next arc be a return to the beginning — because sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that started it all.
This is the one I've been waiting for I have always wanted to know the back stories about the characters of the DBZ universe I wish Shueisha would give Toyotarou the freedom to make more one shots because we could there's so many stories about dragonBall Lore I've always wanted to know more about frieza's past king cold kami Majin Buu and the grand supreme kai I could go on but you understand my point like you said we need more lore and they have the opportunity to do it but I just don't know if they'll ever capitalize on it but just like you I'm fascinated with all the lore in the dragonBall universe I think it would be a missed opportunity if we at least don't get a couple of stories hopefully we'll get something one day 🤞🏿