Vegeta kept his gaze fixed on the sky, the tension in the air thickening with every passing second. He knew his enemy was close. His sharp eyes caught the first sign of movement—a streak of purple cutting through the green-tinted sky. The newcomer was fast, but Vegeta's senses were sharper. In a blink, a purple-skinned alien in armor appeared before him, dashing forward with a powerful punch aimed directly at the Saiyan prince.
But Vegeta was already a step ahead. With a swift leap, he evaded the attack, landing gracefully behind his opponent, his feet barely touching the ground before he turned to face him.
"Hello, Vegeta," the alien said, his voice dripping with false camaraderie as he turned to meet Vegeta's gaze.
A smirk tugged at Vegeta's lips. "Well, hello, Cui."
Cui straightened, a smile playing on his lips as well, but his eyes betrayed a dangerous gleam. "There's still time, Vegeta. Surrender now, and perhaps I'll let you live."
Vegeta's expression darkened as he spat dismissively to the side. "I'm through taking orders."
Cui's smile faltered, an eyebrow arching in disbelief. "You plan to rebel against Lord Frieza? That's a death wish."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, his voice cold and resolute. "Maybe. But NOT today."
Cui threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing across the barren landscape. "I've waited years for this moment—to finally wipe that smug look off your face. I can't believe my luck."
But Vegeta's smirk only deepened. Cui had no idea what he was up against. With a casual flick of his index finger, Vegeta taunted Cui, silently daring him to make the next move.
Cui's grin twisted into a snarl as he charged his hands with a crackling blue energy, launching a powerful ki beam straight at Vegeta. But the prince of Saiyans moved with effortless grace, leaping high into the air, the beam passing harmlessly beneath him.
Cui, enraged, shot forward at full speed, his fists clenched, ready to strike. But as he swung, Vegeta was already gone, slipping past the attack with ease. The prince's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. In an instant, Vegeta pulled back his fist, channeling his power into a single, devastating punch that connected with Cui's abdomen. The impact was brutal—the armor buckled under Vegeta's strength, and Cui doubled over in pain, his breath knocked out of him.
Without hesitation, Vegeta brought his fists together and hammered them down onto Cui's back, sending the purple-skinned alien crashing into the ground with bone-shattering force. Dust and debris flew into the air as Cui hit the ground.
Cui's body trembled as he struggled to stand. His legs shook, barely able to support his weight.
Vegeta chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with contempt. "If only you'd bothered to check your scouter, you'd know what you're up against."
Yajirobe, who had been watching from a distance, stared in awe. Whoever this Cui guy was, he was clearly no match for Vegeta. The sheer difference in their power was staggering.
Behind the rock, Krillin and Yamcha watched the battle unfold, their teeth clenched in disbelief. Vegeta had grown so much stronger - stronger than they could have imagined.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Frieza reclined lazily in his hoverchair, a sinister smirk playing on his lips. The air around him crackled with unspoken menace as Zarbon and Dodoria flanked him, their eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation. Before them, a group of Namekian elders stood resolute, though their expressions betrayed their growing fear.
"Now," Frieza drawled, his voice deceptively calm, "I am getting tired of repeating myself. Where is the Ragon mine located?"
The oldest of the Namekians, his weathered face stoic, met Frieza's gaze with an air of defiance. "What are you talking about? ...Bagon? We grow Bagon in our farms. You expect to find it in a mine?"
Frieza's smile widened, though his eyes remained cold and unamused. "Dodoria," he commanded softly.
Without hesitation, Dodoria stepped forward, his hulking frame casting a shadow over the elder. In one brutal motion, his head collided with the elder's, the sickening SPLACK echoing through the air. The old Namekian gasped, his body crumpling to the ground as blood oozed from the fresh wound on his forehead.
From a distance, the yells of younger Namekians reached them, growing louder until a group of warriors landed between Frieza's forces and their fallen elder.
"You," one of the young warriors snarled, glaring at Dodoria with fiery determination. "You are going to be beaten into Bagon pulp. You hear me?"
Dodoria's lips curled into a sneer, his amusement palpable. "Hahaha! I would like you to try."
With a growl, the young Namekian clenched his fists. "I'll turn you black and blue, just like those purple lips of yours!"
Dodoria's laughter boomed across the plains. "My lips aren't purple," he said mockingly, "I color them to improve my looks."
The young Namekians roared as they charged, their battle cries filled with righteous fury.
But they were no match.
In a flurry of brutal strikes—BAM! THACK! SMACK!—the Namekian warriors were cut down, their bodies lying motionless on the blue grass. Dodoria wiped a speck of blood from his lips, his smirk deepening as he surveyed his handiwork.
The remaining elders watched in horror, their hope shattered, as Frieza's sadistic grin widened. "Maybe killing the children will make them talk," he mused, his tone as casual as discussing the weather.
Zarbon's eyes gleamed with sadistic delight. "I agree."
Dodoria cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing ominously. The terrified cries of the children pierced the air as the brutish henchman began his slow, deliberate approach.
"Stop!" an elder suddenly cried out, his voice laced with desperation. He pointed toward a distant mountain range, his hand trembling. "There! You can search for the Ragon mine there...now leave us alone."
The elder beside him shot a look of betrayal. "Why would you tell him?"
The elder who had spoken first lowered his gaze, his voice heavy with resignation. "We have no choice." He hated himself for doing this, but he couldn't see the children suffer, he just couldn't.
Frieza's face brightened, his faux charm on full display. "Oh, thank you so much."
The defiant elder spat on the ground, his anger barely contained. "You are not welcome."
Frieza's expression turned icy, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Oh. How rude... Couldn't one of you please accompany us to help find the exact location?"
Reluctantly, the elder nodded. He gestured to a middle-aged Namekian among them. "Duffa, go help them."
Duffa stepped forward, his posture stiff with disgust, yet he knew he couldn't refuse. "Follow me," he said curtly, before launching into the air with a burst of speed.
Frieza waved a dismissive hand. "All of you, go accompany him while I relax at my ship." His voice dripped with condescension. As he closed his eyes, he chuckled darkly, "Legendary warriors...really? I have encountered no one but worms on this planet so far."
Zarbon's lip curled into a smirk. "The rumors turned out to be just rumors after all."
Hovering above, Duffa looked back impatiently. "Are you guys gonna come, or what?" he snapped, his tone dripping with contempt.
Dodoria's eyes narrowed in irritation, his gaze locking onto the middle-aged Namekian.
Frieza didn't even bother looking up. "All of you, go with this green gentleman. Report to the ship after you find my Ragon mine," he ordered, his voice brooking no disobedience.
"Yes, Lord Frieza," the soldiers responded in unison, their voices tinged with fearful reverence.
As they took to the sky, the elder's gaze followed them, a mix of sorrow and anger burning in his heart.
... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cui's entire body trembled with fear as his scouter beeped frantically, displaying a power level that was far beyond what he had expected. His voice quivered, barely above a whisper. "No, it can't be you. It must be someone else!"
Across from him, Vegeta's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. A quiet, menacing laugh escaped his lips as he savored the sheer terror on Cui's face. "Oh, it's me, Cui," Vegeta said, his tone dripping with mockery. "What's the matter? You seem... in disbelief."
Panic seized Cui's heart. He spun around and bolted, his legs moving faster than his mind could process. Fear had taken over, driving him to flee without a second thought.
Vegeta's laughter stopped abruptly, his expression hardening into one of cold disdain. "Pathetic," he muttered to himself. A coward like Cui wasn't worth the effort. With a calm, almost bored expression, Vegeta raised his arm, channeling energy into his palm. A brilliant blue ki blast formed, crackling with deadly power.
DISHOO!
The blast cut through the air with a shrill whistle, slamming into Cui's back before he could even scream. The explosion sent up a thick cloud of smoke and dust. When it cleared, Cui's body lay crumpled on the ground, looking lifeless and charred.
Vegeta chuckled darkly, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he gazed down at his fallen foe. "So long, Cui," he said, his voice laced with derision.
Yamcha watched the scene unfold in stunned silence, his eyes wide with disbelief. "A single attack...," he muttered, the words barely escaping his lips.
Krillin stood beside him, his jaw hanging open, unable to tear his gaze away from the grisly sight. "...was all it took," he added, finishing Yamcha's sentence, his voice tinged with nervous awe.
Nearby, Yajirobe's eyes were wide as saucers, his usual bravado replaced by a deep sense of unease. He had witnessed Vegeta's ruthlessness before, but seeing it up close was something else entirely.
...
As Frieza flew towards his spaceship in his hoverchair, the scouter on his face let out a sharp beep. He glanced at it, noticing Cui's power level had vanished from the display. A small, contemptuous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Foolish monkey," Frieza sneered to himself. "He actually believes he can get away with this."
...
Meanwhile, Vegeta's expression turned serious as he pressed a button on his own scouter. It was time to set his true plan in motion.
...
Elsewhere on Namek, Zarbon and Dodoria were overseeing the forced labor of the Namekians when both of their scouters pinged simultaneously. They exchanged glances, reading the incoming message with furrowed brows.
Zarbon's lips curled into a faint smirk, a hint of surprise flickering in his usually stoic eyes. "So Vegeta thinks he has the wealth to turn us against Lord Frieza? How... interesting."
Dodoria scratched his head, his brutish face contorted in confusion. "I dunno what he's up to, but let's go find out."
...
Back behind the rock, Krillin and Yamcha remained hidden, watching the scene unfold with mounting anxiety.
Krillin clenched his fists in frustration, whispering under his breath. "Come on, Vegeta, just leave already... Go and relieve yourself or something."
Yamcha shook his head, his voice low and tense. "No chance. He's not gonna leave Yajirobe alone for even a second."
. . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Far away from all the chaos on Namek...
Goku and Tien sat at the dining table, the warm afternoon light streaming through the windows as they shared a hearty lunch. The clinking of chopsticks against bowls and the aroma of home-cooked food filled the air.
Tien glanced at his old rival, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "So, Goku," he began, breaking the comfortable silence, "what did you and Chichi name the baby boy?"
Goku, in his usual fashion, was mid-bite, his mouth full of food as he replied. "Well, I wanted to name him Goku Junior," he said, his voice slightly muffled, "but Chichi wasn't too keen on that. After some back and forth, we settled on Goten."
Tien's smile widened as he leaned back in his chair. "Goten, huh? That's a nice name. What does it mean?"
Goku paused, looking thoughtful for a moment before shrugging casually. "I don't really know," he admitted, still chewing.
'Of course,' Tien thought with a chuckle, shaking his head slightly. Expecting Goku to know the meaning of his own son's name was probably asking a bit too much.
By now, Tien had finished his lunch, his plate empty in front of him. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked over at Goku, who was still enthusiastically devouring his meal. "Hurry up, Goku," he urged, though there was no real rush in his tone. "We've got to visit Korin and Khami, remember?"
Goku nodded vigorously, not missing a beat as he continued to shovel food into his mouth. "Yeah, yeah, I remember," he mumbled between mouthfuls, his words barely discernible but full of his unmistakable enthusiasm.
.... . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vegeta and Yajirobe stood in tense silence, the air around them thick with anticipation. Vegeta's lips curled into a sinister smile as his scouter beeped again, displaying a new message. "They're coming," he murmured, more to himself than to Yajirobe.
Yajirobe blinked, glancing nervously at the prince. "Who's coming?"
Vegeta didn't bother to answer, his mind too preoccupied with the intricate web of plans he had set into motion. A low, confident chuckle escaped him, the sound filled with dark satisfaction. His plan was working perfectly, and even if Zarbon and Dodoria tried to double-cross him, he was confident that his newly acquired strength would allow him to crush them both without breaking a sweat.
...
Krillin and Yamcha crouched low behind the rock, their breaths shallow and hearts pounding in their chests. The tension was palpable as they kept their eyes trained on Yajirobe, hoping he would just move a little closer, just enough for them to make their move.
The oppressive stillness was suddenly shattered as they felt it: a pair of power levels rapidly approaching, their sheer intensity making the earlier one seem almost insignificant by comparison.
Krillin's hands trembled slightly as he exchanged a nervous glance with Yamcha. "How many of these monstrous power levels are on this planet?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own racing heartbeat. Yamcha clenched his fists, his eyes widening as he tried to steady his nerves.
...
Meanwhile, Vegeta stood alone in the open, his eyes fixed on the horizon. A smirk played on his lips as he sensed the incoming power levels closing in. The anticipation sent a thrill down his spine. Soon, two figures descended from the sky, their powerful auras dissipating as they touched down in front of him.
The atmosphere grew electric as Vegeta's smirk widened into a grin.
To be continued...