Trunks sprang backward, staring at the guy in shock.
So they could inject some kind of drug to trigger a Super Saiyan transformation and the boost was dozens of times stronger than before.
Shhk shhk shhk!
The remaining Saiyans didn't waste the opening. One after another, they jabbed the syringes into themselves. Golden auras erupted in succession.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The Frieza Force soldiers' scouters screamed with shrill alarms. The numbers on the screens shot up into the tens of millions.
"T-This… uh… their strength is far beyond what we can handle."
The next second, the soldiers scattered like frightened birds.
"Forget crowd control staying alive is what matters…"
"I'll admit you're strong. Stronger than we expected." The lead Saiyan bared his teeth in a grin. "I wasn't planning to make a big scene. If we accidentally destroy this planet, we'd get punished. But…"
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"If I end you instantly, it won't be a problem right?"
Before the last word even landed, his fist flashed out like lightning and slammed into Trunks's forehead.
Boom!
The shockwave exploded outward, blasting everything off the ground. Even the stone tiles beneath their feet shattered into fragments.
"Huh?" The lead Saiyan stiffened, his pupils shrinking.
Trunks hadn't moved an inch.
And a golden aura now wrapped around him as well.
"How is that possible? You're… you're a Saiyan too?!"
"Hmph." Trunks slowly raised his head. Cold light burst from his eyes.
Bang bang bang!
A knee strike dropped the leader. Then Trunks drove a flurry of punches, smashing the remaining four into the floor as well.
The five Saiyans lay there, faces twisted in disbelief.
They finally understood.
They'd kicked a steel plate.
"There are no surviving Saiyans like you!" the leader roared. "Who the hell are you?!"
"My name is Trunks."
"Trunks… Trunks?"
"Never heard of it. That's not even a Saiyan name!"
"Why… why can people from this planet use our transformation?!"
Trunks frowned. "I was born on Earth. I have half Saiyan blood."
The leader's breath hitched. "Then what are you? Who's your father?!"
"Father?" Trunks narrowed his eyes. "He died not long after I was born. His name was… Vegeta."
"Vegeta… Vegeta? V-Vegeta!" The leader jolted as if struck by lightning. "Don't tell me… don't tell me your father was Prince Vegeta?!"
"That's right."
Instantly, the Saiyans' expressions flipped into uncontrollable excitement.
"So the blood of royalty runs in you…"
"This is wonderful!"
The leader stared at Trunks with feverish eyes.
"Lord Trunks if your uncle, His Majesty Tarble, learns you're alive, he'll be overjoyed!"
"His Majesty Tarble? My uncle?" Trunks repeated, stunned.
He barely had any memory of his own father, Vegeta let alone some uncle who'd appeared out of nowhere.
"That's right!" the leader said quickly. "Back then, because his battle power was too low, King Vegeta III exiled him so he survived. Later, with Lord Paragus's help, he rebuilt everything…"
The leader gave a condensed version of the Saiyan Empire's history.
"So…" Trunks still couldn't quite believe it. "The ruler of the empire is my uncle?"
"Yes! And His Majesty Tarble is gravely ill and has no heir." The leader swallowed, then pressed on. "If you return, you'll be first in line. It might not even take long before you become the new king."
"I'm not interested in ruling. And I can't accept Saiyan values." Trunks's brow furrowed deeply. "I've heard… that in the last few decades, you've done nothing but evil invading and destroying countless planets."
The leader studied Trunks's expression carefully. "That's Frieza Force propaganda, isn't it?"
"The truth is, we've developed the empire step by step through honest interstellar trade."
"And Frieza's army violent, vile coveted our planet and our wealth. They've been smearing us everywhere."
Trunks froze.
What the Saiyan described was completely different from what he'd known.
Mr. Levos seemed to have tacitly accepted a three-way cooperation with the Frieza Force and Cooler's faction.
And when Earth fell into crisis, Frieza had contributed a lot later he'd even been chosen as a teammate…
Doubts churned in Trunks's chest.
After thinking it over, he decided there was one way to find the truth.
Infiltrate the empire and learn what was really going on.
In that sense, their invitation wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Of course, Earth's safety still came first.
"I'll go back and meet my uncle," Trunks said at last. "But you will stop any actions against Earth."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The leader exhaled in relief staying alive was the priority.
The other Saiyans loosened up as well.
"We've already reported the situation to headquarters." The leader hurried to add, respectful now. "They take it very seriously. A ship has been dispatched to pick you up. It'll arrive any moment please wait a little while."
While they waited, Earth's warriors learned that Trunks was about to leave, and they rushed over one after another to talk him out of it.
"Trunks, you should wait until Levos returns," Tien said grimly. "We know nothing about this Saiyan Empire. It could be dangerous."
Trunks shook his head slowly. "This is different. The ruler is my uncle. His attitude represents the empire's decisions. I need answers and fast. And I'm worried about his condition."
"Going alone is too risky." Bulma's face was full of anxiety.
"Exactly. If it's an organization even Cooler couldn't deal with, there have to be monsters in there."
"I don't think it'll be dangerous," Krillin said, stroking his chin. "Your identity is right there. You might even get a grand welcome! How about… we all go? Treat it like a trip."
"No, Mr. Krillin," someone immediately objected. "Someone has to stay and guard Earth!"
"Then…" Master Roshi suggested, "we split into two groups. One stays on Earth, the other goes to support Trunks."
"That works."
After discussion, they decided Da Wa and Ginyu would accompany Trunks as protection.
They also brought along Krillin, Master Roshi, and Oolong who were clearly more excited about "tourism" than anything else.
Yajirobe wanted to go too, but Korin freshly returned to Karin Tower dragged him back to grow senzu beans.
"Aren't you going too, Gohan?" everyone asked, surprised.
Gohan nodded once. "No."
Everyone had expected that. These days, Gohan practically lived in the gravity room, determined to fully master Super Saiyan 4 before Piccolo returned.
With a serious expression, Gohan promised, "Trunks once I break through, I'll come find you right away."
"Yeah! Gohan!" Trunks nodded firmly.
There was no sadness in this farewell.
Master Roshi and the others looked forward to the stories the journey might bring.
"In an empire that big," Master Roshi mused, eyes sparkling, "there have to be tons of cute girls, right?"
"Yeah! Definitely!" Krillin pumped his fist, thrilled.
Oolong's eyes shone. "Then have Trunks arrange a few for us!"
"Yamcha not going is crazy," someone said. "He'll regret it later."
Trunks's mouth twitched. He didn't even know what to say.
Before long, a massive egg-shaped spaceship descended slowly.
The hatch opened. Soldiers wearing full-coverage helmets poured out in formation, lining both sides.
"Welcome home, Prince!"
After saying their goodbyes, Trunks boarded the ship under the soldiers' escort.
Krillin and the others hesitated, staring at the murderous-looking troops.
Just as the hatch was about to close, one soldier snorted impatiently.
"If you're cowards, don't bother coming!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, you like the story? Wow, who knew. Go ahead, drop a review and throw some power stones maybe I'll be motivated to keep going.
"Want to stay ahead of the game?Advanced chapters are up on my Patron. If you're enjoying the ride, swing by and check them out."
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"