When Zarbon stopped in midair, Bulma's lips trembled. "Who is that? He's so handsome… could he be some kind of righteous savior?"
Zarbon folded his arms, suddenly feeling like he'd been pulled back from the brink. He'd thought he was at a dead end, but not only had he run into Vegeta, he'd also stumbled onto a few Earthlings of unknown origin.
And even better…
They were holding Dragon Balls.
Creed said calmly, "At a time like this, you really shouldn't judge people by their looks."
Goku originally planned for him and Creed to each take one opponent, but Creed stopped him. Goku didn't understand why until the situation shifted.
Vegeta didn't even look at them. Instead, he turned to face Zarbon, who had just arrived.
Zarbon's expression darkened as he spoke slowly. "You're really looking down on me, Vegeta. So this is it your group are accomplices."
"That doesn't matter. Vegeta, where did you hide the remaining five Dragon Balls? I want you to confess everything in front of Lord Frieza."
"If you've got the guts, then try it." Vegeta crooked his fingers, sneering. "Come on hurry up and transform. Without completing that ugly transformation of yours, there's no way you can beat me."
The moment he heard that, Zarbon's brows furrowed. He gritted his teeth and said, "Vegeta, what you just said is the greatest insult to me. You've really angered me."
"But don't worry, Lord Frieza wants you captured alive."
Right now, Vegeta felt no fear at all. He was full of confidence.
Every time a Saiyan survived a near-death experience, their power rose dramatically. Even if Zarbon transformed, Vegeta believed he could still defeat him.
But this time, Zarbon didn't transform.
He charged straight in.
Because of Frieza's warning, he fought like his life depended on it. And because Vegeta didn't take his untransformed state seriously, he made a mistake—his kick missed.
Vegeta shot up into the sky and unleashed a barrage of Energy Waves, but Zarbon was even faster. He flashed behind Vegeta and drove a fist into his face.
Goku wanted to join in, but he didn't know which side he was supposed to help.
Still, Zarbon without transforming couldn't keep up forever. After Vegeta recovered from the surprise, he launched a fierce counterattack, his speed climbing higher and higher until he finally kicked Zarbon back down to the ground.
Zarbon hated transforming because the form was too ugly.
But then he remembered Frieza-sama's words: if he didn't bring Vegeta back within an hour, he'd be executed.
With no choice left, Zarbon gathered ki and transformed into that grotesque shape.
Bulma went pale, too scared to speak. She never imagined someone so handsome could turn into something that ugly so she immediately concluded he definitely wasn't a good guy.
"Vegeta! In this world, the only person who's seen me transform twice… is you!"
Zarbon had thought he'd end it easily, but he underestimated Vegeta after his "revival" boost.
Every time Zarbon tried to close in for hand-to-hand combat, Vegeta's Energy Waves forced him back. When Zarbon finally found an opening and smashed Vegeta down to the ground, he tried to dive after him and keep pounding
—but Vegeta sprang up like he hadn't taken much damage at all, rocketing back into the sky.
Zarbon was running out of time. If he didn't deliver Vegeta within the time limit, Lord Frieza would kill him.
The more anxious he became, the more recklessly he chased. And in that state, it was easy to slip up.
Vegeta watched him with a mocking grin, opened his clenched hand, and flicked a handful of sand and grit off the ground, letting the wind carry it straight into Zarbon's eyes.
Pain exploded in his eyes. He couldn't see the figure in front of him anymore. By instinct, he stopped and rubbed at them.
The instant Zarbon did that, Vegeta flashed behind him and slammed a heavy punch into his back, blasting through his battle suit.
Then came another crushing blow sending Zarbon falling like a cannonball into the lake below, throwing up a huge spray.
Since Vegeta had already experienced how strong Zarbon was after transforming, he didn't give him any room to breathe.
He raised both hands and fired countless white Energy Waves down into the lake, churning the water into chaos.
But Zarbon burst out of the lake almost immediately.
They clashed again in midair, neither gaining a clear advantage. To conserve stamina, they both dropped back to the ground and pulled apart, searching for the next opening.
Vegeta sneered. "Zarbon, looks like that hit really got to you. Your strength and stamina have dropped a lot. Seems your end is close."
"Don't make me laugh!" Zarbon shouted. "My battle power is way higher than yours!"
Vegeta's mouth curled. "You really don't understand Saiyans. Healing me when I was on the brink of death, that was your biggest mistake."
"When we're pushed into desperation, we can raise our power to the highest realm."
Zarbon finally snapped. He roared and charged in.
Under the blur of fists and kicks, their movements suddenly froze
Vegeta's fist drove into Zarbon's stomach, and Zarbon's body went limp. Green fluid spilled continuously from his mouth as he lost the ability to move.
"Vegeta…" Zarbon rasped, barely forcing the words out. "I was only carrying out Lord Frieza's orders… spare me."
"If we team up, we can definitely defeat Frieza."
Vegeta gritted his teeth. A pale-blue Energy Wave pierced straight through Zarbon's body.
He sneered. "If teaming up was enough to beat Frieza, I wouldn't have to struggle this hard."
When Vegeta turned his head
Bulma and the others were already gone, Dragon Ball in hand, and he didn't even know where they'd run off to.
Meanwhile…
Frieza stared at the spaceship, now blasted with a massive hole, his mood growing worse by the second. Three subordinates stood behind him, trembling, barely daring to breathe.
"Too slow."
Frieza folded his arms, expression dark. "It's already been three hours. What exactly is Zarbon doing? If he hasn't returned, then he either ran… or he was killed."
"If I'd known it would come to this, I should've summoned the Ginyu Force from the start."
Hearing him speak, the blond-haired soldier hurriedly stood at attention and stammered, "A-about that, according to intel from the base, the Ginyu Force has already finished preparing to depart…"
"Is that so?" Frieza smiled. "What I've been waiting for has finally arrived."
"And also… I don't need a cowardly subordinate like you anymore."
"Disappear."
The moment he finished speaking, the blond-haired soldier was blown into fragments.
(End of Chapter)
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