Boom!
Cooler slammed into the ground. His whole body twitched a few times, and it was clear he wasn't going to make it.
"Cooler!" Frieza rushed over and dropped to his side.
Cooler lifted a shaking hand. Blood ran from his mouth. His eyes were unfocused, but the refusal to accept it was still there.
"Frieza… avenge me…" He forced those words out, his head tipped to the side, and he died.
Frieza's jaw tightened.
Goku: "..."
"Sorry. I didn't realise I'd gotten this strong. I only meant to stop him. I didn't mean to kill him." Goku let out a quiet breath.
"Kakarot, you bastard! Are you trying to humiliate him on top of killing him?" Even Vegeta couldn't stand listening.
"Huh? Who was that guy?" Krillin blinked and asked. "The one Goku killed… was that Frieza's brother?"
"Cooler is dead! That brother of mine who used to bully me—he got punched to death by you!" Frieza's eyes turned cold. "I don't like my brother. Not even a little. But I'll avenge him!"
As soon as he said it, the flame-like aura around Goku broke apart and vanished.
Goku drew a deep breath. Golden light burst out, and he returned to Super Saiyan.
His Super Saiyan God power had already been burned clean when he finished Cooler. Now he could only fight as a Super Saiyan.
"Same as you, I don't like my brother either." Goku answered seriously. "He even tried to kill my kid."
"Stop talking like you're above me!" Frieza snapped. "Gold or red, it's all the same in front of me! I've seen the universe for over twenty years! I've met every kind of human there is! How could I lose to you?!"
Snap!
Frieza spun and threw out his arm, palm aimed straight at Goku.
Boom!
A huge blast surged out and swallowed Goku's position.
When the smoke thinned, Goku hovered in the air unharmed, eyes fixed on Frieza.
Frieza froze.
"You're the one who killed Krillin. I'm not letting you off." Goku's voice dropped.
"Goku…!" Krillin choked up, tears streaming.
"Hmph!" Frieza snorted.
Snap!
Goku raised his hand and aimed at Frieza from a distance.
Frieza's eyes shifted.
Boom!
A ki blast slammed into him.
Frieza spun through the air, tumbling hundreds of times until he could barely keep his balance.
When he finally steadied himself, his face was twisted with anger.
My brother died, not yours! And now you're the one beating on me?!
Damn Saiyan!
Frieza panted hard, fury burning in his eyes.
If looks could kill, Goku would've been dead a hundred times over.
Goku, on the other hand, looked eager. He blurred forward, appeared right in front of Frieza, and drove an elbow into him.
Frieza took the hit and rolled once through the air, teeth bared as he stabilised.
The instant he steadied himself, Goku snapped an uppercut and punched him higher.
Goku shot up after him and slammed his forehead into Frieza's lower back.
Frieza yelped, forced his body straight, and kicked at Goku.
Goku raised an arm and blocked it.
"AAAGH!" Frieza roared, speeding up and throwing heavier strikes.
Goku stopped them easily.
Seeing he couldn't gain anything, Frieza jumped back and opened distance.
"You bastard!" Frieza shouted.
"Can't win, so you start cursing?" Goku said flatly.
"Hmph!" Frieza flicked his fingers, a streak of light shooting out.
It screamed toward Goku.
Goku shifted aside and let it pass.
"W-What?! He dodged?!" Frieza stared. "No. That's impossible!"
He fired again and again, red streaks snapping toward Goku.
Goku moved through them, avoiding every hit.
"If that hits you, you're dead." Frieza gritted out.
Goku didn't answer.
A brief pause.
"Try again." Goku's face stayed calm.
"Y-You… Don't get cocky! I'll make you regret it!" Frieza snarled and fired another blast straight at Goku's face.
Goku didn't dodge. He took it head-on.
When the light faded, Goku was still there. He met Frieza's eyes and let out a short laugh.
"That line you used on Vegeta—I'm giving it back." Goku's voice turned cold.
Frieza ate a full-on crit.
That bastard! I hate him!
Vegeta: "..."
Kakarot… you bastard. Are you trying to make me feel something? No. I'm not moved at all. You're just showing off in front of me. I'll find a way to surpass you.
"Ken, I don't want to watch anymore. Tell me what you need me to do." Vegeta clenched his fists.
"It's not about me needing you to do something." Ken smiled. "It's about you doing something yourself."
"What do you want me to do?" Vegeta paused.
"After you're revived, stay on Earth for now," Ken said.
"Stay on Earth? Fine. I'll listen." Vegeta nodded.
"Ken, if you leave Vegeta on Earth, watch out—he might start killing people," Krillin muttered.
"You only need to do one thing on Earth." Ken ignored Krillin and spoke to Vegeta seriously.
When Vegeta first showed up in the story, he didn't really look like a true villain.
On Earth, the one who slaughtered people wasn't Vegeta—it was Nappa, using indiscriminate attacks and destroying a whole city.
You could even say that when Vegeta first came to Earth, he didn't kill a single Earthling.
As for why Vegeta acted so cold, even ruthless, the root of it was simple: he'd learned about Super Saiyan.
In Vegeta's mind, staying cold and ruthless gave him a chance to become a Super Saiyan.
So he kept that mindset.
And if Vegeta really were that heartless, how could he have watched Gohan nearly get killed by Frieza and still jump in to save him? Was it really because he thought his strength had risen and he wanted Gohan to watch from the side?
Ken didn't think so.
Vegeta doing that proved he still had humanity.
He even met Gohan alone on Planet Namek and didn't kill him.
It was just that Vegeta was stubborn. He insisted he saved Gohan only because he wanted him watching the show.
That was just Vegeta talking.
He wanted to be cold and ruthless, but he also didn't want to lose face.
At least, in this Dragon Ball world where Ken existed, Vegeta's personality was basically the same.
"So what do I do on Earth?" Vegeta asked quickly, expectation in his eyes.
"Simple. Go find a girl named Emily." Ken smiled.
"Emily? Does she have some special ability? Is she stronger than me?" Vegeta looked confused.
Krillin scratched his head. Emily… the name sounded familiar, like he'd heard it somewhere.
He just couldn't remember where.
"She doesn't have any special ability. You just need to invite her to dinner." Ken looked at Vegeta. "And remember—no forcing it. She has to agree willingly. Can you do that?"
"Tch. I thought it was something serious. That's it?" Vegeta snorted. "Ken, are you messing with me?"
"Vegeta, I like that rebellious streak of yours." Ken sighed, then casually rewarded him with two hard slaps.
Vegeta's spirit almost came apart. He didn't dare say another word.
Merus: "..."
Merus watched from the side without speaking.
Ken's teaching style really was something.
Two slaps at the right time.
And the one getting hit still looked grateful.
What kind of mindset was that?
Should he copy it too? It did look effective.
But that didn't add up.
He'd used that on Majin Buu.
And Majin Buu got hit once and never came back, and Merus had never seen Ken hit Broly.
Yet he loved picking on Vegeta.
He needed to watch carefully and learn. He couldn't keep losing.
"I remember!" Krillin smacked his spirit-head, eyes lighting up.
Ken turned to him, silent.
"I know who Emily is!" Krillin blurted out.
"Who?" Vegeta asked.
"Isn't she Bulma's best friend?" Krillin scratched his head, then hurried on.
Ken didn't answer, basically confirming it.
"Before I left for Planet Namek, Bulma even told me—if I wanted a girlfriend, she could introduce her best friend Emily to me…" Krillin panicked and turned to Ken. "Ken, Bulma introduced her to me! You can't make Vegeta have dinner with her!"
"Oh? Bulma introduced Emily to you?" Ken sounded amused.
Krillin nodded hard. "But she said we'd talk after I got back from Planet Namek."
"Perfect." Ken's expression hardened as he looked at Vegeta. "Vegeta, don't use force. Compete fairly with Krillin. If you can't manage something this simple, then I don't need you as a God of Destruction!"
"Y-You call this a competition?!" Vegeta looked like his head was going to explode.
Ken ignored him.
Krillin, on the other hand, looked thrilled.
"So if I win, you'll train me to be a God of Destruction?" Krillin practically shook with excitement.
"I will." Ken nodded seriously.
Merus didn't speak.
You're really going to train this bald Krillin to be a God of Destruction?
That was just something you said… right?
No—Ken was serious.
Because Ken thought that if Vegeta lost to a guy with no nose, then Vegeta really was hopeless.
Besides, Bulma's best friend Emily was obsessed with looks.
Even if she picked with her eyes closed, she'd pick Vegeta.
"Watch the rest," Ken told Vegeta and Krillin. "After that, I'll send you back to Earth."
"Tch!" Vegeta was annoyed, but he could only keep watching.
Krillin didn't object. He didn't want to leave anyway—he still wanted to see Goku avenge him.
"Isn't there only supposed to be one Legendary Super Saiyan? Why did two more show up?" Frieza couldn't swallow it.
Goku looked at him without reacting.
"Did you become a Super Saiyan because of anger?" Frieza snorted. "No wonder Vegeta can't become one no matter how hard he tries."
Vegeta felt it stab him right in the soul again.
I'm already dead. Are you really going to talk about me behind my back?
Damn you, Frieza.
"You're finished, Frieza." Goku said calmly.
After that, Goku gathered ki, preparing a Kamehameha to finish Frieza.
"If you kill me… I'd rather kill myself!" Frieza suddenly said.
"Do what you want." Goku's voice stayed flat.
Frieza calmly formed an energy ball and raised it high.
"But I won't die that easily. The one who dies is you!" Frieza sneered. "I can survive in space. Can you Saiyans do that? That flame state of yours is used up, isn't it? Go on—Death Ball!"
Goku's eyes widened.
No—!
Whoosh!
Frieza hurled it straight down.
Goku couldn't stop it in time.
Boom!
The blast slammed into Planet Namek's surface.
Goku's teeth clenched.
"Frieza, you shameless bastard!" Vegeta's fists tightened. "And Kakarot, you idiot—why waste time talking? Just kill him!"
"Has Planet Namek been destroyed?" Krillin asked urgently.
"Not yet," Ken replied. "But the planet's core took catastrophic damage. Too bad—Planet Namek still couldn't escape its fate. Beerus-sama is probably laughing about this."
Merus: "..."
Beerus-sama caught that for no reason.
What did this have to do with Beerus-sama?
Planet Namek shook violently, like the end of the world.
When the smoke cleared, a massive crater had opened up.
Lightning crawled around it with sharp cracks, scorching energy rolling everywhere, warping the air.
Goku let out a small breath and looked at Frieza.
"Heh." Frieza grinned, pleased with himself.
"Good. The planet's still here." Goku said quietly.
"You don't understand a thing." Frieza snorted. "It didn't explode instantly, but the core is ruined. Do you know what that means? In five minutes, this planet will detonate. Planet Namek will become dust in the universe! I've helped Cooler get his wish!"
"W-What did you say?" Goku's chest tightened.
"I know what you're thinking. You want that kid and that Namekian to escape, right?" Frieza sneered. "In five minutes, can they even find a spaceship? Keep dreaming. You, your son, that Namekian, and that little girl—you'll all die in the blast!"
"Before that, I'll take you down." Goku said evenly.
"Take me down? I'll show you my 100% power! You can't possibly beat me!" Frieza laughed.
"Why wait until now?" Goku asked. "Because your body can't handle it?"
Frieza's jaw tightened again.
"No more wasting time. Let's settle this!" Goku shot forward.
Boom!
Frieza pressed his palms together and fired a blast that swallowed Goku.
Goku flew back and crashed into the lake behind him.
Water surged up in a tall spray.
The next moment, Goku burst out and rocketed back in front of Frieza.
"You underestimated me. That was only 70% just now." Frieza grinned. "Now I'll use 100%!"
"Hah!"
Frieza's body tightened, his upper frame swelling wider, muscles bulking up.
Goku looked him over and stopped attacking.
"Frieza, I'm waiting." Goku's voice turned sharp. "I'm waiting for your full power. I'm fighting you at 100%. I'm avenging Krillin!"
Boom!
Frieza finally released everything. His upper body grew even broader and sturdier.
"Kept you waiting. This is the full power you wanted!" Frieza snorted, grin spreading wider.
Goku gave a small smile.
"I'll wipe that smile off your face!" Frieza bellowed and rushed in, driving a heavy punch into Goku's stomach.
Goku spat blood.
Frieza grabbed Goku's head with both hands and drove a knee up.
Bang!
The knee smashed into Goku's head.
Frieza followed with a ruthless barrage.
Goku didn't strike back, letting fists and kicks crash into him.
"Goku, why aren't you fighting back?!" Krillin shouted, panicked.
"He can't hear you," Merus said.
Krillin: "..."
He knew that. He still wanted to yell.
"Merus, bring Kale up here," Ken said. "This fight is Goku's now."
Merus paused and looked down.
Kale was still in Legendary Super Saiyan.
But she was far away, and she seemed unable to sense Goku and Frieza's ki. She stood there looking lost.
Yellow-green light flared around Kale. She punched a hill apart, then hammered the ground with fists and feet, like she was venting.
Merus let out a quiet sigh.
Yeah. He should bring her up.
Down there, she wasn't doing much anymore.
"I'll be right back." Merus dove down and appeared in front of Kale in an instant.
Kale blinked and locked onto him.
"AAAAAAH!"
She roared and lunged at Merus.
Merus shifted aside and avoided it easily.
Kale sped up.
Merus used Ultra Instinct, eyes closed, slipping past every punch and kick.
"Huff… huff…"
Kale couldn't land a single hit. She panted harder, anger rising.
"AAAAAAH!"
She roared again, slammed both hands down, and fired a huge surge of energy.
Merus's eyes widened.
Snap!
He calmly drew the pistol at his waist and fired a single shot.
Bang!
The energy bullet struck Kale's blast and knocked it off course.
Krillin stared, stunned.
"You've gotta be kidding me… That Galactic Patrol guy is this strong?!" Krillin blurted.
Vegeta didn't answer. He just shot Krillin a look.
You really don't know anything.
Do you even understand who he is?
"What's that gun made of? That's insane… it knocked Kale's blast away." Krillin muttered.
Ken ignored him.
"Kale, wake up. It's me." Merus raised a staff in his hand and pointed at her.
Invisible angel power covered Kale.
Kale shook her head and snapped back to herself.
"Huh? Merus-nii?" Kale's eyes went wide as she recognised him.
"It's me." Merus nodded.
"Merus-nii… I want to go home. This place is scary…" Kale trembled all over.
Snap!
The yellow-green light around her vanished, and she returned to normal.
Merus: "????"
How are you still this timid?
"Come with me." Merus held out his hand.
"Mm!" Kale nodded hard.
Whoosh!
Merus grabbed Kale and shot back up into the sky, returning to Ken.
Kale quickly noticed the three figures there.
"Y-You two… why do you look like that?" Kale studied Vegeta and Krillin.
Krillin didn't know how to answer.
Vegeta ignored her.
"Is it because you're dead?" Kale scratched her head and asked, honestly.
Krillin and Vegeta both felt it stab them right in the soul.
Does this girl know how to talk?
"Where's Gohan-nii?" Kale looked around, didn't see Gohan, and her eyes started blinking fast.
Then she broke down crying.
"Waaah… Gohan-nii… where did my Gohan-nii go?" Tears streamed down her face.
"See, Merus? I can't stand seeing girls cry." Ken sighed. "Go bring Gohan and Piccolo here too."
Merus: "..."
You really know how to order people around.
Merus nodded, resigned.
Whoosh!
He became a streak of light and flew toward Gohan and Piccolo.
"Gohan-nii is still alive?" Kale froze.
"You'll find out in a bit." Ken smiled and rubbed her head.
"Mm." Kale looked up at Ken, blinking. Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Onii-san, you're the handsome one. Merus-nii is handsome too, but his skin colour is weird. It gives people nightmares."
"So you've always been scared because of Merus's skin colour?" Ken asked.
"On Sadala, I once ran into a blue-skinned monster. It was brutal!" Kale shivered. "My sister showed up in time and saved me, or it would've eaten me. Just thinking about it is scary…"
Vegeta paused, looking at Kale.
She's from Sadala?
No wonder there's a second Legendary Super Saiyan.
So that's how it is.
Sadala…
I even said I'd go to Sadala once.
Whatever. After I become a Super Saiyan, I'll go take a look.
Right now, going there means nothing.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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