Just as Goku and the others were about to go find Frieza for the decisive battle, a powerful ki signature came tearing toward them—absurdly fast. At this pace, it would arrive in under three minutes.
Everyone lifted their heads toward the distance.
Krillin said cautiously, "It's Frieza. He's coming!"
Goku nodded. "Looks like Frieza saw the Ginyu Force get wiped out through a scouter, so he came straight here.
He's extremely strong—everyone hide and watch from a distance. I'll handle him."
Krillin stared at Goku in surprise. "You don't need us?"
Goku shook his head. "After the Grand Elder unlocked my potential, I'm confident I can deal with him.
But Frieza is too dangerous. Stay far away and keep yourselves safe."
Krillin and Tien nodded at the same time.
"Goku… we're counting on you!"
Bulma added quickly, "Good luck, Goku!"
Goku nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry. I won't lose."
As he spoke, Krillin, Tien, and Bulma started moving back, searching for solid cover.
While walking, Bulma handed the Dragon Ball she was holding to Krillin.
"Krillin, hold this for me. I'm going to check the other Dragon Balls' positions…"
"Oh—okay!" Krillin took it.
Bulma pulled out the radar, tapped a few buttons, and the remaining Dragon Balls' signals appeared.
"As I thought… the other Dragon Balls are racing toward us. That means Frieza already has six of them…"
Krillin nodded grimly. "So he's got almost all of them. Looks like we can't make a wish unless we beat Frieza."
Bulma suddenly stiffened. "Wait—no. Not six. Five.
One Dragon Ball isn't moving at all. It looks like he didn't bring it."
Krillin and Tien both stopped mid-step.
"What?"
Krillin frowned. "You're right… Why leave one behind? Is Frieza scared of losing?"
Goku spoke calmly, "That Dragon Ball probably wasn't hidden by Frieza.
Either way, it doesn't matter. With the radar, we can find it no matter where it is.
Get to cover first. Don't worry about it."
Bulma nodded quickly and hurried with Krillin and Tien to a hiding place.
From another direction, behind a separate rock outcropping, Vegeta heard everything and his pupils tightened sharply.
That instrument… is a Dragon Radar?!
He remembered Bulma's words—how the device could clearly track Dragon Balls in motion. He was sure now.
Vegeta's fist clenched hard.
"Damn it… Earthlings can build something like that.
Then the Dragon Ball I hid is pointless…"
…
Krillin, Tien, and Bulma were hidden, but Piccolo didn't retreat at all. He stepped forward, fists clenched, and stopped in front of Goku.
"Son Goku. You don't need to fight.
Frieza slaughtered so many of my people. This time, as a Namekian, I'm going to avenge them."
Goku shook his head. "Piccolo, I know you want to test your new power.
But Frieza's strength isn't just what you see on the surface. You're not his match."
Piccolo snapped, "Are you looking down on me, Son Goku?
After the Grand Elder unlocked my potential, my strength isn't just this!"
Goku paused.
Piccolo's power had jumped many times over—of course he wanted a fight. That was normal for a warrior. Forcing him to hold back wasn't realistic.
So Goku nodded. "Alright. Warm up with him first.
But if you can't handle it, don't be stubborn. Your life is tied to Kami—don't you dare die."
"Hmph! I'll kill him. I'm not losing to him!" Piccolo declared.
Goku didn't argue. Whether Piccolo could or couldn't—one exchange would make it clear.
Goku stepped back several paces and positioned himself in front of the cover where Bulma and the others were hiding.
If Frieza fired toward that direction, the rock wouldn't protect them—
but with Goku here, he could block it or knock it back instantly.
Frieza's ki drew closer and closer…
In the blink of an eye, Frieza arrived in front of Piccolo. He studied him with mild surprise.
"Ohohoho… a Namekian? Your battle power seems quite impressive."
Piccolo stared him down. "You're the so-called Emperor of the Universe… Frieza?"
Frieza smiled politely. "Correct. I am the one collecting your Dragon Balls to fulfill a certain wish."
As he spoke, Frieza casually dropped the five Dragon Balls he was levitating onto the ground.
Piccolo's anger boiled over. "To collect those, you've slaughtered nearly all my people. I'm going to avenge them."
He raised a fighting stance.
Frieza blinked, then laughed softly. "Hehe… it seems you don't understand my power at all."
Piccolo said coldly, "I know you're strong. But right now, I'm stronger."
"Oh? Stronger than me?" Frieza's smile turned mocking.
"Hehehe… I didn't expect to meet a fool bold enough to challenge me. How delightfully self-destructive.
Since you're that confident… let me show you true terror."
Frieza stepped out of his pod, landing in front of Piccolo.
Piccolo tightened his arms and flared his aura.
Frieza's scouter started shrieking—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Frieza watched the number climb, surprise flickering across his face.
"Oh?"
"Incredible. Your battle power is already above one hundred thousand…"
But the reading didn't stop.
It kept climbing past one hundred thousand, and Frieza's surprise deepened.
"Still rising? No wonder you killed the Ginyu Force. You really are strong."
The number shot past two hundred thousand. Frieza was still expecting it to climb—
when suddenly—
POP!
The scouter on Frieza's face exploded.
Frieza stared at the smoking wreckage, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Then he crushed it casually in his hand.
He looked up, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Ohohoho…"
"What an unexpected delight.
A mere Namekian… and yet you can unleash power like this. You're nothing like the others.
I can feel my desire to recruit talent stirring again—I almost don't want to kill you.
How about this?
Work for me. Once I obtain eternal youth, I won't destroy this planet. Deal?"
Piccolo grinned sharply. "Don't be ridiculous. I, King Piccolo, bow to no one."
Frieza shrugged. "Very well.
Then I hope you can entertain me for a while. I'd like to enjoy the fight."
The moment his words ended, Frieza vanished.
Piccolo's pupils tightened instantly. He raised his arms on instinct.
BOOM!!
A thunderous impact—Frieza's fist smashed into Piccolo's guard. A savage shockwave exploded outward, and the ground within hundreds of meters caved in.
Piccolo was driven back dozens of meters, carving two deep trenches with his feet.
His arms screamed with pain—but he didn't retreat. Instead, his mouth curled into a grin.
"Is that all, Frieza?!"
Piccolo roared, aura surging. His arms snapped outward—forcing Frieza's fist away.
Frieza raised an eyebrow, a trace of surprise in his eyes.
He'd expected that blow to end it.
Yet Piccolo had taken it.
"Seems you really are more interesting than I thought," Frieza said lightly. "Then how about this?"
He disappeared again.
This time, he was even faster—almost like teleportation. He appeared behind Piccolo and whipped a sweeping kick toward him.
Piccolo was ready. He twisted aside and drove his right fist—charged with energy—into Frieza's abdomen.
Frieza, used to overpowering everything, didn't dodge. He simply caught Piccolo's fist with one hand.
But Piccolo didn't pull back.
Instead, he opened his mouth and fired a point-blank blast straight into Frieza's body.
A dazzling golden beam erupted at zero distance. Frieza had no time to evade and had to take it head-on.
BOOOOM!!
The explosion threw dust and smoke into the sky.
But when it cleared, Frieza was still floating there—
not even a torn sleeve.
Piccolo's pupils contracted sharply.
"Not a scratch…?"
Frieza dusted himself off and smiled. "Nice attack. I felt a little sting.
But it seems my first form still isn't enough to deal with you."
He shouted as his muscles swelled, horns rising again, his aura surging massively.
In an instant, Frieza transformed—towering like a three-meter monster.
Feeling Frieza's ki surge, Piccolo released everything he had.
His aura exploded, wind and sand whipping outward.
Frieza looked surprised. "Hm? Do Namekians transform too?"
Piccolo's aura steadied. He smirked.
"No. I don't transform. I can just change my battle power."
Frieza nodded as if understanding. "I see.
Then be careful.
My transformations are too powerful—I don't always control my strength well.
It would be a shame if I killed you by accident."
His gaze sharpened—
and he vanished.
BAM!
Piccolo didn't even see the movement.
A heavy punch smashed into his abdomen, folding his body like a shrimp as blood burst from his mouth.
Then Frieza's knee shot up toward Piccolo's chin—
Piccolo flickered away at the last instant, dodging the knee.
He counterattacked immediately, driving Frieza back.
As Frieza flipped backward, Piccolo flashed above him and hammered down with a brutal blow, sending Frieza plummeting.
Frieza only dropped a few dozen meters before stopping himself.
He raised one finger—
and fired a point-blank energy blast at Piccolo.
Piccolo's eyes narrowed. He swung a knife-hand and knocked the blast away.
Frieza's eyes widened. "You deflected it?!"
From a hidden spot, Vegeta watched, pupils tightening.
"How is that possible? That Namekian deflected Frieza's ki blast…
I remember he used to be weak—how did he suddenly get this strong?!"
The moment Piccolo deflected the blast, he crossed both hands above his head.
"Hellzone Grenade!"
A dazzling golden beam slammed toward Frieza.
Frieza couldn't dodge in time. He crossed his arms to block.
BOOM!
The explosion swallowed him in dust.
When the smoke cleared, thin steam rose from Frieza's body.
This time…
Frieza was no longer completely unharmed.
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