Lazuli frowned as she gazed up at the massive spaceship blotting out the sun.
"What is this thing? It's blocking the light," she said with clear displeasure.
Chiga took a calm bite of grilled meat, his tone light but steady.
"That's the Universe King's ship. Quite the entrance, don't you think?"
"The Universe King?" Lazuli asked, brow raised. "Is he strong?"
Chiga smiled faintly. "He's decent—has some strength, at least."
Lapis's interest immediately sparked. Wiping his hands on his apron, he looked at Chiga with excitement.
"Brother-in-law, can I go meet him later? It's been too long since I've had a proper fight."
Chiga waved his hand casually. "Go ahead. Just don't hold back. That guy didn't come here for a party—he's an enemy."
"Understood!"
Lapis tore off his apron, stretching his neck as his fighting spirit surged.
Bulma's mansion was enormous, large enough that even a spaceship could land comfortably in the yard. When the massive ship descended, the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
As the hatch opened, a squad of armored soldiers marched out in neat rows, forming two lines to create a pathway.
Under everyone's gaze, Frieza floated forward in his hovering chair, flanked by Sabo and Dodoria.
Frieza rested one hand on his cheek, eyes narrowing as he spotted the restrained Vegeta. For a moment, surprise flickered across his face.
He had assumed Vegeta either fled with the Dragon Balls or had been killed by the mysterious warriors on Earth. Never did he expect the proud Saiyan prince to be captured.
Vegeta glared coldly. "Frieza. Even you came to Earth? Let me guess—you're after the Dragon Balls, aren't you?"
Frieza didn't respond at once. In the past, Vegeta would have bowed before him. The defiance in his tone was… new.
Dodoria's temper flared. "Vegeta! How dare you speak to King Frieza like that! Have you lost your mind?!"
Vegeta's eyes flicked toward Chiga, confidence swelling. "You still call him King Frieza? Pathetic."
"W-what!?" Dodoria's face twisted in fury. He glanced nervously at Frieza, whose smile had vanished.
Expressionless, Frieza murmured, "Dodoria… must I really tell you what comes next?"
Dodoria broke into a cold sweat and quickly saluted. "Y-Yes, King Frieza! I'll teach Vegeta a lesson right away!"
With a roar, he charged straight toward Vegeta.
Gohan moved instinctively, stepping in front of Vegeta to protect him.
Vegeta headbutted the boy aside and snapped, "Idiot! You're no match for him—get out of my way!"
Dodoria sneered. "Oh, I didn't expect you to care for others. This kid must mean a lot to you. I'll start with him!"
A sharp swish cut through the air—Goku appeared in front of Dodoria in an instant. His voice was cold.
"Who did you say you were going to kill?"
Dodoria's eyes went wide, but before he could react, Goku's fist slammed into his face, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
The impact shattered all of Dodoria's teeth, launching him into the dirt. He struggled to rise, but his body trembled.
White, jet-like Ki flared around Goku as rage burned in his eyes. The threat to Gohan had awakened his fury.
Dodoria, terrified, raised his new scouter. The reading made his blood freeze.
Fifty thousand.
This man's power level was fifty thousand!
Vegeta smirked slightly, recognizing Dodoria's panic. He had seen Goku consume Senzu Beans recklessly these past few days, and though it irritated him, even he couldn't deny the results.
"Kakarot," Vegeta said sourly, "now you understand a Saiyan's true potential, don't you?"
Goku didn't argue. For once, he accepted the truth. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, Saiyan blood surged through his veins, granting him strength beyond imagination.
Dodoria turned to flee—but before he'd gone halfway, a purplish-red beam tore through his chest.
He looked back at Frieza, disbelief in his fading eyes. "K… King Frieza…"
His lifeless body crashed to the ground, bouncing twice before coming to a stop.
Zarbon's forehead broke into a sheen of cold sweat. Watching Dodoria fall felt like watching his own future. When Frieza turned his gaze toward him, Zarbon froze—but the tyrant didn't move.
Frieza knew Zarbon's value. Sacrificing him now would be pointless.
Calmly, Frieza floated forward until he hovered in front of Goku.
Goku's eyes narrowed. The sheer density of energy in Frieza's small body was monstrous.
Frieza smiled, hands clasped behind his back. Before he could speak, a blur of motion interrupted—Lapis dashed in front of Goku, grinning.
"Alright, alright. Let me handle this short guy!" he said eagerly.
Frieza's expression darkened. He despised being mocked for his height. Everyone who had done so before was long dead.
Still, he lifted his new scouter to read Lapis's power level—only for the number to surge past 180,000 and explode.
For the first time, Frieza's face grew serious.
"No wonder you're so confident," he said quietly. "What's your name?"
Lapis brushed a strand of black hair from his face and smirked. "Name's Lapis—but you can call me Android 17."
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