In the depths of space, countless warships were already lined up in formation, with strangely-shaped aliens neatly arranged in square formations floating above the planet.
King Cold and Frieza stood side by side, with their massive flagship behind them.
Sharp metal struts clawed across the ground like crab legs, their needle-like ends driven deep into the surface to firmly anchor the ship.
The forces being mobilized were all elites. Over the years, the Frost Demons had plundered countless planetary resources, wealth, and talent throughout the universe. The troops assembled at this moment all had combat power exceeding 10,000 points, with special elite squads boasting over 50,000. It was an incredibly powerful force no matter where you put it.
Never before in history had such a large-scale force been mobilized, which puzzled everyone in the universe. Could the resistance on their target planet really be that powerful? Or were they planning to sweep the entire northern galaxy in one go?!
Most shocking of all was that not only Frieza, but even King Cold would be joining the expedition! King Cold, who had remained in the central territories for years, hadn't personally taken the field in ages - so long that people had almost forgotten such a powerful being existed!
Everyone who didn't know the truth became unconsciously excited.
Frieza glanced coldly at the assembled forces, his expression icy. "Father, why do you suddenly want to come with me?"
"I can't shake this feeling of unease. It seems we underestimated the Saiyans before. In such a short time, that Saiyan named Raditz has completely taken over part of your territory and made a huge impact. It's not that simple. Besides, the remaining Saiyans have all gathered together, so if something goes wrong... I can't help but worry."
"Hmph, father worries too much. With my current power, I can destroy them directly. Among those who escaped from Namek, aside from one hateful Namekian, none of the others are my match."
Frieza smiled wickedly, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, his red lips both alluring and vicious.
When he thought about being blasted out into space and injured by his own planet-destroying attack, rage filled his heart. The surgical scars on his face were sunken like ravines, seeming to crawl with terrible insects.
In the distance, a squad leader rushed over quickly, kneeling before the two kings and reporting respectfully: "Lord Cooler is mobilizing his forces, and the mecha troops have already departed ahead of schedule. It's estimated that it will take three months for the new ships to reach the former M187 branch."
"Since Cooler is going to the M187 branch, then I'll go to Earth for some fun. Hehe, those people are all from Earth anyway."
"What kind of backwater is Earth? I've never heard of it," King Cold sneered contemptuously.
The squad leader quickly replied: "Earth is a small planet located in a distant solar system, considered a relatively primitive area of the universe."
"Is that their home base? Let Cooler go to Earth, and we'll deal with that Saiyan." King Cold's expression was stern, his tone full of authority.
As he spoke, King Cold waved his large hand, his massive frame releasing tremendous pressure that even Frieza could feel. The icy chill rushed straight into everyone's hearts, as if covering the entire planet with a layer of frost.
"Move out!"
"Yes!" "Move out!" "Roger!" "Understood!"
A chorus of responses rang out. Under King Cold's leadership, the massive space army began boarding their ships one by one. They couldn't wait to follow the two kings into battle, their excitement palpable.
Frieza looked at his subordinates' enthusiasm, his thin lips curling upward, his scarlet eyes flashing as if he could already foresee the deaths of Raditz and the others.
King Cold nodded slightly. He was very satisfied with the army he'd built. He'd relied on them to sweep across the universe, remaining undefeated. With such strength plus himself and Cooler, how could they possibly lose to mere Saiyans?
Unless there really were Super Saiyans.
At that thought, King Cold waved his hand and walked into his flagship.
...
On the other side, Cooler was also gathering his forces, but with obviously much smaller numbers - or rather, just a few squads at most.
He knew his father and Frieza would make a big show of it, so he deliberately kept his own forces minimal. If he could win with these subordinates, then father and Frieza's large elite force would be more than enough. If the enemy was so strong that even Frieza couldn't handle them, then these few soldiers would just die anyway - what was the point?
He often deployed only mecha troops for this very reason.
But this time, appearances had to be maintained. Sending a hundred or so subordinates wouldn't lose face for the universal emperor's family.
"Have Frieza and father already departed?" Cooler reclined on his cold metal throne, leisurely sipping fine wine while the screen replayed the final battle scenes from Namek.
He watched it repeatedly, hoping to discover some secrets about the Namekians and Saiyans.
"According to communications, they've already left. There's also word that Lord Cooler should head to Earth first, while the former M187 branch is reserved for King Frieza."
"That foolish little brother of mine - I hope he won't be careless again. Let them go to the M187 branch. We'll wait for them to leave this sector before departing." Cooler remained seated, speaking to himself with no intention of moving yet.
Although he and Frieza were brothers, their relationship was more competitive than anything else. There were many conflicts over territorial disputes in space. Fortunately, King Cold mediated and maintained the balance, avoiding outright conflict while preserving surface harmony.
As for King Cold, Cooler actually didn't have much respect for him anymore, because his own strength had increased considerably - he'd even approached his father's level. The old king was aging, so a new king would have to take over eventually.
After taking over Slug's territory, Cooler had become even more ambitious. He'd extended his reach into the East Galaxy, attempting to expand his domain. Splitting things evenly with King Cold wasn't enough - he had to surpass him!
Although Earth was farther than M187, it was closer to the solar system than Frieza and the others' position. If they departed now, they'd inevitably cross the defense line first and definitely be intercepted, with losses falling on his forces. It would be much more convenient to let King Cold and the others engage the Saiyans first, then sneak in to Earth afterward.
It would be best to let them fight for a while and exhaust some of their combat power, making it easier for him to take over the territory afterward. Cooler smiled coldly, raised his cup to his lips, took a sip of the blood-red wine, and closed his eyes.
His attendants stepped back knowingly, watching the radar signals and waiting for Frieza's fleet to leave the sector.