"He's Frieza!" Bardock's eyes narrowed, killing intent pouring out of him.
"Frieza? I remember now!" Quitela ground his teeth. "That guy once represented Universe 7 in Universe 18's God of Destruction selection tournament! He's the one who knocked our Universe's contender out, and I still haven't settled that score. No wonder I sensed a familiar ki from so far away—so it was him!"
Bardock didn't answer.
"But Frieza's changed a lot. When he competed in Universe 18's selection tournament, he didn't look like this." Quitela chuckled. "Looks like some kind of transformation. Why does he look weaker the more he changes?"
…
Down below.
After Goku blasted him to the ground with a Kamehameha, Frieza popped right back up, a faint smile on his face.
Then his energy surged higher and higher.
"This guy… his power's still climbing!" Goku's expression tightened. "No choice—Ultra Instinct!"
"That bastard… he can control his power level freely!" Vegeta started trembling, fear crawling up his spine.
Vegeta knew Frieza might still have two more transformations.
If that was true, there was no chance they could win.
Frieza drifted forward until he was directly in front of Goku.
Goku raised his guard.
"I'm paying you back double for what you did to me!" Frieza snorted.
High above, Bardock was about to dive in—when Quitela shot forward first.
"To thank you for the information, I'll save your son for you." Quitela grinned, and with a flicker he vanished, reappearing behind Frieza.
Bardock hesitated and stayed where he was.
He needed to be sure first—make sure that really was Kakarot.
If he got it wrong, that would be beyond awkward.
And if it really was Kakarot… Bardock wanted to watch quietly for a moment, see what kind of warrior his son had become.
Even Vegeta froze for a second.
Who was that guy?
How did he suddenly appear behind Frieza?
How did he move?
It was like he blinked and he was already there!
Gohan helped support Krillin and looked up at the sky, completely lost.
Where did this blond rat come from?
Goku stared at Quitela behind Frieza, eyes widening. He hurriedly called out, "Y-You… there's someone behind you!"
Frieza: "…"
"That's what you're going with?" Frieza sneered, not even bothering to look back. "At a time like this, you're still trying cheap tricks?"
"I'm serious…" Goku forced a bitter smile.
"Oh? You want me to turn around so you can sneak attack?" Frieza's grin sharpened with contempt. "Keep dreaming. You think I wouldn't notice if someone was behind me? I can sense everything. You're hilarious!"
He started laughing louder and louder.
"Pat."
Quitela lightly tapped Frieza on the shoulder.
Frieza's laughter died instantly, his smile freezing on his face. His eyes bulged, and his expression turned ugly.
Who the hell just tapped me?
There's actually someone behind me?
Frieza stiffly turned his head and snapped his gaze backward.
And there he was—Quitela, standing right behind him.
Once Frieza got a clear look, he felt a chill run through him. The face was familiar. Like he'd seen him somewhere before.
And that outfit… it was distinctive. Way too distinctive.
"Frieza, right?" Quitela narrowed his eyes and stared at him coldly.
"Y-You… who are you?" Frieza gritted out.
"What, you forgot me already?" Quitela smiled. "Fine. I'll give you a hint. Try to remember."
A bad feeling punched Frieza in the gut.
"Do you remember that God of Destruction selection tournament in Universe 18 more than twenty years ago?" Quitela snorted.
Frieza's whole body started shaking. His face looked like he'd just eaten something bad.
He remembered.
He finally remembered.
This blond rat… wasn't he one of the Gods of Destruction sitting in the stands?
Which Universe exactly? Frieza couldn't recall.
But he knew one thing for sure: this was a God of Destruction he couldn't afford to provoke.
Why was a God of Destruction on Namek?
"Looks like you remember who I am." Quitela snorted again. "Not bad. One little hint and you've got it."
"Greetings, God of Destruction!" Frieza folded immediately and dropped to his knees in front of Quitela.
"Do you remember what you did right at the start of the tournament?" Quitela asked with a smile. "You eliminated one of our Universe's contenders."
Frieza's mind flashed back to the opening moments—when he casually kicked someone the size of an ant right out of the arena.
So this God of Destruction had ties to that contender.
Frieza's composure cracked.
It's been over twenty years and you're coming for revenge now?
How petty can you be?
"God of Destruction-sama, back then… we weren't allowed to hold back. I didn't have a choice," Frieza explained quickly, eyes darting.
"Of course I know the tournament was about fairness. You eliminated our contender—fine. I can't argue with that." Quitela's eyes stayed half-lidded as he kept snorting. "But I also remember this clearly: after you knocked our contender out, you gave me a deliberately provoking look. That look's been burned into my memory."
Frieza: "…"
Did I?
Did I really look at him like that?
Why don't I remember?
"Do you know what happens when you offend a God of Destruction?" Quitela's gaze carried a thin, simmering hatred.
Frieza shook so hard it was obvious.
"Get down," Quitela ordered. "Unless you want me to destroy you."
Frieza didn't dare disobey. He immediately dropped from the air and landed below.
Goku, Vegeta, and the others were stunned.
Vegeta especially looked completely lost.
That guy is a God of Destruction?
But isn't Universe 7's God of Destruction supposed to be Beerus, that cat guy?
Why is it a rat?
Another Universe's God of Destruction…?
I'll watch first.
Still… this is the first time I've ever seen Frieza act like such a coward.
This is satisfying.
Goku didn't say anything. He landed as well, then flew straight toward Krillin.
"Krillin, are you okay?" Goku asked urgently.
Krillin was in so much pain his limbs felt numb, but he still waved a hand weakly and bared his teeth. "I'm not dead. I think I can still be saved."
"I'll try healing you." Goku drew in a deep breath. A radiant light—like a cluster of stars—formed in his palm and spread over Krillin's body.
Krillin's wounds closed at a visible pace.
In about ten seconds, the injuries sealed completely, and Krillin was fully recovered.
"Huh? Goku! That's incredible! I didn't know your healing technique was that good!" Krillin stared, shocked and thrilled.
"Dad can heal now!" Gohan's eyes lit up too.
"I literally just learned it and used it." Goku smiled. "But it took a lot out of me."
"Took a lot out of you?" Krillin blinked.
"I think the special energy Ultra Instinct needs is already more than half gone," Goku said, voice turning heavy.
"One heal drained that much?" Krillin said, startled. He glanced toward Frieza and asked, "Who's that rat? Frieza looks terrified of him."
"He said he's a God of Destruction… the kind Vegeta wants to become," Goku answered.
"Is that so? Let's see what happens," Krillin said, nodding.
…
High above.
Bardock watched Goku's healing technique and froze.
Now he was sure: the man down there who looked exactly like him was his son—Kakarot.
He'd also heard Krillin call him "Goku."
So on Earth, Kakarot's name really was Son Goku.
"What was that skill? A healing technique?" Bardock muttered to himself. "Why does Kakarot's healing look so similar to Ken's ability…?"
His emotions tangled into a knot—shock, disbelief, and more than anything, joy.
Bardock forced himself to suppress the urge to rush down and reveal himself.
He still didn't know how to face his youngest son.
…
On Namek's surface.
After landing, Frieza stared at Quitela with pure fear, barely daring to breathe.
"Lie down," Quitela commanded.
"Huh?" Frieza went blank, not understanding.
Quitela only looked at him coldly, amusement playing at the corner of his mouth.
Frieza didn't dare refuse. He immediately flattened himself on the ground.
He's a God of Destruction… I'll play it safe.
I must've had terrible luck today. I never expected to run into someone like this.
As soon as he lay down, Frieza covered his backside with both hands.
"Be gentle…" Frieza gritted out.
Quitela: "…"
What the hell do you mean?
Why are you covering your ass?
What do you take me for?
Quitela was so mad smoke practically poured from his nose. He stomped down, planting his foot on Frieza's head and grinding him into the dirt.
Then he dragged Frieza's face across the ground with slow, brutal pressure.
Frieza screamed and howled.
"Frieza, why are you covering your ass, huh?" Quitela snapped, face icy.
"I-I'm not doing anything… I just don't want it to hurt!" Frieza's face went pale.
"Hmph. You think I don't know what you're implying?" Quitela's teeth clenched as he scanned the area—and his eyes landed on Krillin.
Krillin shuddered.
What does he want?
Don't look at me.
You can't see me.
I'm the weakest one here.
"Hey, little bald guy. Come here," Quitela said, beckoning at Krillin.
Krillin: "…"
Krillin scratched his head and reluctantly walked over.
Even Frieza's acting like a complete coward in front of that blond rat.
I'm not about to be the brave one.
"I saw you were hurt earlier." Quitela smiled. "Was it because this guy?"
Krillin nodded.
"Alright then. I'll give you a chance to get revenge. Go teach him a lesson." Quitela smiled warmly.
"W-What?" Krillin felt like happiness had dropped on his head out of nowhere.
"Go on." Quitela patted Krillin's shoulder.
"O-Okay." Krillin cracked his knuckles and stepped forward.
Frieza glared at Krillin like he was saying, If you come any closer, I'll kill you.
"Frieza, you understand what happens if you resist, don't you?" Quitela snorted, watching him with a teasing look.
Frieza stayed silent.
Because he knew exactly what the consequences were if he provoked this God of Destruction.
If you got destroyed, you wouldn't even have the right to complain.
"Bam!"
Krillin didn't hold back. He drove a hard punch into Frieza's face.
No matter how terrifying Frieza's glare was, Krillin wasn't scared.
This guy wanted to kill me anyway.
If I've got a chance to hit back, why wouldn't I?
But the instant his fist landed, Krillin sucked in a sharp breath of pain.
His skin is tough as hell. I hit him once and I'm the one who got hurt.
"Still trying to resist with your energy?" Quitela snorted and pointed at Frieza from a distance.
An invisible force wrapped around Frieza's body.
Frieza convulsed violently, then collapsed like a heap of sludge.
"You can hit him again now," Quitela told Krillin.
"R-Right… okay." Krillin nodded rapidly.
"Bam!"
Krillin punched again.
This time Frieza's face twisted and deformed from the impact.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!"
Krillin launched a flurry of brutal punches.
Frieza's eyes burned with hatred, his teeth grinding, but he didn't dare lay a hand on Krillin.
A full minute later—
"God of Destruction-sama, I'm good now. I've cooled off. Thanks," Krillin said awkwardly, scratching his head as he bowed.
"Good." Quitela gave a small smile.
"You seriously scared me. I thought you were going to make me… do that to him," Krillin exhaled. "I don't have that kind of hobby!"
A vein twitched on Frieza's forehead.
You little bald idiot, what are you implying?
Quitela: "…"
Forget it. I'll let it go today.
"Frieza, do you know where Planet Vampa is?" Quitela asked with a smile.
"In… the northern part of the universe. If you look around, you should be able to find it," Frieza answered quickly, stunned by the question.
"Bam!"
Quitela wasn't polite about it at all. He launched a heavy kick straight into Frieza.
"Whoosh!"
Frieza's body wobbled as it shot into the sky, and in moments he vanished from sight.
"Hmph. Didn't even die. Lucky bastard." Quitela snorted, then looked at Goku and the others. "You should be thanking me. I saved you. With your strength, you weren't beating him."
Goku hurriedly thanked him.
"I'm leaving." Quitela didn't waste another word. Purple-red light flared around him, and he streaked into the sky, disappearing in an instant.
In the next moment, Quitela appeared beside Bardock.
"By the way, who was your enemy again?" Quitela asked.
Bardock: "…"
"The guy you almost killed," Bardock answered.
"He's got a talent for making enemies. How has he survived this long?" Quitela chuckled. "Good thing he's not dead yet. Go finish him off."
"No need." Bardock shook his head.
"Fine." Quitela patted Bardock's shoulder, then turned into a purple-red streak and vanished on the spot.
Bardock drew a deep breath and looked down at Goku, excitement blazing in his eyes.
That's Kakarot!
He never imagined he'd meet him here—like this.
Bardock didn't hesitate anymore. He descended from the sky and landed in front of Goku.
Goku froze, staring at the man across from him—the man who looked almost exactly like him.
"Kakarot, you've grown up," Bardock said.
"Huh? Who are you?" Goku scratched his head. "You look just like me!"
Bardock didn't answer right away.
Krillin's jaw dropped.
Gohan stared too, completely confused.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed—he recognized him instantly.
That's Kakarot's father… Bardock.
He's alive?
Didn't he die with Planet Vegeta?
"Wait… are you…?" Goku blinked, realization hitting him as he stared harder.
"That's right. I'm your father—Bardock." Bardock nodded.
"Huh? You're really my dad…" Goku scratched his head, then abruptly tensed up and raised his guard. "You're not going to tell me to go to some planet and kill innocent people, like Raditz did, right?"
Bardock: "…"
"No." Bardock shook his head, voice low. "Raditz got what he deserved."
"Oh… good. Good." Goku laughed, relieved. "You scared me for a second. I thought you'd be like Raditz."
"Thud."
Vegeta landed beside Bardock as well, staring at him in surprise.
"Isn't that Prince Vegeta?" Bardock greeted him immediately.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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