-----
-----
When Broly regained consciousness again, he'd already been born. All around him, newborn Saiyan babies were being placed into tiny space pods and launched toward unknown planets.
Suddenly, Broly spotted a face he knew all too well—Son Goku, though among Saiyans he was called Kakarot.
"So that's Bardock's kid? Hmph. That father and son are really something. Bardock's just a low-class warrior, yet his power level somehow reached elite standards. But his son? Only a measly power level of two. He's practically the weakest of the low-class."
A voice dripping with contempt echoed nearby. Broly silently scoffed: If you knew what Goku would become later… yeah, you'd keep your mouth shut.
These Saiyans really had fallen far. "Bullying the weak" might as well have been their national motto now. The whole race was drowning in bloodlust and destruction, completely forgetting the pride of a true warrior people. No wonder Vegeta kept losing to Goku repeatedly in the original story—after that first overpowering moment, he got slapped down again and again. Their mindset was rotten from the start.
Since Broly had been born on the same day as Goku, it was almost his turn to be shipped out.
"This little one's Paragus's brat, right? Hah. Power level only five. Slightly better than Bardock's son, but still an embarrassment to Saiyans."
Broly nearly rolled his eyes. What is this guy, the reincarnation of a nagging monk? No wonder you end up a villain—you never shut up. If I weren't trying to stay hidden, I'd rip that mouth off your face.
Luckily, nothing unexpected happened. Broly was loaded into a pod and launched toward his designated planet.
Maybe because his power level looked so low, the star he was sent to wasn't too far from Earth, the place Goku had been assigned.
Not long after the pods shot into space, Planet Vegeta erupted in a single deafening boom.
Broly knew immediately—Frieza had made his move. Aside from a tiny handful of survivors, the entire Saiyan race had just vanished along with their homeworld.
He didn't feel any real emotional attachment to Planet Vegeta or the Saiyans, but since he'd been reborn as one… Fine. I'll kill Frieza one day. I'll avenge all of you. Broly made the vow silently.
Inside the pod, Broly called out to the system. "System, how long until we reach the target planet?"
"Based on calculations, approximately sixty-three days."
"…"
"System, besides making me stronger, is there any other way to recharge your energy?"
"Yes. The system has detected a powerful energy source inside the host. Absorbing a small portion would be enough to fully recover. It will not damage the host's body. At most, you may feel fatigued and fall asleep for a period of time. Once system permissions are fully restored, the host will not be disappointed," the system replied, almost sounding like it was trying to tempt him.
"Fine. There's plenty of time before arrival anyway. Sleeping will help pass the time."
Right then, the tiny Dragon Ball inside him gave off a faint glow. Immediately afterward, the raging energy buried deep within Broly surged toward the orb, growing faster and faster. His eyelids grew heavier by the second. Eventually everything went black and he passed out.
Time flowed on without mercy.
Broly had been unconscious for seven years. Seven whole years since Planet Vegeta's destruction.
Back then, he'd agreed to let the system absorb his inner power so it could restore itself. Who would've thought that one "short nap" would turn into seven years? By the time he woke, he had already arrived on the target planet.
Stepping out of the pod, Broly instantly sensed something was wrong. After a moment of recalling—
"System, get out here. This is what you call sleeping 'for a while'?!"
"Please don't be angry, host. Everything the system did was for your benefit. Although you slept seven years, the lingering side effects of the Legendary Super Saiyan bloodline have been neutralized. That power isn't something the current host can control. Eventually it would have corrupted your mind."
Broly froze, then realized the system had a point. In the original story, Broly lost his sanity because he couldn't handle that overwhelming power. His father Paragus even built a control device to restrain him so he could pursue his ambition to conquer the universe.
"The system did absorb that power, but your Saiyan bloodline remains intact," it continued. "You won't have that automatic constant growth anymore, but everything else is unchanged. That dormant power will gradually return as your strength increases. Once your power level reaches ten thousand, it will be fully restored."
Broly sulked for a moment but eventually let it go. A blessing in disguise, perhaps. With the precedent set by the original Broly… who knew whether he himself could control that power? Losing his mind would be the real tragedy.
The system spoke again. "Due to absorbing that energy, your power level has dropped to fifty. As compensation, the system will grant you the ability to fly."
Broly had no energy left to complain. At least flight was useful. Sure, he could have learned it eventually on his own, but saving the time was nice.
Having calmed down, Broly returned to the pod. "System, can you locate Earth? The planet Kakarot was sent to. If I remember right, it's a beautiful blue world in the southern area of the North Galaxy."
Why Earth? Because early in the Dragon Ball timeline, it was relatively safe—no insanely strong aliens invading every week. It was the perfect place to grow stronger. And besides… having been a human in his previous life, he couldn't help feeling a strange fondness for this alternate Earth.
Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far. It would take around three days to get there. Knowing he'd soon see Earth again, Broly couldn't help the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he set off on the journey.
"....."