"Gohan, in a moment, stay behind me," Krillin said, stepping forward. "I'll go first.
If I really can't handle him… then you jump in."
As the adult, Krillin would never let Gohan rush into danger ahead of him even if he suspected the boy's power already exceeded his own.
"I understand, Krillin san."
Gohan nodded earnestly.
Together, the two stood facing the malicious stares of the Ginyu Force.
Those eyes viewed them like prey.
No not like prey.
They were prey.
After all, if they killed Krillin and Gohan, Vegeta had promised to let them leave.
Krillin and Gohan understood that Vegeta was only toying with them, but the situation wasn't any less uncomfortable.
"Vegeta! You mean it, right? If we win one-on-one, you'll let us walk away?"
Recoome ever the simple-minded brute took Vegeta's earlier words literally.
Jeice, Burter, and Guldo exchanged uneasy glances.
They, too, wanted to see whether Vegeta would honor his promise.
Captain Ginyu remained silent, cold eyes narrowing.
He wasn't thinking about escape.
He was watching Vegeta waiting for a single lapse, a single opening.
If Vegeta relaxed even slightly…
Captain Ginyu was certain he could seize the chance.
And now seemed like the perfect opportunity.
If Vegeta truly lowered his guard, Ginyu already had a full, reliable strategy in mind.
But Vegeta suddenly corrected them
"No, no, no. Not one-on-one. I said you'd go up one at a time."
Vegeta smirked.
"And if any of you can defeat these two… then you may leave."
Not one-on-one.
One vs. two.
Recoome hardly cared.
"So as long as I crush them, I get to leave, right?"
He cracked his knuckles eagerly.
"Oh, absolutely," Vegeta replied lazily.
Recoome grinned like a child given candy.
"Good! You two heard that, right? Don't blame me Vegeta's the one who wants you dead!"
He turned toward Krillin and Gohan with a hungry grin, itching to lunge at them.
Before he could move, Burter called out:
"Recoome! Don't underestimate them. They're small fries, sure, but both of their power levels are near 40,000."
"I know, I know!"
Recoome tapped his scouter.
"Baldy's at 37,000. The kid's at 39,000. Not bad!"
Then, with a theatrical flourish
He bent backward, arms spread, legs twisted into an absurd pose.
"Recoooome… FIGHT!!"
With a roar, the giant shot forward.
He looked slow, but his burst acceleration was deadly.
"Be careful, Gohan!"
"Right!"
The two split apart instantly, letting Recoome crash through empty air.
Vegeta folded his arms, watching with keen interest.
This wasn't just entertainment he was observing Ginyu out of the corner of his eye.
That body-swap technique…
No one knew exactly how it worked.
And if he carelessly allowed Captain Ginyu to successfully pull off a switch…
It would be an embarrassing disaster.
But Vegeta had confidence.
That was the only reason he'd allowed Ginyu to live this long.
After all, he had to leave someone alive for Kakarot to fight, didn't he?
Vegeta could sense Kakarot's pod rapidly closing in.
It would land on Namek within minutes.
Perfect timing.
~~~~~~
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