On Namek
A Saiyan and two Frost Demons clashed in a chaotic three-way battle.
Goku, his power still far below theirs, avoided direct collisions. Instead, he darted in and out, striking only when he found openings. Cooler and Frieza, meanwhile, refused to yield to one another fists met fists, each impact detonating like thunder across the battlefield.
"You're starting to annoy me, brat!" Cooler snarled.
He had just blocked one of Frieza's heavy punches when Goku shot in from behind, slamming a kick into his back.
Pinned between the two, Cooler didn't budge an inch but the dual impact sent a sharp ripple of pain through him.
"You dare!" Cooler's eyes flashed, literally. Two searing Destruction Rays fired from his pupils.
Zzzzt!
A chill ran through Goku as his instincts screamed. He twisted aside just in time, but the twin beams still grazed his cheek.
Hisss!
A crimson gash split across his left cheek, the wound instantly cauterized by the scorching heat. The stench of charred flesh filled the air.
"Cooler! Do you look down on me that much?!" Frieza roared, seeing his brother counter Goku even while locked in their duel. His fury spiked further.
"Idiot! If you hadn't arrogantly spared these monkeys back then, would we be in this mess now?" Cooler shot back coldly.
"Bah! If not for that, I would've had the Dragon Balls already!" Frieza retorted with venom.
The tension snapped. Their sibling rivalry, already festering, now burned into open hatred Goku's interference only fanned the flames.
"Frieza, if you back down now, I might even spare your life," Cooler hissed, his killing intent overflowing.
"Spare me? You really think you're my better? Hmph… killing me won't be so simple!" Frieza snarled back.
Their combined malice churned the skies itself. Dark clouds boiled over Namek, thunder rumbling, lightning splitting the heavens. The world itself seemed to recoil in dread at the two demons above.
Goku's face grew grave as he felt their ki climb higher.
"So strong… Even at Kaio-ken x10, I'd barely stand a chance."
His base power exceeded two million now. Multiplied tenfold, he could push past twenty million. But Frieza, drawing only half his strength, hovered around sixty million. Cooler was stronger still close to eighty million.
And this wasn't even their full power.
Excitement mingled with fear in Goku's chest. The thrill of facing such overwhelming foes made his blood boil, but a shadow of worry lingered could he still protect the Namekians?
After a pause, Goku forced himself to fall back, joining Raditz and Nappa.
"Brother, this is beyond us now. Even I can't keep up. You and Nappa should leave. Go to the Grand Elder. If you can, use the dragon to escape Namek altogether." His tone was heavy.
"And you?" Raditz demanded.
"Me?" Goku's eyes gleamed with unshakable resolve. "I'm staying. I've never faced opponents like these before. Their power makes me tremble with excitement. I can't walk away… I have to fight!"
Raditz stared at him, speechless.
"Piccolo, Krillin you should go too," Goku added.
"Hmph. I don't need you to tell me," Piccolo grunted. He had trained relentlessly, climbing to new heights. Yet he knew no matter how much he'd grown, he couldn't touch the monsters in the sky. Bitter but realistic, he withdrew.
"Goku, please… be careful. If you fall, I'll make sure the dragon revives you," Krillin said, his voice thick with worry.
Goku gave a faint smile. "If Gohan comes back and I'm still not here, then… yes, revive me. But until then let me fight."
"…Got it. Just don't die recklessly." Krillin turned, flying toward the Grand Elder's settlement.
Hidden from sight, Gohan's eyes narrowed.
"Brother, keep watching. I need to take care of something."
"Go," Merus replied, too captivated by the clash of titans to think twice. For all his knowledge, the trainee Angel had never seen such combat firsthand. He was like a fresh graduate armed with theory, but little true field experience.
Pop!
Gohan vanished in an instant, reappearing at the Grand Elder's side.
"Gohan, you've returned? What's going on? My vision… it showed something else. Why is there yet another terrifying presence?" The Grand Elder's booming voice rattled with urgency, three questions in a breath.
"Grand Elder, when Krillin arrives, summon Porunga. Things have taken a turn. Frieza's brother is here too Cooler. He's after the dragon as well, and he's even stronger. To be safe, you must use the dragon to take everyone to Earth. Find Bulma there. She'll help you settle for now."
The Grand Elder's massive frame shook, but his gaze steadied. "Understood. Moori, prepare the Dragon Balls!"
"Yes, Grand Elder!" Moori's voice carried immediate obedience. None of the Namekians dared doubt their elder's words.
"Good. Hurry Namek may not survive this battle." Gohan gave his warning, his body already flickering out of sight.
In a blink, he was back at Merus's side.
"Gohan, don't you want to fight them too?" Merus asked curiously.
Gohan shook his head. "This isn't my stage. This is my father's moment. His chance to break through into Super Saiyan."
He paused, brows furrowing as a new thought unsettled him.
But the problem remained without Krillin's death, the spark that pushed Goku to transform would never ignite. The butterfly effect had erased that path.
He had even tried copying Universe 6's method like Cabba guiding Caulifla into Super Saiyan. He'd had Goku channel all his ki into his spine, but nothing happened.
Why? He couldn't understand. Yet he knew this much: once Goku became the first, every Saiyan after Vegeta, Gohan, even Goten and Trunks would find it far easier.
In Dragon Ball Super, the transformation had become almost trivial. Super Saiyan 1… even Super Saiyan 2… had been treated like nothing.
But here, at this pivotal moment Son Goku's awakening was anything but simple.
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