The dark void of space stretched endlessly, broken only by the cold light of distant stars. Frieza's throne-like command seat shimmered with golden trim, his eyes narrowed, fixed on the struggling Pandorians below.
A twisted smirk curled across his lips.
"Ohohoho… you insects! Struggle as much as you want. No one is coming to save you."
The Pandorians, tall warriors with tribal markings glowing faintly across their skin, roared in unison. Their planet was burning, their people falling, but their spirit had not been broken. One of them—a broad-shouldered warrior clutching a glowing spear of crystal—leapt toward the hovering tyrant with all his might.
"FOR PANDORA!"
With every ounce of strength, he thrust the spear straight at Frieza's chest.
For a moment, hope flickered in their eyes. But that hope shattered instantly.
A shimmer of violet energy rippled across Frieza's body. An invisible barrier, smooth as glass, formed around him. The spear clashed against it—and in a single spark of light, the weapon disintegrated into ash, scattering uselessly in the void.
"Pathetic," Frieza chuckled darkly. He raised one finger lazily, as if flicking away a speck of dust.
The Pandorian's eyes widened in terror, but before he could retreat, a beam of crimson energy lanced through him, piercing his heart. His scream was cut short, his body crumbling into embers.
The other Pandorians gasped in despair.
Frieza yawned, stretching his arms. "That was boring. Let's try something more… spectacular."
He floated backward toward his ship, Zarbon and his soldiers following at his side. The large dome-like vessel hummed, engines igniting. With a casual wave of his hand, Frieza commanded the ship into orbit, rising far above the surface of Pandora.
The planet below gleamed with forests of crystal trees and oceans that shimmered like liquid sapphire. A world of beauty. A world about to die.
Frieza raised a finger again. A sphere of ki began to form—small at first, then swelling with unstable power, crimson light spilling across the ship's windows. His tail flicked playfully, as though he were preparing a firecracker.
"Humph… Weaklings have no right to live. And neither does their planet."
He released the blast.
The ki sphere streaked downward, cutting through the void like a blazing comet. The moment it touched Pandora's surface, the entire world erupted.
A deafening silence filled space—then came the explosion.
The crystal forests shattered into fragments. The sapphire oceans boiled into steam. Mountains crumbled like sandcastles before the tide.
The explosion rippled outward, the planet itself convulsing before collapsing inward. In seconds, Pandora was gone, nothing more than dust and glowing fragments drifting into the void.
Frieza's laughter echoed inside the ship. "Ohohoho! Now that was a firework worth watching!"
He reclined in his throne, watching the debris float like confetti in space.
"At least they gave me that much entertainment before fading into nothingness."
Zarbon, standing behind him, shifted nervously. His usual calm, elegant face twitched. He cleared his throat.
"L-Lord Frieza… there is some… unfortunate news."
Frieza turned his gaze lazily toward him, one eyebrow raised. "Oh? What is it now? Speak."
Zarbon hesitated, then bowed. "It's about Dodoria… and the forces we sent to gather the Dragon Balls on that planet called Earth."
Frieza's smirk faded, replaced with sharp curiosity. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Earth…? Don't tell me Dodoria has failed me."
Zarbon swallowed hard. "Y-yes, Lord Frieza. Dodoria and his squad were… annihilated. Only a few soldiers survived, fleeing back to headquarters. They reported encountering… resistance."
Frieza's tail lashed against the floor, his aura tightening. "Resistance? From whom? That planet was supposed to be insignificant. Its inhabitants are weak, primitive monkeys!"
Zarbon continued quickly, afraid of his master's wrath. "The survivors spoke of warriors… Saiyans, and others. There was one in particular, a man named Rudra, who displayed abilities far beyond expectation. Together with two Saiyans—Goku and Prince Vegeta—they slaughtered nearly the entire force."
The room grew silent. Even the hum of the ship seemed to pause.
Then Frieza chuckled. Low at first, then rising into a gleeful laugh.
"Ohohohoho! How delightful! The monkeys have grown fangs, have they? And this… Rudra. Interesting. Very interesting."
His eyes gleamed red, filled with excitement. "So, they think they can challenge me? Me, Lord Frieza?!" His aura flared violently, sending a ripple of pressure across the chamber.
Zarbon lowered his gaze, beads of sweat forming. "My Lord, the fugitives who carried this news have already been executed for their cowardice. But… their report was clear. The Earth is not to be underestimated."
Frieza rose slowly from his throne, floating in midair with regal arrogance.
"Hmph. These Saiyans have forgotten their place. And this Rudra… he intrigues me. Perhaps I will enjoy crushing him personally. Yes… it has been far too long since I've stretched my claws."
His smirk returned, more sinister than before.
"Zarbon… set our course immediately. Our next destination… Earth."
Zarbon bowed. "Yes, Lord Frieza! At once!"
The soldiers around them hurried to obey, adjusting coordinates on the ship's navigation system. Engines roared, the massive vessel slowly turning, aligning with its new target.
Frieza looked out the window one last time, gazing at the shattered remains of Pandora.
"Ohohoho… such a pity. But Earth will provide far greater entertainment. They even possess Dragon Balls of their own, do they not?"
Zarbon nodded. "Indeed, Lord. It seems the Earth's Dragon Balls may rival those of Namek in power."
Frieza's smirk widened. His laughter shook the chamber once more.
"Perfect. Power, challenge, and immortality—all waiting for me on that tiny, fragile planet. Let's see how long their courage lasts when they stand before me."
The ship's thrusters flared, and with a burst of light, it vanished into the void—its course set for Earth.