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One day later.
Planet Vegeta.
With the cosmic emperor Frieza's flagship descending onto the Saiyan homeworld, both sides' plans were finally set into motion.
You could say Frieza chose to land on Planet Vegeta himself—deliberately giving King Vegeta the "opportunity" he'd been waiting for. He wanted to see what kind of grand spectacle the Saiyan king had prepared for him.
To Frieza, this was nothing more than a game. A chance to toy with the disobedient, arrogant monkeys who didn't know their place.
King Vegeta, of course, had no idea that Frieza's real purpose wasn't negotiation or intimidation—it was extermination. He hadn't just come to crush their pride, but to wipe out the entire Saiyan race and destroy the planet itself.
Still, the king believed this was his moment. That this was the day he would overthrow Frieza and the Cold family's rule.
Confidence—no, hubris—burned in him.
When power grows too strong, people start believing the universe belongs to them.
King Vegeta's confidence came from the elite force he'd secretly assembled. Every one of them was an upper-class Saiyan warrior with a battle power above five thousand—some even nearing ten thousand.
There were only a few dozen of them, but each one was an absolute powerhouse. Together, they believed they could storm Frieza's flagship and seize control from within—deal him a fatal blow before he could react.
Even if Frieza's power level really exceeded one hundred thousand, they could transform into Great Apes together.
One Saiyan alone was nothing—but dozens of them in Great Ape form, each with a power level of tens of thousands? That was another story entirely. King Vegeta was convinced he could stand toe-to-toe with Frieza himself.
His plan unfolded swiftly and quietly.
Even Frieza's own soldiers stationed on Planet Vegeta had no clue what was happening.
Any of Frieza's troops who tried to stop them were killed on sight—swiftly and mercilessly.
Before long, King Vegeta and his elite guard reached the control chamber of Frieza's flagship.
Victory seemed within reach. But just as King Vegeta raised his hand to signal the assault, the massive doors hissed open—revealing two familiar figures blocking their path.
Zarbon and Dodoria.
"Well, well… took you long enough, King Vegeta," Dodoria sneered, his pudgy face twisting into a cruel grin. "You Saiyan monkeys really are as pathetic as they look."
"You've managed to break through after we pulled out most of our elite guards," Zarbon added smoothly, his tone calm and cutting. "Yet it still took you this long. Do you really think strength like that can defy Lord Frieza? Ignorance truly is bliss."
King Vegeta actually laughed. "Still putting on airs, are you? Zarbon, Dodoria—I know the two of you are strong, but look around you. Every one of these warriors behind me is an elite among elites. Not one of them has a battle power below five thousand! You may outclass us one-on-one, but we've got the numbers. You can't win."
At his words, the Saiyan elites roared in agreement, energy crackling through the air.
They were convinced—this was the end of Frieza's reign.
"Oh? Over five thousand, you say?" Zarbon smirked. "Tell me, Dodoria, does that sound impressive to you?"
"Five thousand? Wow, terrifying," Dodoria said in mock fear. "Almost a quarter of my own strength."
The two exchanged knowing grins, mocking laughter echoing in the corridor.
Their contempt made the Saiyans' blood boil.
King Vegeta's warriors were just about to strike when a chill swept through the room—an unmistakable, suffocating pressure that froze them all in place.
A small hover pod floated into view.
And there he was.
Frieza.
He sat there, smiling faintly, eyes half-lidded in amusement, as if this were all some sort of performance.
"Zarbon, Dodoria… let King Vegeta and his men in," Frieza said softly, his tone dripping with mockery. "It wouldn't be right if I didn't watch the finale of this little drama myself."
Zarbon and Dodoria hesitated for only a second before stepping aside.
"Hmph! Even your master understands his fate," King Vegeta scoffed, though tension still flickered behind his eyes.
He stepped forward into the control chamber—only to feel his stomach twist when Frieza's gaze fell on him. That single glance carried more weight than any battlefield.
"My, my… so many elite Saiyans," Frieza purred, lips curling upward. "Tell me, King Vegeta—do you really believe you can overthrow me?"
The words pierced straight through his pride.
"Enough talk, Frieza!" King Vegeta snarled. "From this moment on, I am the true Emperor of the Universe!"
With a furious shout, he launched an energy blast straight at Frieza—an attack meant to declare war, to rally courage, to prove the Saiyans' might.
He'd come too far to back down now.
But his blast—barely ten thousand in power—never even exploded.
Frieza didn't lift a finger. He simply looked at it. The energy disintegrated in midair, dissolving into harmless particles.
"What—?!"
King Vegeta's pupils shrank. Cold terror surged through his chest.
The Saiyan warriors behind him froze in disbelief, horror written on every face.
Frieza chuckled. "Oh-ho-ho-ho… so you are ready to die. In that case, I suppose there's no need to keep pretending anymore."
His smile sharpened into something monstrous.
Frieza raised one slender finger.
Two thin beams of crimson light shot out—pew!—and pierced straight through King Vegeta's knees.
"Consider that my little gift to you," he said sweetly.
King Vegeta screamed, collapsing to the floor, blood pooling beneath him as he knelt before Frieza.
Everyone else could only watch in stunned silence, air catching in their throats.
The difference in power… was overwhelming.
Zarbon and Dodoria stood motionless, their faces expressionless, as if this were nothing more than another routine display of dominance.
"Heh-heh-heh-heh…" Frieza's voice dripped with cold amusement. "Yes, that's more like it. You Saiyan monkeys were born to kneel before me."
He stepped off his floating pod, his small frame emanating a crushing aura that filled the entire chamber.
"Tell me, King Vegeta—where did you get that courage of yours? Was it that silly little legend of the Super Saiyan? To think you'd let such a childish myth fill your head… You really are beyond saving."
Frieza looked down on him, eyes gleaming with pure, merciless delight.
"..."
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