Frieza Planet No. 79.
Inside the Frieza Force First Corps Logistics & Medical Division, a cluster of bizarre-looking aliens crowded around a healing pod, whispering nervously.
Floating inside the pod was a completely naked human male, scrutinized like some kind of lab specimen.
Even with his eyes closed, an overwhelming, terrifying pressure radiated from his entire body.
This was none other than Vegeta the Prince of the Saiyans.
Saiyan? Vegeta?
That's right.
This was the Dragon Ball universe, and this was Frieza Planet No. 79: a supply outpost for Frieza's army and one of the galactic tyrant-turned-real-estate-mogul's personal playgrounds.
Date: December 13, Age 762.
After the disastrous battle on Earth, the critically wounded Vegeta had limped back here in his space pod a journey that took eighteen days then spent another half month submerged in the healing tank.
Today, at long last… he was finally healed.
Or rather… not quite the same as before.
Because the Vegeta floating in that tank was no longer the original Vegeta.
To understand how this happened, we have to go back to the moment Vegeta fled Earth.
Barely kept alive by the emergency medical system in his pod, the unconscious Saiyan prince had been possessed body-snatched by a transmigrator named John Max.
For an ordinary guy like John, the whole thing was beyond ridiculous.
But ridiculous or not, it had happened.
Just before transmigrating, John had been standing on the rooftop of his apartment building, expensive telescope in hand, waiting for the once-in-a-millennium Seven-Star Alignment.
In his online chat group, he'd been bragging half-jokingly that once he saw it, he'd officially "join the ranks of the transmigrators."
By sheer coincidence, the group had been deep in a Dragon Ball discussion, specifically the Demon King Piccolo arc.
Everyone was arguing about who they'd want to become if they ever got isekai'd into the Dragon Ball world.
John's instant answer? Vegeta.
Sure, the prince was eternally number two, but his pride, his swagger, his sheer charisma no one else came close.
Maybe he got too excited.
Maybe the alignment happened a few seconds earlier than the astronomers predicted.
Or maybe it was just a random gust of wind…
Whatever the reason, John lost his balance and tumbled off the roof.
Next thing he knew, he opened his eyes inside Vegeta's broken, dying body.
He'd been incredibly lucky: the original Vegeta had already been at death's door.
Any earlier, and John was certain that iron Saiyan will would have crushed and devoured his soul instead.
Ever since the takeover, John had been steadily merging with Vegeta's memories, instincts, and emotions.
…
"All vitals are back to normal. It's time," muttered a dinosaur-like alien technician.
He stepped up to the control panel and punched in the final sequence.
The pale healing fluid drained away, revealing Vegeta's perfectly restored body to the room full of onlookers.
"A true Saiyan warrior…"
"To recover from wounds that severe…"
"What kind of monster could have hurt Lord Vegeta this badly?"
"Shh! Do you want to die? Shut up!"
The whispers died instantly.
The dinosaur alien approached the now-open pod and addressed the still-closed-eyed prince with utmost respect.
"Lord Vegeta, the treatment is complete. You may open your eyes."
The moment the words left his mouth, he instinctively leaped backward
Because Vegeta's eyes snapped open.
Bloodshot, ice-cold, and brimming with murderous intent, those eyes froze every alien in the room to the bone.
Consciousness fully online, John Max now Vegeta drew several sharp breaths until the storm in his mind settled.
Moments ago everything had still felt like a dream.
Now he knew, without a shred of doubt:
He was alive.
And he was Vegeta, living inside the real Dragon Ball universe.
"M-my lord," the dinosaur alien stammered, bowing low. "We healed all of your injuries… but I'm afraid your tail could not be regenerated…"