"With me here, there's nothing to fear. They're just five insects — they won't lay a finger on you."
Vegeta's tone was steady as he reassured Bulma.
He then turned to the handful of elite soldiers standing nearby.
"The same goes for you. Remember this — times have changed. The Frieza Force is finished. From this moment on, you serve me."
Three days together had been more than enough for these elites to understand exactly where they stood.
Their loyalty had solidified — partly out of fear, partly out of respect, and partly because Vegeta was the only thing standing between them and death.
If they didn't betray him, Vegeta had no reason to eliminate them.
They were useful — and the new Vegeta no longer killed simply for amusement.
Under his protection, the elite soldiers grouped together quickly, instinctively gravitating toward their new master.
After all, they knew exactly what the Ginyu Force was like.
To the Ginyu Force, they had never been anything more than disposable tools — yelled at, ordered around, ignored, or abused.
And now that they had defected from Frieza, the moment the Ginyu Force found out… they'd be dead.
"Y-You will help them, right? If Krillin and Gohan can't win…" Bulma grabbed Vegeta's arm anxiously.
They were her earliest friends — and Goku's son.
She couldn't bear the thought of watching either of them die.
Vegeta nodded slightly.
"Relax. With their current strength, they won't die even if they lose. Captain Ginyu may have a power level of 120,000, but he won't bother fighting two fighters with only forty thousand between them."
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
"He'll send his subordinates first."
On the neighboring island…
The hatch of a medium-sized space pod opened with a hiss.
Captain Ginyu strutted out first, followed by Jeice, Burter, Recoome, and Guldo.
"Finally here! What a barren dump… looks exactly like the reports. Hard to believe a place like this has Dragon Balls that grant wishes," Ginyu stretched lazily before squinting toward the massive ship on the next island.
"Let's go. This time, Lord Frieza has to witness our latest entrance routine. It'll blow him away."
With a self-satisfied grin, he launched into the air.
His squad followed without hesitation.
Unaware that Frieza had already been killed, the so-called unbeatable Ginyu Force crossed the sky and landed in front of the massive ship — striking the ground in perfect synchronization.
And then—
They detonated into their signature introduction pose.
Each member shouted their name, limbs twisted into dramatic stances, faces full of pride and smug energy.
Captain Ginyu thrust a fist forward and roared:
"THE GINYU FORCE — HAS ARRIVED!"
They held the pose.
They waited.
And waited.
The silence stretched on.
A lonely gust of wind rolled by.
It was… a complete and absolute cold scene.
Finally noticing the lack of applause, recognition, or any reaction whatsoever, the Ginyu Force blinked and glanced around.
Frieza wasn't there.
But there were familiar faces —
the elite ship crew… and Vegeta.
Plus a woman.
And on the other side — a bald runt, a kid, and a young Namekian.
"Hmm? Shouldn't you be clapping right about now?" Ginyu placed his hands on his hips proudly. "That routine took me ages to design. Especially you, little Vegeta — shouldn't you be applauding?"
Vegeta didn't bother replying.
He simply looked at Ginyu with a cold, mocking smile —
a smile that made the already painful silence grow even more unbearable.
~~~~~~
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