Goku's purity was so absolute that, upon reflection, Lu Li found it almost terrifying.
Back when Goku saw Frieza kill Krillin, remembered all the moments they had shared as children, and realized Krillin could no longer be revived, his rage became uncontrollable. He transformed into a Super Saiyan and brutally defeated Frieza.
Yet even with that level of anger, once the battle ended, Goku still chose to spare Frieza. He even wanted to give Frieza some of his energy so that he could survive.
When he was young, Lu Li had thought this was the righteous kindness expected of a protagonist. When he grew a little older, he had thought Goku was excessively merciful. But now, he suddenly realized that neither was true.
Goku was not excessively merciful. He was simply too pure. So pure that even the distinction between good and evil was blurred in his eyes—or rather, it ranked below that purity of his.
Of course, there was no denying that Goku was kind-hearted. But his kindness had limits. Or perhaps it was more detached and transcendent. He would draw his blade to help whenever he saw injustice, but he would not act against evil he could not see. Taken further, this was actually a kind of lofty, detached Buddhist nature. That was why he had so few worries and possessed such great freedom.
Speaking of purity, Goku thought Frieza was a powerful opponent. If Frieza survived, perhaps they could have another exhilarating battle someday. That was the fundamental reason he spared Frieza.
Was this the inherent flaw of Saiyans?
Lu Li thought again of Vegeta's battle with Cell. Vegeta wanted to spare Cell and let him absorb Android 18. Although everyone jokingly called that "Vegeta behavior," believing Vegeta had gotten carried away.
But Vegeta sparing Cell and