Stubbornness

Roland took a deep breath, catching the faint scent on her. Without beating around the bush, he said bluntly, "I really did come to save you. Planet Vegeta will be destroyed by Frieza soon. He's called all the Saiyans back this time so he can wipe them out in one fell swoop. If we don't escape now, it'll be too late."

"You just lied to me and said the Communicator was broken," Sephiria said.

"It really was broken. I didn't find out about the recall until I got back to Planet Vegeta, but I knew Frieza couldn't possibly have good intentions."

Roland looked at Sephiria earnestly. "I'd already been prepared to transfer you to Earth, but who knew you'd refuse? I had no choice but to come here myself."

Sephiria's expression changed abruptly. She stared at Roland. "The voice I heard in my head back then was your doing?"

"That's right. If you'd agreed then, you wouldn't be on Planet Vegeta now."

"You'd better tell me everything you know, without leaving anything out."

Sephiria watched Roland intently, feeling that her younger brother seemed to be hiding a great deal from her. Still, she was already beginning to believe him. On her way back to Planet Vegeta, she really had heard a voice asking whether she was willing to go to Earth. That matched what Roland had said.

"The truth is, I have the ability to foresee the future. I sensed a long time ago that Planet Vegeta would be destroyed..." Roland naturally didn't reveal the truth about himself. Instead, he made up a story about having precognitive abilities.

As Sephiria listened to Roland's explanation, she remembered how he'd kept trying to leave Planet Vegeta ever since she'd met him, and gave a slight nod.

A warrior's instincts made Sephiria keenly aware that something was off about the atmosphere on Planet Vegeta.

Frieza's ship had remained outside Planet Vegeta the entire time, and apparently had been there for quite a while. No one would believe that a leader commanding a vast army was taking an inexplicable interest in a high-level planet where his troops lived out of concern for his soldiers.

There was only one answer: Frieza was plotting something.

Could it really be as Roland said? Had Frieza called all the Saiyans back to wipe them out?

The Saiyan elite and Frieza had never gotten along as well as people imagined. Their disagreements were bound to erupt into conflict sooner or later. In that situation, if she were Frieza, she wouldn't leave the Saiyans as a potential threat, either. Wiping them out as soon as possible would be the right choice.

Sephiria thought it over briefly and quickly understood the situation. Her face, already as cold as frost, grew even colder.

"So after you arrived on Planet Mapa, you secretly went to that planet called 'Earth,' then tried to take me away using its mysterious power?" Her cool tone softened.

"That's right. Unfortunately, you didn't agree, so I came to get you."

"Thank you for remembering me." Sephiria stroked Roland's head and thanked him softly.

If everything Roland had said was true, he'd had no need to risk returning to Planet Vegeta. But he had come back to take her away. Even though Sephiria was usually rather cold, a trace of warmth rose in her heart.

Roland froze for a moment, then smiled. "You're my sister. Of course I wouldn't forget you! Don't say another word. I'm taking you away from Planet Vegeta right now. It's too dangerous here. Frieza will make his move today, or tomorrow at the latest."

"No. I won't run away. As a warrior, if Frieza intends to destroy Planet Vegeta, then I'll kill him first." Sephiria shook her head, her face filled with murderous intent as she spoke of Frieza.

"You have no idea how terrifying Frieza is. The Saiyans on Planet Vegeta are absolutely no match for him." Roland hurried to stop Sephiria from pursuing this insane idea.

"Frieza is certainly powerful, but I can also transform into a Great Ape. An upper-class warrior doesn't lose control when transformed. With my battle power, I'd reach fifty thousand after transforming. Even if my movement speed were affected, few could withstand my full-force attacks."

Sephiria spoke with confidence. In a universe where warriors with even a thousand in battle power were rare, fifty thousand was unimaginably powerful.

That was also the source of the Saiyans' confidence as they rampaged across the universe.

But Roland poured cold water on her confidence. "Ignorance is bliss. If you think turning into a Great Ape will let you defeat Frieza, you're gravely mistaken. Did you know Frieza is also an alien who can transform? Actually, to be precise, his transformations release his power. Because his strength is too great, Frieza normally places three restraints on himself."

"Don't be fooled by how harmless he looks, sitting in his hovercraft all day. Even in his base form, his power is an astonishing 530,000! And once he removes those restraints, his power will increase dramatically."

"530,000?"

Sephiria looked astonished, her pupils shrinking sharply. After a moment of silence, she stubbornly insisted, "Even if he really is that powerful, I still won't back down. Saiyans will never submit!"

"This lunatic. Why make a pointless sacrifice when she knows she'll lose?" Roland was speechless. He wished he could pry her head open and see what was inside.

"A lunatic? Maybe. We Saiyans work for Frieza, carrying out the task of clearing other planets. If we're wiped out one day, then I suppose it's only right." Sephiria smiled faintly and leaned her cheek close to Roland's. "If you can leave Planet Vegeta, then go quickly. There's no need to stay here and take risks. Take care of yourself."

With that, Sephiria gave Roland a tight hug, then gathered her energy and shot through the air with a whoosh, heading toward the royal palace. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from sight.

Roland watched Sephiria's retreating figure and said angrily, "Damn it, if you die, then my coming here was all for nothing!"

He flung his arm in frustration, gritted his teeth, and chased after Sephiria.

Aboard Frieza's spaceship in outer space, the yellow-skinned alien Kikono came before Frieza. "Lord Frieza, the time you set has arrived."

"Heh heh heh. I suppose it's time to say goodbye to those pesky Saiyan monkeys. To be honest, I'm almost reluctant to part with them." Frieza chuckled, then suddenly opened his crimson eyes. His tail swayed slightly as the small hovercraft beneath him rose, carrying him out of the ship's control room and into outer space.

The vast, frigid reaches of outer space were tinged dark red, heavy and still. Only a few meteors occasionally streaked past.

Frieza floated atop his spaceship in his hovercraft, facing Planet Vegeta, a chilling smile spreading across his face...