Son Goten's words hit Vegeta hard.
Vegeta looked around in disbelief, then looked at himself. He had a vague sense that this was how things were, but with fate laid out before him, how could he fight it?
The man called Frieza was too powerful. Vegeta was no match for him. Even as one of Frieza's warriors, fighting at his side, Vegeta felt no more than a living corpse.
Yes, he could feel all the malice that came from living beings. It was all so clear.
He was a proud prince, yet now he couldn't even defeat an ordinary warrior from a single planet. The frustration and humiliation were unbearable.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you. You're the Saiyan prince, after all. That title alone is enough to make me spare you. I'll even let you live comfortably."
"I... I'm a powerful warrior. I should die in battle. I would never cling to life like a coward."
"Hahaha! Death doesn't seem to mean much. Only genuine effort and true strength can wash away the humiliation of the past. You're always welcome to come to Earth and challenge me."
Son Goten burst out laughing and flew back to the Saiyan warriors.
They all knelt on the ground.
"You will be our king."
"Never mind that. Just be my warriors. Don't call me king, either. You can call me Master Goten or Master."
"Master, please let us fight at your side."
Son Goten nodded. When he turned around, Vegeta had already landed and sat down on the ground, as though he'd suffered a devastating blow. His eyes were unfocused.
Perhaps it really was an unimaginable blow. Vegeta had fallen into despair and didn't even know how to go on living. That was the pain life could bring.
Maybe he could still go