Soro, Are You Leaving Earth?

"I'm not interested in you anymore," Soro said, kicking him again and catching Vegeta in the waist with his foot. "You can get lost!"

"Bang!"

Vegeta's body traced an arc through the air, like a kite with its string cut.

He spun several times before plunging headfirst into a distant patch of jungle, disappearing beneath the canopy.

The sound of branches snapping came from far away.

"Pfft..."

A mouthful of blood sprayed from Vegeta's lips, misting through the air.

He lay face-down on the jungle floor, covered in mud, blood and tears streaking his face.

His trembling right hand reached into his clothes. His fingers shook as they fumbled around before pulling out a small remote.

Vegeta gritted his teeth and felt around until he pressed a few buttons on the remote.

"Whoosh!"

A spherical spaceship came hurtling toward him from the distance, trailing a streak of white.

The ship arced through the sky and quickly landed beside Vegeta, its hatch facing him.

Hearing the sound, Vegeta felt around and began crawling toward the spaceship.

His fingers scrabbled at the ground, his fingernails packed with dirt.

Meanwhile, Vegeta's heart pounded in his chest as if it were about to leap out.

I hope that bastard Soro hasn't changed his mind.

If he kills me now... I won't be able to fight back at all.

Fortunately, Vegeta could feel that he was getting closer and closer to the spaceship.

His fingers brushed the ship's smooth outer hull.

"Click!"

Vegeta reached out and grabbed the edge of the hatch, hooking his fingers into the gap.

Joy surged through him.

At last... I'm finally going to board the spaceship.

"Flash Technique!"

Soro suddenly shouted from behind him.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to Vegeta's ears.

At the sound of Soro's voice, Vegeta's expression froze.

His body shuddered violently on reflex.

His fingers slipped and fell away from the edge of the hatch.

With nothing to hold him up, Vegeta pitched forward and hit the ground, his face buried in the mud.

Son Goku immediately covered his eyes.

Krillin yelped and turned away.

Piccolo instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes.

Son Gohan shut his eyes at once.

But Son Goku and the others quickly realized what was happening.

Soro had only shouted. He hadn't actually used the Flash Technique.

No white light appeared.

Son Goku lowered his hand and let out a relieved breath, then gave an awkward chuckle.

Krillin turned around too and patted his chest.

That thing was just too terrifying.

His eyes couldn't take it at all.

Only after falling to the ground did Vegeta suddenly realize that he was already blind.

He lay there, panting heavily.

Even if you use the Flash Technique again, can it really hurt my eyes a second time?

"Hmph!"

Vegeta gritted his teeth in fury, grinding them together with a grating sound.

He reached out again, felt along the ground until he found the edge of the hatch, and pulled himself upright.

At last, Vegeta climbed aboard the spaceship.

He tumbled into the cabin and slumped against a seat.

"Creak!"

The spaceship's hatch slowly closed with a heavy thud.

"Whoosh!"

The ship shot into the sky, hot air blasting from its rear.

It instantly broke through the planet's atmosphere, leaving a white trail across the sky as it entered the vastness of space.

When Vegeta sensed that his ship had completely entered space, the heart he'd been holding in suspense finally settled.

He slumped in his seat, utterly drained.

Thank goodness!

I've finally left Earth!

Vegeta let out a long breath.

Just you wait, Soro!

When I, Vegeta, become a Super Saiyan, I'll repay you a hundredfold for the humiliation you put me through today!

He clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm.

On the wasteland.

Soro gazed up at Vegeta's vanished spaceship, the corners of his mouth lifting into an increasingly bright smile.

The ship's silhouette dwindled to a pinpoint on the horizon, then disappeared completely.

Soro hadn't really been in a hurry to kill Vegeta.

Actually, Soro didn't hate Vegeta for leaving him behind on Atlantis Planet.

After all, Soro had spent a happy youth on that planet.

He'd had plenty to eat and drink, and a hundred cat-eared beauties to keep him company.

Life had been pretty comfortable.

The reason he hated Vegeta was that the guy had a nasty mouth.

If you'd left me there without saying a word, I wouldn't have done anything so excessive to you.

And you humiliated me when I first got here, too.

Of course I had to humiliate you right back, a hundredfold!

"H-hello."

Son Goku stepped forward to greet him, a sincere smile on his face. He held out a hand, hoping to shake Soro's.

Piccolo's gaze swept over Soro, his brow faintly furrowed.

Krillin instinctively clenched both fists and leaned back slightly.

But the two of them quickly came to their senses.

They exchanged a glance, seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.

We're staring at him so intently... what if he uses the Flash Technique again?

That Saiyan named Vegeta is so pitiful. His eyes were completely blinded.

Krillin shuddered and quickly looked away.

Piccolo cleared his throat and looked elsewhere, too.

"Hold on a second!"

As he spoke, Soro took out a remote and pressed a few buttons.

"Whoosh!"

Soro's spaceship came flying over from a distance and landed steadily nearby.

Then Soro stepped onto the spaceship and climbed inside.

He quickly worked the controls, his fingers flying over the buttons.

"Huh?" Son Goku asked, slightly taken aback. "Soro? Are you... are you leaving Earth?"

"No," Soro replied with a smile, without looking back.

He picked up the microphone and brought it to his mouth.

Then Soro shouted into the spaceship's microphone.

"Flash Technique!"

At those three words, Son Goku instinctively closed his eyes, his eyelids snapping shut as his body stiffened slightly.

Piccolo, Son Gohan, and Krillin all jumped in alarm and hurriedly spun around in a surprisingly graceful turn.

Krillin cried, "Ah!" and covered his face with both hands.

Son Gohan buried his head in Piccolo's cape.

Piccolo raised a hand to shield his eyes.

But Soro still didn't use the Flash Technique. He was only shouting the name.

The air fell silent for two seconds.

Krillin slowly lowered his hands and turned around, staring at Soro with a completely exasperated expression.

Piccolo lowered his arm, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Son Goku opened his eyes, scratched his head, and gave another awkward smile.

The vast starry sky stretched across the boundless universe.

Vegeta lay inside the spaceship, despair and indignation written all over his face.

Blood scabs covered his eyes, and dried blood still clung to the corner of his mouth.

His body swayed slightly with the ship's gentle rocking.

Just then.

Soro's voice suddenly came through the loudspeaker, like a demon whispering.

"Flash Technique!"

The voice came through the communications system so clearly, it sounded as though someone were speaking right beside him.

Vegeta let out a scream of terror, his body convulsing violently.

He flailed both hands, nearly tumbling out of his seat.

His heart hammered in his chest as if it were about to explode.