Vegeta, We Meet Again

"Not a bad idea, right?" Cui was sweating profusely, his voice trembling. "If all of us join forces, we can definitely defeat Zarbon and Dodoria!"

"Cut the act!" Vegeta scoffed, a mocking smile curling his lips. "You disgusting little creep!"

"I'm really not lying to you, Vegeta!" Cui said in a low voice, leaning forward slightly and clenching his fists in front of him. "Please believe me. These three can vouch for me, too."

His gaze shifted to Son Goku and the others, a hint of pleading in his eyes.

"Watch out." Son Goku suddenly cut in, his eyes on Cui's hands. "He's gathering energy! He might be trying to catch you off guard, Vegeta."

Vegeta's eyes shifted slightly as he glanced at Son Goku.

"You bastard!" Cui roared, his pleading expression instantly turning vicious. "Mind your own business!"

He swung his right hand, and a huge mass of energy shot from his palm, sweeping toward Son Goku.

The energy ball left a trail of light in the air and hummed as it flew.

At the same time, Cui pulled back his other hand, gathered another mass of energy in his palm, then thrust it forward at Vegeta.

The two blasts shot out almost simultaneously, flying in opposite directions.

Son Goku silently raised one hand, spread his fingers, and held his palm outward.

He gave a casual little wave of his hand.

"Whoosh!"

The energy Cui had unleashed was slapped off course by Son Goku's palm. It curved through the air and flew off into the distance.

"Rumble!"

A moment later, the blast struck the lake in the distance.

Water surged skyward, and white spray soared dozens of meters into the air. The surface of the lake shuddered violently, sending ripples outward that crashed against the rocks along the shore.

On the other side, Cui's blast engulfed the spot where Vegeta stood, swallowing everything in light.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion sent flames soaring, rocks flying, and dust billowing.

The spot where Vegeta had been was leveled. The blast left a deep crater in the ground, its blackened soil turned inside out.

"W-what?" Cui stared at Son Goku in horror, his mouth hanging open, his jaw nearly dropping. "He slapped it away!"

His pupils shrank, and a sheen of cold sweat broke out across his back.

How could this Saiyan be even stronger than he'd imagined?

Cui's Adam's apple bobbed as he watched Son Goku for several seconds.

Still, at least he seemed to have taken Vegeta out.

The corners of his mouth slowly lifted into a smile.

"Heh heh heh." Cui smiled at Son Goku, hands on his hips and chin raised slightly. "You really are strong—just a little stronger than that guy named Vegeta."

He paused and tilted his head.

"But... Vegeta is your example of what's coming!"

"You're pretty good, too," Son Goku complimented him sincerely, a faint smile on his lips. "You unleashed two blasts of energy at once."

"Idiot." Piccolo smiled scornfully, a mocking curve at his lips. "Vegeta isn't that easy to kill."

"W-what did you say?" Cui froze for a moment, his smile stiffening.

"Look over there!" Piccolo lifted his chin slightly toward the spot where Vegeta had been.

Cui turned his head mechanically, his neck giving a faint click, and looked in Vegeta's direction.

Sure enough, Vegeta was standing on a boulder not far away, arms crossed over his chest, a broad smile on his face.

"What's the matter, Cui?" Vegeta sneered, his gaze sweeping over him. "Did you think that pathetic power of yours could defeat me?"

"W-when did you dodge?" Cui asked, stunned, his eyes wide and Vegeta's reflection visible in his pupils.

"When your battle power goes up, your speed naturally increases, too." Vegeta chuckled, a dangerous smile on his lips. "What you just did has really pissed me off."

Cui looked at Vegeta, then turned to Son Goku, his gaze darting back and forth between the two of them.

His face was deathly pale, his lips trembling as he instinctively stumbled two steps backward.

For a brief moment, he hesitated.

"Whoosh!"

Cui became a streak of light and shot into the sky, moving so fast that a blur trailed behind him. He was trying to get away from this mess.

"Trying to run?" Vegeta scoffed, pushing off the boulder and springing into the air.

His figure flickered through the sky, each burst of speed bringing him closer than the last. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Cui, arms spread wide to block his way.

Cui was so terrified he nearly lost his wits. His face twisted with fear, and his pupils contracted.

He hurriedly slammed on the brakes in midair, stopping less than two meters from Vegeta.

Vegeta grinned maliciously, baring two rows of white teeth.

He drew his right fist back, his arm muscles swelling, then swung it forward with a sudden punch.

An uppercut slammed into Cui's abdomen.

Vegeta's fist sank into Cui's battle armor, and force erupted from the point where his fist met Cui's body.

"Thud!"

The punch sent Cui rocketing high into the sky like he'd been launched by a spring.

He somersaulted wildly through the air, arms and legs flailing, and spat out a mouthful of blood. The spray scattered in the sunlight.

Vegeta's lips curled into a cruel smile.

He raised his right hand and pressed his index and middle fingers together, aiming them at Cui's body high above. He was about to kill him on the spot.

"Wait, Vegeta."

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out near Vegeta.

It wasn't loud, but every word was clear, as if someone were speaking right beside his ear.

Vegeta's pupils suddenly contracted, and his entire body jolted. He froze in midair.

The fingers he'd been about to use to unleash his energy immediately lowered. He clenched his fist and drew his hand back to his side.

Vegeta turned his head mechanically, his neck stiff as a rusty gear, and looked toward the source of the voice.

Sure enough, it was that guy, Soro!

He was hovering in the air not far away, hands in his pockets, a faint smile on his lips.

He sure had arrived fast!

"We meet again," Soro said with a smile, greeting Vegeta with a wave of his hand.

The corner of Vegeta's eye twitched violently, and a vein throbbed at his temple.

His body jerked back as if he'd been shocked, and he rapidly put more distance between himself and Soro, retreating over ten meters in one breath.

His hands came up on their own, shielding him in front.

"Flash Technique!" Soro chuckled, slowly speaking the three words. His voice wasn't loud, but each word struck Vegeta's eardrums like a hammer.

"Ah..."

Vegeta instinctively flew backward, his body lurching away as he let out startled cries, his voice pitching high.

He hurriedly clapped both hands over his eyes, pressing his palms tightly against his eyelids, his fingers trembling.