This time, Vegeta didn't plunge headfirst into the ground. His buddy Son Goku caught him.
Although Vegeta had committed unforgivable crimes on Earth, he and Son Goku had still developed a deep bond of mutual respect.
They had spent more than half a year together on Planet Yardrat, after all.
They didn't just see each other as rivals to surpass. They also shared a common goal: surpassing Frieza.
Vegeta's pride wouldn't allow him to be weaker than anyone else, while Son Goku simply wanted to become stronger.
Their reasons were different, but both were driven by a single-mindedness that others couldn't understand. That was why they progressed faster than the people around them.
But they had encountered Frieza, a freak whose natural talent was even greater than theirs. He had crushed them both with his strength.
"Oh ho ho ho~! Well, Son Goku, Piccolo, how about some post-meal exercise?"
Gohan was dumbfounded, and Piccolo's eye twitched.
What the hell did he mean, calling a fierce battle like this post-meal exercise?
"I haven't eaten yet!"
That was Son Goku for you. His thought process was always a little more unconventional than everyone else's.
Now it was Frieza's turn to be dumbfounded. He'd just been making a casual joke. Had Son Goku really taken him seriously?
"Go to the restaurant at Bulma's house. There's plenty to eat there!"
Frieza hadn't lost to Son Goku in a fight, but when it came to their thought processes, he was utterly defeated!
There was no point trying to explain anything to Son Goku. They could just go eat!
And so...
The chefs at Bulma's house were ready to freaking quit.
They'd already been in a frantic rush just keeping up with Vegeta. Now Son Goku and his son Gohan had joined them, and they could eat just as much!
Vegeta in particular had just eaten a hundred people's worth of food. How much time had even passed? How could he be hungry again?
Please, just act like normal people!
Watching all this, Bulma pressed a hand to her forehead, stubbed out the cigarette in her mouth, and made a phone call.
Five minutes later, a large group of food delivery workers in yellow uniforms, riding flying scooters, arrived at Bulma's house in West City.
There was fried rice, stir-fried noodles, steak, fried chicken, whole roast lamb, roast suckling pig, and all sorts of cakes, desserts, snacks, and drinks. The food just kept coming.
"Go on, eat! If you can eat me out of house and home, I'll admit you've got talent!"
Bulma had one good quality: she was generous. If her friends asked for something, she would usually do her best to provide it.
Even if her friends didn't ask, she'd find an excuse to hold a get-together and make sure anyone who needed something was taken care of.
After the feast came the post-meal exercise, naturally.
Even more people had come to watch this time. Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu were there, as were Master Roshi, Oolong, and Puar. Bulma hadn't missed it either.
Bulma gave a light wave of her hand, and with a bang, a long row of tables appeared. They were covered with all kinds of delicious food—the leftovers from when Son Goku and the other two had finally been unable to eat any more.
Leaving it uneaten would be a waste!
It was fine to be extravagant when you had money, but wasting food was shameful!
The spectators were ready, and so were the fighters.
This time, Vegeta, Son Goku, and Piccolo would team up against Frieza.
Vegeta wasn't too happy that Bulma had taken it upon herself to invite everyone to watch, but since he was freeloading on the food and drinks, he couldn't very well complain.
At least, that was what Vegeta thought.
As for Son Goku, as long as he had someone to fight, he didn't care about anything else!
Piccolo, well, he didn't get a say in the matter~~
Whoosh~~!
Whoosh~~!
Vooooom~~!
Two golden auras and one white aura shot into the sky. Son Goku and the other two had raised their ki to the max.
Vegeta was just over 500 million, Son Goku was at 500 million, and Piccolo was at 150 million!
Boom~~~
Frieza unleashed his full power. A furious purple aura burst out, and his 800 million battle power instantly overwhelmed everyone.
"Haah~~!"
"Ha~~!"
"······"
"Oh ho ho ho~~!"
The battle had only just begun, but it was already at a fever pitch.
Son Goku took the lead, using broad, powerful moves to force Frieza into a head-on fight.
Vegeta used Shift to ambush Frieza from time to time, while also meeting him head-on.
Piccolo~~
Who am I? Where am I? Wait for me, you two! Let me find Frieza first!!
In the end, Piccolo could only fire Special Beam Cannon after Special Beam Cannon. Not one hit Frieza, and several nearly struck Son Goku and Vegeta by mistake.
"Oh ho ho ho~~ You're not very good, are you? Your combined battle power is already far greater than mine, so why are you still so useless?"
Frieza's taunts fell on everyone equally. Son Goku and Vegeta flew into a rage, while Piccolo's face flushed red.
"Damn it! Damn it!! Kakarot, hold him off with everything you've got! I'm going to use my ultimate move!!"
"Ahhhhh!!!!"
Vegeta tried the same trick again. With Son Goku keeping Frieza occupied, he could transform into the muscular version of a Super Saiyan without any reservations.
"Piccolo!! Make sure you aim before you use your attacks! If you hit us by mistake again, don't blame me for what happens!"
Boom~~!
Thud!!!
A thunderclap rang out in the sky as Vegeta's fist collided with Frieza's.
With Son Goku keeping Frieza occupied, Frieza had simply ignored Piccolo, but he still had no choice but to trade a punch with Vegeta.
At equal battle power, their punches had the force of a thunderclap.
The spectators clapped their hands over their ears. The sound made their eardrums ache.
"Krillin, think of something! We'll be shaken to death if this keeps up!!"
Bulma shouted. She felt as though a thunderclap had gone off inside her head, and she was so uncomfortable she wanted to throw up.
Son Goku noticed what was happening to the people below and called out to Piccolo.
"Piccolo!! Go down and protect them! You can't keep up with this fight anymore!"
Boom~~!
Frieza kicked Son Goku away, sending him crashing into a mountain and reducing it to rubble.
"Oh ho ho ho~~ Getting distracted during a fight is a serious mistake!"
Whoosh~
Frieza vanished from the spot. In the next instant, he appeared behind Vegeta and tried the same trick again, aiming to chop him unconscious.
However, Vegeta wasn't the sort to forget a lesson as soon as he'd learned it. The instant Son Goku was sent flying, he had already prepared to defend himself.
Thud~~~
Frieza's knife-hand struck Vegeta's crossed arms, unleashing another sonic boom. Fortunately, Piccolo had already reached the spectators and shielded them with an energy barrier.
The barrier trembled violently, but at least it didn't break.
After his sneak attack failed, Frieza sprang back. Son Goku used Instant Transmission and appeared where Frieza had been standing.
"Not bad. You two are working together more and more smoothly. Now this is getting interesting! Oh ho ho ho!"
Whoosh~
Boom boom boom boom~~!!
Frieza went all out again. Explosions rang through the sky, and the entire planet began to tremble.
Fear filled Piccolo's eyes. He could tell the planet was struggling to withstand the battle!
Boom~ boom!!!!
Three minutes later, two figures shot straight down from the heart of the battle and slammed into the ground. Two craters appeared, and the entire planet split apart!
Bulma screamed!
"Son Goku! Vegeta! Frieza!! We're going to die!!!"
Before you continue