Gohan's Steadfastness

Frieza stared at the blinding golden aura radiating from Son Gohan, his mind instantly flashing back to the scenes from Namek all those years ago.

That same Son Goku with his head of golden hair, the Son Goku who had ground him into the dirt and then spared his life.

Humiliation!

Endless humiliation!

Frieza's pupils contracted sharply, and his eyes were instantly webbed with dense, blood-red capillaries.

His mouth twitched uncontrollably, and the purple aura surrounding his body surged to a violent extreme, causing the very air to groan under the weight of such terrifying power.

"Super Saiyan!"

"The Super Saiyan I loathe the most!"

"You all deserve to die!"

Frieza's voice sounded as if it were being squeezed through his teeth, dripping with malice and murderous intent.

Before the words had even faded, he pointed a finger at Son Gohan, and a slender purple beam, packed with terrifying power, shot out in an instant.

Screech!

The beam moved with extreme speed, leaving Son Gohan no time to react.

He could only watch helplessly as the beam pierced through his shoulder.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed out, staining half of Son Gohan's body crimson.

A wave of intense pain washed over his entire body, forcing a muffled groan from his throat as his frame swayed uncontrollably.

"Gohan!"

Piccolo and Krillin cried out in alarm, their expressions shifting drastically as they moved to rush toward Son Gohan.

"Don't come over!"

Son Gohan suddenly raised his head and roared at them, his voice raspy from the agony but filled with unquestionable resolve.

"You are no match for him!"

"Coming here is just throwing your lives away!"

"I can still hold on!"

"Wait for Uncle Goku and Uncle Vegeta to return!"

Son Gohan gritted his teeth hard, sweat and blood streaming down from his forehead.

His body was trembling, but his gaze remained steadfast.

He knew clearly that Frieza's target was him; as long as he remained standing, Frieza would not strike at the others.

Piccolo and Krillin skidded to a halt.

The two watched the blood continuously flowing from the wound on Son Gohan's shoulder, watching him force himself to stay upright.

Their fists were clenched so tightly that their nails were digging into their palms, yet they could only watch, utterly powerless.

Frieza watched this scene, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

He walked slowly toward Son Gohan, each step landing like a heavy blow to the hearts of those watching.

"Not bad, not bad."

"You have a bit of that backbone Son Goku had back then."

"It's just a pity."

"Things like backbone..."

"In the face of absolute power..."

"Are worthless!"

Frieza's voice was filled with mockery as he stopped in front of Son Gohan, looking down at him with eyes full of contempt.

"You are Son Goku's son."

"Then I shall torture you to death first."

"When Son Goku arrives..."

"I will make him watch with his own eyes..."

"How his son dies!"

"I want him to suffer!"

"I want him to despair!"

As Frieza's voice fell, he raised his finger once more, aiming it at Son Gohan's left leg.

Screech!

Another purple beam shot out, piercing precisely through Son Gohan's left leg.

"Ah!"

Son Gohan could no longer hold it back, letting out a shrill, miserable scream.

The excruciating pain radiating from his left leg caused him to instantly lose his balance, dropping him to one knee.

Fresh blood gushed continuously from the wound, quickly staining the ground beneath him crimson.

But Frieza did not stop there; he aimed his finger once again at Son Gohan's right leg.

Sizzle!

A beam shot out, piercing through the right leg as well.

"Urgh-ah!"

Son Gohan's scream became even more harrowing, his body losing all support as he collapsed heavily onto his knees.

The agony in both legs sent his entire body into spasms, and his consciousness began to blur.

"It's not over yet."

"The good show has only just begun."

Frieza's voice rang in Son Gohan's ears like a death warrant.

He aimed his finger at Son Gohan's left arm.

Sizzle!

A beam shot out, piercing through the left arm.

"Gohan!"

Krillin could no longer bear to watch, his eyes turning bloodshot.

He violently wrenched himself free from Piccolo's grip, intent on charging toward Frieza.

"Get back!"

Piccolo roared, grabbing Krillin by the back of his collar and yanking him back with all his might.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Throwing your life away?"

"If you charge in like that,"

"You won't even be able to block a single finger of Frieza's!"

"Gohan didn't let us go over there!"

"It was to protect us!"

"Do you want his sacrifice to be in vain?"

Piccolo's voice trembled, his own eyes reddening.

He had watched Son Gohan grow up; in his heart, Son Gohan was no different from his own son.

Watching Son Gohan being tortured like this caused him more pain and fury than if he were the one being tormented.

Krillin was stunned by Piccolo's rebuke. He looked at Piccolo's bloodshot eyes, then back at Son Gohan, who was kneeling on the ground, hovering on the brink of death.

His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.

"I can't accept this!"

"Are we just going to watch helplessly?"

"We are truly so useless!"

Krillin's sobbing was filled with despair.

Piccolo said nothing; he merely stared fixedly at Frieza's back.

His fists were clenched so tightly they creaked, his nails digging into his palms until blood dripped from between his fingers.

"Bulma!"

Piccolo whipped his head around, shouting at Bulma, who was hiding behind a rock.

"Have you reached Whis yet?"

"Hurry!"

"If you're any later,"

"Gohan won't be able to hold on!"

Hearing Piccolo's shout, Bulma's body shuddered violently.

She hurriedly grabbed the communicator and dialed Whis's number again, muttering incessantly.

"Lord Whis!"

"Please, pick up!"

"I'm begging you!"

"Pick up the phone, hurry!"

Jaco, standing to the side, watched Bulma's anxious expression and couldn't help but speak up.

"Miss Bulma."

"Are you certain that Lord Whis..."

"Actually exists?"

"Lord Beerus..."

"Isn't he just a figure from myths?"

"Shut up!"

Bulma whipped her head around and roared at Jaco.

She had no time to entertain Jaco's skepticism; her mind was occupied by a single thought: contacting Whis and getting him to save Son Gohan.

Bulma took a deep breath and pulled a massive box from her coat.

Inside the box was a Super Strawberry Sundae, a treat she had prepared specifically for Whis, Beerus, and Lin Fan, knowing full well that Whis had a weakness for sweets.

She held the Super Strawberry Sundae high and dialed Whis's number once more.

"Lord Whis!"

"I have your favorite Super Strawberry Sundae right here!"

"And Lord Beerus's favorite delicacies, too!"

"I have some for Lord Lin Fan as well!"

"Please, pick up the phone!"

"Earth is about to be destroyed!"

"Gohan can't hold on much longer!"

Perhaps it was Bulma's prayers that worked, or perhaps the temptation of the Super Strawberry Sundae was simply too great.

From the other side of the communicator, a lazy voice finally drifted through.

"Oh my, oh my."

"Miss Bulma."

"What is the rush?"

"I was just busy training with Son Goku."

"I didn't even see your messages."

Two beams of white light shot out from the communicator and landed right in front of Bulma.

As the light faded, the figure of Whis appeared before her.

Seeing Whis, Bulma froze for a moment before tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She was so agitated that she could barely string her words together.

"Lord Whis!"

"You finally came!"

"Frieza has been resurrected!"

"He is torturing Gohan!"

"Gohan can't hold on much longer!"

"I beg you!"

"Please, go save Gohan!"

Upon hearing Bulma's words, the smile on Whis's face gradually faded, and his expression turned serious.

"Frieza, you say?"

"That fellow actually dares to come out and cause trouble again."

"Rest assured, Miss Bulma."

"I shall bring Lord Lin Fan and Lord Beerus with me."

"We are heading over now."

"I will absolutely not let anything happen to Son Gohan."

Hearing Whis's promise, Bulma was so excited she nearly jumped for joy.

She hurriedly wiped away her tears, dashed out from behind the rocks, and scrambled up onto a high boulder.

"Piccolo!"

"Krillin!"

"Gohan!"

Bulma shouted down at the people below, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Lord Whis has made contact!"

"He is bringing Lord Lin Fan and Lord Beerus over right now!"

"We are saved!"

"Gohan is saved!"

Upon hearing Bulma's words, Piccolo and Krillin snapped their heads up.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing pure ecstasy in the other's eyes.

"Is it true?"

"That's wonderful!"

"Gohan is saved!"

Krillin jumped up in excitement, his tears flowing even more heavily, but this time, they were tears of joy.

Piccolo also let out a sigh of relief, his tense body instantly relaxing.

He looked at Son Gohan, who was kneeling on the ground, and a faint smile finally appeared on his lips.

"Hold on, Gohan."

"Help is on the way."