Frieza stared at the dazzling golden aura around Son Gohan, and images of Namek flashed through his mind.
Son Goku, with that same head of golden hair—the man who had beaten him into the ground and ultimately spared his life.
Humiliation!
Endless humiliation!
Frieza's pupils contracted sharply, and countless red veins instantly spread across his eyes.
The corners of his mouth twitched wildly. The purple aura surrounding him had grown utterly violent, and the air groaned beneath the strain of his terrifying power.
"Super Saiyan!"
"The Super Saiyans I hate most!"
"You're all going to die!"
Frieza's voice sounded as if it were being forced through clenched teeth, brimming with venom and murderous intent.
Before he had even finished speaking, he had already aimed a finger at Son Gohan. A thin purple beam, packed with terrifying power, shot out in an instant.
Szzzt!
The beam moved so fast that Son Gohan had no time to react.
He could only watch helplessly as it pierced his shoulder.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed out, staining half of Son Gohan's body red.
A wave of intense pain surged through him, and he couldn't help groaning. His body swayed uncontrollably.
"Gohan!"
Piccolo and Krillin cried out at the same time, their faces changing as they moved to rush toward Son Gohan.
"Stay back!"
Son Gohan lifted his head sharply and roared at them. His voice was hoarse with pain, but firm and unyielding.
"You're no match for him!"
"You'll only get yourselves killed!"
"I can still hold on!"
"Wait for Uncle Goku and Uncle Vegeta to come back!"
Son Gohan gritted his teeth. Sweat mingled with blood and ran down his forehead.
His body trembled, but his eyes remained steadfast.
He knew Frieza was after him. As long as he was still standing, Frieza wouldn't attack the others.
Piccolo and Krillin stopped dead in their tracks.
They stared at the wound on Son Gohan's shoulder, blood still pouring from it, and at the way he struggled to stay upright.
Their fists clenched so tightly their nails nearly dug into their palms, but all they could do was watch helplessly, powerless to help.
Frieza watched them, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
He slowly walked toward Son Gohan. Each step felt like it landed on everyone's heart.
"Not bad, not bad."
"You've got a little of Son Goku's spirit."
"But unfortunately..."
"Courage..."
"Is worthless..."
"In the face of absolute power!"
Frieza's voice was full of mockery. He stopped in front of Son Gohan and looked down at him with contempt.
"You're Son Goku's son."
"So I'll torture you to death first."
"When Son Goku gets here..."
"I'll make him watch..."
"His son die with his own eyes!"
"I'll make him suffer!"
"I'll make him despair!"
As Frieza finished speaking, he raised his finger again and aimed it at Son Gohan's left leg.
Szzzt!
Another purple beam shot out, piercing Son Gohan's left leg.
"Ah!"
Son Gohan could no longer hold back and let out a piercing scream.
The pain in his left leg made him lose his balance, and he dropped to one knee.
Blood poured from the wound, quickly staining the ground beneath him.
But Frieza didn't stop. He aimed his finger at Son Gohan's right leg again.
Szzzt!
The beam shot out and pierced his right leg too.
"Ugh!"
Son Gohan's scream grew even more agonized. His body could no longer support him, and he collapsed heavily onto his knees.
The pain in both legs made him convulse all over, and his consciousness began to blur.
"This isn't over yet."
"The show's only just begun."
Frieza's voice rang in Son Gohan's ears like a death knell.
He aimed his finger at Son Gohan's left arm again.
Szzzt!
The beam shot out, piercing his left arm.
"Gohan!"
Krillin couldn't bear to watch any longer. His eyes had turned bloodshot.
He wrenched himself free of Piccolo's grip and tried to charge at Frieza.
"Get back!"
Piccolo roared and grabbed Krillin by the collar, hauling him back.
"What are you going to do?"
"Get yourself killed?"
"If you charge in like that..."
"You couldn't even block one of Frieza's fingers!"
"Gohan told us to stay back!"
"He did it to protect us!"
"Do you want to make his sacrifice meaningless?"
Piccolo's voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were red too.
He had watched Son Gohan grow up. In his heart, Gohan was no different from his own son.
Seeing him tortured like this hurt Piccolo more than suffering the same torment himself. It filled him with even greater rage.
Piccolo's words stunned Krillin. He looked at Piccolo's bloodshot eyes, then at Son Gohan, collapsed on the ground and on the verge of death.
His body went limp, and he sank to the ground as tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
"I can't accept this!"
"Do we just have to stand here and watch?"
"We're so useless!"
Krillin's sobs were full of despair.
Piccolo said nothing. He only stared fixedly at Frieza's back.
His fists clenched with a creak, his nails cutting into his palms as blood dripped steadily between his fingers.
"Bulma!"
Piccolo suddenly turned and shouted at Bulma, who was hiding behind a boulder.
"Have you reached Whis?"
"Hurry!"
"If we're any later..."
"Gohan won't be able to hold on!"
At Piccolo's shout, Bulma's body jolted.
She hurriedly picked up the communicator and called Whis again, muttering over and over.
"Lord Whis!"
"Please answer!"
"I'm begging you!"
"Please answer!"
Watching Bulma's frantic efforts, Jaco couldn't help speaking up.
"Miss Bulma..."
"Are you sure this Lord Whis..."
"Really exists?"
"Doesn't Lord Beerus..."
"Only exist in myths?"
"Shut up!"
Bulma whirled around and shouted at Jaco.
She had no time to deal with his doubts. All she could think about was reaching Whis and getting him to save Son Gohan.
Bulma took a deep breath and pulled a huge box from her chest.
Inside was a Super Strawberry Sundae, specially prepared for Whis, Beerus, and Lin Fan. She knew Whis had a sweet tooth.
Raising the Super Strawberry Sundae high, she called Whis again.
"Lord Whis!"
"I have your favorite Super Strawberry Sundae here!"
"And all of Lord Beerus's favorite foods!"
"I've got something for Lord Lin Fan too!"
"Please answer!"
"Earth is doomed!"
"Gohan can't hold on much longer!"
Maybe Bulma's prayers had worked. Maybe the Super Strawberry Sundae had been too tempting to resist.
At last, a languid voice came from the other end of the communicator.
"My, my."
"Miss Bulma."
"What's the hurry?"
"I was just helping Son Goku train."
"I didn't even see your messages."
Two flashes of white light shot out of the communicator and landed in front of Bulma.
When the light faded, Whis stood before her.
Bulma stared at Whis for a moment. Then tears welled up in her eyes.
Overcome with emotion, she could barely get the words out.
"Lord Whis!"
"You're finally here!"
"Frieza has been revived!"
"He's torturing Gohan!"
"Gohan can't hold on much longer!"
"Please!"
"Go save Gohan!"
At Bulma's words, the smile slowly faded from Whis's face, and his expression grew serious.
"Frieza?"
"That fellow dares to cause trouble again?"
"Don't worry, Miss Bulma."
"I'll take Lord Lin Fan and Lord Beerus..."
"And head over right now."
"I absolutely won't let anything happen to Son Gohan."
Hearing Whis's words, Bulma was so excited she nearly jumped.
She quickly wiped away her tears, dashed out from behind the boulder, and climbed onto a tall rock.
"Piccolo!"
"Krillin!"
"Gohan!"
Bulma shouted down to the people below, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Lord Whis is on his way!"
"He's bringing Lord Lin Fan and Lord Beerus!"
"We're saved!"
"Gohan is going to be okay!"
Piccolo and Krillin jerked their heads up at Bulma's words.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing elation in the other's eyes.
"Really?"
"That's great!"
"Gohan is going to be okay!"
Krillin jumped up in excitement, tears streaming down his face even harder. This time, though, they were tears of joy.
Piccolo also breathed a sigh of relief, his tense body relaxing at once.
He looked at Son Gohan, kneeling on the ground, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Hang in there, Gohan."
"Help is on the way."
Before you continue