Battle!

This was not the first time he had heard speculation about his origins.

But hearing it from these two aliens gave it a convincing sense of reality.

"I'm... an alien? A Namekian?"

"Hehehe, looks like even you didn't know."

Nappa sneered. "Namekians are a race famous for possessing magical powers. Their combat strength isn't much, but they can always make all sorts of strange magical items."

"Magical... items?"

Krillin and Yamcha exchanged a glance, a flash of realization striking their minds.

"C-Could it be?!"

Krillin could not help crying out.

"No wonder Piccolo and Kami could create Dragon Balls! No wonder they could summon Shenron to grant any wish! It was because they were aliens! Because of the Namekians' magical talent?!"

"So that's it! Now it all makes sense!" Yamcha suddenly realized.

However.

Their instinctive exclamations instantly dropped the atmosphere on the field to freezing point.

"What... did you say?"

Vegeta, who had worn a cold expression moments ago, suddenly turned his head. His sinister eyes locked tightly onto Krillin.

"Dragon Balls? Shenron? Granting... any wish?"

Though Vegeta's voice was low, it carried an undisguised greed and fervor.

"Hey! You little bald brat! Explain yourself! What are those things?!"

"C-Crap!!"

Krillin instantly covered his mouth, cold sweat pouring down his face.

Only then did he realize that he had revealed Earth's greatest secret right in front of the enemy!

"N-Nothing! I didn't say anything!"

Krillin desperately shook his head and backed away.

"Bastard! Do you want to die?!"

A terrifying aura erupted from Vegeta and bore down directly on Krillin.

"Speak! Can that so-called wish really grant anything? Including... immortality?!"

For Saiyans who fought across the universe year-round and faced the threat of death at every moment, nothing was more tempting than "eternal life."

With endless life, he would have endless time to grow stronger. One day, he would surpass that damned Frieza!

Faced with Vegeta's interrogation, Krillin was afraid, but the toughness in his bones made him clench his teeth.

"None of your business!!"

Krillin roared, "That is Earth's treasure! We'll never hand it over to scum like you!!"

"Oh?"

Vegeta laughed in fury, the killing intent in his eyes growing even thicker.

"Good. Very good. Your mouth is pretty tough."

"Then I'll crush your bones one by one and see whether your bones are tougher, or your mouth!"

"Nappa! Move!!"

"Got it!!"

Having received the order, Nappa hesitated no longer. White energy flared around his body as he shot forward like a cannonball.

"Target—the Namekian!!"

If they captured the one who created the Dragon Balls, would they still have to worry about prying out the secret?

"Don't even think about it!!"

Piccolo came to his senses as well. Though shocked by his origins, his battle instincts made him assume a defensive stance at once.

"Everyone, be careful!!"

Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, and the others all unleashed their energy, preparing for battle.

However.

Just as Nappa was about to reach Piccolo.

An orange-red figure did not join their battle. Instead, he did the opposite and charged straight toward Vegeta at the rear!

"Goku?!" Krillin cried out in alarm.

"Don't worry about me! Leave that big guy to you! I'll handle this short one!"

Son Goku's voice was filled with excitement and fighting spirit.

He did not go help Piccolo.

On one hand, he understood Piccolo's awkward pride. If he interfered, Piccolo would only be displeased.

On the other hand, and more importantly—

This Nappa only had a combat power of 4,000.

For Goku, whose normal combat power had already reached 10,000, he was too weak to stir any excitement at all.

Only the unfathomable Vegeta could make his blood boil!

"Oh?"

Watching Son Goku charge straight at him, Vegeta did not evade. He remained standing with his arms folded, his eyes full of disdain.

"Kakarot, you really are in a hurry to reincarnate."

"You want to fight me? Are you even worthy?"

Vegeta snorted. "Nappa! Stop playing around. Finish off that bunch of trash, then come over and deal with Raditz's useless little brother!"

Clearly, even though Goku's aura was impressive, from Vegeta's arrogant perspective of 18,000 combat power, he was still merely a low-class warrior.

"Cut the crap!"

Goku had already rushed before Vegeta and threw a plain, direct punch at his face.

"Since you look down on me, I'll beat you until you have no choice but to look at me properly!"

"You're courting death!!"

A cold glint flashed in Vegeta's eyes.

Since this insect insisted on throwing himself into the line of fire, then he would grant its wish!

"Then I'll let you die first!!"

Vegeta finally moved.

He did not use his hands. Instead, he directly lifted a leg and kicked toward Goku's abdomen with lightning speed.

That kick contained enough force to shatter a mountain!

Bang!!!

Fist and foot collided.

A muffled boom exploded, and the rocks beneath their feet instantly crumbled into powder.

Waves of energy rolled outward.

Goku was forced back more than a dozen steps, while Vegeta actually slid half a meter backward!

"What?!"

Vegeta's pupils contracted, and a trace of disbelief appeared on his face.

This low-class warrior... blocked my attack? And he's this strong?

"Hehe... you really are strong!"

Goku shook his numbed arm, the light in his eyes growing brighter.

Kaioken!!!

Boom—!!!

Red energy instantly enveloped Goku's entire body.

To be safe, Goku did not underestimate his opponent and immediately activated the Double Kaioken!

His combat power instantly soared to 20,000!

"This is... the battle I wanted!!"

Goku charged forward again, more than twice as fast as before.

The two instantly became twin afterimages, clashing fiercely across the wilderness.

The sounds of flesh-on-flesh impacts thundered through the sky.

Elsewhere.

The battle between Nappa and the Z Fighters was completely one-sided.

"Haahhh!!"

Piccolo roared, removing his weighted gear and unleashing his full combat power, which neared the 3,000 mark.

He gathered a Magic Light Cannon between his hands and blasted it fiercely at Nappa.

"Too slow! Too weak!"

Nappa grinned viciously and actually took Piccolo's attack head-on with his chest.

Boom!

After the dust cleared, Nappa was completely unharmed. He merely brushed the dust from his chest.

"Is that all you've got, Namekian?"

"Damn..." Piccolo gritted his teeth.

Though he had improved rapidly over the past year, the gap in raw strength between him and Nappa, an elite Saiyan warrior with 4,000 combat power, still remained.

"Everyone, attack together!!"

Tien Shinhan shouted, his Tri-Beam ready to fire.

Krillin threw out a Destructo Disc, Yamcha controlled a Spirit Ball, and Chiaotzu tried to restrain Nappa's movements with his psychic powers.

Gohan was also looking for an opportunity to unleash his Masenko.

This was a brutal battle of encirclement.

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