Dragon Ball, Saiyans Don't Just Want to Get Stronger!

Later, while shooting down the ornate spacecraft belonging to the King of Planet Soph as it attempted to flee, the man seemed to mutter something about "...that long-tailed one... towards Earth..." before he died.

"Heh..."

A cold, cruel smile curled the corners of Prince Vegeta's mouth.

"Vitelli... back then, you must have fled in a panic to such a remote planet because you were afraid of the revenge of Prince Vegeta! How laughable!"

He stood up abruptly, the light of the campfire casting a long shadow of his short but powerful frame.

He issued decisive orders to Nappa and Raditz:

"It's decided! Forget about that guy Frieza! We are preparing to depart immediately—to Earth!"

"To Earth? Now?!"

Raditz was struck with terror, forgetting his fear as he hurriedly tried to dissuade him:

"Prince Vegeta! Frieza's scouts must still be searching the outer sectors for our trail! If we launch our ships now, the energy fluctuations will surely be detected! If that draws Frieza himself here... the three of us will definitely die!"

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Prince Vegeta slowly turn his head, his eyes filled with cold, murderous intent.

"Raditz..."

Prince Vegeta's voice was terrifyingly low.

"If you lack even the guts to break through, then you, trash... have no value in continuing to live."

He turned his back and walked straight toward the spherical single-man spacecraft parked not far away.

As he reached the hatch, he didn't stop, merely tossing out a cold command:

"Nappa, finish him."

Nappa's burly frame shuddered, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

He looked at Raditz, who was ashen-faced and trembling, and opened his mouth:

"Pr... Prince Vegeta, our Saiyan race is nearly extinct. Raditz is a Saiyan after all, I..."

Prince Vegeta spun around, his terrifying aura erupting and pressing down on Nappa like a physical weight:

"Nappa, do you want to die too?"

The cold killing intent silenced Nappa instantly, all his pleas stuck in his throat.

He gritted his teeth, a struggle flashing across his face, before finally hardening his heart and raising his thick arm, aiming his palm at the desperate Raditz.

"So... sorry, Raditz."

Nappa said in a low voice.

A scorching energy blast fired fiercely from Nappa's hand, slamming directly into Raditz, who stood rooted to the spot as if he had given up all resistance!

The dazzling light of the energy instantly swallowed Raditz's figure, a massive explosion rang out, and the shockwave sent the surrounding sand and stone flying!

"Am... am I dying?"

In the final moment before the energy hit, Raditz's mind went blank.

He seemed to see a blurry, tall figure standing before him, that back slowly overlapping with the unclear memory of his father.

He subconsciously opened his mouth, letting out a whisper that could barely be heard:

"Is it you... Father?"

BOOM—!!!

The energy blast detonated solidly, smoke and chaotic energy filling the air.

However, as the shockwave of the explosion subsided and the surrounding dust began to clear, both Nappa and Prince Vegeta froze.

Raditz was still standing there completely unscathed, not even a corner of his clothes torn!

It was as if the energy blast that could have leveled a small mountain had been nothing but a hallucination!

"Nani?! Th... this is impossible?!"

Nappa's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at this scene that defied all logic.

Prince Vegeta also furrowed his brows, a flash of suspicion and shock in his eyes.

He swept his hand, creating a powerful gust of wind that instantly dispersed the remaining dust and energy ripples.

Only then did they see that, standing in front of Raditz, someone had appeared out of nowhere!

A young man in a black combat suit, with black hair and eyes and a playful smile on his face, stood there casually, as if he had been there the entire time.

"Who are you?!"

Nappa shouted in alarm, instinctively assuming a combat stance.

But the moment Prince Vegeta saw that face, his pupils contracted sharply!

A surge of extreme shock, disbelief, and towering rage flooded his heart!

He squeezed the name that had left such a deep impression on him through his teeth, word by word:

"Vi—te—lli—!!!"

"Yo, long time no see, Prince Vegeta."

Vitelli greeted Vegeta with a smile, acting as if nothing were amiss.

His gaze swept past the stunned Nappa and finally landed on Raditz, who was still trying to process the situation while foolishly staring at his back.

After flashing a playful grin at Raditz, he teased:

"I say, Raditz, it's been so long—how did your tastes become so unique? Since when did you start calling the person who saved you 'Daddy'?"

Only then did Raditz snap back to reality.

He recognized the newcomer, and his face flushed a deep red instantly. He jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and retorted loudly:

"I... I didn't! I saw it wrong! I just saw it wrong! You bastard, Vitelli! How are you even here?!"

Watching Raditz's frantic, exasperated state, the smile on Vitelli's face grew even brighter.

He deliberately drew out his tone, laughing:

"Oh? So it was a mistake, huh? Alright, I believe you."

He paused, then added in a tone that was incredibly grating:

"But hey, you can fool your buddies, just don't fool yourself, alright?"

"You...!"

Veins bulged on Raditz's forehead; he was so angry he nearly choked.

"Die, Vitelli! HAA!!!"

Vegeta, standing to the side, could no longer suppress his erupting fury! His aura exploded from his body in an instant.

With a roar, he launched himself at Vitelli like a cannonball, his fist, packed with terrifying power, striking straight toward Vitelli's temple!

"You bastard! How dare you show your face in front of me, Vegeta! Go to hell!!!"

Facing Vegeta's full-force, rage-filled strike, Vitelli merely raised a hand and flicked it casually, as if swatting a fly.

Slap!

A soft sound echoed.

Vegeta was sent flying back faster than he had charged, tumbling across the ground like a rolling gourd until he finally came to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Puh-wah!"

Vegeta spat out a mouthful of bile, his chest wracked with agonizing pain, his face a mask of shock and disbelief.

Vitelli shook his hand, deliberately putting on an exaggerated look of surprise, his tone dripping with sarcasm:

"Wow! That was terrifying, Prince Vegeta! That punch almost finished me off! As expected of the noble Saiyan prince, you're truly frighteningly strong!"

This mockery was like adding fuel to the fire!

Vegeta struggled to climb to his feet, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

He glared at Vitelli, his voice trembling from extreme frustration and shock:

"Dam... damn it! How did you get this strong?! How could a guy like you be stronger than me, Vegeta-sama?! I don't believe it! This is absolutely impossible!!!"

"HAA!!!"

Vegeta erupted once more, his aura surging even more violently. The white energy actually shifted into a pale gold, his hair stood on end, and his power level soared far beyond what it had been a moment ago!

"Hmph! Did you think I, Lord Vegeta, wouldn't be a match for you? You're wrong, Vitelli!"

Vegeta extended his right hand, pointing his thumb directly at his own chest, a look of fanatical confidence plastered on his face.

"I am now Super Vegeta!"

And then...

Vegeta charged in again, full of confidence!

Vegeta was swatted away by Vitelli's casual flick, flying off like a kite with a broken string.

Vegeta crawled out of the rubble and fell into silence.

He began to mutter incoherently:

"How is this possible... I am Vegeta... the noble Saiyan prince... how could I be inferior to a mere high-level warrior like you... this must be a hallucination... yes, it's all just a hallucination..."

Watching Vegeta lying on the ground, seemingly questioning his entire existence, Vitelli shook his head, too lazy to bother with the poor prince any longer.

He walked over to Raditz, who was still standing there with his jaw dropped, reached out to push his chin up to close his mouth, and teased:

"So? Any regrets now? I told you back then, with your brain, being a researcher had a much better future than being a combatant. See? You didn't listen to good advice, and now you're paying the price."

Raditz slowly recovered from the massive shock, a complex, bitter smile appearing on his face at Vitelli's words.

He was silent for a moment before whispering:

"If I had really listened to you and become a researcher... I probably would have perished along with Planet Vegeta when it exploded. As a combatant, at least... I was able to go on missions with the Prince, which is how I've survived until now."

"Ahem..."

Vitelli rubbed his nose awkwardly, smiled, and said:

"Uh... well, don't sweat the small stuff."

He quickly changed the subject, looking over at Nappa, who was so nervous that his bald head was glistening with sweat.

"What about you, Nappa? How have you been? It's been a while—how come it feels like you've grown taller again?"

Nappa nervously rubbed his smooth scalp.

Looking at this unfathomable "old acquaintance" before him, who could effortlessly thrash Prince Vegeta, he found himself at a loss for words, managing only a smile that looked worse than a cry.

By this time, Prince Vegeta had finally recovered slightly from his self-doubt.

Forcing himself through the pain that made his entire body feel like it was falling apart, he struggled to walk up to Vitelli.

Though he had been thoroughly defeated, his eyes were still filled with an unyielding stubbornness and arrogance.

When he opened his mouth, it was that same familiar, face-saving, cocky tone:

"Damn it! You bastard... how exactly did you do it?!"

Vitelli looked at him with a smile, intentionally playing dumb:

"Do what?"

Prince Vegeta's face turned the color of liver from rage, and he practically roared:

"Obviously this ridiculous power you have now! How on earth did you train for it?! I am the Super Saiyan Prince Vegeta! To think... to think I couldn't even take a casual strike from you! This is completely unrealistic!"

Vitelli sighed helplessly as he watched the man who was so weak yet so eager to play, and who couldn't handle losing.

He suddenly reached out, grabbed Prince Vegeta's cheeks, and under his incredulous gaze, squeezed them with a bit of force like he was kneading dough, carefully testing the texture.

"Tsk!" Vitelli pursed his lips, reaching a conclusion.

"Doesn't feel as good as Kakarot."

"You... how dare you!!!"

Prince Vegeta was stunned for a moment, then instantly erupted in a mix of shock and fury!