Frieza Descends

Inside the palace of King Vegeta.

Flowers were arranged all around, with a walkway down the middle covered by a red carpet. The entire palace hall looked festive.

King Vegeta saw that everything was nearly ready and prepared to summon all the Saiyans for another meeting.

Suddenly!

A Saiyan who looked very much like Nappa came over, his face full of anger.

"Your Majesty, how is the investigation into what happened to my son coming along?"

It turned out that this man was Nappa's father. His son had suddenly disappeared two years ago and had never been seen since.

He was King Vegeta's right-hand man, and his family was among the most prominent in Saiyan society. Yet King Vegeta still hadn't gotten to the bottom of his son's disappearance, even after two years.

King Vegeta's expression turned cold. "I have more important matters to deal with right now. We'll talk about it later."

With that, King Vegeta headed for the hall's exit.

"You..."

Nappa's father pointed at King Vegeta's retreating figure, trembling slightly.

It had been two years, and Nappa still hadn't sent word. His father had long since realized what that might mean, but King Vegeta's attitude now chilled him to the bone.

His family had served King Vegeta for so many years, and this was all they got in return: indifference!

The bond had faded!

That day.

Just then.

Screeeee!

A sharp shriek rang through the sky, the sound of air currents grinding against metal.

The bright sky suddenly darkened, as if something had covered it. Countless spaceships crossed the void overhead, like a swarm of locusts passing through.

The ships burst into Planet Vegeta's atmosphere from outer space and eventually came to a stop at its edge.

Centered around one enormous ship, they formed a line. The smaller ships were positioned at either end, but in a gathering like this, they were hardly worth mentioning.

The enormous ship hovered in the middle, orange-yellow flames blasting from its underside. A ring of black metal encircled its exterior, forming a circular corridor, while bright light shone through special transparent glass, like yellow gems set into its surface.

At the center was the ship's control room, covered by a curved dome. From a glance, one could clearly see the figure inside the small craft: two horns on his head, blood-red eyes, purple-black lips, and two streaks beneath his eyes like bloody tears.

He was Frieza!

Frieza picked up a glass of scarlet wine. With an air of effortless elegance, he asked, "Have we reached Planet Vegeta?"

"Yes, King Frieza," Dodoria replied respectfully.

"Go. Tell King Vegeta to bring all the Saiyans to meet me!"

"As you command."

King Vegeta summoned all the Saiyan leaders for a meeting.

"Frieza is above Planet Vegeta. He wants all the Saiyans to go and meet him."

King Vegeta was holding one last meeting in the palace. Frieza's move was rather strange. Why hadn't he landed on the planet directly?

King Vegeta had a bad feeling about it.

"Then let's bring Bardock and the others along to welcome him. It'll be disastrous if Frieza gets angry!"

"Exactly!"

King Vegeta's subordinates began discussing among themselves.

"Forget about Bardock and the others. Come on, we'll go welcome Frieza together." King Vegeta raised both hands, signaling that they should set out.

"But Frieza said he wanted all the Saiyans!"

"What? Didn't you hear what I said?" King Vegeta frowned, displeased that anyone would contradict him.

It wasn't that King Vegeta didn't want Bardock to come along. He simply couldn't find him!

King Vegeta stood there for a moment, glaring at everyone with a fierce look in his eyes.

The room fell silent.

No one offered any more objections. King Vegeta led all his subordinates out to welcome Frieza.

As they left the palace, King Vegeta looked up. Countless spaceships blotted out the sky, blocking even the light.

The darkened sky made King Vegeta feel uneasy all over. His heart kept pounding, as if something ominous were about to happen!

"Is this just my imagination?"

He hoped so!

A small sphere of light gathered in King Vegeta's palm, then immediately dissipated!

It was none other than an Artificial Moon!

A fierce glint flashed in King Vegeta's eyes. He thought, I hope you don't make any rash moves, Frieza!

Frieza sat in his flying craft and slowly drifted out of the enormous ship, accompanied by his subordinates!

Looking closely, one could see that Frieza's elite unit, the Ginyu Force, wasn't among them, despite the grand occasion!

"It's been a long time, King Vegeta." Frieza's lips curled into a faint smile, as though he were delighted to see an old friend again.

"Greetings, King Frieza!" King Vegeta flew into the air and bowed slightly.

As King Vegeta bent forward, the subordinates behind him shouted in unison.

"Greetings, King Frieza!"

More than two thousand Saiyans had gathered together, their response deafening as it echoed through the skies.

At a glance, the Saiyans could be seen bowing with blank expressions. No matter how much they hated Frieza, they put on a convincing show of deference at that moment.

Frieza said nothing, and neither did his subordinates.

They simply let the Saiyans remain bent over.

A deathly silence fell.

What was Frieza trying to do?!

King Vegeta gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He raised his head slightly and stole a glance at Frieza, who was watching them with an amused expression.

Just then.

Frieza suddenly spoke. "King Vegeta, don't you Saiyans have someone called Bardock? Why isn't he here?"

Bardock's name was well known among the Saiyans, and even Frieza had heard of him. It was quite something for a Low-Class Warrior to reach a power level of ten thousand, so Frieza couldn't help being a little curious about Bardock.

Frieza's tone made it clear that he was displeased, and cold sweat ran down King Vegeta's face.

Only just now had King Vegeta realized that Bardock and his subordinates were missing. He couldn't find them anywhere. Perhaps they meant to give him a slap in the face when Frieza arrived.

Damn Bardock!

"Uh, well..." King Vegeta stammered, unable to finish his thought.

There was no way King Vegeta could admit that Bardock was at odds with him and that he couldn't make him do as he was told!

He was the king of the Saiyan people. How humiliating would it be if he couldn't even command his own subjects?!

Not getting the answer he wanted, Frieza's blood-red eyes flashed with a cold glint. His small body unleashed a terrifying aura that made everyone feel icy to the bone.

The surrounding spaceships swayed violently the moment he released his power, as if they might break loose and crash at any moment.

However!

It lasted only an instant.

Frieza reined in that aura, as if nothing had happened.

King Vegeta and the subordinates behind him had beads of sweat on their foreheads. Frieza's aura alone was so powerful. How strong must he be at full power?!

"Hahaha, it's fine. Don't be nervous. Everyone, relax!" Frieza said with an easy laugh.

The expressions on Frieza's subordinates' faces were odd, as though they were watching a show.