Off to Planet Namek!
Whether it was the original Vegeta or the Vegeta he had become, going there was a must.
As the original story unfolded, Vegeta would completely fall out with Frieza over the Dragon Balls.
Even though Wu Xiao had crossed over and become the new Vegeta, he would still brave the danger and make the trip.
If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to go to Planet Namek.
If he wanted to gain more, he had to go to Planet Namek.
If he wanted to change his life completely, he had to go to Planet Namek.
What was that saying again?
The bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish.
Now that he had become Vegeta, he couldn't choose another path. He couldn't just find somewhere to lie low for a few years, train until his base power exceeded a hundred million, then emerge as a Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, or Super Saiyan 3 and crush everything in his path.
Sure, that would be incredibly satisfying, and it would eliminate nearly all the danger. After all, Kakarot would be the one to deal with Frieza. But he would also miss out on many of the opportunities that had appeared in the original story.
Besides, he had inherited everything that belonged to Vegeta. Neither Vegeta's pride nor his own dignity would allow him to back down.
He had always been someone who liked a challenge. And with the original Vegeta's obsession with Kakarot on top of that, he was bound to take this path.
Simply put, he knew everything about the past and the future. If he still ended up playing second fiddle for a thousand years, then he'd be utterly useless!
Let that Kakarot take the place of the eternal second-best.
And he would be the one to defeat Frieza!
Walking down the spacious corridor, Vegeta made up his mind and quietly began plotting.
The most important thing right now was to awaken the power hidden within his body.
Once he reached Planet Namek, all he had to do was get the Grand Elder to unlock his potential, and his battle power would reach at least a million!
The major power levels in the original story told him as much.
After recovering from his defeat at Kakarot's hands, his battle power had been 24,000. Once he reached Planet Namek, it would surge several times.
The first time was after he lost to Zarbon on Namek. Once he recovered, his battle power shot up to 30,000.
The second time was after Recoome nearly killed him. He ate a Senzu Bean, and his battle power soared to 250,000. That was what allowed him to clash head-on with Frieza.
The third time, he deliberately let Krillin wound him badly, leaving him on the verge of death. Dende healed him, and his battle power soared to 2.5 million.
So, once I reach Planet Namek, I need to find the Grand Elder right away... But given my situation, how can I get him to unlock my potential? Threats and bribery won't work, especially with Nail there at 42,000 battle power.
He might no longer be the original Vegeta, but no one else knew that. They would still see him as an evil Saiyan with countless lives on his hands.
In the original story, Krillin and Son Gohan had managed to connect with the Namekians only because they first rescued Dende. After that, they were naturally summoned by the Grand Elder, who unlocked their potential.
As Vegeta considered his options, his thoughts began to drift.
Then they shifted entirely to transforming.
According to what Cabba mentioned in the Super storyline, to transform into a Super Saiyan, you gather the Saiyan energy in your body at the center of your back and then release it all at once... But with my current strength, I probably can't do that. It's not so much Saiyan energy as having enough S-Cells...
Vegeta kept thinking. Either way, he had to give it a try.
If he managed to succeed ahead of time, he wouldn't have to fear Frieza nearly as much.
His thoughts were just beginning to take shape when someone suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.
It was none other than Cui, who had come looking for him after hearing he'd woken up.
"Hey, Vegeta! Looks like you've recovered pretty well.
"I heard you took quite a beating this time. Heh heh heh... What kind of person could leave the Saiyan Prince, who thinks he's invincible, in such a sorry state and nearly kill him?
"I heard Nappa and Raditz never came back. They're both dead, right? That makes you all alone from now on. How pitiful."
Cui stood with his hands on his hips, oozing arrogance and mockery.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at Cui, his expression cold.
"Are you looking to die, Cui?"
His icy words fell, but Cui didn't care in the slightest. He stepped closer, determined to keep provoking him.
"I'd advise you to keep yourself in check, got it? King Frieza is very displeased with you for acting on your own."
As he spoke, Cui deliberately patted Vegeta on the shoulder.
That little gesture only stoked Vegeta's urge to kill.
"Hmph! Are you going to say that King Frieza was already disappointed in me, but then he found out I'd discovered the Dragon Balls, so he graciously forgave me?" Vegeta said without even looking at Cui.
He put into words exactly what Cui had been about to say, leaving him speechless.
"You... How did you know?" Cui was stunned for a moment.
He'd planned to use King Frieza to make Vegeta bow his head. He hadn't expected Vegeta to guess what he was up to.
But Cui wasn't stupid. He immediately figured out what mattered and continued, "That's exactly why I'm telling you to keep yourself in check. Anyone can see you're hoping to use the Dragon Balls to wish for eternal youth, too. Forget it. Don't say I didn't warn you—King Frieza is already on his way. Once he gets his wish, he'll kill all the Namekians. You've missed your chance."
"So what? Is that all you came to tell me? You really are a good dog for Frieza." Vegeta gave a scornful laugh.
"You! Vegeta, you'd better think carefully about what you're saying! Don't assume you're in the clear just because King Frieza hasn't punished you for your mistake. You still haven't shaken off the traitor label!" Cui was enraged by Vegeta's icy remarks.
He wanted to see Vegeta afraid.
"And then? Is all you can do yap and bark?!"
Vegeta raised a hand, grabbed Cui's hand from his shoulder, and suddenly turned around. His icy gaze seemed capable of freezing anyone it fell upon.
Feeling the pressure Vegeta exerted and the pain in his hand, Cui broke into a cold sweat.
He yanked at it several times but couldn't break free. A sudden sense of unease crept over him.
"What are you trying to do? Think this through! Our battle power is the same. If you attack me here, you won't come out ahead. And if King Frieza blames you afterward, you'll be in even more trouble..."
Cui hadn't finished speaking.
In an instant—
"Boom!!!" A muffled impact rang out.
His eyes flew wide, blood vessels standing out across them, and blood spilled from his mouth.
Vegeta's fist had plunged into his abdomen. The soft yet nearly indestructible armor of his battle suit had been punched straight through.