"How is this possible? You... How did you do it? And where did you get this kind of power?"
"I remember you were gravely wounded when you fled back then! Even if you've recovered, your power level couldn't have suddenly surpassed one million!"
Frieza's tone had returned to what it was before.
Though he was confident in his own strength, Vegeta's performance had once again made him feel threatened.
He didn't believe Vegeta's power had come from nowhere. There had to be some reason for it that he didn't know about.
He wanted to know the details, and what Vegeta had been through during this time.
"C-could it be..." Suddenly, a bad premonition surfaced in his mind.
Vegeta's transformation had been so drastic that Frieza couldn't help thinking of the legend passed down by the Saiyan race—the Legendary Super Saiyan.
"No! That's impossible! It's nothing but nonsense!!" Frieza's eyes filled with bloodshot veins. His intense emotional turmoil unleashed another terrifying surge of power.
Vegeta, hovering above Frieza, didn't care in the slightest.
Judging by the words Frieza was muttering, Vegeta had already guessed that Frieza was thinking of the legend of the Super Saiyan.
Unfortunately, Frieza had no idea that Vegeta hadn't even transformed into a Super Saiyan yet. His base power alone was enough to suppress him as he was now.
Even if Frieza transformed again and reached his third form, Vegeta could still suppress him.
Meanwhile.
On King Kai's Planet.
The warriors continued watching the battle through King Kai's ability.
By now, they had gained a deeper understanding of Vegeta's strength.
Frieza's transformation had indeed shocked them all. That terrifying evil aura had been intimidating enough to make a real impression on them.
But when Vegeta mercilessly overpowered even transformed Frieza, their feelings changed.
They hadn't even noticed that, at some point, they'd come to see Vegeta as one of their own. If he could defeat Frieza, that was a very good thing.
"Guess there shouldn't be any suspense now, right? With the strength Vegeta's shown, Frieza's no match for him, even after transforming," Yamcha said first, as usual.
Back in the early days, he'd always been the most active member of the group.
Even when facing an enemy, he'd always wanted to be the first to attack and show off.
That was exactly why the Saibaman had grabbed him and blown itself up with him.
"Exactly. Vegeta hasn't even gotten serious, and he hasn't transformed into a Super Saiyan, either. The difference is enormous," Tien Shinhan said.
Even Piccolo had once again decided that the outcome was settled.
After all, they had no way of knowing that Frieza still had two more transformations up his sleeve.
"You're all too naive. I warned you earlier that Frieza could transform. So why are you so sure he can only transform once?" King Kai's words struck them like a thunderclap, silencing them again.
Chiaotzu had remained quiet the whole time. For one thing, he was naturally shy and introverted, and not much of a talker. For another, he was connected to King Kai's emotions, so he could sense that things weren't as simple as they seemed.
Chiaotzu might not have talked much, but he wasn't stupid. On the contrary, he thought more deeply than the others and was more perceptive.
King Kai had kept a solemn expression throughout, and Vegeta gaining the upper hand hadn't stirred much emotion in him. That alone was enough to show that the outcome of the battle was still uncertain.
"Could that guy Frieza transform a second time?!" Piccolo sucked in a sharp breath.
If that was true, then the outcome really was hard to predict.
Tien Shinhan and Yamcha exchanged a glance, their expressions tense once more.
"But even if Frieza can transform one more time, can't Vegeta turn into a Super Saiyan, too? He'll probably still win," Yamcha said.
"Let's hope so. Otherwise, not only Planet Namek but Earth will be affected, too, and you won't be able to think about being revived," King Kai muttered. Then he revealed everything he knew. "I can tell you for certain that, as far as I know, Frieza can transform two more times! His second transformation will be even stronger than the first. His third form will be dozens of times stronger than his second—perhaps even a hundred times or more..."
When King Kai finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the group.
Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu all stared wide-eyed, as if they'd seen a ghost.
"So this is the real Universe Emperor! It turns out we aren't even as knowledgeable as frogs at the bottom of a well." Piccolo clenched one hand into a fist, overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness.
He'd once called himself the Great Demon King. Looking back on that title now was downright laughable.
They'd all been trapped inside a tiny sphere, unable to make sense of what was happening on Earth. Now that they'd been confronted with the wider universe, everything they knew had been turned upside down.
Planet Namek.
The battlefield.
Vegeta's dismissive attitude sent Frieza into another fit of rage. He charged forward and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.
The Universe Emperor's fury was not to be underestimated, but Vegeta was strong enough that Frieza couldn't gain the slightest advantage unless he transformed further.
"Enough! Your tricks aren't even enough to warm me up." With a shout, Vegeta grew tired of the fight and took control of the battle. He threw a punch straight into Frieza's face.
There was no suspense: the punch sent Frieza flying again.
Vegeta didn't stop. In an instant, he surged forward in a burst of energy, reaching Frieza even faster and clasping his hands together like a hammer.
"BOOM!!!" The dull impact shook the void.
Frieza had no ability to fight back. He plunged straight down from the sky and crashed into a massive island.
The terrifying force split the island apart in an instant, reducing it to fragments.
Frieza's body was embedded in the rubble. His face twisted in pain and fury, and wounds covered his body. He was in a wretched state.
"This is the end! Frieza, I know you can transform again. Hurry up, or I'll really kill you!" Vegeta raised a hand, energy gathering in his palm. With a casual sweep, a terrifying pressure instantly engulfed the area where Frieza lay.
"RUMBLE!!!" The devastating blast of energy erupted around Frieza, badly wounding him once more and sending him flying again.
He finally came to a stop after crashing into the peak of a mountain on another island.
That display of force had been enough. Vegeta closed in again, stopping in front of Frieza.
He still stood with his arms crossed, wearing the same contemptuous expression and gaze.
Frieza clenched his teeth. His fury swelled rapidly, and his eyes seemed ready to spit fire...