Age 762, December 16.
In the cosmic expanse beyond Planet Namek, a massive disk-shaped spaceship circled the planet.
After a journey lasting a month and a half, Frieza had rushed here from another galaxy the moment he received news of the Dragon Balls.
"King Frieza, we've arrived at Planet Namek!"
"Our men have surveyed the entire planet and found no resources worth mining."
In the spaceship's control room, Dodoria and Zarbon stood on either side of Frieza, giving their report.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! This planet looks rather nice, but unfortunately it has no resources of its own. Otherwise, it could have been developed as a new base.
"Have you investigated the number of Namekians and the strength of their race?"
Seated in his hovercar, Frieza swirled a glass of red wine in one hand and chuckled darkly.
At his words, none of the subordinates in the control room dared to respond.
The only ones who dared face Frieza directly were Dodoria and Zarbon, his constant companions.
"We've completed our investigation, King Frieza. Planet Namek is resource-poor and sparsely populated. Some Namekians do have battle powers in the thousands, but the vast majority are ordinary people with little fighting power," Zarbon replied respectfully.
"I see. A battle power in the thousands isn't too shabby." Frieza drained his glass.
The Universe Emperor could hardly wait to obtain the Dragon Balls and fulfill his ambition.
"Besides that, there's something I think I should report to you." Zarbon suddenly changed the subject.
"Oh? What is it?" Frieza glanced up at him.
"According to the information we received earlier, Vegeta seems to have done something on Planet 79. Cui has even died at his hands... If the information is accurate, he should arrive on Planet Namek in two days," Zarbon said.
"Oh my~ It seems our little Vegeta can hardly wait to get his hands on the Dragon Balls and make a wish, too. What a shame. By the time he reaches Planet Namek, it'll be a dead planet." Frieza paid little attention to Cui's death.
After all, Cui had been nothing more than an insect with a battle power of 18,000.
Normally, he had been all too eager to pick fights with Vegeta. The two of them always managed to amuse Frieza, which was why he remembered Cui.
"Hmph! Vegeta's actions now are no different from those of a traitor. King Frieza, I request permission to kill him," Dodoria said viciously.
"I'm afraid it won't be that simple. According to the data, Vegeta revealed a maximum battle power exceeding 22,000 on Planet 79! His strength may have already surpassed yours and mine," Zarbon said.
"What? That brat Vegeta's battle power has exceeded 22,000?" Cold sweat trickled down Dodoria's cheeks.
After all, his own battle power was only 22,000.
According to Zarbon, neither he nor Zarbon was a match for Vegeta. That meant their positions were in jeopardy.
"So what? Even if neither of you can beat him one-on-one, you can just attack him together," Frieza said bluntly.
A battle power of just over 20,000 was nothing. Even if Dodoria and Zarbon weren't up to the task, he still had the Ginyu Force at his disposal.
Besides, Vegeta was just a plaything. He didn't need to pay him much attention.
"But..." Zarbon started to say, but Frieza cut him off.
"Enough. Finding the Dragon Balls is what matters most! Land the ship. I want to see what makes the Namekians capable of creating something like the Dragon Balls. Oh-ho-ho-ho!" Frieza said eagerly.
"Yes, King Frieza." x2
Planet Namek.
The central region.
The Grand Elder's residence.
The Namekian Grand Elder looked as grim as could be, cold sweat pouring from his entire body.
He had sensed long ago that a great calamity would befall Planet Namek. Now, that terrifying evil force had finally arrived.
"It seems Planet Namek is doomed this time..."
The words came from him in a weak voice, and he immediately began contacting his children across the planet.
To keep the Dragon Balls from being used by evil forces, he had to prevent the disaster from growing worse.
The only solution he could think of was to have his children hide and conceal the Dragon Balls as well.
What the Grand Elder didn't realize was that the Frieza Force had Scouters that could locate the Namekians directly. Even if they hid, they would still be found.
Outside, Nail had also sensed the arrival of the Frieza Force.
He went into the inner room to meet with the Grand Elder.
As the strongest Namekian, he was unlike the others. He was a true warrior.
Elsewhere, in space.
Vegeta's spaceship sped through the cosmos, with only two days left until it reached Planet Namek.
From the moment he had set out until now, Vegeta had fully adapted to 50x Earth Gravity. He was also training at high intensity while wearing a weighted suit and restraints.
"9996...9997...9998...9999...10000!!"
After finishing the final set of one-finger push-ups, Vegeta clenched his teeth, his gaze unwavering. He didn't immediately collapse in exhaustion.
This was the crucial moment: push past his limits, and the longer he held on, the greater the breakthrough he could achieve.
It was always like this after a series of regular training sessions, and Vegeta had grown used to it.
Only when his body could no longer take it, when he was shaking all over, did Vegeta suddenly spring up, perform a flip in midair, and land steadily on his feet.
His limbs ached and felt weak, and he panted without pause. It was as if a fire raged inside his chest. The sensation was uncomfortable, but it also filled Vegeta with an eager desire to push himself further.
"This is the effect of gravity training. With the strength I've gained now, I'm at least twice as strong as I was three days ago! And my body's much tougher after all this training." Vegeta clenched his fist as he spoke.
He had just finished training, so not only was his body still burning hot, but the rapid flow of blood also made him feel swollen.
Vegeta went over to the rest area, sat cross-legged, and began training his ki.
He had only two days left. Although training under 50x Earth Gravity had made him much stronger, it still wasn't nearly enough.
Now that his physical training was over, he could train his ki to consolidate his progress. Perhaps he would make an even greater breakthrough.
Time flew by.
Two days passed.
Outside Planet Namek, a spaceship pierced the planet's atmosphere and landed steadily on an island.
The spaceship's hatch opened, and Vegeta, who had been ready and waiting, leaped out.