Despair Before the Detector

Nappa was incensed by Raditz's words. "Raditz, you piece of trash with a power level of barely over a thousand, how dare you call Prince Vegeta a dog? I think you're tired of living!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he felt a sharp, piercing gaze land on his back.

Vegeta turned his head slowly, his cold eyes locked onto him.

Nappa's heart skipped a beat. He realized instantly that he had misspoken and waved his hands frantically. "P-Prince Vegeta! I didn't call you a dog! It was Raditz! Raditz said you were a dog!"

"Nappa, you idiot, shut your mouth!!"

Vegeta's roar cracked like thunder, making Nappa flinch and clamp his hand over his mouth, not daring to make another sound.

Vegeta took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to tear the fool beside him to pieces, and turned his gaze toward Son Goku.

He looked the black-haired man up and down. His face bore a slight resemblance to Raditz's, yet it was far more resolute; those eyes lacked the typical Saiyan cruelty and coldness, appearing calm instead.

"I presume you are Kakarot?" A cruel arc formed on Vegeta's lips. "Tell me, how do you want to die? Shall I crush your bones bit by bit, or burn you straight to ashes?"

Son Goku tilted his head as if he had heard something amusing, and he actually started to laugh. "You want to kill me? Heh, you'd better get a grip on the situation first!"

He turned around and beckoned to the others behind him. "Everyone, release your energy. Let our Prince Vegeta here... get a good look at the results of your year of training!"

"You got it!"

The group responded in unison.

The next instant, several powerful auras erupted into the sky like a volcanic eruption!

BOOM—!!!

Raditz was the first to explode. A white aura surged around him, the ground cracked beneath his feet, and a gale swept outward with him at the center. His hair danced wildly in the shockwave, and his eyes held a complex mix of pride and relief.

"Beep, beep, beep, beep—!!!"

The scouter on Nappa's neck shrieked, the numbers jumping rapidly before finally settling on a suffocating value—

"Fifteen... fifteen thousand?!" Nappa's eyes widened, his voice cracking. "That trash Raditz... he actually has a power level of fifteen thousand?!"

Vegeta's pupils contracted slightly, but he maintained his sneer. "Hmph, a mere fifteen thousand..."

However, before he could finish, the next aura erupted.

Piccolo.

The green figure stood silently, without a roar or a shout. He simply lifted his head, a cold light flashing in his dark eyes. Then—

BOOM!!!

An aura far more massive and profound than Raditz's shot into the sky! The earth trembled, and the clouds above were torn apart by the sheer force of the shockwave.

"Beep, beep, beep, beep—!!! BEEP—!!!"

Nappa's scouter emitted a piercing alarm as the numbers soared wildly, finally—

"Twenty-five... twenty-five thousand?!!" Nappa's voice was so shrill it nearly broke. He whipped his head toward Vegeta, his face filled with terror. "Your Highness! That Namekian... his power level is twenty-five thousand! He's even higher than you..."

"That's impossible!"

Vegeta finally lost his composure. The mask of arrogant sneering that never left his face cracked for the first time. His eyes were wide with shock; he had never expected that a backwater corner of the universe like Earth could harbor someone with a higher power level than he, the Prince of all Saiyans.

"Absolutely impossible!" he roared, his voice carrying a tremor he didn't even realize was there. "We Saiyans are the warrior race! The strongest fighters in the universe! How could a Namekian... how could a Namekian's power level be higher than mine, the Prince of Saiyans?!"

The group looked at each other; Vegeta's voice had been loud enough for everyone to hear.

Krillin scratched his bald head and muttered, "No wonder Piccolo looks different from us... so he's an alien?"

Piccolo gave Krillin a complex look upon hearing this but said nothing.

Son Goku smiled and turned to Piccolo. "Piccolo, after this fight is over, I'll go to Namek with you. You should find your roots and see your home."

Piccolo was slightly taken aback, a flicker of emotion passing through his cold eyes. He remained silent for a moment before nodding gently. "...Fine."

Nappa leaned in close to Vegeta and whispered, "Your Highness, the situation is bad... Raditz's power is higher than mine, that Namekian's is higher than yours, and they have a whole group of helpers... we, we aren't a match for them. Should we retreat?"

Vegeta's expression shifted uncertainly.

Damn it... damn it! How could these Earth monkeys become this strong?! That trash Raditz actually has fifteen thousand... and that Namekian, twenty-five thousand... and that Kakarot is even more unfathomable!

No, I cannot retreat. I am the Prince of Saiyans, the strongest warrior in the universe! How can I run away in front of a bunch of low-class warriors?!

But... in a direct fight, there is no chance of winning.

A ruthless glint flashed in Vegeta's eyes. He tilted his head and whispered in a voice only Nappa could hear:

"Don't panic. We can still transform into Great Apes. You go take out that Namekian, and I'll deal with Raditz once he turns into a Great Ape. Our power levels will increase tenfold after the transformation; that will be enough to crush them!"

Nappa's eyes lit up in realization, and he flattered him in a low voice: "Prince Vegeta is so clever! Why didn't I think of that? If it's ten times, then we—"

"I told you to use your brain more often, but you never listen."

"Yes, yes, Prince Vegeta is right to scold me."

Although the two whispered, Son Goku's keen senses picked up every word as clearly as if they were speaking right beside him, even catching the inflections in their tone.

Son Goku couldn't help but burst into a laugh, his shoulders shaking.

Vegeta snapped his head up, glaring at him with a face flushed red. "What are you laughing at?!"

"It's nothing," Son Goku waved his hand, though the smile on his face grew even brighter, bordering on sheepish. "I was just wondering... have you two agreed on a strategy? To turn into a Great Ape... you need a tail, right?"

He pointed at the tail behind Vegeta, then at Nappa's, his expression one of pure innocence.

Vegeta's face turned livid in an instant, as if he had been slapped in public. He gritted his teeth, forcing the words out through the gaps: "To deal with trash like you... no strategy is needed!"

"Is that so?"

Son Goku tilted his head, looking at him as if he were an incomprehensible fool, with a hint of pity in his eyes.

Vegeta was thoroughly enraged by that look.

"What is that look in your eyes?!" he roared, his aura beginning to surge uncontrollably. "Stop looking at me like that! I am the Prince of all Saiyans! The greatest genius warrior in the universe!"

Son Goku shrugged, his smile radiant: "The look one gives a fool."

"You--!!"

Vegeta trembled with rage, his white aura exploding with a boom as he prepared to launch himself at Son Goku like a cannonball.

"Wait!"

Son Goku suddenly raised a hand. His voice wasn't loud, but it forced Vegeta to skid to a halt.

Recovering his composure, Vegeta gritted his teeth and spat out: "What? Any last words before you die?!"

Son Goku pointed at the ground beneath them, then toward the direction of the distant city, and said earnestly:

"If we're going to fight, let's go somewhere else. This is too close to West City; we might hurt innocent people. Besides..."

He glanced back at Piccolo and Raditz, blinking:

"My kid is still taking a nap. If he wakes up, he'll cry."

Vegeta froze for a moment, then sneered, though his expression had stiffened slightly:

"Hmph, it makes no difference where we go. You're all going to die today anyway!"

"Then follow us."

With that, Son Goku signaled the others, then flashed away, turning into a golden streak of light as he flew toward the distant wasteland.

Piccolo, Raditz, Krillin, and the others followed closely behind, their figures cutting across the sky.

Vegeta stood where he was, watching the receding streaks of light, the rage in his eyes gradually replaced by a hint of gravity.

Kakarot... just what are you? That look... that composure... do you truly believe you can defeat me?

He snorted coldly, stomped his foot, and transformed into a white beam of light to give chase.

Nappa hurried to keep up, though his heart had already begun to drum with unease.

Something's wrong... something is very wrong. These Earthlings... no, these guys, they're completely different from the intel. Can Prince Vegeta... really win this?