Bardock II

"Phew..."

Feeling a little tired—after all, that power wasn't his own—Bardock gently descended to the ground. He sat halfway up and slowly caught his breath.

"Are you all right, Bardock?"

Once Bardock had deflected the energy ball, the surrounding Saiyans quickly came to their senses and gathered around him.

"What happened? What was that energy blast just now!?"

"Bardock!"

Just then, Gine hurried over from a distance and steadied Bardock, her face full of worry.

"I'm fine. Don't worry."

After reassuring her, Bardock looked at the Saiyans around him and said calmly,

"That was an energy ball fired by Frieza. His aim was to wipe out all of us Saiyans."

"What!? How is that possible!?"

A chorus of terrified voices rose at Bardock's answer.

"Where's the king? Where are King Vegito and all the Elite Warriors? Why haven't any of them shown up?"

Along with their fear, some Saiyans voiced their suspicions.

"Lord Bardock, is this really just like you said before? Did he gather us all together so he could wipe us out?"

The speaker was a young Warrior.

"That's right! And the truth is already clear."

Bardock looked at the young man, who had returned with him earlier.

"If that power hadn't been there just now..."

Remembering the immense energy he had felt, Bardock fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, high above, Frieza looked uncertain and surprised.

"What is this!?"

Seeing the energy ball sent back, Frieza's expression darkened.

"Could that man already be on Planet Vegeta?"

Still puzzled, Frieza returned to his ship.

By then, the energy ball had flown far away. It collided with an unknown planet, and a tremendous explosion rang out.

"Lord Frieza, Captain Ginyu's ship has arrived, but according to the Scouters, there's no energy signature aboard."

"We also tried contacting Captain Ginyu's ship, but no one responded."

Seeing Frieza return to the control room, his assistant hurriedly reported to him.

"So it really is as I thought."

Frieza's face darkened, then he smiled faintly and gave an order.

"But this is fine, too. It'll make the game even more interesting. Send word: land the ship. We're going to Planet Vegeta."

"Yes, Lord Frieza."

As the ship descended, more and more Saiyans gathered below.

"Damn it. It really is Frieza."

Looking at Frieza's ship appearing in the sky, a long-haired Saiyan standing beside Bardock gritted his teeth and cursed in frustration.

"What about King Vegeta? Have you found him?"

Nearby, a bald Saiyan with a heavily muscled build was urgently contacting the Saiyans at the Vegeta Palace over the radio.

"No. There's no one here. Not only King Vegeta, but all the Elite Warriors are gone, too."

Hearing the voice in his ear, the bald Saiyan couldn't help swearing.

"Damn it! Where have King Vegeta and the others gone?"

"Forget about them, Nas. Frieza's come out."

Bardock, who had rested enough, stood up again and stared gravely at the spaceship hovering in the sky.

"Frieza!"

As they looked at the ship, its hatches opened, and one alien after another from the Frieza Army flew out.

Above the ship, a short alien seated in a small flying pod came into view.

The alien had his arms crossed over his chest, a pair of blood-red eyes, purple-black lips, and two sharp horns. Beneath his eyes were two streaks resembling bloody tears. This was Frieza.

"Frieza!"

Looking at the man before him, Bardock's face darkened. Suppressing his anger, he quickly stepped forward.

"Don't be rash, Bardock!"

Seeing Bardock about to charge forward again, Gine hurriedly stopped him.

"Wait and see what he has to say."

In the sky, Frieza looked down. All the Saiyans on Planet Vegeta had gathered.

Looking at the Saiyans all around, Frieza laughed.

"Oh ho ho! What an honor to receive such a grand welcome."

The Saiyans, however, weren't pleased by his words. Their expressions darkened, and they replied coldly,

"That energy ball you fired nearly destroyed our planet. How dare you show your face here now?"

Frieza wasn't angered by their cold attitude. Instead, he sounded amused.

"That was just a greeting. Why can't you appreciate it?"

As he spoke, Frieza looked intrigued and continued,

"Well, enough small talk. I want to know who caught my energy blast just now. I'm very interested in him. If any of you tell me his name, I might consider sparing your life and letting you rejoin the Frieza Army!"

When he finished, Frieza wore a faint, playful smile...