Making a Move

"Stop joking around, Frieza!" Upon hearing Frieza's words, the surrounding Saiyans instantly erupted in rage.

"Why waste any more breath on him! He's made it obvious enough—he intends to wipe us Saiyans out. Everyone, attack together and kill him!"

Up ahead, the Saiyan closest to Frieza stepped forward first, extended his right hand, and without a moment's hesitation, fired an energy blast.

"Hah!"

With the first strike launched, the other Saiyans followed suit, unleashing their own techniques as they swarmed him.

"BOOM!"

The assault lasted for several minutes, accompanied by a deafening roar, until a massive cloud of dust billowed up from the spot where Frieza had been standing.

"Did we get him!? Is Frieza dead!?"

As the attacks ceased, one of the Saiyans voiced the question.

"No! Not yet!" A voice suddenly rang out from behind that same Saiyan.

"Lord Bardock!"

Seeing who had arrived, the Saiyan's face lit up with a smile, and he prepared to ask for an explanation.

Suddenly!

"Watch out!" Before the Saiyan could react, Bardock lunged toward him, tackling him to the ground.

The very moment they hit the dirt, a purple beam of energy streaked out from the smoke, grazing the Saiyan's hair before burying itself into the ground ahead.

Indeed, Bardock had sensed something was wrong the moment the others prepared to attack Frieza, so he had rushed over immediately.

"Glad I made it in time!"

Scrambling to his feet, Bardock kept his eyes locked on the smoke ahead, hands clenched, and assumed a combat stance.

"Frieza... how is this possible? That guy is still alive after an attack like that!"

Soon, the smoke began to dissipate, and upon seeing the figure within, the Saiyan who had been knocked to the ground wore an expression of utter disbelief.

"I didn't expect you lot to be so bold. Do you not know that rising against your superior is a capital offense? You foolish monkeys!"

As he spoke, Frieza extended the index finger of his left hand, and a swift beam of energy shot from his fingertip, flying toward the Saiyan still lying on the ground.

"Don't think you'll succeed! Frieza!"

Watching Frieza launch the attack, Bardock, who had been keeping a constant eye on him, reacted instantly and fired a blast of ki to intercept the energy beam.

"CLANG!"

The force generated by the collision of the two energies sent the Saiyan on the ground tumbling away, but it successfully blocked the beam.

"Oh?"

Seeing Bardock intercept his technique, Frieza wore a playful smile.

"I didn't think there was a Saiyan capable of blocking my beam attack."

"Your name is Bardock, right? I just heard that fellow next to you call you that."

Frieza gestured toward the Saiyan who had been blown away by the shockwave.

"A combat power of 50,000—not bad! A very impressive warrior, but that alone won't be enough to defeat me!"

Tapping the scouter on his temple, Frieza offered a word of praise before shaking his head with a sigh.

"Hmph! Whether I can beat you or not, we'll see after we fight!"

Ignoring Frieza's words, Bardock instantly readied his stance and shot forward like a sharp arrow.

"Brave but reckless!" Frieza didn't dodge, maintaining his posture with his left index finger extended.

"Bad move!"

Seeing Frieza's stance, Bardock, mid-charge, sensed danger and instantly flashed to the side.

"SWISH!"

The moment Bardock dodged, a purple beam pierced the spot where he had been standing.

"Very sharp instincts."

Frieza nodded, offering praise without reservation.

"But I'm getting bored now. It's time to end this farce."

With that, Frieza issued a command through his scouter's wireless channel.

"All Frieza Army units, disperse! Wipe out every last Saiyan on this planet. And notify the Ginyu Force to remain on standby in the air; don't let a single Saiyan escape."

"Yes, sir!"

As the order was given, the Frieza Army troops surrounding the ship scattered, flying off in all directions.

Watching his subordinates disperse, Frieza slowly stepped out from his hover pod.

"Damn it!"

Hearing Frieza's words, Bardock's expression tightened, and he hurriedly shouted into his wireless communicator.

"Everyone, be careful! Gather together so we aren't picked off one by one!"

"Too late!"

Watching Bardock's anxiety, Frieza mocked him.

"Is that so!?"

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from behind Frieza.

"Who!?"

In an instant, without any warning, Frieza felt a cold sweat break out and immediately whipped his head around to look behind him.

"It's you!"

Seeing the person who had arrived, the faint smile that had been on Frieza's face instantly froze.

"It's you, you bastard. You actually dare to show your face? You've been hiding for so long that I thought you had already run away after sensing my immense power."

"How could that be? I'm the one who invited you here; why would I be absent?"

The newcomer smiled and continued.

"Hey, this is a little welcoming gift I took some time to prepare. What do you think?"

As he spoke, the newcomer tossed a bundle he was holding.

"This is!"

As the bundle rolled across the ground, its contents were revealed.

Seeing what was inside, Frieza's heart sank.

The bundle contained nothing other than four severed heads of various appearances. Frieza knew these four individuals all too well—they were the members of the Ginyu Force.

"You!"

Before Frieza could finish, the newcomer continued.

"Well, Frieza? Are you satisfied with my gift?"

With that, the newcomer stopped looking at Frieza and turned his gaze toward Bardock in front of him.