Trunks' Terror

Earth

In an endless desert, the scorching weather stirred a hint of irritation in everyone.

After stepping out of the Time Machine, Trunks was startled by the sight before him!

Everyone's eyes turned toward him. He looked around in turn, and when he saw Bulma leaning against Vegeta, he remembered what his mother had told him. He guessed that the man was his father, Vegeta!

Seeing Sun Wukong left him even more shocked. Hadn't Uncle Goku failed to make it back in time back then? Why was he standing here now?

But what puzzled him was that things weren't at all as his mother had described! At this point in time, his father and mother hadn't gotten together yet. Had he traveled to the wrong time? Was this a parallel world?

Looking at Frieza and the others in the distance, he wondered again, No, this is right. The scene is exactly like the one Mother described. Even Frieza looks exactly as she said he would! Why is this happening?

He was filled with dread, afraid he might have changed history and wouldn't be able to return to the future!

Whatever. He'd defeat Frieza first!

He flared his energy and charged at Frieza.

"Are you Frieza?" Trunks asked, his expression impassive.

"Has everyone started talking to me like that now? Heh heh heh." Frieza sounded somewhat angry.

Trunks had none of the Saiyans' tendency to drag things out. He powered up, transformed into a Super Saiyan, and charged straight at Frieza!

Frieza and Sun Wukong's group were all astonished. Were there still Saiyans in the world? How could some random person who showed up be so powerful?

But Trunks had underestimated Frieza. The Frieza of this era was nothing like the one in his history; their power levels were completely different!

He drew his sword and swung it down at Frieza with all his strength. Though Frieza was startled, he still had time to react. The gap between them was simply too great! Trunks only had a few hundred million in battle power.

Frieza extended his index finger, wrapped it in energy, and caught the sword coming down at him with the tip of his finger!

Trunks backed away in terror. This wasn't what he knew! The Frieza in his world hadn't been this powerful!

"Heh heh heh! What's wrong? Scared? You'll die even if you're afraid. I'll wipe out every one of you monkey bastards!" Frieza's smile twisted into a menacing expression.

"How can this be? You shouldn't be this powerful!" Trunks cried in fear.

"Enough, Trunks! Get back here! Kakarot, you go first. Piccolo, you and the others take care of that rabble!" Vegeta shouted.

"Hmph. So I'm just some nobody now?" Piccolo snorted.

Still, he did as Vegeta said. He took off without even removing his cape and turban, flying toward the group of soldiers.

"Leave him to me, Vegeta." Goku sounded eager.

"I should warn you, Kakarot: Earth can't withstand your power either. Finish this quickly. Otherwise, hmph, I'll step in myself," Vegeta said.

He knew exactly what Sun Wukong was like! Once a fight started, he paid no attention to anything else. And he never used his full strength; he liked beating opponents by matching their power.

Hearing Vegeta's voice, Trunks froze in even greater shock, his thoughts in turmoil.

Why does he know my name? Why? What's changed?

"Trunks, what are you doing? Get back here!" Vegeta roared.

Frieza seized the moment while Trunks was distracted and attacked him! At Vegeta's voice, Trunks snapped out of it and dodged in a panic.

Goku rushed in too, transforming into a Super Saiyan and fighting Frieza!

Their tremendous power sent dust billowing across the desert. Trunks grew more and more confused.

Even Uncle Goku is this strong now. He's powerful enough to defeat the Androids!

His Super Saiyan transformation gradually faded, his flame-like golden hair turning blue-purple again.

He flew to Vegeta's side and looked at him in confusion. He had so many questions, but didn't know where to start!

The fight between Goku and Frieza was what held everyone's attention!

After a long period of training, Goku had mastered the Super Saiyan form.

Frieza had grown stronger, but he had less control over his body than before, and his energy was in complete disarray.

He was losing the fight. Frieza glared furiously at Sun Wukong. He hadn't expected him to be as strong as Vegeta! He still didn't know that Vegeta had become even stronger. In Vegeta's eyes, he was nothing but an ant!

Goku seized the moment Frieza was distracted. He caught Frieza's straight punch with both hands, then used his momentum against him and heaved him hard into the ground. The soft desert sand swallowed Frieza whole, filling his mouth and nose. Ignoring the pain, Frieza shot into the sky. The moment he burst out of the ground, he heard his father shout, "Quick, dodge, Frieza!"

Goku had already gathered energy for a Kamehameha, waiting for Frieza to emerge! The instant the ground shook, the Kamehameha blasted toward Frieza's energy!

Frieza had no time to dodge. Sun Wukong's energy wave obliterated him completely, reducing him to dust!

"Frieza, my son... Damn Saiyans..." King Cold thought, though he said nothing of the sort.

Instead, he said, "You're very powerful. Is your name Sun Wukong? Would you be interested in becoming my adopted son? Join me, and we'll conquer the entire universe together."

As he spoke, he was only trying to buy time. Meanwhile, he secretly gathered power in his other hand.

"You should leave. I'll spare your life as long as you promise not to do evil again. I won't kill you!" Sun Wukong showed mercy once more!

He returned to his normal form and let his guard down.

Hearing him, Vegeta was speechless. That idiot's still so naive!

"Die! Join my son Frieza in the grave!" King Cold suddenly fired a Death Beam at Goku's heart!

Goku was left on the verge of death by the single blow! His powerful Saiyan body and bloodline let him hold on for a little longer!

Everyone shouted in shock, "Goku! Dad! Grandpa!"

Piccolo had already finished the fight!

Vegeta shook his head and used Instant Transmission to appear in front of Goku. "You deserved that. You let your guard down. You'd deserve to die!"

Despite his words, he still kicked Piccolo and the others as they flew toward them!

"You still have Senzu Beans, right? Hurry up and feed him one. What an idiot!" Vegeta said.

Piccolo pulled out a Senzu Bean and quickly fed it to Goku! As soon as Goku swallowed it, he was back to full strength. He stood up and said, "Vegeta, sorry—I let my guard down again! Haha!"

Everyone was speechless. What was there to laugh about at a time like this?!

King Cold had now formed an energy sphere like a miniature sun, much like Frieza's Death Ball.

He rose into the air and said, "You're all going to die! When the planet explodes, none of you will survive. I can live in space!"

With that, he hurled the energy sphere at Vegeta! Everyone was alarmed. Goku and Trunks transformed into Super Saiyans and rushed over. Just then—

"Stay back! I'm still here. Just watch," Vegeta said coldly!

Goku and the others stopped in their tracks. Trunks saw Goku stop and halted as well. Confused, he asked, "Mr. Goku, do you trust him that much?"

"Relax. He's even stronger than I am," Goku explained.

Trunks was still puzzled. His father couldn't even transform into a Super Saiyan at this point! What had happened to make Uncle Goku trust him so much?

Vegeta watched the energy sphere slowly descend. He didn't even bother to dodge, let alone transform!

Even back on the Elf Continent, Vegeta hadn't been completely lost in the company of women. Gulnara had used the elves' psychic powers to unlock his potential once again. The increase hadn't been great, though!

King Cold wasn't even as strong as Frieza had been early on. In Vegeta's eyes, he could break that energy sphere with one hand, even at full power!

Everyone watched Vegeta, who hadn't transformed, with curiosity. Had he become so powerful that he didn't even need to transform?

The energy sphere was about to hit the ground. Only then did Vegeta slowly raise his palm. He gathered energy with one hand and caught the sphere. But he didn't stop there. He took one step after another, pushing off the ground as he rose into the air. His tremendous power sent the energy sphere flying backward, faster and faster.

King Cold retreated again and again, unable to withstand Vegeta's power. The pressure was so great that he couldn't even transform!

"Vegeta, spare me! I'll be your slave!" he pleaded.

Vegeta gave a disdainful laugh. "Hmph. I don't need trash like you as a slave. What do you take me for, that idiot Kakarot? You think I'd believe you?"

Then, with the same hand that had caught the energy sphere, he formed an energy wave. Holding it against the sphere, he roared, "Big Bang Attack!"

The energy sphere slammed into King Cold. He couldn't hold it back, and it drove him farther and farther away, out through the atmosphere and into space, until his back began to feel hot. Only then did he realize he was almost at the star they called the Sun!

"No! I don't want to die! I regret—" His despairing cry couldn't travel through the vacuum of space!

A brilliant burst of fireworks lit up the sky, making the whole Earth as bright as day. The dazzling light made everyone squint!

King Cold was reduced to dust as well!

His father's terrifying power left Trunks too shocked to speak...

Bulma arranged for people to transport the spaceship Frieza's group had left behind to her company. Aside from Vegeta, the only thing Bulma was interested in was technology!

"All right, tell us who you are," Piccolo said, looking at Trunks.

"I..." Trunks looked at everyone, unsure how to explain. He was afraid of changing history again!

Just then, Vegeta said, "Go on. Don't worry; what you say won't change this world."