Frieza, how did you get stronger?

Zarbon, Dodoria, and more than a dozen of Frieza's underlings stood obediently behind him, waiting for his orders.

"Proceed with the original plan and search for the Dragon Balls!" Frieza commanded.

"Yes, Lord Frieza."

Zarbon, Dodoria, and the other underlings bowed together.

Then Zarbon and Dodoria each pressed the buttons on the Scouters worn over their eyes, searching for energy readings on the planet.

But as soon as they did, both Zarbon and Dodoria looked slightly taken aback, confused by what they were seeing.

"What is it?" Frieza asked with a beaming smile.

"Lord Frieza, this is strange," Zarbon said thoughtfully. "This planet..."

"Is there a problem?" Frieza glanced at Zarbon.

"Other than seven power readings about 500 kilometers from here, there are no power readings anywhere else," Zarbon replied at once.

"Perhaps the Namekians were prepared for us," Frieza guessed, stroking his chin. He looked unconcerned. "Why not go and see for ourselves?"

Frieza thought it over carefully. Perhaps my rebirth has caused a slight change in the story.

It's not impossible.

The Namekians have some very unusual abilities. Maybe my increased power let them know in advance that I was coming to Namek.

There's a good chance they've found somewhere to hide.

But you Namekians never saw this coming, did you?

I didn't come here to look for the Dragon Balls this time!

I came to get revenge on Sun Wukong!

"Yes, Lord Frieza."

Zarbon and Dodoria bowed again.

"Whoosh!"

Frieza's hover pod rose into the air and flew toward the energy readings.

Zarbon, Dodoria, and the dozen or so underlings followed close behind.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Frieza and his men streaked across the green sky, leaving trails of bright light in their wake.

Far away.

Sun Wukong, Piccolo, Son Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and the others had gathered together.

"They're here!" Piccolo said gravely.

"What an incredible presence!" Krillin exclaimed, cold sweat running down his face. "Is that Frieza's power? It's terrifying!"

"Wukong... Is Frieza really that powerful?" Yamcha's mouth twitched. He was badly frightened.

"This is a problem. We thought we'd be able to help!" Tien Shinhan wiped away his sweat. "Looks like we'll have to leave this to Wukong again."

"But... we've been training for so long. Even if we can't beat Frieza, we should at least be able to deal with his men, right?" Krillin rubbed his hands together, forcing a strained smile.

Son Gohan said nothing, but his expression had grown extremely grave.

Son Gohan could sense keenly that this opponent was far more terrifying than the one called Vegeta.

"Something's not right!" Sun Wukong furrowed his brow slightly, increasingly uneasy.

"What is it, Wukong?" Krillin asked.

"Frieza's power is even greater than before..." Sun Wukong said solemnly, looking gravely at his companions. "Krillin, I'm going to get you all out of here right now!"

"Huh? Why?" Krillin asked, taken aback.

"I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about this," Sun Wukong said, his voice growing even more somber.

"Haha, we'd better get going, then..." Yamcha laughed.

"Since we've come all the way to Namek, we should at least see what the Universe Emperor looks like," Tien Shinhan said with a quiet laugh. "Even if we die, it'll be worth it!"

"Yeah, I want to see what Frieza looks like, too," Chiaotzu agreed with a nod.

"Then we'll take one look and leave immediately," Yamcha said with a smile.

Sun Wukong: "..."

Why were they just like Bulma?

Why did they want to see Frieza?

He remembered how Bulma had insisted on seeing what the Androids looked like back then.

"All right, then. If things start to look bad, find somewhere to hide right away. Then I'll take you to the Grand Elder," Sun Wukong said gravely, clenching his fists.

What was going on?

Frieza's power was far too strange!

"They're here!" Piccolo growled, immediately looking up at the sky.

The moment Piccolo finished speaking, Frieza and his underlings came hurtling toward them from the distance.

Frieza spotted Sun Wukong on the ground below from far away, and his triangular eyes lit up.

But then Frieza became a little confused.

Why am I meeting Sun Wukong at this point in time?

Now that I think about it, when exactly did Sun Wukong come to Namek in my previous life?

Maybe he'd arrived long ago, but we just never crossed paths?

That could very well be it.

But none of that matters anymore.

This is great!

I thought I'd have to wait several more days before I could see you.

Since you've shown up now, I won't have to wait any longer.

Frieza was so excited that his heart surged and his hands trembled a little.

Frieza also recognized Krillin and Sun Wukong's son, Son Gohan, at a glance.

This time, I'll kill that little bald guy right in front of you, then kill your son.

Then, when you turn into a Super Saiyan, I'll give you a thorough beating.

But... I don't think I should kill you!

I'll humiliate you as much as I can!

I'll pay you back many times over for all the humiliation I suffered at your hands.

When they saw Sun Wukong on the ground below, Zarbon and Dodoria both jolted, nearly jumping into each other's arms in fright.

Why is that Super Saiyan here?

This is bad!

What do we do? What do we do?

Lord Frieza is going to get beaten to death!

Zarbon and Dodoria exchanged a glance, immediately communicating with their eyes.

Then both of them nodded knowingly.

We won't fight. We'll just stay right behind Lord Frieza and play our parts as convincing background characters.

Once that Super Saiyan defeats Lord Frieza, we'll say we only came because Lord Frieza threatened and bribed us.

Right, we already tried to talk Lord Frieza out of it.

Lord Frieza wouldn't listen and insisted on coming to Namek. What could we do?

That's what we'll say!

Luckily, that Super Saiyan seems kind. He probably won't kill us.

After all, he didn't even kill Lord Frieza!

The two quickly communicated with their eyes and soon came up with a plan to stay alive.

As for the rest of Frieza's underlings, Frieza had temporarily recruited them on other planets, so there was no way they would recognize Sun Wukong.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Frieza and his many underlings descended from the sky, landing in front of Sun Wukong and the others.

Piccolo and the others immediately tensed, sweat beading on their faces.

At that moment, Frieza's arrival felt to Piccolo and the others like a planet had crashed down on top of them, crushing the air from their lungs.

So this is the Universe Emperor, Frieza?

Could you be any more terrifying?