"Bulma, hurry back! It's going to get very dangerous here soon," Yamcha urged her.
"I never got to see Frieza once when I was on Namek. I came all this way especially to see him."
"It'd be easy for Frieza to destroy Earth, right? So it doesn't matter where I am."
"If that's the case, I'd rather see what he looks like for myself." Bulma said.
"Yamcha, you should get over there too! Gohan and the others are already fighting!"
"Th-this... all right!"
Yamcha gave Bulma a couple of worried glances, then turned and hurried into the fight.
A year had passed since Sun Wukong and Frieza's decisive battle on Namek. During that year, Earth's warriors hadn't slacked off in their training. Even Gohan had kept up the most basic exercise alongside his studies, while Vegeta had trained even harder, enduring high-gravity training at Bulma's home.
"Oh?"
"That's Vegeta, isn't it? Let's see how high his battle power is." Seeing Vegeta's performance, King Cold was somewhat surprised and ordered his men to measure his battle power.
"Yes, King Cold!!"
"Huh? What? How?"
"King Cold, Vegeta's battle power has exceeded the upper limit of our Scouters!!"
"So it has? He's gone beyond the Scouter's limit." King Cold's expression shifted.
"Impressive. Vegeta has already left his father, King Vegeta, far behind." King Cold said.
"He must be the second-strongest Saiyan in the universe now, right?"
"No, Father." Frieza said.
"Look at that boy." Frieza pointed him out to King Cold.
"Hmm?"
"He's the son of that Super Saiyan. When his emotions run high, his battle power surges past Vegeta's. I experienced it firsthand." Frieza said.
Half of Frieza's body was mechanical after his return. His mechanical body came with a built-in battle-power scanner, and its higher precision allowed him to gather more information during combat.
"You've all worked hard. You've wiped out every last one of my men in such a short time." Frieza spoke to the warriors defending Earth. At last, he was about to make his move.
The galactic emperor Frieza raised a finger and pointed it at the weakest person there.
"Chiaotzu, watch out!!"
"Tien Shinhan!!"
"You're in the way." Vegeta appeared in the path of the Death Beam Frieza fired from his finger and raised a hand to block the pink beam.
"You've improved quite a bit, Vegeta." Frieza praised him.
"Hmph." Vegeta snorted.
"But you're not a Super Saiyan. Are you confident you can stand against me?" Frieza asked.
"In recognition of all your years of diligent service, I'll grant you a quick death. How did you like that experience last time? I'll even give you time for some last words." Frieza said to Vegeta.
"Quit messing around with me!!!"
"Today, I'll be the one to—!!!"
Vegeta charged forward!
He threw a punch at top speed!
Frieza dodged every single one of Vegeta's punches.
"!"
Frieza whipped his tail around, sending Vegeta flying.
Son Gohan appeared behind him and caught him.
"Are you all right?" Gohan asked.
"G-Gohan..."
"Gohan?"
Vegeta turned his head. He saw the expression on Son Gohan's face.
Gohan was still just a child. Vegeta remembered what it had been like spending time with him on Namek a year ago.
Why didn't Son Gohan look afraid now?
"Gohan, you seem pretty calm."
"...Could it be that you?!"
"Could you..."
A thought crossed his mind—one that wounded his pride and filled him with conflicting emotions.
Could Gohan also transform into a Super Saiyan?!
While everyone else was on edge, Gohan alone looked composed, with even a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Was he confident in his own battle power?!
Vegeta thought, then suddenly found himself smiling.
He felt like laughing.
"..."
Piccolo watched Frieza and King Cold with a grave expression, then glanced over at Gohan and Vegeta.
What were they doing?
Why had Vegeta suddenly started smiling? Had he thought of a way to defeat those two monsters?
"Vegeta, my dad will arrive at the most crucial moment." Son Gohan whispered to him.
"What?!"
Gohan, was your confidence because of your father, Kakarot?!
Piccolo frowned. As a Namekian, his hearing was sharp enough to catch what Gohan had said.
"I see." The tension in Piccolo's nerves eased a little.
He didn't know why Gohan had said that.
But maybe it was a father-and-son connection?
"Gohan, when did you say the crucial moment would be?" Vegeta asked. "Don't tell me it'll be when Earth is about to be destroyed."
"It won't."
"Let's attack together!!" Son Gohan shouted to Vegeta.
"So, here you come?" Frieza extended his right hand and flexed it.
He planned to face the charging Son Gohan and Vegeta with just one hand.
"What were you two whispering about just now? Planning some kind of tactic?" Frieza asked.
"It won't do you any good."
Gohan unleashed all his power, and white energy blazed up into the sky.
Even beyond Earth, Gohan's ki could be felt.
"Hah!!!"
Vegeta also unleashed his full power!
As Gohan and Vegeta powered up together, the ground began to shake.
"..."
Frieza quietly watched Son Gohan and Vegeta put on their show.
"Zzt—!!"
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Gohan.
Everyone present suddenly sensed another ki.
His clothes looked a little strange, but his unmistakable hairstyle silently proclaimed who he was.
"What?"
"That's!!"
"How can it be?"
"Old Sun?!"
"Am I dreaming?"
"Hey, everyone, are you all okay?" Old Sun turned and called to them.
"I made it in time this time, huh? Hehe." Sun Wukong, the Saiyan who had grown up on Earth, grinned.
"Dad!!" Son Gohan was the happiest of all.
"Kakarot..."
Vegeta's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. Gohan had been telling the truth.
"I'll deal with Frieza."
Kakarot's gaze turned serious, and his entire presence changed.
"Dad, please take care of both Frieza and his father in one go."
"Otherwise, they'll turn Earth into another Namek." Gohan reminded him anxiously.
Before his father had returned, Gohan hadn't been too nervous. But now that Dad was back, he was getting nervous instead.
"Mm, I know."
Sun Wukong understood what Son Gohan meant by his reminder.
He wouldn't give Frieza or King Cold a chance to destroy Earth.