Scorching crimson sand, like red-hot iron filings, slammed against the rough rocky ground.
The gloomy, oppressive sky was forever dominated by two dark-red, misshapen stars. Their crimson light spilled across the land, making every inch of Planet Vegeta look bloody and desolate.
This was the Saiyans' home planet, and the dwelling place of one of the most savage, bloodthirsty races in the universe.
Barren, brutal, and ruled by the law of the jungle—these were the only laws that had governed this planet since time immemorial.
In a desolate valley on the frontier, a slender young man lay curled beneath the shadow of a massive boulder, struggling to catch his breath.
He looked to be around twenty. His short black hair clung in disarray to his forehead, and his sharp features and slightly leaner-than-average Saiyan build were tempered by a calmness and composure that didn't belong to his race.
His name was Lin Chen.
Or rather, the one who now occupied this body was Lin Chen, a transmigrator from Earth.
He had been in this Dragon Ball world for ten whole years.
Ten years ago, he had woken up in the body of an orphaned low-class Saiyan at the bottom of Planet Vegeta's social order.
His original parents had been ordinary warriors from a frontier tribe. They had fought in countless battles and died in a tribal conflict several years earlier, leaving the original owner alone to scrape by in this chaotic world.
The real Lin Chen had taken over this body and, with an adult's mind and a restraint far beyond that of the native Saiyans, somehow survived for ten whole years on Planet Vegeta, where people could be swallowed alive without a trace.
"Cough... cough, cough..."
A violent cough rose from his throat, carrying a faint taste of blood.
Lin Chen braced himself on his aching, numb arms and managed to lift his head, gazing toward the distant horizon.
At the edge of his vision, the entire surface of Planet Vegeta trembled faintly. The crimson rock layers split and collapsed, while thick plumes of smoke surged toward the gloomy sky.
The air was thick with the stifling presence of destruction.
No one understood better than Lin Chen what this upheaval meant.
Planet Vegeta was finished.
The original story's events were etched clearly in his mind. Frieza, the ruthless Universe Emperor, feared the Saiyans' latent potential and the emergence of the Legendary Super Saiyan. He had long since resolved to wipe out the entire Saiyan race.
Today. Right now!
A world-ending attack was brewing!
"Damn it. I still ended up with the most hopeless start."
Lin Chen muttered under his breath, a hint of grim resolve flashing in his eyes.
For ten years, he had kept a low profile. He never took part in conflicts or revealed his talents, disguising himself as a low-class Saiyan with no potential and a pitifully low battle power.
He knew all too well that in Frieza's universe, the more gifted a Saiyan was, the sooner he died.
Vegeta, Nappa, and the other elite warriors seemed to be valued by Frieza, but they had long been under secret scrutiny. Frieza simply hadn't decided to deal with them once and for all.
An unknown nobody from a small frontier tribe like Lin Chen, on the other hand, was far less likely to attract attention.
For ten years, he had scraped by on discarded supplies, avoided battles with stronger warriors, and endured scarce resources. His only hope was to survive until Planet Vegeta was destroyed, then seize the chance to flee this death trap and head out into the universe—to Earth.
But the disaster had come too soon. It was earlier and more violent than he remembered!
The ground beneath him shook harder and harder. One towering volcano after another erupted in the distance, and soaring rivers of lava dyed half the dark-red sky crimson. Terrifying waves of energy swept across the land.
Planet Vegeta was on the verge of breaking apart.
Countless low-class Saiyans howled and fled amid the disaster, wailing in despair. But against the planet-destroying force, every struggle seemed absurd.
"I have to find a usable small spacecraft, or I'll be buried with this planet."
Lin Chen clenched his teeth, forcing down his exhaustion and injuries as he prepared to head for the abandoned spacecraft wreckage on the frontier.
It was a secret location he had investigated in secret over the past ten years. Several damaged scout ships were hidden there—his only hope of escape.
But just as he was about to move, a series of rough, arrogant footsteps suddenly rang out from the valley passage behind him.
"Well, well. There's a live piece of trash hiding here?"
A coarse, mocking laugh rang out, dripping with undisguised cruelty.
Three burly Saiyan warriors with bulging muscles emerged from the shadows, slowly blocking the valley's only exit.
All three were ordinary pure-blooded low-class Saiyans. They wore battered leather Battle Suits, their eyes were vicious, and the stench of years of bloodshed clung to them.
The leader had a vicious scar across his face. He fixed his gaze on Lin Chen as if he were a helpless ant awaiting slaughter.
"Lin Chen. The useless orphan from the frontier tribe. Your battle power's been stuck at twelve hundred for years. The biggest loser on all of Planet Vegeta."
The scarred captain sneered in contempt. "The whole planet's about to blow up, everyone else is running for their lives, and you're hiding here playing dead? You're an embarrassment to all Saiyans!"
The two warriors beside him joined in the laughter.
"Hahaha! A cowardly loser like this can only hide behind a rock and wait to die."
"He's going to die anyway. Why not let the captain crush him and have some fun before the end?"
Saiyans were naturally brutal, combative, and bloodthirsty. With doomsday upon them and all rules collapsing, their savage instincts were unleashed without restraint.
They had never thought much of Lin Chen, a timid, weakling of a kinsman who never fought back. Now that the end was near, they were even more brazen, ready to crush him for amusement.
Lin Chen slowly straightened up. His dark eyes held no panic, only coldness.
He had endured for ten years—not because he feared the greater forces at play, but because he was weak. That didn't mean he was a coward who could be bullied at will.
His adult mind from his previous life made him exceptionally rational, but deep down, he still had a transmigrator's pride.
Besides, with the end of the world upon him and death a heartbeat away, continuing to endure and give ground would only get him killed for nothing.
"Get out of my way."
Lin Chen's voice was low, and he didn't waste a word.
Those simple words carried a chill that clashed with his lowly status.
The scarred captain paused, then grinned viciously as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "A loser dares to talk back to me? Looks like ten years of easy living have made you forget Saiyan rules!"
As he spoke, he stamped down hard. The solid rock beneath his feet shattered.
A dense white aura erupted, and the low-class Saiyan released his full battle power. A gale swept through the valley, sending sand swirling everywhere.
Battle power: 1,800!
A full six hundred higher than Lin Chen's!
Among the low-ranking warriors of Planet Vegeta, that was already considered respectable.
"Die!"
The scarred captain's eyes turned vicious. He formed a claw with one hand and lunged straight for Lin Chen's head, his strike wrapped in a cutting gust. He meant to crush Lin Chen's skull in one blow.
The two underlings folded their arms and watched with mocking smiles, as if they could already see Lin Chen's gruesome end.
Facing the deadly attack rushing toward him, Lin Chen's pupils contracted, but he didn't retreat an inch.
He had spent ten years in hiding. Though his battle power seemed to be only twelve hundred, he had secretly honed his body and studied the Saiyans' fighting style. His foundation was far more solid than that of warriors at the same level!
Just as the claws were about to touch his scalp, Lin Chen suddenly twisted his waist and slipped neatly to the side, evading the killing blow.
At the same time, he clenched his right hand into a fist, focused all his strength into it, and slammed it into the exposed weakness beneath the other man's ribs!
Thud!
A muffled impact rang out as fist met flesh.
The scarred captain had never expected the cowardly loser to fight back, let alone move with such speed and strike with such precision!
Pain shot through the captain's ribs. His massive frame staggered backward two steps, his face full of shock.
"You... you actually dared to hit back?!"
He was shocked and furious, murderous intent boiling in his eyes.
A bottom-of-the-barrel loser had actually injured him? It was a blatant humiliation!
"You're dead!"
The enraged scarred captain decided to kill him. His aura surged as a pale-white energy sphere gathered between his hands, its light dazzling as he aimed it at Lin Chen's face!
A deadly wave of energy rushed toward him, and the shadow of death fell over him in an instant.
Lin Chen's heart sank.
The gap in their base battle power was right there. He couldn't win by meeting force with force!
After ten years in this world, was he really going to die at the hands of some nobody?
He refused to accept it!
He would never accept it!
He hadn't escaped Planet Vegeta, set foot in the universe, or seen this thrilling Dragon Ball world with his own eyes!
[Beep! The host has been detected in a life-or-death crisis!] [The Myriad Worlds Saiyan Evolution System has been activated!] [Host bound: Lin Chen] [Race: Half-Saiyan (Earth soul + Saiyan bloodline, unlimited potential)] [Base battle power: 1200] [Talent: None] [New host welcome benefits issued!] [Desperate Crisis Critical Hit activated! Battle power doubled instantly!] [Temporary battle power: 2400!]
A string of crisp, icy mechanical voices suddenly erupted deep in Lin Chen's mind!
Lin Chen's whole body jolted, and his eyes lit up!
A system!
His cheat had finally arrived!
Ten years since transmigrating. Ten years lying low. After countless brushes with death, he had finally awakened his heaven-defying opportunity in this last desperate moment!
A vast, searing power surged through his limbs and body. The exhaustion and aches vanished as boundless strength filled his body, his meridians expanded, and his blood surged.
An aura far more powerful than his opponent's burst from Lin Chen with a thunderous roar!
The wind reversed, and sand surged backward!
The scarred captain, who had been so vicious just moments ago, froze mid-grin. He stared at the young man before him in disbelief.
The loser he had bullied at will was now releasing an aura that actually crushed his own!
"This... this is impossible! How did your battle power suddenly skyrocket?!"
The scarred captain cried out, his face full of terror.
Lin Chen slowly raised his eyes. His dark gaze held not a trace of restraint or cowardice now—only a cold, domineering edge.
Ten years in hiding, then one transformation into a dragon!
"Were you trying to kill me just now?"
The instant the words left his mouth, Lin Chen vanished from where he stood.
He was so fast that only afterimages remained!
The scarred captain couldn't react in time before a crushing knee strike smashed into his chest!
Crack!
The sharp snap of breaking bones rang out!
"Pfft—!"
Blood sprayed from the scarred captain's mouth. His massive body flew backward like a broken kite and slammed into the rock wall. Most of his bones shattered, and his strength faded away in an instant.
The two underlings were dumbstruck. All their mockery vanished, replaced by sheer terror.
"N-no way! How could a loser be this strong?!"
The two of them were scared out of their wits. They turned and tried to run.
But Lin Chen gave them no chance.
With the system's power behind him, his combat instincts and speed had far surpassed those of low-ranking Saiyans.
He took two strides, caught up in an instant, and struck out with both hands, releasing two precise blasts of ki!
Two faint streaks of white light pierced the air and struck the men squarely in the back.
Two muffled thuds rang out. Before either underling could scream, they collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
In the blink of an eye, all three Saiyan warriors who had bullied him were dead!
[Beep! Three low-class Saiyans killed!] [Battle power essence absorbed! Permanent battle power +380!] [Current base battle power: 1580!] [Faint combat talent residue detected in the enemy. Minor absorption; physical strength slightly increased!]
A warm current continued to wash through his body. Lin Chen could clearly feel his power steadily growing, his body growing tougher by the moment.
Incredible!
So this was the power of the system!
Gain battle power by killing enemies and absorb their essence when they fell!
No complicated conditions, no ridiculous restrictions—simple, brutal, and overwhelmingly powerful!
Lin Chen clenched his fists, feeling the surging strength within him. A feverish glint flashed in his eyes.
Frieza? The Universe Emperor? The Super Saiyan?
From now on, he would break every fate and every plot point with his own hands!
No one could decide his destiny for him!
Rumble—!
Just then, an even more terrifying roar shook the heavens and earth.
Planet Vegeta rocked violently. A gigantic sphere of black energy appeared in the sky, its dreadful aura of destruction covering the entire planet.
Frieza's planet-destroying energy sphere had arrived!
The countdown to the planet's complete destruction had begun!
"There's no time to waste!"
Lin Chen's expression turned grim. He immediately gathered his focus and sprinted toward the abandoned spacecraft area deep in the valley.
If he could get his hands on an intact small spacecraft, he could escape Planet Vegeta and rise from the flames!
As he ran, the system's notification sounded again.
[Beep! Main quest triggered: Desperate Escape!] [Quest objective: Escape the planet before Planet Vegeta is completely destroyed!] [Quest rewards: Basic Super Saiyan unlock access, a massive number of battle power points, random bloodline talent!]
The rich rewards made Lin Chen's eyes burn with anticipation, and he accelerated once more.
In just a few dozen seconds, he had reached the area filled with metal wreckage from abandoned spacecraft.
Several battered small scout ships sat quietly there. Their hulls were covered in scratches, and some components were damaged, but their core engines were still intact.
"This one will do!"
Without hesitation, Lin Chen leaped aboard the small ship in the best condition and quickly worked the familiar control panel with both hands.
After ten years in hiding, he had long since mastered every control on these low-grade ships.
The engine roared to life. Blue flames burst from the ship's tail as it slowly lifted off.
Through the ship's window, Lin Chen looked down at Planet Vegeta, now utterly fractured, with magma gushing from its surface.
This blood-soaked, brutal planet that had imprisoned him for ten years was about to become nothing but cosmic dust.
From now on, there would be no more low-class Saiyan weakling scraping by in this world.
Only Lin Chen, a newly risen powerhouse destined to bestride the universe!
The ship climbed at full speed, broke through the atmosphere, and raced toward the depths of space.
But just as it was about to escape the planet's gravity and enter the starway,
a cold, arrogant voice, resounding across the stars, suddenly pierced the ship's hull without warning and rang in Lin Chen's ear.
"Oh? There's still a straggler among the ants? What an interesting aura..."
"Vile Saiyan, I'll remember your scent."
The Emperor's icy killing intent instantly locked onto the entire ship!
The hairs all over Lin Chen's body stood on end, and his heart sank.
Frieza!
Even while destroying the planet, he had sensed Lin Chen's presence!
Lin Chen had only just escaped with his life, and already the Universe Emperor had set his sights on him!
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