Frieza Force: What? The Dragon Balls Can Revive Lord Frieza?!

The hall remained silent for a long time.

Chen Mo leaned against the wall, thoughts racing through his mind.

He couldn't win head-on. That was a fact. Android 18 was practically blind in the darkness. His ki sensing could locate targets, but it wasn't precise enough. After fighting for twelve hours, he could only guarantee that he wouldn't die.

Then he wouldn't fight head-on.

Master Roshi had said it before. If you couldn't win, run. If you couldn't run, think of another way.

Another way.

Chen Mo's gaze fell on the Dragon Ball in Moori's hand.

Seven Dragon Balls. Six were in Shigula's hands, and one was here.

As long as even one was missing, all seven could not be gathered. And if they couldn't be gathered, they were useless.

Shigula had spent two years collecting them. As long as Chen Mo took this one away, those six in his possession would be worthless.

"Grand Elder," Chen Mo said.

Moori opened his eyes.

"What if I take you and the last Dragon Ball off this planet?"

Moori said nothing. Trunks reacted first.

"Take them away? Where?"

"Earth."

"The spaceship is wrecked," Trunks said. "Bulma's ship only has enough energy for a one-way trip. How are we supposed to get back?"

"We won't use that ship," Chen Mo said. "We'll get another one."

"From where?"

Chen Mo did not answer directly. He turned to look at Moori.

"Grand Elder, when Frieza invaded Planet Namek, did his force leave a base in orbit?"

Moori's expression changed.

"You mean a Frieza Force space battleship?"

"That's right. Back then, Frieza brought his army to Planet Namek to search for the Dragon Balls. After he died, the force should have retreated. But the Frieza Force's territory covers more than half of North Galaxy. There must be remaining outposts somewhere in this region of space."

Moori fell silent for several seconds.

"You're right. There used to be a Frieza Force transit station on the outskirts of this planet's star system. I can sense ships passing through that direction from time to time. Not often, but they have never stopped."

"They're still operating?"

"After Frieza's death, his force did not completely collapse. The remnants maintained loose rule across various star regions. This area is on the edge of North Galaxy and holds little value, so there are only small patrol fleets."

Chen Mo stood up.

"I have a plan."

Everyone looked at him.

"The remnants of the Frieza Force are still waiting for Frieza to be revived, aren't they?"

Moori nodded. "Frieza had absolute control over his force. Even after being dead for so many years, those soldiers still act in his name."

"Then what if someone tells them that Planet Namek has Dragon Balls? Gather all seven, and they can make a wish. They can revive Lord Frieza and King Cold."

The hall went silent.

Trunks was the first to understand. "You want the Frieza Force to fight Shigula?"

"It's attrition," Chen Mo said. "The Frieza Force's overall combat strength isn't high. Their individual soldiers are nowhere near Shigula's level. But the Frieza Force's greatest advantage has never been individual strength."

"What is it?"

"Numbers. Variety. All kinds of strange abilities."

A string of names flashed through Chen Mo's mind.

Ginyu. Body swapping.

Guldo. Time stop.

That was the Ginyu Force.

But the Frieza Force had hundreds of thousands of soldiers, recruited from countless planets and belonging to all kinds of species.

Freezing abilities, illusions, parasites, toxins, spatial folding.

The universe was too vast. Any kind of ability could exist.

"Shigula's darkness ability counters fighters who rely on sight. But what if his opponents don't rely on sight? What if someone can freeze space? What if someone can disrupt his consciousness? Among the Frieza Force's motley assortment of troops, there might really be a few who can keep him occupied."

Trunks frowned. "But the Frieza Force won't listen to us."

"They don't need to," Chen Mo said. "We only need to tell them one thing: Shigula has the Dragon Balls. If they want to revive Lord Frieza, they can go take them from him."

Android 18 had been leaning against the doorframe without saying a word. This time, she spoke.

"You want to make the tiger devour the wolf."

Chen Mo glanced at her. "More or less."

"And then? They start fighting, and you profit from the chaos?"

"No. I'm not taking advantage of the chaos. I'll take the Grand Elder and the last Dragon Ball away. Back to Earth. As long as this one isn't on this planet, the six Shigula has are just stones. Once the Frieza Force arrives and finds the Dragon Balls can't be used, they'll either fight Shigula to the death or retreat. Either way, it won't have anything to do with us."

"And then?"

"Then we return to Earth. As long as the Grand Elder is alive, the Dragon Balls can still be used. We can gather them slowly on Earth. The creator of the Namekian Dragon Balls is the Grand Elder. As long as he's alive, even if we move to another planet, the Dragon Balls' powers won't disappear."

Moori's eyes shifted.

"You want me to leave this planet?"

"Yes."

"This is my people's planet."

"You've already sent your people away. Other than you and a few elders, there are no Namekians left on this planet. If you stay, there's only one outcome: Shigula will come for the last Dragon Ball sooner or later. What will you use to stop him then?"

Moori fell silent.

Chen Mo continued. "Come back to Earth with us. Once we're strong enough, we'll return. Or we can use Earth's resources to help you settle down somewhere new."

Moori's hand brushed over the Dragon Ball on his knee.

"I'm old," Moori said. "I can't fly anymore."

"You won't need to fly. We have a spaceship."

"You said the spaceship was wrecked."

"The Frieza Force's spaceships won't be wrecked," Chen Mo said. "As long as we find one of their patrol units in this sector, we can just take one."

"Take one?" Trunks glanced at Android 18.

The corner of Android 18's mouth curled up.

"I'll handle that."

Chen Mo turned to Moori. "Grand Elder, what direction is the Frieza Force's relay station in exactly?"

Moori closed his eyes and sensed for around ten seconds.

"Northwest. Outside the atmosphere. About two astronomical units from this planet, there's a small space station. At least three medium-sized warships."

"Life signatures?"

"A few hundred. Most are very weak. The strongest one is probably around..." Moori thought for a moment. "Fifty thousand."

Fifty thousand.

Chen Mo's lips twitched.

That was Ginyu Force level.

His base combat power was five hundred thousand, but he had the Thirtyfold King Kai Fist. Fifteen million.

And Android 18 went without saying.

That would be easy.

"The plan is set." Chen Mo straightened up. "Step one: Android 18 and I leave the atmosphere, find a Frieza Force patrol unit, and take a spaceship. Step two: spread the news. Tell the remnants of the Frieza Force that there are Dragon Balls on Namek that can revive King Frieza. Step three: bring the Grand Elder and the last Dragon Ball back to Earth."

"What about me?" Trunks asked.

"You stay and guard the Grand Elder until we get a ship and come back for you."

Trunks nodded. He had no objections.

Android 18 pushed herself away from the doorframe.

"How far?"

"Two astronomical units. At your speed, about twenty minutes outside the atmosphere."

"Will there be enough ki? That ki shield thing."

"Enough. You taught me well."

Android 18 looked at him but said nothing.

When they reached the entrance to the hall, Android 18 paused.

"Do you really think Frieza's lackeys can beat that purple monster?"

"They can't." Chen Mo was frank. "But they don't need to beat him. They just need to annoy him. Distract him. Make him shift his attention away from us."

"And then?"

"Then we go back to Earth. Get stronger. Come back."

Android 18 turned her head and looked at the white sky outside, where three suns hung overhead.

"You're always like this."

"Like what?"

"If you can't beat them, run. Come back after you run. If you still can't beat them, run again."

"Staying alive is what matters most."

"Pathetic."

"If you stay alive, you'll amount to something."

Android 18 said nothing more. She walked out of the hall, and Chen Mo followed.

The two took to the air and passed through the atmosphere.

Space was quiet. No matter how many times he experienced it, Chen Mo could never quite get used to that.

Planet Namek's three suns cast a soft greenish-white glow behind them. Ahead lay deep space.

Chen Mo covered his body in ki—the technique Android 18 had taught him—to maintain his breathing and body temperature in the vacuum.

The Scouter's screen glowed. The direction Moori had pointed out was northwest.

After flying for around fifteen minutes, Chen Mo saw it.

A gray metal structure floated in the void, like a doughnut that had been bitten in half.

Three warships were docked around it, all standard Frieza Force models. Purple-painted and disc-shaped.

The Frieza Force insignia still hung on the outer wall of the space station.

That symbol had once represented absolute terror throughout the universe.

Now, it looked like nothing more than a rusty signboard.

"That's it?" Android 18 gave it a glance, sounding as though she were looking at a pile of trash by the roadside.

"That's it."

"Can't I just blow it up?"

"No. We need to leave one ship that can still fly."

Android 18 sighed, like she was making her customary complaint before getting to work.

The two approached the space station. Chen Mo scanned it with the Scouter.

Four hundred and twenty-three life signs. The strongest one was indeed around fifty thousand, concentrated in the station's core.

"I'll go in first," Android 18 said. "You wait outside."

"No. I have to go with you. I need to find the communications room."

"The communications room?"

"We need their communications network to spread the news. The Frieza Force has communication arrays all across North Galaxy. If we send it out from this node, the entire remaining force will receive it within a few days."

Android 18 paused for a second.

"Your mind works too fast."

"Thanks."

"That wasn't a compliment."

They entered through a cargo bay hatch on the side of the station. Android 18 punched the hatch open. The pressure-seal alarm went off, but no one came to investigate.

The corridor was dark. The lights flickered, and the walls were stained with rust and traces of some dried liquid. The air carried a sour, rotten smell.

A Frieza Force transit station.

So many years after its boss's death, it had almost completely fallen apart.

After turning two corners, they encountered their first group.

Five alien soldiers of different races. Some looked like lizards, some like insects, and some were species Chen Mo could not even name.

They wore standard Frieza Force combat suits, but the uniforms were old. Some had even been patched up.

The instant they saw Chen Mo and Android 18, all five froze.

Then one of the lizard-faced soldiers drew a ray gun.

Android 18 raised her hand. A ki blast erased all five soldiers, along with the wall behind them.

"Could you not finish everyone off in one move every time?" Chen Mo looked at the hole in the wall. "I need prisoners."

"You should've said so earlier."

"I did. I said we needed to find the communications room. To find the communications room, we need to ask for directions. To ask for directions, we need someone alive."

Android 18 rolled her eyes.

The next group they encountered had eight soldiers. This time, Android 18 only knocked out seven, leaving behind a blue-skinned creature with four eyes.

Chen Mo crouched down and patted the soldier's face.

"Where's the communications room?"

All four eyes went wide as they stared at Android 18. Its mouth trembled.

"I'm asking you a question. The communications room. Where is it?"

"Th—the third floor—turn left—the seventh room—"

"Who's in charge here?"

"Captain Apas—in the command center—the fifth floor—"

"What's his combat power?"

"F-fifty thousand—n-no, I don't know—please don't kill me—"

Chen Mo stood up.

"Let's go. Communications room first."

The communications room was easy to find. Third floor, turn left, seventh room. The door was unlocked. There were only two technicians inside. The moment they saw Android 18 enter, they dropped flat to the floor.

Chen Mo sat down before the communications console. He couldn't make sense of the Frieza Force interface, but the technician lying beside him could.

"Get up. Help me send an all-frequency broadcast."

The technician shakily climbed to his feet, sat at the console, and began working the panel at high speed.

"What's the message?"

Chen Mo considered his wording.

"Dragon Balls have been discovered on New Planet Namek. The seven Dragon Balls can grant any wish, including reviving Lord Frieza and King Cold."

"Six Dragon Balls are currently held by a Super Namekian named Shigula. His combat power is extremely high, and it will take a large number of elite troops working together to deal with him. The coordinates will be attached. In Lord Frieza's name, call on the entire Force to gather there."

The technician's four fingers froze above the panel. He turned to look at Chen Mo.

"Y-you're telling the truth? Lord Frieza can really be revived?"

Chen Mo's expression did not change.

"The Dragon Balls can grant any wish. That's a fact. What do you think Lord Frieza's Force will do when they hear this?"

The technician's eyes lit up.

Not with fear.

With fanaticism.

The Frieza Force.

Even after all these years, their worship of that name was still carved into their bones.

"Send it. All frequencies. Highest priority."

The technician began operating the console.

Android 18 leaned against the wall of the communications room, arms folded.

"You're using a dead man's name to mobilize an army."

"That's right."

"Frieza won't be revived."

"They don't know that."

"What if they find out the Dragon Balls don't work after they're done fighting?"

"That's their problem. I only need them to cause trouble for Shigula. Even if they just hold him up for a few weeks, that'll be enough time for us to bring the Grand Elder back to Earth."

Android 18 looked at him for several seconds.

"You're getting worse and worse."

"Learned it from you."

"I never taught you how to lie."

"You taught me how to survive."

Android 18's gaze lingered on his face without moving away.

The transmission was sent. An all-frequency broadcast covering the Frieza Force communications network throughout the North Galaxy.

The technician said the signal would need three to five days to reach every node. Nearby outposts might respond within two days.

Enough.

"Next step." Chen Mo stood up. "Let's steal a ship."

Fifth floor. Command center.

When Android 18 kicked open the door, Captain Apas was drinking some kind of purple beverage inside. The moment he saw her enter, the cup fell from his hand.

He stood up. He was three meters tall, his body covered in red carapace, his eyes gold.

"Who are you—"

Android 18 walked over, raised her hand, and slapped him.

Captain Apas's body was embedded in the wall. His golden eyes rolled white.

One move.

Chen Mo lowered his head and glanced at the detector.

In front of Android 18, it was settled with a single slap.

"The spaceship key is on him." Chen Mo took a diamond-shaped metal device from Apas's waist. "Let's go."

The two returned to the docking area and chose the newest of the three warships. It was disc-shaped, with purple paint.

A standard medium-sized Frieza Force warship. It could carry fifty people and came with a warp engine and life-support system.

Chen Mo sat in the cockpit. He still couldn't understand the control interface.

But the system's labels showed where the steering wheel and throttle were.

That was enough.

Ten minutes later, the warship left the space station, turned around, and flew toward Planet Namek.

When it landed outside the Grand Elder's hall, Trunks's face was full of shock.

"Th-This is a Frieza Force warship?"

"Stole it." Chen Mo stepped out through the hatch. "It can fly, it can warp. It's enough to get us back to Earth."

Moori emerged from the hall with Trunks supporting him, holding the last Dragon Ball in his arms.

He looked up at the purple warship, then at Chen Mo.

"You're having Frieza's army fight Shigula?"

"Yes."

Moori fell silent for a while.

"Shigula will kill them."

"Maybe. But the Frieza Force has hundreds of thousands of troops. There have to be a few who can give him a headache. At the very least, they can buy us time."

"Don't you think this is cruel? Trading other people's lives for your time?"

Chen Mo did not answer immediately.

He thought about it.

"Grand Elder, I'm an Earthling with a power level of five hundred thousand, facing a monster with five hundred million. I have no other choice."

Moori looked at him. There were many emotions in those aged eyes.

In the end, he nodded.

"Let's go."

Trunks helped Moori aboard the spaceship.

Chen Mo placed the Dragon Ball in the cockpit safe.

Android 18 was the last to board.

She paused at the hatch and looked back at Planet Namek's sky.

On the northern horizon, one section of the sky was black, like a patch sewn onto the white canopy of heaven.

That was Shigula's Dark Domain.

"Next time I come here," Android 18 said softly, "I'll tear that black patch away."

The hatch closed.

The warship rose into the air, passed through the atmosphere, and entered deep space.

Chen Mo entered Earth's coordinates into the navigation system.

The warp engine activated, and the starlight stretched into lines.

Trunks sat in the rear cabin, taking care of Moori. Android 18 sat in the co-pilot's seat, her legs resting on the console.

"How long until we get back to Earth?"

Chen Mo checked the navigation.

"This ship is faster than Bulma's. About twelve days."

"Twelve days," Android 18 repeated. Then she turned to look at Chen Mo.

"Twelve days. You won't be able to run."

Chen Mo said nothing.

Twelve days of deep-space travel, with Android 18, aboard a Frieza Force warship.

Suddenly, he missed the days when he ran around Kame House Island with a turtle shell on his back.