Earth.
Once he realized there was no way to escape,
even someone as proud as Vegeta had no choice but to accept the situation for the time being.
So, for now, he turned into an answer-any-question machine and explained his circumstances.
Especially when it came to Frieza.
As a Saiyan, and especially as the Saiyan Prince, he had always been proud of his Saiyan heritage. Yet he had once been forced to serve under Frieza, with no chance to fight back.
Whenever he thought about it, he was overcome with rage.
So when he told them he belonged to the Frieza Force, he deliberately used harsher words to make it sound as though Frieza might come to Earth.
And in his mind, Son Gohan was the best one to face Frieza.
From what he had seen so far, that kid should be able to put up a fight against Frieza!
Maybe he hadn't yet become a Super Saiyan in the truest sense.
But he was certainly the one with the most potential!
Whenever Vegeta thought about it, a deep sense of resentment welled up inside him. He was the Saiyan Prince, yet the loathsome Frieza had controlled him for so long—and now he had to admit that becoming a Super Saiyan was someone else's affair.
To him, it was an unimaginable humiliation.
"Emperor of the Universe... Frieza!!!"
Just hearing Vegeta introduce that name
sent chills running down everyone's spines.
They hadn't actually seen Frieza yet, but he was known as the Emperor of the Universe, and could give orders to a powerful warrior like Vegeta. His strength... was beyond question!
After all, he had to be the strongest being in the entire universe!
"Frieza, huh? So there are still such powerful warriors in the universe?"
While Yamcha, Krillin, and the others were trembling, Son Goku looked excited.
He had felt the energy Vegeta gave off when he turned into a Great Ape.
That power was far beyond him, and there was someone even stronger than Vegeta named Frieza. The thought thrilled him!
Son Gohan wasn't surprised at all to see his father get excited.
After all, he knew his father's personality well.
Vegeta glanced at Raditz and the others, who were trembling, then at the excited Son Goku. Clearly satisfied, he said, "As expected of that kid's father. Kakarot, you really are a true Saiyan!"
This time, Son Goku didn't argue that he was an Earthling.
Clearly, his trip to the afterlife had changed his outlook to some extent.
Behind the others, Raditz's expression stiffened slightly. He looked at the unconscious Nappa and wondered if Vegeta's remark had been aimed at him.
What did he mean, Kakarot was a true Saiyan? Was that a jab at him?
Before he could keep reading into it,
Vegeta turned his gaze to Son Gohan and said, "You'd better get ready. Frieza is not someone to take lightly. He was the one who destroyed Planet Vegeta. If he finds out there are still Saiyans on this planet, do you think he'll spare you?"
"You're a Saiyan yourself, and Frieza hasn't done anything to you!"
Piccolo easily saw that Vegeta was trying to sow discord.
Raditz asked in confusion, "That's right. And didn't Planet Vegeta get destroyed by a meteor? What does King Frieza have to do with it?"
"Idiot!"
Vegeta shot Raditz a cold look and said, "Frieza was the one who spread the story about the meteor. You actually believed him? And do you really think a meteor could destroy Planet Vegeta?"
Raditz froze.
"Hmph. The Saiyans on Planet Vegeta weren't as strong as me, but there were still warriors with a power level above ten thousand. They could destroy small planets in an instant. What kind of meteor do you think could wipe them out?"
Hearing Vegeta's explanation, Raditz looked horrified.
It had never occurred to him that this might be what happened.
Son Gohan, standing nearby, also looked at Vegeta in surprise. He had always thought Vegeta learned the truth from Cui, but it turned out the guy had figured out what really happened to Planet Vegeta long ago.
Then again, that was only natural.
Vegeta had always been clever. He might well have guessed the truth early on.
But he had been under Frieza's control, with nowhere near enough power to fight back, so he could only keep his suspicions to himself.
Now, there was no need for him to hide anything.
"So... Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta."
"That's very likely!"
"But why? We worked so hard for him..."
Raditz clearly couldn't believe it. Or maybe he couldn't bear to consider fighting Frieza, because it was utterly impossible—like a rabbit thinking it could challenge a tiger!
Vegeta gave him a cold look and said, "Idiot. It's because Frieza feared the Saiyans' potential, especially the possibility that... the Legendary Super Saiyan might be born!"
As he said this, he glanced at Son Gohan without thinking.
"Super Saiyan?"
The others didn't react to the name. They thought it was just another Saiyan title, like when they had called Goku a Low-Class Warrior.
But Raditz's face had already changed dramatically. "W-what are you talking about? That's just a legend among the Saiyans!"
"I used to think it was a legend, too."
Vegeta's gaze settled on Son Gohan as he said, "But now, it seems it isn't!"
"You mean Gohan is some kind of Super Saiyan?"
Son Goku looked at Gohan curiously. He also thought Gohan had improved too quickly. In just a year, he had changed completely.
"Hmph!"
Vegeta didn't answer the question directly.
Even if he believed it, he would never say so outright!
Piccolo thought it over for a moment, then said, "So, according to you, this Frieza is afraid of Super Saiyans and wants to wipe out the Saiyans. If he learns Gohan exists, he'll come here?"
"Exactly!"
Vegeta nodded readily and said, "This kid is stronger than me. His power already far surpasses the limits of Saiyan warriors in the past. If Frieza finds out, he definitely won't spare him."
"So should we kill you, then?"
A murderous glint flashed through Piccolo's eyes.
Son Gohan stepped forward and said, "If that guy really is the Emperor of the Universe, killing Vegeta won't solve anything. It might even bring him here sooner."
"Hmph. You think I'd send Frieza a message? Ridiculous!"
Vegeta looked at Piccolo with scorn and said, "After what he did to me, I'll kill him someday!"
Son Gohan had been listening the whole time. Knowing how things had originally played out for Vegeta, he could guess that this was what he truly thought.
Perhaps he wanted Gohan to face Frieza.
But at the same time, he really did hate Frieza. Most likely, he spent every night thinking about how to kill him, but simply didn't have the power.
That was because Vegeta still hadn't realized that Saiyans grew stronger after recovering from near-death experiences—a downright broken ability!
"I see..."
Son Gohan nodded thoughtfully and said, "If Frieza really is as you say, sooner or later, we'll have to face him..."
"Frieza! Listen to me. You absolutely must not provoke him! Otherwise, it won't just be a disaster for Earth—it'll be a disaster that sweeps across the entire universe!!!"
Son Gohan had only just begun to say more
when a voice suddenly rang out all around them, seemingly surrounding them from every direction!
Before you continue