"Is this Shenron?" Everyone present was stunned.
"Damn it, he really summoned Shenron!" Salza muttered furiously, his face dark.
When Lord Cooler arrived and discovered that someone had already used the Dragon Balls, he would be enraged.
The three of them would be blamed for failing their mission. Cooler was infamous for his ruthless cruelty—he might even erase them from existence.
"Captain Ginyu, what do we do?" Guldo's face trembled.
Frieza was no easier to deal with than Cooler. If they mishandled this, the Ginyu Force would cease to exist.
Ginyu turned and met Salza's gaze. The two captains gritted their teeth. "We fight! We absolutely can't let Slug get his wish!"
The two squads were in the same boat now. Only by setting aside their differences could they cling to even the faintest hope of survival.
They didn't know that once someone summoned Shenron, the Dragon Balls had to recharge for a year before they could be used again, even if no wish was made.
"Is he really that scary? The Scouter says Slug's power level is only one hundred thousand."
Burter wasn't convinced. That power level was a little higher than his own, but he had absolute confidence in his speed.
Recoome glanced at the number on the screen and said dismissively, "If the Ginyu Force attacks together, we can definitely take him down."
"You fools! Two idiots who belong in a museum!" Ginyu shouted, pointing at them.
"Slug can clearly control his power level. He's lived for over five hundred years, and his body has grown frail with age."
"He can still maintain a power level of one hundred thousand on the surface. Just imagine how terrifying he must be!"
"I've told you before: don't trust the numbers on your Scouters too much. One day, they'll get you killed!"
If they weren't about to fight, Ginyu would've taken them down himself.
Salza had no time to mock them. He yelled, "Attack together! Don't use energy blasts; they could hurt Shenron. First, draw Slug somewhere else!"
The three members of Cooler's Armored Squadron, the five members of the Ginyu Force, Dodoria, and Zarbon—ten powerful warriors—shot into the sky.
The ten figures roared forward like dragons, their terrifying presence twisting the air and threatening to crush everything in their path.
"Annoying bugs."
Slug hadn't even had a chance to make his wish before they interrupted him, and he was furious.
He was also worried Shenron might be harmed. Slowly, he turned around, a cold smile curling his lips.
"Ha!"
Zarbon transformed into his hideous second form as soon as the fight began. His muscles swelled, and his power level soared.
"Time, stop!"
Guldo stretched out both hands, his four eyes flying wide as he held his breath. Everything around them froze in an instant; even the slightest breeze stopped.
Slug stood perfectly still, as if under a spell.
"Good! Let's attack!"
Zarbon and Dodoria struck from above and below, aiming for Slug's heart and head to finish him off in one blow.
The next moment, both men felt searing pain in their chests. Two withered hands had pierced straight through them, and blood gushed from their backs.
"You... weren't frozen?"
Slug pulled his hands free. Dodoria and Zarbon crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
"Impossible! My special technique has never failed!" Guldo cried in terror, stumbling backward.
"Pfft!"
A dark red beam shot from Slug's fingertip and pierced Guldo's forehead.
The terror still lingered on his face as his body went limp and hit the ground.
"Red Magma Jeice! Blue Hurricane Burter!"
The red and blue figures zipped around Slug at incredible speeds, trying to find an opening.
Slug remained where he was. His arms stretched several times their length, sweeping through the air like dragons as his enormous hands reached for the sky.
Jeice and Burter were moving at full speed when someone suddenly grabbed them. They let out shrill screams.
"Crack, crack..."
Slug squeezed, crushing every bone in their bodies. Then, with a wet pop, they burst into a rain of blood and flesh.
"Recoome Eraser Gun!"
Recoome opened his mouth wide and fired a massive purple energy beam, its power enough to destroy a planet.
Watching his former comrades die helplessly, he no longer cared whether Shenron might be hurt. He unleashed his strongest attack.
The purple beam lit up half the sky, its shrill howl making it seem as if Namek itself would shatter.
Slug smiled and slowly raised his aged hand to block it.
The purple beam abruptly reversed course, hurtling back even faster than it had come and shooting into Recoome's still-open mouth.
"Boom!"
The deafening explosion tore through the sky. Scorching shock waves swept outward, blasting a bottomless crater a hundred meters across into the ground.
Recoome was vaporized in the blast, leaving not even a bone fragment behind.
In the blink of an eye, Ginyu was the last one left in the Ginyu Force.
The three members of Cooler's Armored Squadron and Ginyu halted at once, their expressions so grim they could have dripped water.
"Not going to stop me anymore?" Slug's aged, hoarse voice rang out.
"I admit you're strong, but Lord Frieza and Lord Cooler have their eyes on these Dragon Balls. They'll be arriving any moment." Ginyu spoke through gritted teeth.
He cursed inwardly. This was supposed to be a simple mission. How had it turned into this?
"Are Frieza and Cooler strong?" Slug asked with an amused smile.
He'd known who they were all along. For the past five hundred years, he and his army had seized many planets on the outskirts of the universe.
He knew all about Frieza, Cooler, and their elite troops.
But Slug didn't believe he would lose to them. Besides, Shenron was right in front of him. Once he regained his youth, his next step would be to rule the universe.
Frieza and Cooler were nothing. He would personally erase them.
"With your strength, of course you have nothing to fear." Salza had received word that if they could stall a little longer, Cooler would arrive very soon.
"Shenron grants three wishes. Why don't we split them between our three groups, one wish each? Then Lord Frieza and Lord Cooler will both become your friends."
Salza had a clever plan. It wasn't up to him to decide anyway. Once those two lords arrived, his mission would be complete.
"The universe needs only one ruler."
"You four seem strong. Why not become my subordinates?" Slug was already thinking about what came next.
"The Scouters you're wearing can measure a person's power level, right?"
"To show you my sincerity, I'll release my full power and let you see it for yourselves."
Slug took off the cloak he wore over his robes. His terrifying aura became almost tangible, surging toward the heavens like a tsunami!