The Stakes of the Challenge

"Wuling..."

"Uncle Wuling..."

Son Gohan, Videl, Bulma, Krillin, and the others all looked at Son Wuling in unison.

Son Wuling looked at Vegeta, his voice icy and devoid of emotion.

"If my Destructo Disc had been half an inch lower, your head would have burst on the spot. If you don't want to see your own brains, behave yourself. Provoke me again, and my Destructo Disc will take your head clean off!"

Vegeta fell silent. He was furious and unwilling to accept this. If he could fight Son Wuling, he would have attacked without hesitation!

But he couldn't. His pride and self-respect had already been crushed by Frieza, yet it was impossible for him to beg for mercy.

"Hmph. If you want to kill me, then kill me, Son Wuling. This life of mine was only saved because of you anyway."

Vegeta was about to gather his energy and counterattack when Son Wuling kicked him directly in the back. The energy he had gathered instantly dispersed, and he sprawled miserably across the beach as Son Wuling stepped on him.

"You bastard, I don't know what your future will be like, but right now, I really hate you, Vegeta..."

Son Wuling looked down at the Vegeta beneath his foot and said coldly, "You, Raditz, and that idiot Nappa—all of you took pleasure in killing. After massacring the decent natives of a planet, you sold the planet at a high price to developers and settlers, acting as Frieza's executioners. You Saiyans really deserved to have Planet Vegeta destroyed by Frieza!"

"You... what did you say?"

Hearing Son Wuling speak of the Saiyans nearly struck at Vegeta's deepest sensitivity, and his aura erupted along with his emotions!

Boom!

Son Wuling kicked Vegeta in the back again, then stomped his head straight into the sand. Vegeta's gathered energy scattered once more!

"Wasn't I right?"

Son Wuling's voice grew even colder as he released Vegeta. He simply couldn't bring himself to like the current Vegeta at all. Arrogant, conceited, looking down on everyone, treating nothing with any regard—even after Frieza had beaten him to tears, he had barely changed.

Of course, Vegeta had his good points too, or he would not have had so many fans. But the future was the future, and the present was the present. The Vegeta of this time was an executioner who could wipe out your entire family, then sell your home to some rich merchant at a high price! Anyone with even a remotely normal moral compass would not like the Vegeta of this era.

Son Wuling folded his arms across his chest. Looking at the motionless Vegeta, he said pointedly with a smile, "After seeing you, Raditz, and Nappa, I finally understand why Goku and Gohan could become Super Saiyans while you three could only be Frieza's lapdogs."

"Why? Tell me why! Why am I inferior to Kakarot? Why can even Kakarot's son become a Super Saiyan, but I can't?"

Vegeta raised his head, having forgotten all about his anger and Saiyan pride. This was the answer he had always wanted to know.

Son Wuling did not keep him guessing. "First of all, unlike Goku and Gohan, you never built up your foundation step by step. Though at your age now, it's already too late. Even if you gain strength equal to Goku's in the future, you'll always be a step behind him."

"Foundation..."

Vegeta looked at Master Roshi and Krillin, then at Son Wuling, deep in thought.

"Of course, the most important thing is your own strength. I roughly estimated that Goku and Gohan needed at least around three million in power before they could strengthen themselves. But I think the most important thing is this: a peaceful heart!"

Son Wuling mocked the Saiyans again. "You know what kind of people Goku and Gohan are, don't you? And you know what the other Saiyans are like, right, Vegeta? Calm your heart. Make it as tranquil as the sky! Then concentrate your power in your back."

"My back..."

Vegeta instinctively turned his head. He seemed to remember that Son Wuling had just kicked him in the back and made all his strength disappear. Could it be that the Saiyans actually had such a weakness?

"You're overthinking it, Vegeta!"

Seeing Vegeta's expression, Son Wuling complained helplessly.

"I saw that Goku and Gohan's Saiyan power first spread from around their backs. As for why I could kick away all your energy with one blow, it's because I'm stronger than you. It's that simple!"

"The back?"

Vegeta stood up and looked at Son Wuling with a cold smile. "Why tell me how to become a Super Saiyan? Aren't you afraid... Hm? What are you looking at?"

Vegeta noticed Son Wuling looking up at the sky and instinctively raised his head. He saw seven Dragon Balls falling from above. Since only one wish had been made, they had not turned to stone.

"What..."

Vegeta cried out. Since Son Wuling had just scattered his strength, the seven Dragon Balls seemed to have agreed beforehand to fall right where Vegeta was. The Four-Star Dragon Ball, in particular, landed squarely on his head.

"Ah..."

With a miserable scream, Vegeta was smashed flat onto the ground. A distinctly shaped lump rose on his forehead, making him look even more ridiculous in his current state.

The Grand Elder laughed. "The Dragon Balls came over with us too!"

Son Wuling, Krillin, and everyone else burst out laughing at the sight of Vegeta. Even Piccolo stood with his arms folded, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

"Haha... Vegeta, weren't these the Dragon Balls you were longing for? They've come right to you now. Doesn't feel so good, does it? Hey, why is there still a Dragon Ball on your head?"

Son Wuling used Energy Control to make the Dragon Balls fly over and settle beside the Grand Elder. He even reached out and poked the lump on Vegeta's head, making him wince in pain.

"It hurts... You bastard! Once I become a Super Saiyan, I'll pull out every single one of your teeth!"

Vegeta clutched the lump on his forehead and roared at Son Wuling.

"I'll be waiting, Vegeta!"

Son Wuling confidently spread his arms and laughed. "I've already found my own path, Vegeta. Don't think becoming a Super Saiyan means you'll truly be invincible. But if you lose again then, you'll wear women's clothes for a day. How about it?"

"Whoa..."

Krillin, Son Gohan, and the others instantly exploded with excitement. Even Piccolo looked at Vegeta and imagined him in women's clothes, barely holding back his laughter.

"Women's... clothes..."

Vegeta's expression changed drastically. Looking into Son Wuling's eyes, he felt a chill rise in his heart, an inexplicable fear gripping him.

"That's right, there has to be something at stake. If I lose, I'll pull out all my teeth. If you lose, you wear women's clothes for a day. How about it? Don't tell me you're scared? And you call yourself the Prince of the Saiyans?"

Son Wuling crossed his arms and curled his lips disdainfully. Even if he lost all his teeth, he still had Senzu Beans and could recover afterward. Besides, it would give himself some pressure as well.

"You... Fine. I agree. A man's word is his bond. Once I become a Super Saiyan, we'll have our match. But when you face me as a Super Saiyan, you won't stand a chance at all!"

Before everyone's eyes, Vegeta and Son Wuling settled the stakes of their challenge. Both were full of confidence as they prepared to begin their next round of training.