The Frieza Force... is real?
Everyone who heard Taro say those words was stunned.
For a moment, none of them could process what he meant. After all, only about a day had passed since the announcement of the game Earth Defense Battle. Not everyone had even heard of this upcoming title, and those who were eager to test their skills in it merely saw it as a virtual game.
After all, the boss stats published in the game info...
Final Boss: Frieza — Power Level: 1,000,000!
That was far too absurd by any real-world standard! In the common understanding, a power level of two or three hundred was already considered that of a top-tier martial artist (even factoring in Muken, which might raise it to around a thousand). To suddenly throw out a monster with a power level of one million—who would take that seriously?
"You've gotta be kidding..."
Some members of the Martial Arts Association watching the stream were completely dumbfounded. The phrase "Frieza Force" kept echoing in their minds, rolling around until only one line remained:
Frieza, 1,000,000!
Most of the reporters weren't martial artists, so they couldn't fully grasp the weight of what was being said. After a few seconds of stunned silence, one forced a smile and asked Taro, "Muten-sama, are you joking? Are you saying the Frieza Force is real? How could that be possible?!"
Another added, "Yeah, isn't the Frieza Force just NPCs in the game?"
Most of the reporters were pale, all staring intently at Taro, hoping that in the next moment, this most powerful, most mysterious, most revered Muten Roshi on Earth would burst into laughter and wave it all away as a joke.
Taro's expression didn't change. He simply looked at the reporter who had first questioned him and said, "You don't believe me? Or was I not clear enough just now?"
Even though Taro didn't release any hint of his spiritual pressure, just meeting his eyes directly was enough to make the reporter break into a cold sweat. His face turned even paler, his mouth opened, but no words came out.
"Master Gohan, this 'Frieza Force' that the Immortal mentioned... what exactly is it?" Yixin leaned in and asked softly. Except for the moment when he had greeted Taro earlier, he had kept his eyes closed the entire time—this was a fundamental part of his training, and opening them carelessly would destabilize his inner power.
Others nearby—such as the monk from Orin Temple and Piccolo—also wore puzzled expressions. They weren't ones to keep up with news from the virtual Earth Network, so they had no idea what this new game or this "Frieza Force" was all about.
But Satan, Chi-Chi, Yajirobe, and even the Jifen all had stunned, uneasy expressions. They had all read the game's info. Now, they looked at Taro, who was surrounded by reporters… Could it be true that Frieza with a power level of one million actually existed?
It was terrifying. They couldn't believe anyone could reach a power level that high.
"All the information about the Frieza Force in the game comes from what I personally saw and heard during my early travels through the universe. It was recreated in full fidelity by the super-AI Jarvis of the Virtual Earth Network," Taro said calmly, facing all the reporters. "This game was developed to make Earth's martial artists understand how vast the universe is, how many powerful beings it holds. Only then can they push themselves further, experience real battles in the game, combine that with real-world training, and strive forward with motivation and courage. Otherwise, when the Frieza Force does arrive on Earth, you'll all be too complacent in your peaceful lives to even handle one of their grunts."
Hearing the Muten Roshi speak, everyone who had seen the game's announcement suddenly recalled a single line from its description—
"Earth is but a remote corner of the vast universe."
A remote corner of the universe...
Could that be why the Frieza Force hadn't yet discovered Earth?
Everyone was filled with uncertainty and unease. They remembered how the announcement described the Frieza Force as utterly ruthless, even selling planets as a business. The civilizations, planets, and lives destroyed by them… were too many to count!
Cold-blooded, merciless, evil, powerful—
That was the impression the Frieza Force gave. And clearly, they were not the kind of opponents who'd engage in negotiation. The universe was so vast—if you didn't submit, they'd just destroy you and move on to the next planet. Why waste words on insects who couldn't fight back?
In that instant, many people had the same chilling thought.
The reporters, quick-minded as always, turned pale as the realization hit them. The martial artists present—grandmasters, Yajirobe, Chi-Chi, Satan, even Ilip—reacted the same way. Even Piccolo's green face seemed to darken when his keen hearing picked up on the murmurs.
One million?!
Goku had pushed himself to the limit just to barely exceed ten thousand.
And now they were being told that someone with a power level of one million existed in the universe?
And worse—that this person might come to Earth? Invade? Conquer?
Was the destruction of Earth's civilization inevitable?
A reporter stammered, "Th-then, Muten-sama… compared to Frieza… how do you…"
Frieza.
The Muten Roshi.
Everyone suddenly realized the weight behind those two names and placed them side by side in their minds.
Could the Muten Roshi… possibly be stronger than Frieza?
All eyes turned to Taro, hoping he would give a definitive answer.
"You want to ask if I can beat Frieza, is that it?" Taro looked out at the crowd of reporters and said flatly, "Whether I can or can't, it's not like I'd let you face Frieza and die. When it comes to defending Earth, it's the powerful who must fight the powerful. Since all of you have called me 'Muten Roshi' for so many years, then if Frieza does come—naturally, I will be the one standing at the very front."
"The elite forces of the Frieza Army naturally faced off against my disciples. Gohan, Goku, Krillin, Tien… Since they are Earth martial artists, if a real disaster comes and they hide behind you, no need to say more—I will be the first to deal with them."
"But the Frieza Army has millions of soldiers scattered across the universe. Even if the elite fighters are few, my few disciples and I can hold them off. But what about the rest of the Frieza soldiers? Ultimately, you all have to become stronger yourselves to truly defend Earth. So the Earth civilization won't be destroyed by these brutal extraterrestrials."
Every word and action of Taro was broadcast live on major streaming platforms.
Discussions about this matter spread wildly both online and offline.
People suddenly realized that Earth was not the only planet in the universe with life. Long before Earth's civilization entered the modern age, countless brilliant civilizations probably already existed throughout the cosmos.
"Is this a declaration of the end of the world?" someone worried.
"Not exactly the end of the world—there's the Muten here!" someone expressed confidence in Taro, because they had done the math: even if that Frieza was at one million combat power, couldn't the Muten stand against him? Maybe not impossible!
It was well known that the Muten Tower's fifty floors corresponded to the Muten's realm. In other words, a Muten had mastered at least fifty times, even fifty-one times, the Muken! And to reach a one million level of combat power, the basic foundation only needed to be around twenty thousand!
Twenty thousand… though still unimaginably high, if the opponent was the all-powerful Muten in people's impressions, it might not be impossible.
But some were more pessimistic: "When Mutens have displayed incredible techniques in the past, was it really after using fifty times the Muken?"
Many who hadn't checked the Virtual Earth Network company's official announcements immediately opened the official website to carefully read the "Earth Defense Battle" game bulletin. Especially the parts about the Frieza Army. The text was sparse, the illustrations even fewer, but now each word seemed soaked in blood and radiated a killing aura.
And the concept art of Frieza himself made people feel as if this purple demon-like figure, although short and almost laughable, was full of savage destruction, a suffocating presence.
"So, all along above our heads, there have been wars destroying civilization after civilization…"
That day, Earthlings for the first time truly looked up to the starry sky—and found the universe was so cruel.
"Pessimism won't help. The data said the Frieza Army has existed for a very long time, probably ruling the universe for hundreds or thousands of years! Even if no Muten revealed it, sooner or later, they would discover Earth!"
"And we still have time now to prepare in advance!"
"I want to learn martial arts…"
"Me too. Though it might not help, at least if a war disaster really comes, I can run faster with my mom…"
"I want to protect my hometown! Let those aliens and armies come if they dare!"
"If the Mutens can stand up, can't we even protect their backs? They handle Frieza and the elite fighters; can't we even take care of some small fry? Will we become those weak masses in stories used by villains to threaten the heroes? That would be shameful! I refuse to be that person! I've decided—from today on, I'll live in the Muten Tower!"
"Now that I think about it, when the Muten founded the Martial Arts Association and the World's Strongest Martial Arts Tournament a hundred years ago, maybe it was all preparation for today?"
"No matter what, this year I must join the Martial Arts Association!"
"Me too!"
"Let's go together!"
"I have to prepare on both fronts. I'm also going to wear the Babata. Even if I fail the Martial Arts Association's exams for three consecutive years, I'll at least keep training on my own for three years. Then I can join the association!"
"Count me in! Bro, where are you from? Let's keep going strong every day!"
For a while, many people online were stirred to passionate fervor.
---
In the capital, the king's office.
"Has it come to this..." The current king, a half-orc whose origin was unclear—cat-headed or dog-headed—rubbed his temples. Before him was a tablet playing the Virtual Earth Network livestream. He sighed softly.
Every reigning king had a top-secret dossier passed down.
It was about the time Taro led the former king and ministers through their cosmic ordeal. Later, Taro had Tam contact the government with some information. So the government had always known some brutal truths about the universe.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to promote martial arts culture on Earth so smoothly.
The half-orc king muttered, "I hope it's true what the Muten say... to defend Earth..."
---
Virtual Earth Network, Muten Tower, 20th floor.
Tsuru, who had remained anonymous, opened his eyes. Before him was a pale green screen showing a livestream. Naturally, he had heard Taro's speech in the broadcast.
Then he slid his finger across the pale green screen, exited the livestream, and opened the Virtual Earth Network company's official website, carefully scrolling through the latest announcements.
"Frieza... one million, huh... hmph..."
Tsuru's expression darkened. Suddenly he looked up at the tower's summit, then glanced at the nearby 20th-floor Muten Monument.
By this floor, the intricate lines on the monument had become extremely complex. Ordinary people would probably feel dizzy just looking at it.
"One million is nothing in front of that old geezer Taro? Dodging the question and babbling on... just putting on a show! Hmph!"
Tsuru's eyes flickered, and with a cold snort, his figure vanished the next moment—he had entered the tower challenge space.
Even if he wasn't on the same level as Taro, Tsuru absolutely could not tolerate the day when he would need others to protect him. For Tsuru, that was nothing short of an insult. He would rather die than be so weak that he had to rely on Tienshinhan and the others to protect him, their master.
---
It was also the first time Goku and the others had heard about Frieza.
"A million power level, huh… that's one strong guy!" Goku felt the suffocating pressure but wasn't despairing. His instinct told him that he could reach that level. And even if he couldn't, hearing about such a powerful opponent still excited him deeply.
"When it comes to improving myself, the Mutsuken still needs refining… the time it takes to gather ki is too long!" Tien Shinhan thought to himself quietly.
Krillin frowned with worry. He had little confidence facing an opponent with a million power level.
Meanwhile, Kakarot's face darkened as soon as he heard "Frieza Force." On his spherical spacecraft flying toward Earth, there was a learning system prepared for infants in slumber. Most of the content was geared toward Saiyans, but because the Frieza Force was responsible for the final review, some information about Frieza was also included.
Kakarot's impression of this cosmic emperor Frieza was unclear but his instincts made him wary.
Gohan, however, was deep in thought, showing no trace of worry. The other three masters saw Gohan's calm reaction and felt somewhat reassured. As Taro's direct senior disciple, he was undoubtedly the most familiar with Taro's true abilities. Since he showed no anxiety, it was likely Taro could handle that Frieza fellow.
Bulma linked arms with Hathaway. She was probably the least emotionally stirred person present, casually asking the grandmother beside her, "Grandma Hathaway, is this Frieza really that powerful?"
"Don't worry," Hathaway said softly, patting her granddaughter's hand, "even if he's some cosmic emperor, he won't make any waves in front of your Grandpa Taro."
Then she glanced at Goku and the others—especially at Kakarot's extremely gloomy expression—and then at the relaxed reporters in front of Taro. Secretly, she thought, "When the gamers reach the part about Frieza and unlock his three transformation data cards, seeing his battle power around two hundred million, I wonder what they'll think… Haha, they probably won't believe it."