Beerus' Planet
"Whis… I wasn't done sleeping! I just caught the hint of a good dream and you woke me up. Why!?" Beerus bellowed, tail twitching in irritation.
"Hoho! Lord Beerus, something rather interesting is happening in Universe 7 right now. I thought you'd want to see it." Whis replied smoothly, completely unfazed by the god's rage.
"Oh? If even you say it's interesting, then I suppose I'd better take a look. Prepare things for me!"
With a feline stretch, Beerus rolled to his feet in one motion.
"Yes, my lord. A hot bath has already been drawn. You should refresh yourself, then eat a little before we go."
"Mm. Fine… but I'm still sleepy!" Beerus yawned and shuffled off toward the bath.
Planet Namek
"You damned monkey! You dare defy me!?"
Frieza's fury boiled over. The very idea that Raditz once a trembling dog at his feet now had the gall to raise a hand against him was beyond belief.
"Frieza! Die!" Raditz charged again, aura blazing.
"Death Beam!"
Frieza's fingertip lit with murderous light. A razor-thin beam ripped through the air, too fast to dodge.
"Not good!" Raditz twisted aside at the last instant, but the searing shot punched a neat hole through his shoulder.
"Damn… careless!" he spat. It hurt, but the wound was shallow. His fighting strength barely dipped.
Frieza narrowed his eyes. "Monkey… how is it possible? In just a few months, your power has multiplied to this level?"
Raditz smirked. "Heh. Want to know? Try me and find out, you stunted runt!"
The insult cut deep. Frieza's height was his greatest insecurity his father, King Cold, and his brother Cooler all towered over him.
"You dare… call me short!?" Frieza's aura exploded, shattering his own armor. His body twisted, expanded, horns curving upward as his first transformation took hold.
When the light cleared, he stood nearly two meters tall, monstrous power radiating from him.
"Still calling me short, monkey!?"
"Enough talk. Fight!" Raditz answered, surging forward.
But he didn't realize this was no longer half a million. Frieza's power now topped one million.
"Raditz is in trouble!" Goku's eyes narrowed.
"Relax, Kakarot. He hasn't used Kaio-ken yet. Even if he can't win, he'll survive." Nappa said confidently.
BANG!
The fight erupted. Raditz's kick smashed into Frieza's head, only to be blocked like it struck steel. Fists, elbows, knees the clash shook earth and sky. Frieza parried everything with precision.
"Raditz's ki is dropping fast!" Krillin said grimly.
"Raditz, pull back! You've done enough!" Nappa shouted.
But Raditz only grew angrier. "Kaio-ken!" His aura blazed red, his power doubling in an instant. He flickered behind Frieza and hammered him in the spine.
"Frieza!" His right hand flared with a dense ball of energy, his left gripping his arm to channel more power.
"This is my father's ultimate technique Die with it! Eraser Cannon!!"
The massive blast detonated, tearing a canyon into Namek's crust, magma roaring up from the core.
"Hah… hah…" Raditz panted heavily.
"Yes! He did it! Even Frieza can't survive lava!" Nappa cheered.
But the others weren't smiling. Goku, Piccolo, and Krillin were staring into the distance.
Nappa followed their gaze his blood ran cold.
"Frieza… how's he over there!?"
"In the instant before impact, he tripled his speed and slipped past the blast," Goku explained.
"Raditz! Above you!" Goku suddenly shouted.
A Death Beam streaked down.
"Kaio-ken! Ten times!!"
But before Raditz could move snap! A hand batted the beam aside.
Goku landed in front of him, aura already fading. He had opened Kaio-ken for only a heartbeat enough to save him.
"Big brother, that's enough. He's out of your league." Goku's tone was calm.
Raditz clenched his fists, then slowly nodded. "Fine, Kakarot. He's yours." He drifted back toward Nappa.
"You won't escape me so easily!!" Frieza roared, lunging after Raditz.
But swish!
"Your opponent… is me."
Goku appeared in his path, blocking him cold.
Frieza's eyes narrowed. That face… that hair…
"You…? No, not Bardock. You must be his son." Recognition dawned memories of Planet Vegeta's last stand.
"Frieza. Namek isn't yours to ravage." Goku's voice was steady, unyielding.
"Pfah! Monkey trash. I should've finished your kind to the last. No matter. Today, I will!" Frieza sneered.
"You're not even fighting seriously yet, are you?" Goku asked.
Frieza chuckled. "Hmph. You're sharp. Faster than Raditz… perhaps even faster than me in this form. Very well. Let me show you why I am Emperor of the Universe!"
His body swelled with hideous power, purple energy pouring out. In a flash, Frieza unveiled his final form.
"So strong… Can my Tenfold Kaio-ken Kamehameha defeat him?" Goku's hands trembled not with fear, but exhilaration.
High above, Merus shook his head in disbelief. "That father of yours… his control over ki is unbelievable."
Gohan gave a wry smile. "Tell me about it. I couldn't do it turning Kaio-ken on and off at will. That's insane."
It was true. Goku had mastered something extraordinary: flicking Kaio-ken like a switch, using it only in the split second needed, minimizing the toll on his body.
And under Gohan's subtle influence, the destined protagonist of Dragon Ball was finally stepping fully into his role.
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