"The Saiyan genome contains something remarkable. No wonder they're called a warrior race. They're born to fight. If not for Frieza's plan to exterminate the Saiyans and destroy their world, they might have become even stronger."
"Just the genes of two lower-class warriors have doubled my Chimera Ant army's combat power." "Heh-heh. This trait of getting grievously injured in battle, recovering, and then leaping in power is really enviable."
"It's a pity about Gohan. Though he's a half-Saiyan with tremendous potential, he's lost most of the Saiyans' most astonishing trait. After severe injury and recovery he does get stronger, and by a fair bit, but it's nowhere near a pure Saiyan's growth."
Not long after capturing Raditz, Meruem once again obtained blood from Goku's son, Gohan. The way the plot stayed coherent was downright scary, even though Meruem's interference had already changed a lot.
For example, those heading to train on King Kai's planet weren't just Goku this time, but Goku, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Krillin together.
But Piccolo still took Gohan from Chi-Chi, in the name of training him into an excellent fighter.
Kami and Piccolo are natural foils. Even though Piccolo had already changed a great deal, Kami's guard wasn't lowered in the least, and Piccolo wasn't about to go begging to Kami either. So although he knew Goku and the others were going somewhere more advanced to train, Piccolo didn't ask to go too.
Rely on yourself rather than others.
So Piccolo took Gohan off to train alone.
Meruem got Gohan's blood during their training. It wasn't much, but enough for research.
Like Piccolo, Yamcha didn't go to King Kai with Goku and the others either. Since his battle power couldn't compare to Goku's group at all, he went to Kami with Yajirobe to receive Kami's training.
During this period while the Z-Fighters trained, because they had an extra specimen in Raditz, Meruem first devoured everything of Turles—after all, Turles had outlived his usefulness—and reclaimed all Saiyan traits, further perfecting his body.
He did gain the Saiyan "grow-stronger-the-more-you-fight" trait, but there was a side effect: he grew more and more fond of fighting. Strictly speaking, though, that hardly counted as a side effect.
The Chimera Ant research division cracked part of the Saiyan genetic secret, then rolled that superb genome out across the entire Chimera Ant army. Now, the Chimera Ants could fairly call themselves heirs to the Saiyan race.
Combat power surged. It didn't reach the Saiyans' absurd jumps after recovery from mortal wounds, but power did increase to varying degrees after severe injury and healing, with results differing by individual.
Originally, Meruem planned to swing back by Earth, wait for Vegeta's arrival, then follow the plotline toward Frieza.
Only now the Chimera Ant army had run into a problem. Frieza's elder brother—Cooler, the other great power in the cosmos, famed as even stronger than Frieza (in truth, he isn't)—and his Armored Squadron had clashed with the Chimera Ants.
In principle, Cooler was happy to see someone match Frieza and bring him trouble. By rights, there should have been no conflict between Cooler and Meruem.
The rift between Frieza and Cooler was obvious. Both were "mutants" among their kind; Cooler was the elder brother, but because his combat power lagged, he not only failed to gain his younger brother's respect, he suffered long-term suppression. In influence and strength alike, he trailed Frieza by a wide margin—something he resented bitterly.
That already made Frieza an eyesore to Cooler. But unlike Frieza, Cooler treated his men fairly well—at least he didn't casually execute subordinates—which is why his Armored Squadron far outclassed Frieza's Ginyu Force.
But top-end power is what matters. Cooler can't beat Frieza—that's a fact. Even with one more transformation than Frieza, Cooler still gets manhandled. If King Cold hadn't intervened, Cooler might already have been killed by his ruthless little brother.
With a brother like that over his head who nearly killed him, no one could get along.
By common sense, Meruem was already at odds with Frieza, so he had no reason to provoke Cooler.
But Meruem knew full well the brothers were on bad terms. The Chimera Ants needed to develop. That mere ten percent of the map no longer sufficed for the army.
To develop, they had to conquer. The worlds Frieza hadn't bothered with were either too dangerous or too barren.
Or else they were the turf of a high-level boss like Slug.
No need to waste time. If he was going to topple a boss, better to topple Cooler—who was weaker than Frieza—than take down Slug, whose strength was high but turf was limited.
As for taking down Frieza? Meruem wasn't there yet.
Given Cooler is weaker than Frieza, Frieza's combat power can't possibly be the 120 million of the original.
How much is it really? Meruem had no idea.
Cooler, though, was different. He wasn't as gifted as Frieza. Though also a mutant among his race, his power was estimated at about 470 million (as per JUMP; incidentally, JUMP put Broly at 1.4 billion).
Between an opponent who is stronger, of unknown power—Frieza—and one whose combat power can be estimated and planned for—Cooler…
Anyone can see which to fight.
And if Meruem went after Cooler, even if Frieza learned of it, he wouldn't move—he'd applaud. Their sour relationship was notorious across the universe.
Frieza is called the Emperor of the Universe; you never hear Cooler called "Prince of the Universe." He's not even "Lord of the Universe." His renown lags far behind Frieza's—so much so that even King Kai knows Frieza but not Cooler.
In the end, if Meruem's Chimera Ant army later provoked Frieza, Frieza would personally come to fight Meruem.
Even if Meruem killed Cooler, he couldn't avoid a showdown with Frieza. Though they didn't get along, this would touch Frieza's imperial face.
Cooler was still his elder brother; if someone killed him, he would have to respond.
Weighing gains and losses many times over, Meruem still chose to swallow Cooler's faction.
A critical point: even if Meruem successfully absorbed Cooler's forces and defeated Cooler, it would take at least a year.
A year from now, Vegeta would reach Earth and battle the Z-Fighters. Then Frieza would learn Namek had Dragon Balls that granted any wish. At that time, Frieza wouldn't have the bandwidth to worry about Meruem and the Chimera Ants.
Never mind "saving face"—immortality would be his dearest wish!
So an interstellar war of titans began.
Cooler's Armored Squadron vs. the Chimera Ant army
"A pack of damned mutant freaks dare provoke this king." A lizard-like man, his skin deep purple and eight parts similar to Frieza's final form, slammed a hand down and powdered the table, roaring.
Frieza's older brother—Cooler. This was his third form, with a power level of 235 million.
He boasted one more transformation than Frieza, which did him no good against Frieza. But by the original's math, this third form already far surpassed the first Super Saiyan Goku's 150 million.
"Salza, dispatch every elite in the Armored Squadron. Show those mutant freaks what happens when you provoke me, Cooler. They're just tens-of-thousands-level cowards good at skulking. I'm no Frieza with no men to call on. I'll show you the price of crossing King Cooler." A blue-skinned elite with a rooster-comb hairstyle replied at once, "Yes, King Cooler."
In Cooler's wrath, Salza didn't dare test him. For all that Cooler was more approachable than Frieza, he was still a cold-blooded member of Frieza's race.
This was one of the three strongest of Cooler's Armored Squadron—Salza—whose 1.7 million power level let him fight the fused Piccolo (with Nail) to a standstill, even hold a slight edge.
"Heh-heh. The fabled Armored Squadron—the finest and most elite under Frieza, King Cold, and Cooler? As a turf-holder he can't match Frieza; as pedigree he can't match King Cold; as raw power he still trails Frieza. But in training subordinates, this guy does have a cadre of decent elites. In the Armored Squadron, even the weakest sit at ten thousand. Compared to the Frieza Force, with its masses of ragtag units, Cooler's ranks truly are elite-laden."
"If Frieza honored talent and weren't so capricious, he'd have even more elite troops."
"Come then. My Chimera Ant army also needs enough battle to feed our growth."
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