Goku caught Vegeta's furious punch with a single hand, his grip unyielding. He shook his head, voice low and steady. "Maybe one day you'll get stronger. But right now… you're no match for me." With that, he planted a kick in Vegeta's midsection, launching him through the air.
"Damn you!!" Vegeta exploded from the rubble, his pride wounded more than his body. "Die!" He unleashed a relentless barrage of ki blasts, the sky lighting up with violent energy.
Goku didn't bother to move. He stood firm, letting the dozens of blasts strike him head-on, the explosions engulfing him in a storm of fire and dust.
"Hahaha! Direct hits! That's what you get for looking down on me, you fool!" Vegeta's manic laughter echoed, a triumphant sneer plastered across his face.
As the smoke cleared, Goku stood unharmed, not a scratch on him. Vegeta's smirk vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief. "Impossible… He's not even injured?"
"Was that supposed to tickle?" Goku's voice was flat, his eyes holding a cold disdain. He had felt the genuine, murderous intent behind Vegeta's attack. The Saiyan Prince's pride couldn't tolerate being surpassed by a low-class warrior. In Vegeta's mind, Goku's very existence was an insult.
Now, a mirroring intent rose within Goku. "If you're so set on killing me," he said, his tone chillingly final, "then I won't hesitate to erase you first." This Goku was not naive. A threat, once identified, was to be eliminated without remorse.
Vegeta was a live grenade—unpredictable and dangerous. With Bulma as his wife, this arrogant prince was a potential rival in every sense. The safest path was to remove him. Without Bulma's influence, Goku saw little chance of this ruthless killer ever changing. To secure the future, the solution was simple: remove the problem at its root.
From his hovering throne, Frieza sensed the shift in the air—the cold kill-zone settling around Goku. A thin smile played on his lips. "Dodoria, Zarbon," he purred to his henchmen. "Assist our dear Prince. It seems he's in over his head."
"At once, Lord Frieza!" The two elites shot forward, flanking Vegeta and forming a triangle around Goku.
Goku's gaze shifted to the third Saiyan present, his expression hardening. "What about you, Raditz? Going to jump in with them?" A part of him still hoped to avoid this.
Raditz met his brother's eyes, his own devoid of warmth. "Lord Frieza's power is absolute, Kakarot. Be sensible. Join us. Help him rule this universe. It is the only way to survive."
Goku's face darkened with fury. "Our father was murdered by him! And you want to serve his killer? Betray your own brother? What kind of monster are you?!"
"Hmph! The strong dominate the weak. That is the Saiyan way. Our father was simply… weak."
"You bastard!" Goku's rage erupted. He had known Saiyans were emotionally stunted—the original timeline was proof enough—but hearing this treason from his own flesh and blood was a new level of disgust. Any hope of changing this man vanished. Some rot was too deep to cure. It was better to purge it.
"RRRAAAAAGH!"
With a roar, a titanic aura exploded from Goku's body. The very planet seemed to tremble as power radiated outward in visible waves, scouring the earth and shaking the mountains.
"This power…!" Vegeta stammered, his scouter frantically beeping before the lens cracked. The readings were insane. "56,000… 76,000… 88,000… It's over 100,000! It's still climbing!"
BZZT-KABOOM!
The scouters on Vegeta, Raditz, and Nappa exploded simultaneously.
"G-Grand Elder!" Nail's face paled. He spun and rushed into the elder's dwelling to shield him from the overwhelming pressure.
"A combat power… exceeding one million…?" Zarbon whispered, his confidence shattering. "How can a Saiyan…?"
A horrific realization dawned on Vegeta, his eyes widening in primal terror and envy. "Su… Super… It can't be… A low-class warrior becoming the legend…? If anyone is to transform, it should be me! I am the Prince! Damn you, Kakarot!!"
Dodoria took a shaky step back. "Is this… the Super Saiyan that Lord Frieza fears?"
Goku let his aura settle, the terrifying energy receding but the deadly intent remaining. He looked at the group coldly. "I considered sparing you for the sake of our shared race. You've proven that was a mistake."
He vanished.
THUD!
A sickening impact echoed. Vegeta hadn't even seen him move. A fist was buried in his chest. He was hurled backwards like a ragdoll, blood spraying from his mouth as he cratered into a distant cliff face, buried under tons of rock.
"Guh… I… am the Saiyan… Prince… My destiny… is not… here…" His thoughts, filled with bitter ambition and denial, faded into nothingness. Goku felt a minor shift within himself—24,000 energy points acquired.
"H-He killed Vegeta…!" Nappa gasped, his bravado gone.
"Run! To Lord Frieza!" Raditz yelled, sheer terror propelling him skyward. Zarbon and Dodoria were already fleeing.
"You think you can escape?" Goku's voice was ice. "You're all just points to me."
He flickered, appearing behind Dodoria. A single, knife-hand strike pierced clean through the bulky warrior's back. 42,000 energy points acquired.
"G-Gah… Imp…" Dodoria crumpled, disbelief his final expression.
"Dodoria!?" Zarbon shrieked, his flight becoming frantic.
Goku extended a finger. Several beams of light, thinner than needles and faster than thought, lanced out.
Pchiu! Pchiu! Pchiu!
One for Nappa. One for Zarbon. Each beam found a heart. They fell silently. More points registered.
The final beam struck Raditz in the shoulder, spinning him out of his flight. He crashed to the ground, clutching the searing hole, his survival instinct overriding all else.
"Kakarot! Brother, please!" he begged, crawling forward. "I was wrong! Save me! I'll help you! I'll fight Frieza with you! We're family!"
Goku turned his back, his voice heavy with finality. "You had your chance. You threw it away."
Clap… Clap… Clap…
Slow, measured applause cut through the tension. Frieza descended from his throne, a chilling smile on his face. "Magnificent. Truly magnificent. To think a Saiyan monkey could harbor such power." He spread his hands in a mock gesture of offering. "Such waste is unbecoming. Why die here? Swear loyalty to me. Your power would be… appreciated."
Goku turned to face the Emperor, his eyes blazing with contempt. "Work for you? I'd rather polish my boots with your sorry hide. Why don't you go find a puddle and take a good, long look at yourself?"
The placid smile vanished from Frieza's face, replaced by a visage of pure, unadulterated rage. The air grew heavy, crackling with malicious energy.
"You… have remarkable talent for inciting fury," Frieza hissed, his tail lashing. "Very well. Let me show you the true meaning of power."
The battle for Namek—and for survival—was about to begin.