After sending off all the Saiyan infants from Planet Vegeta, the group followed Bardock toward the logistics management department.
The reason for their destination was Gine, Bardock's wife. She worked within the logistics division, overseeing the distribution of meat for all the Saiyans on the planet. The group was heading there specifically to find her.
From the memories of his past life, Qin Yan knew that Gine had once been part of the same combat squad as Bardock. However, her gentle nature made her ill-suited for the rigors of battle, leading her to retire and take up a post in logistics.
During her time in the squad, Bardock had saved her from peril multiple times, and those shared life-and-death experiences had forged a deep bond between them. Eventually, they married.
Gine's kindness had subtly changed Bardock over the years. According to Akira Toriyama, the concept of love and marriage was virtually non-existent among Saiyans outside of the royal family, making the relationship between Bardock and Gine a rare exception.
Before long, they arrived at the logistics center and spotted Gine busy processing meat in the warehouse.
Gine was a petite Saiyan woman. Compared to the towering, seven-foot-tall warriors of her race, she looked like Beauty standing beside a beast. It was difficult to imagine that such a small woman was already the mother of two children.
"Gine!" Bardock called out from a distance.
Hearing her name, Gine looked up and glanced around. Seeing her husband waving to her from afar, she responded with a bright smile. "Bardock!"
She jogged over, and the two shared a brief, tight embrace. Holding his wife in his arms, Bardock felt a profound sense of peace settle over his heart.
Gine pulled back slightly, looking puzzled. "Bardock! Weren't you just sent to Planet Meat on a mission? How are you back so soon?"
Bardock had only just recovered from a serious illness two days prior and had rushed off to a mission without even saying goodbye, which had left Gine feeling quite cross.
"Uh! Haha, there was a bit of an accident!" Bardock rubbed his hair awkwardly and let out a nervous laugh.
"Anyway, stop what you're doing and come with me. I have something important to tell you. By the way, where is Raditz? I don't see him around." Without wasting any more time, Bardock took Gine's hand and began leading her out of the logistics center, asking about their eldest son along the way.
"What is it, Bardock? Why are you in such a hurry?" Gine asked, her confusion deepening. When Raditz was mentioned, however, her expression softened with maternal pride. No matter how others judged or looked down on her two sons,
Gine never cared; she loved them both dearly. "Didn't you know? Raditz was assigned a mission with Prince Vegeta some time ago. They should have arrived at their destination by now. I'm not sure how long they'll be gone, but it'll likely be a month or so."
"I see. That's good then. That's for the best." Bardock didn't explain his relief out loud. Hearing that his son was off-world on a mission with the Prince made him genuinely happy. The weight on his heart lifted slightly.
At the very least, Raditz wouldn't have to face the coming danger alongside them. Moreover, by following Prince Vegeta, Raditz's future prospects would be high, even if he was currently classified as a Low-class Warrior.
Current Bardock no longer felt any shame in being called a low-level warrior. His actual combat power had already surpassed those so-called elites, a strength forged through countless blood-soaked battles. He believed his son could achieve the same by serving beside the battle-hungry Prince, constantly improving through combat.
A moment later, Bardock led Gine to a secluded spot away from the eyes of Frieza's men. He recounted everything to her Frieza's plan to destroy Planet Vegeta and exterminate the Saiyans. Gine was stunned, her face pale with disbelief.
As the weight of the situation sank in, and she heard that Bardock intended to leave them to fight alone, she flared with anger. She scolded him for being irresponsible and a heartless man.
Bardock, overwhelmed and sweating under the pressure of her fury, could only try to comfort her. His words were met with a torrent of tears, but once he mentioned doing this for the sake of their children, Gine went quiet and silently accepted the reality, though her face remained soaked with grief.
After arranging Gine's safety, Bardock and his teammates went to mobilize the rest of the Saiyans. Whether they would succeed was unknown. Qin Yan watched Bardock's departing figure with newfound respect.
To charge toward a mountain despite knowing a tiger lurked there that was a heroic and selfless spirit. He was a man of responsibility, a true warrior. He might have fallen slightly short as a father or husband in the traditional sense, but in this moment, he was perfect.
"Alright! Everyone, go back and pack your things!" Qin Yan said to the parents present. "Once you're ready, I will send you away."
The group nodded silently, stood up, and went to prepare.
In the void of space, not far from Planet Vegeta.
Frieza sat in his hoverchair, looking down with a cold, haughty gaze at the figure kneeling before him.
It was King Vegeta, who had led his personal guards in a desperate rebellion. Now, the King knelt in a wretched state, covered in wounds and dripping with blood. The Saiyan elites he had brought with him had already been slaughtered.
King Vegeta had brought the planet's top-tier warriors under the guise of an audience with Frieza, only to launch a surprise assault on the spaceship. However, Frieza's subordinates had suppressed the rebellion with overwhelming force.
Only a few Saiyans had made it as far as the entrance to Frieza's grand hall, where they now trembled in terror. King Vegeta alone had reached Frieza, only to be effortlessly struck down and greviously wounded by Zarbon.
"Was it really that simple? King Vegeta, your subordinates seem to have lost their courage at the critical moment," Frieza's raspy voice echoed through the hall, thick with mockery.
"Damn you!" King Vegeta spat through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with rage.
Summoning the last of his strength, King Vegeta lunged at Frieza. Frieza merely offered a chilling smile. His eyes narrowed, releasing a terrifying pressure that froze the King in his tracks.
In an instant, Frieza took to the air. A single punch slammed into the King's chest, followed by a fluid spin and a devastating kick that sent King Vegeta flying backward.
The King crashed to the floor, coughing up blood. His eyes rolled back and his pupils lost focus. Life had left him.
"King Vegeta!" the remaining Saiyans cried out in horror, seeing their monarch dead. They rushed forward to support his body, desperate to check for any sign of life.
"Your King has been defeated. Do you not wish to avenge him?" Frieza asked, his voice dripping with sinister playfulness. He stepped forward and crushed the Royal Crest that had fallen from the King's armor under his heel.
The remaining Saiyans turned glares of pure fury toward Frieza.
In response to their anger, Frieza reached up and clicked his Scouter off his eye. His teeth clenched in a cruel grin as a haunting red light gathered in his pupils. Two beams of crimson energy erupted from his eyes, striking the remaining Saiyans. They had no power to resist. Amidst agonized screams, they were disintegrated into nothingness.
"What 'warrior race'? They were nothing more than a common rabble," Frieza sneered after the last of the Saiyans had vanished.
"Great Frieza, are you unhurt?" Zarbon asked from the side with practiced concern.
"Heh! I didn't even need to consider transforming. Come, it's nearly time to leave," Frieza said, looking quite pleased with himself.
"A report, Great Frieza!" a subordinate entered the hall and knelt. "We have monitored hundreds of spaceships launching from Planet Vegeta. They are carrying Saiyan infants and are scattering in all directions. Should we intercept them?"
"Forget it," Frieza said, returning to his hoverchair. He stared out the porthole at the starry expanse. "Aside from Prince Vegeta, none of this generation's infants are worth anything. Let them go. They won't be able to cause any trouble.
Besides, won't it be more interesting to play a game of cat and mouse with them later? The primary goal of this trip is to deal with those insolent savages on the planet. Let us go and watch the fireworks display on Planet Vegeta. Ohohoho!"
A wicked light gleamed in his crimson eyes, and a cruel, dangerous smile played across his dark purple lips.
"Yes, sir!" Zarbon replied. The other soldiers retreated, and the ship accelerated toward the planet.
Outside Planet Vegeta.
Frieza's massive flagship hovered silently in the vacuum of space.
Frieza stood before the great viewing window, swirling a glass of red wine in one hand. He stared intently at the massive, dark red world below. To him, Planet Vegeta was like the wine in his hand vibrant and pleasing to the eye.
He took a small sip, the unique aroma filling his mouth. Savoring the richness of the vintage, he let out a soft chuckle. "Ohohoho! Mr. Zarbon, what a truly beautiful planet this is. It looks just like an agate. I'm sure the fireworks it produces will be quite spectacular."
His chilling voice echoed through the bridge. As Frieza gazed at the planet with intoxicated fascination, the bone-deep coldness emanating from him was enough to make anyone tremble in terror.
đ¨Â Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).