Vegeta didn't know how long he'd been unconscious.
When he finally came to, he snapped his eyes open and found himself lying in an unfamiliar room. A faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air.
His memory sharpened bit by bit—gravity chamber, 450× gravity, system overload.
He lowered his head and looked at himself.
Bandages were wrapped all over his body, and an IV was stuck in his arm.
Just as he was scanning the room, a woman's voice came from the side, tinged with relief and excitement.
"You're awake!"
Vegeta turned his head and saw Morianne pushing the door open. She carried a tray of food in her hands—brown curly hair, and those overly passionate eyes.
Vegeta's gaze narrowed. "You?"
Morianne lit up when she realized he remembered her.
"You remember me! That's great!
You got hurt in your ship. I couldn't carry you, so I called an ambulance and had them bring you to the hospital.
Don't worry—this is a private hospital. You're in a VIP room. No one will bother you."
She walked closer and set the food on the bedside cabinet.
"You've been unconscious for two days. You need energy."
Vegeta snorted coldly. "Hmph. Who told you to meddle?"
Even as he said it, the smell of food made his hunger flare.
He grabbed a braised pork knuckle from the tray and started wolfing it down.
Morianne sat on the chair beside the bed, watching him curiously.
"Why do you train that hard? That's basically suicide."
"None of your business," Vegeta replied without even looking up.
"…Is it because of that person named Kakarot?"
The tray slipped from Vegeta's hand and shattered on the floor.
He jerked his head up, eyes burning with a dangerous flame.
"How do you know that name?"
Panic flickered in Morianne's eyes.
"H-He…"
She swallowed hard and forced the words out.
"While you were unconscious, he came once.
He told me to pass a message: three days from now, you're leaving for Namek.
If you're ready, gather at Kame House in three days.
He said you'd know how to find him… and today is the second day of your appointment."
As she spoke, Morianne took out a single Senzu Bean.
"And he said… if you still didn't wake up after a long time, I should feed you this."
The moment Vegeta saw the Senzu Bean and remembered the promise, his pupils tightened.
Kakarot had said it—three months later, they'd deal with King Cold.
And yet those three months were already gone… and he still hadn't become a Super Saiyan.
Vegeta clenched his fist, ripped the IV out, and roared, fury surging.
"Kakarot… did he come here to laugh at me?!"
The IV bag hit the floor, spilling liquid everywhere.
"That bastard… Kakarot…
He's just a low-class warrior—so why did he become a Super Saiyan first?! Why?!"
Three months of suppression. Three months of training like his life depended on it—only to fail, to collapse, to lie unconscious.
Vegeta's mind was on the verge of exploding.
Morianne didn't run.
Instead, something like understanding appeared in her eyes as she stared straight at him.
"You're jealous of him."
She said it plainly.
"Jealous?"
Vegeta looked as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke in the universe.
"I am the prince of the Saiyans!
I was born to be the strongest!
That low-class warrior only got lucky!"
He turned and punched the wall.
A hole exploded straight through it.
Morianne flinched. One punch through concrete—his strength really wasn't human.
Vegeta didn't keep pounding it with full force. Instead, he struck it again, heavier, more exhausted—like he was hitting his own frustration.
"I thought I was a genius warrior… the pride of the Saiyans.
The first to become a Super Saiyan should've been me.
But ever since I met Kakarot… I feel like I've been living under his shadow."
His voice dropped, but the anger inside it grew even more terrifying.
"I won't accept it. I won't accept it!"
He began hammering the wall again and again, punching holes into it one after another.
"Why am I trying this hard and still can't transform?! Why?!"
Vegeta's fury kept climbing.
Then Morianne suddenly noticed something.
A faint golden light flickered around him.
"V-Vegeta… you… you're glowing…" she said, stunned.
Vegeta didn't seem to hear her.
He was drowned in rage and resentment, reliving every humiliation—
years of slavery under Frieza, being tricked and used, enduring the insults of Dodoria and others,
being surpassed by Kakarot, watching a Super Saiyan appear right in front of him—
and now, being pitied by a mere Earth girl.
Each wound stabbed into his pride like a blade.
Vegeta roared, each word forced out like it tore his throat.
"I… Vegeta… don't need… anyone's pity!"
Suddenly, a blinding golden light erupted.
Vegeta's hair flared up and turned gold. His pupils shifted to green.
A violent gale exploded through the hospital room, and the wall he'd battered into swiss cheese finally collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Morianne gasped. "Vegeta—your… your appearance…"
Vegeta felt it too.
That abnormal surge—an ocean of power flowing through his blood.
He stared at his hands, disbelief shaking his voice.
"Th-This… is the power of a Super Saiyan…?"
Then the shock vanished, replaced by pure confidence.
His aura steadied, his presence sharpening—like the proud, solitary warrior had returned.
He grinned.
"I knew it. I knew I'd succeed!"
Morianne looked at him, joy flickering in her eyes.
To her, Vegeta in this moment was razor-sharp, dangerous… and intoxicating.
A moment later, Vegeta's excitement cooled.
He let the transformation fade and returned to normal.
"This still isn't enough.
I'll keep training. Even if we're both Super Saiyans, I'll surpass Kakarot—by far."
At that moment, Morianne stepped closer and, a little too boldly, leaned against his chest.
Vegeta jolted.
"Woman—w-what are you doing?!"
Morianne had felt him finally break through. She'd sensed his exhilaration—and gathered her courage in that moment.
She lowered her head shyly.
The thin fabric she wore slipped down to the floor, revealing her graceful figure.
"Vegeta… I like you…"
Vegeta froze.
Today, he'd finally become a Super Saiyan.
The invisible barrier that had weighed on his heart for so long cracked apart, leaving him with a rare, fleeting looseness—
and Morianne's boldness melted something lonely inside him.
Soon, his hand settled on her soft waist.
Feeling the strength of his palm, Morianne shivered.
Her heart exploded with joy—like she'd finally gotten what she wanted.
She lifted her head, eyes blurred with heat, and pressed her lips to his.
Vegeta felt her heavy breathing.
In that instant, something primal surged through him—fully awakened.
…
The next day.
Kame House.
Chi-Chi and the others had come to see Goku and Bulma off.
Lunch handed Goku a capsule. "Goku, these are martial arts outfits I made for you.
I know you won't wash them. If they get torn up, just toss them and open a new one."
Goku nodded and kissed Lunch lightly on the cheek. "Thanks, Lunch. You worked hard."
Lunch smiled softly. "Remember to miss me."
"I will," Goku said, smiling.
Chi-Chi quickly took out a capsule she'd prepared.
"Goku, I know you don't like space rations. These are packed lunches I made for you.
Eat them within ten days, okay? After that they'll go bad."
Goku wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek too.
"Chi-Chi, you worked hard too."
While Goku shared a moment with Chi-Chi and Lunch, Snow and Violet started giving Bulma reminders.
Snow said gently, "Take good care of Goku on the way, Bulma."
Bulma hooked her arm around Goku's and nodded. "Don't worry. I basically raised him. I'll take care of him just fine."
Violet pulled out a small pouch and handed it to Bulma, whispering, "Bulma, these are Senzu Beans.
Fighting is dangerous—make sure you save them for Goku.
And you… don't overdo it, got it?"
Bulma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. What do you take me for?
Even if Senzu Beans restore stamina instantly, if I eat too many, I'll die from being stuffed. Relax."
Violet grinned mischievously. "I know exactly what you are, that's why I'm warning you. Women in their thirties are like that—I get it…"
Bulma snapped, "Nonsense. I'll be eighteen forever!"
"Right, right," Violet laughed. "Eighteen-year-old body… thirty-year-old needs."
Bulma: "…"
Just then, Krillin walked over.
"Goku, I heard while you're gone, you arranged for Piccolo to train the kids. Why not ask Master Roshi?"
Bulma immediately shot it down. "No way! That old man actually said he'd only train the kids if they brought a beautiful woman to the island. That's disgusting.
The kids are too young—we can't let that pervert ruin them."
Krillin scratched his head awkwardly. "Hahaha… right. I forgot Master Roshi has that 'rule'…"
Tien walked over too. "Goku, it's been this long and Vegeta still hasn't shown up. Are you really okay going without him?"
Goku nodded calmly. "I'm fine.
While I'm gone, protect Earth for me, alright?"
Krillin and Tien nodded immediately.
"Relax," Krillin said. "How many strong invaders can there be? You worry too much."
Tien nodded too. "Leave Earth's peace to us!"
Then—like a bolt of lightning through everyone's minds—
a terrifying ki swept toward them.
"So strong…" Krillin's forehead beaded with sweat. "It's getting closer—fast!"
Feeling how monstrous it was, Krillin instinctively looked at Goku.
Goku's expression stayed calm, and Krillin felt a wave of relief—
thank goodness Goku hadn't already left. If someone like this invaded, even all of them together wouldn't stand a chance.
In the next instant, a golden streak cut across the sky.
Super Saiyan Vegeta—gold hair, green eyes—landed in front of them.
The wind from his descent whipped their clothes violently.
Krillin's eyes bulged.
"Vegeta…?! It's you!
Y-You actually became a Super Saiyan!!"
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