To prepare for the Androids that would appear in the future, the warriors rekindled their fighting spirit and threw themselves into even harsher training.
Inside the gravity chamber, the metal walls gave off a low, suffocating hum under the crushing pressure. The sound wasn't the machine—
It was Vegeta and Nappa.
"Too slow, Nappa!"
Vegeta slipped past Nappa's straight punch with a sharp twist of his waist, then drove a backhand elbow into Nappa's chest.
"Guh—!"
Nappa staggered back, his huge frame wobbling as if he was about to collapse onto the floor.
"S-Sorry, Vegeta!"
Panting hard, Nappa wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and forced himself to stay upright.
"You're growing too fast. I'm still trying to adapt to the last gravity setting, and you've already increased it again."
He swallowed, voice rough.
"I… I can barely handle this level. My strength can't keep up anymore…"
"Trash."
Vegeta snorted and shut off the gravity setting without even looking at him. He walked over, poured himself a cup of water, and downed it in a few brutal gulps.
Sweat streamed down the sharp lines of his muscles, soaking his blue battle suit until it clung to him like a second skin.
Then—
Beep. Beep. Beep.
An alarm sounded from the gravity room's access panel.
Vegeta frowned and glanced toward the door console. A small screen lit up—
And a familiar, pretty face appeared in the camera feed.
"…Why is she here?"
Vegeta's brow tightened. He checked the controls again to make sure the gravity setting was fully disabled, then tossed his head slightly.
"Nappa. Open the door."
"O-Okay!"
With the gravity gone, Nappa moved normally again. He strode to the entrance and hit the switch.
The door slid open.
Sunlight poured through the corridor and landed on a girl standing there—long lunchbox in hand.
It was Mollyanne.
She'd clearly come prepared, and even before she spoke, the warm scent of meat drifted through the doorway.
When she saw it wasn't Vegeta who opened the door, she asked bluntly, "Excuse me—Is Vegeta here?"
Nappa's eyes ran over her without the slightest shame.
"And what do you want with Prince Vegeta?"
Mollyanne instinctively stepped back half a pace, her expression tightening. She tried to peer past Nappa into the room, but he was simply too big—blocking her view completely.
"I heard Vegeta came back," she said carefully. "I… brought him food."
Nappa's grin widened.
"Heh. Earth women really are attentive."
His tone turned ugly.
"But Vegeta doesn't have interest in women from some low-class planet. Why don't you stay and talk with me instead?"
Before she could react, Nappa reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
Mollyanne's eyes flashed with panic—then fear, as his fingers tightened.
And in the next instant, a voice like ice cut through the corridor.
"Let her go."
Vegeta.
Nappa froze for a split second, turning his head toward him… but his hand still didn't release.
"What's with you, Vegeta? You're taking this seriously?"
He scoffed, still holding her as if it meant nothing.
"It's just an Earth woman. Don't you always say these inferior races aren't worth our time?"
Mollyanne's breathing turned shallow.
Then—
A blue blur crossed the space.
Vegeta's hand clamped down on Nappa's wrist like steel.
Crack.
A clean, sharp sound.
"AAGH—!"
Nappa screamed and immediately released her.
Vegeta didn't even blink.
"I said," he repeated, voice low and dangerous, "let her go."
Nappa staggered back, clutching his wrist, staring as if he couldn't comprehend what just happened.
"Vegeta… are you out of your mind?!"
"For a low-class woman, you actually hit me?!"
Vegeta didn't answer.
Instead, he turned to Mollyanne—shockingly—his movements gentler as he checked her chin, making sure she wasn't hurt.
"You okay?"
His voice was still stiff. Still blunt. But compared to how he spoke to everyone else…
It was softer.
Mollyanne's eyes widened, cheeks flushing.
"I… I'm fine. Thank you."
Nappa looked like his brain short-circuited.
And that was when Vegeta moved again.
He spun sharply and drove a punch into Nappa's stomach.
Nappa folded.
Then an uppercut launched him across the gravity room, slamming him into the far wall.
Nappa coughed up blood and slid down in a heap.
Vegeta stepped forward—slow, deliberate—every step heavier than the last, veins bulging at his temples.
"Listen carefully, Nappa."
His gaze was cold enough to cut.
"Mollyanne is mine."
"If you touch her again…"
His voice lowered into something far more terrifying than shouting.
"…you'll regret ever coming to this world. Understood?"
The gravity room went dead silent.
Nappa stared at him, eyes wide, disbelief written all over his face.
Even Mollyanne lifted a hand to her mouth, tears glittering in her eyes—half shock, half joy.
"Y-You… you're serious?" Nappa forced out.
He'd invaded countless planets with Vegeta. He'd treated the people of those worlds like insects—like toys.
And Vegeta had never stopped him.
Not once.
So for Vegeta to threaten him now…
Over a normal Earth girl…
It didn't compute.
Vegeta snorted, then turned and wrapped an arm around Mollyanne's shoulder—casual, possessive, final.
"My words won't be repeated."
He jerked his chin toward the door.
"Get out. Training's over for today."
Nappa wiped the blood from his mouth, his gaze flicking between Vegeta and Mollyanne. In the end, he lowered his head and walked out.
"…Yes, Vegeta."
The door shut behind him.
And only then did Mollyanne finally look up at Vegeta, her voice trembling with emotion.
"You just said…"
"…I'm your woman?"
Vegeta's expression stiffened. He released her and walked toward the far side of the room as if he hadn't said anything at all.
"Don't overthink it," he muttered. "I only needed him to understand his place."
But Mollyanne caught it anyway—
The faint red at the tips of his ears.
Her smile turned sweet, unstoppable. She followed with the lunchbox in hand.
"Either way… thank you for protecting me."
She lifted the container.
"I made this just for you. It's all meat. You'll like it—try it."
Before Vegeta could refuse, she opened the lid.
A rich aroma burst into the air.
One dish after another—perfectly cooked, richly seasoned meat—was laid out in front of him.
Vegeta didn't pretend to be polite.
He sat down across from her on the floor, grabbed a thick piece of meat, and bit in like he'd been starving.
Mollyanne watched him with shining eyes.
"How is it?"
Vegeta chewed, swallowed, and finally nodded.
"Not bad."
"Better than space rations."
Mollyanne's face lit up.
"If you like it, I'll make it again tomorrow and bring it at the same time. Is that okay?"
Vegeta finished the piece in a few savage bites.
"Do whatever you want."
Then, after a brief pause, he pushed one of the plates toward her.
"…You eat too."
…
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