"Planet Vegeta — your people's planet — wasn't destroyed the way Lord Frieza told you," Dodoria said with a smile.
"What did you say?" Vegeta's eyes narrowed.
"Lord Frieza feared that a Super Saiyan might be born among the Saiyans. So he used the excuse of attacking some giant planet to call all the Saiyans back to Planet Vegeta — and then, on a day of his choosing, he destroyed the planet with his own hands." Dodoria said it with a smile. "You were lucky — you happened to be away at the time, which is the only reason you survived."
As he said this, Dodoria felt a flicker of something in his chest.
Good thing Lord Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta when he did.
Otherwise there'd probably be even more Super Saiyans running around.
Though then again, maybe not.
Vegeta is still supposed to be the most talented warrior of his generation.
And he's no Super Saiyan — just slightly stronger than me.
"Ha ha ha! This must be a terrible blow for you!" Dodoria laughed loudly.
Come on. Zarbon's almost here.
Once we team up, we can finish Vegeta off completely.
"You're wrong," Vegeta said with a quiet smile. "The planet, my friends, my family — none of it matters to me. What does make my blood boil is knowing I was used from the very beginning. And besides—" His expression didn't even flicker as he added, "Are you trying to buy time waiting for Zarbon? You think I'd let that happen?"
"Ah — Zarbon, over here, help!" Dodoria panicked and immediately turned to bolt.
BOOM!
Vegeta raised his hand. A massive blast of energy detonated directly on top of Dodoria.
With a thunderous roar, Dodoria was consumed utterly by the blast — not a trace remained.
Vegeta knew the math. If Dodoria and Zarbon teamed up, things would get annoying. So he took Dodoria out without a second thought.
The moment Dodoria was gone, a streak of light screamed in from the distance, coming to a halt close by.
Zarbon — arriving just too late to help.
Zarbon: "..."
Staring at what was left of Dodoria — which was nothing — Zarbon was utterly speechless.
One step too slow.
"Zarbon — perfect timing. I just finished off Dodoria. You're next," Vegeta said, allowing himself a small smile.
"Damn it!" Zarbon clenched his fists. "Your power has really shot up, hasn't it!"
"Obviously. I took care of Dodoria without breaking a sweat," Vegeta nodded with satisfaction. "Oh, and back on Planet 79, I also dealt with Cui while I was at it."
Zarbon's brow furrowed slightly, his expression growing more serious.
"Where's Frieza? Why can't I sense him?" Vegeta asked.
"You have no right to know Lord Frieza's whereabouts!" Zarbon said coldly.
"If you're not going to answer, then you've got no reason left to be alive," Vegeta said flatly, and vanished from the spot in a flicker.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Vegeta materialised directly in front of Zarbon.
Zarbon reacted fast — he drove a punch straight at Vegeta.
Vegeta snarled and caught the incoming fist in one hand, then gave a sharp shout, twisted hard, and flung Zarbon away.
Whoosh!
Zarbon went airborne, hurled up into the sky.
Crack!
Energy ignited around Zarbon's body. He steadied himself instantly in midair.
Vegeta was already charging up toward him.
Zarbon thrust his right hand downward, firing a blast straight at the rising Vegeta.
The energy shot screamed toward Vegeta at blistering speed.
Vegeta just sneered and slapped the blast aside with one open palm.
Whoosh!
The deflected blast slammed into the ground far below, throwing up an enormous mushroom cloud.
"Damn it — he swatted it away!" Zarbon ground his teeth.
Whoosh!
Vegeta closed the distance in an instant and drove a savage elbow straight into Zarbon's face.
The impact crumpled Zarbon's expression, and he immediately threw himself into a counter-attack.
Vegeta slipped every strike with casual ease.
"How's it looking, Zarbon? Can't even touch me, can you?" Vegeta laughed out loud, then launched a flying kick that sent Zarbon plummeting from the sky.
Whoosh!
Vegeta dove after him.
Zarbon crash-landed on all fours, looked up at the sky — and found no sign of Vegeta above him.
"Behind you," Vegeta said softly.
"What?!" Zarbon's face changed.
CRACK!
Vegeta planted a kick squarely into Zarbon's back.
Zarbon lurched forward and face-planted into the ground, landing in a heap.
"Ha ha ha! You're completely out of your depth, Zarbon!" Vegeta laughed freely.
Zarbon hauled himself up from the dirt, his expression going feral, and said in a cold, low voice, "I'll admit you've surprised me. But your luck ends here. I'll make sure you understand exactly what happens to anyone who crosses me."
"Oh? And what exactly happens to people who cross you?" Vegeta lit up with amusement, pointing a thumb at his own nose. "Zarbon, that has to be the funniest joke I've heard all day. Are you saying your power can still go higher?"
"Before you die, let me explain why I haven't been fighting at full strength," Zarbon said with a cold smile, killing intent flickering in his eyes. "When I unleash my true power, I have to transform. But the form I take is hideous — I can't stand the look of it. I value my appearance, and I refuse to tolerate being that ugly."
"A transformation?" Vegeta blinked.
"But faced with death, I'd rather give up my looks than die," Zarbon said with an icy nod.
"Don't make me laugh. You're saying you transform like us Saiyans?" Vegeta scoffed.
"Nothing like a Saiyan's Great Ape — I simply amplify my power." Zarbon immediately shifted, his mouth distorting into a grotesque toad-like maw.
Vegeta's pupils narrowed. His expression tightened.
Whoosh!
Zarbon shot toward Vegeta at frightening speed.
Vegeta's expression darkened instantly.
CRACK!
Zarbon lunged forward and seized Vegeta's head in both hands, then drove his own forehead straight into Vegeta's face.
"ARGH—!"
Vegeta let out a pained howl, feeling like his skull had nearly been split in two.
Whoosh!
Zarbon hauled back and hurled Vegeta straight up into the sky.
Vegeta's body tumbled through the air, and he immediately righted himself — then transformed into a blazing streak of light and dove back down.
Zarbon grinned and stomped off the ground hard, rocketing upward.
To be continued…
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