Four clusters of milky white light shot across the sky at astonishing speed.
Behind them, three more light clusters followed—the figures of Zeltron, Rapp, and Toss.
"Landing!"
Rapp, beside Zeltron, watched as the four white lights in front slowed abruptly and touched down on the land below.
As the trio approached, they spotted a disk-shaped Universe ship resting on the ground—it was Frieza's personal spacecraft.
"Frieza's Universe ship!"
Zeltron hovered motionless in the air, eyes fixed on the ship below as he spoke evenly to Rapp and Toss.
Toss, young and aware, knew of Frieza but not his full terror. Rapp was different—before joining Zeltron's side, he had mingled in the Universe and hearing Frieza's name still felt like a thunderclap.
"T-That's Frieza's ship!"
Rapp's voice trembled with terror as he stared at the floating disk, swallowing nervously.
"Don't worry. Frieza isn't here right now."
Seeing Rapp's pale face, Zeltron reassured him, then turned his gaze to his detector, tracking a powerful energy signature.
No doubt, that reading was Frieza himself, currently locked in combat with Nail—the guardian of the Great Elder—battling to secure the use of the Dragon Balls.
"Intruder detected!"
Suddenly, the red alert blared inside Frieza's ship.
Rows of soldiers in battle armor emerged, lining up for combat. Their target: Son Goku and Vegeta, who had landed ahead.
"Attack!"
The Universe soldiers, recognizing Vegeta, wasted no time ordering assaults at Goku's and Vegeta's group.
Zzz-shhh zzz-shhh—
Energy firearms in their hands fired relentless bolts—energy spheres and beams darting through the air.
[DING—Congratulations to the host, gained power level attribute 20]
[DING—Congratulations to the host, gained power level attribute 24]
…
As Frieza's forces attacked, Zeltron's mind rang with the system's mechanical beeps.
Power level attributes cascaded with every strike, though the opponents were weak—their top power level barely reached 3,000. Their attacks yielded only low-value attributes.
"Hey! I'm here to find Frieza, not to quarrel with you. Attack me again and you'll regret it!"
Goku expertly dodged the continuous offensives, flashing left and right with ease.
"Ha! Kakarot's finally here, let's see about you!"
Vegeta was less patient.
He darted through the crowd with lethal speed; each flash saw a Universe soldier vanish, felled instantly by Vegeta.
[DING—Congratulations to the host, gained power level attribute 340]
[DING—Congratulations to the host, gained power level attribute 350]
Krillin and Son Gohan fired in succession beside Vegeta.
Ten seconds later, hundreds of Frieza's soldiers, once surrounding Goku and Vegeta, lay motionless on the ground.
"Does the host absorb power level attributes?"
Right as Goku and Vegeta cleared the battlefield, the system chimed in Zeltron's mind.
"Yes."
Though this skirmish was small compared to the battle against the Ginyu Force, it was better than nothing.
Power level attributes floated in the air like shimmering white particles—too valuable to ignore.
At Zeltron's word, the golden energy surged toward him, converging in a flow like a long river entering his body.
Numbers on the virtual screen before him blinked upwards continuously.
43.51 million
43.52 million
43.53 million
…
After the final attribute entered, Zeltron's power level rose to 43.55 million—gaining over 40,000 power level from a brief fight.
"Master Zeltron, shall we go down?"
Rapp asked eagerly after seeing Son Gohan and the others clear the way.
"No, we'll just watch from here this time."
While Zeltron and Rapp conversed, Vegeta, Goku, and the others limped aboard Frieza's ship, seeking the ship's medical facilities to tend their injuries.
"Gohan!"
As Vegeta entered, Krillin looked warily at him and said, "Get the radar."
Krillin meant the Dragon Ball radar.
Son Gohan produced a small device the size of a palm, shaped like a watch—created by Bulma.
Goku pressed a button, and the radar flashed with light.
"Seven Dragon Balls."
Krillin and Son Gohan exchanged joyous looks.
"Very close!"
Following the radar's signal, they scoured the surrounding area.
Soon, in a clearing beneath Frieza's ship, Son Gohan uncovered an area of freshly disturbed earth.
"Here it is!"
Son Goku pointed excitedly.
"What are they doing?"
"I don't know," Toss and Rapp said, puzzled, as they observed below.
Though unaware of the details, Zeltron knew.
"Seven Dragon Balls."
Zeltron muttered quietly to himself.
Krilin and Son Gohan carefully unearthed seven basketball-sized glass orbs, each adorned with stars.
They were the legendary Namekian Dragon Balls.
"Why are the Dragon Balls buried here?"
Son Gohan questioned curiously.
"No one knows, but with these Shenron can be summoned—to revive Piccolo and Tien Shinhan."
Krilin clapped his hands excitedly, staring at the Dragon Balls.
Originally, Captain Ginyu had ordered his men to bury the Dragon Balls here after stealing them from Frieza's ship.
He believed no one would find them.
But what he hadn't foreseen was Boomer's invention—the Dragon Ball radar.
Thanks to the radar, Son Gohan, Krillin, and the others easily located the buried Dragon Balls.
"What are these glass beads?"
Rapp, having never seen or heard of Dragon Balls, was curious.
Zeltron silently observed as Son Gohan and Krillin carefully carried the collection to an open space.
"Hey! Make way—we're going to summon Shenron!"
Son Gohan called out cheerfully to Zeltron, Rapp, and Toss.
"Shenron?"
"What's that?"
Rapp's curiosity grew stronger.
"Can Shenron grant any wish?"
Zeltron stared deeply at the Dragon Balls, murmuring softly to himself.
'Want money? Over 20 years, I've amassed more wealth than I could wish for. No need for Shenron.
Want immortality? Garlic Junior, Zamasu—they all wished for eternal life and met sad ends.
Want power? I have a system for that—it can upgrade me endlessly.'
After mulling this over, Zeltron realized he had no wishes he needed Shenron to grant.
As the others prepared, Zeltron slowly descended toward Frieza's ship.
"Come forth, Shenron!"
Krillin stepped forward, shouting loudly at the gathered Dragon Balls.
But nothing happened.
"What?"
Krillin frowned, puzzled.
"I'll try again!"
Encouraged by Son Gohan, Krillin called out once more.
Toss and Rapp exchanged looks, clearly skeptical.
'What are these two doing?
This isn't foolishness, is it?'
"Why won't Shenron appear?"
Krillin rubbed his bald head, confused.
Meanwhile, Son Goku stepped out of Frieza's ship.
"Ah, the Dragon Balls."
Though the Namekian Dragon Balls differed in size from Earth's variant, Goku instantly recognized them.
"Goku, these Dragon Balls won't summon Shenron? What's going on?"
Krillin asked, troubled.
"I'll explain."
Zeltron approached and spoke aloud.
Krilin, Son Goku, and Son Gohan's gazes fixed on him.
"Really? That's great! Thank you for helping us..."
Without hesitation, Goku expressed his gratitude.
But Krillin interrupted, wary:
"Goku..."
Though Krillin spoke little, Zeltron saw the caution in his eyes—the fear that Zeltron might try to seize the Dragon Balls himself.
The Dragon Balls granted ultimate wishes—few who knew of them could resist seeking them.
For Krillin, Zeltron was still untrusted, barely an acquaintance.
Naturally, he wouldn't take Zeltron's claims at face value.
"So you don't believe me?"
In response, Zeltron proposed a deal:
"I'll tell you why Shenron won't appear—but Son Goku, you must promise me one thing."
The tension on Krillin's face eased slightly.
When a stranger freely offers help, suspicion abates if conditions are made clear.
"You say, as long as it doesn't conflict with my own wishes?"
Before Krillin could react, Goku's voice cut in:
"I promise!"
"It's simple. We need you to come with us to face Frieza."
Krilin and Son Gohan's expressions darkened.
In their eyes, having seized the Dragon Balls, there was no cause to provoke Frieza further.
Their hesitation was palpable.
Yet, Goku struck his fist against his palm with burning resolve:
"Alright! I promise!"
"Goku!"
"Father!"
Krilin and Son Gohan struggled with their feelings but couldn't dissuade Goku.
"It's going to be fine," he said confidently.
Zeltron smiled faintly.
"It's quite simple. The Dragon Balls on Namek require a secret Namekian signal to summon Shenron."
Krilin and Son Gohan brightened.
"What's the secret signal?"
"I don't know."
At that moment, their hearts swirled with thoughts and questions.
'What kind of answer is that?
It's basically no answer at all.'
In truth, Zeltron had only reminded them of what they'd already suspected.
After failing to summon Shenron, Krillin and Son Gohan had theorized Namek's Dragon Balls required a special signal.
Zeltron merely confirmed their suspicions.
Even if he hadn't struck a deal with Goku, Frieza's arrival was imminent.
Zeltron preferred Goku and Frieza to clash sooner rather than later.
Better to take the initiative than wait to be hunted.