Watching Zarbon's uneasy face, Frieza's lips curled into a wicked grin.
"So only a few Saiyan stragglers are still out there? Excellent work, Zarbon."
Hearing the praise, Zarbon straightened up, his anxiety vanishing, replaced with smug pride. If he gained Frieza's trust, his status in the army would rise—and maybe even overshadow Dodoria one day.
Frieza's smile turned cruel. "Send the order—shoot down any Saiyan ships that haven't returned to Planet Vegeta. Don't wait for them to come back."
"Yes, Lord Frieza!" Zarbon immediately obeyed, striding to the command deck to issue the order.
The extermination of the Saiyans was now a fact. No one could change it.
And though few knew the truth, Frieza was simply carrying out a command given by none other than the God of Destruction, Beerus.
He had no choice.
The Lone Rebel
Frieza reclined in his throne aboard the flagship, savoring his wine while the hour of destruction drew near. Zarbon stood quietly beside him.
But then—chaos.
From the void above Planet Vegeta, one warrior appeared, fierce and unyielding. Alone, he blocked the advance of the Frieza Force. One man, standing against thousands.
Bardock.
Floating at the edge of the atmosphere, he glared down at the swarm of Frieza's soldiers and at the enormous ship that loomed like a god above them all.
No matter what fate says… I'll change the future. Even if I die, I'll fight until the very end!
Inside the ship, Frieza leaned forward with interest. "Oh? What's this? Don't tell me King Vegeta had another card to play… this Saiyan…" His eyes glimmered. This one was different. Stronger. Fiercer. More dangerous.
Zarbon quickly stepped forward. "My lord, allow me to dispose of him at once!"
Frieza raised a finger to stop him. "No… This one is the last warrior willing to resist me. Out of respect, I'll let him die by my own hand." His twisted grin widened.
"Yes, Lord Frieza…" Zarbon backed away nervously.
The Rift in Time
Meanwhile, far from the battlefield, the fabric of space rippled. A hidden tunnel opened, and two figures stepped out: Whis and Bardock.
They had crossed five million years to reach this exact moment.
The red glow of Planet Vegeta burned before them. Frieza's massive ship hovered in the distance.
Bardock's eyes hardened. "This is it. This is where it all began."
Whis gave a small nod. "Correct. Planet Vegeta will be destroyed by Frieza very soon. This is the decisive moment of your past self's life."
Bardock clenched his fists. He could still remember it vividly—his desperate stand against Frieza, the hopeless gap in power, and the fiery end of his world.
"That red planet… it isn't Planet Sadala anymore. It's Vegeta, the Saiyan homeworld of this era," Whis confirmed.
"Yes… my birth planet," Bardock said quietly, staring at it.
Suddenly, Frieza raised his hand. Energy condensed into a massive ball of crackling red light. Its destructive force made even Whis narrow his eyes.
"This technique… it resembles Lord Beerus' power," Whis muttered.
Bardock's eyes burned. "So it was Beerus behind it all along…"
Without another word, Bardock shot forward. He had no time to waste.
Whis only watched silently. He knew if Bardock went too far, balance would be broken—and then, he'd have to intervene.
Planet Vegeta's End
The colossal energy bomb pierced the atmosphere. On the surface, the Saiyans finally realized what was happening—but it was too late.
Warriors, elites, and commoners alike froze in terror as the red light consumed the sky. Panic spread, but there was nowhere to run.
In the residential district, one woman stood quietly, her resolve unshaken.
Gine.
She had already sent her youngest son, Kakarot, away in a pod. She had told her eldest son, Raditz, the truth. Now she stood alone, waiting for the inevitable.
"Bardock…" she whispered.
As the planet-destroying bomb descended, Bardock appeared at her side. He grabbed her, pulling her close. "I found you just in time!"
In the next instant, he blasted them into space, away from the doomed world.
Behind them, Planet Vegeta cracked, molten fire spilling from its core. Then—
BOOOOM!
The explosion tore the planet apart, scattering fragments across the void.
On his throne, Frieza threw his head back, laughing maniacally. "Fwahahahaha! Splendid! Truly splendid! The Saiyans are no more!"
Dodoria and Zarbon trembled in awe. They knew Frieza was terrifying, but to casually destroy an entire planet—it shook even their hardened hearts.
The Frieza Force soldiers stood frozen in silence, staring at the power of their emperor.
Survivors
Far from the blast, Bardock floated in space, clutching Gine in his arms. The explosion had knocked her unconscious.
Though she was a Saiyan, she wasn't a fighter. She couldn't withstand the shock of such destruction.
"Whis!" Bardock shouted. "Help me protect her!"
Whis raised his staff, opening a safe space. Gine vanished into its protective light. "She'll be safe with me," the Angel said calmly.
Bardock nodded. "Thank you. That's all I needed."
But even as he spoke, elsewhere…
On Beerus' world, the God of Destruction stirred. "Whis… how did Frieza handle Planet Vegeta? Don't tell me that fool disobeyed me."
Whis glanced into his staff. "Just moments ago, Lord Beerus, Frieza carried out your command. Planet Vegeta has been destroyed. The Saiyans are gone."
Beerus yawned, satisfied. "Good. That's why I chose him as my agent. Reliable to the end." With that, he turned to return to bed.
But then—Whis stopped him. "My lord… there's something you should see."
Beerus frowned, annoyed. "What is it now?"
Whis projected the vision of Bardock—a Bardock not of this time—standing defiantly in space.
Beerus' eyes widened. His sleepiness vanished.
"…What is this?"
Beerus' eyes narrowed. "Wha… what's going on here?!"
For the first time in ages, the God of Destruction looked shaken.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Another Whis had suddenly appeared. Space and time weren't supposed to overlap like this.
Whis studied his other self calmly. "If I'm not wrong… this really is me, but from another timeline. For me to appear here, it must be something important… something about the Saiyan race."
Beerus frowned. "Tch. Even so, it's unusual for Angels to mess with time. You need the Grand Priest's permission. So why are you really here? And what's with that human you brought along?"
Beerus' golden eyes locked onto Bardock.
There was something strange about this man. His power felt different, even unsettling.
"A mortal with that kind of strength…" Beerus muttered. "This is the first time I've seen such a thing."
Whis tilted his head, scepter glowing. "Then let's ask my other self directly."
At that moment, far away in space, the second Whis felt the signal through his staff. A divine message.
He smiled faintly. "As expected… they've already noticed us. Bardock, before we continue, we'll need to explain ourselves to Beerus and the Whis of this timeline."
Bardock smirked, folding his arms. "Fine. I don't mind. I'm actually curious to see what this version of Beerus is like compared to the one I've already fought."
With a wave of his staff, Whis summoned a rainbow glow that wrapped around both of them. In an instant, they crossed the universe at Angelic speed, arriving in Beerus' realm.
Beerus and the Whis of this timeline raised their heads as the sky split open. The light faded, revealing Bardock and the other Whis.
"Another me, huh?" Whis said calmly, staring at his counterpart. "So… which timeline are you from?"
The visitor chuckled. "I'm from five million years in the past."
Even Whis' normally calm expression flickered. "Five… million years…?"
Beerus' jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?! You traveled that far just to show up here?! And this human—wait a second…"
His eyes caught something on Bardock's hand. His face went stiff.
"That's… the Time Ring?! Why does a mortal like you have that?!"
Bardock smirked darkly. "What's wrong, Beerus? Surprised? Who says a mortal can't wear it?"
Beerus' aura flared instantly. "Watch your mouth! Even if you were Supreme Kai, you've got no right to speak my name so casually!"
Bardock didn't flinch. "Hmph. Same attitude as always. Arrogant and self-important. I've already beaten one version of you before—don't think you scare me."
Beerus' rage boiled over. "You dare—?!" His destructive energy poured out, shaking the realm.
But Bardock's ki surged higher, swallowing Beerus' aura completely. The shockwave cracked the ground.
Beerus' eyes widened. "What?! This power…!"
Even Whis looked surprised. "Amazing… for someone with Saiyan blood, to reach this level…"
"Enough!" Whis stepped forward, cutting off the clash. "Lord Beerus. Bardock. Please control yourselves. This isn't the time for fighting."
Beerus clicked his tongue and withdrew his aura. "Hmph. Consider yourself lucky, mortal. If not for Whis, I'd erase you where you stand."
Bardock smirked. "The same threat, every time. You haven't changed at all."
Whis finally explained the situation: how Bardock, a Saiyan from this very era, had been thrown five million years into the past, met the Grand Priest, and was made a trainee Supreme Kai. With that authority, he had been allowed to travel back.
Beerus' eyes widened again. "A Saiyan…?! From this timeline?! But… I ordered Frieza to destroy them not long ago…"
The truth sank in, and for once, Beerus didn't have a comeback.
Whis folded his arms. "This matter is too important. We'll have to bring it before the Grand Priest and Lord Zeno themselves."
Beerus scowled. "Tch… don't drag me into this. I don't want to see the Grand Priest if I don't have to."