The palace banquet hall was brightly lit, and the air was filled with a boisterous clamor.
The grand feast celebrating the birth of Prince Vegeta was underway, and the air was thick with the scent of some rare roasted alien creature, strong liquor, and the unique, rugged aroma of the Saiyans.
The mid and high-level Saiyan warriors clinked glasses and laughed loudly, but their gazes would occasionally drift towards the main seat high above.
Prince Vegeta, only four years old but already exuding an astonishing aura, sat upright in a specially made high chair. Despite his young age, his face was already etched with an arrogance and a hint of impatience that belied his years.
Vegeta, dressed in an exquisite, small-sized battle suit, crossed his arms and surveyed the crowd.
King Vegeta, his face flushed with pride, was beaming as he constantly introduced his son, upon whom he had placed great hopes, to his confidants.
The future prince's guards, Nappa and Raditz, stood nervously to the side. With one exception... Whitley, who was currently squatting in a corner, stuffing his face, felt that these Saiyans who were soon to be wiped out were not even worth mentioning.
He had no interest in this kind of occasion filled with hypocrisy and flattery.
So he simply grabbed a plate and, like a real four-year-old (if one ignored his physique), was focused on ravenously clearing out the food in a corner.
Although the taste of these strange things meticulously prepared by the palace chefs was still hard to describe, the energy they contained was real.
He was in a critical period of development and had to take this opportunity to properly nourish himself.
"Hmph!"
Vegeta watched Whitley's detached behavior, especially the act of him just nodding and then running off to eat, which made him feel as if he had been greatly insulted.
He was Prince Vegeta, a genius born with a power level of over 1000!
This detestable guy named Whitley, a mere guard, dared to slight him like this?
Feeling insulted, Vegeta was about to go and make trouble for Whitley.
But at that moment, King Vegeta loudly announced that the banquet had officially begun! The atmosphere immediately became even more enthusiastic.
Nappa and Raditz eagerly crowded around Vegeta, showering him with all sorts of compliments, trying to win the favor of the young Saiyan prince.
In their limited minds, as long as they gained the prince's trust, wouldn't a meteoric rise be just around the corner?
But Vegeta just listened coldly, his eyes locked on the figure in the corner who was eating like a madman.
"Hey, Raditz!" Vegeta suddenly interrupted Raditz's incessant flattery. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone of command. This cold tone instantly quieted the noisy banquet hall.
He pointed in Whitley's direction and asked, "That guy, what's his name?"
Raditz shivered and quickly bowed to answer, "Reporting to Your Highness! That guy's name is Whitley! I've heard... both his parents were elite warriors who died on a mission. It's said his power level at birth was as high as 500, making him a true elite warrior! However..."
Raditz paused, a barely perceptible disdain in his tone. "He doesn't seem to have any ambition. He just locks himself at home to train all day and almost never goes out to challenge other warriors."
"Ha? Training?"
Vegeta looked as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, a cold sneer unfitting for his age appearing on his young face. "A power level of only 500 at birth? An elite warrior?"
He sneered, "How dare he be so arrogant with such insect-like power? As an elite warrior, he actually needs to train like a low-class warrior? A piece of trash like this dares to disregard me, the great Vegeta!"
He shot to his feet, his small body erupting with astonishing pressure, his sharp gaze piercing towards Whitley.
"Raditz! Go and tell him to meet me at the palace training grounds immediately after the banquet! I will make him understand what true power is!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Raditz's heart trembled. He quickly accepted the order and strode towards Whitley, who was squatting in the corner.
Beside them, a confused Nappa interjected in his booming voice:
"Your Highness Vegeta, why make it so troublesome? If you don't like him, I can just go and crush him right now, can't I?"
He cracked his knuckles, looking eager to try.
"Idiot!!!"
Vegeta whirled around and roared at Nappa. The sound was so loud that the entire banquet hall fell silent again, and the gazes of everyone who had been chatting and laughing focused on them.
Vegeta's small face was red with anger as he pointed at Nappa furiously.
"Use your brain! Use that scouter on your face that you treat as a decoration and take a good look at what his current power level is!"
Stunned by the yelling, Nappa subconsciously adjusted the scouter on his ear and pointed the lens at Whitley in the corner.
"Beep... beep... beep..." The scouter's reading jumped wildly before finally stabilizing at a number that made Nappa's pupils shrink:
2800!
"Two... two thousand eight hundred?!"
Nappa cried out involuntarily, his massive forehead instantly covered in cold sweat.
He looked in disbelief at the figure who didn't seem particularly strong.
"I'm already in my twenties, and my power level is only three thousand! He's only four... and he... he's already at nearly three thousand?!"
A wave of fear washed over him. If he had really rushed over just now... was there any question who would have died?
He looked at his prince with gratitude and awe. Thankfully, His Highness was wise enough!
Vegeta snorted coldly, ignoring Nappa's shock and fear.
He sat back down in his chair, his small face returning to its previous cold expression, but a strong fighting spirit ignited deep within his eyes.
"Hmph! Go tell him I'll be waiting for him in the training grounds. And tell him not to think about running away."
After speaking, he ignored the ongoing banquet, got up, and walked straight out of the noisy hall.
He left Nappa and Raditz looking at each other, along with a crowd of whispering Saiyan guests who didn't know what was going on.
Nappa and Raditz quickly followed, their hearts filled with apprehension for the quiet "monster," Whitley.
But at the same time, they were full of anticipation for the power their prince was about to display!
A power level of merely three thousand from someone who never fights. In front of the prince, who has been challenging others since birth, isn't he just an ant that can be crushed at will?
When a full Whitley slowly walked into the empty, exclusive palace training grounds, Vegeta was already waiting there.
The small figure had his back to the entrance, his arms crossed in a posture that looked down on the world.
Nappa and Raditz stood respectfully in a corner, not daring to breathe loudly.
"You've come, Whitley." Vegeta turned around, his cold eyes locking onto Whitley with a condescending scrutiny.
"I hear you were born with a power level of 500? And now... 3000? Not bad at all."
His tone was undisguisedly mocking as he grinned and said:
"Hahahaha!!! However, how much of that power can you, who has never fought anyone, actually use?! In front of me, this prince, your power isn't even enough to serve as a warm-up!"
Whitley looked at him calmly, his face expressionless, merely giving a slight nod.
"Your Highness overpraises me. I wonder why Your Highness specifically summoned me here?"
"Heh!"
A dangerous arc formed on Vegeta's lips.
"It's simple. I, this prince, want to see just how capable this so-called genius elite warrior is! Come at me with all your strength! Let me see what your ridiculous training has actually produced!"
The moment he finished speaking, Vegeta's small figure vanished on the spot! He was so fast that he left only a sharp sonic boom in the air!
He chose to attack first, wanting to completely crush the boring pride of this guard who dared to look down on him with overwhelming force!
A fist carrying immense power tore through the air, whistling menacingly as it shot straight for Whitley's face!
A cruel delight flashed in Vegeta's eyes, as if he could already see the other's nose breaking and blood splashing.
He was still laughing wildly, his mocking gaze fixed on Whitley, as if he wanted to see him scramble to his knees and beg for mercy.
However, in the next instant, the smile in his eyes froze.
With an incredible agility, Whitley's figure leaned slightly to the side at the very moment the fist was about to make contact!
The force of the punch grazed the tips of his hair, blowing a few fine black strands.
"What?!"
Vegeta was shocked, but his movements didn't falter. His other fist swept out horizontally with even more ferocious power!
Whitley's feet shifted lightly, and he once again dodged like a phantom. His movements were fluid and natural, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll.
"Is dodging all you can do?! Bastard!!!"
Vegeta was thoroughly enraged, his small body erupting with even greater speed!
His fists and feet became a blurry afterimage, raining down on Whitley like a torrential storm! Each strike contained a terrifying power capable of shattering the earth!
But Whitley was like a leaf fluttering in a violent storm. It looked incredibly perilous, but he always managed to perfectly avoid the attacks by a hair's breadth at the last possible moment!
He controlled his movements, keeping them free of any unnecessary action.
He dodged continuously with a precision, efficiency, and an indescribable sense of rhythm.
"How... how is this possible?!"
Nappa and Raditz watched from the corner, dumbfounded, their jaws about to hit the floor.
Where was the devastating crush by His Highness that they had expected?
Why had it turned into His Highness attacking frantically while Whitley seemed to be toying with him?!
Didn't he never fight? How can he be so strong!
Just at the moment when Vegeta's breathing became slightly disordered from the prolonged attack and a flaw appeared in his movements!
Whitley moved!
His figure lunged forward for the first time, so fast that Vegeta's eyes could only catch an afterimage!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
A series of dull, extremely rapid impact sounds rang out like popping beans!
Vegeta's vision blurred.
He instantly felt a dense and intense series of physical blows land on his body, face, and head, along with a sharp pain all over!
He was horrified to discover that Whitley's fists were moving faster than his reaction limit!
Each strike landed precisely on his weakest defensive points. The force wasn't immense, but it was extremely piercing.
The rain-like attacks made him dizzy and see stars; he couldn't fight back at all!
"Ugh!"
Vegeta let out a cry of pain, his body stumbling backward uncontrollably.
When he finally managed to steady himself, his head was buzzing, and his face was stinging.
He subconsciously raised a hand to his forehead—several large, rapidly swelling red lumps were clearly visible!
Whitley grinned, mimicking Vegeta's initial demeanor, and looked at his sorry state mockingly, "Hey? Why are the bumps on your head so pointy?"
"How... how dare you!!!"
Vegeta completely lost his composure, his young voice distorted with extreme anger and humiliation!
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared deadly at Whitley, who stood opposite him with a taunting look, his breathing barely changed.
"You bastard! Why?! Why are you so strong?!"
He couldn't understand!
He was the one-in-a-million genius among Saiyans!
The other guy had clearly never fought!
Why? Why couldn't he hit him? Why could he hit him so easily?
Those ghostly movements... those frighteningly precise strikes... this couldn't be explained by a power level of just over 3000!
"Heh!"
Whitley casually shook his wrist as if he had just done a warm-up, a faint smile still playing on his lips.
"How powerful you are, my respected Your Highness Vegeta. That round of fierce attacks just now almost managed to hurt me."
His flat tone sounded more piercing to Vegeta's ears than the most venomous taunt!
"Whitley!!"
Raditz finally reacted, mustering his courage to rush forward and support the swaying Vegeta. He shouted at Whitley, his voice fierce but his heart weak.
"You... you dare disrespect His Highness! Do you know what you are doing?!"
The smile on Whitley's face didn't change, but his eyes grew cold as he looked at Raditz. "Disrespect? Raditz, don't you dare slander me."
His gaze shifted to the utterly humiliated Vegeta, whose head was covered in bumps, his tone playful.
"I was just following His Highness Vegeta's command and fighting with all my strength.
"After all, His Highness is a legendary genius. How could I dare not use my full power against such a small amount of strength?"
Vegeta pushed Raditz away, fighting off the dizziness and humiliation to stand firm.
He stared at Whitley, his eyes looking as if he wanted to eat him alive. "Powerful? You call this powerful?!"
He pointed to the lumps on his head, his voice trembling with extreme anger. "Tell me! What the hell are you?! Your power level is only three thousand! You've never fought anyone! How did you do it?!"
Whitley looked at the Saiyan prince whose pride he had just crushed, feeling nothing in his heart.
He shook his head, not answering Vegeta's question directly, only saying lightly:
"This little bit of strength of mine... is dogshit."
The words were spoken lightly, but they struck Vegeta's heart like a heavy hammer.
Beating me, the genius of the Saiyans, until my head is covered in bumps... and that strength is nothing?
Whitley paid no more attention to the three who were plunged into shock and confusion and turned to walk out of the training grounds.
His steps were calm and steady, but the aura he had deliberately suppressed now faintly exuded a heart-stopping pressure.
"Call me when there's a mission," he said without looking back, his voice clearly reaching their ears.
"At all other times, do not disturb me..."
Before his voice had faded, he suddenly pushed off from the ground!
BOOM!!!
Accompanied by a deafening sonic boom, Whitley's figure shot up like a cannonball, instantly breaking through the dome of the training grounds, leaving a huge human-shaped hole in the sturdy alloy ceiling, and disappearing into the dim sky as a streak of light!
Rubble trickled down, dust filled the air, and a dead silence fell over the training grounds.
Vegeta clutched his swollen and painful cheek, staring blankly at the massive hole above his head, his eyes filled with an unprecedented confusion.
His heart was filled with humiliation... and a trace of wavering doubt in his own power, as well as a craving for greater strength that he himself hadn't even realized.
Nappa and Raditz knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe as they looked at the silent Vegeta, their faces filled with an incomprehensible horror.
"Ra... Raditz..."
Vegeta's voice was a bit hoarse, breaking the silence. He slowly turned his head, a complex and unreadable light flickering in his eyes. "You said before... Whitley, he's always been at home... training?"
"Y-yes, Your Highness!" Raditz quickly replied, his voice trembling.
Vegeta was silent for a moment, his small fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
The humiliation on his face was gradually replaced by an almost crazed obsession.
"Go! Find out for me!"
Vegeta's voice was cold and resolute, carrying an unquestionable command. "All his training methods, training locations, what equipment he used... dig up every single piece of information about how he got stronger! Don't miss a single detail!"
"I want to know... how he became this kind of 'monster'!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Nappa and Raditz were shaken to the core and quickly knelt on one knee to accept the order.
They were somewhat puzzled by their prince's command, but what they didn't know was that the events of this day would completely change the young Vegeta, and completely alter the trajectory of their futures.
Vegeta's gaze once again turned to the hole in the ceiling, as if it could pierce through the building to see the powerful figure that had long since departed.
The intense pain from his crushed pride had now bizarrely transformed into an unprecedented, fiery desire.
"Whitley..."
He whispered the name, a raging fire burning in his eyes. "Just you wait... I will defeat you! I will show you who the true genius Saiyan is!"
The dust in the training grounds slowly settled, covering the mess on the floor, but it couldn't cover the heart of a Saiyan that had been forcibly twisted in a new direction.
It seemed that today's match had prematurely stirred up unpredictable waves in the storm of the future.