In the depths of the North Galaxy, a massive fleet, assembled from countless warships like a mobile fortress, floated silently in the cold expanse of space.
At the fleet's core, within the command room of the largest and most luxurious flagship, Frieza was lazily reclining on his uniquely shaped hover-pod. His slender fingers tapped idly on the armrest, his scarlet eyes revealing a hint of utter boredom.
Below, his three most trusted subordinates—Cui, Kikono, and Zarbon—stood with their heads bowed respectfully, reporting on the army's recent affairs.
"...In summary, Lord Frieza, the expansion plan of your army in the North Galaxy has been proceeding very smoothly recently."
Cui stepped forward, a sycophantic smile on his face. "Another three resource-rich planets have expressed their willingness to submit voluntarily. With just a word from you, my lord, they can be directly incorporated into your territory."
"Ohohoho~~"
Frieza let out his peculiar laugh, his lips stretching into a grin. He was clearly in a very good mood. "Cui-san, you have done well. From this day forward, you, like Zarbon-san, are officially promoted to one of the highest-ranking officers of the Frieza Force."
Cui was overjoyed. He immediately dropped to one knee, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "A million thanks, Lord Frieza! Your subordinate was only able to complete the mission so smoothly thanks to your great renown! Upon hearing your name, those planets didn't even dare to put up the slightest resistance!"
"Ohohohoho~~"
Frieza seemed to greatly enjoy the flattery, and his laughter became even more pleased.
But this relaxed atmosphere did not last long.
Zarbon, standing to the side, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, his expression somewhat grave. "Reporting to Lord Frieza, there is one more matter to bring to your attention."
The smile on Frieza's lips faded slightly. He turned his gaze to Zarbon, his tone carrying a barely perceptible sense of pressure. "Oh? What else does Zarbon-san have to report? You may speak freely."
Zarbon glanced at Cui and the ever-silent Kikono beside him and took a deep breath. "It is regarding the mission to search for the whereabouts of Vegeta's squad. The Ginyu Force completed their preliminary reconnaissance of all star systems near the planet where Vegeta landed yesterday. For now... they have not found any definitive traces of Vegeta's squad."
Frieza's face instantly darkened. A chilling killing intent began to permeate the command room.
He spoke slowly, with a hint of impatience, "Zarbon-san, you've disappointed me a little. Just three Saiyan monkeys, one of whom is a low-class warrior not even fit to be called a monkey, and you still can't find them?"
Feeling the icy pressure, tiny beads of sweat formed on Zarbon's temples. He quickly added, "Please forgive me! But Lord Frieza! During our investigation, we accidentally discovered a magical planet!"
Frieza's attention was slightly captured. He raised an eyebrow. "Oh~? Magical?"
"Yes!" Zarbon explained hurriedly. "That planet is called Namek. According to the scattered intelligence we've gathered and the testimony from the natives we've captured, these Namekians seem to possess a wondrous power, capable of creating a very peculiar type of sphere!"
"Spheres?" Frieza's interest seemed to be piqued a little. "What kind of spheres? What are they good for? My patience is limited, Zarbon-san."
Zarbon dared not keep him in suspense any longer and quickened his pace. "It is said that these spheres, known as 'Dragon Balls,' are scattered across their planet, and there are seven of them in total. Once they are all gathered, they can... grant any wish!"
"Any wish?"
Frieza's finger, which had been tapping the armrest, abruptly stopped. He repeated those words slowly, syllable by syllable.
A moment later, his body leaned forward slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in his scarlet eyes.
"Zarbon-san, are you certain that you said... 'any' wish?"
He suddenly stood up from his hover-pod, his small body instantly erupting with a terrifying aura.
Zarbon and the other two felt their hearts tremble.
He paced in front of Zarbon, his icy voice filled with threat. "Zarbon-san~ you should know that if you deceive me in this matter, or if the intelligence is faulty..."
He glanced at the trembling Zarbon and continued, "Your fate will be ten thousand times more miserable than those damn Saiyan monkeys~~ Ohohoho~"
Terrified, Zarbon immediately fell to his knees, his forehead hitting the floor hard. He spoke with a trembling voice, "I wouldn't dare! I would absolutely never dare to deceive you, Lord Frieza! At this very moment, the members of the Ginyu Force are approaching Planet Namek for further confirmation! Once they arrive, you can personally interrogate them and you will know whether this intelligence is true or false!"
Frieza stared at the prostrating Zarbon for a few seconds. The coldness on his face suddenly melted away, and he returned to his seemingly harmless smile.
"Ohohoho~ No need to be so nervous, Zarbon-san. Please, get up. I, Frieza, have always been most reasonable. That was just a little joke I was playing on you."
Only then did Zarbon shakily stand up, the back of his battle armor completely soaked in cold sweat.
Frieza flew back to his hover-pod and sat down again, tapping his chin lightly, his eyes gleaming with extreme interest.
"Dragon Balls that can grant any wish... Ohohohoho! This is truly wonderful!!! (Saikō!!!)"
He looked at the silent Kikono and ordered, "Kikono-san."
"Yes, Lord Frieza," Kikono responded with a bow and a smile.
"Relay my orders. The entire fleet is to change course. Target—Planet Namek! I want to arrive at that planet in the shortest time possible!" Frieza commanded in a tone that brooked no argument.
"As you command, Lord Frieza!" Kikono accepted the order with a smile, turned, and left the command room to issue the directive at the communications center.
The massive Frieza Force slowly awakened like a slumbering behemoth.
Countless warship engines ignited simultaneously. After adjusting their direction, they formed a vast armada and began to advance rapidly towards Planet Namek.
Cui and Zarbon exchanged a look, seeing a mixture of excitement and awe in each other's eyes.
They knew that the balance of power in the universe was perhaps about to change due to Lord Frieza's new ambition. (It wouldn't.)
At the same time as the Frieza Force was setting out in a grand procession, on a mountaintop on Planet Namek, countless light-years away.
Inside a room shaped like a giant conch shell, the aged Grand Elder Guru was dozing lightly in his massive chair.
But suddenly, his wrinkled eyelids twitched a few times and slowly opened.
A trace of unease flickered in his cloudy but wise eyes.
The Grand Elder raised a heavy arm, as if to summon his guardian, Nail, but stopped halfway through the motion.
He gazed out the window at the peaceful green sky and finally let out a long, heavy sigh.
He murmured to himself in a voice that was almost inaudible, "A great evil is approaching... I hope... you all make it in time..."
After speaking, he slowly closed his eyes again, as if he had never awoken. But the lingering worry on his brow proved that his sudden awakening was no illusion.
...
Earth, in the cold mountain forests near North City.
Sparse snowflakes had begun to fall from the sky. The icy wind blew through the bare branches, making a whining sound.
The temperature here was severe for ordinary people, but for the robust constitution of a Saiyan, this kind of weather was nothing.
At this moment, however, Vegeta felt a great heat surging restlessly within his body.
This abnormal heat felt like it was about to burst from his chest.
He stared deadly at the relaxed, smiling Whitley before him, his fists clenched unconsciously, his tone filled with irrepressible impatience and anger. "You! What in the world do you mean?! Did you come all this way just to mock me, Vegeta?!"
The ki in his body began to stir uncontrollably, as if he was ready to fight to the death at a moment's notice.
Although he knew he was no match for Whitley, if the other party truly dared to joke about such a matter, he, Vegeta, would risk his life to take a fierce bite out of him!
Whitley looked at his bristling appearance and shook his head without answering directly.
Instead, he slapped the back of the nearby Goku. The force was not small, making a crisp "smack" sound.
"What was that for? Ouch!" Goku stumbled from the slap and complained, rubbing his back.
"You explain it to him," Whitley said, nodding his chin towards Vegeta.
Only then did Goku realize what was happening, and he quickly explained to Vegeta, "Ah, it's like this, Vegeta. We're planning to go find Frieza and finish him off for good. Whitley said he thought we should invite you to come with us, so we came to ask if you wanted to..."
Before he could finish, he was rudely interrupted by Vegeta.
"Cut the crap!"
Vegeta shoved the approaching Goku aside, his sharp eyes trying to find a trace of mockery on Whitley's face.
"Answer me! When do we leave?!"
"Huh?"
Goku was stunned for a moment, then a surprised smile spread across his face. "I knew you'd agree!"
Whitley watched Vegeta's appearance—trying to act calm while suppressing his excitement—and rubbed his chin, muttering to himself, "Hmm... sensing Frieza's ki and taking you guys there with Instant Transmission isn't impossible... but it feels a bit lacking in style, doesn't it?"
He stroked his chin in thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers. "I've got it!"
Under the bewildered gazes of Goku and Vegeta, Whitley cleared his throat, then tilted his head back and shouted at the snowy sky, "Whis! Whis—! Can you hear me? Get to Earth, quick! I need you for something! I'll treat you to a big meal afterward! The all-you-can-eat kind!"
Goku looked completely baffled. "Huh? Whitley, why are you calling Mr. Whis? Isn't he your teacher? Aren't we going to find Frieza?"
Vegeta, however, was suddenly startled!
Teacher? Whitley has a teacher?
He immediately looked at Goku and asked urgently, "Kakarot! You said Whitley has a teacher? What's this about?!"
Goku nodded and answered matter-of-factly, "Ah! Whis-san is super strong. He's the master Whitley specifically sought out. Whitley went to train with Mr. Whis before. I wanted to go with them back then, but Mr. Whis said my fundamentals were too poor, so he didn't take me."
His tone carried a hint of regret.
Vegeta's heart began to pound uncontrollably. His eyes flickered as countless thoughts raced through his mind. 'The secret to Whitley's incredible strength... could it be... because of this teacher named Whis?!'
Just then, after shouting, Whitley casually pulled a box of capsules from the pocket of his battle armor.
After carefully finding one, he pressed the switch.
After a "poof" of white smoke, what appeared in his hand was... a red alarm clock?
Goku and Vegeta were completely dumbfounded, staring at the alarm clock that was so out of place with the surroundings.
"Hey! What are you trying to pull now?!" Vegeta's guard was instantly raised to the maximum. He subconsciously took half a step back, his eyes full of suspicion. "What's the meaning of taking out an alarm clock?! Are you trying to fool me again?!"
It wasn't his fault for being suspicious; he had been well and truly traumatized by Whitley's schemes.
But Whitley completely ignored him, not even glancing his way.
He started winding the alarm clock by himself, then pressed the timer button with a "click" and placed it on a relatively flat rock nearby.
This dismissive attitude made Vegeta even more suspicious, and his muscles tensed.
Goku also scratched his head and muttered, "Whitley, are you planning another prank..." He too remembered his tragic childhood experiences of being teased by Whitley in various ways.
Whitley rolled his eyes at them irritably and let out a disdainful sneer. "Hmph, what's with those expressions? You think I'm so bored that I came all the way here just to mess with you? You two really have vivid imaginations."
He pointed at the ticking alarm clock. "I'm just waiting for someone and timing it, that's all. Just wait, you'll see soon enough."
After speaking, he actually crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and began to rest, as if he had nothing more to say.
Goku and Vegeta looked at each other, and could only wait with suspicion.
Snowflakes fell on the three of them, and the atmosphere became somewhat strange.
Only the ticking of the alarm clock was left, sounding particularly clear in the empty, snowy landscape.
Goku couldn't stand the suspense. Looking at the resting Whitley, he finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Um... Whitley, are we going to wait for you to take a nap before we leave?"
Whitley did not answer.
Just as Vegeta's patience was about to run out and he was about to demand an answer again—
Whitley's closed eyes snapped open!
He spun around, his gaze shooting like lightning towards the empty space behind Goku and Vegeta, a curve forming on his lips. "He's here!"
Almost at the exact moment his voice fell, Goku and Vegeta were horrified and whipped their heads around to look!
In the empty space behind them, a slender figure had appeared at some unknown time.
The newcomer was tall and thin, with naturally blue-green skin.
He had a silver-white, broom-like hairstyle, a gentle and slightly mysterious smile on his face, and he held a long staff in his hand.
It was none other than Whitley's teacher and assistant, Whis!
He blended in perfectly with his surroundings, as if he had been standing there from the very beginning, without a trace of awkwardness.
That unfathomable tranquility instantly put an indescribable pressure on Goku and Vegeta.
"Oh my, oh my~~ Whitley-san," Whis spoke, his voice gentle and with a unique cadence. "This is quite a rare occasion. You're actually calling for me voluntarily. Have you finally had enough fun and are ready to go back and continue fulfilling your duties as a candidate God of Destruction?"
Whitley rolled his eyes at Whis irritably. "In such a hurry to rush me back to work? What, is Lord Beerus planning to retire early and give the position to me?"
He paused and pointed at the nearby alarm clock. "Also, Whis, your speed has really gotten worse. It took you a full two minutes to get to Earth from the time I called you. Have you been eating too much good food lately, affecting your performance?"
"Ohohoho~" Whis chuckled, covering his mouth with his sleeve, his eyes filled with amusement. "My speed was a little slow this time because, before I came over, I happened to discover something interesting. It was because of Lord Beerus, you see..."
He deliberately dragged out his words, looking at Whitley meaningfully. "Lately, in order not to be surpassed by a certain overly talented candidate, he has been secretly training, a rare sight indeed. He's even shortened his sleeping time. Such a gratifying change, wouldn't you say, Whitley-san?"
Hearing this, Whitley's pupils contracted slightly.
The relaxed, joking expression on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a fleeting look of astonishment and... a strong sense of urgency!
That guy Beerus... is secretly grinding?!
No! I have to grind too! I absolutely cannot be left behind!
An unprecedented fighting spirit instantly ignited in Whitley's heart. He even subconsciously clenched his fists.
But he quickly suppressed his emotions and said to Whis, "Enough with the small talk. I called you here this time to ask for a favor."
He pointed to Goku and Vegeta beside him. "I'm planning to take these two to take care of that guy Frieza. You can use your ability to transport us. For the next few days, you'll follow me."
Whis's light blue eyes gently swept over Goku and Vegeta, his gaze lingering on them for a moment.
He nodded slightly, his tone still leisurely. "Hmm~~ two very promising Saiyans. Whitley-san certainly has a good eye for people."
Then his tone shifted, and a "business-as-usual" smile appeared on his face. "However, Whitley-san, taking just you and taking two extra people, the 'energy consumption' and 'labor fees' are different, you know?"
A dark line appeared on Whitley's face, and the corner of his mouth twitched. "...I knew it. Fine, fine, the usual deal. You can order whatever you want after this is over. That should be enough, right?"
The smile on Whis's face instantly became even more brilliant.
He nodded in satisfaction. "Whitley-san is so generous. So, when do we depart? If you resolve this matter quickly enough, may I contact Bulma-san in advance to pre-order the menu? I heard from Bulma-san that she has discovered many new delicacies recently..."
Whitley: "..."
You even want to order in advance? Not a chance!
"Cut the crap and get to work!" Whitley interrupted him irritably, being the first to place his hand on Whis's shoulder.
Then he called out to the still-dazed Goku and Vegeta, "You two, what are you standing there for? Come over and put your hands on him."
Although Goku didn't quite understand the connection between "labor fees" and "ordering food," he still said "oh" and walked over, placing his hand on Whis's shoulder just like Whitley.
Vegeta, however, seemed a bit hesitant and wary. He looked at the unfathomable Whis, then at the impatient Whitley, and finally gritted his teeth and also stepped forward to place his hand on him.
"Whis, do you need me to tell you Frieza's current location?" Whitley asked.
Whis shook his head elegantly. "No need to trouble yourself, Whitley-san. Pinpointing a location is a small matter. I'm a professional, you see~"
The moment his voice fell, a soft light suddenly bloomed from the top of his staff, instantly enveloping the four of them completely!
The next moment, they shot up into the sky, turning into a brilliant beam of light that broke through Earth's atmosphere in the blink of an eye and disappeared into the vast, boundless depths of space.
The speed was so fast that it was far beyond what Goku and Vegeta could have ever imagined!
...
At almost the same time that the four of them left Earth, the news that the Frieza Force had changed its course and set sail for Planet Namek swept through the entire North Galaxy like an unforeseen storm!
Countless powers, large and small, received this intelligence from their spies.
Almost all of them were thrown into a state of great panic and chaos.
Frieza's infamous name was enough to make any civilization in the North Galaxy tremble.
What was the purpose of his army's large-scale, undisguised movement?
Was he launching a new war of aggression? Or was he going to purge some disobedient faction? No one knew.
But endless speculation and fear had already spread rapidly through the universe.
The Galactic Patrol Headquarters was on high alert. The Galactic King even issued an emergency order, mobilizing all available reconnaissance ships to closely monitor the movements of the Frieza Force at all costs, trying to analyze their final target.
Even in a vast palace in a more remote and dark star field, far beyond the North Galaxy, Frieza's father, King Cold, also received this shocking news.
He sat on his massive throne, his cold eyes gleaming with doubt and deep thought.
"That boy Frieza... what is he trying to do, causing such a big commotion all of a sudden?" his deep voice echoed in the empty hall. "Could it be that he can't hold it in any longer and wants to make a move on his brother, Cooler?"
But he quickly dismissed this idea. "No... if the target was Cooler, he wouldn't be so blatant. It's not in his character."
He pondered for a long time but could not come to a reasonable conclusion.
Finally, he waved his hand irritably and ordered the subordinate waiting respectfully below, "Contact Cooler immediately. Tell him his brother Frieza is making a big move and to be careful! Also, deploy more personnel! Find out Frieza's target and why he's doing this as soon as possible, at all costs!"
"Yes, King Cold!"
The subordinate dared not delay for a moment. He bowed and accepted the order, then ran towards the communications room.
Only King Cold was left in the great hall, sitting alone on his throne, his massive body shrouded in shadow.
Only his cold eyes still gleamed with an ambiguous light in the darkness.
Frieza... what on earth are you plotting?
The great curtain was slowly drawn back!
The gears of fate had begun to turn.
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