Chapter 79: Slug
"Who? Who's here?" Hearing Turles's words, Jaco felt puzzled.
But when he followed Turles's gaze, he immediately cried out in shock, "Slug!"
Hearing Jaco's cry, Nappa and the Cury brothers were also greatly alarmed, looking toward the sky.
That's right—Slug had appeared. His spaceship appeared over this planet. Turles and the others had sensed Slug's ki.
Whether Slug did it deliberately or this Super Namekian, like Deru and the others, lacked the ability to control ki—Slug's 50 million battle power emanated freely over the planet's sky. Terrifying pressure oppressed all life on the planet.
The entire planet's sky grew overcast due to Slug's arrival. The air seemed to grow heavy. Everyone lost the courage to speak under this pressure, waiting in terror for judgment from that god-like figure in midair.
As for Nappa and the others, only now did they thoroughly understand Turles's words. So this was what true power looked like.
That heavy oppressive feeling acted directly on the soul, as if it could directly freeze their souls!
Both Turles and Bela could sense ki, so they could more clearly know Slug's power. The evil within Slug's ki also let them clearly recognize Slug's terror!
"B-Boss, this is Slug?" Bela's voice trembled, her body beginning to shake.
"That's right. This... is Slug! Our next opponent!"
After speaking, Turles directly took flight, flying toward Slug.
"Boss!"
"Boss!"
Bela and the others were immediately alarmed, loudly calling toward Turles's retreating figure.
Turles ignored their calls from behind. His ki exploded as he charged directly before Slug's ship.
At this moment on the ship, Slug was watching with satisfaction as the planet completely quieted due to his powerful ki.
Suddenly, his expression froze. Using his excellent vision, he looked at a distant figure rapidly approaching him.
Turles's speed was fast. In no time, he'd already appeared before Slug.
Stopping his form, Turles finally saw Slug's appearance clearly.
Compared to other Namekians, Slug's physique was much more imposing. Even though he'd nearly reached life's end, his muscles remained much fuller. His lines were hard as rock, as if born for battle. He looked more like a warrior race than Turles the Saiyan.
Watching Turles suddenly appear before him, Slug raised his hand slightly, stopping his subordinates' displeasure. He looked at Turles with interested eyes.
Seeing the tail at Turles's waist, Slug spoke, "Saiyan?"
Turles didn't speak, just looked at Slug with a grave expression.
He discovered he'd been somewhat rash. The Slug before him showed no signs of decline whatsoever. His face still looked very young, not at all like Earth's Kami Piccolo with loose skin.
But now he had no retreat. He could only do his utmost to battle Slug. As for the result, Turles's heart couldn't be certain.
"Ahh!!!"
Turles shouted loudly, beginning to raise his ki.
His suppressed ki released, immediately producing a powerful whirlwind. White ki flames began appearing, gradually enveloping him.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Turles's ki continued rising. The values on Slug's subordinates' battle power scouters began rapidly climbing.
"300,000!"
"500,000!"
"Bang!"
When Turles's battle power rose to 500,000, several of Slug's subordinates' scouters reached critical value. The next second, they directly overloaded and exploded.
Seeing this, Slug also put away his disdainful expression, seriously watching Turles.
His subordinates were now completely frightened, not daring to make any sound. They could only look at Turles with terror.
"Pah!"
Turles finally let out an angry roar. His ki completely exploded. All 2 million battle power released. White ki flames around his body constantly rubbed against the air, producing sound after sound.
Sensing Turles's 2 million battle power, Slug no longer dared underestimate this Saiyan before him.
Indeed, though he still looked exactly the same as before—whether face or muscles, without any change—he knew his own situation very clearly.
His current appearance was completely forced. He was now like wood with a bright exterior but hollowed insides. Though not at the point of collapsing with one push, if he engaged in intense battle again, his already scarce remaining lifespan would shorten further. Even if he defeated this Saiyan, he probably couldn't live many more days.
He refused to die so miserably. As a Namekian, he naturally knew Namekians possessed something miraculous—Dragon Balls. As long as he obtained Dragon Balls, he could wish to restore his youth through them. Then he could rule West Galaxy another 300 years. He could even directly wish for immortality.
So Slug didn't choose to attack Turles. Rather, he chose another method.
"Saiyan, possessing 2 million battle power, you're a master who ranks high even across the entire galaxy. So the great Lord Slug grants you an honor. Submit to me! You'll be first beneath Lord Slug!"
That's right—Slug's method was choosing to recruit Turles.
He believed Turles would make the right choice!
Watching the confident Slug, Turles's heart relaxed instead.
Since Slug could say this, his true situation wasn't as easy as he appeared.
Turles didn't speak, just quietly watched Slug.
Being silently refused by Turles, Slug's expression grew ugly. With a gloomy face, he stared at Turles, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Neither spoke, just staring at each other like this. The air gradually grew heavy.
Crack!
A glass-shattering sound rang out. Turles and Slug's figures suddenly disappeared simultaneously.
Less than a second later, when they reappeared, they were already at ten thousand meters altitude.
Since they'd started fighting, neither wasted words. Every attack aimed at ending the other's life. So whether strength or speed, both exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Both moved very fast. Only continuous collision sounds and occasionally pausing afterimages remained in the high sky.
"Boss is actually fighting Slug directly! So strong!"
Cury couldn't capture their movements at all. Only occasionally flashing afterimages let him barely see them.
"No, this is just probing. Neither has displayed their true strength yet!" The somewhat stronger Nappa could barely follow their movements. But his eyes were already bloodshot. Seemed he couldn't persist much longer either.
"This is still just probing?" Bela spoke this time. Her talent was decent—she could already sense ki. So she could track their exchanges through ki. Though her strength was somewhat less than Nappa's, she actually saw more clearly.
"Mm!" Nappa just hummed once without further words. His eyes felt extremely dry now. He didn't dare be distracted at all.
The other two who could see Turles's movements—Jaco and Merus—had no intention of speaking. They just focused on watching the high-altitude battle.
Turles was Merus's first taught disciple. He inevitably cared more.
Though Angels had no right to interfere with each universe's development, the still-trainee Angel Merus was undoubtedly much younger compared to his brothers and sisters who could remain calm facing stellar annihilation and universal collapse.
So he'd already prepared to intervene at any moment.
Currently, after exchanging blows with Slug, Turles could confirm Slug's body had indeed reached the point of exhaustion. So he no longer held back. He exploded with all his strength, launching full assault on Slug!
Feeling his opponent's battle power rise again, Slug grew secretly anxious.
Not that he couldn't explode with even greater battle power. But if he raised his battle power again, his body couldn't take it. It would massively consume his already scarce remaining lifespan.
But if he continued wearing down against this Saiyan, not only would he lose face greatly—his already unstable forces would grow more turbulent—moreover, his stamina couldn't sustain it. Eventually, even if he wanted to explode with full strength, he probably couldn't.
Slug's age was truly too great. When he was born, Planet Namek hadn't even experienced disaster yet. Only because of his innate evil heart had Slug been exiled by the Namekians of that time to West Galaxy to fend for himself.
The Namekians just underestimated Super Namekian talent. As a super mutant of the race, his existence was like Broly—the legendary Super Saiyan among Saiyans.
Slug quickly grew in West Galaxy. Not only defeating various masters, he even became West Galaxy's universe overlord.
However, no matter how glorious, it couldn't withstand time's erosion. Before time, his power was like castles built on sand—illusory and laughable!
So under Turles's increasingly powerful offensive, Slug finally resolved to strike with full force and quickly resolve Turles.
Slug forcefully pushed Turles back, then his body retreated sharply, opening distance from Turles.
Seeing this, how could Turles not understand Slug prepared to use full force? He didn't dare be negligent. Stopping his retreating body, his ki rose again. He directly exploded with power, charging toward the preparing-to-land Slug!
Turles's reaction was already very fast. But when he rushed before Slug, he was still a step too late.
Slug roared loudly. His body actually began expanding. By the time Turles arrived, Slug had become a giant over 20 meters tall. His ki also directly surged 10 times.
Five hundred million!
This was Slug's current battle power!
Sensing this ki, Turles said nothing. He directly used humanoid Great Ape transformation. Battle power also rose from 2.5 million to 25 million. Even so, Slug's battle power was still 20 times Turles's.
Current Slug was no longer someone Turles could handle. So his humanoid Great Ape transformation wasn't to battle Slug, but to regain movement ability under Slug's powerful ki suppression.
That's right—the moment Slug gigantified, the ki-sensing Turles was suppressed by Slug's powerful ki and could no longer move.
This was also a drawback of ki sensing in battle. Because if the enemy's ki was powerful enough to make you despair, when you sensed this ki, your body would be suppressed. Because your body constantly told you: you would die!
So Turles immediately transformed into humanoid Great Ape form, breaking free of Slug's ki suppression.
After transforming, Turles first dodged Slug's palm swatting toward him, then used Instant Transmission, appearing beside Slug's ear.
Whistle!
A clear whistle sound transmitted from Turles's mouth, immediately drilling into Slug's ears.
"Ahhh!!!"
After hearing the whistle, Slug acted as if suffering massive attack. He immediately covered his ears and began rolling on the ground.
Seeing this, Turles breathed a sigh of relief. Seemed his memory of Namekian weakness wasn't wrong.
Turles didn't dare delay. Taking advantage of Slug rolling, he teleported before Nappa and the others. Not bothering with too much explanation, he quickly shouted, "Quick, grab me!"
Nappa and the others knew Turles had learned Instant Transmission. So they immediately reached out and grabbed Turles's body.
Seeing Jaco still dazed, Turles anxiously urged, "Hurry! What are you standing there for!"
Jaco snapped back. He immediately imitated Nappa and the others, grabbing part of Turles's body.
Whoosh!
An air-breaking sound rang out. A massive energy beam shot toward Turles's group from the distance!
Just as the energy beam was about to hit Turles's group, Instant Transmission finally activated. At the critical moment, Turles's group's figures completely vanished from their location.
With Turles's group gone, the beam's momentum didn't change. It swept past where Turles's group just stood and charged straight forward.
Boom!
Accompanied by a huge explosion, a massive mushroom cloud rose from the ground. Terrifying shockwaves spread outward from the explosion center, destroying everything along the way.
When the shockwave dispersed, a circular crater had appeared in the ground. Around the crater was scorched earth without any sign of life.
Before long, Slug's recovered body appeared before the crater, carefully sensing surrounding ki. Slug's expression was gloomy.
He knew his energy beam just now hadn't eliminated that Saiyan. That Saiyan had probably used that instant-disappearing ability to escape his attack.
Sensing the planet's ki again, Slug didn't sense that Saiyan and his companions' ki. Slug knew that Saiyan had already left this planet.
Slug's expression grew even uglier. He hadn't expected that even consuming lifespan to use gigantification, he still couldn't keep that Saiyan. Not only that, that Saiyan even knew his weakness of sensitive hearing. All this made Slug feel uneasy.
Standing before the crater for a long time, Slug could only unwillingly depart.
After Slug boarded his ship and left the planet, he looked at this planet that had caused him great loss. Energy began condensing in his hand. Soon, a massive energy ball appeared in his hand.
His palm lightly pushed forward. The energy ball began falling toward the planet. Soon it contacted the planet's surface.
No explosion, no sound. The massive energy ball was like a water droplet, slowly seeping into the planet's interior, reaching the core directly.
The core shattered. The planet began showing cracks. Magma gushed forth. Aliens surviving on the planet began fleeing in panic. Ships continuously rose from the planet but were shot down by Slug's military fleet warships, becoming wreckage falling back down.
Slug appreciated the wails of life before planetary explosion. His mood, depressed by Turles's escape, finally received slight comfort.
"Angira!"
"Present, my king!"
"Pass down orders. I need Dragon Ball news as quickly as possible. Also, send someone to find King Cold. Tell him I need an explanation from him!"
"Yes, my king!"
Meanwhile, Red Stone Planet!
Turles's group's figures suddenly appeared before Paragus, directly startling Paragus.
But when Paragus saw the disheveled Turles, he couldn't bother with anger. He asked in surprise, "Turles, what happened to you all?"
Turles didn't speak, just exited humanoid Great Ape transformation and sat on the ground with a thud.
Taking the water Broly handed him, Turles immediately tilted his head back and gulped it down.
Aside from Turles, Nappa and the others' states weren't much better. Though they hadn't seen Slug's gigantified form, that energy beam filled with death's aura had nearly landed on them. So even now, they still wore shell-shocked expressions.
After Nappa and the others recovered, Turles had already told Paragus everything. Unsurprisingly, it drew continuous exclamations from Paragus.
Because Paragus, like Nappa and the others, lacked clear understanding of universe powerhouses. So after gaining strength, he'd long wanted to expand Saiyan forces outward.
But after hearing about Turles's group's encounter, Paragus had to abandon this plan.
Just then, Karl suddenly burst in. Originally wanting to report to Paragus, his eyes immediately brightened. He quickly walked before Turles and loudly said, "My lord, this is bad! Vegeta vanished from the laboratory. Moreover, one of our ships is missing. Vegeta most likely escaped Red Stone Planet!"
"What?" Turles was shocked and directly stood up!