Vegeta fell silent for a long time after hearing Dodoria reveal the truth about that year.
The Namekians in the nearby village — about a dozen of them — had all heard the story as well. A heavy sense of sorrow weighed in the air.
The village elder, the wisest among them, quickly pieced together a complete tale from the fragments he'd heard.
So this man had once been part of the Frieza Force, only to later rebel against it.
No wonder he had that same ruthless aura as the rest of them. He certainly didn't feel like a good person.
No wonder he showed no mercy when dealing with Frieza's soldiers.
As it turned out, the warriors of his race had been conquered long ago. After Frieza established his galactic empire, he turned on his greatest contributors and erased them to secure his rule.
The elder sighed in silence.
He didn't sympathize with the Saiyans, nor did he particularly hate the Frieza Force.
What saddened him was how the world seemed to be trapped by hatred and desire — a foolish state of mind that led to endless suffering.
'If only more people could live like us Namekians,' the elder thought, 'at peace with the world... what a different universe this would be.'
While Vegeta remained silent, Dodoria had already flown several hundred meters away.
Feeling the distance was safe enough, Dodoria burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! That really hit you hard, didn't it? Guess I'll take this chance to return to Lord Frieza's side! Goodbye, Vegeta!"
He turned around and bolted.
But a wicked grin slowly spread across Vegeta's face.
"You've misunderstood, Dodoria.
Yes, I was shocked — that my people were wiped out, that my planet was destroyed. But I don't care about any of that.
What I truly despise... what I can never forgive...
Is being used by Frieza since I was a child. Being ordered around, humiliated by the likes of you.
I am the Prince of all Saiyans. I won't let that stand.
I swear vengeance — on you, on Frieza, on all of it!
And you think putting a little distance between us will save you?
You think you can escape from me?"
"What?!"
Dodoria's plump face twitched at the realization that Vegeta had targeted him even from this range.
The next moment, Vegeta burst forward like a flash of light.
Dodoria panicked. He immediately sensed that Vegeta's speed had increased — dramatically.
At this rate, his power level couldn't possibly be just 40,000...
Dodoria opened his mouth to beg for his life again—
—but a searing blast of energy flew straight at his face.
There was no time to dodge.
Dodoria screamed in terror as the energy attack exploded right in his face, tearing his body apart in an instant.
All that remained of him was space dust.
Vegeta let the power surge through his body, laughing with satisfaction.
Staring at his own hand, he marveled, "Unbelievable. After such a short time training on Earth... I've become this strong?
Even Dodoria and Zarbon together wouldn't stand a chance against me now."
With a flash, he landed on the ground, pointing one hand toward the wounded Zarbon.
"Heh... trying to crawl away? Sorry to break it to you...
But someone like me — Vegeta — doesn't leave loose ends alive."
The energy blast erupted from his palm, swallowing Zarbon whole before he could even cry out.
A sea of energy consumed him.
Soon after, the elder offered Vegeta a Dragon Ball.
Vegeta picked it up and scanned the horizon for nearby Ki.
He could already sense a few power levels converging — including a faint one that clearly belonged to Kakarot.
Without hesitation, Vegeta shot through the sky in a beam of light, flying straight toward Goku and the others.
On Frieza's spaceship...
Ever since Frieza and his forces had arrived on this planet, not a single Dragon Ball had fallen into his hands.
And his losses had been disastrous.
Several elite squads had been wiped out.
Zarbon — dead.
Dodoria — dead.
Now, seated in his office, Frieza was trembling with rage.
"Unforgivable! Damn it! Who dares challenge me?!"
A subordinate quickly stepped forward. "Lord Frieza, please don't be angry. I've already contacted the Ginyu Force.
They'll be arriving on this planet very soon.
With them here, the situation will be resolved in no time."
Frieza raised an eyebrow. "They're almost here?"
"Yes, my lord. Their original destination was Planet Yardrat, but since they were passing near us, I redirected them.
They're en route now and should arrive at any moment."
Frieza gave a satisfied nod.
"Good. Otherwise, I'd have to go hunt down the Dragon Balls myself."
After the officer left the room, he sighed to himself.
"It's been years... and yet, the Frieza Force has never suffered losses like this.
To think that both Dodoria and Zarbon would die on this trip to Namek... Unbelievable."
He glanced back at Frieza's office with concern.
"I wonder... if even the Four Kings are starting to feel something's off…"
Inside, Frieza's expression was clouded with unease.
He had thought Vegeta might be the threat — but then dismissed it. After all, Vegeta had always been under his thumb. There was no way he could pose any real danger.
But then Frieza remembered what Nappa had said a year ago — about a Saiyan on Earth named Kakarot.
That he'd gathered Earth's warriors, and was trying to bring Vegeta into a plan to kill him.
At the time, Frieza had scoffed at the idea.
It was ridiculous. He hadn't even bothered sending someone to that backwater planet to investigate.
Since the founding of his empire, no one in the entire universe had even come close to possessing a tenth of his strength.
He was a born ruler. Invincible.
And yet... today, for the first time, the legend of the Super Saiyan stirred in the back of Frieza's mind…
Just then, a soldier rushed in with a report.
"Lord Frieza! The Ginyu Force has arrived and awaits your command!"
Frieza sprang to his feet. "Already?!"
"As expected of the Ginyu Force — their speed is unmatched!"
Frieza exited the ship.
The moment the five warriors of the Ginyu Force saw Frieza, they launched into their eccentric routine.
A spiky-haired brute struck a dramatic, ballet-like pose and shouted, "Ginyu Force — Recoome!"
A blue-skinned fighter swung his arms in a calisthenic arc. "Burter!"
A red-skinned, white-haired man dropped to one knee, arms raised. "Jeice!"
A green dwarf flung out his arms like a child playing airplane. "Guldo!"
And finally, a purple-skinned warrior with horns spread his legs wide, bent forward, and peered between them. "Captain Ginyu!"
The five then leapt into a ridiculous group pose and shouted in unison:
"Ginyu Force — reporting for duty!"
Frieza's face twitched slightly.
"I've been expecting you. You made good time."
Captain Ginyu smiled. "Thanks for the compliment, Lord Frieza! Please — give us our mission!"
Frieza said coldly, "I came to this planet to collect the seven Dragon Balls.
But someone beat me to them.
One of those people... is someone you're familiar with. Vegeta — from last year.
Several of my subordinates have been killed.
So I called for you because this is beyond the scope of my regular forces.
You have two missions:
First — collect all seven Dragon Balls.
Second — eliminate anyone who gets in my way."
Captain Ginyu puffed out his chest. "That'll be easy, Lord Frieza!
My scouter has already locked onto Vegeta's signal.
And his companions' energy signatures have been detected as well."
He tapped his scouter and projected the readings.
"High-speed movement is occurring toward this location from the southeast.
At the same time, another pair of energy signatures is converging toward Vegeta.
Looks like he's trying to regroup with two allies."
Frieza narrowed his eyes.
"I see… must be the ones he recruited from Earth. Kakarot and the others, perhaps...
Be cautious. Vegeta defeating both Zarbon and Dodoria is strange enough.
And his allies took out Cui.
Their strength may be considerable."
Ginyu grinned. "Don't worry, my lord. Leave it to us."
With that, the Ginyu Force struck another ridiculous, synchronized pose.
"Ginyu Force!"
"Let's go!"
"Move out!"
And with that, the five of them took to the skies — flying off toward their targets.