Moments later, Vegeta arrived at the rendezvous point where Son Goku and the others had gathered.
Kakarot, Krillin, Chi-Chi, Tien, and Yamcha each held a Dragon Ball.
Bulma glanced around at everyone — and the glowing orbs in their hands — and smiled.
"Looks like my plan worked out better than I expected. Six Dragon Balls already. Who would've thought it'd be this smooth?"
She turned and addressed four people: "Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Vegeta — I haven't introduced you yet."
"This is Dende, from Namek. He's a Dragon Clan prodigy and a master healer. He'll be leading us to the Grand Elder — that's where the last Dragon Ball is located."
She winked. "Well, that's one reason we're going there."
"Dende says the Grand Elder has a way to unlock your latent potential — to bring out the power hidden inside you."
"You've all been training hard every day to grow stronger. I figured you wouldn't want to miss out on something like this."
Goku already knew about it. Chi-Chi and Krillin had heard it from Dende as well.
But for the others, it was new.
Hearing this, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha — and even Vegeta — were caught off guard.
"He can unlock potential?"
"We could become a lot stronger?"
Vegeta instinctively clenched his fists at the word potential.
A proud Saiyan elite like him — could anyone really have more potential than he did?
Bulma nodded. "That's right."
"There's a warrior named Nail who serves as the Grand Elder's bodyguard. He's incredibly strong — all because the Grand Elder unlocked his full potential."
"Right, Dende?"
Dende nodded. "It's true. As long as there's potential, the Grand Elder can bring it out."
The group brightened visibly. Everyone looked thrilled.
Bulma clapped her hands. "Alright, we've wiped out most of the Frieza Force. No point wasting time. Let's go see the Grand Elder."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
To avoid getting shot down by any surviving Frieza troops, they chose to fly.
Dende took the lead, with the others trailing close behind.
Goku carried Bulma, and she in turn held onto one of the Dragon Balls.
It was a bit heavy — but with a ball that size, it couldn't be helped.
Just then, a chill ran down everyone's spine — like lightning flashing across their minds.
They all turned to look in the same direction.
Chi-Chi asked, "Goku, isn't that... five people headed straight toward us?"
Goku nodded. "I sensed it."
He glanced at Bulma in his arms and came to a decision.
"We should hold off on visiting the Grand Elder. It's too dangerous right now."
"Judging by their speed, we've got maybe an hour before they get here."
"Let's deal with whoever's coming first — then we can go see the Grand Elder."
Bulma nodded from his arms. "That works. But Goku, you don't need to fight. Chi-Chi either."
"Let the others handle it. There are five of them — and we've got five ready to fight. You two stay back and protect me."
Goku and Chi-Chi nodded.
The rest of the group seemed excited. Five enemies approaching — and five fighters on their side. A perfect match. A rare chance for an all-out brawl.
Chi-Chi compared the incoming Ki to her own.
"Their energy feels dark. Way more powerful than the Frieza troops we've faced so far."
"But they're still weaker than us — well, most of us."
"I won't be joining the fight. I'd just stomp them. Let you guys have some fun."
Krillin grinned. "Sounds good. I've been itching for a real fight."
"Can't believe how far we've come…"
Yamcha cracked his neck. "Yeah. We've been grinding for this. All that training's finally going to pay off."
Tien and Chiaotzu both nodded with quiet confidence.
Vegeta, however, looked serious.
"Don't get cocky. Those five are likely the Ginyu Force — Frieza's strongest unit."
"They're not just powerful. They've got... strange abilities."
Tien narrowed his eyes. "Strange abilities? Like what?"
Vegeta hesitated. "I've heard… one of them is the fastest in the universe. Another can control time."
"There may be more I don't know."
"Fastest in the universe?"
"Time control?!"
The group was stunned.
Bulma quickly spoke up. "Relax, everyone. Strength is what really matters."
"Chiaotzu can use paralysis techniques, right? If your power's high enough, time control won't necessarily work. Just do your best."
Chiaotzu blinked as everyone stared at him. Then he nodded. "She's right. If someone's much stronger than me, I can't hold them."
Everyone seemed to relax a bit.
Bulma glanced from Goku to the others.
"And besides, we've got two people in reserve."
"If anything goes wrong, Chi-Chi and Goku can step in."
Goku scratched his head. "Don't worry. Go all out."
"They're not that strong. Just don't let your guard down."
The others nodded again.
Soon, Goku, Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Dende moved to a distant vantage point — a good spot to watch the fight.
Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Vegeta formed a five-man lineup, waiting for the Ginyu Force to arrive.
The six Dragon Balls were placed a short distance away — not with Bulma, but close to the fighters.
Moments later, the Ginyu Force descended from the sky.
Captain Ginyu looked them over.
"Well, well. Hello, Vegeta!"
"Didn't expect you to form your own five-man squad."
"But I've gotta say — your team's pose is awful. Three shorties, two tall guys — no balance at all."
He grinned. "Come on, boys. Let's show them how it's done!"
The Ginyu Force nodded and immediately launched into their ridiculous routine.
They danced, twirled, and struck a group pose like stage performers under spotlights.
Krillin's team stared awkwardly but said nothing. They'd had formal training, after all.
The dance was silly, sure — but Vegeta didn't crack a smile.
Not even close.
He clenched his fists tightly, face grim.
These guys' Ki was terrifying. All of them, except the little green one — Guldo — were stronger than him.
Captain Ginyu's eyes locked on the six Dragon Balls nearby.
"Those six spheres behind you — those are the Dragon Balls, right?"
"Already got six out of seven? Damn. You're efficient."
"Say, cat got your tongues? You mute or something?"
Krillin stepped forward. "Yeah. They're Dragon Balls."
Ginyu's expression remained neutral. "My scouter says your energy spikes and dips. You must know how to suppress your power."
"You defeated Zarbon and Dodoria — impressive."
"We haven't had a worthy challenge in a long time."
"But now — the moment has come."
"Five vs five. How about this: We fight. Whoever wins gets the Dragon Balls. Deal?"
Krillin hadn't expected such fairness and answered immediately. "Sure. How do you want to do it?"
"One-on-one or all at once?"
The Ginyu Force placed their hands on their hips, eyeing Krillin.
Jeice stepped forward. "One-on-one! I like solo fights!"
Krillin and the others all nodded in agreement.
"Works for us."
Ginyu laughed. "Perfect! Let's settle matchups with rock-paper-scissors!"
The Ginyu Force huddled up and began their dramatic round of hand games.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"Tie again?! Damn!"
Watching them take it so seriously, Krillin and the others were speechless.
"…Should we do the same?"
Vegeta, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha circled up with him.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
Meanwhile, Bulma frowned in the distance.
"They're playing games over who gets to fight... and this is life or death?!"
Goku rubbed the back of his head. "I mean… I guess it doesn't matter?"
"I just hope their dance doesn't make it back to Earth..."
Bulma propped her chin on her hand and stared at the Ginyu Force's over-the-top moves.
"No way. Who would copy something that ridiculous-looking?"
Goku started to argue — but paused.
Right. They hadn't had Gohan yet.
So no one to pass down this... eye-burning technique.
Wait... even if Gohan doesn't know it...
Too many people witnessed the Ginyu Force today.
Krillin and Vegeta wouldn't act that stupid, sure.
But Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Tien... could they be corrupted?
Goku broke into a nervous sweat.
Please don't. Please don't become weird dance warriors…
Dende, watching the spectacle, turned to Bulma and Goku.
"I think... this is fine. The Elder once said that every race has its own customs."
Bulma blinked. She wanted to argue, but Dende looked so serious that she could only nod.
"…You're right."
Chi-Chi nodded too. "I just don't want to see little kids doing that kind of pose."
Finally, the matchups were set.
Guldo vs. Chiaotzu
Burter vs. Krillin
Jeice vs. Yamcha
Recoome vs. Vegeta
Captain Ginyu vs. Tien
Looking at the lineup, Goku couldn't help feeling worried.
Sure, Vegeta would catch up eventually — even surpass them all someday.
But right now?
He was the weakest one on their side.
His current power level was probably close to Recoome's… but still a bit short.
Goku's gaze drifted to Dende.
For some reason, a vivid image popped into his head—
Everyone's showing off — people and ghosts alike — but Vegeta… Vegeta's the only one getting beat up.