"What?"
Hearing Vegeta's words, Frieza was momentarily stunned before quickly regaining his composure.
"Oh ho ho ho..."
A shrill laugh echoed through the air.
"Vegeta, that's not a funny joke at all. You still dare to spout such nonsense in front of me? It seems you've forgotten just how terrifying I am. Allow me to refresh your memory!"
As he spoke, Frieza crossed his arms over his chest. An invisible aura instantly enveloped his body as he unleashed his power along with his growing fury.
"Ugh..."
Feeling Frieza's overwhelming aura, Vegeta knew he was still inferior. Cold sweat formed on his forehead as he clenched his teeth.
But for the sake of his plan to become stronger, he tightened his fists and forcefully took another step forward.
He had to be pushed to the brink of death once again.
Then, with Dende's healing, he would break through once more.
Vegeta was convinced that after another near-death recovery, he would surpass Kakarot, shatter the Saiyan limit, and finally become a Super Saiyan.
"Frieza, you still don't believe I've become a Super Saiyan? Then find out for yourself!"
Goku also sensed the terrifying aura Frieza had released.
It was even stronger than his own fivefold Kaio-ken.
His expression immediately turned serious.
As for Gohan and Krillin, the moment they sensed Frieza's power, they froze like statues.
Neither of them even had a battle power of one hundred thousand.
Against Frieza, they were utterly helpless.
Standing behind Vegeta, Dende immediately understood his intentions.
After being revived this time, Vegeta's battle power had already reached around 360,000.
If he experienced another near-death recovery, it would increase even further.
To surpass Goku as quickly as possible, Vegeta intended to attack first, let Frieza beat him half to death, and then rely on Dende's healing to trigger another explosive increase in power.
Seeing through Vegeta's plan, Dende said nothing.
After all, what he needed most right now was to heal dying people so he could activate his system's battle power return ability.
Even so, both Vegeta's domineering attitude and Frieza's icy pressure made Dende extremely uncomfortable.
"Hmph... What a bunch of annoying guys!"
"Just wait until I trigger my system's return reward and obtain real power! Then you'll all regret it!"
Frieza had never expected that after witnessing his true strength, Vegeta would still dare provoke him.
He sneered.
"Oh ho ho ho... A few little ants actually think they can swallow an elephant?"
His laughter echoed across the battlefield.
Then, his face suddenly darkened.
His body vanished.
"Die, you filthy insect!"
In an instant, Frieza appeared directly before Vegeta.
His fist descended with overwhelming pressure.
Smack!
"...?!"
Prepared in advance, Vegeta calmly reached out and firmly caught Frieza's wrist.
A savage grin spread across his face as he glared directly into Frieza's eyes.
At the same time...
Vegeta released every ounce of his own power.
Violent energy burst from his body.
His hair stood upright.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
His eyes burned with fierce determination.
Frieza immediately swung his other fist.
Yet Vegeta simply raised his free hand and caught that punch as well.
"RAAAAH!"
Vegeta roared once more.
His aura exploded to an even greater level.
"Frieza! You probably don't know this, but when Saiyans are pushed into extreme battle, our power can continue surpassing its limits!"
Almost as if responding to his words, the scouter attached to Frieza's face suddenly began beeping wildly.
Frieza instinctively glanced at the display.
"Four hundred thousand... It's still rising... How is this possible?!"
The very next second—
Crack!
Unable to withstand the reading, the scouter exploded.
Shocked, Frieza immediately leaped backward several steps and carefully examined Vegeta.
"It seems... you weren't just talking big after all."
Off to the side, Goku was equally puzzled.
Vegeta clearly couldn't use the Kaio-ken.
Yet the strength he was displaying had already begun to surpass Goku's own power under fivefold Kaio-ken.
"What exactly happened to him?"
"Compared to when we fought on Earth... Vegeta has become many times stronger!"
Goku couldn't help marveling inwardly.
At this rate, if he joined forces with Vegeta, they might actually stand a chance against Frieza.
Even so...
Goku still hoped to fight Frieza one-on-one.
That was the pride—and pursuit—of a true martial artist.
Krillin had been overwhelmed with despair after witnessing Frieza's power.
But seeing Vegeta actually block Frieza's attacks reignited a spark of hope.
"Great! We might actually survive!"
"Vegeta's gotten even stronger! He's broken through his limits again!"
"How on earth does he keep doing that?"
"Goku, you have to be stronger than both of them! Otherwise we're doomed! Everyone else can still be revived with Earth's Dragon Balls..."
"But if I die again..."
"I'll be gone for good!"
Krillin's face was filled with anxiety.
Standing just behind Vegeta, Dende could clearly sense that the instant Vegeta clashed with Frieza, his power had broken through another limit and risen once again.
"Can Saiyans really grow stronger just by fighting powerful opponents?"
"That's completely ridiculous..."
"Every single one of them is practically cheating!"
Dende couldn't help complaining.
"Frieza's scouter exploded..."
"That means Vegeta's battle power has probably already surpassed 500,000."
Feeling his own power break through once more, Vegeta became even more confident.
Since he could now withstand Frieza's attacks, his arrogance only grew.
"Frieza, your current strength is nothing special."
"Stop pretending."
"Transform already!"
Frieza was briefly taken aback by Vegeta's confidence and provocation.
"You actually know about my transformations?"
"Hmph. Zarbon accidentally told me."
"So don't think you can catch anyone by surprise."
"Hurry up and show it!"
Vegeta secretly smiled to himself.
"Once Frieza transforms, he'll definitely become stronger than I am now."
"I won't be able to beat him in that form..."
"But after one more near-death power-up, my strength should finally surpass the Saiyan limit."
"Then I'll become the legendary Super Saiyan!"
"Hmph... Sorry, Kakarot."
"The one who becomes the Super Saiyan... will be me!"
Frieza stared at the smug Vegeta, unable to guess what he was plotting.
But one thing was certain.
He could never allow a Saiyan to become so arrogant.
Only overwhelming power could crush a Saiyan's confidence completely.
A cruel grin spread across his face.
"Oh ho ho ho..."
"This is the first time I've ever seen someone so eager to die."
"So you've gained a little strength..."
"And now you're overflowing with confidence?"
"Very well."
"I'll grant your wish."
"I'll send you to your death."
Frieza laughed coldly.
The three Earthlings had no idea what Vegeta meant by "transformation."
Krillin finally asked,
"Hey, Vegeta... what exactly do you mean by transformation?"
Without taking his eyes off Frieza, Vegeta answered eagerly.
To him, Frieza's transformation represented his greatest opportunity to become a Super Saiyan.
"Certain races can alter their appearance when faced with danger, becoming much more powerful."
"Normally, they remain in a weaker form to conserve energy."
Frieza snorted dismissively.
"I'm different."
"The only reason I stay in this form..."
"...is because my true power is far too great."
"It's difficult to control."
"It even interferes with daily life."
"..."
Hearing those words, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
Although Vegeta had managed to block Frieza's attack, he had still been slightly at a disadvantage.
If Frieza could become even stronger...
Vegeta would stand no chance.
And judging by Vegeta's current performance—which was roughly comparable to Goku's—
If Vegeta couldn't defeat Frieza after he transformed...
Then Goku probably couldn't either.
"Oh ho ho ho!"
"Open your eyes wide!"
"Witnessing my transformation is an incredibly rare privilege."
"Unfortunately..."
"You'll all die shortly afterward!"
"Ho ho ho..."
"Consider it punishment for provoking me."
"You should know..."
"When I destroyed Planet Vegeta..."
"Even while fighting the Saiyan King..."
"I never once needed to transform."
"Vegeta."
"I crushed your father like a tiny insect with my own hands."
"And I'll crush you the same way."
Vegeta merely sneered.
Long ago, he had forced himself to become cold-hearted.
Although he still carried the pride of the Saiyan race, he felt little affection for his father.
"Hmph."
"I surpassed my father when I was just a child."
"Don't underestimate me..."
"And don't underestimate the Saiyan race!"
Frieza ignored him.
Slowly clenching both fists, he let out a thunderous roar.
An incomparably terrifying aura erupted from his body and spread across the entire battlefield.