Taru pov...
The first thing I noticed when I descended toward Namek's surface was that nobody attacked me.
That alone was unusual.
The ten Namekians stood together beneath the green sky, their bodies tense, their weapons lowered. Their antennae twitched, their eyes tracking my every movement as I carried Faye's unconscious form toward them. The air was thick with caution, but there was no hostility, only a quiet, watchful curiosity.
I landed several meters away, my boots pressing into the soft, moss-like ground. Faye remained limp in my arms, his pink hair fanned across my forearm, his breathing steady but shallow.
The elderly Namekian at the front of the group, the Elder, took one look at Faye, and his entire demeanor shifted.
His eyes widened, his staff nearly slipping from his fingers.
"A… free Supreme Kai?" His voice was a rasp, thick with disbelief.
I stopped mid-step, my grip tightening around Faye. "What did you just say?"
The Elder stared at Faye as if he were looking at a ghost. For several long seconds, he seemed unable to find the words. Then his expression changed, shock melting into something almost resembling joy, a flicker of hope in eyes that had long since forgotten its taste.
"A free Supreme Kai…" he repeated, his voice breaking. "We thought…"
He swallowed hard, his grip on his staff tightening as if it were the only thing keeping him upright.
"We thought there were none left."
I looked down at Faye, his face peaceful in sleep, then back at the Elder. "Explain."
The Elder hesitated, his antennae drooping slightly. That hesitation told me enough, there was something here I hadn't understood. Something big.
"Before Frieza became a God of Destruction," the Elder finally began, his voice low, "Namek was already being hunted by his forces ."
His gaze shifted toward the sky, as if the answers were written in the stars.
"His armies came for our Dragon Balls."
My expression hardened, my fingers curling into fists. "They nearly succeeded."
The Elder nodded, his voice heavy. "But the Supreme Kais intervened."
The ten Namekians remained silent, their expressions grim. The weight of the past hung over them like a shroud.
"The Kais fought alongside our warriors," the Elder continued. "They stood against Frieza's armies when almost nobody else would."
I glanced toward the shimmering barrier above us, its surface rippling faintly under the light of Namek's suns. "So that's how it was created."
The Elder nodded. "Yes."
He looked toward the sky, his voice carrying the weight of memory. "At the time, our Dragon Balls were powerful. But not powerful enough to create something capable of permanently denying someone Frieza access to Namek."
His gaze returned to Faye, his eyes softening. "The Kais changed that."
I raised an eyebrow. "They gave their own God ki to the Dragon Balls or something ?"
"yes, they managed to infuse them with it ," the Elder confirmed. "Their divine energy became part of the Dragon Balls themselves. The wishes became stronger. The barrier became stronger."
He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Strong enough that even Frieza could not simply tear it apart."
That explained the resistance I'd felt earlier. It hadn't merely been Namekian magic. It had been divine power, reinforced by an entire planet's Dragon Balls, woven into something unbreakable.
"And the Kais?" I asked, my voice tight.
The Elder's expression darkened, his grip on his staff tightening until his knuckles turned white. "They fought until they couldn't anymore ."
His voice became quieter, as if the words themselves were too heavy to speak aloud. "One by one, after years of fighting, their resistance was overwhelmed."
I looked down at Faye, my jaw tightening. "So they were Captured then ?"
The Elder nodded. "Taken to Frieza's divine world."
My fingers dug into my palms, the thought of Faye or any Kai, being enslaved by that monster sending a jolt of fury through me. "What happened to them?"
The Elder's voice was barely a whisper. "Their fate is… complicated."
That answer irritated me. "Explain."
The Elder inhaled deeply, as if bracing himself. "The Kais had known that Frieza had his eyes set on becoming a god long before his ascension."
I looked at him, my voice a growl. "Before he became a God of Destruction?"
"Yes." The Elder's eyes became distant, as if he were seeing something far beyond the plateau. "They believed the bond they will form with him after he would become a gif could be used as leverage to keep him in check and prevent him from becoming a tyrant God but...."
I already knew where this was going. My voice was cold. "They tried to kill him by using said bond when he became God of destruction? ."
"Yes."
"By exploiting that bond, they could end him with even fighting him directly ."
The Elder nodded, his expression pained. "But Frieza with his cunning mind had anticipated it."
He looked toward the sky, his voice hollow. "Before they could sacrifice themselves to destroy him, Frieza had already been to the earth and had used the Dragon Balls to his advantage ."
My eyes narrowed. "He made them unable to kill themselves ."
The Elder nodded. "They could no longer sacrifice themselves."
A heavy silence settled over the plateau, the weight of the revelation pressing down on us like the barrier above. That was cruel. Not merely imprisonment. Not just enslavement.
Frieza had stripped them of their final weapon against him, their ability to choose death over servitude.
"Then he enslaved them."
The Elder hesitated, his voice barely audible. "Eventually yes.. "
My hands tightened around Faye, my knuckles turning white. "There's more isn't it ."
The Elder's expression twisted, as if the words were physically painful to speak.
"Frieza somehow gained control over Earth's Kami."
"He needed Kami alive and obedient." the elder said.
My expression hardened, the pieces clicking into place. "So the Dragon Balls remained functional."
"Yes."
I sat down on a nearby stone, my mind racing. There was a lot to process. Frieza wasn't simply ruling through overwhelming power. He had built an empire around his immortality. He had neutralized the Kais. Controlled Earth's Dragon Balls. Kept Kami under his influence. And maintained Namek's isolation.
This wasn't the rule of a powerful tyrant.
It was an engineered empire.
I looked up at the Elder. "Does Frieza control the entire universe?"
The Elder shook his head. "No."
That caught my attention. "There are regions he cannot completely control?"
"The southern galaxy."
I leaned forward, my interest piqued. "Resistance?"
"Rumors mostly ." The Elder's expression became uncertain, his antennae twitching.
"Decades ago, before the Kais were captured, we heard stories of resistance fighters operating there."
"How strong are they ?" I asked..
The Elder's voice was cautious. "Strong enough that some of Frieza's strongest servants occasionally hesitated before pursuing them."
Interesting.
I filed that information away. "Do you know who leads them?"
"No."
"Where they are?"
"No."
"Whether they still exist?"
The Elder shook his head, his voice heavy. "We don't know."
I leaned back, my mind working. Useful information. Not enough. But useful.
Then the Elder's gaze shifted back to Faye, his expression softening. "May I examine the Kai?"
I looked at him, my voice guarded. "Healer?"
"Among other things."
I nodded, my grip on Faye loosening slightly. "Help him."
The Elder approached, his movements slow and deliberate. He placed his hands over Faye's chest, his antennae twitching as he focused. A soft green light spread across Faye's body, seeping into his skin like liquid warmth.
Faye's breathing immediately became steadier, the tension in his muscles easing as the Elder's healing magic flowed through him.
Bruises faded.
The damage to his divine pathways began repairing itself.
The color returned to his face, his pink hair regaining its usual vibrancy.
I watched carefully, my gaze flickering between Faye and the Elder. Eventually, I looked toward the sky, my mind already racing ahead.
Frieza knew about me now. That much was certain. Whis had watched everything, every technique, every weakness, every transformation.
The battle with Zarbon had probably already been analyzed, dissected, and countermeasures prepared.
My fingers tapped against my knee, the rhythm a silent countdown.
And Zarbon…
That bothered me. He had actually managed to keep up with my ordinary base form. Not dominate me. But keep pace. His Yardrat techniques had interfered with my ki manipulation , disrupted my flow. That meant Frieza's army wasn't simply powerful.
They were trained, specifically to counter unusual opponents.
I wondered how strong Frieza himself was.
Then
Grrrrrrr.
I froze.
The Namekians froze.
My stomach had betrayed me.
I slowly looked down at my abdomen, then at the empty plate of Namekian fruits and vegetables I'd devoured in record time. The Elder was staring at me, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.
I cleared my throat, my voice gruff. "...I've been busy."
One of the Namekians looked away, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. The Elder smiled, his antennae twitching in what might have been a chuckle.
"Of course." He turned to one of his warriors. "Bring him food."
A warrior nodded and disappeared into the trees, returning moments later with an assortment of Namekian fruits and vegetables. Taking advantage of the fact shin wasn't with them on this trip I ate like I did before, I didn't bother pretending to be dignified. I just ate, and very quickly like the food would run away..
The Elder watched with amusement, his staff tapping lightly against the ground. "You fight like a demon and eat like a starving beast. A true Saiyan .. ."
I paused mid-bite, my eyes meeting his. "And what's a Namekian supposed to eat like?"
He laughed, the sound deep and warm. "With dignity."
I smirked. "Dignity doesn't win the battles I fight old man ."
The Elder's smile widened. "No. But it does make the aftermath more pleasant."
I finished the last fruit and stood, wiping my hands on a cloth after rinsing them off in water. Faye stirred where he lay , his eyelids fluttering.
I immediately turned, my voice softening. "Faye."
His eyes slowly opened. He blinked once. Twice. Then his gaze focused, and his pink face turned bright red.
I almost laughed.
"Good morning."
He looked away, his voice muffled against his hands. "no don't."
"Don't what?"
"Look at me."
I crouched beside him, my voice gentle with my.
"my love.. You were knocked out by dodoria ."
"mhm. ." Faye mumbled..
"You were also nearly thrown through a magical barrier."
"stop making me feel so.. !" His voice was sharp, his embarrassment palpable.
I smiled, my thumb brushing against his cheek. "OK, OK... You did fine."
He swatted my hand away, but there was no real force behind it. "I got hit by one attack when I wasn't paying that's it, ok."
"and got knocked out, don't forget. ." I say under my breath..
He finally looked at me, his golden eyes glinting with frustration. "That's not the point you big idiot ."
I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. "calm down, I'm just trying to lighten the mood little Kai.. ."
Faye's embarrassed expression softened, his resistance crumbling as he exhaled sharply. Then, in a voice so quiet I almost missed it, he whispered:
"Are we staying here?"
I looked toward the ancient sanctuary, toward the Dragon Balls hidden beneath the plateau, toward the sky where Frieza waited somewhere beyond the stars.
"No, not yet.. ."
I stood, pulling Faye up with me. He swayed slightly, his legs unsteady, but I kept my arm around his waist, steadying him.
"We're going to find answers first ."
My eyes hardened, my voice carrying the weight of a promise. "And then we're going to decide what to do about Frieza."
Faye leaned into me, his body warm against my side. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The wind rustled through the trees, the distant hum of the barrier the only other sound.
Then Faye sighed, his voice soft. "You're going to get us killed, aren't you?"
I looked down at him, my expression unreadable. "hm maybe, maybe not.. This place is different Faye ... "
He groaned, but there was no real fear in it. Only the familiar, exasperated affection that had grown between us. "You're impossible."
I smirked. "And yet, here you are.. not resisting ."
Faye rolled his eyes, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he nestled closer, his head resting against my shoulder looking up me slightly . "yeah... Here I am," he muttered.
I pressed my lips to his forehead , my voice a murmur. "And here we'll stay. Together."
The Elder watched us, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes, respect, maybe, or understanding. He turned away, giving us a moment of privacy.
I tightened my arm around Faye, my gaze lifting to the sky. Somewhere out there, Frieza was waiting. Somewhere out there, answers were hidden.
And we would find them.
Frieza
Whis finished speaking, his staff lowering as the last of the data faded from its crystal surface. The throne room was silent, the weight of the information hanging in the air like a storm cloud.
Frieza remained motionless, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "So…" He lifted his glass of wine, the dark liquid swirling within. " he's one of those ancient Saiyans."
"Indeed," Whis confirmed, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of unease.
Frieza took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving Whis. "And?"
Whis explained what little information existed, their physiology, their ancient transformations, their unusual relationship with battle, their tendency toward explosive evolutionary growth. And finally,
The importance of the the tail.
Frieza's eyes narrowed, his voice a purr. "The tail."
Whis nodded, his expression serious. "A unique weakness. And, if the legends are to be believed, a source of their true power."
Frieza leaned back in his throne, a memory surfacing from the depths of his mind, old, almost forgotten. His soldiers surrounding Saiyan warriors. A simple command. Cut the tails. The transformations vanished. The warriors became weaker.
Frieza smiled, the expression sharp and cold. "So simple."
He looked toward the planets drifting beyond the palace windows, their light reflecting in his purple eyes. Then he chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Sometimes the oldest weapons remain the most useful."
He extended one hand, his voice a command. "Wine."
An attendant immediately stepped forward, bowing as they presented a fresh glass.
Frieza took it, his fingers curling around the stem. He watched the distant worlds slowly drift through space, his mind working.
Then his expression became thoughtful. "What do you think of the Kai accompanying him?"
Whis raised an eyebrow, his staff tapping lightly against the floor. "That is an interesting question."
Frieza's gaze sharpened. "You said the Kai was unusual."
"Extremely," Whis agreed.
He raised his staff, the crystal surface illuminating with a soft glow. Data appeared, swirling in the air like fragments of a forgotten story. "Give me a moment."
Thirty minutes passed in silence, the only sound the faint hum of the palace's destruction energy. Frieza waited, his patience absolute. Eventually, Whis's expression changed, his usual composure flickering for the briefest moment.
"Oh."
Frieza looked over, his voice a command. "What, what did you find my dear angel ?"
Whis's fingers tightened around his staff. "oh I definitely found something."
The staff displayed fragmented records, lines of text and images flickering in the air. "A Kai from another timeline."
Frieza's eyes narrowed, his voice a growl. "Continue."
Whis's gaze remained fixed on the data. "This individual abandoned his position as a Supreme Kai attendant."
Frieza's grip tightened around his glass. "For what, why would a Kai do that ?"
"To join…" Whis paused, his voice hesitant. "A rogue mortal."
Frieza's eyes locked onto the angel, his voice a whisper. "And another rogue Supreme Kai."
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Frieza stared at the information, his mind racing. Then, slowly, he looked toward the ceiling, his voice a murmur.
"The Saiyan."
Whis didn't answer.
"The Kai."
Still nothing.
Frieza's eyes narrowed, his voice a growl. "They are the same."
"Possibly as they match the discription so far my lord ," Whis admitted.
"What does the rest say?"Frieza asked
Whis examined the staff, his smile fading. "Blocked."
Frieza's expression hardened, his voice a snarl. "By whom?"
Whis looked at him, his usual amusement absent. "That information requires authorization from the Grand Priest."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop, the very air growing colder.
Frieza's blood ran cold, his grip on the glass tightening until it was in danger of shattering.
For a fleeting instant, memories of divine hierarchy surfaced, the Grand Priest, the being above all angels, above Gods of Destruction. A figure Frieza had absolutely no desire to attract the attention of.
His expression slowly recovered, his voice smooth once more. "Then we don't ask."
Whis smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. "Wise."
Frieza looked toward the stars, his eyes calculating. "So the mysterious Saiyan arrives."
"A Supreme Kai appears beside him."
"An ancient warrior possessing extraordinary power."
"And the Kai's records are deliberately sealed."
Frieza took another sip of wine, the liquid bitter on his tongue. "How fascinating."
His smile returned, but there was no humor in it. Only calculation.
"Whis."
"Yes?"
"How long before they discover what I did with the Earth Dragon Balls?"
Whis considered the question, his staff tapping against the floor. "That depends on how quickly they find Namek's Dragon Balls."
Frieza's smile disappeared, his voice a whisper. "Then I suppose…"
He looked toward the endless darkness beyond his palace, his eyes gleaming with cold determination.
"…we should ensure they don't."
And for the first time since Frieza had taken Beerus' throne
The God of Destruction wondered whether someone had entered his universe who might eventually become impossible to control.