One day passed. Bardock was still in space, flying toward Planet Vegeta. He trained inside his room, rarely speaking to the other Saiyans. He only talked when he had questions, and most of those questions were about his family and the current state of Planet Vegeta.
He was excited that he would finally meet his twin brother, who was said to be an elite Saiyan with a power level second only to Prince Vegeta III. Bardock kept thinking about what he should ask him. But one question refused to leave his mind:
Why didn't Vaske come to meet me when we left the pod?
He couldn't stop thinking about it. At times, he even wondered if his brother was looking down on him. Still, Bardock refused to fall into despair just because another Saiyan might see him as lesser. His goal was clear — to become the strongest.
If that truly was the case, it would sting, but Bardock was no longer the child he had been a year ago. He had exterminated almost all life on a planet. That kind of burden was not easy to carry, especially for someone so young. But it was expected of every Saiyan, from low-class to elite-class.
Even non-combat Saiyans were sometimes deployed to hunt animals and weaker lifeforms. It sounded easy, but it wasn't. Some creatures used weapons capable of harming anyone under a power level of 1,500. Others were simply stubborn, refusing to fall easily. There were many dangerous animals in the universe, like Xixer, and they were far harder to control than Xarer.
On Planet Vegeta, Vaske was kneeling before King Vegeta II. Around them stood many elites who had been watching the tournament fights.
The King spoke.
"Vaske, you showed your strength and brilliance by using different tactics to gain every possible advantage. Because of this, I will give you an offer. You may finish your elite camp training and immediately join any unit you desire. If you reject this offer, you will instead receive a secret technique and continue attending the camp until you finish your third year."
"I understand, my lord," Vaske said calmly. "I will join one of the units."
King Vegeta II nodded. "You will be given brief introductions to each group. You have likely heard of some of them already — Oozaru: Great Ape, and the Royal Vanguards." They are considered the first class of Saiyan squads, though no one would dare say that aloud in a room full of elites.
He continued. "There is also the Genocide Battalion, primarily used to clear planets of middle- to upper-strength resistance. They are our most efficient unit."
Vaske didn't know their exact ranking, but he assumed they were likely second class.
"Then there are the Blaze Raiders, who command lower-class Saiyans to success. The Iron Talons, responsible for defending space around Planet Vegeta. The Shadow Fangs, tasked with defending Saiyan territories across the wider universe. The Stormbreakers, who maintain order and peace on the homeworld — much like a planetary police force."
The King kept listing other units, but I had already made my decision the moment he began speaking.
Still, I waited for him to finish.
When the King finally asked, "Tell me which unit you choose to join," I pretended to think deeply, careful not to make enemies among those present.
"I believe my talents are most compatible with Oozaru: Great Ape," I said.
Every elite except one — the most ferocious-looking Saiyan in the room — looked disappointed.
The King nodded and pointed at that ferocious Saiyan. "He will be your squad leader. You will meet him properly later."
Then the King ordered everyone to leave the room except for me.
Once we were alone, King Vegeta II stood up. "Follow me."
We walked through dark corridors of the castle until we reached a massive chamber that clearly served as a training hall.
The King turned to me.
"I already knew which unit you would choose," he said. "So I selected a technique for you in advance."
"Blood Recall," he began, "is an extremely dangerous Saiyan combat technique. It is meant to be used only in moments of absolute desperation — specifically when a Saiyan is forcefully knocked out of their Oozaru form or when the transformation expires naturally."
"It grants a short-lived burst of power, allowing the user to attempt to kill enemies even while in a state of extreme weakness. With exceptional mastery, a Saiyan can reach 1.5 to 2 times their normal power during activation."
The King's voice grew heavier.
"This technique was born during the earliest Saiyan wars. At that time, only the strongest survived. The Saiyans were hunted relentlessly by a race known as the Banzui — a leopard-like species famous for their intelligence and patience."
"They avoided confronting Oozaru head-on. Instead, they waited until the transformation ended, ambushing weakened Saiyans and hunting them down one by one. Over time, this strategy proved devastating."
"During one such battle, the Saiyan King himself faced the Banzui King and his elites. When his Oozaru time expired, he stood defenseless against a superior force."
"Rage consumed him. The survival of the Saiyan people depended on that moment."
"In his final stand, he created the first version of Blood Recall. With a burst of raw power, he slaughtered the weaker Banzui warriors. Then, with a sacrificial explosion, he killed their King, their elites — and himself."
His sacrifice inspired his Saiyan warriors. Screaming his name — now lost to history — they annihilated their enemies.
"No mercy was shown," the King continued. "Even children were massacred. The weak were not taken as slaves or hostages — they were torn apart."
"In the years that followed, Saiyans studied the technique relentlessly. Fifteen years of research refined Blood Recall into what it is today: a short-term, high-risk power surge capable of defying certain death."
"But it has a fatal flaw," he said. "After activation, the body cannot heal properly for more than half a day."
"Still, those thirty seconds are enough to kill many enemies — and sometimes, to survive what should be unavoidable death."
"With Blood Recall, the Saiyans slaughtered their enemies until only we remained."
"Over time, the technique was forgotten due to the lack of worthy foes."
"It was rediscovered only because one Saiyan family preserved it as their secret art. We acquired it after offering them a price equivalent to half a planet."
The King looked directly at me.
"As King, I will allow only a select few elites to learn this technique — those who prove loyalty, and those I choose to invest in."
"You understand what that means," he said coldly. "Do not make me regret this decision."
I understood immediately. I was one of his investments — someone meant to help secure his son's future reign.
I kneeled.
"Thank you, my King. I will not disappoint your expectations."
King Vegeta handed me a scroll containing the instructions for Blood Recall.
"But first," he added, "you must use Oozaru form."
I was granted permission to return to the desolate planet where I had perfected my Great Ape transformation. This time, I would be alone — only me, food, and a ship to take me there and back.
Some weeks passed. Upon arriving, Bardock was taken in by an elderly Saiyan who offered him a home and guidance in normal life. Bardock had never experienced anything resembling peace; he had spent most of his existence fighting and surviving. Living with the old man was strange at first, but he adapted, learning the routines of daily life while continuing his private training. It gave him a sense of stability he had never known, even if the shadow of conflict always lingered in his mind.
He even started calling the old man "grandpa." While his grandfather was walking through the city, he was confronted by a group of young Saiyan thugs. They demanded money, and when he resisted, they attacked. His grandfather tried to fight back, but the thugs couldn't control their strength. By the time Bardock went to search for his grandpa, it was too late. Flying over the city was forbidden, so he raced on the ground, following the growing smell and tracks of blood that led him to a dark valley.
There, he found his grandfather's body. Bardock stood in silence, staring at the lifeless figure of the man who had shown him normal life. He had faced death before, even caused it, but he had never truly felt the loss of someone he loved. His emotions swirled uncontrollably, his jaw and hands betraying the cold mask he always wore. Blood from his hands fell and mixed with the blood on the ground. He knelt and searched the area for clues. Pieces of torn clothing revealed the presence of others — strangers who had joined in the attack.
Following the blood trail, Bardock found the thugs in a nearby pub, drinking and spending stolen goods. Without hesitation, he entered and asked coldly, "Did anyone here kill one old man?" The drunkest thug laughed. "What's your connection to that stupid old man? We just wanted money, and he had to fight back." Bardock looked at the ground silently, then his ki erupted in a blinding surge. Gathering a massive amount of energy, he unleashed a devastating ki blast. Half the pub exploded. One thug died instantly, two others were mortally wounded, and several bystanders were injured.
Bardock didn't even look at innocent bystanders. He approached the surviving thugs, torturing them until he heard sound of the Stormbreakers. He silenced them with brutal efficiency, gouging their eyes out. When the Saiyan authorities arrived, they found him standing silently among bodies, his aura still simmering with anger and grief. They didnt wait for him to give explanation, they just beaten him without mercy. But he did not resist. Eventually, he was knocked unconscious and taken to prison.
When Bardock awoke, he was surrounded by other Saiyans. Spitting out blood, he asked coldly, "Where is my grandpa?" The question hung in the air, unanswered, as the weight of loss and rage settled over him. His grandfather, who had become a father figure and protector in a chaotic life, was gone. And with him, a part of Bardock's former innocence had been burned away forever.