While Vaske was sleeping, Bardock was still inside his pod, flying toward a planet many light-years away.
He could have chosen to sleep, but he knew every second of training increased his chances of survival.
He still had around two months before reaching the planet, yet he already felt that someone in the shadows wanted him dead. He had made no enemies except the trash he cleaned up back on Vegeta—and they were insignificant. So this had to be another way of targeting his brother.
Bardock would never allow himself to become dead weight to his only family.
He refused to be used as a weapon against Vaske.
He had to grow strong, fast.
He had to use everything his brother taught him. That knowledge alone could place him light-years ahead of other Saiyans—maybe even push him into super-elite territory before these nine years were over.
Two months later, Bardock's pod finally descended.
It landed in a desolate region, far from any major settlements. The pod opened instantly.
Bardock stepped out and activated his scouter, scanning the surroundings. Several middle-risk life forces were already moving toward his location.
He immediately suppressed all of his ki—a technique he had learned during the journey—and covered himself in mud, hiding his scent and presence.
Soon, two inhabitants arrived.
They were strange creatures, with long backward-sloping heads and fused skull structures. Their bodies were small and unbalanced, making them look unnatural and ugly. Their skin carried a pink-purplish tone.
They spoke in an alien language Bardock couldn't understand.
He stayed perfectly still, barely breathing.
"Both of us saw something fall here, right?" one said.
"Yes. There was high power inside it. Let's search a little more," the other replied.
They began looking around.
They didn't realize death was already behind them.
When Bardock closed the distance to two meters, he silently pulled out his knife. He leapt forward, released his suppression instantly, and poured ki into the blade.
The knife pierced straight through the alien's head.
The creature died without even screaming.
The second alien turned toward the vibration—but it was already too late. Bardock split him clean in half.
Knowing more would come, Bardock dissected one of the bodies on the spot, searching for weaknesses in their biology.
Afterward, he retrieved his pod and flew toward a mountain on the opposite side of the forest. While flying, he listened to translated fragments of alien communication through his scouter.
He reached a cave, dug space for his pod, and buried it deep inside.
This mission might actually be easier than the last one, Bardock thought.
Compared to my strength on Herta and my current strength here, I'm weaker relative to this planet… but I have one advantage.
Ki control.
That alone made dealing with weaklings far easier.
He also learned this planet had a moon, though it appeared only once every sixty-five days. Not ideal—but better than nothing.
Bardock began drawing maps on the cave wall based on radar data.
Below the mountain lay a forest full of life forms suitable for food. The nearest city was on the side he landed, but still far away.
First phase: secure food.
Then guerrilla warfare around the city.
After that, they'll send more forces to their deaths.
That was the plan.
It took Bardock three days to gather enough food for an entire month—huge quantities of meat.
When he checked his landing site from afar, there were no remains.
That meant either something had taken the bodies… or eaten them.
Neither option was comforting.
His radar picked up multiple power levels stronger than his own. He assumed the aliens had discovered their missing comrades.
He targeted the weakest trio and wiped them out brutally.
Immediately, his radar showed reinforcements approaching fast.
Bardock jumped into a hollow tree trunk and suppressed his ki to the absolute minimum.
Soon more inhabitants arrived.
"It seems there's a hunter in these forests," one said. "Could be a beast… or another life form."
"The first group never returned after investigating the flying object."
One alien stood out—larger, with a power level of 1400. The other five were around 1000.
Suddenly, the leader sniffed the air and fired a ki blast into Bardock's hiding place.
Bardock sensed it instantly and fired back, neutralizing it.
He could handle the 1400 alien alone—but with support from the others, even his 2100 power level could struggle.
They demanded answers.
"Who are you?"
"What are your plans?"
"Why did you kill our people?"
Only the leader stayed silent, preparing for battle.
Bardock pretended to answer, hands behind his back.
Then he moved.
In an instant, he killed the weakest alien farthest from the leader.
The leader countered immediately.
Combat stalled—support units shielding their leader, the leader protecting them.
Both sides knew Bardock would eventually win.
But the aliens were waiting for reinforcements.
They had already sent a signal.
Bardock increased pressure.
One mistake.
Another alien fell.
Momentum shifted.
He killed three more rapidly, leaving only the leader.
But Bardock failed to notice concealed reinforcements.
Three more aliens arrived—similar to the leader, each around 1500 power.
Bardock frowned.
Still manageable… but dangerous.
He was forced onto the defensive as the rested leader rejoined the fight.
Bardock tried repeatedly to assassinate the resting alien, but every attempt created openings.
He was slowly overwhelmed.
He attempted to flee.
They trapped him.
So Bardock drew his knife and gambled everything.
He poured all remaining ki into the blade.
A blood-colored energy edge formed around it.
He instantly killed the weakest reinforcement.
The others dodged instead of blocking, breaking their formation.
Bardock severed another alien's arm.
His ki reserves dropped dangerously low.
He went berserk.
He killed the wounded alien but took a heavy kick that shattered fingers in his left hand.
Only one enemy remained.
His energy was nearly gone.
The alien laughed.
"This is your end. You killed my brothers. I'll take your head and earn promotion to chief guard… maybe even royal guard."
He bragged.
Bardock used those seconds to breathe.
The alien attacked mid-speech.
Bardock anticipated it.
Both were drained of ki now—pure physical combat.
Bardock slowly gained the upper hand.
Then his damaged scouter detected five more approaching power levels.
He pretended to drop his knife.
As the alien rushed in, Bardock's tail snapped forward, launching the blade straight through the enemy's throat.
Instant death.
Bardock grabbed the weapon and flew away at maximum output.
When the five new aliens arrived, they found only bodies.
Their technology failed to locate Bardock, so they relied on scent.
Bardock reached a river and submerged himself, surfacing only to breathe.
The aliens stopped at the riverbank, unwilling to follow.
Once Bardock recovered enough energy, he returned to his cave.
He masked the entrance with grass to block scent and light, then devoured nearly all stored food.
His injuries were severe—broken fingers, cracked ribs, torn muscles.
He collapsed and slept for three days straight.
When he woke, his bones still ached, but were no longer shattered.
He activated his damaged scouter.
3200
Bardock stared at the number.