The stone forest of Namek stood jagged and uneven, strange rock formations rising like broken teeth. Pools of green water glowed faintly, casting an eerie light across the terrain.
Zarbon hovered in the air, his long green hair swaying in the wind. He wore the standard battle armor of Frieza's army, his cape snapping sharply behind him.
His gaze swept over the silver spacecraft below with open disdain.
"Not bad taste," he said, brushing a strand of hair aside with practiced elegance.
"A shame it's occupied by vermin."
At that moment, the hatch of the ship opened.
Krillin stepped out, followed by Trillin and Gohan. Behind them came Bulma and Aki.
Bulma was clearly just there for entertainment, holding an open bag of chips.
Aki, on the other hand, stayed close behind Krillin like a devoted bodyguard.
Zarbon's attention shifted instantly.
Not to Krillin's shiny bald head, nor the two kids, but to the women behind them.
Bulma was stylish and modern, radiating the polished confidence of a high-tech Earth city.
Aki was something else entirely, both pure and dangerously alluring, like a divine being from another world.
Even someone like Zarbon, who had seen beauties from across the universe, couldn't help but be impressed.
"Oh?"
A faint smile curved his lips.
"To find such lovely ladies on a remote planet like this… what a pleasant surprise."
He ignored Krillin entirely, descending gracefully in front of Bulma and giving a theatrical bow.
"Ladies, I am Zarbon, servant of Lord Frieza."
"My apologies for the interruption, but would you kindly hand over the Dragon Balls?"
"And perhaps… if you're willing, you could accompany me to meet Lord Frieza. Women of your caliber shouldn't waste your time among… such uncultured company."
Bulma rolled her eyes, popped a chip into her mouth, and spoke around it.
"Krillin, who's this guy? He's kind of gross."
A vein popped on Zarbon's forehead.
"Hahaha! Mom, he just thinks he's handsome!" Trillin burst out laughing.
"Insolent brat."
Zarbon's expression darkened. He raised a hand and fired a ki blast straight at Trillin's face.
Boom!
Smoke and dust exploded outward.
But when it cleared, Trillin stood exactly where he had been, completely unharmed. He even yawned.
A faint golden barrier shimmered in front of him.
"That it?" Trillin said with a smirk. "I've had stronger back scratches."
Zarbon's pupils shrank.
That attack, casual as it was, still carried several thousand in power. And the boy hadn't even moved?
Just as Zarbon was about to get serious, a loud, mocking voice rang out from behind a nearby rock formation.
"Hahaha! Zarbon, you're still this useless? Can't even handle a kid? Looks like Frieza's dogs are getting weaker with each generation!"
Everyone turned.
Vegeta stood atop a tall rock, arms crossed, his signature arrogant grin on full display.
His armor was damaged, evidence of recent battles, but his aura was far stronger than it had been on Earth.
"Vegeta!" Zarbon's face darkened.
"You dare show yourself, you runaway?"
"Runaway?" Vegeta sneered as he leapt down, landing between Zarbon and Krillin, forming a tense three-way standoff.
"Enjoy your last moments. Today, you die."
He glanced at Krillin, a flicker of caution in his eyes, quickly replaced by battle hunger.
After his near-death recovery, his power level had surged to twenty-four thousand. With his tail regrown, he could even transform into a Great Ape again. His confidence had skyrocketed.
"Baldy, this is between me and Frieza's forces," Vegeta said coldly. "Stay out of it."
"After I finish him, I'll settle things with you Earthlings."
Krillin shrugged, completely unbothered. He grabbed the bag of chips from Bulma and sat down cross-legged on a rock.
"Go ahead. We're just passing by. Don't mind us."
"Hmph!"
Vegeta wasted no more words. With a powerful push off the ground, he shot toward Zarbon like a missile.
"You overestimate yourself!"
Zarbon charged forward to meet him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two clashed midair, their blows colliding with explosive force. Shockwaves shattered nearby rocks, echoing across the landscape.
Zarbon's base power hovered around twenty-three thousand. Vegeta, now at twenty-four thousand, held a slight edge.
In a fight at this level, even a small gap could be decisive.
Vegeta quickly gained the upper hand. His combat instincts were razor-sharp, and as a Saiyan, he grew stronger as the battle intensified.
"Die!"
He seized an opening and slammed a heavy punch into Zarbon's face.
Crack!
The sound of bone breaking echoed clearly.
Zarbon screamed as he was sent flying, crashing into a nearby pool and sending water exploding into the air.
"Hahaha! This is Frieza's elite?" Vegeta hovered above, laughing mockingly.
"Pathetic! Is this all you've got, Zarbon?"
Bubbles churned in the water below.
A violent, grotesque aura began to rise.
Krillin narrowed his eyes as he munched on chips, his system interface activating automatically.
Target: Zarbon
Status: Transforming (Body Release)
Estimated Power Level: 23,000 → 30,000+
System Notice: This transformation involves "physical compression and rapid expansion."
Assimilating or analyzing this mechanism may unlock prerequisites for the host's "Super Bald Form."
"Oh? A bonus prize?"
Krillin perked up.
"Vegeta… you've truly angered me…"
Zarbon's voice echoed from the water, twisted and ominous.
Then, with a thunderous explosion, the pool erupted.
A massive figure emerged.
The elegant, handsome Zarbon was gone.
In his place stood a hulking monster, covered in lumps, his skin dark green, his mouth wide and grotesque like a toad's.
His body had doubled in size, muscles bulging, exuding a foul, suffocating presence.
"What… what is that thing?!" Bulma recoiled behind Krillin. "That's disgusting!"
Even Aki frowned, her staff glowing faintly in response.
Vegeta's smile froze.
He could feel it. Zarbon's energy had surged far beyond his own.
"I hate using this form," Zarbon growled, his voice now deep and rough.
"It's ugly. It doesn't suit my aesthetic."
"But to kill you… I'll make an exception."
"Vegeta. Prepare to die."
"D-don't bluff!" Vegeta gritted his teeth.
"So getting uglier makes you stronger? Ridiculous!"
He attacked first, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts.
But Zarbon didn't dodge.
He charged straight through them.
The blasts struck his thick skin, producing nothing more than faint smoke.
"What?!" Vegeta's eyes widened.
"Too slow!"
Zarbon grinned viciously, his massive fist crashing forward like a battering ram.
Boom!
The punch slammed into Vegeta's abdomen. He couldn't even scream. His eyes bulged as air and bile burst from his mouth.
Then Zarbon clasped both fists together and smashed them down onto Vegeta's back.
Crash!
Vegeta plummeted like a meteor, slamming into the ground and carving out a deep crater.
The tide had completely turned.
Moments ago, Vegeta had been dominant. Now he lay at the bottom of the crater, barely moving, bones shattered.
"This is the gap between us," Zarbon said coldly, landing at the edge of the pit.
He placed his foot on Vegeta's head and pressed down hard.
"Next time you're reborn, remember to stay far away from Lord Frieza."
Just as he prepared to crush Vegeta's skull, a casual voice sounded beside him.
"Hey, you oversized toad."
Zarbon's eyes snapped wide as he turned.
"Even if you're beating a dog, you should check who owns it first."
"I don't like this monkey much either, but right now, his life belongs to me."
Krillin stood behind him, holding half a chip, his bald head gleaming under the alien sky.