It didn't take long.
The skies of Namek were torn apart by five blazing red streaks.
With thunderous impacts, five spherical pods slammed into the ground in a perfect star formation, kicking up a dust cloud so massive it swallowed the horizon.
The entrance was even louder than Vegeta's earlier arrival, as if they were determined to make sure the entire planet noticed.
"They're here, they're here!"
Krillin sat cross-legged atop a tall rock, somehow already holding a bucket of popcorn, happily munching away.
"Trillin, Gohan, watch closely. This is the finest… circus in the universe."
The dust settled.
Five figures shot out of the craters, adjusting their bodies midair with smooth precision before landing.
At the front stood a tall, purple-skinned man with horns.
Beside him were a red-skinned warrior with long white hair, a towering blue giant, a short, round figure with a thick neck, and a bulky fighter with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle.
None of them attacked.
Instead, they tensed their muscles, their faces twisted with exaggerated seriousness.
"Recoome!"
"Burter!"
"Jeice!"
"Guldo!"
"Ginyu!"
They shouted their names in unison, striking a series of flashy, over-the-top poses before freezing in one final dramatic formation.
"The Ginyu Force has arrived!"
The wind stopped.
The already still air of Namek now felt completely frozen.
Goku scratched the back of his head, looking confused as he asked Piccolo beside him,
"Uh… what are they doing? Some kind of exercise routine?"
Piccolo's green face had gone so dark it looked like iron. He gripped his cape, unable to bear looking at them.
Bulma had already pulled out a high-definition camera, laughing uncontrollably as she filmed.
"This is hilarious! These are Frieza's elites? That purple guy is sticking his butt out way too much!"
Even Vegeta, usually cold and composed, had black lines forming across his forehead.
His toes curled inside his boots, wishing he could vanish on the spot rather than admit he knew these people.
Then a childish but loud voice shattered the silence.
"That's so lame!"
Trillin cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
"Are you guys from the countryside? Even kindergarten kids stopped doing poses like that ages ago! It's embarrassing!"
Crack.
A vein bulged on Captain Ginyu's forehead as he froze mid-pose, still balancing on one leg.
"You… you little brat!"
Guldo's four eyes spun in rage.
"How dare you insult the sacred poses of the Ginyu Force! Unforgivable!"
Krillin dusted off his hands and hopped down from his rock.
"Alright, enough posing. Keep that up and you'll throw your backs out. Since everyone's here, let's not waste time. These guys might not be too bright, but they'll do fine as punching bags."
He glanced at the eager group.
"Same rules as always. Rock, paper, scissors?"
"I don't want the short one. He's too ugly," Trillin said, pointing at Guldo.
"And not the red one either. Too flashy," Gohan added.
Vegeta stood nearby, his mouth twitching.
"This is a life-and-death battle! Not a game!"
"Come on, Uncle Vegeta, join us," Trillin said, casually grabbing his hand like they were old friends.
With a look that clearly said "I want to kill someone," Vegeta reluctantly joined in.
Everyone except Krillin, Bulma, and Aki put their hands forward.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
After a few rounds, the matchups were set.
Trillin and Gohan drew the short straw and ended up with Guldo, the one they disliked most.
Vegeta got Recoome, who looked like the toughest of the bunch.
Goku, excited, fixed his gaze on Captain Ginyu.
"Tch, unlucky," Trillin muttered, kicking a stone as he walked up to Guldo.
"Hey, four-eyes, hurry up. I've got a game to finish."
Guldo trembled with rage, his face shaking.
"You arrogant brat! You'll pay for this! Take this… Time Freeze!"
He inhaled deeply, eyes wide as a strange psychic wave spread out.
The air stopped moving.
Birds froze mid-flight.
Even the wind vanished.
Time itself stopped.
Only Guldo could move in this frozen world.
Smirking, he walked up to Trillin, picked up a sharp rock, and aimed for his head.
"Die, you ignorant brat!"
Just as he was about to strike…
Pfft.
An extremely inappropriate sound echoed through the frozen space.
Guldo froze.
The concentration required to hold his breath broke instantly.
Time resumed.
"Whoa, that stinks!"
"Gohan, did you eat sweet potatoes again?"
Trillin pinched his nose and jumped back.
"It wasn't me!" Gohan blushed, pointing at Guldo.
"That sound came from him!"
Guldo's face turned red.
He had pushed himself to the limit holding his breath to maintain the time stop.
But Trillin's overwhelming aura had shaken him, causing the air to escape from below and break his technique.
"You… you idiots!"
Enraged, Guldo inhaled again, preparing to stop time once more.
"Trying that again?"
Krillin chuckled from afar.
He had already seen through Guldo's trick.
Though young, Trillin's combat instincts were razor sharp thanks to Krillin's training.
He didn't give Guldo the chance.
Opening his mouth, he unleashed a high-frequency sonic blast infused with energy.
"Aaaaah!"
The air Guldo had just inhaled reversed violently. His body swelled like an overinflated balloon, his eyes bulging out.
"Now, Gohan!" Trillin shouted.
"Got it!"
Gohan vanished and reappeared above Guldo.
Both hands raised, golden energy surged between his palms. His expression turned fierce, nothing like his usual gentle self.
"Masenko!"
A massive golden beam crashed down like divine judgment.
Guldo was still gasping, completely unable to dodge.
Boom!
The ground shook.
Guldo didn't even have time to scream before he was completely vaporized, leaving nothing behind.
As the dust cleared, a massive crater remained.
Trillin and Gohan high-fived midair, perfectly in sync.
"All done!"
Trillin stuck his tongue out at the remaining members of the Ginyu Force.
"Who's next? Hope you last longer."
Silence.
Captain Ginyu's jaw nearly dropped.
Guldo might have been the weakest, but his psychic abilities were feared even by him. And he had been erased instantly by two kids?
"That… that's impossible!"
Jeice stepped back in horror.
Krillin leaned lazily against Aki, opening his system panel.
Host: Krillin
Race: Human (Divine Regeneration Body)
Power Level: 53,500 (suppressed, fluctuates with mood)
Status: Watching the show comfortably (Max satisfaction)
Mission Progress: Defeat the Ginyu Force (1/5)
"Well done, son."
Krillin popped a grape into his mouth.
"Looks like that half-year of hell training paid off. Next up, Vegeta. Don't embarrass yourself."
Vegeta snorted, his voice cold.
"Shut up, baldy. Watch closely. This is how a Saiyan prince fights."
He strode forward toward Recoome, his energy flaring wildly. Stones around him began to rise, defying gravity.
"Big guy, I'm going to knock every single tooth out of that mouth of yours."
--------------------------------
Unlock exclusive early access to 20 advanced chapters on my P@treon. Join today and dive into the story before anyone else!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a