The celebration was short-lived. As the three warriors floated back toward the Sunny, a massive energy blast erupted from below. It caught Goku by surprise, sending him crashing into the ocean.
Frieza floated up, his hand still smoking. "How touching. The Saiyans have made a friend. But this little reunion ends now."
Vegeta's face twisted with hatred. "FRIEZA!"
He shot toward the emperor, his Super Saiyan aura blazing. Frieza met him head-on, their clash creating shockwaves that flattened the ocean surface.
Goku recovered, shaking his head. "He's stronger than before. He's been training too."
Luffy watched the battle, his expression shifting to his serious face. "That bumpy-head hurt my friends. He tried to eat my crew. He's not getting away."
He shot forward, joining the fray. But Frieza was ready. He caught Luffy's punch, twisted, and threw him into Vegeta. The two Saiyans tumbled across the water.
"Pathetic," Frieza sneered. "You think your little transformation can match me? I've spent decades perfecting my power. I've destroyed races, planets, entire solar systems. You're children playing at war."
He raised a hand, and a massive sphere of purple energy formed above him. "Behold! My ultimate attack! The death ball that will erase this planet and everyone on it!"
Luffy's eyes went wide. The Sunny. His crew. They were still unconscious, floating helplessly.
"NO!"
He shot forward, but Frieza's energy barrier stopped him cold. Vegeta and Goku attacked together, but the barrier held.
Frieza laughed. "Watch, Saiyans! Watch as everything you love turns to ash!"
The death ball descended.
And then, a voice. Deep. Resonant. Filled with an ancient power.
"SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!"
A spiraling beam of energy shot from below, piercing Frieza's barrier and slamming into his back. The emperor screamed, his concentration breaking. The death ball flickered and dissipated.
Piccolo stood on the ocean surface, his fingers pressed to his forehead, smoke rising from his hand. "I've been charging that for ten minutes. You're welcome."
Goku grinned. "Piccolo! You're awake!"
"Barely. That monster hits hard." Piccolo's eyes narrowed at Frieza. "But I wasn't about to let him destroy the planet."
Frieza turned, fury in his eyes. "YOU! You'll pay for that, Namekian!"
Before he could move, Zoro appeared behind him, Enma pressed against his throat. "Move and I'll cut off your head."
Sanji appeared on his other side, his leg wreathed in flames. "Try anything and I'll kick you to the moon."
Jinbe rose from the water below, his fist crackling with Fish-Man Karate. "Surrender, tyrant. Your reign ends here."
Frieza looked around. The crew had awakened. They surrounded him, their energy focused, their wills unbroken. Even the frog in Luffy's pocket croaked threateningly.
Luffy floated down, landing in front of Frieza. His Gear Fifth form faded, leaving him in his normal state, but his expression was no less fierce.
"You tried to hurt my friends. You tried to destroy my home. You threatened my crew." He stepped closer. "In my world, there's something we do to people like you."
Frieza's eye twitched. "And what's that?"
Luffy's fist connected with his face. Not a special attack. Not a Gear. Just a punch. But it was a punch filled with everything Luffy had—his will, his dream, his love for his crew.
Frieza flew backward, crashing into the ocean.
When he emerged, his composure was gone. He was furious. Terrified. And desperate.
"This isn't over! I'll return! I'll gather my army! I'll—"
A hand grabbed his head from behind. Vegeta's voice was cold. "No. You won't."
The purple aura of his pride attack built around his hand. Frieza screamed as the energy consumed him. When it faded, nothing remained.
Vegeta floated there, his hand still extended, his expression unreadable. For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Luffy laughed. "Shishishi! You did it, pointy-hair! You beat the bumpy-head!"
Vegeta lowered his hand, his expression shifting to its usual arrogance. "Of course I did. I'm the Prince of all Saiyans. It was only a matter of time."
Goku floated beside him, grinning. "We all helped, Vegeta. It was a team effort."
"Tch. Whatever."