In Capsule Corporation's yard, the aroma of barbecue mixed with boisterous laughter.
This was a grand party hosted by Bulma, inviting everyone to celebrate together.
A massive long table was covered with a dazzling spread—succulent roasted whole oxen, premium steaks, and delicate West City desserts. Everything imaginable was there.
Krillin raised his juice cup high, his cheeks flushed with excitement.
"To Loren! To our great hero!"
"Oh!"
Gohan pumped his small fists vigorously, his eyes filled with admiration as he stared at the figure intently devouring a premium steak.
Loren paid no attention to the noise.
He calmly used his fork to pick up another slice of meat coated in secret sauce, popped it into his mouth, and savored the perfect blend of fat and lean melting on his tongue.
The title of hero was far less satisfying than this bite of meat.
Goku walked over, holding a plate piled like a small mountain. His mouth was still full as he spoke indistinctly.
"Loren, about that… Super Saiyan thing. What exactly is going on?"
"When you transform, do you feel really calm inside, but your power goes totally wild?"
Loren finished a roasted chicken leg and carefully wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
"Hmm. Something like that."
A perfectly perfunctory answer.
"Then how can I transform? Do I have to be really, really angry?"
Goku's eyes gleamed with longing for a higher realm.
Loren glanced at him, yawned, and looked like he was staring at a primary school kid asking why one plus one equals two.
"I don't know."
"Maybe it just happens when you've had enough sleep."
Goku froze on the spot and fell into deep self-doubt.
Enough sleep?
Had all his past training methods been wrong?
Vegeta did not join the foolish revelry.
He stood alone in the corner of the yard, leaning against a massive ornamental tree with his arms crossed.
Shadows hid most of his proud yet lonely face.
Loren's golden aura—the absolute power that crushed the Emperor of the Universe—replayed endlessly in Vegeta's mind.
Why?
Why wasn't he, Prince of all Saiyans, the Super Saiyan?
Loren noticed Vegeta's gaze and slowly walked over, holding a glass of lemonade.
"Something wrong?"
Vegeta's body trembled.
"You… how did you do it?!"
Loren took a sip of lemonade. The sweet-and-sour taste made him narrow his eyes comfortably.
"Do what?"
"Super Saiyan!" Vegeta practically roared.
Loren thought for a moment, then replied casually.
"Oh, that?"
"Probably… Frieza was too noisy. It affected my mood."
Vegeta's breathing stalled.
Too noisy?
Just because Frieza… was too noisy?!
What kind of reason was that?!
What kind of answer was that?!
"You—!"
Vegeta shook with rage, unable to say another word.
Loren's gaze drifted past him to Yamcha, who was chatting and laughing with Bulma not far away.
That optimistic baseball player smiled brightly, completely unaware that a proud prince was about to descend upon his peaceful grassland.
A trace of pity flashed through Loren's eyes.
Trouble.
Bulma walked over at that moment, holding two specially mixed drinks and smiling warmly.
"Loren! Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, none of us would've made it back!"
"I've prepared the most luxurious suite for you at Capsule Corporation. You can stay as long as you want! It's got the latest gravity chamber and a fully automatic food dispenser!"
For any warrior, these conditions were irresistible.
Loren simply shook his head.
"No need. It's too noisy."
The refusal was clean and decisive.
Bulma's smile stiffened.
Loren set down his empty cup and lazily waved at everyone.
"I'm full. I'm leaving."
Before the words even faded, Loren vanished from the spot.
Loren reappeared deep within a secluded mountain range where human presence was rare.
One of Earth's few untouched sanctuaries.
Fresh air carried the scent of grass and trees. A distant waterfall roared like soothing white noise, and sunlight filtered through dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Loren stretched contentedly, picked a large sun-warmed rock, and sprawled on it without grace.
"Ah… this is life."
A few hours later, back at Capsule Corporation.
The party had ended.
Goku's smile was gone as he stared at the place Loren had disappeared from, his expression serious.
"Piccolo, Gohan—we need to start training too."
"Loren's strong, but we can't rely on him forever."
Piccolo nodded. His experiences on Namek had made him painfully aware of his own weakness.
The Z Fighters' passion reignited. A harsher training era was about to begin.
They didn't know—
The person they were desperately trying to catch up to was currently satisfied because he'd found the perfect angle for a nap.
The guests gradually dispersed, and the yard grew quiet.
Vegeta still stood beneath the shadow of that tree.
He, Prince Vegeta, would use sweat, blood, and insane training beyond all limits to prove one thing:
Talent meant nothing before absolute effort and noble Saiyan blood.
He would become a Super Saiyan through his own strength.
Bulma, directing cleaning robots while holding a tray, noticed Vegeta radiating a clear do not approach aura.
Interesting guy.
She walked over lightly.
"Hey, the party's over. Planning to stand there till dawn?"
Vegeta slowly lifted his gaze, looking at her as if she were a lower life-form.
"Shut up, Earth woman."
"Don't disturb me with your foolish voice."
Bulma wasn't intimidated at all. She put her hands on her hips and studied him with interest.
"What a bad temper."
"But since you helped out—same as Loren—I'll generously offer you a place to stay."
She pointed toward the massive Capsule Corporation building.
"I've got the best gravity training room in the universe."
"Loren, that lazy bum, said it was too noisy and refused. What a waste."
Gravity training room.
Vegeta's pupils contracted.
That was the training ground he had always dreamed of.
Still, his pride wouldn't allow him to accept charity from an Earth woman.
"Hmph."
He turned away coldly.
"I don't need your pity."
"This primitive planet's technology is nothing but a child's toy to me—Prince Vegeta."
Bulma nearly laughed out loud.
This alien prince was a walking tsundere.
"Is that so?"
She dragged out the words and turned as if to leave.
"Well, I was thinking of setting the gravity to three hundred times to test the limit."
"Since you're not interested, I'll just dismantle it."
Three hundred times gravity.
Vegeta's composure shattered instantly.
"Stop!"
Bulma halted and turned back, wearing a cunning, triumphant smile.
Vegeta clenched his teeth, as if making a massive concession, though his face still held that arrogant edge.
"I… merely wish to personally verify how fragile Earth's technology truly is."
"Lead the way."
His tone sounded like an order.
"Alright, Your Highness."
Bulma shrugged.
"Follow me."
"But if you break my machines, you're staying here to work them off."
Vegeta said nothing more and strode forward.
Loren.
Just wait.
I will surpass you—and become the strongest Super Saiyan.
[The God-level selection system]
[Name: Loren
Battle Power (Normal State): 5,000,000
Battle Power (Super Saiyan State): 250,000,000
Skills:
Super Saiyan Transformation
Ten Times Kaio-ken (No Side Effects)
Instant Transmission (Mastered & Enhanced)
Kamehameha (Mastered)
Destructo Disc (Mastered & Enhanced)
Autonomous Great Ape Transformation
Ki Sensing (Perfect)
…(Some basic skills have been collapsed)
Description: To live a life of peaceful idleness, you must clear all obstacles that might disturb it.
Congratulations. The phased goal has been achieved.
Now enjoy your vacation.]
...
Author's Note:
The fanfic Dragon Ball: I Became Invincible by Being a Lazy Salted Fish! Part 1 (Dragon Ball Z) is now fully completed.
The entire story has been uploaded on Patreon as a dedicated collection:
📚 Dragon Ball (Chapters 1–123)
Organized into 17 posts, with multiple chapters per post for easy binge reading.
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous support and love for this story 💙