Frieza Force Main Ship, Medical Bay.
The dim room echoed with the steady, mechanical beeping of life-support systems.
At the center stood a massive cylindrical healing pod. Inside, a muscular figure floated in a dense green restorative fluid, tiny bubbles clinging to his body.
Vegeta's eyes were closed as he drifted in suspension.
The damage inflicted by Recoome was severe. His chest bones had been shattered, his knees crushed, his internal organs heavily injured. Now, all of it was healing at a visible rate.
Saiyan cells devoured the energy in the fluid with relentless hunger. Each cycle of destruction and regeneration pushed his power higher.
"Beep. Vital signs stable. Power level reading… error… overflow… recalibrating."
The cold mechanical voice echoed through the chamber.
Hiss.
With a sharp release of pressure, the pod slowly opened.
The green liquid drained away, revealing a body packed with explosive strength.
Vegeta's eyes snapped open.
For a brief moment, it felt like lightning flashed through the darkness.
He exhaled slowly and stepped out of the pod.
His bare feet struck the metal floor with a heavy sound.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands, slowly clenching his fists.
The energy inside him surged like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"This power…"
A grin spread uncontrollably across his face. A low chuckle escaped his throat, growing louder until it turned into wild laughter.
"Hahahaha! So this is the power of a Saiyan who survives near death? Incredible. Absolutely incredible!"
He could feel it clearly.
Compared to just a few hours ago, he was a completely different being.
Back then, he had been helpless against Recoome.
Now, he felt like he could obliterate someone like that with a single punch.
"Twenty thousand? Thirty thousand? No. This is far beyond fifty thousand. Maybe even higher!"
He grabbed a high-elastic combat suit and pulled it on. The white gloves snapped tightly into place.
Looking at his reflection, his eyes were filled with overwhelming arrogance.
"Frieza… you disgusting lizard. You never saw this coming."
"The legendary Super Saiyan… that must be me now."
His confidence swelled beyond reason.
In his mind, he could already see himself crushing Frieza beneath his heel, forcing that tyrant to beg for mercy.
Boom!
With a single kick, he blasted open the thick alloy door of the medical room. His body shot out like a streak of white light, wrapped in a powerful aura.
But the moment he exited the ship, he froze midair.
The familiar green sky of Namek was gone.
In its place was a suffocating darkness.
Heavy black clouds pressed down like solid weight. Lightning twisted through them like serpents.
An ancient, vast, almost sacred presence filled the world.
In that endless darkness, a colossal green dragon coiled through the sky.
Its body stretched like a mountain range. Its wings blocked out the stars. Its massive head pierced the heavens.
Its crimson eyes glowed like twin blood-red moons, gazing down on the world.
"What… what is that…"
Vegeta's pupils shrank to pinpoints. His heart clenched as if gripped by an invisible hand.
"A dragon?"
"So it's real… and that size… unbelievable!"
Shock quickly turned into overwhelming greed.
Just moments ago, he had been on his way to fight Frieza.
Now, every ounce of battle intent was replaced by one thought.
Immortality.
The dragon was right there.
The sky was dark.
That meant the opportunity was happening right now.
"Hahahaha! The universe itself is on my side!"
"That idiot Frieza must be busy fighting that bald Earthling. He has no idea the real winner is me!"
Vegeta's eyes burned brighter than the dragon's.
He did not even bother sensing the massive energy clashes in the distance.
All that existed in his world was the dragon.
"Immortality… with that, and my current power, the entire universe will belong to me!"
"Frieza, you're finished!"
Whoosh!
Vegeta unleashed his full speed.
A white trail tore through the sky as he rushed forward like a comet.
Closer. Closer.
He could already see the intricate patterns on the dragon's scales. He could feel the pressure of its breath.
Five hundred meters. Three hundred. One hundred.
He spread his arms wide, a twisted smile on his face.
The words of his wish were already on his lips.
"Dragon! Grant me immortality. Now!"
But just as his fingertips were about to reach that sacred light—
A strange wave struck.
It was not energy.
It was something beyond that. A higher rule.
The law of the dragon's wish.
The world around him warped instantly.
The dark sky, the massive dragon, the distant ship. Everything stretched and twisted into surreal lines.
"What is this?!"
Vegeta roared, trying to break free with all his strength.
But in the face of that power, his energy was like a candle in a storm.
Gone.
In an instant, the darkness vanished.
Blinding sunlight replaced it.
A clear blue sky.
White tiles beneath his feet.
Fresh air filled his lungs, carrying the scent of earth and grass instead of Namek's heavy atmosphere.
He stumbled forward, sliding several meters before stopping.
He looked up, confused.
A circular plaza.
Palm trees.
A domed building in the distance.
Light gravity.
Thin air.
This was not Namek.
"This place…"
His eyes moved across the surroundings.
He saw Dende, staring at him in confusion.
He saw the Grand Elder.
He saw Bulma holding a child, the boy in the "BADMAN" shirt with his hands in his pockets, and Gohan standing nearby with a determined gaze.
There were also hundreds of Namekian villagers, recently revived, gathered at the edge of the plaza.
Not far away stood a dark-skinned attendant in a turban and an elderly Namekian leaning on a staff, both staring in shock at the sudden crowd.
The memory clicked.
He knew this place.
Even after seeing it only once, he could never forget.
"Earth…?"
His voice trembled.
He spun around and looked up at the sky.
Blue skies. White clouds. Birds flying peacefully.
No dragon.
No Porunga.
Not even a trace of Namek.
"Where is the dragon?!"
His veins throbbed.
One second, he had been about to wish for immortality.
The next, he had been thrown back to Earth like garbage.
It was unbearable.
That feeling of losing something just within reach hurt more than death.
That was immortality.
The one thing he had always wanted.
"Aaaaahhh!!!"
Vegeta roared, his energy exploding outward and shattering the tiles beneath his feet.
"Who did this?!"
"Give me back the dragon! Give me back my immortality!"
--------------------------------
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