A crimson world spun above the table; of course, it was just a hologram of a planet, but it was enough to spark a glint in the eyes of Freeza's father. The giant creature with elegant mannerisms took hold of the golden cup and lifted it with massive, strong hands. He rotated the cup gently and took in the aroma of the wine through his nostrils. The man released a moan as he drank the beverage, just a little bit. He was pleased with the arrangements and the gifts given to him by his only child. His orbs shifted to Freeza, the exquisite offspring who met every expectation he had of him.
It has been only a few decades, and his child's supremacy, terror, spread through the entire galaxy like wildfire. The number of soldiers increased each day. More dependable and tough people were recruited to the force, overflowing the universe with Freeza's dreadful influence. What was most pleasing was his son's nose for business. The amount of wealth his precious prodigy brought in was astonishing. Their family was in this line of work for generations, but no one captured and cleared the worlds and had them immediately for sale as fast as Freeza.
"My dearest father, I take it you're pleased with the gifts and the accommodation. I must congratulate Zarbon; he outdid himself this time."
Hearing the son's voice caused the enormous figure to snap out of his thoughts. The king smirked as he responded with an approving nod. His crimson orbs stirred and remained locked on Freeza, who stood across him. He stared at his child, feeling proud of producing such a fine specimen.
"Indeed... While we're at it, how are your favorite pets doing?"
The moment he asked about the Saiyans, he could see the change in Freeza's demeanor. Now, that piqued Cold's attention. He wanted to know what occurred between his son and the three remaining Saiyans.
"Freeza, did you lose your composure and wipe out those primates? Hm?"
While King Cold took another sip, Freeza's tail slowly wavered. "Humph, as sharp as ever, father... No, I did not eliminate Vegeta's little group. They met their fate on planet Reptilia." There was a slight hint of dismay in Freeza's voice, which Cold immediately recognized.
"Pity... While they were a savage and primitive tribe, I was always fond of their work and incredible lust for battle."
After a short pause, King Cold continued as he rose from the chair. "I remember as if it was yesterday when I first landed on that humid and hot world barely even populated by those savages consumed by bloodlust. If it weren't for King Vegeta III's iron rule, those imbeciles would have wiped each other out..." The giant creature approached a window and gazed at the bright stars.
"Despite being low in numbers, they launched a brilliantly coordinated assault on my troops. When I saw them ravage through the Cold Force all battered and soaked in blood, it was at that moment that I knew I had to have those battle-crazed monkeys in my army."
A chuckle caught King Cold's attention, but the man didn't turn or speak. "Hoh, the way you speak is almost as if you respect those filthy apes. They outlived their usefulness, and it's much better this way. No more defiant eyes to look at." He ignored his child's laugh and continued to observe the stars.
The silence lasted for only a minute when the doors opened. "Lord Freeza, revered King Cold, I have come to inform you that the ship's ready for departure at your leisure." Zarbon spoke and bowed respectfully as the light from the corridor illuminated his frame.
"Right on point! Brilliant work, Zarbon. I see you haven't lost your touch even after all these years."
Upon hearing such praise from King Cold, the green-haired warrior smirked as he lifted his head. Zarbon stepped to the side, allowing the enormous creature to walk out of the room. Only a few steps behind was Freeza, who only gave an approving nod to Zarbon, which was more than enough for the elegant man.
As they walked through the brightly illuminated corridor, every single person lowered their heads out of respect and fear as the most powerful and feared creatures in the galaxy passed by. Some soldiers could barely keep their wits together from passing out. The sinister aura pouring out from those frightening beings was so ruthless, imposing on anything that stood in front of them.
"In short, the new buyers doubled their offer once they heard you would be joining the feast, my king."
King Cold was pleased to hear that while Freeza just sneered. "Hm, good for you, father. It looks like even after these few decades, your name still echoes across the universe." The short lizard lifted a hand to hide the devilish grin.
"But of course. I was, after all, the only one who conquered the vast and dark parts of the universe. I'm the one and only who ruled the longest out of anyone in our clan."
Freeza didn't comment anything on that; he just remained silent as twisted thoughts consumed his vile mind. The pinkish creature was brewing something in his head when a loud, destructive noise caught his and everyone's attention.
Tremors caused the ceiling to collapse, making the soldiers hide for cover. While the dust consumed the place, the surprised soldiers couldn't but wonder what was going on. Freeza and King Cold didn't seem fazed by the sudden collapse at all. However, it was evident how much this annoyed Freeza. His tail lashed out as he took a step forward, firmly clenching his fists.
"What's going on!? Somebody better explain or..."
Before the mighty tyrant could finish his sentence, an explosion caused the male to grit his teeth. The flying rocks took out most of the soldiers except Zarbon and King Cold's guards. Scouters instantly started to give out warnings as two power levels skyrocketed. The dust got blown away and revealed the young warriors in a stalemate, glaring at each other.
Veins surfaced across their stressed arms and faces, but neither was willing to give up. Suddenly, the red-haired warrior pulled the head back, only to gain momentum and headbutt the hybrid. The younger one groaned out of pain and lost balance for a second which was enough for the opponent to seize the chance to counterattack. His body got violently pulled against his will and slammed against the firm wall. He coughed blood after the impact but had no time to waste time. The wild-haired boy swiftly raised a leg and blocked a knee. His entire frame shivered from just blocking such a fierce strike. He dealt with the pain surging through his entire structure and slapped the enemy with his tail.
The red-haired soldier didn't see that one coming and left himself open. Kakarot's child acted fast and delivered a solid kick to the jaw. Finally, they let go of each other and leaned against the walls. Both could barely stay on their feet; the lungs were set on fire as fatigue took over. Their battered young bodies couldn't take it any longer. That is why the young warriors decided to settle their match with one last attack.
Both gripped their fists as hard as possible and let out a thunderous battle cry. They charged at one another, ready to deliver a fatal blow but suddenly, a figure appeared above them. The boys could only blink in confusion before being forced to the ground. They yelped as both were pinned on the floor with such force that neither could rival it.
At that moment, when he got pinned against his will, Gohan came back to his senses. Once he recognized the ki, the young half-Saiyan immediately relaxed. The last thing he wanted was to rile up Zarbon. However, now that he thought about it, there was no way to avoid punishment. He foolishly lost his temper and made a mess. The long-haired child clenched his teeth and cursed his stupidity while his opponent still barked at him.
"S-Stupid monkey... I-I'll get ya..."
Gohan wanted to scream back and fight the taller guy, but there was no way to do it now. His heart was racing, and his mind was processing what could happen to him now. He could hear Zarbon mumble some threatening words, but his black orbs focused on the creature standing next to Freeza. The purple giant sent shivers down his spine as much as Freeza, but the look in those eyes seemed different. He didn't like that creepy sparkle at all.
"Tch! I knew keeping an untrained monkey would cause nothing but trouble! My lord, should I dispose of this troublesome little half-breed!?"
Zarbon squeezed the grip around Gohan's neck and limited oxygen consumption. The boy's face slowly started to turn blue as there was no air getting into his lungs. His pupils became transparent and lifeless when a deep voice caused the loyal officer to stand down.
"No, you may not, Zarbon... Well, this is a surprise. I was under the impression all Saiyans were dead, yet, here is one and at such a young age, no less. Care to explain what is going on, Freeza?"
While Freeza explained Gohan's backstory, the exhausted hybrid could breathe again. Sweat dripped from his bruised chin as he stared at the floor. He was alive, for now at least. Zarbon still had him pinned down but seemed to shift focus to the red-haired soldier who was getting quite a beating. He couldn't but smile as he watched the guy get beat up. However, what impressed the half-Saiyan was no sound coming from the taller warrior. The short-haired soldier took his punishment without showing any hint of fear which was remarkable in Gohan's eyes.
Suddenly, Gohan diverted his orbs forward when he heard heavy footsteps approaching. "A hybrid, you say, fascinating..." He could only stare at the giant's feet until Zarbon lifted his body. A hand softly grasped his chin and raised his head. He was finally able to meet those ancient and experienced crimson eyes up close.
"Hm, yes... This boy is a fine rarity. No wonder you kept him a secret from me, my beloved son."
Freeza released a sigh as he watched his father inspect the hybrid. "It wasn't my intention at all, father. There are just more important matters to attend than waste time with a weak, little monkey." The mighty creature closed the distance and glared at Gohan with anger that it terrified even Zarbon.
"Well, if you are of such opinion, then I suppose you won't have anything against me taking this uncut gem under my supervision."
Not only Freeza but Zarbon and Cold's guards were surprised to hear that. "Ahm, you want to incorporate this simian into your army? May I ask why? What's so interesting about this half-Saiyan runt that caught the eyes of the illustrious King Cold." The venom and detest toward the Saiyans was quite evident as he spoke.
Upon hearing those words, King Cold let go of the boy and turned around, causing the long, high-quality cape to sway. "My child, you know I'm quite a collector of rarities. I have made my army out of the rarest and most valuable species across the entire universe! And this little one, I must admit, piqued my interest." The purple creature halted and tilted his head to the left.
"After all, not anybody can land a blow on someone like Yōgan. Isn't that right, my elite general?"
Once King Cold uttered his name, the red-haired warrior immediately opened his eyes and, with ease, broke free from Zarbon's hold. The warrior's demeanor changed alongside the exterior. His irises darkened, which caused the red pupils to shine with extraordinary glimmer. Once, pale skin turned almost bronze-like and covered in strange marks. His muscle mass increased but not by much. However, it was enough to make the scouters go wild.
As the shocked gasps echoed within the corridor, the red-haired warrior dropped on a knee and lowered his head. "My king. I sincerely apologize for causing such trouble for you and Prince Freeza. I bear all the blame and will accept any punishment for allowing this child to break my composure, sir!" Much to everyone's surprise, the warrior named Yōgan created a small ki blade and placed it just above the right arm.
Before he did any harm to himself, King Cold's voice forced the loyal warrior to stop. "I will let this one mistake slide. After all, you brought to me a rough diamond, my dear Yōgan." King Cold couldn't contain himself from laughing as he approached his only child.
"I know you won't let this one go for free, so how about we make this a tad bit more interesting, hmm?"
A single drop of sweat slid down Freeza's brow as his father hovered above him with such massive size. He despised this, this feeling of being backed against the wall despite being much more powerful, or at least he thought so. However, he knew once his father got like this, there was no escaping it. There was nothing else to do but to listen to Cold's proposition.
Once he received a nod from his child, the devilish grin grew. "A tournament! The hybrid will represent your side, and each time he wins a round, you will receive a powerful soldier with great potential. That doesn't sound so bad, does it?"
Freeza placed a hand under his chin and thought about it. It wasn't a bad deal at all. A single soldier from his father's army valued like twenty soldiers from the Freeza Force. However, could this brat do it? Was there something more to this half-breed that he somehow missed? Or was his father just a foolish collector and acting on impulse?
Finally, he broke the silence and lowered the hand. "And I assume if the runt doesn't win this tournament of yours, you get to take him? Humph, fine. Let's have it your way, father. However, this is the last time I'll indulge in your out-of-hand urges." Freeza shot a glare in his father's way for maybe the first time in his life, and Cold responded with a chuckle.
King Cold clapped only once and loud enough to force everyone's attention to himself. "Splendid! Yōgan, take the boy and put him in the ship's healing tank. We will hold this contest in front of our new, rich clients who will enjoy the spectacle!" Cold's laughter echoed across the corridor as he and his son walked toward the spaceship.
Meanwhile, Gohan couldn't believe what had just transpired before his weary eyes. Not only was he tricked and toyed around by Yōgan, who hid his true strength, but now he had to compete in a tournament? His body quivered with so much anger. To them, he was nothing more than a toy. He wanted to shout, scream, but it was impossible. The hybrid couldn't take it anymore and finally lost consciousness.
.
The annoying and repetitive noise caused the black-haired boy to wake up. As he opened his eyes, he got blinded by the bright light. He grunted as he cleared his eyes and slowly got up. As his eyes adjusted to the light, the boy looked around, only to realize he was in a medical room. He wondered what happened to him when memories of his fight with Yōgan surfaced, along with the deal King Cold and Freeza made. Frustrated by all of it, the child hissed as he punched the bed.
Just when he thought he settled nicely in the Freeza Force and all Gohan had to do was do Freeza's bidding and pretend to be loyal until the right time comes, now he had to deal with Cold of all people. To make things worse, he knew nothing of that character besides that the creature was giant, mighty, and Freeza's father. He wished that arrogant midget Vegeta at least mentioned another monster besides Freeza, but naturally, who gives a damn about an offspring of a low-class warrior, right?
Annoyed by everything, Gohan jumped off the bed and walked toward the table. He put on new battle armor and a pair of black boots and gauntlets. His dark orbs gazed at the violet scouter on the table, and the boy could only sigh as he picked it up. Once he put it on and pressed the button, the device came to life. Not even ten seconds passed since the device got turned on, and already, there was an incoming transmission.
"Good, you're finally awake, brat! In case you haven't noticed, we're already on planet Kabocha. Lord Freeza and King Cold are entertaining the clients while everyone else's setting up the stage for this ridiculous tournament! By Lord Freeza's orders, you are to show yourself at these coordinates in thirty minutes. Don't be late, or you'll regret the day you were born!"
"Zarbon... Bah!"
Gohan spat on the floor and followed the yellow indicator on the scouter. The arrow pointed to the west, and it looked like the place wasn't so far from his current location. He had enough time for a snack and to warm up correctly. So, he immediately left the room and headed to the cafeteria.
Plates continued to pile across the table despite the time running out. The soldiers guarding the ship stared in awe and disgust at the speed and ferocity the boy ate his meal. Naturally, the hybrid didn't care about others whatsoever. He focused on getting some food into his system. Otherwise, he would get beaten easily. After ten minutes of devouring all kinds of nutrients, Gohan slammed the plate against the table and released a loud burping noise.
His ears picked up a naughty comment from the front, but he ignored it this time. He slid down the chair and walked out of the room. As he walked through the ship's corridor, the boy slowly started to warm up. He increased his pace and suddenly vanished from everyone's sight. The boy tested his moves against the walking soldiers without them being aware. He would halt his strikes mere centimeters before landing the blow and vanish without anyone even notching anything.
Once he was out of the ship, the boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Several seconds later, he released it and reopened his eyes. A fresh breeze blew across the field. It was quite a view to behold. He could see the vast landscape from the top of the mountain. There were lush fields with all kinds of colors and rivers and waterfalls. The sun slowly descending over the horizon made this even more staggering.
However, he had no time to waste on this. He had to think of the battles ahead of him. The boy flew off and couldn't but wonder if he should fight for the win or simply just lose. Would it be better to fight with all he had so he could stay under Freeza and observe what was going on or lose and switch over to King Cold's army, which seemed somewhat different? Gohan thought about his options throughout his flight until he saw the coliseum.
"Woah! What the hell's this!?"
Colorful branches and thick green leaves completely overtook the arena. Those branches soared high and mingled together right above the stadium. The tree branches were so thick and numerous that it was impossible to squeeze through. A single stone pillar, marked by weird letters and old-looking illustrations, supported the monumental coliseum.
Gohan stared at the sight beneath him, astonished by it. The boy snapped out of it when he felt the ki bellow. He clenched his teeth and quickly began to descend. The half-Saiyan got shot with numerous scowls as he set foot on the ground. They just glared at him as he moved through the crowd and tried to avoid any unnecessary trouble. He ignored them, but some unknown ki caught his attention. Gohan moved his orbs to the left and saw five cloaked figures standing in front of Yōgan, who looked like he was giving them instructions.
The hybrid squeezed his fists tightly as he glared at the red-haired warrior. However, familiar approaching ki made him look away. He gazed forward and saw Zarbon closing in with a quick pace. There was a visible frown on the man's face which was hilarious since the man always appeared calm and graceful.
He barely had time to blink when Zarbon seized him by the collar of his armor. "Get in there this instant! Everyone's waiting for you to show up, brat!" Gohan got violently pushed forward and accidentally knocked a poor soldier down.
"Ouch! That's gonna sting all day... Hey, you okay, kid? I guess both of us should've kept our eyes up front, right?"
The skinny alien nervously laughed as he scratched his bald head. His body trembled as he gazed at the visibly annoyed Gohan. Sweat trailed slowly across his wrinkled face as he was able to hear the sound of the boy's teeth grinding against each other. The old-looking soldier took a step back when a voice caught his full attention.
"Oi! Old man! Pick up that thing and haul your skinny ass over here! Cmon, we got to finish this, or we'll get turned to dust!"
A wave of relief washed over the short alien. He lifted the stuff from the ground and quickly moved away. "Huh, if I'm not mistaken, that kid's a Saiyan... But how can that be!? I thought those guys died years ago. Strange..." He stared at the long-haired hybrid and wondered in what kind of mess the child was since Zarbon was angry.
The skinny alien wasn't even aware that Gohan was so lost in the destructive thoughts that he didn't even notice or feel the older male. Gohan got out of the trance once Zarbon began to speak again, which irritated the half-Saiyan greatly.
"You better produce a miracle because this is Lord Freeza's honor at stake! Lose, and I swear even if you go to the other side, I'll arrange your demise!"
Zarbon's golden orbs, for a moment, looked very monstrous, but that didn't scare the boy. "I understand. I'll do my best and win this tournament for Lord Freeza!" He detested saying that, but he needed to continue to pretend.
He got pushed once more as he walked toward the giant gate. As he walked through it, he was able to hear loud cheers. It was so loud he could barely hear his thoughts. As he emerged from the dark corridor, the whole place roared, and the drumming increased even more. His mouth was wide open as he saw the interior of the arena. He gazed to the left and saw the large stage in the middle, separated by a deep hole from the bleachers.
Suddenly, a screech caused Gohan to curse as it penetrated his ears. He looked up and saw a small creature wearing a silver suit and a helmet with black wings flying around and presumably speaking to the crowd. He recognized the names of Freeza and Cold and just noticed them in a separated sector of the bleachers accompanied by creatures in crimson suits and golden wings. Those guys must have been the clients they spoke of. He wondered what kind of species they were, but he snapped out of his thoughts when Zarbon pulled him closer.
"Fly over there and pray to whoever you know of that you win... Plus, your other task is to entertain our lovely clients; you got that, you brat!?"
He had enough of this. For a moment, he lost it and caught Zarbon's hand. "Enough. I said I got this." He removed the hand and squeezed it so tight that it left a mark, much to the green-haired man's shock.
Gohan flew over the hole just when his name got uttered. He could mostly hear negative comments coming from each side regarding his heritage. There were a couple of screeches which he presumed were cheers coming from those creatures in suits and helmets.
The hybrid resumed warming up while he waited for the first opponent. While the creature above him continued to talk, he finally sensed his opponent's ki getting closer. Gohan stopped moving around and lowered his leg to shift to the side. He frowned as the hooded opponent made it out of the darkness. The boy glared at the cloaked person when suddenly, the opponent raised both fists high and leaped over the hole. Once his enemy touched the ground, the crimson cloak got tossed aside, revealing the tall and skinny creature.
"Oh, I can't believe all this thing got orchestrated because of a trash bug such as you. I promise I won't go easy on you, brat."
Gohan remained silent and observed the purple-gray creature wearing a slightly modified battle armor and visor-like scouter. The hybrid from Earth focused all his senses on this guy. There was no room for mistakes. He would not let down his guard as he did against Yōgan. No, these guys were different from ordinary soldiers. Maybe just like Yōgan, this one could alter its ki.
Gohan immediately assumed a fighting stance, unwilling to risk it, causing the audience to erupt with excitement. Everyone looked forward to the round one to commence while the bald alien just mockingly whistled. He ignored everything around him and steeled himself.
"Round One! Fight!"
Four seconds passed, and Gohan had already left his spot. The boy dashed forward with such speed the scouters in the arena couldn't pick up his power level. He appeared beside the opponent's left shoulder, eager to deliver a powerful punch to the jaw. The young warrior gritted his teeth and propelled his fist forward.
Krak!
The impact created a loud sound and sent the bald opponent flying. "G-Guh! The f..." Shocked by what had just ensued, the soldier stared at the boy with wide-open eyes. He quickly placed both hands on the ground and stopped himself.
"Grr! Brat! Just what do you think you're doing!? You should be cowering in fear, scared of me!"
King Cold's soldier could only blink twice before Gohan materialized directly above him. The boy closed his hands together and struck the alien's bald head. A piece of skin got torn off after the successful blow, and the blood started to pour out.
"Tch! Time-out, brat!"
The irritated opponent lifted the hand so fast it surprised Gohan for a second. He swiftly tilted backward and dodged a ki blast. Just as he was about to pull himself, the opponent leaned forward and grinned. The incoming fist was fast, but Gohan managed to shift his head to the side slightly and thus only allowed the punch to graze him. He supported himself on one arm and lifted his lower body so he could kick the enemy in the back of the head. That maneuver created an opening to escape, which he did and put some distance between them.
"Kuh! You slippery little b... I'll make you pay!"
Gohan lifted his right brow, curious to see how much the opponent's ki would keep on going up. The bald man's aura kept expanding and producing quite a light show for the crowd. The scouters kept echoing across the bleachers as the soldier's ki kept rising.
The spiked aura began to decrease in size until it barely glowed around the soldier. "He He! Get ready for this, brat! Bad Lancer!" A purplish lance made out of ki formed in the man's hand. The electricity surged across it as the soldier held it, eager to throw it at the long-haired warrior.
"Take this, you terrible nuisance! Get impaled and die!"
As the soldier tossed it, the ground beneath shattered as the lance flew at top speed toward Gohan. The boy's eyes and mouth were wide open as the attack got closer. Kakarot's son could only blink once before the lance pierced his belly. The entire crowd went silent, but just for five seconds before the bleachers erupted with loud cheering and shouting.
"He He He! That's what you get for thinking you can play around with people better than you, stupid runt! My destiny is to become the greatest in the Great King Cold Army! Now, fall and die, stupid brat!"
His laugh echoed across the stage. However, something was wrong. The boy's body suddenly started to become transparent. Much to the soldier's surprise, the body completely vanished. Suddenly, his eyes were wide open, and the sweat drops increasingly began to slide across his petrified face.
"The only stupid person in this entire arena is none other than you, a supposedly better and stronger guy who will be knocked down in five seconds by a child."
The bald soldier screamed and swung his long, skinny arm but missed the target. Instead, Gohan rose from below and struck the opponent's gut. He jumped and hit the man in the face with the elbow. The boy soared above the limp body of his opponent, who cried out. He focused all the strength into his fist and delivered a tremendous punch. The power behind it went through the opponent's entire frame and created a small crater on the floor.
Gohan took a step back and gazed at the flying creature as if telling it solely with his eyes that the match was over. And just like that, the black-haired boy was declared the winner of the first round. Despite his win, the negative comments continued, but Gohan already focused on the next opponent. He could see the soldier on the opposite side, making its way toward the stage.
"Humph, you defeated Tagoma; congratulations. However! Bear in mind that he was the weakest and still just a rookie. Me, on the other hand, have enough experience to kill you with my eyes closed!"
The mantle fell in the hole, but the creature was already in Gohan's face. His orbs didn't waver at all. Gohan was calm and unfazed as he stared at the bulkier opponent. The crimson fighter sported battle armor similar to the previous one but wore black briefs instead of a whole suit. Once the creature moved away, Gohan glanced at the horns and made a mental note to watch out for a surprise attack.
"Round Two! Fight!
Only a couple of seconds passed since the announcer declared the start of the second round, and the two warriors had already dashed forward. Gohan shouted as he charged at his incoming opponent, who just smirked. The Saiyan-Human hybrid launched a fist at the enemy but only struck the man's massive arm. He frowned and quickly pulled back, thus avoiding the alien's fast and powerful kick. The boy slid on the ground, attempting to deliver a blow to the leg and take away the guy's balance. However, the red alien saw it coming and jumped in time. While in the air, the muscular fighter propelled himself toward the long-haired boy with a deadly knee.
"Time to get crushed!"
Gohan cursed mentally as he quickly lifted his hands and caught the heavy knee in time. "Humph, you managed to protect yourself; bravo..." A throbbing vein surfaced on the boy's forehead as he fought back. "But! You'll get pulverized by my mighty fists of steel!" The hybrid hissed at the loud opponent, who dropped closer with all weight and power and began pounding Gohan's face.
While Gohan was getting beaten by the larger male, the crowd continued to roar with excitement. As the spectators grew wilder, King Cold couldn't but chortle in the private sector as he watched the fight. He raised his massive hand and slowly consumed the wine. His soldier's assault and contemporary edge seemed to annoy Freeza, who sat on the far left. Cold looked past the clients seated between them and smirked at his child's rattled demeanor.
"Well, using Shisami after Tagoma was indeed the right call to make. That bull increased his strength from the last time I saw him fight. Unlike Tagoma, he will get the job done exemplary."
King Cold purposely spoke out loud so his son could hear him. "But don't fret, Freeza. Tagoma's potential is greater than you think. He just needs some proper adjustments." Cold released a soft chuckle as he stirred his crimson orbs back to the stage.
The short tyrant remained silent as his eyes locked on the warriors in the far right corner of the stage. While he wore a confident expression on the outside, inside, he was fuming. He respected the colossal and vital figure, his father, but the urge to kill the man grew. The pinkish alien squeezed the expensive-looking cup a tad too much and caused several cracks to spread across it.
"Hm, don't you think you're jumping to conclusions, father? In round one, it looked like your "special" warrior won, but it ended quite differently, didn't it?"
Freeza paused for a moment as he took a new cup from the silent servant. "I will gladly accept your warriors and take great care of them; I sincerely promise you that." A sinister chuckle escaped from the overlord as he took a brief sip.
Cold shifted his eyes to his son but only for a second. "Humph, we shall see..." The giant king continued to smirk as the force of the harsh blows reached his frame. "Yōgan, you have been quiet. Tell me, what do you predict will happen in this round?" King Cold leaned the head against the palm of his hand as he observed the battle.
The red-haired warrior closed his eyes and replied with calmness in his voice. "Shisami doesn't stand a chance against the hybrid. The boy's good at altering his ki depending on the situation and utilizing his full power only in bursts, thus preserving his stamina." He reopened his eyes as he felt the steady increase in Gohan's ki.
"Oh. So, I just basically gave two of my warriors for free... Well, I can't have it all anymore, I suppose."
King Cold laughed as he focused on the fighters below. The bulky warrior smashed Gohan with all the power at his disposal, only encouraging the crowd to shout even more. The ground beneath the young boy shattered because of so much pressure. Shisami released a mighty battle cry as he threw the fist forward. The massive fist was moments from striking the boy, but Gohan didn't try to dodge it. Instead, the long-haired warrior let out a growl and thrust his head forward with all the strength behind it.
Gohan's forehead and Shisami's fist collided and produced a loud noise across the stage. Blood slid down the boy's brows as he glared at the opponent above him. Sweat rolled down the man's red face as the expressions twisted. Suddenly, Shisami began to howl and cry as he pulled his broken fist. The giant soldier walked away and desperately held onto the shattered hand while the hybrid rose from the floor.
"U-Ugh! H-How... H-How could a little brat like you be so strong!?"
Fear had a firm hold on King Cold's soldier. The man's body shook as Gohan wiped the blood trailing down the cheek. Suddenly, he took a step back, frightened by the boy's approach. His breathing increased rapidly as the short hybrid closed the distance. Shisami shut his eyes and released a scream, surprising Gohan.
Wild, red energy erupted from the soldier as his scream reached the sky. The aura enveloped the stressed man, who glared at the still boy. His pupils shook with anger, fear, and hatred. Ground beneath broke, and pieces started to levitate around him. The soldier's already big muscles increased in size as throbbing veins surfaced all over the body. The tiles shattered under heavy pressure when Shisami moved forward.
The male ignored the terrible pain from his broken hand and only focused on the short warrior. "I'm Shisami, the proud member of the Great King Cold Army! I'll crush you under my boot like a mere bug that you are!" He clenched his teeth, closed his fist so hard that it even began to bleed as he eventually barked at Gohan.
"Begone! Bull Blast Fire!"
Shisami swung his arm forward and fired an immense ki blast at Gohan. The powerful attack closed the distance quickly, but the boy remained serene. He lifted his arms and clutched his fists while letting out a faint voice. A white glow surrounded his frame as the sound of his voice increased. He positioned himself to the right side, and once the enemy blast was within reach, Gohan unleashed a tremendous roar and kicked the thing back to Shisami.
"I-Impossible! Why, you little f..."
The soldier flew away and immediately charged at Gohan. Even without a hand at his disposal, Shisami was determined to win this at any cost. He moved his heavy legs rapidly, but the hybrid blocked every shot. The red soldier cried out, desperate to land a blow as he didn't want to change sides. He and everyone else heard the stories about Freeza's temper and how the short tyrant treats his troops. Of course, Cold wasn't a benevolent ruler, but at least the man had his temper under control and wasn't as brutal as his offspring.
Shisami bit the flesh inside his mouth and ignored the sharp pain as he used his broken hand to surprise the boy. "Just stay still so I can kill you already!" The desperate and loud screech seemed to do something to Gohan because the hybrid suddenly halted and lowered the arms.
Boom!
Silence. Shisami's fist dug deep into Gohan's cheek as the boy's head shifted to the left. A big smile appeared on the soldier's face. He couldn't stop himself and burst out laughing. His laughter echoed across the stage, leaving the spectators to wonder what was going on. However, his laughter soon died out as Shisami lowered his head. A mere second went by, and his expression changed.
"You're not normal... I-I fought countless Saiyans before, and I crushed them all, and yet, how come you're like this!? What are you!? M-Monster..."
Gohan didn't respond. The child of Kakarot moved his hand forward and seized Shisami's broken wrist. "You're all the same. Boasting about your strength, status, or rank as if that's all it takes to be strong. And once you face the unknown, someone who might be stronger than you, you guys crumble like glass under pressure." He tightened the grip, forcing Shisami down on a knee.
"If beating you people requires to become a monster, so be it. I'll do whatever it takes to make them proud and to be able to see him again. I made a firm decision I would never fall like you and others similar to you."
Shisami cried as Gohan began to lift him. "T-Tch! Stop talking nonsense, filthy ape! Die!" The soldier opened his mouth wide and fired a blast.
"Moron!"
Gohan quickly disappeared and dodged the close-range attack. He appeared above Shisami and grabbed the soldier by the horns. The long-haired boy placed both feet on the back of Shisami's head and growled. Shisami's horns broke and remained in hybrid's hands while the large man slammed against the firm ground.
"A-Ahh! N-No, my precious h-horns! H-How dare..."
Consumed by pure hate, the soldier lifted himself only to get kicked in the face. While Shisami's body was flying, Gohan aimed and fired a small ki blast. The blast struck the target and caused the soldier to crash into the bleachers. Gohan watched the spectating soldiers move away as the wall crumbled and his opponent fell on the ground, unconscious.
As the flying announcer declared Gohan the victor again, Zarbon could barely contain himself from snapping. Freeza's right-hand man took off the scouter and was so close to breaking it. He wore a twisted scowl on his face as he glared at the half-Saiyan with venom.
"How could a mere monkey possess a battle power that rivals that of Dodoria and myself!? That can't be!"
The green-haired officer trembled with fury as he observed Gohan. At first, he thought the device got malfunctioned, but after trying out the other scouters, it only proved he was the one wrong. To have a mere Saiyan-Human hybrid at such a young age already on par with him was ludicrous. He won't have it. Zarbon's expression darkened as the man frowned and hissed at Gohan.
Gohan could feel someone had its sight on him, but the child ignored it for now. Sweat slowly slid down his cheeks as he stood in the middle of the stage. He tried to preserve his stamina, but each opponent got more challenging. It was hard because he didn't know how many rounds he was supposed to fight. That worried the boy quite a bit as each opponent was stronger than the previous one. Gohan took this little time while the announcer brought the next opponent to rest, at least a little bit. Just as he closed his eyes, he felt a presence high above.
The boy gazed up, only to see a figure covered in thick dark fur hang from the branches overlapping the arena. A roar from the cloaked figure forced even Gohan to drop on his left knee. The boy grunted as he tried to overcome such a ferocious noise. Slowly, he got up, which caused the figure above to go silent. Gohan shot a glare at the thing who released the hold and fell on the stage.
"Ha, finally, it's our time to fight, little cub! This stage's perfect for paying you back for that sneaky punch."
Gohan wondered what this guy was talking about until the figure removed the cloak. "You! Humph, so I punched your face that time. Sorry, I couldn't tell by all the hair covering it. Say, what happened? Finally decided to shave?" The boy caressed the bridge of his nose as he released a soft chuckle.
King Cold's soldier snickered as well. "Funny. You'll find out during our battle, cub. I'll repay you tenfold for what you did. You'll regret ever crossing paths with me; blame it on your lousy luck!" The man adjusted his yellow mohawk as he looked down on the boy.
The two stared at each other while they waited for the round to commence. Just on cue, the announcer flew above them and screeched.
"Round Three! Fight!"
Gohan charged forward, enveloped in a luminous glow. The boy wanted to finish this round without dragging it for too long. He lunged at the gorilla-looking soldier with a kick, but the creature stepped to the side, thus dodging Gohan's first assault. The boy quickly pivoted and tried to land a punch, but the opponent moved out of the way again. He landed on the demolished stage and propelled himself sideways to catch up to his enemy.
"Ha! What's wrong, cub? Trouble keeping up!?"
The boy grit his teeth and, while moving, threw a fast-paced combination of punches and kicks. His opponent avoided and blocked all of it, irritating Gohan in the process. The hybrid pulled his fist back and suddenly jumped away, surprising the enemy. While flying backward, Gohan fired a ki blast at the soldier. The humanoid gorilla frowned and released a ferocious roar causing the energy to burst out.
"Not bad! But I know what you're trying to do!"
King Cold's warrior threw his elbow to the left, but Gohan managed to duck underneath it. The boy curled his tail around the giant arm and swung. That unorthodox style stunned the soldier who received a powerful uppercut. Gohan didn't stop just yet. He landed with both knees on the man's gut, causing the soldier to cough blood.
"Tch! Hey now, little cub... You better not piss me off, or I might bite off your pretty little head!"
The soldier roared as he lunged at Gohan with his big hand, but the boy moved away in time. "No! You're not escaping this time!" His voice changed, became much more profound, and resembled that of an animal as the dark, thick fur suddenly came to life.
Gohan watched in awe as the creature's hair moved like it was alive. By the time the hybrid snapped out of it, the fur had rolled around his ankle. Out of nowhere, he was upside-down and staring at the soldier's yellow eyes. Gohan frowned and was about to throw a kick when the man roared and slammed him against the ground.
"Gah!"
Pain surged through Gohan's body as he got repeatedly slammed against the floor. He tried to stop it but couldn't reach the fur or aim at it properly. The boy endured until the creature grew bored of doing the same thing. His enemy lifted him and curled the thick hair around Gohan's throat.
"Ha! You're done for, little cub! Shouldn't have made me angry... now, you die!"
The soldier pounded his chest and roared while the fur strangled the hybrid. "A-Are you sure about that? N-Now, I can finally grab you!" Upon hearing that, the hairy creature halted what it was doing and glanced at Gohan with visible confusion.
"It's time to give you a clean cut! Haah!"
Gohan took hold of the fur and released a scream. He poured out all the ki and set the hair on fire. The soldier panicked and let go of the boy, but the flames had already spread all over the body. While Gohan was finally able to catch some air, the soldier jumped all over the place and rolled across the ground in hopes of diminishing the fire.
"D-Damn you, damn you, damn you! Ahh! I'll kill you!"
The soldier glared at Gohan with a rabid look in the eyes as the flames devoured the fur. He jumped in the air, and by spinning at maximum speed, he managed to blow away the fire. However, it was already too late. All the hair that covered his body was gone. To make things even worse, he could hear the laughs coming from the bleachers.
"No mercy for you, cub! I'll devour you!"
Gohan's eyes were wide open as he jumped away. The soldier just smashed the rock to pieces with its powerful jaw. He couldn't let that beast get a hold of him. The boy closed his fists tightly and charged at the mindless creature. He fired several ki blasts around the soldier and caused the smoke to cover the entire stage.
Naturally, the son of Kakarot dashed right in and landed on the ground. Gohan instantly closed his eyes and remained still on the spot. The boy focused and tried to pinpoint the exact location of the creature. His brows twitched as it was tough to follow a rampaging beast. However, since he trained from a very young age, Gohan's senses were extraordinary.
Suddenly, the long-haired boy leaped high and kicked the air. "Puh!" His foot dug deeper into the creature's gut and made the mindless soldier yelp in pain. Gohan summoned all of his power and struck the soldier with merciless strikes. The momentary burst of energy blew away all the smoke and revealed to the spectators that Gohan was the one bashing the hairless opponent.
"Hiyaa!"
Gohan crashed his fist into the beast's face and sent it flying toward the ground. The boy vanished, only to reappear on the demolished stage. He spun and delivered a precise round-house kick to his opponent. The beast's skull cracked as it got blown to the far side. Yet another King Cold's soldiers fell to the ground, unable to defeat the young Saiyan-Human hybrid.
The shouting from the crowd continued as the announcer flew around the un-moving soldier. Meanwhile, Gohan placed his hands on the knees and stared at the floor. Drops of sweat dripped on the ground and created a puddle. He couldn't hide it anymore; he was tired. Allowing that soldier to smash him around like that for so long was a mistake.
"Damn! How much longer do I need to fight!?"
Meanwhile, high in the private stand, King Cold leaned back and chuckled. He might have lost three soldiers with great latent potentials, but it was a gamble from the very beginning. His entire body shivered with excitement at the thought of having such a fine specimen in his grasp. He licked his upper lip as he stared at the long-haired warrior. However, a movement from the right side caught his attention.
As he glanced to the right, he noticed something was going on with his elite general. "Oh! Don't tell me you are joining the spectacle, Yōgan?" King Cold placed his jaw on the back of his hand as he observed the faint glow spread across Yōgan's body.
"Ahm. That was the intention from the very start, sir."
Suddenly the glimmer increased, surprising the clients and Freeza. However, the glowing lasted for only ten seconds. Once the light faded, everyone but King Cold was taken aback by Yōgan's appearance.
"Interesting... You will fight him in that form, again? Do you think it will suffice?"
King Cold took a sip while the pale Yōgan turned away. "Of course! This form is adequate to deal with that bastard! I won't let him surprise me like last time!" A chuckle escaped from Cold while his loyal general cursed loudly, thoroughly shocking the stationed soldiers and servants by the sudden change in behavior and appearance.