Freeza's daunting physique aims a deadly finger at Goku. He grins as the purple marble of ki at its tip brightens. Movement above gets his attention.
"Taiyoken!" says Krillin.
A blinding white flash pierces Freeza's pupils. He roars in pain as his palms cup his eyes.
Goku closes his while looking away from the light. A pain prickles down his side and beneath his arm as Krillin slips in to support his fragile frame. He stops using his ki entirely and leans on Krillin. The relief almost pulls him into a relaxed sleep.
"That won't buy us much time," says Krillin. "We need a plan."
"I'm going to use the Genki Dama," says Goku. "But it's going to take a lot of time to gather enough energy to match Freeza's power."
"Okay, but I won't last two seconds against him. And Nail and Gohan look exhausted."
"I need you to tell Gohan to look at that false moon over there so he transforms."
Krillin glances at the pale, pulsing light just beyond the reach of the black clouds summoned with Namek's Dragon.
"Are you sure? It'll put Gohan in a ton of danger. We don't even know if he'll attack us or Freeza."
"I know. I'm not happy about it. But we don't have a choice."
Krillin notes Goku's grave expression and does not push the issue anymore.
Goku's feet touch ground. He keeps a hand on Krillin to steady himself. Once balanced, he nods at Krillin.
Krillin speeds off to Gohan who leans against a boulder massaging his neck. The marks of Freeza's fingers inflame the skin. Gohan's tail droops behind him.
"Hey, little buddy," says Krillin. "How are you feeling?"
"It hurts. Freeza killed my friend. He killed Dende."
"I know he did. He's a heartless monster. I don't want you to force yourself, but there's a way you can help us beat him."
"I can still fight. I'll do anything."
"You don't have to do this. You're dad and I are the adults. We'll handle this."
"I want to help. I don't want to be afraid like I was against the Saiyans."
"Okay if you're sure. I need you to do something for me first. I need you to remember the pain you're feeling. And I need you to focus it all on Freeza. Understand?"
Gohan nods.
"Okay. There's a way for you to transform like the Saiyans do. If you look at that fake moon, you'll turn into their monster form. But there's a good chance you won't be in control of yourself."
"I'll do it. I want to stop Freeza."
Gohan pushes off the rock and stares directly at the white, glowing orb. His heart jolts against his ribs. A rush of blood thrums in his ears. An intoxicating adrenaline bubbles in his brain, his consciousness takes a step back.
Gohan's muscles stretch and rip his clothes. Krillin backpedals as Gohan's stature grows before him. He turns away for a hasty retreat as a shadow falls over him.
A snout full of sharp teeth sprouts from Gohan's face. Brown fur thickens over his skin. His head ascends towards the clouds as his clothes tear apart. His Ozaru form asserts itself, and his great fists beat his chest. With hungry eyes, he searches for a victim. They target Freeza, still tending to the blinding of the Taiyoken.
A brief flash of Dende dying comes to mind before being squashed out by rage. He leaps from island to island.
Freeza's hands hover before his face. Their blurry outlines begin to come into focus. He rubs his knuckles into each eye one more time. They blink away a few tears. The murky vision clears.
A familiar roar fills his ears. His nostrils flare at the sight of Gohan leaping at him. The beast swipes both hands, but Freeza sways around the grasping paws. Their speed and size keep him on the defensive.
Strange, he thinks, this one has more power in this form than I've ever seen. It's like it's awakened a rage beyond that of a normal transformation. Could these Saiyans from Earth really be…
"No! That's ridiculous!"
He holds out his palm. A shock wave of air pulses from it. The force knocks Gohan away.
Gohan curls into a ball and rolls backward. His feet spring off an island, bounding him back at Freeza.
Nail observes the gambit as a new left arm bursts from his stump.
"Let's see if he can handle two giants," he says.
He growls as he manipulates his ki to enlarge his body. He rises above the landscape with increasing mass. When he reaches the same size as Gohan, he takes flight to flank Freeza from the opposite side of the Ozaru.
Their swatting arms and bashing legs crisscross between them. Freeza doubles his pace to avoid the barrage.
Goku watches the events unfold, feeling helpless. He extends his open palms to the sky despite the aches and fatigue of his arms. Their own weight seems too much to lift after the overuse of the Kaioken. The strain of holding them up intensifies as his heart struggles to send vital blood up the raised vessels.
I can barely hold my body upright, he thinks. But I must endure for Gohan and the others.
He tilts his head back. His mind calls to the life forces around him.
Denizens of Namek, please lend me your energy. Everyone from the biggest whales to the tiniest insects, I need your help. Whatever you can spare so that I may defeat Freeza and save your planet. Please. My son and best friend are in danger. I need your help to protect them.
Goku's sense of self melts away as a few flecks of genki reach his fingertips. They stick like wet snow. More trickles in. Each speck attaches to his empty vessel.
A realization occurs.
"My body will never be able to handle the power necessary to beat Freeza."
He exhales. The genki on his surface blows off like pollen. It drips upward to a focal point high in the sky. He directs the rest of the incoming energy there as well. It gathers behind the black clouds caused by the dragon of Namek.
Freeza darts between his titan sized foes. He sends out a concussive wave to knock both of them back.
"I should have guessed you slugs could become giants as well," he says. "All inferior species seem to share that trait. You primitive beings think you can solve your problems by violently smashing them."
He puts his hands on his hips.
"That's why all of you deserve to be subject to a supreme individual like myself."
Nail rises and takes a swing. Freeza cuts him off with another burst of force.
"I wouldn't even be on this worthless planet if it weren't for your miraculous ability to produce such devious objects as Dragon Balls. Only cretinous scum would use such treacherous magic to stand against the true progress of my empire."
A pink light falls on Freeza. He loops aside as a beam of Gohan's breath passes by. Nail shoots a huge sphere of yellow energy where the enemy dodges to.
Freeza smirks and kicks the house sized blast. His shin connects with the surface, stopping the orb's momentum. He stretches his leg as high as it will go. The blast flicks off the end of his toes. It flies upward into the sky.
To Freeza's surprise, Nail's hand appears from right behind the energy sphere on a far stretching arm. Freeza throws himself into a spiral to evade the clutching hand. Gohan dives behind his twirling maneuver. An open palm slaps Freeza. He rockets at a downward angle.
Nail drives a knee upward. He smashes Freeza with it and launches him back up. He throws a punch. There is a satisfying crunch as Freeza leaves his knuckles.
Gohan drops a fist from overhead and hammers Freeza out of the air. His opponent crashes to the ground on all fours. Gohan inhales to gather energy at the back of his throat. He centers his mouth over Freeza's back.
Freeza shakes his head and drags one leg forward to secure his foot on the ground. A pink glow disperses the shadow around him. He looks over his shoulder as a radiant beam crushes him. It plunges him deep beneath the surface. The attack burrows relentlessly.
Goku agonizes over how long the genki takes to gather.
Come on! Come on! he thinks. If I don't hurry, Freeza is going to kill them. They're running out of ki and his seems untouched.
His body tenses with anxiety. His focus slips and the process slows. The expanse of his mental reach shortens.
He concentrates on his breathing to calm his nerves. He reconnects with the Genki Dama, and his area of influence grows.
The weight of a massive Genki Dama grows high above him. He feels the last of the genki from the planet reach the focal point.
Though it is massive and dense, it pales in comparison to the overwhelming power of Freeza.
I've already pulled all the energy I can from Namek. It doesn't have the strength alone to defeat Freeza.
He opens his mind beyond the sky and into space itself.
Beings of the solar system, the far off lands, seas, and skies, even the stars, I beg of you, lend me your energy in this time of need. Please. For the sake of the universe, I need your help!
His mind stretches to a headache inducing limit. He loses all feeling in his body as new essences take it over. He fights through the cold to invite more genki to channel through his body.
Gohan and Nail wait for Freeza to resurface from below the earth. An eruption of magma bursts from the hole made by Gohan. They jump back as it plumes into an entire volcano.
Freeza rises atop the pyroclastic flow. He gathers menacing energy in his right hand and hurls it at Nail. A purple sphere with a pink center punctures his stomach. It explodes to leave a sloppy wound of mangled inside and hanging flesh.
Nail falls on his back while grabbing at the injury. His body instinctively pulls ki from his enlarged muscles to the grievous hole. He shrinks as the life preserving measures tend the wound.
No! thinks Goku. I still need more time!
Freeza glares at Gohan who recovers from the spouting lava. Gohan leaps at him, but Freeza disappears. He swoops under Gohan and comes up below his tail. With a swipe of his forearm, Freeza cuts through the tail at the base.
Gohan roars in pain. His fur recedes to reveal patches of skin. He crashes to the ground as his body shrinks along with his extended snout and pointed ears.
Freeza watches the transformation.
"Such a disgusting process," he says, holding out an open palm. "At least I'll never have to see one of those hideous monkeys again."
A purple glow fills his palm. A splotch of red catches the corner of his eye. Goku rides a jet of crimson aura.
"Don't you dare hurt Gohan!"
Goku's fist crushes Freeza's cheek. As the enemy flies off, Goku cups his hands at his hips.
I'll use everything I have to push him as far as I can. Hopefully that'll buy me enough time.
"Kah. Meh. Hah. Meh."
He throws his hands forward. Freeza appears right in front of him. Cold hands pinch his forearms and rip them aside. Goku's face stretches in horror.
"I didn't think you could match your power level from earlier a second time," says Freeza. He tightens his grip. "But like I told you, it's not enough."
Goku's heart races as Freeza leans closer, pulling his hands further apart. He panics. His Kaioken sputters.
Why are you so afraid?
Goku thinks he must be going crazy as Vegeta's voice sounds in his mind.
Well? Vegeta demands.
Is that really you Vegeta? But how?
An apparition of Vegeta appears in the back of Goku's mind. It is as if his spirit still lingers on this plane.
Your Saiyan spirit has reached the soul of our people. I didn't want to acknowledge you as a true Saiyan, but I admit I was wrong. You're one of us. And as one of us, it's your responsibility to stand against Freeza with the pride of a Saiyan. Do not cower away.
But Freeza is too strong, thinks Goku. There's no way I can win.
That didn't stop you from challenging me back on Earth. You persevered then despite the overwhelming challenge.
This is different. I had a chance of matching your power level. But Freeza's feels infinite. I'll never reach it.
And yet Freeza still fears us.
Goku remembers the drop in yuki of Freeza in his battle with Vegeta and Gohan transformed.
If you remain afraid, says Vegeta, Freeza will kill you and your son to make sure there are no more Saiyans to threaten him. So stop holding back and put the fear of our proud people in Freeza!
Don't surrender now, brother.
Raditz appears beside Vegeta.
A bald, muscular man he does not recognize appears next. His ki feels like one of the Saiyans from Earth.
You're stronger than any elite I've ever met, says Nappa.
A man who must be Vegeta's father appears next.
Avenge my people, because I could not, says the King.
Four more Saiyans appear one after another from the story Bardock told him.
Kill him Kakarot, says Toteppo.
Kill him Kakarot, says Panbukin
Kill him Kakarot, says Seripa
Kill him Kakarot, says Toma.
And finally, his father appears.
Defeat Freeza. For us. For yourself. For Gohan. And for the universe.
From the corner of his eye, he sees Gohan's half unconscious form lying on the ground.
If I don't stop this monster now, he thinks, he's going to kill Gohan. And Krillin. And he'll probably wipe out Chichi and everyone else on Earth. I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen!
Goku grits his teeth. His crimson aura plumes to full size. Pure agony blooms inside every cell of his body.
"Kaioken, times eight!"
Goku's forearms jolt towards each other. Freeza frowns as he restrains them just beyond his shoulders. Vibrations bump his palms. Heat warms their cold touch. His hands shake.
"Times nine!"
Goku's hands jump to Freeza's chest, almost touching. His aura howls like a hurricane.
Freeza bares his teeth as his forearms start to ache. He pries Goku's hands apart in a shaky effort. The tendons of his neck push outward as his lips spread wider.
"Ten!"
Goku's wrists snap together.
"Hah!"
A tsunami of blue ki deluges from Goku's hands. The brilliant energy consumes Freeza's large form as it blows up in his face. He feels a drop in Freeza's yuki as doubt consumes the monstrous life force.
The Kamehameha streaks across the sky and over the horizon. The displacement of air cuts clouds apart and gusts them away in wispy pieces.
With Freeza a mere twinkling sight across the planet, Goku cuts off the beam and flaming aura. Red electricity dances across his entire body. Every muscle twitches against the others as they fight for control. His organs feel inflamed and sick. They heave and lurch to perform their functions as their engorged size burdens their efforts.
Despite his body wanting to blackout from running at near failure, he looks for Gohan. He sees Krillin checking on the naked boy. Krillin picks him up and flies to Nail's side to check on him as well.
Goku fights the pain and extends his hands above himself. Red, electrical discharges still hamper him. He tilts his head back. His mind sends out the call for anyone in his radius to lend him their genki.
Freeza races on the Kamehameha, plastered to its surface. He strains his neck to pull his head free, but the g-force slaps it back down. His whole body feels heavy beneath the incredible mass. The friction and heat irritate his skin.
Eventually the beam loses some momentum. His arms lighten, and he digs them into the energy. He smashes his knees into the bottom of it. With an effort filled exhale, he throws the beam skyward and escapes its control.
His bloodshot eyes zero in on Goku's location. His fists clench hard enough to turn coal into diamonds. His tail whips in agitation. His voice chafes his throat as it yells.
"I'm going to rip that monkey's limbs off one by one! And then I'm going to murder his son before his dying eyes."
A violet aura rips from his body. It spins around him, concealing him behind a malicious orb. The sphere zooms across the sky, back towards Goku and his friends.
Goku shivers as the menacing aura of Freeza approaches. He tries to gauge the ferocious power, but the overwhelming might consumes his sense of scale. He pulls in more genki knowing he will have to throw it regardless if it is ready or not.
Goku concentrates so hard on the Genki Dama and Freeza's ki, that he does not even sense Krillin appear beside him.
"How much longer do you need, Goku?"
Goku starts. The movement sets off a reaction of pains in his overextended and depleted body.
"Every second counts," he says.
"Nail and Gohan are out of it. I'm all you got left. Don't hold off that bomb on my account."
Goku's full attention drifts to Krillin's presence. He senses a fear permeating his aura. And yet, Krillin's yuki seems unaffected by the terror.
"No Krillin. I'll use this thing as soon as he gets here. We can fight what's left of him after that."
Krillin looks him in the eyes and smiles.
"Come on Goku. Let me be the cool guy just this once. Wish me luck."
"Krillin, no! I don't want to lose you again!"
Krillin rushes ahead to meet the approaching aura.
Goku fights his desire to pull Krillin back. He feels useless watching his best friend fly to his death. His mind clouds with distress, slowing the process of building the Genki Dama. He tries to change the dialogue in his head.
"Clear your mind. Get the Genki Dama ready before Krillin has to fight."
He almost believes his words.
Krillin tries to swallow a nervous gulp but his mouth is bone dry.
Freeza blitzes him like a bullet. Krillin jabs his fingers to the sides of his eyes.
"Taiyoken!"
Freeza stops and shields his eyes knowing what is coming. Except there is no bright flash. He hesitantly peeks through slits in case of any trickery from his opponent. As they ease open, they see a razor thin disc coming at him.
It hits him in the chest and pushes him back. Sparks fly as it tries to saw through his ki infused skin. He raises an arm and smashes the Kienzan to pieces.
His eyes dart to Krillin who is descending to an island. He frowns and descends to join him.
Krillin charges a Kamehameha as he drops. Freeza's feet comb the grass as they land just after Krillin's.
"You know," says Freeza, "you're supposed to run so I can hunt you down." He points at Krillin. "You're spoiling all my fun."
A muzzle flash of purple fires from his finger.
Krillin shoots his ki wave straight down at his feet. It burrows deep. He rises high over the piercing beam using his own for lift.
Freeza's eyes widen in surprise. A smile forms beneath them.
"Oh I do love target practice."
He takes aim again and fires.
Krillin slides his wrists and Kamehameha to the side to adjust his trajectory at a right angle. A searing hot beam cuts across the outside of his arm. Freeza's finger tracks his new direction.
Krillin rolls his wrists in front of his thighs. He moves them back and forth to give himself an S-shaped ascent as his wave slithers like a snake.
Another flash of purple. A laceration rips across the edge of Krillin's neck. Hot blood runs down to his shoulder. The near miss sends him into panic.
He bites his tongue to shake the shock. He throws his hands up, bringing the beam above his head. However, the beam does not push him anywhere as he hangs in the air.
Freeza takes aim one last time. The sound of crumbling earth and a vibration at his feet distracts him. A blue beam burrows out of the ground and uppercuts Freeza in the chin. He falls backward sending a stray line of energy high into the air.
He was controlling the movement of both ends? thinks Freeza as he staggers about for composure.
Krillin takes a fighting pose knowing the minor inconvenience will only anger the all powerful adversary.
Freeza's head straightens to glare at Krillin.
"Cute trick," he says. "I hope it was worth it."
"Hey Freeza!"
Freeza and Krillin both look at where Goku floats with his hands over his head.
"Eat this!"
Goku throws down his arms.
Freeza raises an eyebrow, not sure what to expect. A great light illuminates him from the sky. He discovers a gigantic blue and white sphere plunging from the heavens.
Krillin darts as fast as he can outward and downward to skim the surface of the incredible orb.
Freeza gasps and puts up his hands. The majestic sphere crashes against them with the weight of a small moon. The sudden stop gives Krillin just enough time to escape from under the Genki Dama.
Freeza's arms shake beneath the might of the Genki Dama.
"Impossible!" he says. "Where did he get this much energy from?"
His elbows and knees buckle as the force presses down on him.
"The scouters never showed anything like this!"
He leans his head forward as the surface bites into his shoulder blades and neck. One of his knees hits the ground. The earth breaks apart and floats upward around him as a crater forms. The ocean opens as the enormous sphere rips the waters apart.
"Damn you bastards!"
Freeza kneels a moment longer before the Genki Dama swallows him. It connects with the crater it carves and sinks into the ground.
The wind pushes Krillin faster than he can fly as he heads for Goku who retreats to his son.
Goku removes his orange shirt and lands in a crouch by Gohan. He clothes his naked son in it. They hug.
Nail, holding his stomach, places a hand on Goku's shoulder. Krillin lands beside them. They watch the great Genki Dama set into the horizon.
All four of them take in the sight. Relief fills them as the massive ki of Freeza sharply drops. It sinks into the ocean until they can no longer sense any trace of it.
Author's Note 10/13/23: Our heroes lie exhausted on the field of battle after using every single technique, strategy, and ounce of strength at their disposal. But finally, the fearsome Lord Freeza has been put to rest beneath the Genki Dama. The universe is safe and at peace once more...