DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DRAGON BALL Z
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|PROLOGUE|
The atmosphere on Planet Frieza 79 was as harsh as the tyrant it was named after. The sky was a constant blend of dark, stormy clouds and eerie nebula light, casting a grim tone over the planet's barren surface.
Karbon, a young but ambitious warrior in Frieza's army, stood atop one of the towering spires of the military compound where he was stationed. He was staring out at the desolate landscape. The surface of Frieza Planet 79 was riddled with city-sized craters, a brutal reminder of the recent slaughter that had taken place just days ago.
But that was nothing out of the ordinary for a planet conquered by the Cold Force.
"Please, stop, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" A rebel fighter's desperate cries rang out from below.
Karbon did his best to hide his discomfort, focusing instead on the horizon. This was just another typical day under Frieza's rule, where mercy didn't exist and rebellion meant death. Suffering and death were commonplace as the Cold Force squashed any sign of rebellion or resistance without hesitation.
This newly established military base on Planet Frieza 79 was a training ground for fresh recruits to learn the ruthless ways of Frieza's regime. Karbon himself was one of those rookies, eager to please his tyrannical leader and climb the ranks.
Or, at least, that's who he had been.
Karbon wasn't the same person who eagerly followed Frieza's orders without question. That was why he was up here, away from the brutality and bloodshed, instead of joining in the merciless suppression of yet another group of rebels who dared to challenge Frieza's authority.
"Ah, the screams of trash, it makes the morning so pleasant doesn't it men?" a cruel laugh came from below.
Followed by the laughing cheers of agreement.
Karbon looked down. The laughter was in response to the fate of a rebel leader, the last of his group, who had been bold enough to think he could challenge Frieza's rule. Neither he nor his followers lasted long after they attacked the outpost.
The mocking voice was coming from Banan, a low-level soldier in Frieza's army. His appearance was imposing, a large lilac-skinned alien with horns, orange hair, and a matching mustache.
Banan stood with his arms crossed, a smug grin stretched across his face. He looked like a fool, but his power was the real deal. With a power level of over 1000, he was the strongest fighter on Planet Frieza 79.
Karbon felt a mix of disdain and indifference towards the spectacle unfolding below. The stench of burning flesh filled his nostrils, a side effect of being near Banan's sadistic torture session. But Karbon had grown accustomed to it, having witnessed countless similar scenes during his short time with the Frieza Force.
This was the reality of their existence under Frieza's rule, yet it felt alien to him.
It was true his name was Karbon and he possessed the memories and appearance associated with Frieza's rookie warrior.
But he knew this was not his original life.
Karbon was an alien who grew up in the Dragon Ball universe, who joined the Cold Force to be like the prince of his home planet, Zarbon. From then on, he worked to grow stronger and prove his worth by helping conquer planets, hoping to one day be a member of Frieza's guard like Prince Zarbon.
Something that was never going to happen.
Dragon Ball, to him, had been a fictional series he loved, only to one day after dying, find himself at King Yemma's desk and being given an impossible task.
THEN.
Karbon was waiting in line.
Actually, to be more accurate, he was floating in line. A line that went on for what seemed like forever. The beings ahead of him were translucent and cloud-like, devoid of any physical form. They all seemed to be waiting in line, each one quietly shifting and moving forward, bound by some unseen force. He looked down at his own form—or lack thereof—and realized with a start that he too was just another spirit waiting for something unknown.
As he looked around, he saw billions, maybe even trillions of souls all patiently waiting their turn.
Karbon couldn't help but think that this must be the most boring experience possible in all of Creation. It felt like he was stuck in a never-ending loop of monotony, trapped in this mundane wasteland. The only thing he knew for certain was that he was dead. How did he die, you ask? Well, it was anyone's guess as far as he was concerned.
Maybe he choked on cotton candy or got hit by a flying saucer. Either way, one moment he had a pulse and the next he didn't and instead was standing in line for... well, who knows how long. He had tried striking up conversations with his fellow spirits, but they were all either shy or some supernatural force was preventing him from being heard. It's been so long now that he didn't even think he remembered how to talk anymore.
Oh well, who needs words when you're stuck in limbo forever?
Occasionally, the line would inch forward and he would get to take a small step. Then it was back to standing and waiting. He thought about walking away, but there was nowhere to go. The only thing besides the line of souls was a vast sea of yellow clouds that stretched to the horizon in every direction.
Plus, what if he did leave and tried to come back? Would he have to start all over again at the back of the line?
No, thank you. And it's not like he could even feel tired or hungry or anything—those are just for the living, apparently. So he just stood there, trapped in a state of numbness and boredom.
Until finally, after who knows how long, he was at the front of the line!
Karbon had never been so happy in his life. He was finally here…in front of a giant desk?
He squinted at the person seated behind the desk, trying to recall where he had seen someone like that before. It felt like he had seen the person in a movie or a TV show, his favorite form of entertainment. Memories of fictional characters and their stories lingered in his mind longer than any others. And a massive guy with horns, red skin, and wearing a suit would stand out.
"Soul..." the red-skinned giant ran his finger down the car-sized piece of paper in front of him. Aha! Here we are, soul Z9999! Welcome to the Check-In Station. My name is King Yemma and I will be judging your soul today!"
"Judging my soul?" Karbon echoed, and then he saw the doors. One on each side of King Yemma's massive desk. The one on the right side of the deck was labeled HEAVEN with a fluffy cloud design, while the other simply said HELL in bold, fiery letters.
King Yemma leafed through a massive stack of papers until he found what he was looking for—Karbon's soul rating. "Well, well...soul Z9999," he said, "I have some good news and bad news. Which would you like first?"
"Let's start with the bad news," Karbon said. He was already dead. What could be worse than that?
"Very well," King Yemma nodded, and then said bluntly, "you were not a good enough person in your past life, Z9999. It's HELL for you."
Karbon's face drained of color. That was so much worse than being dead!
"No! Please, there must be another option!"
King Yemma grinned under his beard. "Settle down, that was just the bad news. The good news is, while not good enough to be accepted in HEAVEN, you were good enough to qualify for another choice: Legendary Reincarnation Mode."
"Reincarnation?" Karbon asked with tentative hope. Anything was better than being sent to HELL!
"Yes, a second chance to do something good and earn your way into HEAVEN."
"Great!" Karbon clapped his hands. "Let's go! I accept!"
"Now now, hold on," King Yemma said, flipping through a massive book on his desk. "There are some significant restrictions you need to be aware of."
"Rules?! I love rules!" Karbon said. He didn't care what they were as long as he stayed out of HELL.
Besides, for every rule, there was a way around it. He was sure he could figure out a way to bend them.
King Yemma shook his head head. "This is no joking matter, Z9999. Listen closely."
The big ogre cleared his throat and held up three clawed fingers. "First, you cannot be reincarnated as a member of any of Dragon Ball's main species—that includes Saiyans, Namekians, Frieza's race, and even humans."
"What?" Karbon protested. "But those are all the cool ones!"
"Second," King Yemma continued, completely ignoring Karbon's outburst. "you cannot use the Dragon Balls to make a wish that you have heard about before. This includes canon, non-canon, Reddit posts, YouTube videos, and even fanfiction you may have read."
Karbon wanted to curse and shout. That rule was totally going to screw him! But maybe—
"And lastly," said King Yemma firmly, "you cannot manipulate or trick someone else into making these wishes for you."
Karbon's shoulders slumped slightly as his idea was squashed before he could even finish thinking it. "What's this good thing I'm supposed to be doing?" he asked.
His hair ruffled as King Yemma let out a big long sigh.
"The same as all the others. Kill the Emperor of the Universe."
NOW.
"Is he finished then?" Banan's voice, tinged with disappointment, pulled Karbon back to the present. Looking down, Karbon saw the outcome he expected: the rebel, previously writhing and screaming under torture, now lay motionless.
With a detached gaze, Karbon watched as Banan commanded two soldiers to extinguish the flames, unbind the lifeless body from its stake, and dispose of it into the void of space that surrounded the military outpost. The scene was gruesome, yet Karbon found himself unaffected, the intense disdain for rebels and traitors ingrained deeply within him, courtesy of his current identity.
This body's original inhabitant harbored a profound hatred for those who opposed Frieza's empire, a hatred so fierce it propelled him through the ranks at an unprecedented pace.
He was heralded as a prodigy.
Yet, this prowess was matched by a deep-seated ruthlessness and a propensity for violence, particularly against any perceived as enemies of the Cold Force. His merciless nature was so pronounced that, despite being a newcomer, he had quickly become notorious within Frieza's forces.
Karbon was appalled by the memories of conquests and the enjoyment he got from it all. The memories had initially made him physically ill. Need to clean that up, he reminded himself, recalling the unpleasant reaction he had upon fully embracing these memories. He exhaled deeply, his mind racing with concerns, and yet, they were merely the tip of the iceberg.
He was in the Dragon Ball universe.
A realm where god-like fighters and tyrannical rulers roamed. A place with beings who could annihilate entire planets without breaking a sweat.
Beings like Frieza, who he was supposed to kill or be sent to HELL.
Above him, the skies of Planet Frieza 79 churned with an ominous energy, reflecting the turmoil within Karbon's thoughts. All he had to kill Frieza was a useless scouter that told him what he could do in a numerical value. But without an understanding of how to harness Ki himself, the only thing the scouter did was tell him how weak he was.
Frieza had a power level of around 120 million. Meanwhile, Karbon had a power level of—he tapped the scouter and waited. There was a beep and his power level was displayed in front of his face.
PL: 50
The name probably gives it away, but feel free to guess what species Karbon chose to be reincarnated as!
Not a crack fic, but also not going to be super serious either! So if you have any suggestions for a wish leave a review!
Thanks for reading!