"Ever since I was young, my father, King Cold, has told me about the legends of the universe. Many of them are things that I must not touch or provoke. Can you imagine there being something in this universe I cannot reach, Zarbon?" Freezer, in his small, first form with long horns on his head, sat in his floating chair and held a glass of wine as he gazed into the dark space.
He was in his mothership, his personal stronghold and private domain. Not even his father had high-level access here; only one person was at the top: Freezer. He called it his 'Portable Kingdom.'
Beside him stood Zarbon, a man with pale green skin and long, darker green hair. With a silver headband on his forehead and a white cape adorning his armor, Zarbon stood respectfully beside his boss, slightly behind him.
"Lord Freezer, though you are the strongest being I have ever known, I am aware of certain taboos in the universe. It may sound disrespectful, but if any being could be superior to you, it would be one of those in the legends," Zarbon replied without fear of Freezer reacting badly.
Unlike the other members of the Frost Demon race, Freezer was the most 'understandable,' or at least the most practical. You could disrespect him if you were skilled enough, but he'd be lenient enough to let you have a chat without vaporizing you with a wave of his hand.
"Hehe, don't worry about that. I know I'm not the strongest in the universe. There's the wizard Bibidi, who supposedly created a calamity for this universe: the Pink Monster Majin Buu. My father told me never to face that guy.
The World-Devouring Wizard, Moro. Imprisoned by the Galaxy Patrol, he was unable to be executed. As his name suggests, he consumed worlds and the life within them. How do you fight a being like that? Hildegarn, the Cicada Demon, was created by a group of wizards.
"Zarbon, do you see the pattern?" Freezer asked in a monotone voice devoid of the unusual tone he usually employed when speaking. His subordinate didn't take this lightly and pondered for a few seconds before answering.
"Magic, Lord Freezer. Bibidi was a wizard and seemed to have been responsible for Majin Buu's existence. Moro is a wizard, and wizards created Hildegarn." Zarbon's answer made Freezer nod with a subtle smile on his face.
"Magic! That elusive power. I use standard energy, Spirito, Ki, or whatever you want to call it. But I was also born with incredible psychic powers. However, I have never been able to tap into magical power. I know I'd be extremely talented at it, but I just can't.
Decades ago, I ordered an invasion mission to the planet Kanassa. The Saiyans carried it out, but sadly, I couldn't obtain the psychic ability I wanted from that world, which I believed would help me find the path to magical power. As he recalled the Saiyans, Freezer scowled visibly, displeased by what had happened back then.
He had never liked those savage, filthy, reckless, stupid monkeys. His father had placed them under his control because he was thinking of retiring. If Freezer wanted to assume the legacy that was rightfully his, he had to take possession of that race.
Although he was cautious about the legend of the Super Saiyan, Freezer thought that as long as he treated them well, there would be no problems. However, his spies brought him news of unauthorized mobilization of ships and resources. It seemed those monkeys were planning something.
Out of sheer boredom, he waited to see how the situation would unfold. Suddenly, he was visited by two figures he didn't dare speak ill of: the two strongest beings in the universe, Bills, the God of Destruction, and Whis, the Angel.
They ordered him to destroy the planet Vegeta and kill all the Saiyans in the process. Bills ordered this purge because he couldn't find a comfortable pillow or satisfy his appetite!
Freezer didn't disobey. He didn't dare disobey when the very embodiment of destruction approached him with an order. He didn't want to be wiped out! Thus, the Saiyans paid the price, and only a few of them remained in the universe.
For all intents and purposes, they were an extinct species. Rather than terrifying the universe with his display of power, Freezer only brought a general sense of joy. The cosmos didn't like the Saiyans!
Some members of the Galaxy Patrol were pleased with the news, even though they are overly upright people in such a harsh universe.
"As I was saying, magical power slips through my fingers, and I've come to terms with it. I, Freezer, admit that I will never learn magic in my lifetime. I'm already strong enough. Why seek something as illusory as magic?" Freezer gently swirled the glass in his hand and took a small sip of the delicious, expensive, and rare wine inside.
But inevitably, it tasted bad to him. Deep down, he hated his inability to master one of the most mysterious abilities in the universe. He still hadn't met a single wizard willing to work for him or teach him.
The wizards he and his army had encountered throughout the universe were physically weak, but their mysterious spells were often a nuisance. Even when they were overwhelmed and tortured, even when Freezer stood before them, they still refused to cooperate.
They all shouted the same thing: 'Such a wicked soul must not touch magic!' This is ironic, considering the countless stories in those worlds about the cruelty and evil supposedly associated with magicians.
Was Freezer that evil in the eyes of those so-called evil mages? A former subordinate said that magic allowed Freezer to see things that others could not. Therefore, they must have witnessed many of the Frost Demon's sins.
But, getting back to the topic of the universe's legends and taboos... There are also interesting objects in those stories, like that strange mass of technology that invades a living planet every so often. Like that strange mass of technology that invades a living planet every so often. Or the supposedly hardest metal in the universe.
Artificial and natural wonders so famous that they've reached many worlds. There are some rather peculiar objects among them." Freezer turned his head, looking directly into Zarbon's eyes.
"So, Zarbon, if I can't obtain Magic Power, what do you think my next best option should be to make up for that?" asked the Frost Demon. He downed the rest of the wine in his glass in one gulp. Someone as strong as he was ran no risk of getting drunk.
Zarbon trembled, unsure of what his boss really wanted. He couldn't stay silent, though. Even though he was close to the tyrant, he couldn't say, "I don't know," or he would lose standing with him.
He had risen to his position because he was intelligent, wise, and meticulous. He could even be considered a personal secretary, a role he appreciated because his abilities were recognized and he had power thanks to his position.
Then, an old story came to mind, and he felt as though he had found the right answer. Under his boss's watchful gaze, Zarbon cleared his throat and recounted what he had heard as a child.
"Hundreds of years ago, the universe encountered an advanced and mysterious civilization. They appeared to utilize energy, psychic abilities, and magic equally. They traveled from world to world without needing food, only water. They had green skin and two antennae on their heads, and they reproduced asexually.
They went to every world, trying to learn and help. Although there were a few bad apples among them, they were all extremely kind. Some even joined the Galaxy Patrol.
Like every species in the universe, they had their own legend. On their home planet, there was a miraculous object called the Dragon Balls. According to the legend, the Dragon Balls could grant wishes, though no one knew the true limits of these wishes. Such objects appear in every culture across the universe, so few people were drawn to them.
But theirs is real. Someone convinced that the story was true deceived them and had them take him to their planet. Then he summoned his army and invaded the planet. They found the elusive Dragon Balls and forced someone to make a wish.
It is said that the home planet of that species underwent severe climate changes, and their numbers dwindled, with only a few surviving. According to the stories, their planet was destroyed because it was no longer in its former location.
Your Majesty, that is the tale of the Namekians, an ancient story that teaches us not to place too much trust in the universe and to keep the location of our planet secret, lest others invade us.
But, to answer your question, Lord Freezer, if there is anything that might help you make up for your lack of magical power, it would be the Legendary Dragon Balls." Zarbon's reply was long, but Freezer didn't mind; instead, he narrowed his eyes, enjoying the story.
"The person in the story was my father, King Cold," Freezer blurted out suddenly. Zarbon widened his eyes in astonishment at this, which caused the Frost Demon to burst out laughing.
"Many things in that story are wrong. My father failed to make a wish, so in a fit of rage, he decided to destroy Namek's ecosystem because he thought it was a more severe punishment than turning it into stardust.
However, you're right; the planet vanished, and as if by magic, all records of its previous location disappeared from every database in the universe, whether analog or digital, shortly afterward.
Even people's memories were erased," Freezer revealed, not attempting to hide anything in his words. What he said was astonishing. Was there really something so powerful that it could wipe out information on a universal scale? Even memories?
Then Zarbon thought about the Dragon Balls. Could it be a wish made by the Namekians? If so, that would be excellent proof of their power. As if that weren't enough, they also seemed to allow someone to move a planet, raising the upper limit of what could be wished for.
"Lord Freezer, do you plan to find the planet Namek again?" Zarbon asked, full of interest. But, upon seeing Freezer's amused look, he quickly lowered his head in fear. He didn't want to give his boss the impression that he was interested in those objects.
"Don't worry. Anyone who learns about and deduces the capabilities of these marvelous objects would undoubtedly be interested. Yes, I plan to find Namek. I've been searching for it in secret for years.
I can feel it, Zarbon. I'm getting closer to its location. Soon, that planet will be within the Frost Demons' sight. I'll obtain the Dragon Balls and make my wish. What do you think I'll ask for? Go ahead. Answer with confidence," said Freezer as he let a floating robot refill his wine glass. Once again, he savored the drink.
"Are you planning to ask to learn magic?" Zarbon asked. Since the conversation had started on that topic, he assumed his boss would certainly want to learn magic, but the Frost Demon shook his head.
"Unnecessary. If I say I'm no longer interested, then I'm no longer interested. Even though the Dragon Balls are magical, I'll only use them as a stepping stone for certain purposes. Keep guessing," said Freezer, who was starting to find this little game interesting. He wanted to see if Zarbon would hit the nail on the head or just beat around the bush.
"To become the strongest in the universe? To ask for eternal life?" Zarbon suggested again because those were the things he would ask for if he could wish on the Dragon Balls. However, his questions only caused Freezer to lose interest.
"No. Some barriers cannot be overcome, even with a so-called wish. Surely it has its limits and comes with a price. Eternal life? Why would I want that? The Frost Demons have already lived for millennia!
Besides, what's the point of living forever? You'd lose one of life's essential driving forces. Without the threat of death, my ancestors wouldn't have wanted to leave their mark on the cosmos. I think things would lose their flavor if you were immortal. The fun part is that life is fleeting. The universe will end someday, too.
Not to mention, there are plenty of ways to ruin the eternal life of an immortal. Just look at Moro, who was captured and is living worse than a beggar. Majin Buu? He might be sealed away somewhere, unable to enjoy the universe.
"Stop trying to guess, Zarbon. Just tell me the latest news," demanded Freezer, causing Zarbon to let out a subtle sigh of relief since he was running out of ideas.
For him, making a wish should be for something serious and valuable, so his ideas were along those lines. However, typical wishes were things that Freezer could undoubtedly fulfill on his own.
Wealth? No one was richer than he was. As for pleasure and enjoyment? The wine that Lord Freezer drank like water cost more than a planet! Sex? It seemed his boss had no interest in mating. If he wanted to, though, there would be millions of men and women more than willing to fall into his arms.
What did Freezer want? Zarbon couldn't imagine, and his awe for his boss grew exponentially. His news report was unusually proactive, making the Frost Demon feel more comfortable with his efficiency.
'When will I be able to grow taller? Dad said I could grow as tall as him. Dragon Balls! I need the Dragon Balls to grow taller!' Freezer roared in his mind, expressing his true desire.
Sometimes, desires are just that simple.
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AN: TheAnPlayer2 gave me a tip: Promote my original stories every 5 chapters. So, read my original novels: Steam and Heart, Lunar Mechanism, and Witch's Adventure. You may or may not like them, but give them a chance. c: