After Chi-Chi wiped out one squad and Krillin eliminated Cui, it wasn't long before Dodoria and Zarbon noticed something was wrong.
"…What's going on?" Dodoria grunted.
Zarbon tapped at his scouter with narrowed eyes. "Energy signatures from Squad 1 have vanished… and now Cui's is gone too."
Dodoria scratched his head. "Maybe their scouters just broke?"
"No," Zarbon replied, his eyes narrowing further. "Something's interfering with our operation—someone else is hunting the Dragon Balls."
Dodoria's eyes widened. "What? Who would dare defy Lord Frieza?!"
Before Zarbon could reply, both of their scouters started beeping in unison.
They turned toward the same direction.
Dodoria frowned. "This energy… feels familiar. But why are all our forces in that area gone?"
Zarbon's pupils contracted.
"…I know who it is. It's Vegeta."
Dodoria clenched his fists. "That damn monkey! He betrayed Lord Frieza and still dares to show his face?! He's come to die, then!"
The two shot toward Vegeta's energy signature at full speed.
—
In a nearby Namekian village, Frieza's soldiers had just coerced the elder into handing over the Dragon Ball.
But before they could leave, Vegeta appeared.
Cold and ruthless, he annihilated the entire squad—
no mercy, no survivors, just scorched earth and shattered bones.
Unlike Chi-Chi or Krillin who stopped at neutralizing the enemy,
Vegeta killed them all.
The elder, trembling, stepped forward with the Dragon Ball.
"Y-You… thank you for saving us, warrior. This is the Dragon Ball…"
Vegeta scoffed.
"Who said I saved you? Don't flatter yourselves.
I killed them because I hate Frieza's scum… and for this."
He glanced at the orb but waved the elder back.
"Hold on to it for now. I've got two guests coming.
Let me deal with them first—then I'll collect it."
The elder blinked.
"…Guests?"
Then he too sensed them—two dark, powerful energies speeding toward them.
"Everyone, take cover!" he shouted.
Villagers scattered to hide as Vegeta floated into the sky, arms crossed, a smug grin playing on his lips.
Before long, Dodoria and Zarbon arrived, hovering above the village.
Dodoria snarled.
"Well, well… if it isn't the traitor.
We've been waiting to gut you for a long time!"
Zarbon tilted his head. "Strange… You don't even have a scouter.
How did you know we were coming?"
Vegeta smiled faintly.
"Don't need one. I've learned a new skill—Ki sensing.
I can feel your presence and read your battle power without any device."
Zarbon's expression twisted into mild surprise.
"Well then… impressive, but pointless.
You're standing here alone. Surely you're not thinking of taking us both on?"
Dodoria laughed mockingly.
"Please. He's probably begging for us to put in a good word with Lord Frieza.
That old monkey thinks Frieza will take him back if he grovels."
Vegeta's smirk vanished.
"Grovel? I spit on the idea.
I am Prince of the Saiyans, not some dog to beg beneath another's table.
I'm here to kill you both."
The two froze in disbelief.
"…Did he just say he's going to kill us?" Dodoria sneered.
Zarbon, maintaining his poise, tapped his scouter.
"…Strange. His power level is… 5,000? Didn't it used to be 18,000?"
Dodoria followed suit and scowled.
"Five thousand? What happened to you, Vegeta?"
Vegeta laughed.
"Those scouters of yours are antiques. I can control my battle power now.
But I've wasted enough breath. Come—both of you."
Dodoria roared in fury.
"You arrogant bastard! Take THIS!"
He unleashed a barrage of powerful energy blasts, lighting up the skies in explosions and smoke.
But as the dust settled, a voice came from behind him.
"Not good enough, Dodoria."
Vegeta stood casually at his back.
Dodoria turned and swung—only for Vegeta to catch his fist with one hand.
Before Dodoria could react, Vegeta locked down his other arm too.
"Zarbon! Help me!"
Zarbon darted in with a punch, but Vegeta smirked and booted Dodoria straight into a mountainside, shaking the earth.
Then, with perfect timing, Vegeta spun and kicked Zarbon under the chin, sending him flying backward.
Zarbon skidded through the air, shocked. Blood trickled from his mouth.
"You made me bleed. I hate it when people touch my face," he hissed.
He launched himself at Vegeta in a frenzy—but none of his attacks landed.
Vegeta dodged with ease, arms still crossed, mocking him silently.
Zarbon, panting, transformed—his body ballooning grotesquely, covered in blotchy patterns. His power surged.
"Now DIE, Vegeta!"
But even powered up, Zarbon's hits missed.
He grew more desperate, but Vegeta danced around him.
By now, Zarbon was out of breath, drenched in sweat.
"…Impossible… how can you be so fast?"
Vegeta's grin sharpened.
"You look pathetic. I've lost interest in even talking to you."
He unleashed a flurry of punches, pummeling Zarbon into the dirt.
Dodoria finally crawled from the rubble, stunned by the sight.
"Since when was Vegeta this strong?!"
His scouter beeped frantically.
Looking down, Dodoria finally saw the numbers.
Power Level: 42,000.
His face went pale.
"That's… higher than both of us combined…"
Now terrified, he shouted,
"Vegeta! Wait! Don't kill him! I-I'll tell you a secret!"
Vegeta paused.
"…Secret?"
Dodoria nodded quickly.
"Yes! It's about the Saiyans!"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed.
"…Go on."
Dodoria hesitated.
"You have to promise not to kill us after I tell you…"
Vegeta's gaze turned cold.
"If you don't talk now, I'll kill you both."
Seeing Zarbon broken on the ground, Dodoria knew he had no choice.
"The destruction of Planet Vegeta… it wasn't an asteroid."
Vegeta froze.
"…What?"
Dodoria stepped back slowly, sweating bullets.
"You Saiyans… you were getting too strong.
Too many born warriors. Frieza feared you.
Especially with the legend of the Super Saiyan looming."
He licked his lips nervously.
"Lord Frieza didn't want to risk it. So he summoned all the Saiyans back home…
Then blew up the entire planet."
Vegeta's eyes widened.
"…He destroyed it himself?"
Dodoria nodded quickly.
"But Frieza spared you, Vegeta.
He thought it would be a waste to kill a genius like you.
He gave your squad a mission—just to keep you away from the explosion."
"You should be grateful!
If you return to him now, apologize, and help him gather the Dragon Balls,
he might forgive you—"
But Dodoria's words fell flat.
Vegeta's face had turned to stone.
The truth sank in…
The destruction of his people, the extinction of his race—
all by Frieza's hand.
"…So it was all true."
The prince clenched his fists, veins bulging.
"You… you think I'd ever crawl back to that monster?"
Dodoria took another step back.
"L-Listen, Vegeta, it's not too late—"
Vegeta's eyes blazed with fury.
"You call that mercy?! He murdered my people!"
He pointed a glowing finger at the fallen Zarbon.
"You can go first."
A final blast of energy tore through Zarbon, ending him instantly.
Dodoria turned to flee, panicked.
But Vegeta's voice was cold and clear.
"You're next."