Frieza knew why the scouter had exploded. The old models would do that when detecting a sufficiently high battle power. It was a design flaw that had already been fixed in the new models.
However, the new scouters had not yet been widely distributed as standard equipment. Even Frieza himself was using an old model on this trip, so he did not know the exact battle power of the individuals on the other side.
While observing with curiosity, Frieza had no intention of giving orders. If his subordinates could not handle such a simple problem, there was no need to keep them around.
The pilot controlled the ship and skillfully dodged the energy waves coming from the other side, but this affected the ship's speed and direction. As for what to do next, that was not for small fry like them to decide.
"Lord Frieza..."
Among the group that had launched the attack on the screen, a short-haired man in a black and purple outfit raised his hand, gestured to the side, and then flew off in the direction he had indicated without looking back.
Everyone else, including Vegeta, flew away with that man, while Frieza's side fell into an eerie silence.
"Hohoho, how interesting!"
"Lord Frieza, allow your subordinate to deal with Vegeta and those other ignorant, foolish Saiyans!"
It was obvious that Vegeta had betrayed Lord Frieza. Zarbon was eager to prove himself to Frieza, but Frieza had no intention of granting his request to fight.
"You are not enough on your own."
Although Frieza could not judge the enemy's strength by sensing their energy, his mind was still sharp. Anyone who could destroy a scouter definitely had a battle power of over twenty thousand.
Zarbon's battle power was only twenty-three thousand. If it were just Vegeta, it would not matter. But with so many opponents now, Zarbon alone definitely could not handle them.
"Adjust course and follow that group of Saiyans... I want to see just what these Saiyans are planning."
He assumed Ethan and the others were Saiyans like Vegeta. He remembered that Vegeta had gone to Earth to find another Saiyan, and his purpose in coming here was to completely eradicate the Saiyan race. He had not expected them to come looking for him on their own, and all together at that.
There seemed to be quite a few of them. Except for one Namekian, the others looked similar to Saiyans.
"Could it be that when I destroyed Planet Vegeta back then, a few stragglers managed to escape?"
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He did have some apprehension about the Saiyans, but after so many years, he increasingly felt that the so-called Super Saiyan was just a baseless legend.
Vegeta had been under his command for so many years, and after observing him all this time, Frieza had come to one conclusion: Saiyans had decent battle potential, but that was all. They were nowhere near capable of threatening him.
In other words, to Frieza, Vegeta had already lost his value as a toy. Even if Vegeta had not rebelled, Frieza would have disposed of him sooner or later. Frieza would not leave someone alone just because they could not threaten him. He always finished what he started.
"Lord Frieza, there is no need for you to personally deal with such riffraff!"
"It's fine. I've been rather bored lately. If this group can entertain me, then this trip will not have been in vain."
Since Frieza said so, his subordinates naturally had no reason to object further. The disc-shaped ship adjusted its direction and quickly caught up with the group of Saiyans.
Both sides tacitly maintained a certain distance and soon arrived at the planet Ethan and the others had chosen.
Frieza's side also learned that the destination was the planet ahead and quickly obtained its parameters.
"An uninhabited planet, unsuitable for most life."
Hearing this information, Zarbon suddenly remembered something else.
"Strange, Saiyans shouldn't be able to survive in space, right?"
He remembered that Saiyans needed a suitable environment to survive. He had not thought of this earlier when they suddenly appeared, but now, as they prepared to land and fight, the thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Hmph, it seems these Saiyans used some method to overcome that problem... They chose this environment to fight in order to reduce our fighting force, didn't they?"
Frieza's two subordinates, Zarbon and Dodoria, did not think much of Vegeta, and the provocative actions of these people also annoyed them.
"It doesn't matter. Many of the fighters we brought this time are capable of surviving in space, not to mention that this planet is only a bit harsh."
Frieza's subordinates came from different civilizations and races across multiple star systems and planets, possessing incredible adaptability to various environments. Many of them were capable of surviving in space.
Vegeta's attempt to weaken their fighting strength by using the harsh environment of a planet was completely futile.
Furthermore, he, Frieza, the Emperor of the Universe, could survive in any environment.
His heart was filled with mockery, completely unaware that Ethan and the others had not thought of it from that perspective at all.
He chose this place because it was the only nearby planet with sufficient gravity and atmosphere, and with no life-forms on it, making it perfect as a battlefield.
That was all.
After landing, everyone looked up at the sky. Frieza's ship was also slowly descending and soon landed safely not far ahead.
"I know it's pointless, but suddenly I kind of hope their ship crashes."
"Hahaha, that would be interesting!"
Krillin's words brought a bit of a relaxed atmosphere to the coming battle. Goku replied while also starting to warm up.
"Wait, Goku!"
Ethan reached out and stopped Goku, who was warming up.
"Let me take the first round... I hope to kill Frieza with my own hands."
Considering what Ethan had said before, about his planet and his companions being massacred and destroyed by Frieza, Ethan's request seemed perfectly reasonable no matter how you looked at it.
"Alright!"
"If I can't handle him, I'll have to ask for your help."
"You can definitely defeat Frieza!"
They had trained together for a year, and no one knew Ethan's strength better than Goku. He believed that if Ethan fought with his full power, Frieza would not be his opponent.
Just then, Frieza and his subordinates began appearing one after another on the opposite side. A large number of strangely shaped aliens stood over there, looking quite imposing.
However, Krillin confirmed one thing through their energy signatures and the scouters on their faces: aside from Frieza, none of them could be considered powerful enemies.
"What's going on? The strongest ones are only the two beside Frieza, and their power is only slightly stronger than Vegeta's, about the same as Raditz's."
Were Frieza's subordinates really that weak? Almost everyone turned to look at Vegeta at the same time.
Vegeta knew why they were looking at him and felt annoyed, inexplicably feeling as though he too was being looked down on.
"Most of Frieza's subordinates are this strong. Only the Ginyu Force has significantly higher battle power. Frieza's forces are vast, and he has a very, very large number of subordinates... Besides, do you think there are many guys in the universe with battle power at your level?"
Vegeta held back his irritation and explained, then stopped talking and focused intently on Ethan.
"I want to see just how strong your true power is!"
From being humiliated on Earth to Ethan helping Goku transform into a Super Saiyan on the ship, Vegeta had always wanted to know the full extent of Ethan's power.
Now he finally had the chance to see it with his own eyes.
Ethan slowly walked out of the group and stood in the open space between the two sides.
This area was a vast plain within a large basin, flat and unobstructed, perfect for a group battle.
"Frieza! Come out!"
Frieza was a little surprised. This Saiyan on the other side was truly interesting, calling him out by name right away. Was he challenging him to a one-on-one fight?
"Hohoho, who gave you such courage, Saiyan?"
"Saiyan?"
Frieza's way of addressing him pulled his wandering thoughts back. Besides that, Frieza's subordinates were also eager to show off in front of him. It was not just Zarbon and Dodoria.
"Foolish Saiyan, you dare challenge Lord Frieza? Die!"
A swarm of more than twenty strangely shaped aliens rushed out. The highest battle power among them was less than ten thousand, and several were only one or two thousand.
Facing this group of weaklings, Ethan sighed helplessly, then extended his palm toward the group charging at him through the air.
As a burst of energy erupted from his arm, the frantically shouting weaklings did not even leave behind a trace. His decisive and ruthless manner greatly shocked Frieza's subordinates on the opposite side.
"Not bad strength!"
Frieza, seated in his hover pod, finally flew out from the crowd.
"With just this much power, you want to challenge me..."
"Alright, stop talking." Ethan interrupted Frieza, then made a suggestion that even surprised him. "Transform. Let me see the power of the Emperor of the Universe."
Frieza looked at Ethan with surprise and suspicion for a moment, then finally flew out of his hover pod and landed lightly on the ground not far in front of Ethan.
"It surprises me that you know I can transform. It seems you made quite a few preparations... Much smarter than that brainless Vegeta."
Ethan curled his lip. Frieza was really long-winded. Perhaps he had been holding it in because he did not usually get such a good chance to show off.
"I admire you, but it is a pity you are a Saiyan... However, out of admiration, I will let you witness my power." Frieza glanced at the scouter on Ethan's face again. "Use your body to truly feel the terror of the Emperor of the Universe!"
"..."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)