NOVEL WEB Chapter 33: Dark Currents Stir
Smoke curled from the ruined outpost, the last of Frieza's scouting team twitching on the crater floor. Gohan wiped his forehead, panting lightly, while Krillin floated beside him, arms crossed.
"That's the third squad today," Krillin muttered, glancing at the scorched horizon. "You'd think they'd stop underestimating us."
Gohan nodded, catching his breath. "They're getting stronger though. Or at least better organized."
"And more desperate," Krillin added. "Frieza must know we're here by now."
Nearby, Dende kept hidden behind a low outcropping of rock, watching with wide eyes. "Thank you… both of you."
Gohan offered a smile. "We're not going to let them hurt anyone else. We promise."
Krillin turned serious again, looking toward the sky. "But we need to be careful. If Frieza starts sending elites…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
—Meanwhile...
Vegeta tore through the air at full speed, the Namekian wind shrieking past him. His scouter was gone, broken in frustration after the last reading lied to him again. He didn't need it anymore anyway.
He was hunting.
He'd already taken out Cui — barely worth a warm-up. Now, he was tracking a new squad with a Dragon Ball, and by the looks of the rising smoke in the distance, he wasn't far behind.
"These idiots really think they can get the drop on me."
He dove low, a red blur across the horizon.
Below, a small force of Frieza's elite was pillaging another village — two of them already dead from a previous scuffle, the rest rounding up terrified Namekians.
"Where's the next ball?" barked one of them, slamming a guard into the wall.
Before the Namekian could answer, Vegeta landed — and the crater he made knocked them all off their feet.
"Right here."
The first one reached for his scouter. "It's Vegeta—!"
He didn't finish. Vegeta's hand closed around his face and crushed it like an eggshell. Bones cracked under his grip. The body dropped.
The others hesitated — then tried to run.
Vegeta didn't let them.
Within seconds, they were gone, leaving only the sound of panicked Namekians scrambling for cover and the slow crackle of fire.
Vegeta found the fourth Dragon Ball hidden in the wreckage and tucked it under his arm, smirking to himself.
'Now… to find the rest. Before Frieza does.'
But he wasn't as far ahead as he thought.
—
Aboard Frieza's Ship
The throne room was quiet, save for the hum of computers and the gentle clink of Frieza's tail tapping the armrest. Zarbon knelt at his side.
"I regret to inform you, Lord Frieza," Zarbon said tightly, "that the Earthlings have destroyed several more patrols. And… Vegeta has acquired four of the Dragon Balls."
Frieza didn't move for a moment. Then, he spoke.
"I see."
He lifted one finger and pressed a button on his chair.
"Contact the Ginyu Force. Tell them to abandon their current mission and rendezvous with me here."
Zarbon hesitated. "Sir? The Ginyu Force—"
"Is overdue for a warm-up," Frieza said smoothly. "And I grow tired of this little treasure hunt."
He finally smiled, cruel and gleaming. "Let Vegeta feel what real power is like."
—
Back with Kai and Bulma
Kai leaned against a smooth pillar of the ship, watching the sky.
He'd felt the spikes. The sudden rise in Gohan's and Krillin's power during battle. The sharp drop in Vegeta's enemies.
And far away — a cold chill that hadn't moved yet, but was very much awake.
'Frieza should be calling backup by now.'
Bulma came outside, stretching. "You look like someone just broke into your save file."
Kai gave her a sideways glance. "Close. Reinforcements are coming. Strong ones."
Bulma blinked. "Wait—what kind of reinforcements? From who?"
He folded his arms, voice flat. "Frieza's calling in a squad. Five elite mercenaries. They're… weird."
"Weird how?"
Kai sighed. "Imagine if pro wrestlers crash-landed in a boy band spaceship, had laser cannons for breakfast, and did dramatic poses before vaporizing people."
Bulma raised a brow. "…So basically, psychopath Power Rangers?"
"Pretty much. Except worse fashion sense and way more murder."
She crossed her arms, squinting at him. "And you know this how, exactly?"
Kai shrugged. "Let's call it a hunch."
She stared a second longer, then shook her head and muttered, "You're the worst liar."
Kai turned toward the horizon, voice dropping as the wind picked up.
"Either way… this is where things start getting messy."
'We're officially off the rails now. No more canon path. Just whatever I make of it from here.'
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Okay I think you guys took my question the wrong way. Not in Dragon Ball I mean IRL how long would it take for you to get bored if you new everything has has and will happen. LIKE EVERYTHING int the universe. Please excuse my bad writing first time