Power Trip: I Got Reborn in Dragon Ball with Broken Adaptation

The air above Namek rippled with tension as Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin landed near the jagged plateau where Vegeta had fled with the stolen Dragon Balls. The former prince stood perched on a high ridge, the orbs glowing behind him, held in a stolen capsule case.

"Vegeta!" Piccolo's voice cut through the wind. "Hand them over."

Vegeta turned, cloak fluttering. His smirk was intact, but the moment he felt their energy, his eyes narrowed slightly.

'Damn. They're even stronger than before.'

He crossed his arms, keeping his voice steady. "Tch. You've grown, I'll admit. Stronger than the last time we fought… but don't fool yourselves. You're still not strong enough to stop Frieza."

Krillin stepped forward. "We don't have time for games. Give us the Dragon Balls."

Vegeta hesitated. His pride flared in his chest, but reason cooled it quickly. He clenched his jaw and looked away, tossing the capsule forward. "Take them. You're not worth fighting over this."

They caught the case, locking it safely as Vegeta's eyes narrowed with something half like shame, half like fear.

"Do what you want," he muttered. "But just know… Frieza's not someone you can reason with. Planet Vegeta didn't just get hit by a meteor. He destroyed it. He feared the Saiyans. Feared… a legend."

Goku blinked. "A legend?"

Vegeta didn't elaborate. He only turned his back and vanished into the sky.

The Z-Fighters exchanged a glance.

"A legend…?" Gohan echoed, frowning.

Piccolo nodded toward the horizon. "We'll figure that out later. Come on. Let's find Dende."

It didn't take long. With the Dragon Balls in hand and Dende's help, they stood once more in the heart of the plateau where the skies shimmered above them. Dende held his hands together and closed his eyes, whispering the ancient words in his native tongue.

The clouds swirled instantly. Lightning cracked.

Porunga rose like a god of light and shadow, massive and radiant, his deep voice shaking the ground beneath them.

"You have summoned me. State your wish."

Dende's voice translated with calm precision. "First—bring back the one called Yamcha."

A flash of light.

Second. "Restore the people of Earth who were killed by the Saiyans."

Another burst of energy lit the sky.

But before the third wish could be spoken—

Porunga groaned. His body flickered. Then began to dissolve.

"What's happening?!" Gohan shouted.

Dende staggered. "The Great Elder… he's died! Porunga can't exist without his creator!"

And just as the dragon vanished into nothingness, a shrill mechanical hum cut through the air.

They all turned in unison.

Descending from above in his floating chair, wreathed in gold and white armor, was the one being they all dreaded.

Frieza.

His smirk was carved into his face like a mask.

"Well, well. And here I thought I'd have to waste time searching. What a convenient little gathering."

He floated to the ground, stepping off his chair with eerie grace. The earth cracked beneath his boot.

"I see you've made quite the mess of my forces. Ginyu, Zarbon, Dodoria… all gone. How disappointing."

Goku clenched his fists. Piccolo stepped forward, muscles tight, energy coiled like a spring.

Frieza's eyes gleamed with amusement. "I suppose I'll have to teach you monkeys a lesson myself."

Meanwhile—

Back near the Capsule Ship, Kai stood near the hatch, eyes narrowed as a strange pressure swirled in his chest.

'Something's off.'

He checked his system again. Flashes of earlier data scrolled across his vision — Ginyu Force: eliminated. Goku: no injuries. No Zenkai.

Then it hit him.

'Goku never got the Zenkai from the Ginyu fight. Which means… he's still capped. Still stuck under a million. He can't win this.'

His stomach turned. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Not anymore.

He stood up sharply.

Bulma looked up from her console, startled. "What's wrong?"

Kai didn't look at her. "I'm going."

"Going where?"

"To help."

She stood too, face hardening. "Then I'm coming with you."

He turned, genuinely surprised. "Bulma—no. This isn't like last time. Frieza's there. This is dangerous."

"I don't care," she said, stepping closer. "You're taking me with you."

They stared at each other for a long beat.

Then he sighed and stepped forward, slipping an arm under her knees and another behind her back. She yelped softly as he scooped her into a princess carry.

"Stubborn," he muttered.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head lightly against his chest. "You love it."

He didn't deny it.

With a soft hum of power, Kai lifted into the air — eyes forward, heart steady.

They were already past canon.

Now it was all uncharted.

And Frieza… was waiting.