Zod wakes up in a room with a floating system panel in front of him, which, as one could easily guess, only he can see. He glances at it, but before he can investigate the panel filled with skills and such, a notification goes off next to him on a tablet-like device resting beside him. It displays a mission briefing notification, which catches his attention.
Zod Pov:
I swipe the notification off the pad and skim through the mission briefing. Three hours to report at the landing pad. That's enough time to get a grip on this place. I study the layout of the device—Cargo Bay, Supplies, Maintenance decks, Landing Zones A through D. Basic logistics, but it helps. I gear up in the black undersuit; no armor, no frills. No point in pretending I'm some elite. The fabric's snug but flexible. I roll my shoulders once and check my power level one more time using the scouter that was on the table next to the tablet. Still 4,032. Weak, by Saiyan standards. I make my way down the metal corridors. I was replacing a guy named Leek.
By the time I step onto the landing zone, where many pods are lined up. The sky was that dull yellow and red hue typical of Planet Vegeta's atmosphere. Waiting near the pods are five warriors, sharp-eyed and battle-worn. Bardock stands in the middle.
Bardock is a tall man of muscular build with black hair. His hair is unkempt. Since Saiyan hair tends to stay the same. His eyes are quite stern, and a scar running across his left cheek. A scouter on his left eye. His tail wrapped around his waist. His arms are crossed as it seems he is busy on the scouter. His battle armor is a lighter shade of green.
To his left are Tora and Fasha. Tora has a well-built physique, he also has a mustache. his hair is short and flat at the top and stands around medium height. His tail is also around his waist. From some knowledge, I know the guy cares for his teammates. His scouter is on his right eye.
Fasha is around the average height, scouther on left eye, has a gold earring on her right ear, she has battle armor with a pink suit under. Her hair is normal, with cropped, spiky style hair going down her face. Unlike the others, her tail is not wrapped around her waist at the moment. But likely is at other times.
To the right of Bardock are 2 more Saiyans in the squad. Borgos and Shugesh
Borgos is a tall, bulky, muscular Saiyan. He has big strands of black hair on the sides of his head but no hair in the middle of his head. He has three small scars on his forehead. He wears the usual battle armor. And once again, the tail wrapped around the waist.
Shugesh is a bulky Saiyan, coming off more fat than muscular. Nevertheless, underneath his bulk, Shugesh remains one of the fittest members of Bardock's team. He has black hair in a pudding bowl style and a thin, pencil mustache, just like the others his tail is wrapped around his waist.
Tora chuckles from the side, elbowing Fasha. "The hell's this? New meat?"
Fasha narrows her eyes, scanning me. "He doesn't even have armor. What kind of joke is this?"
Bardock doesn't look amused. "That him?" he mutters, not asking anyone. His scouter beeps again. "Zod, right? The power level is low. You better not get in the way."
I nod once.
Borgos yawns. "As long as he doesn't slow us down, I don't care."
"Save it," Bardock snaps. "Mission's in 60. Prepare your pods."
No one offers tips or advice since it would be better for me to learn as I go. I don't blame them. But I file every reaction away, mentally. They treat me like dead weight, which I am at the moment. The Viltrumite blood stays my secret—for now.
I tap the pad again, flicking through the team roster. Power levels light up the screen. Bardock sits at the top—just over 10,000. Tora's close behind. Fasha follows, then Borgos, Shugesh… and dead last, me. No surprise. I pause on Bardock's file. It's unlikely he'd waste time sparring with someone this far beneath him. Especially now. I catch bits of chatter history through the comms pad I had—Fasha making jokes to Bardock about rushing back to check on Raditz. Sounds like the kid just got out of the incubation pod.
That tracks. Bardock probably has one foot on this mission and one back home. Not my door to knock on right now. I keep scrolling. Fasha's stats hold steady, strong enough to break my bones but not absurd. I smirk. Out of everyone, she's the best bet. She wouldn't turn down a challenge. Saiyan pride ran deep in her blood, but it was not the same arrogant junk the others spit out. She's a fighter, through and through. Well, that is what I believed. Might as well test it.
Fasha stretched near her pod, her tail lazily swaying. She glances up as I approach, arching a brow. "Need directions, rookie?"
I shake my head. "Need a fight."
That gets a grin. A sharp one at that. "You think you'll learn something from me, or are you just trying to get smacked around before we hit the field?"
A few heads turn, amused. Shugesh chuckles low.
I hold her gaze. "Either way, I'll come out better than I currently am, at least."
Fasha tosses a scouter to the side into her pod and steps away from the pod. "Alright then. Let's see what kind of weakling you are."
Bardock doesn't say anything—he doesn't even look back. Probably thinking about Raditz. That's fine. I wasn't here to impress him.
I walk into the open space beside the pods, stopping a few feet from Fasha. I speak up, "Before we start, just so you know—I barely got any combat training." I shrug like it's normal. "Low-class Saiyans don't get much. No one bothers teaching us. We're lucky if we're even allowed near training gear without getting barked at."
That part? Technically true. The Saiyan system is broken like that. But everything else is a lie. I wasn't raised in this world. I came in from a whole other reality, with no past here, just a bunch of fake history. The system put me here as a low-rank Saiyan. I'll play the part for now.
Fasha eyes me for a second. Her smirk fades, just a little. "Figures." She crosses her arms. "Same crap every time. They slap a number on you and decide your whole damn life off it."
Tora whistles to get her attention. "Hey, don't go soft on him, Fasha."
"Shut it," she shoots back. "At least he's asking for a fight. More spine than half the runts we get dumped with."
She steps into a stance—nothing fancy. "Alright, rookie. I won't hold back just 'cause they held you back. Learn the hard way, yeah?"
The rest of the squad doesn't interrupt. The team left me to Fasha—my trial by fire.
"So we have an hour before we need to leave." I crack my knuckles, easing into position. "I think five broken bones should be recoverable before we arrive at the mission planet for me. I hope." I flash a grin. "Don't hold back on me."
'These Saiyan instincts are messing with my thought process already. Why am I doing a fight already?'
I plant my feet, fluid but stable—shoulders relaxed, hands open. Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. Yes, the style that Bang in One-Punch Man uses. That's what it was called. I learned it back home, mostly for fun, with no real sparring partners to sharpen it on. But memory kicks in as I settle into the stance. It's like slipping on an old hoodie. Mostly a torn hoodie.
Fasha pauses, frowning slightly at the unfamiliar form. "That doesn't look like Saiyan trash brawling."
"Nope."
"Fine." She smirked again, cracking her neck.
Without warning, she rushes forward, fast but not full throttle. Testing if I can respond clearly. I pivot, redirecting her fist with a not-so-smooth deflection, stepping aside instead of blocking. She raises a brow.
"You're slippery," she mutters, reassessing. Then she dives in again—faster this time.
The others watch, mildly surprised. Tora murmured something to Bardock, but the captain didn't respond. He finally looks over in this direction.
Fasha's strikes come in tighter now. She's adjusting and getting serious. I can already feel my arms sting from the force, even when I deflect cleanly. This isn't a spar for her—I am not strong enough for that. I'm giving her just enough reason to make it worth her time, seeing as my fighting style is not refined but not the usual brute force method.
Crack. Her punch lands clean in my ribs. I don't even see it coming—just feel my body leave the ground for half a second before slamming back down on the hard steel of the landing zone.
"Ah—fuck." I wheeze, completely out of breath, one hand clutching my side. Blood was spilling from my mouth a bit. "Eight broken bones." I barely get out, staring up at the sky, and I exhale sharply. "I really should've blocked." I shift slightly, everything screaming at once. "At least… I scratched your cheek."
Fasha wiped a thin line of blood from her face, inspecting it with a raised brow. "Huh. You actually tagged me?" She smirks. "Not bad, rookie. For someone with glass bones."
I let out a pained chuckle.
Shugesh chuckles while standing at the side, "Damn, she didn't even try to hold back."
Borgos laughs. "That's holding back for her. What do you mean?"
Tora leans in toward Bardock. "He's got moves, though. Weird ones. You see that form he used?"
Bardock looks on, arms still crossed. "Yeah. Not from any system I know."
Fasha offers a hand. "Come on, rookie. Still breathing?"
I grab her hand and pull myself up, groaning. "Barely."
She chuckles. "Just don't die before we land."
Bardock finally spoke. "Get ready. We're leaving in thirty minutes. And you—" he glances my way, eyes briefly sharp "—don't slow us down out there."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I mutter, forcing a grin through clenched teeth.
I limped my way into the pod alone, ignoring the dull throb in my ribs. No one bothered helping me because Fasha just gave me a smirk and a shoulder shrug—"punishment," she said, for losing worse than I should've. Fair, that was stupid of me. The pod seals shut with a hiss, locking me into quiet darkness lit only by the glow of the console. I open the system menu. Something I've only skimmed until now.
I scroll to the tab marked Abilities & Skills. The panel switches, showing three neat sections: Passives. Actives. Racial.
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Passives:
Zenkai (Near-Death Recovery Boost):
The Saiyans can become significantly stronger after recovering from near-death experiences. Each time they suffer near-fatal damage, their power and abilities are enhanced, allowing them to learn and adapt rapidly in combat situations if given the proper time to recover.
Regeneration (Vultrumite Healing):
The Vultrumites have a rapid regenerative healing factor. Injuries that would take hours or days to heal for others may take mere minutes for the Vultrumites. This allows them to recover from wounds much faster than most beings.
Vultrumite Longevity:
Just like the Saiyans, Vultrumites have an extended lifespan and age much slower than most other races. However Vultrumites remain in peak physical condition for centuries, granting them the ability to fight for long periods without suffering from physical decay. This also means they could potentially live to see the rise and fall of entire generations of warriors.
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Racial:
Oozaru (Moonlight Required) (Can be upgraded)
When exposed to the light of a full moon, the Saiyans can transform into the Oozaru, significantly increasing their size and strength. This transformation enhances physical strength exponentially, at least ten times, but can reduce cognitive control. In their Oozaru form, the Saiyans can cause widespread destruction.
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Actives:
Energy Absorption (Can be upgraded)
The ability to absorb energy through contact with the energy the user wants to absorb. The limit is 2x the user's power level.
——————————————————————————————————————
'That's it?'
"Hmph." I lean back in the seat, wincing. "Guess no freebies. Well.. I guess those are."
No teacher? Fine. I'll start with the basics. Ki control. Every strong fighter needed it. Hiding energy, focusing attacks, flying—it all starts there.
I close my eyes and bring my breathing under control. Nice and steady. I picture the energy in my body like a pulse in my core. I try to feel any form of energy in my body.
Ten minutes pass. Then twenty. My breathing slows. I start to feel a warmth building inside my chest.
Ping.
A soft notification chimes in the system's UI:
New Skill Unlocked: Basic Ki Control
Ki +1 (19)
I smirk. "First step."
Two weeks in a pod sounds like hell—unless you've got a plan. The Vultrumite healing is actively healing me. So I should be back to full health before we even reach the planet.
I use the time I have.
I keep my eyes shut and fall into a deep focus. Ki control training comes first—moving the energy inside, learning to guide it like a muscle. I keep suppressing and flaring my power level in patterns until it's second nature.
Then, I shift to shadow sparring. In my head, I replay every fight I've ever seen—Goku vs Vegeta, Piccolo vs Gohan, even Nappa's early brawls. I copy their movements, tho, of course, not that well due to my lack of experience. Over and over. Fighting them in my mind. I imagine what it would take to counter each move.
Ping. Ping. Ping.
The system flashes little notifications every time I cross a threshold. However I do not open my eyes yet.
It's slow. But steady.
Then—light. A slow hiss and click as the pod unlocks and lifts open.
My eyes snap open. The air outside is dry and heavy. I blinked, adjusting to the planet's strange red-orange skies. The familiar system screen floats in front of me, visible only to me.
Ki +1 (20)
Ki +2 (22)
Ki +6 (28)
End +2 (18)
New Skills Gained During Transit:
Power Suppression
Basic Ki Sense
Basic Shadow Training
I grin. Decent jump.
I hop out of the pod, stretching. Bones healed. And more energy.
I open the full panel.
——————————————————————————————————————
Name: Zod
Race: Saiyan Hybrid (Viltrumite)
Age: 22
Rank: Low-Class Saiyan
Stats: (Power-level = (Strength x Endurance x Ki)
Strength: 14
Endurance: 18 (Thanks to broken bones healing.)
Ki: 28
Power level: 7,056
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Passives:
Zenkai (Near-Death Recovery Boost):
The Saiyans can become significantly stronger after recovering from near-death experiences. Each time they suffer near-fatal damage, their power and abilities are enhanced, allowing them to learn and adapt rapidly in combat situations if given the proper time to recover.
Regeneration (Vultrumite Healing):
The Vultrumites have a rapid regenerative healing factor. Injuries that would take hours or days to heal for others may take mere minutes for the Vultrumites. This allows them to recover from wounds much faster than most beings.
Vultrumite Longevity:
Just like the Saiyans, Vultrumites have an extended lifespan and age much slower than most other races. However Vultrumites remain in peak physical condition for centuries, granting them the ability to fight for long periods without suffering from physical decay. This also means they could potentially live to see the rise and fall of entire generations of warriors.
——————————————————————————————————————
Racial:
Oozaru (Moonlight Required) (Can be upgraded)
When exposed to the light of a full moon, the Saiyans can transform into the Oozaru, significantly increasing their size and strength. This transformation enhances physical strength exponentially, at least ten times, but can reduce cognitive control. In their Oozaru form, the Saiyans can cause widespread destruction.
——————————————————————————————————————
Actives:
Energy Absorption (Can be upgraded)
The ability to absorb energy through contact with the energy the user wants to absorb. The limit is 2x the user's power level.
Ki Control Lv 1 (Basic)
Allows the user to control ki. This can affect the defensive and offensive abilities that rely on Ki.
Ki Sense Lv 1 (Basic)
Allows the user to sense Ki. Leveling this up allows sensing smaller power sources, at longer distances.
Power Suppression Lv 1
The user can suppress their power. Tho, you will struggle more to hide from those with Ki Sense.
Shadow Training (Basic)
User can create image training inside their head, allowing them to train their ki.
——————————————————————————————————————
Hidden behind suppression—hovering at 4,034. Just enough to keep myself hidden. Someone using a scouter won't suspect much from me.
I hop down from the pod; the planet's gravity is much lighter than that of Planet Vegeta. The terrain's all cracked stone, dead grass, and low-hanging clouds.
The others step out too, each one stretching or adjusting their gear.
I walk up to the group. "So what's the mission on this planet, Bardock, sir?"
"Mid-cleared world. Native resistance didn't take the first purge well. Command wants us to finish it."
Tora grins. "So we're cleanup?"
Bardock shakes his head. "No. Something's off. The last unit that came down here went dark. No signal at all."
Fasha cracks her knuckles. "They think the locals suddenly grew a spine?"
"Don't know. Don't care. We're to eliminate all resistance. Standard sweep pattern—north ridge first." Bardock looks at me now. "You're on Fasha's flank. Try not to break anything."
"Understood," I nod, tone flat.
Fasha smirks, tapping the side of her scouter. "I'll make sure he doesn't fold in five seconds."
Bardock turns. "Move out. We're burning daylight, and I want this wrapped before sunset."
We launch into the air. The surface was extremely calm and quiet below us as we flew over.
As we fly toward the ridge, I reach into the pouch on my waist and pull out a tablet—one of those old Frieza Force tablets most Saiyans ignore. They rely on scouter comms for everything, but this little tablet? It pulls direct reports from the broader network. A relic with how old they are, but it's still working. Found it in a crate I probably should not have access to.
The screen lights up. Scanning the reports, I find a report about 8 months old. My eyes narrow. I almost stopped mid-air.
"Sir!" I call out, pushing higher to match Bardock's flight path. He glances back, irritated. I hold up the device for him.
"A report from the Frieza Force network. Chilled is on this planet. I don't know why it wasn't pushed to scouters, but…" I pause. "We might be in deep shit."
That gets the squad's attention faster than saying an elite was with them.
Bardock stops flying. Full halt. His scouter blinks wildly for a second as he punches in a search—nothing. No trace of that name. He stares at me, then at the device. "Chilled is older than King Cold and should be dead. This better not be some joke."
"Chilled? As in Lord Chilled?" Tora's voice cuts sharp.
Fasha's smirk vanishes. "He's real? I thought he was a damn ghost story the Frieza Force told to scare rookies."
Bardock grabs the tablet out of my hand and scans the data fast. "This isn't good. This wasn't on the mission briefing." He tosses the tablet back to me.
"Yeah, I don't plan on seeing a ghost anytime soon," Shugesh mutters, sweating.
"If he's here," Bardock says, "then this isn't just a sweep. We've been set up—or someone upstairs didn't want us knowing."
I speak again. "Sir, if I had to guess... either he's testing something, and our Saiyan forces just had horrible luck with the planet, or someone wants to use the Saiyan forces to attack an ancient Frost Demon."
Bardock's eyes burned. "No one engages him unless I say so. If this is real, prepare the pods right away." He glares at the rest. "If any of you think about going in guns blazing, I'll knock you out myself."
After some looking around, ensuring to stay behind hills for cover. We had found some ships that belonged to Lord Chilled.
The moment Bardock confirmed some of Chilled's elites on the ground—power levels high enough to make even him curse under his breath—he didn't waste a second. Just giving a blatant order: "We're pulling out. Back to the pods. Now."
The squad naturally didn't bother to argue.
We touched down fast, everyone checking their pods while Bardock tossed me a glare and pointed. "You. You've got that old comm link. You're reporting this. Direct to the palace. Not the Frieza line. The scouters would just record our comms."
And just like that, I'm standing by the pods, trying not to sweat bullets while keying into a line I shouldn't even have access to.
I spoke up right away.
"This is Zod, under the squadron led by Commander Bardock." I keep my voice flat and clear. "Planet N293 in Sector N002 is currently occupied by Lord Chilled. Unknown reason for presence. Request immediate mission abort protocol and extraction of all units scheduled for deployment. Immediate return to Planet Vegeta is requested."
The line crackles. Silence. Then—click.
A voice answers. Cold and quite distant. Like someone is tired of their job.
"This is Palace Relay. Message received. Forwarding it to King Vegeta. Do not engage. Hold position. Await updated orders. If this is an attempt at being funny, there will be consequences."
Another pause, likely checking my authority and rank.
"Zod. You are not authorized to use this line. Expect follow-up."
The connection drops.
I exhaled slowly and muttered, "Yep. Getting chewed out for that later."
Bardock walks up, arms folded. "They take it seriously?"
"Yup." I nod. "It's already on the way to the King."
He grunts. "Good." Then, with a sidelong look, "And if anyone asks, I told you to do it."
We both know that won't stop the scolding or whatever follows. But I'll take it over a Frost Demon showdown this early.
(I don't know how this web-novel shit works. We'll see, tho. I tend to be low on time. Have not looked at actual Dragon Ball stuff in ages either. Some non-canon characters will be in this story. Have a good one, everyone. There will be no inappropriate content. Maybe some gore but nothing too detailed.)