[49]. Ausbi’er Challenges Bardock One-on-One

"Kaso, why do these senzu beans look different from the ones you gave me before?" Bardock pointed at the senzu plants, puzzled.

"It's nothing. They just haven't been dried yet," Kaso replied casually, then added, "Even if they haven't been dried, their effects should be the same. It's just that they won't keep as long."

"That's great!"

Bardock clenched his fist. He had once trained too hard in the gravity chamber and nearly killed himself. Thankfully, Kaso had given him a senzu bean—after just one, his body had fully recovered.

"Now that Kaso has managed to grow so many senzu beans, it may still not be enough to support the entire tribe, but if we ration them carefully, it should work out."

Having experienced their effects firsthand, Bardock was visibly thrilled.

In truth, when Kaso gave him over a hundred senzu beans, Bardock already suspected he had more than that. But there's no reason someone should give away everything they have. If he had something this miraculous, he might not share it with anyone either.

From saving the Saiyans during Planet Vegeta's explosion, to bringing back over 200 gravity chambers—Kaso had already done enough.

Now, looking at the lush field of senzu plants, Bardock's heart burned with hope. With this miracle crop, the Saiyans' rise was no longer a dream.

His excitement was understandable. Since the destruction of Planet Vegeta, Bardock had taken on the burden of rebuilding the Saiyan race as its de facto leader. The pressure he bore was immense.

Which is why, when he saw everything Kaso had done—and the incredible strength he possessed—he began to consider handing over leadership of the Saiyans to him.

But Kaso… was still too young.

"Kaso, what's your current power level?" Bardock soon calmed down.

"Why, you wanna fight me again?" Kaso raised an eyebrow.

Bardock: "…"

He wasn't going to humiliate himself again.

"I saw Frieza's true strength in a dream," Bardock said with a grave tone.

"Oh?"

Kaso was surprised. So Bardock had a vision of Frieza's real power? That ability of his was stronger than expected.

"530,000!" Bardock suddenly became agitated. "He has a power level of 530,000! Do we Saiyans still have any hope of revenge?"

At present, Kaso was the strongest among the Saiyans. But in Bardock's estimation, Kaso's power level was probably no more than 50,000. That wasn't even a tenth of Frieza's. How could they possibly fight back?

He looked at Kaso. The boy's talent was unquestionable. With gravity chambers and senzu beans to aid him, perhaps one day he really could defeat Frieza.

But that day would be far off. The thought of having to remain in hiding on Planet Sadala for years still gnawed at Bardock.

The once-feared warriors of the universe had fallen to this state. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Bardock-uncle, revenge isn't something that can be rushed," Kaso said, smiling wryly as he shook his head.

To Bardock, Frieza's power level was 530,000. But did he really understand Frieza's true power?

It was 120 million!

Frieza's real strength was a monstrous 120 million.

Even Kaso himself didn't currently have a way to defeat him. No matter how he looked at it, the only option seemed to be becoming a Super Saiyan.

"Let's go. Make sure they protect the senzu plants properly. It looks like they need a few more days before they're ready to harvest."

Kaso waved dismissively, then vanished.

Bardock stared blankly at where Kaso had stood.

Then, in a sudden fit of rage, he shouted:

"Kaso, you little brat! You brought me here but didn't take me back?!"

Moments ago, Kaso had used Instant Transmission to bring him to the north of Planet Sadala. Now he had left without taking Bardock with him. Bardock was so angry his teeth hurt.

Patrolling Saiyans in the distance heard Bardock's furious shouting and quickly steered clear. They didn't dare get involved in anything between those two.

Half an hour later, Bardock finally finished venting his anger.

He turned around and reminded the stationed Saiyans to properly protect the senzu plants before reluctantly flying back home.

...

Another month passed.

In the southern deserts of Planet Sadala, the searing sun beat down, scorching the dunes. Careful observers would see waves of heat shimmering above the ground.

"Haah!"

A little girl hurled an energy blast toward a figure in the sky.

The attack stirred up massive plumes of sand, and the air became thick with heat and smoke, obscuring vision.

The adult figure in the sky moved like a lightning bolt, easily dodging the blast.

"Little runt! It's not that easy to take your uncle down!" Bardock laughed, then suddenly blinked out of sight.

"Don't get cocky, Bardock-uncle! I'll beat the crap out of you in a minute!"

Ausbi'er pouted, spinning around and throwing a punch at the space behind her.

Boom!

The two fists collided with a thunderous shockwave, blasting the surrounding desert skyward, the sand rising like a geyser.

Dust storm, rolling chaos.

"You little brat, you've changed. You're not cute anymore!" Bardock chuckled.

He remembered when Ausbi'er used to cling to Kaso's side all day. Whenever the two got bullied, they'd run to him crying.

Now she was threatening to beat the crap out of him?

Definitely not cute anymore.

Bardock lunged forward, using Afterimage techniques to flicker across the air. But no matter where he went, Ausbi'er followed right behind, impossible to shake off.

Raising his hand, Bardock gathered a burst of energy and blasted it backward.

Crackle!

The intense beam tore through the air, carving a path straight for Ausbi'er.

"Hmph!"

With a flick of her tiny palm, Ausbi'er redirected the energy blast as though batting away a baseball, sending it hurtling into the desert.

BOOM!

The entire region erupted like it had been hit by a hundred miniature nuclear bombs. Sand surged into the air, creating massive sandstorms that swept through the battlefield.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Two black shadows darted through the sky, clashing from left to right, above and below. Each collision stirred violent winds and echoed like thunder.

Bardock lunged with a punch—only to hit empty air.

"Shit!"

Too late—he realized what had happened.

Ausbi'er had appeared directly above him, her small hands clasped together, slamming down with the force of a meteor.

"Damn it!"

Bardock had no time to dodge. He had no choice but to take the hit head-on.

But in a battle between experts, a single misstep can tip the balance.

And this scene… felt all too familiar to Bardock. He'd experienced the exact same thing when he once fought Kaso.

Now even a little girl was beating him like this?

Goddammit.

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