𝙊𝙢𝙣𝙞 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙕

24. A Tyrant's Return

Goten and Maxine were sent away to the lookout in an effort to ensure that the young kids would not do anything that was rash.

Frieza hovered above the battlefield, his sharp eyes scanning the ragtag group of Earth's defenders. His gaze first landed on Jaco, who stiffened under the scrutiny.

"Well, well," Frieza sneered, a sinister smile creeping across his face. "Is that the little Galactic Patrolman? I didn't expect to see you here."

Jaco gulped, trying to maintain his composure. "I'm not afraid of you, Frieza!"

Frieza chuckled, his amusement evident. His eyes then shifted to Piccolo, the Namekian warrior standing tall despite the looming threat.

"And you," Frieza continued, his tone dripping with contempt. "The Namekian who dared to challenge me once before."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed, his fists clenching. "I'm not the same as I was then, Frieza. You'll find that out soon enough."

Frieza's smirk grew wider, but then his gaze fell on Krillin, who stood slightly apart from the others, a shadow of doubt clouding his usually determined face.

"And the little bald one," Frieza mocked, his voice a poisonous whisper. "Still trembling in fear, I see."

Before Krillin could respond, Bulma stepped forward, her blue eyes blazing with defiance. "You don't know what you're up against, Frieza!" she shouted. "Ben is here, and he'll wipe the floor with you!"

Frieza's expression shifted to one of mild interest, his attention finally turning to Ben, who stood calmly amidst the chaos.

"Oh? And who might this be?" Frieza asked, his tone dripping with disdain.

Ben met Frieza's gaze steadily. "I'm not going to mess around with you, Frieza."

Frieza threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing ominously. "Not going to mess around? With me? Don't make me laugh!"

"Enough," Sorbet interrupted, his voice sharp as he gave the order. "Attack them!"

Frieza's army surged forward, a tide of soldiers rushing towards the Z-Fighters. Sorbet, confident in the overwhelming numbers, glanced at his master. "They won't stand a chance against our forces, Lord Frieza."

But Frieza shook his head, a sly grin on his lips. "You underestimate them, Sorbet. This won't be as easy as you think."

As the battle erupted around him, Krillin found himself hesitating, the doubts that had been gnawing at him for so long now consuming him. Could he really make a difference here? He had faced Cell, Majin Buu, and even Beerus, yet the fear still lingered.

Frieza's voice cut through the chaos like a knife. "A reward for any of you who kills the bald one. A planet of your choosing."

Krillin's heart sank as Frieza's soldiers turned their attention to him, their eyes gleaming with the promise of power. They rushed at him, and despite his fear, Krillin found himself frozen, unable to move.

Gohan, Piccolo, and Tien Shinhan fought desperately to reach him, but the sheer number of soldiers made it impossible. Krillin was surrounded, the soldiers jeering as they closed in on him.

One of the soldiers threw a punch, but Krillin instinctively dodged, his movements surprising even himself. He could see everything, every attack, every motion. His training, his experiences—all of it came rushing back in that instant. Master Roshi's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of the battles he had survived.

"You've faced worse than this, Krillin!" Roshi had said. "Remember who you are!"

Krillin's confidence surged, and with a renewed sense of purpose, he charged his energy, releasing a powerful spiral attack that sent the soldiers flying. Master Roshi, watching from the sidelines, smiled proudly as he fired a Kamehameha at the soldiers attacking him. Tien, Piccolo, and Gohan followed suit, each unleashing their own devastating attacks.