At this moment, both the virtual Earth network and the real-world internet were in an uproar!
First, some keen-sensed martial artists detected the ki of Goku, Krillin, Tienshinhan, and other top-tier masters moving at high speed. They started discussing it online. Some, being close by, even managed to capture slow-motion footage—an old monk from Orin Temple was speeding through the air, flying toward the South Pole!
"One group is heading to the North Pole, another to the South Pole—what exactly is happening to mobilize all of Earth's greatest martial artists?"
Many were confused and began to speculate among themselves.
Soon after, a martial artist posted on the virtual Earth network that he had sensed more than a dozen immensely evil auras erupting from the South Pole!
It was like a stone dropped into a still lake—waves rippled out in all directions!
"I knew it, I felt it too!"
"Now that you mention it, after carefully sensing, there really are a dozen or so evil auras moving fast!"
"Such powerful ki! So evil!"
Everyone was astonished, but a sense of dread clouded their hearts… They all thought of the undisputed number one game of the past five years—Earth Defense Battle.
Suddenly, someone shouted: "Look quickly! The old monk and the Master Yixin have released official statements!"
In this era dominated by the virtual Earth network, even legendary figures like the Three Grandmasters had their own personal media accounts—automatically provided for every user on the virtual Earth platform, courtesy of Jarvis.
"It really is aliens! Members of the Frieza Force!" People saw photos Jarvis had snapped—in the images, Vegeta's squad was seen fleeing in panic. Clear as day, the battle armor they wore was the same as that of the Frieza Force in the game!
"The disasters in the game... have become real!"
"The Frieza Force has actually begun to descend!"
The old monk posted on his account:
"Evil has finally arrived. Fellow martial artists—Earth Defense War begins today!"
The Master Yixin wrote:
"I hope every martial artist can stand in the skies above their own city to protect the people! This is the duty and mission of all martial artists!"
Explosive Fist Grandmaster, known for his fiery temper, posted only two words:
"Let's fight!"
Let's fight!
Let's fight!
They've already come to our doorstep—how could we treat them with courtesy?
---
In a small diner in a town near Earth's southern edge, a sturdy young man finished his meal and paid: "Keep the change, old man!"
"Young fella, where are you off to?" asked the elderly owner, who had taken over the old Ox King restaurant.
The young man stepped out of the diner, rolled his neck and wrists, looked south to the sky, and with a spirited grin said, "Just going to greet a few uninvited guests! Old man, your food may not be quite like the Ox King's, but it's got its own flavor. I'll be back tonight!"
Boom!
He shot into the sky like a white beam of light. The old man didn't even flinch—he was used to it by now. In this day and age, it wasn't uncommon for martial artists with decent strength to pop up, and flight techniques were no longer anything rare!
---
Two alien warriors from Vegeta's squad fled in panic, soon flying out beyond the South Pole's icy expanse.
But a burly man in a fur coat, with a full beard and drunken eyes, floated into their path, hovering in midair with a bottle of strong liquor in hand. He drank deeply against the wind and snow, cheeks flushed red from intoxication, eyes drowsy but steady.
The two aliens, like startled birds, saw someone blocking their way and scanned him with their scouters. They quickly saw his power level—only eight or nine hundred.
"This kind of weakling dares block our path? He's asking to die!" one sneered. His own power level was over 4,000!
"Let's take him together," his bloodthirsty companion said coldly.
Boom!
The two charged forward without slowing, unleashing a pair of entwined energy blasts at the bearded man floating midair.
However…
"Haha! Good! Come on!" The bearded man tossed aside his liquor bottle and let out a wild laugh.
He raised a fist as big as a stew pot, drew it back to his waist. When the twin energy blasts reached his face—wham!—he swung his fist forward.
BOOM!
The energy blasts were punched back directly—flying back at even greater speed!
"What?!!" The two aliens were dumbfounded!
---
"Die!!"
Above a city near East Capital, Mr. Satan launched into the air, shouting furiously. His Sevenfold Muken was operating at full power—his hands became a blur, and like a magician's trick, he fired a rapid barrage of energy blasts, like a volley of guided missiles, straight at an evil aura alien who had appeared out of nowhere!
On the ground, everyone looked up.
"Satan! Kill those evil aliens!!" The crowd on the street roared, cheering for Satan.
By now, Satan was something of a martial arts celebrity—after all, five years ago, he had been invited to meet the legendary Muten!
Emboldened, Satan's courage surged, and it felt as if his ki had suddenly grown stronger!
If you want to invade Earth, you'll have to walk over my dead body!
---
Virtual Earth Network…
The internet…
As the twenty-five warriors of Vegeta's squad scattered across the globe, many martial artists stood up without hesitation and engaged them head-on!
Bystanders uploaded a flood of photos, short videos, and messages online!
"I used to be worried about the presence of martial artists, but now, I only hope there are more of them, and that they grow stronger!" one person said in a video, visibly excited. "Just now, a righteous martial artist saved my whole family from an energy blast fired by one of those evil aliens… I don't even dare imagine what would have happened if not for him!"
At this very moment, whether due to the influence of online media or their own personal encounters with the alien warriors of Vegeta's squad… the people of Earth shared a collective resonance.
Martial artists were fighting to protect Earth!
---
In a forested mountain area, Chi-Chi was locked in combat with one of Vegeta's soldiers.
"Damn woman! Get lost!" the alien warrior roared. He realized he couldn't beat this strange Earthling woman. Her power level wasn't high by the scouter's reading, but in actual combat, she was terrifying. He dared not keep fighting and just wanted to escape!
The landing zone in Antarctica had been swarmed by fearsome locals. Even Captain Vegeta had fled in embarrassment. He had to run—run to the North Pole landing zone and seek refuge with the Ginyu Force!
This planet was too damn scary!
A so-called low-level planet, my ass!
On his way, he had seen many comrades killed by Earthlings bursting out of the ground!
It made him want to scream—how the hell was this supposed to be some remote, backwater planet that nobody wanted to conquer? These so-called natives were all savage monsters! It was insane!
And now, he was being relentlessly chased by a woman!
He couldn't shake her!
Chi-Chi was furious. Not long ago, Kakarot had rejected her request to meet again in the Virtual Earth Network. That had left her in a foul mood, and she needed a proper outlet!
"Stop running!" she shouted, her voice sharp, and fired a tightly condensed ki blast!
Elevenfold Muken!
---
Not far from Chi-Chi, a hideous and vicious-looking alien warrior was lurking in the shadows, aiming at her as she chased his comrade.
On his arm was a special energy-firing device capable of unleashing a deadly energy laser. It was a gift from Lord Frieza himself, and he had used it sparingly—until now. It was time to show these ignorant Earthlings...
Suddenly—
A flash of blade light fell from the sky!
It was like a crescent moon crashing from above, over a dozen meters long and thin as a cicada's wing. It was unimaginably sharp, and yet when it tore through the air, it made no sound.
In that deathly silence, the alien warrior was cleaved cleanly in two. His finger was still resting above the laser trigger, and his face was frozen in a sinister grin.
Not far away, Yajirobe casually bit into a meat bun. His sword was already sheathed.
---
Run!
Run!
Run!
That was the only thought in Vegeta's mind. In his senses, the battle power signatures of his twenty-five subordinates were disappearing, one after another! His heart grew heavier with each one… That bastard Frieza! Could he have sent them here just to die?!
He had insisted they use the flight pods he provided—was there a hidden purpose behind that?!
Vegeta gritted his teeth. He had taken serious injuries in the escape and was in growing pain.
Whap! He suppressed his energy signature and flew slowly for a while before landing in a forested area. Unlike his subordinates, who had scattered like headless flies, he could sense power levels and had deliberately avoided populated areas, heading toward the uninhabited wilderness.
But the moment he touched down, his entire body froze. His face turned grim.
Not far from where he landed, an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face, utterly devoid of any ki or signs of life, was gazing at him… or rather, at his waist… with great interest.