Vegeta's whole body tensed up. Something had landed above him? And he hadn't noticed at all?!
He slowly looked up—immediately, he saw a giant bird, its whole body blazing red like fire, looming against the sunlight. It bowed its head and stared down at Vegeta beneath the tree. Its twin eyes gleamed like torches, and its long beak opened and closed ever so slightly...
---
"Little Red~ Little Red, where are you~~?"
A stylishly dressed little black-haired boy was walking through the forest. Though the woods were full of fierce beasts, he neither knew nor feared them. He strolled about at ease, a furry brown tail lifted high behind him, swaying as he walked. The little boy padded noiselessly along the forest path with nimble steps.
The boy was none other than Son Gosen, the son of Goku and Bulma.
And the way he walked—he had quietly observed and copied it earlier today while wandering around the island with Taro. The little guy thought it looked fun and wanted to try walking like that himself.
After Goku had left, Taro took Son Gosen for a casual stroll around the island, showing him the scenery and chatting a bit.
Then Son Gosen started playing with the phoenix. Though young, he was bold and full of curiosity. His Saiyan physique made him sturdy and resilient to bumps and falls—he would just laugh it off and get up like it was nothing. Bulma let him be, watching from a distance with a cheerful smile alongside Hathaway and Gohan, not the least bit worried.
Now the phoenix had vanished somewhere, so Son Gosen went looking for him.
"Oh?"
At a small table on the lawn, Gohan was having afternoon tea with Hathaway and Bulma, basking in the sunlight. Suddenly, one of his white eyebrows twitched as he murmured, "He actually escaped from my Uncle Tsuru?"
And flew all the way to Muten Island? That's probably not just coincidence… likely Uncle Tsuru sent him here.
A flicker of interest stirred in Gohan. He was curious to see what kind of alien could make his fierce Uncle Tsuru hold back from killing him.
He stood up, chuckling. "I'll go check on the little guy…"
"I'm coming too~" Bulma set down her porcelain coffee cup.
---
"Little Red~ Little Red, come out already~"
Son Gosen cupped a hand beside his cheek and shouted loudly into the woods. He grinned, "It's time to eat~ If you don't come out, there won't be any yummy food~~"
Rustle rustle!
There was a sound!
Son Gosen lit up with joy and ran toward the source of the noise—but when he got there, he saw it was just a large, fierce-looking wild boar… The moment the boar spotted the tail swaying behind Son Gosen, it reacted like a mouse seeing a cat. Its bristles stood on end, and with a panicked snort, it bolted away in a puff of dust, leaving Son Gosen tilting his head in confusion. "Huh?"
"Gaa! Gaa!…"
Nearby, the piercing, screeching cry of the phoenix echoed through the woods. Son Gosen, now good friends with the bird, recognized that it sounded like it was messing with someone again and having a great time doing it. He couldn't help but grow curious—after all, the only one here the phoenix liked to tease was him. Who else could it be playing with?
Just as he was about to follow the sound, a man with spiky black hair, covered in blood and filth, suddenly burst out of the bushes. He looked utterly battered, stumbling and staggering, yet radiated a fierce aura soaked in bloodlust. The keen little boy immediately halted in place, swaying his tail gently.
Whoosh!
The red shadow followed in hot pursuit!
"Gaa~!" The phoenix flapped its wings and cried out gleefully, clearly having a great time.
"Gaa my ass!"
Vegeta cursed in his heart. Whose damn bird is this?! Why is it so powerful?! He, the proud Prince of all Saiyans, had come to this bizarre planet today only to be relentlessly hunted down by mysteriously strong opponents, driven to the brink—and now he was being toyed with by a bird?!
"Little Red, who is he?"
A crisp, childish voice snapped Vegeta out of his daze. Though his body was covered in wounds, the aura of a wounded tiger still radiated from him. He suddenly turned his head, eyes flashing sharply. Who was it now, getting so close to him without being noticed?!
Vegeta was starting to doubt his own technique for sensing power levels! That trick he'd perfected in the Frieza Force, which had never failed him, was completely unreliable on this damned planet! It was like everything had gone to hell!
But behind him stood only a little black-haired boy, blinking up at him with big, curious eyes.
"Who are you?" the boy asked again.
Vegeta's eyes immediately caught the brown, furry tail swaying behind the child... His heart jolted, pupils contracted, and his right foot slid across the ground with a hiss. He glared and barked in a harsh voice, "Kid, are you Son Goku?!"
The little boy tilted his head. "Are you looking for my daddy?"
Daddy?
Vegeta quickly grasped what that word meant... There really were other Saiyans alive on this planet! And they'd had children!
Whoosh—
A gust of wind swept in from behind. Vegeta rolled to the side just in time to dodge it, seething inside. That mangy bird had been mocking him ever since he got injured. It had humiliated him nonstop! He was the proud Prince of all Saiyans—when had he ever been reduced to being toyed with by a beast?!
Vegeta glanced at the clueless little boy. A flash of cold light sparked in his eyes—he was about to leap over and seize the child—
"I'd advise against that. Otherwise, Little Red won't just be playing around anymore~"
A crisp, pleasant woman's voice drifted in from another part of the woods. Two figures approached, one tall, one short—stylish, striking Bulma in her signature purple, and white-bearded, white-browed Son Gohan walking calmly beside her with his hands behind his back.
Vegeta's hand froze inches from Son Gosen's neck.
"Huh?" Gosen tilted his head, tail swaying, blinking his bright, black eyes.
Vegeta turned his head and saw that the fiery red bird was now mere inches behind him, eyes burning like flames, its talons—like sharpened steel—suspended above the back of his skull. There was no doubt: had he truly harmed the boy just now, his head would've been crushed by that bird instantly!
Vegeta broke out in a cold sweat!
He hadn't stopped because of Bulma's words—but because of the killing intent that had surged from behind him. That instant of mortal danger had made his heart clench! This bird... this was its true power?!
What the hell kind of planet was this?
Even the birds were this terrifyingly powerful and well-hidden?
"Mama~ Grandpa Gohan~" Gosen ran over with his arms outstretched. Bulma picked him up with a smile, gently wiping the sweat from his little forehead. "Tired from playing? Mwah~" She kissed him softly.
"Not tired, not tired~" Gosen wriggled happily in her arms.
Gohan waved at the phoenix. The bird gave Vegeta a final glance, then flew over to Gohan.
Was it reluctant to leave?! Vegeta burned with fury, gritting his teeth.
Blood dripping, eyes dark and brooding, Vegeta looked at Bulma and asked coldly, "Where's your husband, Son Goku?"