42 Sacrebleu

Salza and I just stood there, waiting for the other to make a move. About a minute goes by and he raises an eyebrow, most likely wondering why I haven't charged him yet.

"What's with all the pussyfooting?! Are you gonna fight or what?!" Dore yelled from the sidelines, having gotten fed up with this glorified staring match.

"I concur." Salza nods. "How can I gauge your strength if you refuse to advance?"

I glance over towards Dore and Neiz before turning my attention back towards Salza.

"Listen, I don't think you want to do this." I told him.

"Oh, I very much think he does."

We all turn towards the door and saw Cooler standing there, looking at us with an emotionless gaze.

"Lord Cooler!" Salza exclaimed before saluting.

The other two quickly follow his lead and I stand there for a second, wondering if I should be doing the same. No one told me about a damn thing about pleasantries.

"As you were." Cooler said, waving his hand dismissively.

They each went back to how they usually stood, only now they were a little more attentive.

"Lord Cooler, we were just about to gauge our newest member. We can come back later if you wish to train." Salza told him.

"No, you had the room first." Cooler replied. "Besides, I'm very curious about how our new Saiyan friend here will measure up."

The stare he gives me makes me think that he was scheming something. But then again, Frost Demons are always scheming something, so that's not really saying much.

"Go all out, Salza. Something tells me that he can take it." Cooler ordered, smirking towards me.

Either he wants me to get my ass handed to me or he knows something.

Could he know about the Saiyan's ability to grow stronger after near death?

Unlikely.

Even if he used the ship's power reader during my fight with Frieza, it probably would've overloaded due to my Evil Saiyan state's causing my power to skyrocket over a million. And he can't use regular Scouter since I've broken multiple of them before my fight with Frieza. It wouldn't be at all accurate.

Does he want Salza to try and trigger my Evil Saiyan state again? Sure, he could survive, but the ship nor his Armored Squadron would be able to with me being in such close proximity.

I can't tell what he's thinking.

"Uh, yes, Lord Cooler!" Salza says a little hesitant before squaring off again. "I'm sorry about this. I will make it as painless as possible."

I let out a sigh and just motion for him to come at me.

As much as I loved dominating my foes with overwhelming power, this isn't the best way to introduce yourself to a new team. Especially since Salza is the leader of the outfit.

I could just throw the fight, but I have a feeling that Cooler would definitely notice.

Salza charges, closing in on me before throwing a punch. Feeling that he hit nothing, he stumbles before turning all around him, not seeing me anywhere.

"Salza." Cooler calls out to him.

Salza looks towards his Lord and sees him pointing up. Turning his gaze upward, Salza finally spots me standing on the ceiling, looking down at him.

"When did he..." Neiz whispers in shock.

"I have no idea..." Dore replied.

Meanwhile, Cooler just looks on with a smirk.

"What in the--?!" Salza muttered before loosing sight of me again. "Where are you, you little--"

He was suddenly cut off when he started to see multiple copies of me standing around the room, all of them looking at him with plain indifference.

"I'm right here." All of me said.

"Clones?! He can make clones?!" Dore exclaimed.

"They're not clones." Cooler spoke, grabbing the attention of Dore and Neiz. "He's moving so fast that it appears to be multiple of him."

The Afterimage Technique. Not too hard once you've gotten it down. All you have to do to achieve it is be faster than the eye can see. Which I've already far exceeded countless times over.

I have no doubt that this wasn't the first time that these guys have encountered this technique. Matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet that they have used it once or twice themselves, but it's probably the first time they've seen someone who was monumentally stronger than them use it.

If your power far outclasses the opponent, the see-through transparency of the technique that was shown in the anime doesn't appear. You look entirely tangible, which is what's probably throwing them off.

Salza tries charging towards the multiple afterimages, but his fist just go through them, not making any contact.

"Sacrebleu! Will you fight back or just stay hidden behind your speed?!"

Did he just curse in French? I mean I know he has the accent and all, but I didn't think he actually spoke French. What, was there a Space-France out there or something?

"Yes, as entertaining as this is, I'd rather you hurry this up, Zyleth." Cooler said, looking on with a serious gaze. "Now."

I let out a sigh and disappear again.

"Where did--"

Salza was cut off immediately when I gave him a singular chop to the neck. He goes unconscious and I grab him before he could hit the ground, slowly laying him on the floor.

"Impressive display. Though, a little too much showmanship for my liking." Cooler said as he walked up, leaving behind the two shellshocked underlings. "Don't go underestimating your opponent, no matter how much stronger you think they are. It's how instances like you and my brother's battle ended up."

He's right. If Frieza had been serious from the start, I would be six feet under. Actually, I probably would've just used Kai Kai to leave.

A crutch it may be, but there's no denying that it is a reliable one.

"Now, I have my suspicions about you, Zyleth." He said as he walked across from me, motioning for the other two to pick up Salza. "And so far, I think my suspicions are proving to be true."

He stops and turns, looking at me with that signature smirk. His eyes gleam a dangerous red and I start breaking into a sweat.

"But I suppose there's only one way to find out for sure."

He spreads his arms out and looks me dead in my eyes.

He wants me to fight him...