Chapter 48: Return to Planet Kai

Goku lay on the cold, metallic floor of Frieza's spaceship, his body still aching from the grueling battle. The golden glow of his Super Saiyan transformation had long faded, and now, as he stared at the wreckage around him, his thoughts drifted to Earth. **How do I get back?** he wondered, his mind racing to find a way home. The once-mighty ship was now a hollowed-out ruin, barely functioning, and with Frieza gone, there was no one to navigate it.

Suddenly, from behind the ruins of a shattered control panel, two familiar figures emerged—Vegeta and Nail. Vegeta, the Saiyan prince, looked disheveled and furious, while Nail, the Namekian warrior, remained calm, though he had clearly been thrown far away during the fight between Goku and Frieza.

Vegeta's eyes narrowed the moment he laid them on Goku, his fists clenching tightly. **Kakarot…** The sight of Goku, in his weakened state but still victorious, filled Vegeta with rage. More than that, envy. The legend of the Super Saiyan had belonged to him. He, the prince of all Saiyans, had been born to achieve this form first! And yet, here lay Goku—the low-class warrior who had surpassed him, awakening the power Vegeta had sought for so long.

"Damn you, Kakarot," Vegeta growled under his breath, glaring down at him. His pride was stung deeply.

Nail, however, walked up to Goku with a gentle nod, admiration in his eyes. "Goku, you've done it. Your persistence, your strength… I've never seen anything like it. You're truly remarkable," Nail said with genuine respect.

Goku, still catching his breath, smiled weakly. "Thanks, Nail. I don't know how I pulled through… but I couldn't let Frieza win."

Just as Goku prepared to respond further, a sudden burst of light flashed before them, and a new figure appeared—North Kai, or King Kai, as Goku knew him. He floated before them with a goofy grin and his antenna twitching, his presence as light-hearted as ever, but carrying an unmistakable divine aura.

Vegeta and Nail immediately tensed, their instincts kicking in as they prepared for battle. Vegeta, his energy flaring, shouted, "Who dares appear before me unannounced?!"

Nail, more cautious, raised his hand, ready to fight if needed.

Goku, noticing their reactions, quickly intervened, waving his hands in the air. "Whoa, whoa! It's okay, guys! That's King Kai—he's a respected god from the Otherworld."

At Goku's words, Vegeta and Nail reluctantly relaxed, though Vegeta's scowl remained firmly in place. He didn't care much for gods—he was still processing the fact that Kakarot had surpassed him.

King Kai chuckled, floating closer to Goku. "You've done it, Goku! I knew you had the potential, but even I didn't expect you to reach the level of a Super Saiyan so quickly. I've been watching everything from my planet, and let me say, you've truly impressed me."

Goku, scratching the back of his head, gave a humble smile. "Thanks, King Kai. I didn't think I could do it myself, but Frieza pushed me too far."

King Kai nodded, his tone turning more serious. "And you're not the only one to have achieved that legendary transformation, Goku. Kairos, too, has ascended to the form of a Super Saiyan."

The moment King Kai uttered the name "Kairos," the air in the room changed. Goku, Vegeta, and Nail all froze, their expressions shifting to ones of disbelief.

"Kairos? He's a Super Saiyan too?" Goku's eyes widened, his mind flashing back to the time he had sparred with Kairos. Back then, Kairos had defeated him with ease, even though Goku had thought he could win. Now, realizing that Kairos had unlocked the same power—and perhaps even more—he felt the weight of how much stronger his ally had become. "I… I didn't think Kairos was that powerful…"

Vegeta's fists trembled, his rage and disbelief boiling over. "On Earth… there's another Saiyan?!" His voice was filled with incredulity, and a hint of something darker—fear. He had assumed that only he and Goku could achieve such power. Now, to hear that someone else, perhaps another Saiyan, had unlocked the same form? It tore at his pride even further. "This Kairos… who is he? Could he really be a Saiyan?"

King Kai nodded solemnly, looking at both Vegeta and Nail. "I'll explain more, but first, Nail and Vegeta, would you like to accompany Goku back to my planet? There's much more to discuss."

Nail and Vegeta exchanged glances before both nodded in agreement. Without further delay, King Kai closed his eyes, and in an instant, the group vanished.

On King Kai's planet, the quiet peace was quickly disturbed as Goku, Vegeta, Nail, and King Kai materialized in a flash of light. The other Z-Fighters—Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Krillin—stood nearby, having been training under King Kai's guidance. The moment they saw Vegeta, their bodies tensed, preparing for a fight.

"Vegeta!" Piccolo snarled, stepping forward with a fierce gaze. "What's he doing here?"

Tien clenched his fists, his three eyes narrowing. "Is he trying to start something again?"

Goku quickly stepped in between them, raising his hands. "Wait, wait! Vegeta's with me. He's not here to fight. We've just been through a huge battle with Frieza, and Vegeta's helped more than you think."

The Z-Fighters hesitated but slowly relaxed at Goku's words. Piccolo gave Vegeta a long, piercing stare before nodding, though his guard remained up. "Fine. But I'm watching you, Vegeta."

Vegeta, pride wounded but silent, glared back at them, unwilling to let anyone see how much the day's events had shaken him.

As the tension eased, the Z-Fighters turned their attention back to Goku, and a wave of relief washed over them.

"Goku!" Krillin shouted, running up with a huge grin. "You did it! You beat Frieza, didn't you?"

Yamcha clapped Goku on the back, his face filled with admiration. "Man, I knew you were strong, but a Super Saiyan? That's incredible!"

Chiaotzu floated nearby, smiling softly. "We're so proud of you, Goku."

Piccolo crossed his arms, giving a small nod of respect. "You've come a long way, Goku. Congratulations."

Goku, feeling the warmth of his friends' admiration, smiled widely. "Thanks, everyone. But it wasn't easy. Frieza was tough, and if it weren't for the Super Saiyan transformation… I don't think I'd be here."

As Goku stood among his friends, the weight of the battles and the power he had achieved started to sink in. But even with Frieza gone, there was still much to be done. And in the back of his mind, the thought of Kairos—another Super Saiyan, perhaps even stronger than him—loomed. This was only the beginning.