In Dragon Ball: A brutal beating of Frieza at the start

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"It's a hidden spatial portal!" Xi's eyes lit up with excitement. "It needs to be activated with energy of a specific frequency, and the pulse we just saw was the key!"

Number 18 stared at the hidden door, his fingers tracing the patterns on his arm armor: "The defenses are well concealed; anyone who doesn't know the inside story wouldn't be able to find it. It seems the people of the Void Market are already used to hiding."

As soon as the words were spoken, two dark figures darted out from the void beside the hidden door. They were two dilapidated warships, their hulls covered with messy symbols and skulls, rusty but with gleaming cannons, their dark heads aimed at the "Star Shuttle," exuding a tyrannical and bandit-like aura.

A gruff voice suddenly blared from the communicator, and a one-eyed, burly man appeared on the screen, a scar running from his forehead to his chin, a smoking cigar dangling from his lips: "New here? Do you know the rules? Pay the entrance fee before you come in! Energy batteries, rare ores, intelligence—anything goes. Your ship looks alright, so pay 100 standard energy crystals! One less and you're not getting in!"

Vegeta instantly flew into a rage, rolled up his sleeves, and charged toward the cockpit: "Damn it, you dare to steal from me? Believe me or not, I'll tear your crappy ship apart!"

Lin Ye quickly held him down and winked at Xi: "Don't waste time, use the ore we captured earlier." Xi controlled the mechanical arm and launched several boxes of low-quality energy ore towards the enemy warship. The ore wasn't valuable, but it was enough to deal with the guards.

After scanning the warship, the one-eyed burly man curled his lip and spat out his cigar: "Tsk, poor bastards! Fine, I'll let you in since you're new here! Remember, don't cause trouble in the market, but don't be afraid of trouble either... This place only recognizes fists and money! If you break the rules, the 'Cleaners' will come after you, and you'll have nowhere to cry then!"

The two wrecked warships moved aside, and the darkness in the center of the hidden door began to rotate, transforming into a dazzling tunnel of light and color. Lines of color flashed by rapidly, creating a dizzying effect. The "Star Shuttle" entered the tunnel, and Trunks, peering out the window, exclaimed in amazement, "This is incredible! It's like traveling through time! Much more thrilling than a roller coaster on Earth!"

Number 18 leaned back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on the spot: "Don't let your guard down. Space tunnels are the easiest places to set up ambushes."

About five minutes later, the scene suddenly brightened... The interior of a hollowed-out asteroid appeared before them, crammed with haphazard structures of all shapes and sizes, some tall, some short, some round, some square, even pieces pieced together from the hulls of abandoned spaceships, all without any order. The oddly shaped spaceships, like bees, were either perched on the rock walls or suspended in mid-air, some emitting black smoke as if they might explode at any moment.

Neon lights and holographic billboards flashed blindingly, with slogans like "Top-tier energy weapons, buy one get one free," "Mercenaries on duty, kill anyone," and "Contraband for sale, absolutely confidential" flashing alternately. The air was a mixture of engine exhaust, the aroma of barbecue, and strange smells, interspersed with hawking cries, arguments, engine roars, and even sporadic gunshots, creating a chaotic scene resembling an overturned market, yet exuding an eerie vitality.

"This is the Void Market?" Trunks stared in disbelief. "It's even more outrageous than the most chaotic neighborhood on Earth!"

Vegeta wrinkled his nose and turned his head away, his face full of disgust: "A filthy rat's nest, it smells like garbage everywhere, it's disgusting."

Number 18 turned on the energy detector, and the screen was filled with red dots: "A large number of high-energy reactions, weapons are everywhere. There are also many non-human creatures, with a large gap in combat power, but there are three strong signals, which should be the tough guys here. We have to keep a low profile and avoid trouble."

Xi was busy looking for a parking spot: "There's no unified management here, so you have to fight for a spot. There's a platform near the garbage disposal area that no one uses, but it's a bit dirty."

“Just park there,” Lin Ye said, “the more out of the way the better, so it’s not too conspicuous.”

The Star Shuttle landed on the platform, surrounded by dilapidated spaceships, some with damaged hulls exposing wiring, a stark contrast to the Star Shuttle's clean and sleek design. The four had barely settled when countless gazes swept over them... curious, greedy, and malicious. A three-eyed alien stared at their equipment, reaching for the dagger at his waist, but Vegeta glared at him fiercely, causing him to instantly withdraw his hand and pretend to look at the distant spaceships.

"Shall we split up?" Trunks leaned closer to Lin Ye. "We can gather intelligence faster that way. Let's each go in a different direction."

“No, it’s too dangerous,” Lin Ye said in a low voice. “This place is a mixed bag. Who knows if there are any observers here? It would be troublesome if we were targeted. Let’s go together and find a tavern or intelligence station to ask around.”

The four of them squeezed into the crowd, surrounded by bizarre creatures: multi-armed, hairy, and even shapeless, mud-like beings that sent chills down their spines. Trunks gripped his sword hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white; Number 18 pressed the switch on the energy cannon; Vegeta walked at the front, his aura overwhelming, forcing others to automatically make way for him.

After walking for ten minutes, they found a bustling tavern. Its facade was the rusty hull of an abandoned spaceship, and a tattered sign reading "Drunken Star Tavern" hung above the entrance, its lettering flickering. The moment they entered, a stench of cheap alcohol and sweat assaulted their nostrils, causing Trunks to frown and pull away. The tavern was packed; some were drinking and arguing, some were secretly trading, and others were asleep at the tables, drool dripping down their faces. Behind the bar, a humanoid creature with a tentacle-like chin was skillfully mixing drinks, its tentacles deftly manipulating the bottles.

Lin Ye walked to the bar and placed down a few energy crystals he had seized from the space pirates; these were the common currency on the black market. "I want to ask you something."

The bartender quickly took the crystal, his tentacles twitching as he revealed a fawning smile: "New face, huh? What do you want to ask? Hiring a hitman, selling stolen goods, or looking for some fun? As long as you have money, we have everything here."

“The Seventh Generation,” Lin Ye lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, “Do you know this place?”

The bartender's tentacles froze instantly, his smile vanished, and his eyes widened in fear and wariness. He took a step back and waved his hand, saying, "I don't know! Never heard of it! Go find someone else! I only sell alcohol, not information!" He then turned to leave.

Vegeta grabbed his shoulder and, with a little force, the bartender howled in pain, his tentacles trembling wildly, his face turning deathly pale: "Spare me! It's not that I don't want to tell, it's that 'they' forbid it! Anyone who mentions the Seventh Generation is doomed! It's taboo! It's truly taboo!"

"Who are they? Are they the Observers?" Lin Ye pressed, his tone laced with pressure.

The bartender's legs went weak, and he stammered, "I don't know... I really don't know! I only heard from the higher-ups that 'they' are terrifying! A spy secretly sold information about the Seventh Generation, and disappeared the next day, the shop was razed to the ground! Please don't ask anymore, I still want to live! I have elderly parents and young children to support!"

Seeing that his fear seemed genuine, Lin Ye changed the subject: "Have you heard of terms like 'hidden dragon,' 'tomb,' 'guardian,' and 'real key'?"

The bartender was so frightened he almost collapsed, covering his head and shaking his head: "Never heard of it! Never heard of it! I know nothing about it! Please let me go!" Tears were almost streaming down his face.

Clearly, Lin Ye couldn't get any useful information from the bartender, so he gave the others a look and prepared to leave. Just then, a hoarse voice came from a dark corner nearby, like sandpaper rubbing against wood, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly: "Want to know about the 'tomb'? Perhaps... we can make a deal."

Everyone turned to look, and there sat a figure in the shadows, his back to them, his outline indistinct, holding a glass of nearly cold liquor. The tavern was noisy, but this voice seemed to have a magical power, drowning out all the noise and exuding mystery.

Vegeta immediately became alert, stepping forward to block Lin Ye's path, his eyes sharp: "Who are you? Trying to pull some tricks? You think no one will see you just because you're hiding in the shadows?"

The man didn't answer, but slowly raised his head. His hood obscured his face, revealing only a pair of luminous pale blue eyes, like the previous android, but with a more human touch, less cold. "Don't be nervous," he smiled, his voice softening, "I mean no harm, I just want a fair trade. You do me a small favor, and I'll tell you about the 'tomb' and the 'key,' how about it? Not a bad deal, right?"

Lin Ye frowned and hesitated. This person's aura was unusual, unlike an ordinary person or an observer. He wondered if it was a trap. But with no other clues at the moment, he could only take the risk and try: "What kind of help? Tell me first, we need to know if it's worth it."

The man pointed to the tavern entrance, his voice even lower: "See those men in black at the door? They're from the 'Iron Hand Gang.' They robbed me yesterday. If you help me get them back, I'll tell you everything I know, I won't hide anything."

Everyone looked up and saw several tall men in black standing at the entrance, their arms embroidered with iron hand symbols—the very same small gang from the Void Market that bullied newcomers. Trunks immediately perked up, gripping his sword hilt tightly: "No problem! They're just a few thugs, right? I'll go get them, quick!"

“Wait a minute,” the man warned, “they have energy weapons and they’re ruthless. A newcomer tried to take their territory and was badly injured, almost to death. Don’t be careless.”

Vegeta scoffed dismissively, rolling up his sleeves: "A few punks dare to use energy weapons? Perfect for stretching my muscles! Watch me take care of them!"

Lin Ye stopped him: "Don't be impulsive. This isn't our territory. If we make a scene and attract the 'Cleaners,' we'll be in trouble. Number 18, you go with Trunks. Don't reveal your strength. Make it quick. Vegeta and I will wait here to guard against ambushes."

"Understood!" Number 18 nodded and walked towards the door with Trunks. The cloaked figure watched their retreating figures, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Lin Ye caught it, and his vigilance intensified... This person was definitely not simple; it was as if he already knew they would agree.

Soon, a commotion, screams, and the sound of things falling to the ground came from the doorway. Trunks and Number 18 returned, the former carrying a heavy black box, and said smugly, "Got it! Those guys were too weak, they surrendered in no time."

After taking the box and inspecting it, the man smiled and said, "Thank you! Now we can talk about the 'tomb'..."

Before he could finish speaking, his expression changed drastically, and he looked towards the door: "Oh no! They're here! Run! It's too late!"

Everyone was stunned. A huge roar came from outside, the ground shook, and the wine glasses on the table wobbled. "Who's here?" Trunks panicked.

"It's the 'Cleaners'! They're the enforcers of the Void Market, actually the Observers' people! They must have been drawn here by the commotion earlier! Come with me, I know the secret passage!" The man grabbed his cloak and headed towards the back of the tavern.

Lin Ye's heart sank. The observers had infiltrated the market's law enforcement; this place wasn't safe either. He made a decisive decision: "Go! Go with him! Don't hesitate!"

The group followed him into a narrow passage behind the tavern. The passage was dark and slippery, with dripping water on the walls and a damp, musty smell. After walking for a few minutes, they arrived at a spacious basement filled with discarded equipment. Old detectors, damaged energy cannons, and sealed boxes were haphazardly placed, resembling a secret hideout.

“It’s safe now.” The man took off his hood, revealing an ordinary human face. He looked to be in his thirties, with a scar running from the corner of his left eye to his temple. His pale blue eyes showed signs of vicissitude. “My name is Lei. I’m an information broker. I’ve been in the Void Market for several years.”

"Why are you helping us?" Lin Ye remained wary. "How did you know we were looking for the 'tomb'? And how are you sure we can handle the Iron Hand Gang?"

Lei smiled and opened the black box... Inside was a stone similar to the foundation stone in Lin Ye's hand, only darker in color, with a faint red glow: "Because I'm also looking for this. This stone is one of the keys to opening the 'tomb.' And you, you have one too, right, Lin Ye?"

Lin Ye was shocked... How did he know his name? And how did he know about the Cornerstone? Who exactly is this person? And what is his relationship with the Observer? Countless questions swirled around him, leaving him no room to relax.

Chapter 487: The Truth About Lei

The basement's metal floor was still stained with undried engine oil, and a rusty smell filled the air. Lin Ye's hand rested on the switch for the variable engine, his knuckles gleaming... The faint light from the engine's casing reflected in his eyes, making his wary expression appear even colder. Vegeta's deep blue aura exploded with a "boom," golden arcs crackling around him, and the temperature in the entire basement suddenly rose.

"Explain yourself, who exactly are you?" Lin Ye's voice was devoid of any warmth. "Knowing my name is one thing, but knowing about the Cornerstone is another. If you're not one of the Observers, then who are you?"

Lei slowly raised his hands, palms facing forward, but his face showed no panic, only a knowing calm: "Don't get angry. If we wanted to fight, we wouldn't have led you to this place in the market. The Observer's pursuers are still searching outside. We don't need to fight among ourselves."

Having just finished checking the only iron door in the basement and confirming that the bolt was locked, Number 18 turned around and walked over, his fingertips still dusty from testing the door earlier: "I don't mean to start a fight, but you need to explain yourself. How did you know we have a cornerstone? And even knew we were looking for the Hidden Dragon Base?"

Ray stared into Number 18's eyes for two seconds, as if to confirm whether she was hostile, before taking something out of his pocket... It was a palm-sized metal badge, which should have had the eagle emblem of the observer on it, but it was shattered by a deep scratch, with blackened bloodstains on the edges, and it looked quite old.

“I used to be an intelligence agent for the Observer,” he tossed the badge to Lin Ye, his voice deepening, “responsible for monitoring energy fluctuations in the Seventh Generation Region. Three months ago, I went with the team to investigate an anomaly and inadvertently stumbled upon a secret of the higher-ups.”

Trunks leaned forward, his grip on his sword loosening slightly... He had been tense the whole time, afraid Ray might suddenly attack: "What secret? Is it related to the Foundation?"

“It’s just that broken stone in your hands,” Lei gestured with his chin toward Lin Ye’s pocket, his tone laced with sarcasm. “The observers call it the ‘Key to the Tomb,’ saying it can open some ancient ruins. But I later discovered that what they wanted wasn’t the contents of the ruins, but a trap.”

Vegeta suddenly sneered, his arrogance rising even higher, almost causing the pipes above his head to fall off: "So you stole a rock and defected? Are the Watchers so useless that they can't even keep an intelligence officer in check?"

“If we were just stealing stones, I would be ashes by now.” Ray’s eyes turned cold as he swept over Vegeta. “I also intercepted their encrypted files. The Watchers weren’t actually looking for the Submarine Base. That place was just a decoy, specifically designed to lure out 'sparks' like you.”

"The Spark?" Lin Ye frowned, gripping the badge in his hand even tighter. "What's that?"

“It’s a derogatory term used within the Observers,” Ray said, leaning against the wall and tapping his fingers on the surface. “It refers to those with special energy signatures who can threaten their rule. The moment you entered the Seventh Generation, their energy fluctuations caught their attention. The Hidden Dragon Base was prepared as your grave.”

Number 18 immediately pressed on, "Then where is the real Qianlong base? Do you know?"

Lei shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "If I had known, I would have gone to find it myself long ago. But the document mentioned that there is more than one real key, and the ones from the seventh generation are all fakes. They released this information to lure all the 'sparks' into a trap and wipe them out in one fell swoop."

He had barely finished speaking when a loud "boom" suddenly came from above... The whole building shook, dust fell from the ceiling, and several pipes crashed to the ground, sending sparks flying.

"Damn it! They've found this place!" Trunks instantly drew his sword, his eyes fixed warily on the doorway. "There are definitely detectors everywhere outside!"

Lei didn't panic. Instead, he quickly rushed to the wall and pressed three times on an inconspicuous metal plate. With a "click," the wall suddenly cracked open, revealing a hidden door. Inside was a dark passage with a chill in the air.

"Hurry up and get in! This place won't last five minutes!" He rushed in first, then turned back to urge the others, "Vegeta, you cover the rear and destroy the switch!"

Vegeta snorted but didn't refute. After Lin Ye and the others entered the passage, he raised his hand and unleashed a wave of energy... Half of the wall instantly collapsed, completely blocking the hidden door without leaving even a crack.

The passage was narrow and dark, with only the sounds of footsteps and breathing audible. Lin Ye followed behind Lei, lowering his voice to ask, "You said there was more than one key, how many exactly? How many have the Observers already obtained?"

Lei pulled out a flashlight and turned it on. In the dim light, his face was very serious. "The document says that it takes three to open the tomb. The Observer has two right now, but the third has been missing for decades. They haven't found it yet... I guess the piece you have is part of the third one."

Number 18 suddenly stopped, his voice tinged with doubt: "Was that the voice that warned us 'the Hidden Dragon Base is a trap' you sent?"

Lei paused, the flashlight beam flickering: "Warning? What warning? I didn't do that. I thought you guys realized something was wrong and that's why you ran away from the market."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned... Lin Ye and Number 18 exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes: Besides Lei, was someone else helping them?

Suddenly, the end of the passage lit up... It was a small hangar with a modified reconnaissance ship inside. There were still a few bullet holes on the hull, and it looked a bit dilapidated, but the engine area was flashing a newly replaced blue light, indicating that it had been carefully maintained.

“That’s my ship,” Ray said, walking quickly over and taking out his key to open the hatch. “The Observers have sealed off all the entrances and exits to the Void Market, but I know a smuggling route that can get us out.”

Vegeta jumped onto the ship, kicked the metal frame of the cabin, and frowned even more: "This piece of junk can fly? Don't let it fall down before we even shake off our pursuers."

Lei smiled and pressed the switch on the control panel... The engine started instantly, emitting a deep hum without any noise: "Don't underestimate it. I've invested all my savings in it. Its acceleration is 30% faster than the Observer's patrol ship."

Just then, Lin Ye suddenly exclaimed "Huh..." The foundation stone in his pocket had somehow slipped out and was now glowing against the metal wall of the cabin. The pale blue light flowed down the wall to the control panel and actually started flashing in sync with the indicator lights on it, as if they were resonating.

"What's going on?" Lin Ye picked up the foundation stone and looked at the increasingly bright light on it, and suddenly a guess came to his mind.

Ray's eyes lit up instantly. He leaned closer to stare at the foundation stone, his voice trembling with excitement: "I knew it! This stone is a fragment of the third key! It's recognizing the ship... I dragged this ship out of some ruins before, it might be related to the tomb!"

"Stop dawdling! The pursuers are coming!" Vegeta, already seated in the co-pilot's seat, pointed at the radar screen. "Look! There are three warships behind us, heading this way!"

Without asking any more questions, everyone quickly boarded the ship. Lei slammed the control stick down, and the reconnaissance ship glided out of the hangar like lightning, skimming close to the market buildings... The explosions outside grew closer, and several observer warships had already caught up to the hangar entrance, opening fire wildly on the empty hangar.

"Hold on tight!" Lei shouted, then suddenly pressed a red button... Two boosters instantly popped out from both sides of the ship, doubling the speed and leaving the cannon fire behind them.

Lin Ye stared at the increasingly distant dot of light on the radar, then turned to Lei and asked, "You just said you were looking for an old friend. Who exactly is he? Can we trust him?"

Ray adjusted the course, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes: "He used to be with the Observers, then defected with me, so he should be trustworthy. But before that..."

He pointed to the edge of the radar screen, where several more warships appeared. This time, the dots were larger than before, clearly indicating they were more advanced models.

"We need to take care of these tagalongs first, otherwise we'll become sitting ducks before we even see anyone," Lei said, pressing the switch on the weapon system. The cannons on both sides of the ship slowly rose, aiming at the pursuers behind them.

Chapter 488: Space Chase

The reconnaissance ship's engines emitted a sharp hum, moving as nimbly as a fish through the asteroid belt... Vegeta, clinging to the porthole, watched the Observer warship closing in behind them, and was furious: "Can you go faster? If you keep dawdling like this, we'll be blasted to smithereens by their firepower sooner or later!"

Lei didn't turn around, his fingers flying across the control panel. He suddenly turned the steering wheel... The reconnaissance ship grazed past a meteorite three stories high, and the energy cannon behind it exploded on the meteorite with a "boom," sending debris flying and tearing a large gash in the side of one of the pursuers.

"What's the rush? I could walk through this meteorite belt with my eyes closed!" Lei snapped his fingers triumphantly and pressed a red button. "Watch closely!"

The reconnaissance ship suddenly swooped down, diving into a narrow passageway inside the meteorite, barely wide enough for one ship to pass through. The passageway was filled with protruding rocks, and Lei dodged left and right, maneuvering the ship like a street dancer. The observer warship behind it was too large, and as soon as it squeezed in, it was scraped by the rocks, sending sparks flying and momentarily slowing its movements.

"Now!" Lei Meng pressed the detonator, and the explosives that had been planted at the entrance of the passage exploded instantly, piling up rubble to form a wall that completely blocked the pursuers.

"Done!" Ray leaned back in his chair, about to breathe a sigh of relief, when Vegeta glared at him: "Is all you can do is play these sneaky tricks? If you're so capable, why don't you fight them head-on!"