Chapter 4 — The Fall of Planet Vegeta
The stars above Planet Vegeta burned ominously red.
For most Saiyans, it looked like an ordinary night.
Warriors laughed loudly in bars while elite soldiers bragged about missions completed under Frieza's empire. Scouters beeped endlessly across military stations, and battle pods launched into space one after another like shooting stars.
Nobody noticed death approaching.
Nobody except a few.
Far above the planet, hidden beyond mortal sight, Mints floated silently with Paula beside him while baby Azer sat on his shoulder grumbling endlessly.
"I still hate this form."
"You complain too much."
"You literally turned me into an infant!"
"And you're adorable."
"I AM NOT ADORABLE!"
Paula giggled softly while carrying several bags filled with Saiyan food she had "borrowed" from the planet below.
Mints looked toward the distant stars.
His expression slowly became serious.
"He's moving."
Paula immediately understood.
"Frieza."
Mints nodded.
The Frost Demon emperor's energy was rapidly approaching Planet Vegeta aboard his massive mothership. To ordinary Saiyans, Frieza was an unstoppable tyrant.
To Mints?
He was weaker than a sneeze.
Baby Azer crossed his tiny arms.
"So are you going to kill him?"
Mints shook his head lazily.
"No."
Paula blinked.
"You're letting Planet Vegeta be destroyed?"
Mints looked downward quietly.
"The destruction itself is necessary."
Both Paula and Azer frowned.
Mints rarely explained his thoughts seriously.
"The Saiyans of this era are stagnant."
His silver eyes scanned the planet below.
"Too dependent on power levels. Too dependent on violence. Too arrogant."
He crossed his arms.
"This destruction becomes the catalyst for future growth."
Baby Azer looked unconvinced.
"So you'll just let billions die?"
Mints sighed softly.
"Not billions."
Then his silver eyes glowed faintly.
"I'll save the ones worth saving."
—
### **Planet Vegeta — Bardock**
At the edge of the planet, Bardock stood outside his home while staring toward the sky uneasily.
Something felt wrong.
For days he had been haunted by visions.
Fire.
Death.
Frieza.
Planet Vegeta exploding into nothingness.
Gine approached him nervously while holding baby Kakarot.
"You're thinking about those visions again…"
Bardock clenched his fists.
"Frieza's planning something."
Gine looked frightened.
"You really believe he'll destroy the planet?"
Bardock growled softly.
"That monster fears Saiyans."
Inside his mind, the visions continued endlessly.
Planet Vegeta burning.
Saiyans screaming.
Kakarot drifting alone through space.
Then—
A calm voice suddenly echoed behind him.
"You're smarter than the others."
Bardock spun instantly.
"What?!"
Standing nearby was a young man with silver-black hair and silver eyes.
Beside him stood a beautiful silver-haired woman carrying supplies while a strange silver-eyed baby sat on the man's shoulder glaring angrily.
The entire family looked absurdly out of place.
Bardock immediately raised his guard.
"Who are you?"
"Mints."
The answer meant nothing to Bardock.
But for some reason…
His instincts screamed.
Not danger.
Submission.
As though every cell in his body recognized the being standing before him.
Mints looked toward Kakarot quietly.
"Hm."
Baby Goku stared back innocently.
Then he smiled.
Mints blinked.
"…Cute."
Baby Azer looked betrayed.
"You called HIM cute?!"
Paula laughed.
"You're jealous of a baby."
"I AM A BABY!"
Bardock stared at them in confusion.
"What the hell is happening?"
Mints ignored him completely.
He reached toward baby Goku gently.
The infant grabbed his finger immediately.
The moment contact happened—
BOOOOM!
A massive pulse of divine energy erupted silently across space.
Bardock's eyes widened.
Within Goku's tiny body slept something extraordinary.
Not merely Saiyan power.
But traces of the ancient Super Saiyan God bloodline inherited from Yamoshi.
Mints smiled faintly.
"So you're the one."
Paula looked curious.
"You really like him."
"He'll become interesting."
Baby Azer pouted.
"What about me?"
"You're interesting too."
"That sounded forced."
Bardock interrupted angrily.
"Stop ignoring me!"
Mints finally glanced at him.
"You and your mate are coming with me."
Bardock froze.
"…What?"
"Planet Vegeta will explode in less than an hour."
Silence.
Gine immediately paled.
Bardock clenched his fists.
"You know about that?"
"I know many things."
Mints looked toward the sky where Frieza's ship now loomed ominously closer.
"You can stay and die if you want."
Then he pointed at baby Goku.
"But he lives."
Bardock stared silently at his son.
The visions returned stronger than ever.
Kakarot surviving.
Frieza's destruction.
Earth.
Finally—
Bardock lowered his fists.
"…Fine."
Gine sighed in relief.
Mints nodded casually.
"Good choice."
—
### **Frieza Arrives**
Across Planet Vegeta, thousands of Saiyans gathered beneath Frieza's mothership.
King Vegeta stood proudly among the elites while pretending calmness.
Frieza floated above them smiling pleasantly.
Yet beneath that smile hid pure malice.
Dodoria whispered nervously beside him.
"Lord Frieza… are you certain?"
Frieza smiled wider.
"The Saiyans are becoming troublesome."
His eyes darkened coldly.
"And troublesome monkeys should be exterminated."
Back above the planet, Mints watched everything unfold lazily.
Paula frowned.
"You're really not stopping him?"
"No."
"Why?"
Mints looked toward the gathered Saiyans below.
"Because this era must end."
Then his silver eyes glowed.
"But…"
Space suddenly distorted around several locations across the planet.
"…some lives are worth preserving."
—
### **The Saved Saiyans**
As Frieza raised his finger toward Planet Vegeta, multiple Saiyans suddenly vanished in flashes of silver light.
Bardock.
Gine.
Several intelligent scientists.
Young warriors with good potential.
Children.
Even a few elderly Saiyans who still carried traces of ancient bloodlines.
Hundreds disappeared instantly.
King Vegeta noticed too late.
"What—?!"
Then—
Frieza attacked.
"Die."
A massive sphere of destruction descended toward Planet Vegeta.
The Saiyans screamed.
The sky turned red.
And finally—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Planet Vegeta exploded.
An entire civilization vanished in an instant.
The shockwave spread across space while debris rained endlessly through the void.
Far away, hidden within a dimensional pocket created by Mints, the rescued Saiyans stared in horror.
Gine cried silently while holding Kakarot tightly.
Bardock trembled with rage.
"…Frieza…"
Mints watched the explosion calmly.
No emotion crossed his face.
Baby Azer looked at him quietly.
"You really feel nothing?"
Mints answered honestly.
"I've watched universes die."
His silver eyes reflected the burning remains of Planet Vegeta.
"But that doesn't mean I enjoy it."
Silence followed.
Then a new voice suddenly echoed nearby.
"My, my… you truly interfered with history again."
A small portal opened nearby.
From it emerged a petite woman with white hair, pointed ears, and an enormous book floating beside her.
The Supreme Kai of Time.
Chronoa.
She looked exhausted already.
"Mints."
Mints waved casually.
"Yo."
Chronoa pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Do you have any idea how difficult you make my job?"
"Yes."
"And you still do it anyway?"
"Yes."
Chronoa sighed deeply.
"I hate dealing with your family."
Paula smiled sweetly.
"Nice to see you too."
Chronoa looked toward the rescued Saiyans.
"…You saved more than usual this time."
Mints shrugged.
"They'll be useful."
Chronoa narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What are you planning?"
Mints grinned.
"Nothing troublesome."
Everyone immediately became nervous.
Chronoa crossed her arms.
"That sentence alone guarantees trouble."
Mints pointed toward Bardock and the surviving Saiyans.
"Train them."
"…What?"
"The Time Patrol needs competent fighters."
Chronoa blinked repeatedly.
"You're giving me ancient Saiyans?"
"Yep."
Bardock looked confused.
"The Time what?"
Chronoa sighed again.
"This is becoming a headache…"
Mints casually handed baby Azer to Paula before floating closer toward Chronoa.
"Think about it. Saiyans trained across time itself. Warriors capable of correcting distortions."
Chronoa hesitated.
"…Actually…"
Mints smirked.
"It's a good idea."
Chronoa grumbled angrily.
"I hate when you're right."
Bardock stepped forward cautiously.
"What exactly are you offering?"
Chronoa looked toward the Saiyans seriously.
"A chance to survive."
Silence spread among the survivors.
Their home was gone.
Their race nearly extinct.
And now…
Only one path remained.
Bardock looked toward Gine and Kakarot.
Then he nodded firmly.
"We'll do it."
Chronoa sighed dramatically.
"Great. More Saiyans."
Mints grinned proudly.
"You're welcome."
"You're not helping."
—
### **Earth**
Soon afterward, a small Saiyan pod descended quietly toward a peaceful blue planet.
Earth.
Unlike the original timeline, baby Goku was not alone.
Mints floated beside the pod invisibly while Paula carried baby Azer nearby.
Behind them walked Bardock and Gine one final time before leaving with Chronoa.
Gine kissed Goku gently while crying softly.
"Grow up safely…"
Bardock looked conflicted.
He wanted to stay.
But he understood.
Kakarot's future existed here.
Mints placed a hand on Bardock's shoulder.
"He'll become stronger than you can imagine."
Bardock smirked slightly.
"He better."
Chronoa opened another portal.
"It's time."
Bardock and Gine gave one final look toward their son before disappearing into the Time Patrol's dimension alongside the surviving Saiyans.
Then silence returned.
The pod landed near a forest peacefully.
An old martial artist soon approached cautiously.
Grandpa Gohan.
The old man blinked in shock upon seeing not one—
But multiple strange visitors.
Mints smiled casually.
"Yo."
Grandpa Gohan immediately panicked.
"W-Who are you people?!"
Paula stepped forward gently while holding baby Azer.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Then she handed baby Goku toward him carefully.
"We need your help raising these children."
Grandpa Gohan stared blankly.
"…Children?"
Baby Azer pointed angrily.
"I'm technically older than everyone here!"
Mints ignored him completely.
Grandpa Gohan looked toward baby Goku.
The child smiled brightly.
Something softened in the old martial artist's heart instantly.
Then he looked toward Mints cautiously.
"And you are?"
Mints scratched his cheek.
"…A distant relative."
Baby Azer screamed.
"THAT IS THE WORST EXPLANATION POSSIBLE!"