Chapter 217: Chapter 217: The Invitation!
Chapter 217: The Invitation!
"Hmph! This is truly infuriating!"
"I may have lost to that filthy monkey once, but I won't settle for this outcome. If Golden Frieza can't beat you, then I'll just have to evolve!"
"Let's see how long you can hold on!"
Frieza spoke haughtily. He had already decided not to make any further moves; it would be meaningless. If he couldn't win now, continuing the fight would only bring him further humiliation. That was beneath him—he was the emperor of the universe, after all.
This sort of humiliation was only acceptable once.
Thus, when he realized there was no way to turn the tables, he resolved to withdraw. After all, as a prodigy of the Frost Demon Race, if he dedicated himself to training, he could achieve incredible power over time, which he could easily afford to wait for.
As for this Saiyan, though strong now, who could say if he'd continue growing stronger? Frieza's confidence came from that uncertainty.
Mu Chuan, however, didn't pay much attention to Frieza's arrogance. He understood well how terrifying Frieza's potential truly was. Even if Golden Frieza was powerful, if he genuinely put effort into training, he might unlock forms like Diamond or Black Gold in the future—anything was possible. Each transformation would bring unimaginable strength.
Of course, Mu Chuan considered himself a worthy rival. If he kept someone with some strength around, he'd have a challenging opponent, which would be useful in the future. After all, if he killed every strong adversary, it might be hard to find worthy opponents later on.
Some opponents simply didn't pose a real threat, since their growth was too slow and their strength too limited. They weren't worth considering.
"If you're as strong as you say and have such great talent, why not join the Martial Arts Tournament hosted by the Omni-King?"
"You'd get to face the top warriors from all the universes, and we could see if you're truly the strongest."
Mu Chuan's decision not to kill Frieza wasn't just about sparing a worthy opponent; he recognized that Frieza's strength could be an asset in the tournament. Although Mu Chuan himself was powerful, there were strong warriors in every universe. Some were so formidable that he himself might find them difficult to defeat.
So, with Frieza on his side, he wouldn't need to personally handle weaker enemies, leaving him free to face the most fearsome threats.
With that thought in mind, Mu Chuan extended his invitation.
Everyone present was stunned.
No one had expected Mu Chuan to make such an invitation, especially to Frieza. What was going on?
"W-what… What is Boss thinking? Why invite him? That guy is completely untrustworthy!"
Greta spoke up first, feeling extremely dissatisfied with Frieza. Even though his power was nowhere near Frieza's level, he still felt intense resentment. Other Saiyans felt the same way. Trusting an ally like Frieza wasn't easy, especially with the deep-seated enmity between Saiyans and the Frost Demons.
Everyone reacted with shock, finding it difficult to accept this decision.
Karl, however, remained calm and cautiously remarked, "While Boss's approach seems questionable, I can understand his reasoning."
"Karl…"
The other Saiyans looked at Karl in disbelief. They hadn't expected him to say this. But before anyone could respond, Karl continued, "Regardless of what you all think, remember that many powerful enemies exist in the other universes."
"Without Boss, we wouldn't stand a chance. Don't get too full of yourselves just because we've reached Super Saiyan 3."
"Can we really defeat warriors from other universes? That remains to be seen."
"Who else do we have who's as strong?"
Karl's bluntness silenced everyone, as they knew their own power was far from absolute. Even Frieza's soldiers could rival them. In a battle spanning all 12 universes, could they truly hope to win?
Seeing everyone's silence, Karl's low voice continued.
"This is exactly why Boss is seeking other ways to strengthen our team. Even if he's strong, he can't turn the tide alone. Unless he reaches a level beyond anything we've seen, stronger even than Lord Beerus."
"But that kind of power isn't achieved overnight, and we don't even know when the Martial Arts Tournament will take place. We won't be able to dominate other universes without additional help."
"So, our only option is to seek allies, and Frieza is a viable choice."
"Of course, assuming Frieza is willing!"
Karl's concise analysis left every Saiyan clenching their fists, contemplating the situation seriously for the first time. They realized that, while their power was impressive, it was not unmatched across the universes. At best, they were a little strong—certainly not unbeatable.
Would they truly win?
Or would they be erased by the Omni-King?
In the end, they knew they were still too weak. This realization left them silent, each understanding that they had no choice but to train harder.
From afar, Beerus, too, was surprised. He hadn't expected Mu Chuan to be so magnanimous, willing to set aside their enmity and invite Frieza. Such vision was rare.
"I thought he'd just crush Frieza, or at least leave him defeated."
"Indeed, it's surprising," Whis observed. "He must recognize the strength of the enemies in other universes; that's likely why he extended the invitation. Otherwise, given the grudge between the Frost Demons and Saiyans, a truce would be impossible."
Upon hearing Mu Chuan's proposal, Frieza was equally astonished, an expression of disbelief crossing his face.
Was this guy out of his mind?