Dragon Ball: Reborn as King Cold

I wasn't going to lie to myself, I was starting to enjoy this.

I flicked my wrist, sending a Death Beam slicing through the air. The thin, concentrated blast of Ki cut effortlessly through a cluster of distant figures, their bodies disintegrating before they even had the chance to scream.

I raised my other hand and fired a Death Bullet, a rapid series of small but deadly Ki projectiles, each one exploding on impact. The resulting blasts lit up the dark volcanic landscape like fireworks, sending plumes of molten rock and shattered debris skyward.

Too easy.

I turned, eyes scanning the battlefield, watching as some of the survivors attempted to flee. I chuckled. Fleeing? From me? How adorable.

I pointed a finger toward them and released a barrage of Finger Beams, each beam precise, lethal, and delivered without hesitation. One by one, they pierced through their targets, dropping them like insects caught in a storm.

But I wasn't done yet. Psycho Blast, rocks rose up around me and headed towards the inhabitants.

And for the grand finale…

I slowly raised a hand to my temple, letting my fingers hover just above my forehead. The air around me shifted, rippling like waves in a disturbed pond. A low, almost inhuman hum resonated through the area as I focused my mind.

Then, with a simple gesture, I unleashed Psycho Wave.

A sudden, invisible force burst outward. The pressure was immense, bodies twisted unnaturally before being flung into the air, sent flying in every direction like ragdolls caught in a hurricane. 

I let out a breath, lowering my hand as the silence settled in.

Smoke. Ash. The faint glow of molten rock illuminating the ruins of what was once a village.

I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers. I could still feel the energy coursing through me, raw and untamed.

All of that was Freeza's techniques, or rather the ones I taught him and that he made his own. I should make a new repertoire, my own Ki sword and other techniques.

After a few more tests, the thrill began to fade.

At first, every attack, every display of power had felt exhilarating, like tasting forbidden fruit for the first time. But now? It was becoming… monotonous.

There was no challenge here. No resistance. Just me, toying with creatures that never stood a chance.

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. 'Enough.' I had proven my strength, or at least confirmed that my body functioned as my memories had promised. There was no point in wasting any more energy on meaningless destruction.

With one final glance at the scorched ruins behind me, I turned away, my long cape billowing slightly from the heat still radiating from the ground.

The walk back to my ship was silent.

The only sounds that remained were the occasional crackling of molten lava and the distant rumbling of volcanic eruptions. The once-thriving village was now nothing more than ash and rubble, yet I felt nothing. No regret. No remorse.

I had simply done what I set out to do.

Arriving at my ship, I stepped up the metallic ramp, the cool interior a stark contrast to the hellish heat outside. The doors sealed shut behind me with a hiss, and the cockpit's control panels lit up as the system recognized my presence.

I took my seat, fingers gliding over the console as I initiated the launch sequence.

As the ship's thrusters roared to life, I leaned back, exhaling in mild disinterest.

This planet had nothing more to offer me.

As my ship ascended, breaking free from the planet's atmosphere, I found myself lost in thought.

The question now was… should I deal with the Saiyans immediately?

In truth, letting them be wiped out just as they were in the original timeline was perfectly fine by me. That way, the mission Beerus would eventually give to Frieza wouldn't fall on my shoulders. A necessary sacrifice, and one that aligned with the empire's interests.

After all, the Saiyans were nothing more than brutish, power-hungry warriors, a species that thrived on destruction, in our universe anyway.

But there was one issue.

Broly.

I clenched my jaw, my tail flicking in irritation as I considered the implications.

I had no intention of allowing such a monster to be born.

His power, his potential, was something far too dangerous to leave unchecked. Even in his early years, before he had the chance to mature, he would already be a threat beyond reason. If left alive, he could become a wild card, one that I could not truly control.

His sheer rage alone would make him unpredictable.

That meant only one course of action made sense, Paragus had to die.

If I eliminated him now, then Broly would never be born. There would be no miraculous survival, no lost Saiyan growing into a monster on some desolate planet.

It was the safest play.

I smirked slightly, setting new coordinates into the ship's navigation system. The glowing screen displayed a holographic projection of Planet Vegeta, its blood-red skies and arid landscapes exactly as I remembered from King Cold's memories.

A small adjustment to fate… for the sake of the empire.

And for my own peace of mind.

I set course for Planet Vegeta.

As my ship neared its atmosphere, the sight of the planet filled my view, a world bathed in crimson light, its harsh, arid landscapes stretching beneath the blood-red sky. The surface was a vast mix of rocky wastelands and jagged mountain ranges. If the Salada family ruled their life would be totally different.

The ship's thrusters roared, slowing my descent as I approached the capital city. Even from above, I could already see Saiyans moving about. But the moment my ship entered full view, their movements halted.

By the time I landed, a crowd had formed.

Saiyan guards, their scouters beeping frantically, stood at attention but made no move to approach. Their tails twitched anxiously behind them, their bodies tense. Some whispered amongst themselves, while others simply stood in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of confusion and fear.

And I could already guess why.

For years, I had ruled over them, my presence a constant reminder of their place in the galactic hierarchy. But then, I had stepped back, handing control over to Frieza, my youngest son.

To them, my return was unexpected.

I let the silence stretch.

Let them drown in their uncertainty.

Then, finally, I stepped forward, my heavy cape swaying behind me as my tail curled lazily through the air. I met their gazes, cold, unreadable watching as some flinched under my stare.

Good. They still remember their place.

A single elite guard, one slightly braver than the rest, swallowed hard before stepping forward. His voice was steady, but I could hear the slight hesitation beneath it.

"L-Lord Cold…We were not expecting your arrival… To what do we owe the honor?"

I tilted my head slightly, watching him. He was doing his best to maintain composure, but I could see the sweat forming at his brow.

I allowed a slow, deliberate smirk to form on my lips.

The Saiyan stiffened, his scouter beeping in response to the brief spike in my energy signature. He opened his mouth as if to reply, then quickly thought better of it.

I turned my gaze toward the city beyond.

Paragus.

I had no interest in wasting time. He would not escape his fate.