Son Goku Quits

A One-Sided Exchange

Namek's surface fractures and heaves as Goku and Frieza trade punches in midair. Frieza lands a hard strike to Goku's neck and follows up with a kick that sends him tumbling. Goku rebounds off a nearby rock formation and comes roaring back with a rapid barrage of kicks. The final blow catches Frieza square in the face, sending him skidding across the shattered ground. Before Frieza can gather himself, Goku appears beside him and hammers him with a combination of punches and kicks that knocks the emperor sprawling.

Frieza recovers but stands hunched over, his breathing ragged and labored. His muscles tremble under the strain of maintaining full power. Then Goku says something Frieza never expected to hear: he quits.

Walking Away

Frieza erupts in fury, demanding an explanation. Goku tells him plainly that his power has peaked and is now dropping at a visible rate. The fight has satisfied Goku. He has proven his strength, and Frieza has tasted genuine fear for the first time in his life. There is nothing left to gain. Goku powers down to his base form, turns his back, and begins to walk away across the crumbling terrain.

Frieza's Last Gambit

Frieza seethes behind him. The notion of losing to a Saiyan, of being pitied by one, is unbearable. He screams that he will never lose and hurls a Death Saucer, a razor-thin disc of energy, at Goku's retreating figure. Goku senses it at the last instant and leaps clear. Disappointed that Frieza could not accept his mercy, Goku transforms back into a Super Saiyan. The Death Saucer curves around and comes streaking back. Goku weaves through the air to dodge it, then turns and flies directly toward Frieza. He taunts Frieza, calling the attack beneath him. Frieza, certain Goku intends to dodge at the last second and let the disc cut its master in half, vows that he will not fall for such an obvious trick.