Vegeta, believing without a doubt that he is a Super Saiyan, launches a full-power energy blast at Freeza, but it is knocked away with a simple kick. Vegeta gives up hope after seeing the devastating difference between their levels. Shedding large tears, for the first time in his life, he collapses in frustration. Having completely lost the will to fight, Vegeta's death grows closer by the moment, until at last, Goku's recovery is complete.
Goku arrives and stands before Freeza. Vegeta, seeing the level to which Goku has powered up, declares to Freeza "this is a Super Saiyan." But in that instant, Freeza's beam runs through Vegeta's heart! Trusting in Goku's abilities, Vegeta pins his Saiyan pride on him, and then perishes. Goku digs a grave for Vegeta, and then his anger toward Freeza explodes.
The greatest battle in the universe begins at last. During their combat, Freeza expresses his admiration, saying he's never seen a Saiyan who could do so well. Then, as though testing his abilities, he uses his supernatural abilities to send tsunami-like waves of magma at Goku. His friends observe the battle play out from a distance and can only watch on in astonishment at the high-level, unconventional warfare.
On Earth, Chichi has been making preparations to fly to Planet Namek to rescue Gohan. At that same time, Goku perceives a weakness in Freeza, in that he is unable to read Ki. He launches a successful sneak attack using a pair of Kamehame-Has. However, Freeza is left without so much as a scratch, and he attacks Goku with his telekinesis. After a series of strikes against a paralyzed Goku, Freeza decides to end the contest.
After both sides agree that the warm-ups are over, they move the site of battle back down onto the ground. Retaining his smirk of confidence, Freeza declares that he will extend a handicap to Goku. Goku then carries out a first strike offensive against Freeza and his condescending attitude. Elsewhere, Bulma's own smarts work against her, and she ends up on the receiving end of a Body Change from Ginyu in frog form.
Freeza boasts that even taking into account any power that Goku may be hiding, he can still beat him with only half of his own maximum power. Goku concludes from the level of his Ki that he is not lying about that. At that moment, Freeza's elbow strike connects with Goku's jaw. Meanwhile, on Earth, the spaceship fails to launch. Elsewhere, Ginyu, in Bulma's body, appears before Gohan and the others.
Ginyu, now among Gohan and the others, is about to change bodies from Bulma's to Piccolo's. However, Gohan sees him for what he is, and he once again returns to being a frog. Bulma is thrilled to be back in her original body. Elsewhere, Goku's battle with Freeza is not going well. Freeza drives him into a corner. He remembers his friends and fights back! He then decides to bring a Kamehame-Ha launched at a twenty-times Kaio-ken to the battle...
Not even the times-twenty Kaio-ken Kamehame-Ha works against Freeza. However, Freeza's hands do feel the sting of it, and he flies into a rage. Once again, he launches a ferocious, one-sided assault against Goku. At the limits of his physical strength, Goku decides to stake everything on his last secret technique, the Genki Dama. Meanwhile, on Kaio's World, the Ginyu Special Corps, minus their commander, come swarming in, striking a cheerful pose.
Goku spends precious time trying to create an enormous Genki Dama, in order to make sure he defeats Freeza. However, as a suspicious Freeza attacks an undefended Goku, he sees the reflection of the Genki Dama in the water's surface and realizes Goku's strategy. Just when Goku thinks he has exhausted every means available to him, Piccolo launches a surprise attack against Freeza. Meanwhile, the Ginyu Special Corps begins acting to take over Kaio's World.
With all of the training they've undergone, Yamucha and the others are able to hold their own against the Ginyu Special Corps when they begin their attack on Kaio's World. Meanwhile, Goku manages to stay alive when Piccolo comes to his rescue but still requires more time to complete his Genki Dama. Piccolo does all that he can to buy time, and even Gohan and Kuririn lend a hand. Freeza becomes enraged at this spate of interference and plots to blow the entire planet up!
The battle on Kaio's World ends in defeat for the Ginyu Special Corps, while on Planet Namek, the transcendent force of the Genki Dama leaves everyone thinking that Freeza has fallen. However, as Goku and the others celebrate, Freeza once again appears before them! His friends are unable to do anything and are defeated in succession. Just then, as Goku's anger bursts beyond its limits, his body trembles, and an extraordinary change begins to take place!
Goku finally becomes a Super Saiyan. He orders Gohan to take Piccolo and return to Earth and then begins to lay into Freeza with a ferocious attack surging with astonishing power. Freeza estimates that he can prevail even against a Super Saiyan, but the knockout beams that he launches from his fingertips all miss their mark. Against a threat that he has never experienced before, Freeza's absolute confidence begins to wane.
Freeza, his self-respect stinging from Goku's fierce attack, decides to destroy Planet Namek. He sends a powerful energy wave into the planet's core. However, as a result of restraining his power, for fear of blowing himself up, five minutes worth of leeway remain before the planet explodes. Meanwhile, having arrived at the spaceship, Gohan sets off in search of Bulma so that they can return to Earth. The final battle between Goku and Freeza then gets underway.
Freeza boasts that he can defeat Goku in 30 seconds and begins to focus his Ki. Kaio-sama suggests to Goku that he attack during that opening. Goku ignores him, saying that he wants to defeat Freeza at his full power and avenge the death of Kuririn. The bitter struggle between Goku and Freeza reaches its climax as the destruction of Planet Namek draws ever nearer. Will Gohan be able to rescue Bulma safely?
The ground breaks up as the destruction of Planet Namek approaches. On Earth, Mister Popo has gathered the Dragon Balls. Kaio-sama's idea is to bring back to life all of the Namekians killed by Freeza, which will also revive Polunga. Meanwhile, Goku is fighting to buy enough time for Gohan and the others to escape. But when Gohan and Bulma reach the spaceship, some unexpected trouble arises.
With three minutes remaining until the destruction of Planet Namek, those who had been killed by Freeza are brought back to life. Planet Namek's Grand Elder is among the revived, and Polunga appears. As the light of hope shines in everyone's hearts, Goku takes a painful strike from Freeza. Sensing his father's Ki disappearing, Gohan turns his back on Bulma, who tries to stop him, and flies away from the spaceship.
Goku, returning after building his Ki back up, declares to Kaio-sama, who is about to ask Polunga to warp everyone except for Freeza away, that he is remaining behind on Planet Namek in order to finish this fight. After worrying for a moment, Kaio-sama reluctantly agrees and delivers the wish to Polunga via Dende. And then, only Goku and Freeza remain on Planet Namek, moments before it is destroyed.
Everyone who had been transported to Earth from Planet Namek rejoices. However, upon learning of Goku's situation, they grow uneasy. This is because once Planet Namek is destroyed, Goku cannot survive. Vegeta then laughs loudly, boasting that he is now the strongest one in the universe. At length, Planet Namek enters its final minute, while neither Goku nor Freeza give up an inch of ground.
Power versus power, pride versus pride violently collide as the unyielding battle between Goku and Freeza continues. Meanwhile, on Earth, Bulma senses an ominous foreboding about Goku's fate. Heedless of Bulma's concerns, Goku gradually overpowers Freeza! What terrifying action does Freeza take against Goku, the one who surpassed him, when no one in the world was supposed to be able to surpass him?!
The recoil from Freeza's release of his full power decimates his ki, and he is forced to suffer the bitterness of losing "to the likes of a mere Saiyan." Not even a strike with his whole might behind it connects against Goku any longer. Freeza grows exasperated with Goku's confident attitude and launches Ki-based discs at him. He thinks he is chasing after Goku with them but ends up slicing himself up with them. He begs for his life, which is spared by Goku.
Upon learning that Planet Namek's Dragon Balls are capable of bringing people back to life more than once, Gohan and the others shout for joy. That means that Kuririn and Chaozu can be returned to life again. On Planet Namek, Goku's resounding victory against Freeza was about to reach its conclusion. However, as Goku turns his back to leave, Freeza launches one last attack against him...
Goku may have won a total victory against Freeza, but he had no time to spare! The time limit of Planet Namek's explosion was drawing ever nearer. Goku attempts to get away in Freeza's spaceship, but it breaks down. Having defeated Freeza and become the mightiest warrior in the universe, Goku is unable to do anything and disappears along with Planet Namek as a flash of light emitted toward the rest of the galaxy...
Using the Dragon Balls, it is possible to bring Goku and Kuririn back to life in the same place where they died. However, now that Planet Namek no longer exists, the place where they died is in the vacuum of space. The hopes of bringing them back to life are dashed in an instant. But then, Vegeta proposes that they can summon their souls to Earth and then bring them back to life. Just how will that idea turn out?
Several months have passed since the battle with Freeza. On Earth, the days have been clam [sic], and Kuririn has found himself a girlfriend. Then one day, an ominous shadow threatens the peace in the Heavenly Realm! Garlic Jr., previously locked away inside the Dead Zone by Goku and the others, had returned. He traps Kami-sama in a small bottle, and begins to pour out the Aquamist, which will turn humanity into Demon Clansmen...
By inhaling the Aquamist, one becomes a member of the Demon Clan and a servant of Garlic Jr. The Mist spreads out as it is poured from the Heavenly Realm, and its area of contamination extends to the Kame House where Bulma, Yamucha and the others become demonic! Gohan and Kuririn, who were fortunate enough not to have taken in the Mist, head toward the Heavenly Realm to get the Ultra Holy Water, which counters the effects of the Mist, when the Four Monarchs show up.
Once 24 hours pass after inhaling the Aquamist, not even the Ultra Holy Water can return a person back to normal. Piccolo comes running to bail Gohan out of his predicament. He takes on the Four Monarchs and the demonic Yamucha and company by himself, sending Gohan and Kuririn to the Heavenly Realm. However, once they arrive there, Piccolo, who had been bitten by Yamucha and the others, is there waiting for them.
Garlic Jr., who had been sealed away inside the Dead Zone by Gohan, has the Four Monarchs launch a concerted attack against Gohan to pay off his grudge, and they give him a sound thrashing. Gohan manages to barely dodge any life-threatening attacks, until Zald, one of the Four Monarchs, has an opening to launch a knockout blow! At that moment, Kuririn steps in to sacrifice himself and protect Gohan...
Having ostensibly become Garlic Jr.'s servant, Piccolo lays into Gohan with a pitiless, merciless attack! Out of respect, Gohan is unable to strike back against Piccolo, and is utterly on the defensive. While covering Gohan, Kuririn is bitten by Piccolo, and also turns demonic. Does Gohan, who is now forced to fight this battle all by himself, have any chance of winning?
Unless they can pour out the Ultra Holy Water before day breaks, they will not be able to counter the effects of the Aquamist! There is no other way to disperse the Ultra Holy Water in the time remaining except to pour it out through the bottom of the Heavenly Realm, where all the world's currents come together. But in order to get there, they must pass through a dangerous place called the Shinsenkai, a domain of sages where all the previous Kami rest in their graves!
With Mister Popo leading the way, Kami-sama enters the Shinsenkai, and endures the attacks of his Kami forebears as he heads for the bottom of the Heavenly Realm. Meanwhile, Gohan and the others are facing an uphill battle against Garlic Jr., who has gained tenfold power thanks to the effect of the Makyo World. Piccolo is able to go toe-to-toe with him, until he suddenly loses strength, and his body becomes half-transparent! If Kami-sama dies, then as his alter ego, so does Piccolo. Is Kami-sama's life in danger?
Gohan attacks Garlic Jr. but is unable to defeat someone who has obtained eternal life. Meanwhile, under attack from previous generations of Kami, Kami-sama entrusts the Ultra Holy Water to Mister Popo, who pours it out through the bottom of the Heavenly Realm. With his plans to turn humanity into demons and rule the world thwarted, Garlic Jr. becomes enraged. At length, he once again produces the Dead Zone!
Gohan raises a shield against the Dead Zone, trying to protect Piccolo and Kuririn. Garlic Jr. increases the power of the Dead Zone, hoping to suck in Kami-sama and Mister Popo, who have been released by the previous generations of Kami. But then, Piccolo and Kuririn leap out of the shield. In that momentary opening, Gohan blasts the Makyo World with all his might!
Peace has returned to the world. While accompanying Maron on a shopping trip, Kuririn sees her longing after wedding dresses and makes up his mind to propose. Upon hearing from Umigame at his 1000th birthday party about the legendary giant pearl, "The Mermaid's Tear," Kuririn sets out with Gohan for the bottom of the sea. However, the Mermaid's Tear is a precious treasure to the mermaids...
Chichi hires an in-home tutor for Gohan, named Shu Saiaku. Shu disciplines Gohan with corporal punishment and blames his rebellious attitude on Goku for not returning home. Elsewhere, Bulma proposes that Vegeta, having just returned from a trip through space, stay with her until Goku returns to Earth, and he reluctantly agrees. Then one day, Gohan suddenly senses a powerful Ki, and flies away from home. Who might this Ki belong to?
Beginning with Gohan, the Z Warriors assemble near the source of the gigantic Ki. When they realize it belongs to Freeza, they abandon hope. Freeza and King Cold emerge from their spaceship upon landing. Freeza, who has survived by becoming a cyborg, orders his men to kill all earthlings to settle his grudge against Goku. But then, a mysterious youth suddenly steps forward to face them!
The mysterious young man defeats Freeza's men in quick succession. As Freeza and his father maintain their composure, he declares that "Son Goku-san is not the one and only Super Saiyan," and then himself turns Super Saiyan. Upon seeing him, Freeza recalls Goku, and giving in to his anger, attacks with an energy blast ten times greater than the one that destroyed Planet Namek...
The young man cuts Freeza in half with a single stroke. Gohan and the others are astonished by his absolute strength. After calmly finishing off King Cold, who was begging for his life, the youth invites Gohan and the others to go greet Goku. They all place their trust in the young man, whose mild manners were completely opposite of when he was fighting. And then, several hours later, just as the young man said, a capsule carrying Goku lands...
After Goku arrives on Earth, the young man reveals his identity to him. The youth, who says his name is Trunks, is Vegeta's son. He says he has come from about 20 years in the future to warn them about Artificial Humans who will be appearing three years hence. Trunks goes on to say that the time machine he came back in was built by his mother. Even Goku is surprised to learn his mother's identity...
The moment Planet Namek exploded, Goku escaped in one of the capsules the Ginyu Special Corps came in. He was rescued by the Yardratians when he crash landed on their world and learned a new technique from them, which he shows off. The Z Warriors all vow to each other to meet again in three years at the given location. As this is going on, Bulma proposes that they deal with Doctor Gero before he is able to create the Artificial Humans...
The Z Warriors' training proceeds smoothly. Vegeta, who is irate at how outclassed he is by Super Saiyan Goku, has Dr. Briefs build a 300 G gravity room for him and begins training in it. Following some intensive training, he destroys the gravity room, seriously injuring himself. As he lies there, he has a dream about his childhood years, which he spent with his father. Re-acknowledging his princely pride, his fighting spirit burns to surpass Goku.
After being attacked on a mountain road by a boar on her way back from shopping, Chichi's frustration explodes when she sees other couples having fun riding around in aircars! She orders Goku and Piccolo to go get driver's licenses, but at the driving school, the two become so bullheaded with each other, they end up in a dead heat. Then one day, while learning to drive on rainy roads, they witness a kindergarten bus get caught in a landslide...
Finishing their training, the Z Warriors assemble at the given location. 10 o'clock, the time foretold by Trunks, goes by, but no one senses the presence of the enemy. Then, as Yajirobe is leaving after delivering some senzu beans, his Sky Car suddenly explodes! The Artificial Humans have finally appeared and descend into the city. The Z Warriors have a hard time locating the enemies, who give off no presence, until at last Yamucha discovers the Artificial Humans...