Raditz didn't try to hide his presence.
Anyone who could sense ki felt him the moment he entered Earth's atmosphere. His power flared openly, almost arrogantly—like he wanted everyone to know he had arrived.
Of course, he couldn't sense ki himself.
He relied on his scouter.
And that made him predictable.
Since I knew exactly when and where he would appear, I arrived early and suppressed my energy completely. To his devices, I didn't exist.
I hid nearby and waited.
Soon enough, Goku and Piccolo arrived.
They didn't hesitate.
The moment they saw Raditz, they attacked with everything they had.
Good, I thought. They're stronger than before. Just like I hoped.
Goku moved faster. His strikes were sharper. Piccolo's attacks were more precise. Compared to my original timeline, they were holding their ground far better.
While they fought, I slipped away.
Raditz's space pod sat unguarded.
I approached it quietly, bypassed the security system, and forced it open.
Inside—
Gohan.
Unconscious. Trapped.
My heart clenched.
"Hang in there, sweetheart," I whispered.
I lifted him carefully and scanned the pod's systems, copying everything I could for later analysis. Then I returned to the battlefield.
The moment Raditz saw me holding Gohan, his expression changed.
Shock.
Then rage.
He lunged at me.
"Give him back!" he roared.
I reacted instantly.
"Equip."
My armor materialized around me, power surging through the generators. My strength jumped—nearly matching his.
Still, I didn't attack.
Fighting him while holding Gohan was too risky.
Instead, I raised my hand.
A spherical barrier expanded around us.
Raditz slammed into it.
The impact echoed like thunder.
He staggered back, staring at the transparent shield in disbelief.
"What… is this?"
Then he fired.
A massive ki blast crashed into the barrier—
And vanished.
The system absorbed it, converting the energy into reserve power.
My display flickered.
+12% energy stored.
Raditz froze.
"What?!"
Before he could react, Goku charged.
"Raditz!"
He tackled his brother, sending both of them skidding across the ground.
The blow didn't seriously injure Raditz, but it rattled him.
The fight resumed immediately.
Raditz kept glancing at me.
"Come out and fight, coward!" he shouted. "Hiding behind toys!"
I ignored him.
Call me whatever you want, I thought. As long as Gohan is safe.
Goku and Piccolo pressed him hard.
Then came the moment.
Goku wrapped his arms around Raditz from behind, locking him in a full nelson.
"Now, Piccolo!" Goku yelled.
Piccolo raised his hand.
"Special Beam Cannon!"
I activated my drones.
Eight spheres deployed instantly.
Four generated intense gravity.
Four locked onto Raditz's limbs.
The field crushed down on him.
He struggled.
"W-What is this?!"
"Move, Goku!" I shouted.
Goku leapt away.
The beam fired.
It pierced straight through Raditz's chest.
Blood sprayed.
Smoke rose.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Even now… he wasn't dead.
Raditz laughed weakly.
"Idiot… You almost got yourself killed…"
Piccolo scowled. "If he died, we'd just bring him back with the Dragon Balls."
I froze.
Piccolo—why would you say that?!
Raditz's eyes widened.
"Dragon Balls…? So that's it…"
He smirked.
"Vegeta. Nappa. Did you hear that? This planet has wish-granting orbs."
He turned to us.
"They're coming. And they're far stronger than me."
"You couldn't beat me… so you won't stand a chance."
Before anyone could respond—
Goku vanished.
"Goku?!" Krillin shouted.
Kami's voice echoed from above.
"Do not worry. He is being guided to someone who can help him grow stronger."
I exhaled slowly.
King Kai…
So it had begun.
With Raditz defeated, silence returned.
I released the barrier and checked Gohan. He was shaken, but unharmed.
Relief flooded through me.
Piccolo stood nearby, arms crossed.
I approached him.
"Thank you," I said sincerely. "We couldn't have done this without you."
He looked away.
"…Hmph."
I continued, "When the other Saiyans arrive, we'll need to work together."
He didn't answer.
He simply flew off into the distance.
But I could tell.
He understood now.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
I looked up at the sky.
"Vegeta… Nappa…"
We'll be ready.