Vegeta's long roar pierced the sky like a sharp sword, echoing in all directions.
Before him, Raditz extended his hand, powerful arm ready to pull him up at any moment.
In the distance, Goku and the others cautiously approached as they watched the situation unfold. On a high ridge nearby, a group of figures stood silhouetted against the dusty wind, observing them!
"My lord, should we strike now? Annihilate them all in one blow!" A muscular man with long braids spoke viciously.
He was as tall and powerfully built as Nappa, nearly bursting out of his clothes. Most strangely, he was wearing Saiyan battle armor! The others beside him wore similar outfits, except for one whose entire body seemed encased in metallic plating.
Behind these warriors, their "Lord"—also in battle armor—gazed coldly at the two Great Apes and let out a triumphant, chilling laugh.
"Annihilation? Are you joking? Their power levels are no laughing matter in this form."
"But... my lord, wasn't it you who created the artificial moon?"
"Precisely why we can enjoy such a wonderful spectacle. They've nearly exhausted themselves. Wait a little longer for the right moment to force them back to their original forms. The rest of those weaklings will be much easier to handle."
"Master is wise."
Several voices chimed in agreement as they continued watching the battlefield, evil smiles spreading across their faces.
After venting his frustration, Vegeta finally calmed down. Looking at Raditz before him, he felt as though he were seeing a stranger. The former Raditz had been utterly unremarkable among Saiyans—at best a second-rate fighter, only slightly better than the lowest-class warriors like Kakarot. Others had mocked him as inferior, often made him the butt of their jokes, and he had never dared show anger.
But today's Raditz was completely transformed. His strength was unbelievably impressive, he had dared to challenge a prince, and his confidence matched anyone's. The gleam in his eyes was something Vegeta had only seen in the most gifted warriors!
After a long moment, Vegeta extended a slightly trembling hand and clasped Raditz's.
Raditz smiled gently as he pulled up Vegeta's massive, weakened body with a single powerful motion, like lifting a fallen mountain.
"Whew... does this mean success?!" Krillin exclaimed, eyes wide.
The battle had been intense, with several heart-stopping moments that had nearly been too much for him to bear. But seeing the two finally shake hands, it seemed the conflict was over.
The others also wiped sweat from their brows, relaxing their tense muscles as they flew closer to the pair.
"Goku, do you feel something's wrong?" Piccolo didn't share in their relief, sensing something amiss.
Goku frowned as he scanned their surroundings. "Indeed, there seem to be several power signatures lurking nearby. I was so focused on the Great Ape battle that I didn't notice earlier, but now I can definitely feel them!"
"What are you talking about? Isn't it over?"
Yamcha moved closer to Goku, patting his shoulder. "Don't be so paranoid. The Saiyan threat has been resolved! Hahaha."
"LOOK OUT!"
Goku and Piccolo shouted in unison, their expressions suddenly changing! They spun around to see two circular energy discs spinning toward them at high speed—a technique similar to the Destructo Disc, designed to slice through anything!
Anyone hit by such an attack would be cut in half.
"Get out of the way!" Goku activated his Kaio-ken and pushed Yamcha and Chiaotzu aside, but not before a gash was cut across his back, blood immediately spraying into the air.
Piccolo lunged for Gohan, pulling the boy into his arms as he rolled to safety. Unfortunately, one leg remained exposed and was severed at the knee. Purple blood flowed from the clean cut as cold air rushed into his empty pant leg.
"Mr. Piccolo!"
"I'm fine." Piccolo looked at the retreating energy disc with lingering fear, gritting his teeth.
Tien had been positioned between the two attacks. The discs passed on either side of him, the intense heat they generated making his skin feel as though it were being seared by hot coals.
Such an incredibly dangerous attack was truly terrifying.
But it wasn't over. These attacks had never targeted Goku's group—their real objectives were Raditz and Vegeta standing together. As Great Apes, their massive bodies made them impossible to miss, even with the most casual aim!
As the energy discs approached, Raditz had already sensed them, finally identifying the source of his earlier unease. Whoever had been hiding in the shadows had finally made their move!
Raditz yanked Vegeta upward, high enough to avoid the slicing energy discs.
The two attacks passed beneath their feet before soaring into the blue sky, but two more immediately followed! Hovering in mid-air, Raditz might have been fine alone, but while supporting Vegeta, his reaction time faltered. His enormous body couldn't maneuver quickly enough, so he fired an energy blast downward, using the reaction force to propel them higher.
But the nimble energy discs were faster. They turned sharply, making two swift "WHOOSH" sounds as they carved arcs through the sky!
Following their trajectory, two furry, thick appendages fell through the air, landing on the ground with heavy thuds. The two Great Apes froze in mid-air, their bodies trembling as if struck by lightning.
Their massive forms began rapidly shrinking, fur receding as they transformed back to their human forms.
During this vulnerable transformation, another energy wave shot straight toward them. Nearly two meters in diameter, the blast's color gradually shifted from white at its center to light pink at its edges. The power contained within was overwhelming—enough to consume the helpless Raditz and Vegeta.
At this critical moment, Goku let out a fierce cry, his body erupting with red flames as he moved at incredible speed! Triple Kaio-ken!
Moving faster than the eye could follow, Goku reached the energy wave first, positioning himself in front of Raditz and Vegeta. With a powerful sweep of his arms, he deflected the blast skyward.
The light disappeared into the distance as Raditz and Vegeta completed their transformations simultaneously.
"Huff... huff..."
"Hah... huff... huff..."
Both were utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat. Raditz's energy had dropped to less than half, while Vegeta was nearly depleted.
"Are you okay, brother?" Goku shielded them both, staring intently in the direction the energy blast had come from.
"I'm fine, just physically drained."
"It seems you were right to expect we'd be targeted. Someone's been watching us from the shadows." Goku clenched his fists tightly, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "This opponent—let me handle them!"
Raditz looked up at the artificial moon still shining in the sky. A flash of recognition crossed his mind as he took a deep breath: "Could it be him?"
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