The air was tense the fighters of Earth eyed the conqueror of worlds. Inside many of them were scared the Saiyan had a level far above theirs especially now after training, even if it was for a day. Raditz's ki had grown large and more flowing like a faucet turned on the Saiyan was no longer a brute with his ki uneven but a conqueror with a great ki.
"Surprised at what I can do in a day?" Raditz asked getting a nervous nod from the rest of the group.
"I'm not scared of you!" the scar-faced human charged. Yamcha's right fist struck against Raditz's left gauntlet bouncing off harmlessly. Spinning the human warrior doubled his own body over to land a blow to Raditz's armored chest but much like the ineffective punch it bounced off. The human flipped over the Saiyan trying to trip him up but Raditz hopped over it stomping Yamcha.
'He's fast still he isn't unbeatable,' Tien thought dashing forward at his best speed. The three-eyed warrior vanished just before impact his forearm slamming against the long-haired warrior's head. Stumbled Raditz avoided a follow up knee kick but was surprisingly hit with a ki sphere.
"That all baldy?" the warrior flared his aura." You have no strength all of you. Try and strike me with your best blow," the Saiyan taunted Tien, regaining footing on the ground.
'Guys we need to work together,' Tien sent to the humans in the group.' Piccolo come on you are the stronger of all of us we need your help too,' he tried to talk to the reincarnate.
'Buzz of I do not need your help,' the Demon King flashed at his highest speed. Piccolo's angry fist was grabbed and twisted as his head was backhanded with massive force. A shock wave escaped as the Namekian was punched with all the force the Saiyan Raditz could muster. The reincarnate collapsed purple blood running from his mouth.
"Kamehameha!" Krillin yelled from the side of the Saiyan. Turning Raditz took it head on his chest being struck by the powerful energy blast. The armored warrior skidded back his boots scraping against the ground as the attack continued to push back. It was at this point the alien was beginning to realize that the monk was using his best in the attack and it was satisfying for the Saiyan's battle instinct. A violet colored flash erupted off of Raditz the beam flying into the air.
"Good, midget I'm impressed you pack a punch," the Saiyan was panting the expulsion of his aura drawing a bit more energy than he expected." But it'll take more than that to take me down," the Saiyan triumphantly stood his battle hardened face dripping a few beads of sweat.
"Dodon Ray!" the golden beam came from behind him. Turning Raditz flicked his wrist trying his hardest to prevent the beam from hitting him. The defense didn't work, Shen's patented attack crashed into the Saiyan's face with hard force causing him to fall backward landing on a rock that jutted from the ground.
Standing the space warrior took a breath calming himself. Raditz's aura began to lap around his body in the shape of a flame fluttering in and out in the breeze. Though Goku's brother was calm looking, he was planning something far worse for the heroes of Earth.
'Rah!' Tien dashed. The triclops' blow was blocked and countered with a powerful elbow smash. Tilting back Tien was plowed over with a powerful lariat strike knocking the wind out of his body. When he tried to stand up his face was punched right across the chin, knocking the assassin across the field and into a rock formation putting it down upon the warrior.
"Wolf Fang Fist!" Yamcha charged a flurry of punches missing their targets. The human was shocked this tried and true offensive was unable to touch the long-haired being. Jabbing furiously the punches failed to land, his best efforts were thrown to the wayside. Suddenly the human flared his aura filling this last right handed punch with all the ki he could. Ramming it forward with a discus throw it was bent back, broken, and bruised with a single stroke." B-but how that w-was all I could muster," Yamcha questioned in rhetoric.
"Hah that was everything you could muster? How pathetic are you? Your power in nowhere near mine maybe you'll get stronger by the time my comrades show up," Raditz knocked the man out with a fast chop to the back of the neck.' Huh? who grabbed me?' the Saiyan low-class felt arms wrap around his broad shoulders.
"You failed to pay attention monster you die here!" Tien roared his fingers locking. His muscles tensed and his feet bored into the ground as ki shot down.' Even if I die here. They'll bring me back with the Dragon Balls, we'll also find another way to get around this guy. We did with Piccolo's father,' the three eyed man thought while Raditz struggled.
"What the hell?" the Saiyan complained trying to figure out the conversation.
"Piccolo do it!" the triclops barked. The Saiyan looked forward to see the Namekian that he had knocked out standing charging energy in his fingertips.
"Special Beam Cannon!" the blast raced forward toward the stunned Saiyan. Struggling Raditz broke free from Tien grasp and he jumped upward. The Saiyan watched as the blast impaled the three-eyed fighter passing through him and into the ground. Blood shot from the wound in Tien's chest as his heart couldn't pump. In seconds the human fell dead to the floor of the meadow.
"You imbecile did you really think I was going to kill you?" Raditz roared seeing the human drop dead." Kakarot told me to fight you. To test your limits but now you've killed one of your allies!" the Saiyan continued.
"What Goku told you to fight us?" Krillin and Yamcha gasped realizing the flaw.
"If he didn't say not to kill you, you'd all be dead. Initially I was going to destroy you anyway but during our spar earlier this afternoon he told me mentally to test you. Don't think for a second that I'm on your side. Kakarot wanted me to test you to try and fight without him and well..." Goku stirred on the ground.
"You passed," Goku stood up fine." However, I'll talk to Kami to see if we can bring back Tien with the Dragon Balls," the savior of Earth said a frown forming on his face.
'Goku, Tien decided to do some training with the King of Worlds on his own accord,' Kami told the group telepathically.' He said wish him back before the battle with the Saiyans and he'll assist you,' the guardian sent the message.
"Alright we need to start training harder," Goku smiled however one scowling fighter caught his attention.
"You are a simpleton Goku you killed one of your allies," the Demon King took off.
"Piccolo no wait," the Saiyan tried to reach for his ally." I didn't know he was going that far with it!"
"Let him go Kakarot," Raditz grabbed his brother's left shoulder." But if you're on the subject of killing these fools I'll help!" the older Saiyan hurled a sphere of energy at Yamcha.
"Wha-What why me?" the bandit rolled out of the way watching as the tree behind him exploded in flames." See ya Goku! I'll see you later," the bandit dashed into the sky in flight.
"Yeah we have to train with Kami and.." Krillin trailed off flying behind his bandit friend.
"Weaklings, cowards," the long haired Saiyan barked as the humans escaped into the sky.
Snake Way...
The recently deceased human looked forward toward the long road ahead. All three of Tien's eyes watched every twist and turn of the serpentine path. Tien Shinhan took a deep breath prepping himself for the journey ahead. In a sudden dash of speed, he jumped onto the head of Snake Way.
'Here I go,' the human thought beginning to bolt along the path. His body started normally moving calmly along the million mile path of legend. His stride was wide giving him a great lead. Energy flowed around him as he began to fly above the road his eyes able to see across it.' Hopefully I deserve this treacherous training,' Tien thought beginning to hum through the sky above the golden clouds.
As he was flying he began hands from Hell reaching up to grab him. He quickly bolted around but those confined to eternal damnation were faster trying to draw him into the cold depths. Tien frowned pointing his index fingers at the spirits. Energy flew out of them hitting the manifestations and allowing him to return to the path.
'Note to self never do that again,' the triclops pleaded to himself. His eyes sat on the horizon the bridge appearing endless.' Everything I've worked for has amounted to this I need to keep going,' Tien believed himself to be at around the quarter mark of the Snake Way, in actuality he was only fifteen hundred miles in.
The human warrior once again stood up and started. His black martial arts shoes made little clicks as he continued to run.
Mount Pouzu...
"Raditz it isn't your fault Tien would sacrifice anything for this planet," the younger of the Saiyan duo explained.
"I would have killed him anyway that move you pulled during that fight was low," the long-haired fighter growled in annoyance." All you told me was not to kill them in the middle of a heated battle that is un-Saiyan," Raditz frowned as he closed his eyes.
"Come on Raditz did you really think I'd let you kill them and once you gained ki sense you were unbeatable in their eyes," Goku pleaded to his aggravated brother." I was pushing myself to the max during our fight and even though you were weaker you won. My friends aren't as fast at adapting their senses so they were behind me in using it," he tried to change the subject.
"You are changing the subject pathetic. Have you no pride," the older snarled.
"Yes but I never killed for fun or to feed my ego," the orange clad warrior shot back.
"I never killed any of my comrades," he tapped his foot angrily.
"Hey that isn't right I never directly killed my friend. How was I supposed to know that Piccolo would go all out?" the naive warrior began to ponder.' Is it my fault?' he spoke inwardly.
Raditz's body began to shake. His eyes turned red as they set on the full moon that was rising from the horizon. Brown-black fur began to sprout from his arms and legs forming mats of hair. His face was elongating turning more primitive. A loud menacing growl escaped his maul as he began to increase in size.
Goku instantly opened his eyes watching as his brother grew taller. His eyes widened when he realized what was going on.
'No, was I the one that killed Grandpa Gohan?' the realization hit him. A tear brimmed in his eye dribbling down his face and touching his blue undershirt. He had killed his adopted Grandfather over fifteen years ago.' Grandpa I'm sorry for that. Please forgive me but I will protect those that I care for,' he proved himself determined.
"WHAT IS IT KAKAROT SEEN A GHOST?" Raditz roared loudly." THIS THE EPITOME OF OUR STRENGTH BUT RENEGADES LIKE YOURSELF LOST THEIR TAILS," he continued walking forward toward his shocked younger brother.
"Raditz please calm down you've proven your point you've grown stronger by transforming," Goku pleaded to calm his brother." We need to start training so we don't need you to transform to win."
"OH YOU ARE BEGGING ME TO SPARE YOU?" the long-haired Oozaru asked loudly." I WILL, RAHHH!" he roared at the end shaking the planet around them." I CAN'T CONTROL," he was fighting with himself the primitive nature of the form still hadn't been overcome by the low-class.
"KA!" Goku called forth all he could muster for a Super Kamehameha." ME!" the sphere erupted in a huge sphere of ki around his hand." HA!" he screamed forcing his muscles to strain more." ME!" his aura burned around him bluish.' Gotta make this count!' he thought forcing his aura into the blast." HAA!" it buried itself into the mighty beast chest knocking him off balance with the sheer force. He teetered forward before Raditz began regaining balance.
'I failed no,' Goku thought passing out his energy supply reduced to nothing.
Hours later...
The tired warrior opened his eyes. Said onyx colored eyes locked onto the blue sky. Goku's muscles were perfectly fine not a scratch. The warrior turned to see his brother, laying belly toward the dirt his tail dismembered behind him. Goku's head was pounding shaking as if hit by a hammer.
"Hey Raditz!" Goku yelled in a hushed tone.
"What Kakarot?" the fighter answered in question his whole body covered in sweat.
"What happened last night after I passed out?" the orange clad fighter asked back.
"Some Samurai attacked me from behind with his sword as you can see he slashed off my tail," Raditz answered in a grumble upset by the last remaining piece of his heritage being stolen from him.
"Yajarobe," the younger sibling laughed the Ronin seemed to always show up when you'd least expect it." It was one of my friends he must have dropped off a Senzu Bean or two for us to use in training," he pushed himself up sitting cross legged on the meadow.
"So one of your foolish friends managed to damage me when my power was fifteen thousand units and his own was three hundred?" the long-haired warrior sat up.' So this planet has a great variety of fighters that have different skills,' the elder Saiyan thought as he to sat up.
"He was always lucky that was until he got outclassed by nearly everyone. He was stronger than me at one point," the man in his twenties smiled remembering the day.
"Really? So a human was able to best you?" Raditz asked rather intrigued.
"Well yeah Yajarobe was one of the last ones able to do it," Goku pondered his old memories." The old man on the island you came to when you arrived, Master Roshi, he was able to take me down more than once to prove that there was always someone out there to push you. Tien Shinhan, one of the people you met last night, was able to match me blow for blow in a long match at the twenty second Budokai," the Turtle School's greatest student laughed now taking the stroll down memory lane.
"What happened in that meantime?" the 'true' Saiyan asked.' He has not had the hardships I had yet he is strong. His cheery youth has given him great power while mine has brought me loss,' Raditz looked down at the bandanna tied around his leg
"Well, King Piccolo showed up and boy he was strong he pushed me beyond my limits," Goku's face got serious." He killed one of my friends and came near to killing me but a lucky punch gave me the win," the Earth-raised Saiyan frowned remembering the day he found the body of his friend after the twenty second Budokai. He drifted back to the day he defeated King Piccolo.
Age 753...
"King Piccolo you won't hurt anyone else!" the boy known as Goku dashed upward at incredible speed powered by the Kamehameha. The orange donning boy's broken body was cloaked in a white aura as a spiritual representation of his inner self appeared around him. His arm tore through the green skinned demon's torso purple blood spilling out of the hole.
"Wha-what...did you do...to...mee," the demon gagged coughing something into the distance.
"I ended your reign of terror King Piccolo," the boy faded between consciousness and its opposite.
"Well to say the least you've been battle tested," Raditz smiled slightly.
"Hey can I ask you a question?" Son Goku, the savior pried.
"If you must," the older sibling mumbled along with a variety of far crueler words.
"Why are you wearing those bands around your arm and leg?" the hero asked the conqueror.
"Ah these," he rubbed his right bicep." The first is for our father, Bardock, you bear a striking resemblance to him. In battle he was feared but he also was a great scientist developing a technique that created artificial Blutz Waves in the form of an energy sphere," Raditz remembered the day he first saw his little brothers.
"And the second?" Goku inquired.
"It is for your twin brother," the Saiyan warrior frowned looking at the ground. The word twin caused Goku to flinch he had never thought he had a single brother, two seemed insane." I recruited him seven years ago and he died on his first mission to planet Might however the scouts that went for recovery only found a cracked scouter and a flank of his armor, the lace that was wrapped around his gauntlets," Raditz shook off his sadness an emotion he had tried to bury for a long time.
"Wow I'm sorry I never knew either of them," a tear brimmed in the savior's eyes.
"Don't be I still have a hope that Turles somehow survived," he said in a small sigh.' Even if it is the smidgen that that bastard Frieza had left,' he sighed inwardly then growled toward the end." One of them may still be out there somewhere but I'll never know," Raditz chuckled to himself.
"You're laughing. That's good that means you will live to have the chance to find them," Goku punched his own palm.
"You're being too confident Kakarot you haven't even seen Vegeta battle but optimism is something we need," the long-haired warrior looked toward the broad blue sky." Your planet is an A-class world if we defeat Vegeta and Nappa. Vegeta will try to come back you better be prepared," he decided to stand and stretch.
"I will be and you will to if you want to train I'll set back up the gravity machine I still can't believe Bulma kept her promise from after the tournament," he mumbled the last part inaudible to his older brother.
"It is your funeral," Raditz clenched his fist then a power thrust with his boot.
The dome came from the ground and the hatch had opened it was time to battle. Son Goku tightened his obi and made sure he had his heavily weighted shirt on if he wasn't fighting restrained he'd not improve as much. His laces were tightened and he readjusted his wristbands he was ready.
Raditz groaned at the sight. He wiped the dust from their previous fray off of his armor and rolled his head. The long-haired Saiyan rolled his shoulder joint and flared his aura ready for battle. Breathing the older of the two walked up the silver plated ramp.
Tien was looking up at the pink sky of the afterlife. He had been running for hours on end but his body was finally giving in. Loud and husky pants came from his mouth as he wiped his face of sweat. Trying to move was nearly worthless his only movement came from his right arm and his face.
'I need to get up,' he thought allowing his third eye to close. His chest rose as Tien gasped for air.' I can't let anyone down this is for Chiatzu and Earth,' his palms were planted on the silvery scales that made the floor of the longest path. Veins ran up and down the warrior's arms as he stood to his feet pressing his hands still against the path. Standing fully erect Tien felt a second wind his body regaining some energy.
Earth two hours later...
Goku was bleeding his chin fractured. His arm had a huge gash across it and his right cheek was swollen. The Earth's greatest hero lifted his arm a yellow ki bolt forming. His eyes burned with fury but his body didn't have the energy.
His brother blitzed forward jabbing his stomach with his swollen right arm. The long-haired fighter moaned in agony as the broken limb exploded even further damaging himself. The fresh layer of blood on his face dropped to the ground staining the once sterile alloy and filling the dents. He passed out his swollen eye shutting and seeping a viscous blood-like liquid.
Son Goku triumphed but only for a tenth of a second the warrior falling face down into a heap. His muscles were shot the gravity panel read ten times Earth's gravity. The increase of gravity was incredible for the first thirty minutes but his Saiyan physiology gave him the right adaptive abilities to handle it.
Gohan rushed up to the doorway clicking the hatch to open hoping to see his dad smiling. But his eyes watered at the gruesome sight that filled his vision. His mouth was agape the blood from the duo was everywhere reaching the panels and beyond. He cried leaning against the chamber's path.