Raditz crouched low amidst the rolling hills of Namek, the dual suns casting his shadow long over the emerald grass. His heightened senses buzzed with anticipation as he honed in on the cluster of faint power signatures.
Frieza's lackeys, he thought grimly. Pathetic, but still dangerous in numbers.
He'd felt them the moment he landed, their presence spread across the planet like a disease. They weren't here just to terrorize the locals—they were hunting the Dragon Balls.
Raditz's lips curled into a snarl. "If they get their hands on the Dragon Balls, I'm finished. No wishes, no future. I can't let that happen."
With a final glance at the horizon, he launched himself into the air, ki suppressed to a whisper.
The squad was stationed near a wide lake, their scouters blinking as they scanned for energy readings. Raditz watched from a ridge, his tail flicking in impatience.
There were four of them—low-level grunts judging by their power levels, but armed to the teeth with blasters and scouters. One of them, a bulky alien with crimson skin, barked orders to the others.
"Fan out! If the locals won't talk, burn the village to the ground. Lord Frieza doesn't tolerate failure!"
Raditz's jaw tightened. Time to make my move.
He dropped down silently behind the closest soldier, his fist slamming into the alien's spine with a sickening crunch. The soldier crumpled without a sound.
The others whirled around, scouters beeping wildly. "Power reading—!"
Raditz was already moving. A quick burst of ki took out the second soldier's blaster, leaving him defenseless. The third managed to fire off a shot, but Raditz swatted it aside like a fly before driving his knee into the soldier's chest.
The leader backed away, his scouter shattering under the pressure of Raditz's growing power. "You're—no, this can't be—"
Raditz smirked. "You're right. It's not your lucky day." With a single punch, the fight was over.
The aftermath was quiet, save for the gentle rippling of the lake. Raditz stood amidst the bodies, his chest heaving. He could feel the familiar burn of growth coursing through him—a Zenkai boost, small but noticeable.
It's not enough, he thought, clenching his fists. I need more. Every fight has to count if I'm going to survive Frieza.
He searched the soldiers' remains, finding a single scouter intact. Raditz adjusted it, scanning the area for other energy signatures. His brow furrowed as he noted a cluster far to the north.
"More troops," he muttered. "But there's something else… stronger. A Namekian, maybe?"
He crushed the scouter in his hand. "No need to rely on that junk. My senses are better anyway."
Raditz spent the next few days hunting down small patrols, avoiding larger groups to keep his presence under wraps. Each encounter left him stronger, his Saiyan body thriving on the brink of exhaustion.
But he knew he couldn't afford to waste time. The Dragon Balls were his ultimate goal, and he needed the help of the Namekians to find them.
On the fifth day, he stumbled upon a small Namekian shrine hidden in a valley. An elder knelt before the altar, his hands clasped in prayer. Raditz approached cautiously, his ki suppressed.
The elder turned, his serene expression betraying no fear. "You are not one of them."
Raditz stopped a few paces away, crossing his arms. "You're right. But I'm not here to make friends either. I need your Dragon Balls."
The elder's gaze hardened. "And why should I trust you?"
Raditz hesitated. The Saiyan pride in him screamed to demand compliance, but he knew that approach would lead nowhere. Instead, he gestured to the horizon.
"Because if Frieza gets them, you won't have a home left to protect."
The elder studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "I will help you. But know this: if you betray our trust, you will find no sanctuary here."
Raditz smirked. "Fair enough."
Raditz followed the elder Namekian through a winding path into the mountains, the cool breeze carrying a faint, otherworldly hum. The elder had introduced himself as Mouro, a guardian of a hidden Dragon Ball, one of seven scattered across the planet.
"This one is safe for now," Mouro explained, his voice calm but firm. "The other villages may not be so fortunate. Frieza's soldiers are relentless."
Raditz grunted in response, his eyes scanning the terrain. He could feel Mouro's faint power level—nothing compared to his own, but steady and resilient. I'll have to protect him, at least until I find the others.
The path ended at a concealed cavern, its entrance obscured by thick vines and jagged rocks. Mouro stepped inside, gesturing for Raditz to follow.
The Dragon Ball rested atop a stone pedestal, its orange surface glowing faintly in the dim light. Raditz stared at it, his heart pounding. This was the first step toward survival, toward power.
Mouro watched him closely. "You understand the responsibility these carry, don't you?"
Raditz nodded, though he avoided meeting the elder's gaze. "I do. That's why I can't let Frieza's men have them."
He reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the Dragon Ball. The energy it radiated was almost intoxicating, a reminder of the ancient power it contained.
Mouro placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression somber. "There are others who guard these treasures. If you truly mean to protect Namek, you must warn them before it's too late."
Raditz frowned. "I'm not here to play messenger. But if it gets me closer to the rest of the Dragon Balls, fine."
As Raditz emerged from the cavern, he felt a sharp spike in energy nearby—several small power levels, moving fast. Frieza's soldiers were closing in.
"They must have tracked me," he muttered, clenching his fists.
Mouro's expression darkened. "Go. I will hold them off."
Raditz shook his head. "You'd last five seconds against them."
He stepped forward, his ki flaring slightly as he prepared for the confrontation. Within moments, the soldiers appeared on the horizon, their scouters scanning the area.
"There he is!" one of them shouted, raising his blaster.
Raditz smirked. "Come and get me."
The first soldier fired, but Raditz sidestepped the blast with ease. He vanished, reappearing behind his attacker and delivering a bone-crushing punch to the back of his head.
The others hesitated, their scouters beeping erratically as they tried to measure his power. Raditz didn't give them a chance to regroup. He charged forward, taking out two more with a flurry of punches and kicks.
The final soldier turned to flee, but Raditz extended his hand, a ball of ki forming in his palm. The energy blast hit its mark, leaving nothing but a smoking crater.
Raditz wiped the blood from his knuckles, his chest heaving. He could feel his strength surging again, another Zenkai boost fueling his power. But he knew this was just the beginning.
"They'll send more," he muttered, glancing back at Mouro. "You need to stay hidden."
The elder nodded. "I will. But you must act quickly. The longer you wait, the stronger their forces will become."
Raditz picked up the Dragon Ball, tucking it securely under his arm. He turned to the horizon, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains.
One down, six to go.