"You six, line up properly!"
Raditz issued the command to the six Saibamen.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.
However, after hearing the order, the six Saibamen simply looked at one another in confusion before turning their puzzled gazes toward Vegeta.
Not a single one moved.
Their instincts told them they should obey Vegeta.
He was the Saiyan Prince.
The supreme leader of their group.
The problem was—
Vegeta himself wasn't giving any orders.
He merely stood there with his arms crossed, trying to look cool.
His posture was straight, chin slightly raised, desperately maintaining royal dignity despite the bruises and swollen face covering him.
Unfortunately, the pose didn't quite work.
His black eyes were swollen.
The corner of his mouth was split.
His face was bruised purple and blue.
Instead of looking majestic, he resembled a clown stubbornly pretending everything was fine.
"Gigi! Gigi!"
One of the Saibamen suddenly screeched defiantly.
It pointed at Raditz with its short arm while making sharp, mocking noises.
The meaning was obvious.
You're only slightly stronger than us.
Who do you think you are, ordering us around?
We only listen to Prince Vegeta!
A cold light flashed through Raditz's eyes.
He didn't even bother moving.
He simply raised his right hand and casually flicked his palm toward the rebellious Saibaman from afar.
BANG!
A heavy impact echoed through the ruins.
Like a watermelon smashed by a steel hammer.
The Saibaman didn't even have time to react.
Its entire body flattened instantly beneath an invisible force.
Green fluid and shredded flesh exploded everywhere.
The creature was slammed into the ground like a pancake, leaving behind a disgusting outline embedded into the earth.
The remaining five Saibamen instantly turned pale with fear.
They all stepped backward simultaneously.
Their glowing red eyes were filled with terror and disbelief.
When had Raditz become this powerful?
He killed one of them so casually?
They hadn't even seen him attack clearly.
The remaining five Saibamen immediately formed a neat line.
Standing upright like disciplined soldiers.
None of them dared meet Raditz's eyes anymore.
Their bodies trembled visibly.
"Tch. What a waste… now there's one missing," Raditz muttered unhappily.
He glanced at the five trembling Saibamen, then at the six Earth warriors.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"In that case," he said while pointing at Gohan, "my nephew won't participate."
"How about the remaining five of you fight the five Saibamen?"
"That's fine. I'll go first."
Tien Shinhan stepped forward after taking a deep breath.
"Starting with the first one. Go!"
Raditz pointed toward the Saibaman at the front of the line.
The creature immediately nodded obediently.
Its oversized head bobbed awkwardly up and down.
Then it waddled toward Tien with stiff, nervous steps.
"Oh, one more thing," Raditz added loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Since this is a real fight, people can die."
"You're free not to participate."
"But once you step into battle, don't blame me if you get killed."
Raditz immediately made sure to remove himself from responsibility.
What if one of these guys died and Broly came looking for trouble afterward?
That monster was unfathomably powerful.
Even Raditz couldn't see through him.
No way was he taking responsibility for that.
At least he'd warned them beforehand.
"Understood."
Tien nodded seriously.
His expression became far more solemn.
He lowered into the starting stance of the Crane School.
Feet apart.
Center of gravity lowered.
Every muscle tightened in perfect coordination.
"If we can choose not to participate… maybe I'll just sit this one out…"
Yamcha laughed dryly while instinctively taking half a step backward.
"Hmph. What a coward."
Raditz glanced at Yamcha with open disdain.
The look in his eyes resembled someone staring at useless garbage.
Yamcha froze.
His face instantly turned red.
Half from embarrassment.
Half from anger.
He wanted to argue.
Wanted to say he wasn't scared—just cautious.
But the words never left his mouth.
Because deep down, he knew.
In the eyes of true warriors—
Retreat was cowardice.
No excuses.
"Go, Tien!"
Chiaotzu floated in the air while cheering excitedly.
"YAAAH!"
The Saibaman shrieked sharply.
Its tiny legs exploded with surprising force as it charged toward Tien like a green blur.
The ground cracked beneath its feet while gravel scattered behind it.
Tien's eyes sharpened.
All three eyes locked onto the Saibaman's movement.
He could clearly see every detail.
Muscle contractions.
Weight shifts.
Attack trajectory.
BANG!
Tien suddenly swung his arm.
His palm struck the Saibaman's side with lightning speed.
The impact sounded heavy and solid.
Though the strike looked simple, it contained tremendous force and precise technique—the result of a full year of intense training.
The Saibaman was blown backward in shock.
It tumbled several times through the air before barely stabilizing itself.
The moment it landed—
Its head suddenly split open.
From the crack sprayed a stream of dark green corrosive liquid with a disgusting smell.
Like a high-pressure water cannon.
Fast.
Wide-ranging.
This was the Saibaman's special ability:
Acid Spray.
The liquid could melt metal and stone with ease.
Against flesh, it was even deadlier.
Tien instantly dodged sideways.
His movement was smooth and natural.
His body shifted several meters left, leaving behind a faint afterimage.
The acid barely missed his clothing before splashing onto the ground behind him.
SSSSSS!
A horrifying sizzling sound erupted.
White smoke rose from the earth.
The area struck by the acid rapidly melted into a bubbling crater.
Stone and soil dissolved into sticky sludge within seconds.
Krillin shuddered at the sight.
If that stuff landed on a human body…
He didn't even want to imagine it.
BANG!
Tien didn't give the Saibaman another chance.
The moment he dodged the acid, he counterattacked instantly.
His figure blurred.
Appearing beside the Saibaman in a flash.
Then—
A brutal elbow strike slammed directly into the creature's oversized head.
CRACK!
A faint sound of bone breaking accompanied the heavy impact.
The Saibaman collapsed to the ground immediately.
Its body twitched twice.
Then stopped moving.
A deep dent had formed in its skull.
Green fluid slowly leaked from its mouth and ears.
"How is this possible?!"
Nappa exclaimed in shock.
Saibamen weren't elite warriors, but their power levels were still around 1,500.
Yet this Earthling defeated one so easily?
These "low-level creatures" were improving far too quickly.
"We did it!"
Chiaotzu cheered happily while spinning in the air.
"As expected of Tien!" Krillin grinned with relief.
Looks like everyone's training really paid off.
"Haa…"
Tien exhaled deeply while lowering his stance.
He looked at the defeated Saibaman, then at his own hands.
Satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
A year of harsh training hadn't been wasted.
His speed.
Strength.
Reaction time.
All had improved dramatically.
Vegeta silently watched the scene.
His face remained expressionless.
But deep within his eyes, a trace of seriousness appeared.
These Earthlings…
Really had become stronger.
"Ow…"
The Saibaman suddenly groaned weakly.
Its body twitched again.
It struggled to stand.
Though its head was badly damaged, its plant-like vitality prevented instant death.
SNAP!
Raditz casually pointed a finger at it.
BOOM!
The Saibaman exploded on the spot.
Green liquid and shattered flesh splattered across the ground.
Its body was blown completely apart.
Nothing intact remained.
Tien stared in shock.
He whipped his head toward Raditz, disbelief written all over his face.
Just like that… he killed it?
Krillin and Yamcha were equally stunned.
Even though the Saibaman was an enemy, Raditz's casual indifference toward killing sent chills down their spines.
Piccolo and Gohan, however, remained calm.
Piccolo didn't even glance at the remains.
He merely stared coldly at Raditz.
After all, they both understood.
Raditz's strength had already reached an incomprehensible level.
In front of absolute power—
Saibamen were nothing but insects.
"Raditz! What are you doing?" Nappa shouted angrily.
Saibamen weren't valuable, but they were still useful tools.
Killing one so casually…
"What else would I be doing?" Raditz rolled his eyes.
"He already lost."
"Losers receive punishment. That's the law of the universe."
"What? You got a problem with that?"
Nappa immediately fell silent.
He lowered his head and clenched his fists tightly.
But he didn't dare argue.
Didn't dare resist.
Because the power gap was simply too huge.
In this universe—
The strong defined the rules.
"First match," Raditz announced proudly.
"Earth wins."
At this moment, he truly felt like the master of the entire game.
He beckoned toward the next trembling Saibaman like calling over a pet.
"You're next."
The Saibaman walked forward shakily.
Every step looked like a march toward execution.
Its body trembled uncontrollably.
The death of its companion was still fresh in its mind.
"Alright, then I'll go next!"
Krillin stepped forward bravely.
"Wait, let me do this one first!"
Unexpectedly, Yamcha raised his hand.
His expression had changed completely.
The humiliation from being called a coward—
Combined with Tien's victory—
Finally ignited something inside him.
"Huh? There's no need to fight over this…" Krillin blinked.
"I trained for so long too," Yamcha laughed awkwardly.
"I want to know how much stronger I've become."
"I can't keep hiding behind everyone forever, right?"
"…Okay. Just be careful."
Krillin nodded.
Yamcha inhaled deeply.
Then slowly exhaled.
He stepped forward to face the trembling Saibaman.
Ten meters separated them.
The atmosphere tightened instantly.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Suddenly—
Both Yamcha and the Saibaman vanished from sight simultaneously.
Not true disappearance.
Just extreme speed.
The two figures clashed violently through the air.
Punches and kicks collided repeatedly like rapid-fire explosions.
"Gohan. Can you see them?" Piccolo asked calmly.
"Yes, Piccolo Uncle."
Gohan nodded seriously while staring into the sky.
"They're moving really fast."
"But I can track them using their energy."
"Uncle Yamcha is fast… but the Saibaman's reactions are quick too."
"Good."
Piccolo smiled faintly.
At least his student was improving well.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The battle intensified.
Yamcha unleashed the improved version of his Wolf Fang Fist.
His movements were smoother.
Faster.
Far more powerful.
His body darted through the air in flowing arcs while fists and kicks rained from every angle.
The Saibaman fought back desperately.
Though frightened, its battle instincts remained sharp.
Its claws sliced through the air with piercing screeches.
Several times it attempted to create distance for another acid attack—
But Yamcha stayed too close.
Never giving it the opportunity.
After several exchanges—
The Saibaman suddenly dove downward like a green missile.
A full-power charge attack.
Everything committed into a single strike.
Yamcha smiled faintly.
He saw through it.
WHOOSH!
His body vanished instantly.
Several afterimages lingered behind.
The real Yamcha had already appeared behind the Saibaman.
The creature overshot completely.
Unable to stop its momentum.
Meanwhile, Yamcha floated calmly in the air.
Both hands cupped at his waist.
Blue light rapidly gathered between his palms.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Stronger.
The compressed energy emitted a deep humming vibration.
Kamehameha!
BOOOOM!
A brilliant blue beam erupted from Yamcha's hands.
The energy wave roared across the battlefield like thunder.
Direct hit.
The Saibaman was blasted into the ground instantly.
The impact created a fresh crater.
The blue light continued for several seconds before fading.
Inside the crater—
The Saibaman lay charred black.
Smoke rose from its body.
It twitched twice.
Then died completely.
"That's another one gone…"
Nappa muttered blankly.
"These Earthlings really improved fast…"
He glanced toward Vegeta, hoping to see the same shock reflected there.
But Vegeta remained expressionless.
Only a subtle heaviness flickered deep inside his eyes.
THUD.
Yamcha landed lightly beside the crater.
Dust scattered beneath his feet.
He straightened proudly.
A confident grin spread across his face.
"These monsters really aren't that impressive," Yamcha declared loudly.
"There's nothing scary about them."
"Everyone, just give it your best!"
Then his grin widened further.
"If you want, I can even take care of the remaining four myself!"
The wind blew through his hair while his cloak fluttered dramatically behind him.
At this moment—
Yamcha truly felt the results of his year-long training.
He had become stronger.
Strong enough to defeat alien monsters easily.
"Excellent. Second match—Earth wins again!"
Raditz applauded happily.
These guys really are impressive…
Raditz thought silently.
In just over ten months, they'd already surpassed Saibamen-level power.
Honestly—
If he hadn't abused near-death recoveries and Senzu Beans…
He might not even be stronger than these Earthlings now.
That would've been truly humiliating.
However—
The instant Raditz finished speaking—
CRACK.
The "dead" Saibaman suddenly twitched.
Burnt skin peeled away from its body.
Revealing newly regenerated dark green flesh underneath.
The Saibaman had already made its decision.
If it was going to die anyway—
Then dragging someone down with it wasn't a bad choice.
A final trace of madness appeared in its glowing red eyes.
WHOOSH!
Without warning—
The Saibaman leapt upward at terrifying speed.
Faster than anyone expected.
It launched itself directly at Yamcha and wrapped both arms tightly around his waist.
Its claws pierced through Yamcha's gi and dug into flesh.
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
Krillin's eyes widened in horror.
Tien leaned forward, preparing to rush in.
Chiaotzu covered his mouth in panic.
Even Piccolo frowned sharply.
Yamcha himself froze in shock.
He instinctively struggled to break free.
But the Saibaman's grip tightened like steel.
At the same time—
Its entire body began glowing an increasingly bright green.
"Heh…"
A twisted grin spread across the Saibaman's face.
Its body rapidly swelled.
Cracks spread over its skin while blinding green light leaked from within.
Yamcha instantly realized something was wrong.
He struck desperately with elbows and knees.
But the creature didn't budge.
It no longer cared about pain.
All it wanted—
Was mutual destruction.
"Hey! Stop!"
Raditz shouted urgently.
For the first time, genuine tension appeared in his voice.
Even he hadn't expected the Saibaman to survive—
Much less choose self-destruction.
The creature ignored him completely.
If it lost, Raditz would kill it anyway.
It still remembered the first Saibaman being flattened into meat paste.
Better to self-destruct.
At least then it would die as a warrior—
Not be executed like livestock.
Madness flashed in its eyes one final time.
Its body expanded to the limit.
The green light became blinding.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
A deafening explosion tore through the battlefield.
A gigantic green fireball over five meters wide instantly engulfed both Yamcha and the Saibaman.
Shockwaves exploded outward in all directions.
The ground rippled violently.
Rocks and dust were launched dozens of meters into the air.
A scorching heat wave slammed into everyone's faces.
Krillin and the others instinctively raised their arms to shield themselves.
The green light lasted several seconds before slowly fading.
When the smoke finally cleared—
Only a massive blackened crater remained.
Yamcha lay motionless at the center.
His body still frozen in the posture of struggle.
His back was burned black.
Smoke drifted from his unmoving body.
He was dead.
"YAMCHA!"
Krillin screamed.
Without thinking, he stumbled desperately toward the crater.
He nearly tripped several times over broken rubble.
When he reached the edge—
And saw Yamcha's lifeless body lying face-down—
Krillin's legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees.
His trembling hand slowly touched Yamcha's shoulder.
Cold.
Stiff.
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