"Ah... It seems that even when using the Kaio-ken, I'm still no match for my brother!" Goku scratched his head and sat down on the ground, looking a bit discouraged.
At that moment, Piccolo suddenly appeared behind Goku. He had removed his weighted hat and cape, and assumed a fighting stance, staring intently at Raditz.
"Let's continue with round two. The two of us against you, as usual. This time, maybe we can beat you."
A surge of confidence filled Piccolo. For the past several months, besides training with Gohan and accepting King Kai's guidance, he had been working hard on extra training by himself. He was no longer the same fighter he had been half a year ago.
Two masters uniting against Raditz? The others stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to the scene.
"The two of you may not be enough," Raditz glanced around, "Why don't all of you come at me together!"
Whoa! What arrogance!
"What did you say?!" Piccolo was furious. This was completely disrespectful!
The others were also displeased. Everyone had trained so hard for so long, and they had all made significant progress, feeling they'd undergone radical improvement. Who could tolerate such contempt?
Goku, however, looked serious and clenched his fists tightly.
"He's not wrong. To be honest, if we don't fight together, we have no chance of winning." Goku looked up at Raditz floating in mid-air, a drop of sweat rolling down his face.
In their fierce battle just now, Goku had already spent a good deal of his energy, and he knew very well that Raditz hadn't even been fighting at full strength.
He had recognized the gap between them the moment they both used the Kaio-ken.
King Kai had only taught the technique to Raditz and Goku. Piccolo still harbored some hostility in his heart, while the others' bodies weren't yet conditioned properly for it—they could at most double their base power. King Kai didn't want his secret techniques spread so easily; he would only teach those who could push the technique to its limits!
Undoubtedly, both Raditz and Goku met those conditions.
But there was still a gap between the two in their use of the Kaio-ken. Goku could see this, King Kai knew it, and Raditz understood it better than anyone. That's why he was so confident and dared to challenge everyone at once.
"Since Goku says so, let's join forces," Krillin said, trusting Goku's judgment.
"Hmph, stand aside!"
Piccolo yelled as he rushed forward, gathering energy with both hands before firing two green energy waves. The meter-wide shockwaves scorched the air with a buzzing sound as they headed straight for Raditz.
Raditz moved just as the waves were about to hit him. With a casual wave of his hand, he deflected them, sending the dazzling energy flying into the distance with surprising ease.
However, Piccolo had anticipated this and used the momentary distraction to appear behind Raditz, slashing downward with a chop!
The corner of Raditz's mouth curled into a slight smile, and the tail wrapped around his waist suddenly whipped around, generating a powerful gust of wind! Still using his tail as a weapon! The whip-like appendage struck Piccolo's waist, sending him flying dozens of meters away.
"You really don't learn, do you? Did you forget I still have this weapon?" Raditz flicked his tail, hovering in the air as he beckoned to the others. "Come on, all of you together."
"Then we won't hold back. Let's go!" Tien clenched his fists and rushed forward, attacking without ceremony.
Krillin, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu followed closely behind, surrounding him. The four attacked in quick succession, their fists and feet moving in coordination. Hundreds of strikes came from all directions simultaneously, leaving no apparent openings for escape.
"Wham! Bam! Crack!"
The offense came suddenly like a torrential rain, but Raditz responded with even greater speed. It was as if he had grown eight arms, effortlessly dealing with the siege from all sides.
A series of cracking sounds and battle noises shook the yellow clouds above, causing them to recede slightly.
The group became increasingly frustrated. Even when facing four opponents at once, Raditz remained completely relaxed, his expression unchanged! It seemed unbelievable. If they continued fighting like this, their chances of winning were virtually non-existent.
Gritting his teeth, Krillin jumped back a distance and shouted, "Close your eyes!"
Following his warning, he spread his five fingers with the back of his hand facing forward. His bald head began to shine with dazzling light!
"Solar Flare!"
"Not good!"
Raditz groaned as the intense light pierced his eyes like needles, forcing him to shut them instinctively. The burning sensation was so severe that he couldn't open his eyes for several moments.
In that instant, Tien and Yamcha attacked from left and right. Yamcha unleashed his newly improved Wolf Fang Fist technique, his punches coming at astonishing speed like several wolves riding the wind, creating a veritable storm of attacks.
Just as Raditz was about to be hit, there was a dramatic shift!
Raditz had already learned to sense energy. Although he couldn't see with his eyes, he could detect the aura of their attacks. He fired energy waves to his left and right, hitting both attackers simultaneously.
"BOOM!"
"CRASH!"
Two figures plummeted from the sky and slammed into the ground, creating huge craters. Countless rocks and debris flew into the air as cracks spread across the planet's surface all the way to King Kai's feet...
King Kai watched in distress as his planet was being blown full of holes. He thought to himself, I told you bastards to take the fighting back to Earth! But no one was paying him any attention...
Raditz knew it wasn't over yet. He sensed an even stronger aura rising from below, combat power concentrating at a single point, approaching the limit of explosion.
"Ka-me-ha-me-HA!!!"
Of course! It was Goku's Kamehameha Wave!
Raditz's fighting spirit surged. His entire body tensed instantly as power erupted around him. With his hands thrust downward, he gathered his own energy: "Saturday Crash!"
Dazzling beams of light collided in mid-air, forming a massive sphere of energy at their junction. The surrounding air currents became sharp as blades, cutting through the atmosphere with piercing sounds.
At that same moment, Chiaotzu attempted to immobilize Raditz with his telekinesis while Piccolo charged in from the side!
"Kaio-ken!" Goku seized the opportunity and erupted with all his strength. Red flames engulfed his entire body, doubling the power of his Kamehameha. His muscles swelled, veins bulging on his forehead as sweat poured down his face.
The energy sphere moved quickly toward Raditz, threatening to engulf him.
Raditz had been gritting his teeth against the Kamehameha. Though Chiaotzu's telekinesis had no effect on him, Piccolo's approaching attack was concerning. In desperation, he had to unleash his hidden power!
"Kaio-ken!"
In the blink of an eye, the power of his Saturday Crash doubled, pushing back the Kamehameha as the energy sphere reversed direction toward Goku! Immediately afterward, Raditz's figure vanished from sight. Red flames flashed behind Piccolo as Raditz delivered a knife-hand strike to the back of Piccolo's neck.
Piccolo froze and fell to the ground.
By this point, Goku could barely disperse the energy from the Saturday Crash, his hands numb from the effort. Though he was still in his Kaio-ken state, his physical strength was nearly depleted. Raditz rushed forward, attacking relentlessly so that Goku could barely defend himself.
In less than ten exchanges, Goku's body was covered with marks and bruises. It seemed like one more solid punch would go right through him, with energy visibly emerging from his back through his body.
"Ha!" The defiant Piccolo attacked again, launching a barrage of homing energy blasts!
Raditz dodged at full speed, not even leaving an afterimage. He appeared in front of Piccolo instantly and sent him flying with a sideways kick. Meanwhile, Goku found himself on the receiving end of Piccolo's misguided energy blasts.
"Huh?" Suddenly, a wave of uneasiness washed over Raditz. Looking up, he saw Tien had his Tri-Beam Cannon ready. To the side, a spherical energy bomb was also targeting him—Yamcha's Spirit Ball!
I won't let you succeed!
Raditz pre-empted their attack, quickly spreading his arms to release an invisible wave of air pressure. Using nothing but his overwhelming ki, he repelled both attackers!
The Tri-Beam shot sideways, flying into the distant yellow sea of clouds, while the Spirit Ball spiraled out of control, flying off in another direction. The two warriors gritted their teeth in pain and looked around for Raditz, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm right here."
The cold voice sent chills down their spines.
"BOOM!"
"CRASH!"
In rapid succession, Tien and Yamcha were knocked to the ground. The stubborn Piccolo charged once more only to be kicked down again. Krillin and Chiaotzu raised their hands in surrender, while Goku managed to fight for a few more exchanges before being blasted into another crater on King Kai's planet.
At this point, Raditz stood victorious, breathing heavily but with a smile still on his face.
King Kai looked on in shock at his devastated planet. His lips trembled as he surveyed the damage. His beloved car lay on its side with only its four wheels remaining, the lonely steering wheel scattered on the driveway... If King Kai could swear, he would definitely utter three choice words at this moment—
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