Fierce Collision!

(There actually wasn't a bug in the last chapter. Think it over and you'll understand. This chapter will also include a brief explanatory summary. Plus a few more deaths. By the way, I decisively let Son Goku show up in this chapter. Ahem. This Earth defense battle will probably last about two more chapters. Yeah. I can't skip ahead, because that would easily get confusing. Besides, I'm showing a different approach from the original, letting the Z Fighters really shine.)

"It actually worked!!"

Krillin stared at Nappa's expression—still clueless even as he died—and spoke in disbelief, his tone laced with heavy excitement.

Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo all wore expressions of joy written plainly on their faces. They had actually taken down one of the Saiyans, and an opponent far stronger than them at that. This gave them a huge boost of encouragement and confidence.

"Amazing! He really killed him!"

Son Gohan looked at the scene in shock, hardly believing it. He knew full well how strong that big guy's ki was, but they'd managed to finish him off through the combined efforts of his seniors.

"These bastards!! How sneaky!"

Vegeta's vision had recovered somewhat. He forced his blurry eyes open, glanced at Piccolo and the others, and immediately grew wary.

"You're next!"

Yamcha shouted at Vegeta with full confidence, his voice loud. The others also looked at Vegeta with self-assured faces.

"Hmph. I really didn't expect you lot to have this much brains—scheme after scheme. First, you had those four weaklings draw me and Nappa's attention, while you Namekian took the chance to blow up our scouter. You were worried the scouter might block that flash technique. Then, while that Three-Eyed Guy used some Solar Flare to blind us temporarily, leaving us unable to judge the situation, that Bald Kid followed up with an extremely dangerous disc technique for the killing blow. Nappa could have dodged, but that Short Pale Guy's telekinesis bought a second's delay. And on top of that, you hit Nappa with some kind of ki blast, making him think that was your real attack—a classic feint. In the end, he couldn't evade in time and died."

Vegeta's face still carried that haughty expression as he calmly analyzed the entire chain of events.

"Correct! But you missed the most crucial point."

Piccolo replied, his expression unchanged as he looked at Vegeta.

"Huh?!"

Vegeta was taken aback.

"That's right—we traded our lives and wounds to gather intel on you. And from that, we figured out you can't sense ki! That's your biggest failure."

Piccolo said with a forceful tone, revealing the fatal flaw in their plan.

"Oh... that is indeed our oversight. Didn't expect such a convenient ability existed. We've roamed the universe for decades without meeting anyone who could control ki, yet you Earthlings can use it. But thanks to you, I'm sure I can figure out this technique with a bit of practice. So that plan you used against Nappa... won't work on me anymore."

Vegeta spoke calmly, his expression unchanged.

Piccolo, Krillin, and the others' faces shifted slightly.

"Prepare for death. The fact that I'm personally dealing with you means your existence wasn't wasted."

Vegeta slowly jumped down from the small hill, landing on the ground, and looked at Piccolo and the others with a composed air.

"One more time. I don't believe he can really sense ki in such a short time!"

Tien Shinhan looked at the composed Vegeta and asked Piccolo and the others.

The others nodded in agreement. Though Piccolo wanted to abandon the now-exposed plan, it was their only chance at victory. After all, this short Saiyan's battle power was far greater than that big guy's!

"Krillin! Solar Flare!"

Tien Shinhan tilted his head and called out softly to Krillin, then spread his hands in front of his face and shouted.

"Bang!"

"Pfft!"

"I told you, that trick won't work anymore! But to avoid unnecessary trouble, just die!"

The next moment, Vegeta suddenly appeared in front of Tien Shinhan, his hand piercing straight through his chest. Blood gushed out instantly, dripping to the ground.

The others, who had just closed their eyes, suddenly sensed Tien Shinhan's ki vanish. Shocked, they opened their eyes to find Tien Shinhan already impaled through the chest by Vegeta.

"How could this!!!"

Son Gohan stared at Vegeta in terror, trembling as he backed away. Piccolo and the others' faces also twisted in shock. They hadn't expected Vegeta's speed to be so terrifying. Seeing Tien Shinhan's brutal death, Chiaotzu's face filled with rage.

Krillin stood frozen, holding the Destructo Disc in his hand, unsure what to do.

...Meanwhile, somewhere on Earth...

A deep red meteor was rapidly hurtling toward the location of Piccolo and the others. A figure was at the forefront, his face twisted in pain—it was Son Goku, rushing at full speed with the Kaioken active.

"Someone's ki just vanished! Who was it?! Earlier, an evil ki disappeared—looks like Piccolo and the others took out one opponent. But this time... damn it! I need to hurry!"

"Crack!!"

Sensing the disappearance of a ki, Goku's face turned grim. He swallowed a Senzu Bean and muttered again: "Three times Kaioken!"

In an instant, his speed surged even more as he shot forward.

Back with Piccolo and the others, they had fallen into a desperate situation.

Though not much time had passed, there was no denying that under Vegeta's overwhelming power, they had no strength to resist. After Tien Shinhan was killed in an instant, Chiaotzu, trying to "take him down with him," was also easily slain.

"You Namekian do have some brains. I wonder if your home planet Namek also has Dragon Balls. But either way, die!"

Vegeta looked at the wary Piccolo and spoke dismissively.

"Namekian. Hmph. You've muttered that so many times, but I still have no idea what kind of alien that is!"

Piccolo snorted coldly and replied.

"You'll know once you're in the afterlife!"

Vegeta only sneered. Then, with his right hand outstretched toward Piccolo, he fired a Ki Blast directly at him.

Piccolo watched the incoming Ki Blast. He immediately grabbed Son Gohan, who was behind him, and leaped to the left to dodge. Then, he quickly fired a Ki Blast back at Vegeta.

Vegeta sneered at the sight. With a slight flick of his hand, he deflected it easily.

The next moment, before Krillin, Yamcha, and the others could react, Vegeta instantly teleported right in front of Piccolo. He pressed a Ki Blast against Piccolo's abdomen.

"Damn it!"

Piccolo was startled by this. He quickly shoved Son Gohan to the left.

"Boom!!"

"Piccolo!!"

Krillin and Yamcha cried out in shock at the sight.