The Saiyans Arrive

"Who should I kill first?"

Vegeta's voice carried a teasing lilt, as though he were choosing an appetizer before a meal.

Gohan felt his heart pounding wildly.

Not entirely from fear—well, a little. But more than that, it was the exhilaration of adrenaline surging through him.

They were here.

Finally.

He had waited for this moment every day for a year.

"Uncle Piccolo," Gohan said quietly, "what are their readings on the scouter?"

Piccolo didn't answer. He only clenched the scouter in his hand.

The numbers on the screen were jumping frantically.

Nappa: 4000.

Vegeta: 18000.

Gohan sucked in a sharp breath.

18000.

More than three times his current power level.

And although Nappa was only at 4000, a Saiyan's combat instincts and experience were far beyond those of Earth's fighters.

"Hey, hey, Piccolo." Nappa swaggered forward with his scouter still hooked over his ear. "This brat's reading... doesn't seem right, does it?"

He pointed at Gohan.

"I remember the report said that when Raditz was killed, this brat's power level was only around two thousand, right? So how is it now... nearly five thousand?"

Vegeta raised an eyebrow and looked at Gohan with interest.

"Interesting. It hasn't even been a year, and it's already more than doubled?"

"So he's the hybrid offspring of a low-class warrior and an Earthling. His growth rate is even faster than I expected."

He licked his lips.

"But that's all there is to it. No matter how fast he grows, his base is too low to make any real waves."

Gohan clenched his fists.

He knew Vegeta was telling the truth.

At 5000 against 4000, he could barely trade a few moves with Nappa.

But Vegeta at 18000...

Even if Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and the others all joined forces, they wouldn't be enough to fill the gaps in his teeth.

"What, scared stupid?" Nappa noticed Gohan's expression and burst into wild laughter. "Hahaha! Just as I thought—a little brat. Do your legs go weak the moment you see a real Saiyan?"

"Want your uncle to put you out of your misery?"

Gohan took a deep breath.

Then he raised his head and stared straight into Nappa's eyes.

"You talk too much."

Nappa's smile froze.

"...What?"

"I said, you talk too much." Gohan's voice was calm. "If you're going to fight, then fight. What's with all the pointless chatter?"

Nappa was stunned.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow slightly as well.

This brat... wasn't afraid?

"Not bad courage." Vegeta gave a soft laugh. "Unfortunately, courage won't put food on the table."

"Nappa, stop wasting time with him. End this quickly."

"Got it."

Nappa rolled his neck, his joints cracking loudly.

"I was planning to have some fun first... but since the prince has spoken, let's finish this quickly."

He raised a hand, energy beginning to gather in his palm.

"Right, who should I start with?"

Nappa's gaze shifted between Piccolo and Gohan.

"That big one looks like he can take a beating..."

"Then I'll start with the little one!"

Gohan's pupils suddenly contracted.

He saw Nappa's figure blur without warning.

Fast! Too fast!

"Gohan, move!"

Piccolo's voice exploded beside his ear.

Gohan instinctively rolled to the left.

Boom!!

A ki blast blasted a massive crater into the spot where he had just been standing, sending dirt and shattered rocks flying everywhere.

"Oh? You dodged that?" Nappa sounded somewhat surprised. "Not bad reflexes, brat."

Gohan pushed himself up from the ground, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

That was close.

Just a little closer.

If he hadn't dodged in time, he would probably have been reduced to pulp by now.

"Don't space out!" Piccolo charged forward. "I'll keep him occupied!"

Piccolo turned into a streak of light and slammed fiercely toward Nappa.

Bang!!

Their fists collided in midair, and a shockwave spread outward.

"Your strength isn't bad." Nappa grinned. "Too bad it's nothing special!"

His arm suddenly flexed, sending Piccolo flying with a single throw.

"Uncle Piccolo!"

"I'm fine..." Piccolo steadied himself, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. "This guy is stronger than I expected..."

"Hahahaha!" Nappa roared with laughter. "Is this all Earthlings can do?"

Just then.

"Destructo Disc!!"

A spinning ki blade came slashing in from the side.

Nappa twisted aside and barely avoided it.

"Who was that?"

He turned to look and saw a short figure rushing out of the woods.

Krillin.

"Gohan! Are you okay?!" Krillin ran to Gohan's side, his face full of worry.

"Uncle Krillin!" Gohan's eyes lit up. "You made it!"

"Obviously! I rushed over the second I got the news!" Krillin panted heavily. "Good... good thing I made it in time!"

"Krillin..." Piccolo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "How did you..."

"Tien Shinhan and the others are behind me!" Krillin said. "Yamcha and Chiaotzu are on their way too!"

Piccolo let out a breath of relief.

Though their battle powers were only in the hundreds or low thousands, at least it was no longer two against two.

"Oh, two more showed up?" Nappa looked at Krillin and Piccolo, smiling dismissively. "No matter. I'll take care of you all at once."

"Nappa." Vegeta suddenly spoke.

"Huh?"

"Are you done playing?" Vegeta stood with his arms crossed, his tone impatient. "Time is limited. Stop wasting it. Kill them all. We still need to find the Dragon Balls."

"Yes, yes..." Nappa shrugged. "His Highness the Prince sure is impatient."

His gaze fell on Gohan once more.

"Then I'll start with this kid. I still remember Raditz's grudge."

Gohan's heart tightened.

He knew Nappa was serious.

"Gohan, watch out—"

Before Krillin could finish, Nappa had already moved.

This time, Nappa was even faster than before!

Gohan desperately retreated, crossing his arms in front of himself in an attempt to block.

Bang!!

Nappa's fist slammed viciously into his arm.

A searing pain shot through him. Gohan felt as though he had been hit by a truck, his entire body flying backward out of control.

"Gohan!!"

"Kid!!"

Piccolo and Krillin cried out at the same time.

Gohan hit the ground hard and skidded more than ten meters before coming to a stop.

He struggled to get back up, only to find that the pain in his right arm was so intense he could not lift it.

"Tch, I only used ten percent of my strength, and you're still not dead?" Nappa sounded somewhat surprised. "This kid can take a beating."

Gohan gritted his teeth and pushed himself up with his left hand.

It hurt.

It really hurt.

But he did not make a sound.

Because inside, he was cursing frantically:

Damn it, ten percent of his strength sent me flying? Saiyans really are monsters when it comes to fighting power!

What do I do now? My right arm's useless. I can't beat Nappa, let alone Vegeta...

Do I really have to wait for Dad to come save the day?

No... I can't!

He did not want to be like in the original story again, helplessly watching Uncle Piccolo die protecting him!

"Gohan! Get back!" Piccolo charged forward and stood in front of Gohan. "I'll deal with him!"

"Uncle Piccolo, your injuries—"

"Enough nonsense!" Piccolo growled. "I said I'd make sure you got out of here alive!"

He pressed his palms together and began gathering energy.

"Haaah!!"

A powerful energy wave blasted toward Nappa.

Nappa merely shifted to the side and easily dodged the attack.

"Too slow, Piccolo."

His figure blurred again.

"Uncle Piccolo, watch your back!!"

Gohan screamed hoarsely.

Piccolo spun around sharply, but it was already too late.

Nappa's fist was right in front of him.

"Bang!!"

A figure stepped in front of Piccolo.

It was Gohan.

With his small body, he forcibly took Nappa's attack head-on.

"Pfft!"

Gohan spat out a mouthful of blood and was blasted away once more.

"Gohan!!" Piccolo's eyes widened.

"Kid?!" Even Nappa froze. "You..."

Gohan crashed to the ground and curled into a ball, trembling all over.

It hurts...

It really hurts...

Yet a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Cough... Uncle Piccolo..." he said with difficulty. "I told you... I wouldn't... let you stand in front alone..."

"You... idiot!!" Piccolo's eyes reddened slightly. "I told you to get back! Didn't you understand me?!"

"I understood..." Gohan coughed up bloody foam. "But I don't want to..."

"I don't want to see... someone important... die for me again..."

Watching this, Nappa suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! Interesting! This kid is scared out of his mind, yet he still wants to play the hero?"

"It's... disgusting."

His gaze turned icy.

"Then let me send you to meet King Yama!"

Nappa raised a hand, gathering a massive energy sphere in his palm.

"Goodbye, brat."

The energy sphere shot from his hand, streaking straight toward Gohan.

Piccolo's pupils contracted sharply.

"Gohan!!"

He charged forward with everything he had.

But Nappa's attack was too fast. He simply could not keep up.

At that critical moment—

"Kaio-ken!!"

A red ki blast came roaring in from afar, striking Nappa's energy sphere with perfect precision.

"BOOM!!!"

The two forces collided in midair, and the blast wave spread in every direction.

"What?!" Nappa narrowed his eyes. "That energy..."

Vegeta's expression shifted slightly as well.

"Interesting..."

As the dust settled—

A figure stood before Gohan and Piccolo.

He wore a blue martial arts gi and had that unmistakable bowl cut.

Son Gohan... no, Kakarot.

Goku.

"Dad..." Gohan looked at that familiar back, his eyes welling up.

Not because he was moved, but because relief washed over him.

He knew the story would unfold this way.

But when he actually saw Goku appear, he still could not stop himself from wanting to cry.

It was good to be alive.

It was good that his dad was alive.

"Gohan, are you okay?" Goku did not turn around, but his voice was full of concern.

"Still... still alive..." Gohan forced out a smile. "Dad, you sure took your time getting here."

"Sorry, sorry." Goku scratched his head. "I rushed over right after getting out of the hospital. I almost didn't make it..."

"Wait, did you just say... out of the hospital?" Piccolo froze. "You were injured before this?"

"Yeah. The Saiyans' scouter picked me up." Goku spoke as if it were nothing. "Raditz beat me so badly before he died that I was laid up at Korin Tower for ages."

"..." Piccolo was speechless.

Was this guy really that carefree, or was he faking it? The Saiyans were practically about to wipe them out, and he was still this calm?

"Goku." Vegeta's voice came from ahead. "You're that low-class warrior, Kakarot?"

Goku turned to look at Vegeta.

"Oh, you know me?"

"You killed my comrade Raditz." Vegeta's eyes were cold. "I've been looking for you for a long time."

"Couldn't be helped." Goku shrugged. "He attacked first. I was just defending myself."

"Defending yourself?" Vegeta smiled, a chilling smile. "Very good. Then I'll defend myself today as well."

"Your power level... let's see." He pressed his scouter, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Hm? Three thousand two?"

"Raditz said you burst past eight thousand before he died. I thought you were some kind of expert..."

"But this is it?"

Vegeta shook his head.

"Forget it. I can't be bothered wasting words on you. Saiyan pride will not be desecrated."

"You'll pay for it with your life."

Goku did not retreat.

He took a deep breath, and his energy began to rise.

A red glow began flickering around him.

"Kaio-ken!!"

Goku's aura surged wildly.

3000... 4000... 5000... 6000...

It finally stabilized at 6400.

"Oh?" Vegeta raised a brow. "A double Kaio-ken? Interesting."

"But..."

A terrifying aura erupted from his body.

"That's all it is."

A power level of 18,000 bore down on everyone present, leaving them unable to breathe.

Piccolo, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu... everyone's expressions changed.

Was this the Saiyan Prince's true strength?

It was too strong.

So strong it drove people to despair.

"Goku!" Piccolo shouted. "In your current condition, you're no match for him at all!"

"I know." Goku's voice remained calm. "That's why I'm waiting."

"Waiting? Waiting for what?"

"Waiting until I've fully recovered," Goku said. "Give me three hours."

Vegeta froze for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"Three hours? Are you insulting me?"

"No." Goku shook his head. "I just think a fair fight is more interesting."

"What did you say?" Vegeta narrowed his eyes.

"I mean..." Goku lifted his head, his gaze turning sharp. "After I recover in three hours, let's have a fair one-on-one duel."

"If you don't dare wait, you can make your move now."

"It's just that... even if you win that way, it won't be very glorious, will it?"

"Prince of the Saiyans."

Vegeta's eyes turned dangerous.

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

"Think whatever you want." Goku shrugged. "I just think that, as a Saiyan, you'd prefer the thrill of crushing someone head-on, wouldn't you?"

"Rather than taking advantage of someone when they're down."

"..."

The air fell silent for several seconds.

Then Vegeta laughed.

"Interesting."

"Very interesting."

He withdrew his aura.

"Fine. I'll give you three hours."

"Three hours from now, I'll crush you into dust with my own hands."

"And show you what a true Saiyan really is."

Goku nodded.

"Then it's settled."

He turned to look at Gohan.

"Gohan, are you okay?"

Gohan lay on the ground, covered in blood, but his eyes were still clear.

"I-I'm... okay..." He forced out a smile. "Dad, that move you used just now was so cool..."

"Of course it was." Goku grinned proudly. "Your old man is Son Goku."

"Get some rest. In three hours, watch your dad put on a show."

Gohan nodded.

He closed his eyes, but the smile at the corner of his mouth did not fade.

Three hours.

As long as they held out for three hours, Dad would return to his peak condition.

By then, even if he still couldn't defeat Vegeta, at least...

At least it wouldn't be like the original story, where everyone died.

Uncle Piccolo wouldn't die.

Uncle Krillin wouldn't die.

No one would die.

That was enough.

"Hey, Piccolo." He spoke weakly.

"What?" Piccolo crouched beside him, his voice carrying a trace of heartache.

"Thanks... for blocking that attack for me."

"...Shut up." Piccolo turned his head away. "You went looking for death, and you've still got the nerve to say that?"

"Hehe..." Gohan chuckled a few times, tugging at his wound and making him gasp in pain.

"Stop laughing. Your wound will split open."

"Uncle Piccolo..."

"Yeah?"

"You said just now... no matter what happened, you'd make sure I got out alive..."

"..."

"Thank you."

Piccolo fell silent.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

"If you dare use your body to block an attack for me again, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the sharks."

"...Uncle Piccolo, it's winter now. The seawater's really cold."

"Then freeze to death."

"..."

Looking at Piccolo's deliberately fierce expression, Gohan couldn't help laughing again.

This was nice.

Everyone was still alive.

Three hours from now, everything would be different.

He believed it.