Six months slipped by like a silent shadow.
Every day was a test, every breath a reminder of the battle looming ahead.
The Z Fighters had pushed their bodies to the edge, but now that the time had come, nervousness still weighed heavily on their hearts. Training meant nothing if fear consumed them on the battlefield.
Piccolo sat cross-legged in mid-air, motionless, his green skin glistening under the sun. His eyes were closed, his mind focused on one thing alone—condensing as much Ki as his body could possibly hold. The faint hum of power radiated from him, making even the wind hesitate around his aura.
Nearby, young Gohan trained on his own. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he repeated strikes, kicks, and energy bursts, muttering under his breath like a student revising before an exam. His childish face was serious now, sharpened by the weight of responsibility.
Down at Korin's Tower, Krillin stood with a pouch tied to his belt. Inside, six senzu beans clinked softly. He let out a small sigh of relief. At least we've got these… maybe enough to save a few lives today.
By afternoon, they all gathered on the Lookout. The air was tense, but for a brief moment, they exchanged nods and words, reassuring themselves with familiar faces. Yet the ground beneath them seemed to tremble…
Because then it hit them.
A monstrous Ki. Two of them.
The sheer pressure made even the calmest warrior's spine shiver.
For the first time, even Rudra's face stiffened. His usually calculating eyes flickered with unease. He hadn't expected this. Vegeta and Nappa… their power wasn't just overwhelming—it was monstrous. As if Frieza himself had stepped onto Earth.
Piccolo's face darkened, sensing the same truth.
"Stay alert," he ordered sharply. "These two are nothing like Raditz. One wrong move and you won't live to regret it."
Rudra's fists tightened. Inside, he cursed. My calculations… how could they be this far off?
He remembered the landing coordinates. The pods would touch down in East City. But he couldn't say that. He couldn't let them know he already had such knowledge. Too much suspicion already circled around him.
Piccolo suddenly stood. His cape fluttered in the heavy Ki pressure.
"We can't fight them here," he said firmly. "If the battle begins on the Lookout, the entire planet will burn. We move—somewhere barren, somewhere with no civilians."
The others nodded. Without a word, the group launched into the sky, streaking across the horizon until jagged rocky mountains stretched below them. Here, the wind was sharp, the ground dry, no signs of life.
As they landed, Rudra broke the silence.
"They have scouters. They'll track our power levels the moment we release our Ki. Don't think hiding will work."
Piccolo turned to him, his narrowed eyes glowing red with suspicion.
"You should talk. You're the one keeping Raditz alive. Do you realize what that means? The Saiyans will know exactly who humiliated him. And when they do…" His tone was sharp as a blade. "You'll be the first one they kill."
The others glanced at Rudra, unease in their eyes.
But Rudra didn't flinch. He met Piccolo's glare and said, steady as steel,
"I'm not worried. Because Goku will be here. I trust him."
Piccolo smirked coldly.
"So you've tied your life to that fool's hands, huh? You've placed your entire fate in someone else's strength?"
"No," Rudra corrected, his voice rising. "I believe in what he is. When it comes to protecting this planet, Goku will put everything on the line. That's what makes him different."
A heavy silence followed. For a brief second, even Piccolo seemed amused.
"Tch. Fine. We'll see if your faith is worth anything."
Krillin forced a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, at least we've got senzu beans. So… if anyone loses a limb, don't worry, I've got you covered."
Yamcha elbowed him. "Not funny, Krillin."
They tried to chat, tried to breathe. But it didn't last.
Because suddenly—
Two blazing Ki signatures surged closer. Faster. Stronger.
The mountain air grew heavy, the ground cracked beneath their feet.
The Z Fighters' expressions hardened. No more jokes. No more nerves. This was it.
"They're here," Tien muttered, his third eye narrowing.
Everyone tensed, dropping into fighting stances. The sweat on their brows wasn't from training anymore. It was from knowing the fate of the Earth would be decided in the next few minutes.
And as the shadow of two pods cut across the clouds, Rudra whispered to himself,
"This is it… the battle that decides everything."