At 11:43 AM.
Two blazing lights tore across Earth's sky, streaking through the clouds like falling stars. Civilians across East City paused in awe and fear, watching the fiery trails. Then—
BOOM!
Both space pods slammed into the ground just outside East City, shaking buildings and sending shockwaves across the streets. The impact carved two deep craters into the earth, smoke billowing upward.
People screamed. Some thought a meteor had struck. Others whispered in panic—"Bombs?" "Is this war?" "What fell from the sky?"
A group of onlookers, ignoring the trembling in their knees, cautiously approached the smoldering craters. Heat radiated from the pods, metallic shells still glowing from their atmospheric entry.
Then—hisssshhh!
One pod cracked open. A hydraulic steam vent released, and the crowd gasped in horror as a towering figure stepped out. His armor gleamed black and white. His hair stood upright in a widow's peak, his sharp eyes radiating menace.
It was Vegeta.
The civilians froze. "A man?!" one shouted. "That came from the sky?!"
Another whispered, trembling, "What… what is he?"
Before they could comprehend, the second pod opened with an ear-splitting screech. From it emerged a hulking brute, bald with a thick mustache, clad in the same armor. His massive frame dwarfed the crowd, and his smirk was the smile of death.
Nappa.
The two Saiyans stood together, surveying the terrified humans like hunters looking over helpless prey.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at the city stretching before him. "So this is Earth, hmm? Promising enough." A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Nappa chuckled darkly. "Heh. Looks like we've drawn an audience, Vegeta. Should we greet these little insects?"
Vegeta tilted his head slightly, giving him permission. "Do as you please."
With wicked delight, Nappa raised two fingers lazily toward the crowd. His smirk widened.
"Goodbye, vermin."
FWOOM!
In an instant, an explosion erupted with the force of hell itself. Blinding light engulfed East City as buildings crumbled, the shockwave ripping through concrete, steel, and human screams alike. The earth quaked as fire swallowed everything.
From orbit, the planet itself seemed to flare for a moment as the city vanished into smoke and ruin.
The silence afterward was deafening. The once-thriving metropolis was reduced to ash and rubble in seconds.
---
The Z Fighters' Shock
Far away in the rocky mountains, Piccolo stood rigid, his antenna twitching. His eyes widened as he sensed the catastrophic surge of energy.
"What the—?!" he growled, fists tightening. "That power… it's them."
Beside him, little Gohan gasped, his small body trembling. He clutched his chest as though the pressure of that overwhelming Ki pressed down on him.
"M-Master Piccolo…! Such a huge Chi…! I've never felt anything like this before!"
Piccolo nodded grimly, his expression hard. "So… they've come at last."
Further along the cliff, Yamcha, Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, Master Roshi, and Yajirobe all felt it too.
Yamcha cursed under his breath. "Damn it… just their presence alone feels crushing. Are we really ready for this?"
Krillin's eyes darted nervously. "It's worse than I imagined. Their power is—insane!"
Chiaotzu clung to Tien's shoulder, eyes wide in fright. "T-Tenshinhan!"
Tien clenched his fists, his jaw set tight. "Curse them. They came earlier than we thought… but we'll face them, no matter what."
Even Yajirobe, usually careless, swallowed hard. "Man, this is way above my paygrade…"
Among them stood Rudra, silent, his mind racing. He had prepared himself for many outcomes, but this—this was beyond his expectations.
"I… I never thought Vegeta and Nappa would be this powerful… This pressure is unreal…"
---
Vegeta and Nappa
Back at the ruins of East City, the smoke cleared, revealing only charred earth and ruins where skyscrapers once stood. The Saiyan duo stood untouched amidst the carnage, grinning at their handiwork.
Nappa laughed thunderously, placing his hands on his hips. "Hah! That's more like it! Weak little ants—squashed in seconds. What pathetic creatures."
Vegeta didn't laugh. His cold, calculating eyes scanned the horizon. "Don't waste too much time, Nappa. Remember why we're here. There are stronger ones waiting… and they're the ones I'm interested in."
Nappa sneered but nodded. "Heh. Don't worry, Vegeta. I'll make sure to warm up properly before we get to the main course."
---
The Fear Spreads
Across the globe, shockwaves of the destruction rippled. News stations scrambled to report the disaster, though their cameras only captured a glimpse of the massive explosion before being swallowed by static. Civilians in neighboring cities screamed, fleeing in panic as rumors spread like wildfire.
"Monsters fell from the sky!"
"East City is gone!"
"Not bombs—it's something worse!"
Governments attempted to contact the site, but there was no one left alive to answer.
---
Back With the Z Fighters
Krillin wiped sweat from his forehead, forcing a laugh that carried no humor. "Well, there's no turning back now… Those two… they're monsters!"
Yamcha crossed his arms but kept his tone steady, trying to rally himself and the others. "We've trained for this. We can't back down. If we don't fight, the whole Earth will end up like East City."
Piccolo glared at the distant smoke column rising into the sky. His voice was low but sharp, like a blade. "That was just a greeting. They haven't even begun to fight seriously yet."
Gohan swallowed hard, his fists trembling. "M-Master Piccolo… I'm scared… What if I'm not strong enough?"
Piccolo turned to him sharply. "Listen, Gohan. Fear is natural. But you can't let it control you. Remember your training. You've got power inside you, more than you realize. When the time comes… you'll have to unleash it."
The boy nodded, though fear still lingered in his eyes.
Tien looked over at Rudra, who remained silent, deep in thought. "Rudra… what do you think? You've seen things we haven't, haven't you? Just how strong are they?"
Rudra hesitated, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "…Stronger than we can imagine. But strength alone won't decide this fight. We have to stay sharp. Every move will matter."
---
Vegeta's Smirk
Back at the ruins, Vegeta smirked faintly, as if he could already sense the Z Fighters gathering far away. He tilted his head toward Nappa.
"Come. Let's pay them a visit."
Nappa cracked his knuckles eagerly, laughing. "Heh, I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they realize just how hopeless this is!"
And with a single leap, the two Saiyans shot into the sky, streaking toward the energy signatures waiting for them in the rocky wastelands.
The real battle was about to begin.
---