Every blow Rudra threw was getting weaker. His breath was heavy, his body trembling with exhaustion. The after-effects of pushing his earlier form had drained most of his stamina, and now his movements slowed down with each strike.
Vegeta, however, was smiling. His prideful smirk widened with every stagger of Rudra's feet. He didn't see an opponent anymore—he saw prey about to collapse.
"Is this all you've got?" Vegeta mocked, floating effortlessly above. "Fall already… you're not worth my time."
Rudra's vision blurred. He clenched his fists tightly, whispering under his breath, "Looks like… I have no choice left."
Inside him, the energy of Chakra pulsed. Unlike Ki, it was a force that touched the soul itself. He had awakened only the First Stage of Chakra, something even he hadn't fully mastered. Using it carried risk—but against Vegeta, nothing else would work.
Rudra raised his hands into a precise tiger hand sign, focusing his will. His voice was steady despite the trembling of his body:
"O Ātman… Prati-Bandham!"
(Soul Capture!)
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Vegeta, who had been floating with arrogance, suddenly froze mid-air. His smirk faltered.
"What…?!" Vegeta's eyes widened. "My body… why can't I move?!"
He tried forcing his limbs, but they refused to obey. His aura flickered violently, as if being drained.
"It feels… like my Ki is leaking away… What trickery is this?!" Vegeta snarled, fury rising in his voice.
Nappa, alarmed by his prince's sudden halt, roared and charged straight at Rudra. "You little worm! I'll crush you!!"
Rudra's body shook—he couldn't defend himself. His hands were locked in the seal, his concentration fully chained to Vegeta's soul.
But before Nappa's strike could land, a green figure intercepted.
Piccolo slammed into Nappa's path.
"Not so fast!" the Namekian growled, blocking the brute's charge with raw strength.
Vegeta shouted furiously, still trapped in midair.
"Release me at once, insect! You dare bind me?!"
But Rudra ignored him, closing his eyes and focusing. Slowly, his breathing steadied. The more time he bought, the more his stamina recovered.
At that moment, Krillin rushed to his side, pulling a small pouch.
"Rudra! Take this—Senzu beans. You'll recover in no time!"
Rudra shook his head weakly.
"No, Krillin. These beans restore Ki, not Chakra. My strength comes from another source… one I can only recover through meditation. For now… hold Nappa back. Leave Vegeta to me."
Krillin clenched his teeth but nodded. "Fine. We'll handle it."
The Z Fighters threw themselves at Nappa. Yamcha, Piccolo, and Krillin attacked from all sides, while Gohan hovered anxiously, waiting for an opening.
Nappa roared with rage, swatting away attacks like flies. Finally, his fury boiled over.
"Enough! You insects think you can stall me?!"
He raised both hands, his massive aura flaring as he unleashed a colossal wave of Ki.
"Perish!!"
The earth split under the pressure. Rocks shattered. The very air burned. The Z Fighters froze—none of them could block such overwhelming force.
But one warrior stood firm.
Tien Shinhan.
He leapt forward, spreading his three eyes wide with determination.
"Not while I'm here! Shin Ki Ko Ho!!"
Without charging, Tien released his most devastating attack instantly. A beam of raw power clashed against Nappa's destructive wave. The collision shook the battlefield like an earthquake.
"Tien!!" Krillin shouted in fear.
Tien screamed as his body burned from the strain, but he poured every ounce of his life into the blast. Slowly, against all odds, Nappa's wave was pushed back—forcing the giant Saiyan to stumble.
But Nappa only roared louder, pushing even harder.
"You think you can stop me, weakling?!"
Tien gritted his teeth, veins bulging, his muscles tearing apart.
"I won't… let you… hurt them!!"
With one final push, he forced Nappa's attack upward. The explosion erupted in the sky, far from the group—but at a terrible cost.
Tien collapsed to the ground, his energy spent. His chest rose and fell faintly, but his life force was fading.
"Tien!!" Chiaotzu screamed, tears welling in his small eyes.
Rage overtook the little fighter. Without hesitation, he soared behind Nappa, clinging to his massive back.
"You monster… I won't let you hurt him anymore!!"
"No! Chiaotzu!!" Tien's weak voice cried out, but it was too late.
The small warrior glowed with blinding light.
"Farewell, my friend… this is for you!!"
BOOM!
Chiaotzu detonated himself in a desperate sacrifice. The battlefield shook violently, smoke covering Nappa's form.
When the dust cleared, Nappa stood—scorched, but alive. He laughed cruelly.
"Pathetic. That was all for nothing."
The Z Fighters froze in horror. They had just lost two comrades in moments.
Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, and Yamcha stood in stunned silence, the reality of war sinking into their hearts. Their fists shook. Their eyes widened with rage and grief.
Nappa, unfazed, smirked darkly and pointed at the surviving Saibamen.
"Kill the rest of them. I'll deal with Rudra myself."
The Saibamen screeched and leapt toward the Z Fighters. Piccolo's face hardened.
"Krillin! Yamcha! Take care of them quickly!" he ordered.
Then he turned to Gohan. His voice dropped, deep and commanding.
"Gohan. Go. Protect Rudra. He's our only chance now."
The boy hesitated, but Piccolo's glare sharpened.
"Go!!"
Heart pounding, Gohan soared across the battlefield, planting himself in front of Rudra. His small frame shook, but he raised his arms wide, glaring at the oncoming Nappa.
"You'll never touch him!!" Gohan shouted, his voice trembling yet resolute.
The battlefield was divided—Z Fighters clashing against Saibamen in a desperate struggle, while Nappa advanced toward Gohan and Rudra with unstoppable fury.
And overhead, Vegeta still hung bound in midair, his rage boiling as Rudra's Soul Capture continued to drain him.
The war was far from over.