The battlefield had become a wasteland of broken earth and smoldering craters. The tension in the air was heavy, every Z Fighter gasping for breath after their clashes with the Saibamen.
Rudra was on his knees, blood dripping down the side of his mouth. He had fought Vegeta with everything he had, but his earlier transformation had drained most of his stamina. Still, his eyes burned with determination—he had to hold on.
Suddenly, Nappa stepped forward, his massive frame casting a dark shadow across Rudra. The brute's grin twisted into something cruel. He raised his hand, Ki crackling around his palm.
The boy's fists clenched, his small frame shaking with fear but also a spark of determination. He could feel Rudra's life force dwindling. Swallowing hard, he stepped forward, his eyes darting toward the hulking figure of Nappa.
Nappa noticed immediately, towering over the battlefield with his monstrous grin. His voice boomed like thunder.
"Heh… So the little brat thinks he can play hero? Don't test my patience, kid." He pointed a thick finger at Gohan, his tone turning into a snarl. "Here's some advice: move out of my way, or I'll grind you into dust along with your friend!"
But Gohan didn't move. He spread both arms wide, his body trembling but his gaze unshaken, standing like a human shield in front of Rudra.
"If you want to hurt him… you'll have to go through me first!" Gohan shouted.
Rudra's half-open eyes widened slightly at the sight. Despite his weakness, a faint, tired smile touched his lips.
Nappa's grin vanished, replaced with a dangerous glare. "Tch… brat, you just signed your death warrant!"
With a roar, the Saiyan raised his hands and unleashed a massive, glowing ball of Ki. The sheer size of the attack dwarfed Gohan, the light blinding, the energy waves tearing through the ground as it rushed forward.
"GOHAN!! DODGE!!" Piccolo shouted.
Gohan screamed back, gathering his courage. " F**K NO!! AAHHHHH!" His small hands cupped together, Ki flaring violently. He fired his own blast head-on, pushing it with everything he had.
The collision was deafening. The battlefield shook, shockwaves tearing apart rocks and sending dust spiraling into the air.
For a terrifying moment, it looked like Gohan would be swallowed whole. His knees buckled, sweat poured down his face, his arms shook violently. But then… against all odds, the boy's Ki pushed back. The massive wave slowed, trembled… and finally dissipated into nothing.
Silence.
Everyone's eyes widened. Even Nappa froze, his jaw tightening.
"W-what?!" Nappa growled. "That runt… he actually stopped my blast?!"
Gohan collapsed to one knee, panting heavily, lungs burning. "Hahh…hahhh… I-I did it…!" But his victory was short-lived. His stamina was gone. His chest heaved desperately for air.
Nappa's face twisted into pure rage. "Don't get cocky, boy! I've trained in battle my whole life—endurance is MY weapon! You're nothing but a weakling playing hero!"
He raised his hand again, gathering another blast, larger this time. His veins bulged, fury radiating off him.
But just as he was about to launch it—
Rudra's eyes snapped open. His senses sharpened. He felt a familiar Ki signature approaching, racing across the sky. His lips curled faintly. "Goku… you're here…"
And with that, Rudra loosened his grip on Vegeta's unconscious body, dropping the prince onto the ground.
Nappa blinked, his eyes darting to Vegeta lying motionless. For a split second, his attention wavered.
"Vegeta…?!" he muttered, lowering his hand. His instincts as a Saiyan warrior kicked in—protecting the prince mattered more. He turned sharply, kneeling by Vegeta's side.
Meanwhile, Gohan—nearly on the verge of collapsing completely—was spared from the next blow. He gasped for breath, relief washing over him, though his body still trembled.
Piccolo immediately shouted across the battlefield. "Krillin! Yamcha! Take down the remaining Saibamen now! We can't waste time!"
"Got it!" Krillin shouted back.
On one side, Piccolo was already dismantling two Saibamen with ruthless efficiency. His arm lashed out, smashing one into the dirt. He spun and fired a sharp beam of energy through the other's chest, obliterating it instantly.
"Two down!" Piccolo barked.
Yamcha and Krillin faced off against the last pair. One lunged at Krillin, claws outstretched. "Die, human!!"
Krillin's eyes narrowed. "Not today!" He ducked low, spun, and unleashed a point-blank blast to its face. The creature shrieked before exploding into ash.
Yamcha grinned, sliding forward, fists flying. "Hyaahhh!!" His Wolf Fang Fist tore through the final Saibaman, scattering its body into glowing fragments.
"All clear!" Yamcha panted, dusting his hands.
The Z Fighters regrouped quickly, their eyes now locked onto Rudra and Vegeta. They rushed to Rudra's side, finding him kneeling but slowly regaining composure.
"Rudra, hang in there," Krillin said.
Rudra nodded weakly, then raised his voice. "Listen—Goku is almost here. We just need to hold them off a little longer. Buy time!"
The moment he said it, everyone's eyes widened. They could sense it too now—Goku's unmistakable Ki signature racing closer. Their hearts lifted with hope.
Meanwhile, Nappa was shaking Vegeta's shoulder. "Prince Vegeta! Wake up!"
Vegeta groaned faintly but didn't stir. Nappa growled, then pressed his palm against Vegeta's chest, transferring some of his Ki into him. A faint glow enveloped Vegeta's body, his fingers twitching. Slowly, the prince's eyes snapped open.
"Ughhh… what happened…?" Vegeta muttered, lifting himself up, still disoriented.
Nappa bowed slightly. "Rudra… he let you go. You were unconscious."
The words cut through Vegeta like a blade. His pride—his royal pride—shattered instantly. His fists clenched, his teeth grinding. "He… let me go…?!" Vegeta's face twisted with fury, his aura flaring wildly.
"No one humiliates me like that! Nappa, enough games! We go all out! I'll crush him with my own hands!"
Rudra pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly. He spoke quickly to the others. "Split up! I'll draw Vegeta away. Keep Nappa busy until Goku gets here!"
Before anyone could argue, he took off, streaking across the sky.
"Rudra, wait—!" Yamcha shouted, but Vegeta immediately roared and gave chase, his rage propelling him like a missile.
That left Nappa.
The brute snarled, his fists glowing with deadly Ki. "Fine. While Vegeta gets his revenge, I'll turn you insects into ash!"
He hurled massive blasts at Piccolo, Krillin, and Yamcha, forcing them onto the defensive. The ground exploded in waves, shockwaves sending them sprawling.
"Damn it—he's relentless!" Krillin shouted, barely dodging a blast.
Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll end this now!" He gathered his energy, his body glowing as he prepared his ultimate technique. "Special Beam Cannon!!"
The spiral beam ripped through the sky toward Nappa. But Nappa smirked, sidestepping with surprising agility.
"Too slow, Namekian!" He countered instantly, firing a brutal blast straight at Piccolo.
But before it could hit—
"MASENKO F**K —HYAHHH!!" Gohan, revitalized by a Senzu Bean, burst forward from behind. His aura flared golden-white, his speed shocking. He aimed a ferocious strike at Nappa's blind spot.
Nappa's eyes widened. He twisted violently, barely dodging. But the intent was clear—had he not moved, Gohan's strike might have ended him.
Nappa stumbled back, his pride wounded. "That brat again?! Impossible!"
His face twisted into humiliation. A child… forcing HIM to dodge? The shame was unbearable.
"YOU DAMN BRAT!!" Nappa roared, unleashing a monstrous wave of Ki directly at Gohan.
Gohan froze. His energy was spent from that strike—there was no time to dodge. The light swallowed his vision.
"GOHAN!!! DODGE!!" Piccolo screamed.
And then—
BOOM!
The blast never reached him. Instead, a familiar figure stood tall in front of Gohan, his orange gi fluttering in the wind, his aura calm but burning with immense power.
"Dad…?" Gohan whispered, trembling.
Goku lowered his hand, having effortlessly deflected the attack. He looked back at his son with a reassuring smile, gently placing a hand on his head.
"Don't worry, Gohan." His voice was steady, warm. "I'm here now."
Gohan's eyes filled with tears of relief. He threw his arms around Goku, sobbing into his chest. "Dad… where were you?! I-I thought we were all going to die!"
Goku hugged him briefly, then looked forward, his expression hardening as his gaze locked onto Nappa. His aura flared, shaking the air.
"Sorry I'm late," he said quietly. "But this fight ends here."
The battlefield shifted. For the first time, the Z Fighters felt the tide turning.
Goku had arrived.