The battlefield rumbled as Raditz stepped forward, his boots grinding into the broken stone. His wild mane of hair swayed in the breeze, his eyes locked on Zarbon's monstrous form. Behind him, Nappa lay battered and bloodied, but his pride burned bright—his comrade had taken over.
Zarbon sneered, green aura flickering around his hulking body.
"You dare interfere, Raditz? You—the weakest of all Saiyans? I'll enjoy tearing you apart even more than that fool Nappa."
Raditz cracked his neck and clenched his fists, his aura erupting into a blazing storm of golden sparks mixed with raw white ki.
"Weakest? That's what you always called me. That's what Vegeta called me. That's what even my own brother thought. But today…" His voice deepened, shaking with determination.
"…today I fight not as the weakest, but as a Saiyan warrior."
---
The First Exchange
With a roar, Raditz launched forward. His fist slammed into Zarbon's face before the commander could react, snapping his head back.
Zarbon staggered, growling. "Tch!" He countered with a sweeping kick, but Raditz leapt over it, twisting midair and hammering his boot into Zarbon's shoulder. The impact cracked bone, sending Zarbon crashing into a mountainside.
The earth trembled from the shock.
Vegeta raised a brow, impressed despite himself.
"Hmph… maybe the runt has some fight in him after all."
Nappa, groaning on the ground, smirked faintly.
"Heh… about damn time, Raditz."
Frieza, however, only chuckled coldly.
"Oh? How amusing. The weakest monkey grows a spine. I wonder how long it will last before he's crushed."
--
The rubble exploded as Zarbon burst free, his monstrous face twisted with fury.
"You'll regret that, Saiyan!"
He powered up, his aura flaring violently, and charged. His massive claws slashed through the air, cutting craters into the ground. Raditz dodged swiftly, weaving through the strikes, countering with sharp jabs to Zarbon's ribs and stomach.
Each blow landed true, making Zarbon stumble.
"What's the matter?" Raditz taunted, his voice stronger with every strike.
"Not used to fighting someone who doesn't cower before you?"
Zarbon snarled and smashed his forehead into Raditz's skull. The Saiyan reeled back, blood dripping down his face. Zarbon seized the moment, driving a brutal knee into Raditz's chest. The impact sent him skidding across the battlefield, coughing blood.
"Hahaha! So much for your big words, Raditz! You'll always be trash beneath me!"
---
Raditz's Resolve
Raditz wiped the blood from his mouth and stood tall again, his aura burning hotter. His chest heaved, but his eyes gleamed with something new—resolve.
"No… not this time. I've lived my whole life running from who I am. I've let others step on me, belittle me… even my own brother looked at me with pity. But now… I fight for my own pride. I fight for the Saiyan race!"
The ground cracked beneath his feet as his ki skyrocketed. Rocks levitated around him, his aura blazing like a storm.
Goku's eyes widened.
"That energy… it's completely different. He's pushing himself beyond his limits!"
Vegeta smirked, arms folded.
"Hmph. Looks like the clown finally found his backbone."
Even Frieza leaned forward slightly, curiosity flickering in his crimson eyes.
"Oh? Perhaps this might not be as dull as I thought."
---
Raditz roared and vanished, reappearing directly in front of Zarbon. His knee crashed into Zarbon's gut, knocking the wind from him. Before Zarbon could recover, Raditz unleashed a flurry of punches, each one faster and harder than before.
Zarbon's monstrous body reeled under the barrage, his face bloodied, his armor shattered.
"This… this is impossible!" Zarbon gasped, stumbling.
Raditz grabbed him by the hair, yanking his head down before smashing a brutal elbow into his skull. The ground quaked as Zarbon collapsed, groaning in pain.
Raditz towered over him, his aura blazing.
"You humiliated me for years. You made me believe I was worthless. But today, I prove you wrong."
---
Zarbon roared in fury, his aura exploding. With a last burst of strength, he fired a massive emerald energy blast straight at Raditz.
The explosion lit up the entire battlefield, smoke and dust billowing into the sky.
Goku shielded his eyes. "Raditz!"
Vegeta narrowed his gaze. Did he fall for it…?
As the smoke cleared, a figure emerged—Raditz, aura blazing stronger than ever, holding the massive energy ball above his head with one hand.
Zarbon's eyes widened in horror.
"N-No… it can't be!"
Raditz roared, hurling the energy sphere straight back at him. The blast engulfed Zarbon, detonating with a thunderous boom that shook the heavens.
When the smoke cleared, Zarbon collapsed onto his knees, his monstrous form fading, blood pouring from his wounds.
Raditz stood tall, panting, his chest heaving.
"It's over, Zarbon."
--
Zarbon tried to stand, but his legs gave out. His voice cracked with desperation.
"Lord… Frieza… help me!"
Frieza leaned back in his chair, smirking coldly.
"Pathetic. You've embarrassed me enough. You're of no further use."
Raditz clenched his fist, his aura spiking one final time.
"No one's coming to save you. This ends now!"
With a roar, Raditz charged his ki, energy swirling around his hand like a storm.
"DOUBLE SUNDAY!"
He unleashed the attack point-blank. The twin beams of crimson energy tore through Zarbon, disintegrating his body in a blinding flash.
When the light faded, nothing remained but ashes drifting on the wind.
Raditz lowered his hands, gasping for air, but a fierce pride burned in his eyes. For the first time in his life, he had stood tall.
---
Nappa chuckled weakly from the ground.
"Heh… you did it, Raditz. You finally showed them…"
Raditz glanced back, helping his comrade up.
"No… we did it. You fought with everything you had. I just finished what you started."
Vegeta's smirk widened.
"Impressive. Perhaps you're not as worthless as I thought."
Goku smiled warmly.
"Raditz… you really have changed. I can see it. You're not the same man who came to Earth before."
Raditz turned his gaze toward Frieza, his aura still flaring.
"You're next."
Frieza chuckled, his red eyes gleaming with malice.
"Oh my… the monkey finally bares his fangs. Delightful. But don't get ahead of yourself, Raditz. You've only slain one servant. Now, you'll see what true despair looks like."
The battlefield grew heavy with killing intent as Frieza slowly rose from his throne.
---