The difference in their power levels was only about a thousand.
At this stage, that gap was significant—but not insurmountable.
Nappa was stronger.
But he wasn't faster.
And he certainly wasn't more precise.
There were reasons for that.
First, he had always underestimated anyone weaker than himself.
Second, brute force had been his solution to almost every problem. If something resisted him, he simply hit harder. If that failed, he could always rely on his Ōzaru form.
Not that Nappa lacked intelligence.
He just rarely used it.
Serving under Vegeta had trained him to obey, not to think. Orders were absolute. Questions were weaknesses. Survival meant usefulness.
In a way…
I pitied him.
Letting go of that mindset would mean erasing his entire identity.
And he wasn't ready for that.
The Early Exchange
At first, the fight went exactly as I expected.
Nappa landed several solid hits.
A punch to Raditz's ribs.
A heavy elbow.
A sweeping kick.
"Ha! Is that all you've got?!" Nappa roared.
Raditz staggered—but didn't fall.
Then, slowly, things began to change.
He started dodging.
Not perfectly.
Not effortlessly.
But just enough.
A step to the left.
A slight twist of his shoulder.
A raised forearm.
Each movement came a fraction of a second before impact.
The Oracle module was feeding him possibilities.
But Raditz was learning how to choose between them.
So… he's adapting, I thought.
The module showed multiple outcomes.
But instinct decided which one mattered.
And Raditz's Saiyan instincts were finally awakening.
Shifting Momentum
Minutes passed.
Nappa's attacks became more desperate.
Raditz began landing counters.
A sharp jab.
A quick kick to the thigh.
A short-range ki burst.
Nothing devastating.
But enough.
Enough to frustrate.
Enough to humiliate.
It looked almost like a dance now.
Nappa charged.
Raditz slipped past.
Nappa swung.
Raditz deflected.
Vegeta's impatience was obvious.
"Tch… useless," he muttered.
Nappa heard it.
Of course he did.
Fear crept into his movements.
If he failed…
If he disappointed Vegeta…
He knew what happened to "failures."
Saibamen.
Raditz.
Anyone deemed unworthy.
Battle Phase: 25%
Before Vegeta could intervene—
Raditz spoke.
"Battle Phase. Twenty-five percent."
Everyone froze.
"What…?" Yamcha whispered.
Vegeta's eyes widened.
"What?! His power—!"
The scouter on his face beeped violently.
"Six thousand?!"
Vegeta snarled.
"So you were hiding it after all!"
I clenched my fists.
No… this wasn't supposed to happen yet.
The plan was changing.
Vegeta Intervenes
In an instant, Vegeta vanished.
"Behind—!" Krillin shouted.
Too late.
Vegeta appeared behind Nappa.
"Pathetic."
His fist drove straight into Nappa's back.
Crack.
A sickening sound echoed.
Nappa's body folded.
"A—agh…!"
Vegeta ripped his arm free and hurled him aside.
Then he raised his hand.
"Die."
A massive ki blast formed.
I reacted without thinking.
"Barrier—deploy!"
My armor activated instantly.
A translucent shield formed in front of Nappa.
BOOM!
The blast slammed into it.
Energy surged.
My reserves spiked.
Absorbed… good.
But my heart was racing.
That had been too close.
Change of Plans
"Change of plans," I said quietly into the communicator.
Raditz glanced at me.
I nodded.
"Go all out."
He inhaled.
"Battle Phase. One hundred percent."
His aura exploded.
The scouters screamed.
Tien gasped.
"His power… it skyrocketed!"
Vegeta's smile widened.
"Now this is interesting."
Raditz vs. Vegeta
The air trembled as they clashed.
Fist against fist.
Kick against block.
Shockwaves ripped through the ground.
Raditz was stronger now.
Faster.
Sharper.
But Vegeta…
Vegeta was something else.
He adapted instantly.
Changed angles.
Changed rhythm.
Changed strategy.
"Tch… you're using that woman's tricks," Vegeta laughed.
"But I can change too!"
I clenched my jaw.
"He's right… Raditz," I murmured.
"Don't follow the Oracle blindly. Use it as guidance, not orders."
Raditz's eyes sharpened.
"…Got it."
The fight stabilized.
Neither side gaining ground.
A stalemate.
For now.
Nappa's Fall
Behind me, Nappa lay motionless.
His eyes were wide.
Empty.
Broken.
Not just physically.
Emotionally.
This was his worst nightmare.
Being discarded.
I knelt beside him.
"…I'm sorry."
He didn't respond.
I injected anesthesia.
Activated the medical pod.
His body was sealed inside and teleported back to my lab.
At least… he would live.
No one noticed.
Everyone was focused on the real battle.
Holding the Line
Raditz was on borrowed time.
His Battle Phase had limits.
I checked the timer.
Not much longer…
When it ended, I would have to take his place.
I couldn't beat Vegeta.
I knew that.
But I didn't need to.
I only needed to stall.
Only needed to weaken him.
Only needed to buy time.
"Hold on, Raditz," I whispered.
"Just a little longer."
"Goku… hurry."