I knew it from the beginning.
None of us—on our own—could defeat Vegeta.
Not Krillin.
Not Piccolo.
Not even Raditz.
Raditz had the blood of a Saiyan, yes, but he lacked real battlefield experience. He had never been forced to grow under pressure the way Goku had. Strength alone wasn't enough.
And Nappa…
Nappa had never been allowed to think for himself.
Vegeta had always done the thinking for both of them.
That was his greatest weakness.
The battle between Raditz and Vegeta had already pushed both of them close to their limits. I could see it in Raditz's movements—his breathing was growing uneven. His mechanical heart was nearing cooldown.
That was my cue.
Before Raditz's time limit expired, I launched myself forward.
Like a missile.
I shot toward Vegeta, my fist pulled back.
"—Hah!"
My right punch sliced through the air.
Vegeta twisted his body and avoided it by inches.
I followed immediately with a spinning kick.
He blocked it with his forearm, sparks of ki scattering on impact.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue. "Your power level… It feels close to mine."
I smirked.
"Is that important to you?" I asked.
He scowled. "Of course it is! I am an elite-class Saiyan! A prince! Your strength makes no sense!"
Before I could reply, Raditz spoke.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"A prince of what, Vegeta?"
Vegeta froze.
Raditz continued.
"A prince who could count his subjects on one hand."
"A prince with no throne."
"No kingdom."
"No army."
"And right now… not even a single Saiyan standing beside him."
Silence fell.
For half a second, Vegeta's focus wavered.
That was all I needed.
I leapt backward, creating distance.
Vegeta rushed after me.
And stepped right into my trap.
Boom.
A gravity bomb activated.
The space around him suddenly dropped to negative gravity.
"—What?!"
His body lurched forward uncontrollably.
Before he could stabilize—
Boom.
Another bomb.
This time, fifteen times Earth's gravity slammed down on him.
Vegeta crashed into the ground.
The battlefield was mine.
Every meter.
Every angle.
Every blind spot.
I had planted the bombs in advance.
With the Oracle module, I could activate them at will.
He forced himself up and charged again, muscles screaming in protest.
"Damn you…!"
He swung a powerful kick at my head.
I ducked.
And slapped a capsule onto his leg.
"—What?!"
Click.
The capsule expanded instantly.
A gravity amplifier boot.
His right leg suddenly became ten times heavier than the rest of his body.
He stumbled.
Now.
I drove both fists into his back.
"Haah!"
He flew forward, crashing through rock and dirt.
Smoke filled the air.
Then—
"GALICK GUN!"
A purple beam roared toward me.
I raised my arms.
The armor absorbed it.
Energy surged into my reserves.
Vegeta stared.
"…You're irritating."
I smiled.
"You're not wrong."
He clenched his fists.
"I didn't think you were this dangerous," he growled. "Even if all your strength is borrowed from machines."
"Maybe," I replied. "But I care more about winning than where my strength comes from."
He sneered.
"Hmph. No pride as a warrior?"
I tilted my head.
"Who said I was a warrior?"
He paused.
"I'm an engineer," I continued. "I solve problems. I don't play fair."
For once…
Vegeta had no immediate answer.
He knew.
Ki blasts were useless.
Close combat was a nightmare.
Every step was a gamble.
Every movement drained him.
This wasn't a duel.
It was a war of attrition.
And I was winning.
Hold him.
Slow him.
Drain him.
That was my mission.
I didn't need to defeat Vegeta.
I just had to make sure Goku wouldn't have to fight him at full strength.
As I dodged another furious attack, I clenched my fists.
Come on, Goku…
Hurry.