All three of them landed in front of Raditz with a soft thud.
"How did you know where to find me?" Raditz asked, casually tossing a fruit in his hand.
"That's none of your business," Goku replied flatly.
"Huh. Fair enough. Then let me try a different question—what exactly do you three fools think you're doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Goku said. "I came to take my son back."
Raditz chuckled. "Let me get this straight. You're one of the last living Saiyans, and you're refusing to join your own kind?"
"Yeah. That's exactly what I mean!" Goku shouted.
Raditz sneered. "You're actually going against your older brother?"
"Like I said before—you're no brother of mine."
"Kakarot," Raditz growled, his tone darkening, "I always thought you had a little more sense than this."
"That's enough. I'm not interested in your little family squabble," Piccolo interrupted as he tossed aside his cape and turban. Raditz's scouter beeped.
Raditz's scouter blinked. 'His power level just spiked... 408?'
"I see you've been wearing training weights too, huh, Piccolo?" Goku said, cracking his neck as he removed his weighted clothes.
'Now Kakarot's all the way up to 416...'
Goku turned toward Alex. "Hey, don't tell me you're still wearing those weighted clothes I gave you?"
"Well, yeah. I don't have many options, you know. Still better than the turtle shell," Alex replied as he peeled off his weighted shirt and let his armbands crash to the ground with a dull thud.
'His power level just shot up to 420...'
Alex stepped forward. "Shall we begin?"
Raditz tossed the fruit aside, laughing. "You think that little boost is enough to beat me? You fools really came here with those pitiful levels thinking you stand a chance?"
He folded his arms. "I'll just have to put all three of you in your place."
"Go ahead and try," Goku said. "Just because you're stronger doesn't mean we can't win."
"We've got strategy," he added.
"Then we'll see how long your strategy keeps you alive." Raditz's aura flared violently. "I've changed my mind about my offer, brother. You'd just slow us down."
"YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO ALL SAIYANS! SAY GOODBYE!" Raditz shouted, bursting forward.
He elbowed Goku and Piccolo, then spun around and kicked Alex in the back. All three were knocked back, but quickly regrouped and turned to face Raditz again.
"In your final moments, let me share a little secret," Raditz said, laughing. "The other two Saiyans I mentioned? They're both stronger than me."
Goku and Piccolo were stunned. Alex, however, remained calm.
"Now it's too late. You finally understand what it means to face a Saiyan. I warned you, Kakarot, but you refused to listen. And you'll pay for that."
"Even if we don't beat you," Goku said, "there are still two more Saiyans out there, right?"
"So what?" Piccolo added. "I find that... exciting."
"Exciting's not exactly the word I'd use," Alex muttered.
"To be honest... I'm terrified," Goku admitted.
"I don't blame you," Raditz sneered. "But enjoy the feeling. Soon, you'll feel nothing at all."
"I've had enough!" Goku yelled. "Where's my son? Where are you hiding him?"
"I haven't hidden him. He was crying too much, so I shut him up. He's in my spacepod—right behind you."
Goku flew up and spotted the pod. Inside, Gohan was crying.
"Hang on, Gohan! Daddy's gonna get you out real soon, I promise!"
Raditz laughed. "Don't get the boy's hopes up. That's a promise you can't keep. You'd have to get through me first—and that's not going to happen."
"Fine," Goku growled, landing again. "Let's do this."
"Good," Piccolo said, cracking his neck. "I'm tired of talking."
The three rushed Raditz, launching a coordinated assault. But Raditz easily dodged and blocked their blows. Goku and Piccolo attacked from behind while Alex charged from the front.
Raditz kicked both Goku and Piccolo away and dodged Alex's strike, countering with a punch. Alex crossed his arms to block and skidded back from the impact.
Goku and Piccolo came at him again, but Raditz avoided them and shot into the sky.
The trio gave chase. Raditz suddenly launched two massive energy blasts at Piccolo and Goku. They dodged while Alex closed in.
Raditz slammed him with an axe-handle strike, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Where did he go?" Goku asked, landing.
"Right behind you."
Raditz appeared and kicked Goku hard, sending him tumbling.
"You alright, Piccolo?" Goku called, only to see him clutching his bleeding shoulder—his left arm gone.
"Don't worry. I only need one arm to deal with him," Piccolo said coldly.
Alex staggered to his feet. "Hey—I'm fine too, thanks for asking."
Raditz laughed. "You're even more pathetic than I thought."
"Either of you got a trick left up your sleeve?" Piccolo asked.
"Wish I did," Goku said. "Got nothing."
"I've got something," Alex offered, "but it's not really an attack—more like a distraction. If you've got something strong, I can buy you time."
"Perfect," Piccolo said. "I've spent the last few months perfecting a new technique."
Raditz scoffed. "What's with the whispering? Planning some brilliant new strategy? Spare me. Just give up already."
"Can you do the attack with one arm?" Goku whispered.
"Yeah. I just need a few minutes to charge up. Can you buy me that time?"
"Got it," Goku said.
"I was planning to use it to kill you," Piccolo muttered.
"Deal," Goku smirked. "After we win, I'll let you take your best shot."
With that, he and Alex charged again. They attacked Raditz in unison, while Piccolo focused on charging his technique. Despite their combined effort, Raditz maintained the upper hand, effortlessly dodging each strike and countering with brutal punches and kicks.
A powerful kick from Raditz launched Goku to the side. Goku landed, with a push jumped up in the air, and began charging his energy.
"Kame... Hame...!"
Meanwhile, Alex kept Raditz busy with a barrage of punches and kicks. But Raditz blocked them all with casual ease—his knees, elbows, and even a backhand deflected every strike. One solid punch to the side of Alex's face sent him crashing into the ground.
"HAA!" Goku shouted, firing the Kamehameha. Raditz flew upward to dodge it—but the beam suddenly curved, skimming the ground before arcing toward him.
Caught off guard, Raditz tried to escape, but couldn't outrun it. He stopped midair and blocked the blast with one arm. As the beam faded, steam rose from his burned hand.
"Neat trick," Raditz said, voice sharp. "Now let's see how you handle this."
He retaliated with his own energy blast. Goku was struck midair and crashed hard into the earth. Raditz charged him and grabbed his collar, about to deliver a finishing blow—when he sensed something.
He turned. Piccolo stood with one hand raised, glowing with condensed power.
"Power level: 1330?" Raditz muttered, wide-eyed. "He's focusing all his energy into his fingertips... they've been hiding their true power levels... They can control them at will!"
"Take this, Saiyan! Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo roared, firing the spiral beam straight at him. The energy drilled through the landscape, erupting in a mountain-shattering explosion.
As the smoke cleared, Raditz emerged with a burned shoulder, but still standing.
"He... he dodged it," Piccolo muttered in disbelief.
"Congratulations," Raditz growled. "You managed to scratch me. For that, you'll suffer."
He raised one hand and formed a crackling ball of energy above him.
"Now—say goodbye!"
Just as he prepared to launch it, he froze. Goku had grabbed his tail from behind.
"Heh... you let your guard down. Piccolo, now's your chance! Charge your attack again!" Goku shouted.
"Well done, Goku," Piccolo said, his voice steady. "Hold him there—I've only got enough energy for one more shot."
"Kakarot... would you really kill your own brother?" Raditz began to plead. "Your own flesh and blood?"
"Shut up," Goku snapped. "We've already been through this. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a brother. You tried to kill me—and my friends."
Raditz's tone shifted, desperate. "Yes, yes—you're right! I've seen the error of my ways! Let me go, and I'll leave your son in peace!"
"Don't listen to him, Goku!" Piccolo warned. "He's lying. He'll never leave quietly."
Raditz's voice turned softer, more sincere. "Do you really mean that?" Goku asked, hesitating.
"No, Goku! It's a trick!" Piccolo shouted.
But it was too late. Goku loosened his grip—and Raditz struck. With a savage elbow, he knocked Goku away and stood over him, grinning.
"You fool. In all my travels, I've never met anyone as stupid as you!"
Raditz began stomping on Goku's chest.
"This is what happens to weaklings who show mercy in battle!"
He turned back to Piccolo. "Well? What are you waiting for? Let's see your precious little attack again."
"I can't," Piccolo growled. "He'll just dodge it again."
Suddenly, the spacepod burst open. A small figure landed at the edge of the crater—Gohan, his face full of fury.
"Run away, Gohan!" Goku shouted.
"His power level... it's 1307!?" Raditz stared in disbelief.
Gohan's aura flared red. "You stop hurting my DADDY!!"
With a primal scream, Gohan launched forward, headbutting Raditz in the gut with such force that his armor shattered. Raditz collapsed, gasping in pain.
Gohan ran to Goku's side, but Raditz recovered and struck Gohan, sending him flying.
"No! Stop—he's just a—!" Goku began, but Raditz cut him off.
"Just a child? Don't make me laugh. That child's power... it's greater than either of yours. If he ever learns to control it, he'll become a threat."
Raditz chuckled coldly. "But don't worry, brother. You'll see your son again—in the next world."
He stepped toward Gohan—but Alex landed in front of the boy, blocking Raditz's path.
"You?" Raditz scoffed. "You think you're going to stop me?"
Alex didn't flinch. "We'll see about that."
His muscles swelled, body expanding as he powered up—his frame bulking up like Master Roshi's during the World Tournament.