Episode 29

Dangerous Power

"So who shall face me first? Any volunteers?" asked Nappa with a sly smile.

The Z-warriors took a long stare at the brute, ominous Saiyan standing in front of them, showing off his muscular strength. Seeing how Raditz was already struggling in overcoming Nappa, and considering this young Saiyan was stronger than any of the Z-fighters, imagine if they soon faced this atrocious warrior.

Yamcha finally spoke, cutting the stressing silence. "If only Goku was here, he'll know what to do, but for now, I guess we'll have to handle this problem ourselves for a short while."

"This time," Tien began, "we need to work together. I guess teamwork is the only strategy that'll increase our chances of winning."

"Yes," Piccolo agreed. "Don't let your guard down."

Krillin only gulped hard.

Nappa gave them one more chance of who will volunteer to fight him first or else he will have to choose on his own.

Raditz finally stood up on his two feet. He took a glimpse at his father for a moment. Vegeta had temporarily brought him down, resulting to Bardock groaning in pain, his body fidgeting from the aftereffects of the Saiyan Prince's overwhelming power.

"I can't believe it! I-I'm still not strong enough. What's wrong with me?" Bardock was at disbelief. All the intense training he did, was it all for nothing?

Vegeta then captured Nappa's attention and told him something of significance. "Make sure you don't kill the Namekian yet. We still need to persuade him where the seven DragonBalls are. I know I already said we could locate them with our scouters, but let's just see if he'll ever say anything to save us some time."

"Gotcha, Vegeta," Nappa obeyed him. "So I can't kill the Namekian yet, but I can kill the rest of them."

The Z-warriors stood in fretfulness. They were about to face their next predicament, but they were unsure if they could handle it.

Nappa thought he had given his new set of opponents enough time to come to a decision. Since no one gave him an answer, he would just have to choose for himself. "Let's see how good you all are. I hate to be disappointed!" he readied in his stance. His powerfully built body structure and destructive power that he brandished frightened the Z-fighters more, especially Gohan.

"He's-he's too scary!" exclaimed Gohan fretfully.

"Aww, don't worry, kid," Nappa said sarcastically. "Perhaps I'll fight you last after I kill your friends."

Gohan was so scared that he was trembling so much.

Piccolo turned to his student. "Don't let him intimidate you. Remember your mission, Gohan."

"All right, here I come!" Nappa was about to make his first move until Raditz abruptly interrupted him. "Hey!" he shouted.

"What?" Nappa turned around. He watched as he stood from the ground and as he did so, he chose to infuriate him again beyond measure. "Hey, Raditz, isn't it rude to interrupt me like that? I was about to have fun with your other friends first. Now stay still, you weakling."

Raditz was insulted, but he remembered what his father said about needing to restrain his anger. "Look, leave my friends and nephew alone."

"Nephew?" Nappa turned around and looked at Gohan again. He assumed he was Raditz's nephew since they shared some similar resemblance especially the hair.

"I'm not done with you yet, Nappa," Raditz bit his lip and his hands were curled into fists. "I still have some fight left in me. I will not be scorned at simply because you think I'm lowly."

Nappa only gave a raucous laugh. "I've never heard you talk like that, Raditz. I guess the softness of this planet has really gotten into your head."

Raditz's temper was slowly heating up like a volcano about to explode and spew its lava out.

Krillin observed his furious expression written all over his face. "I could feel his anger rising. Because of that, his power level's also rising!"

"I know, Krillin," Yamcha sensed his energy level. "Sometimes, I could never understand these Saiyans."

After Nappa ridiculed Raditz one more time, he suddenly snapped. He could not handle the intense anger that uncontrollably wanted to detonate within him anymore; the anger that wanted to prove he was a renewed Saiyan just like his father told him. He exploded and bellowed. "SHU-SHUT UP!"

Raditz suddenly disappeared out of sight. Nappa was shocked and tried to look for him, but all of a sudden, Raditz appeared without rhyme or reason, gave his best battle yell, and then brought an unbelievable roundhouse kick to his neck.

"AUGH!" Nappa groaned in pain. Sweat plopped on the ground. His pupils grew wide to realize how painful that assault was for a second. Soon, it quickly frustrated him. Did his power just increased, perhaps also exceeded his?

Vegeta was alarmed after seeing this. If he had his scouter now, it was possible that Raditz's power level may have gone up once more, but this was only momentary though. A tad bit of power-up will make no difference.

"Turn around!" Bardock caught his enemy's attention to resume battle with him.

When Vegeta turned quickly, a flawless elbow strike hit his face and he was pushed back a few inches. The Saiyan Prince briefly grasped the thought that Bardock's power had somehow gone up, too, or maybe he was only too sidetracked.

Raditz was about to perform a flying kick, but Nappa foresaw his intention and countered with a powerful blast from his hands while smirking maliciously. Raditz was hit and he was carried away with the wind. He recuperated his steadiness though and tried to overcome the pain.

Nappa touched his neck and felt a large bruise. "Not bad, Raditz; that hurt a little, but did you remember what I said? I'm not at my full power yet."

Raditz growled, knowing he was nowhere close still in defeating him.

At Kame House, Bulma said, "Sir Bardock and Raditz are really giving all they can. I really hope they'll be able to take care of this, at least until Goku arrives."

"Hmm," Master Roshi put his crutch beneath his chin. "I sense that there's going to be a lot of trouble in this next fight," he referred to the Z-fighters' next challenger, Nappa.

Puar gulped hard. "Oh no, what will happen?"

"I don't even wanna think about it," Oolong was feeling anxious.

Chi-Chi was holding her hands, still biting her lip; her expression all troubled and worried. "Oh, my baby Gohan. Bardock and Raditz better make sure they protect my son. Rrrgh, where's Goku?"

The Z-fighters were a bit fearful. They could already predict that their next foe will be challenging to face up to.

"I couldn't believe it," Krillin trembled. "Even though Raditz's already at full power, it's still no use. What are we getting ourselves into? This is too much!"

As for Vegeta, his conflict with Bardock was slowly becoming wearisome, yet slightly dicey because it seemed like his energy level was increasing every time, sometimes without Vegeta's knowledge, after taking pauses and resuming battles. Nonetheless, this incident made perfect sense because Saiyans always grew stronger in every fight and visibly, Bardock was one of those full-blooded Saiyans who never refused a good challenge or who never ran away from a fight.

However, the pain that was given to Vegeta straight at his face exasperated him so and for that reason, he projected that fury by releasing a fiery, homing energy ball. Bardock bit his lip as he attempted to flee from it or lead the blast someplace else where it can explode at an unmoving object. Instead, he stopped and turned his entire body to evade the energy ball, but one way or another, he miscalculated a small inch that the blazing blast barely, but was able to, touched his right cheek. Vegeta's energy attack finally faded as it soared more into the skies. Then, a stream of blood ran down on Bardock's right cheek.

"Darn it. He's really good," Bardock grunted.

Gohan noticed that his courageous grandfather was in trouble. "Grandpa Bardock…"

But Nappa blocked the young warrior's path. "You're not going anywhere, kid. Sooner or later, you're gonna get killed along with the rest of them here. Now!"

Nappa clenched his fists and powered up. Electrifying lights surrounded him. Everybody was surprised and could almost feel his potential rising up to its very limits. Raditz, at the other hand, was trembling. He could not say a word.

Suddenly, Yamcha gave his companions the signal. "GO!"

"Huh?" both Nappa and Raditz said.

Yamcha including Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Piccolo charged towards Nappa. Each were about to give him with an attack of his own, but as soon the attacks were released with vigor and force, Nappa dodged their moves like they were nothing. He then took wing under the shining sun.

"We gotta keep him cornered!" Yamcha told his fellow teammates.

All five of them followed Nappa. Before Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Piccolo even touched him, the ruthless Nappa quickly released a vibrating shockwave that pushed them back. As they were blown away, Nappa gave them each a pulverizing attack to their weak spots and all five crashed on the ground at full force.

"Bwah, hah, hah!" Nappa laughed gratingly. "Come on, is that all? I was hoping I'd get more fun than this."

Tien checked on his friend, Chiaotzu, if he was all right.

"I'm fine, Tien," Chiaotzu struggled to speak.

"I think you should just stay back. Let Yamcha, Piccolo, Krillin, and I handle this one," Tien suggested.

"No," Chiaotzu refused to stay in the sidelines. "Just like I said, I'm sticking with you, Tien, no matter what happens."

"Chiaotzu…," he softly said his name with great concern.

Piccolo held his aching neck. "He's way too strong!" the Namekian then suddenly looked at Bardock whose energy was quickly draining due to Vegeta's severe, painful attacks. If only Vegeta was not here in the first place, Bardock would had taken care of Nappa no sweat and the Earth would had been saved already, yet would it be unfair for the Z-fighters to just stand and not do anything after all the rigorous training they did to prove that Earth's Special Forces was never to be underestimated. This certain battle was a test of might and honor, but at the same time, a grave, cold fate was awaiting Earth and perhaps the only one who could possibly save Earth and its inhabitants right now was Bardock…but definitely Goku, if he makes it in time.

No matter what Piccolo's thoughts and hopes were, this was the now and that now was, he and his allies will need to face Nappa, their deadliest challenge ever yet, and Bardock will need to find a way to turn the tables on Vegeta and be able to defeat the Prince of all Saiyans who stood the most dominating and powerful than any of them; their final test that if the Z-warriors did not succeed, everything will be destroyed.

At Kame House, everyone was instantly getting worried.

"What the heck was that?" Oolong questioned Nappa's indescribable power. "He's not even fazed!"

"He's like invincible!" Turtle cried.

Puar put his hands over his face. "Oh no!"

Master Roshi felt sweat coming from his head. "This is not good at all. Not even Raditz can stop him, and Bardock's too busy dealing with the other Saiyan who also appears a lot stronger than him."

Bulma heaved a heavy, troubled sigh.

Back at the battlefield, Nappa was ready to resume the battle again. "Okay then," he moved his head from side to side. "It's time for me to choose which fighter will die first. Hmm…how about you?" he fixated his eyes on Yamcha.

"What the?" Yamcha exclaimed.

He flew to him at maximum speed; his gloating figure grew larger every second that it froze Yamcha with fear. He was about to brawl at him until he did not realize he had forgotten about one warrior who will not stop at anything until he was beaten.

"Get away from them! RARGH!" Raditz came to the rescue after recovering from his brief injuries. Without any mercy from his heart, he strikingly punched Nappa to his cheek bones. It was a direct hit and Nappa was sent to the ground with dust floating everywhere. Raditz did not halt there, however. He went ahead and gave a bone-crushing knee strike to his abdomen; similar to what he did to Goku when he was pure evil before.

Then, Raditz went all-out in power by mercilessly punching Nappa on his gut many times. Every blow he gave, his anger built more and more especially when quickly recalling memories from his past, when he was a teenager, after he heard news about the complete obliteration of the Saiyans' home planet. Ever since Raditz started working directly for Frieza, Nappa and Vegeta, they sometimes treated him like he was nothing more than a speck of dust in the air; unnoticed and unrecognized because he was only seen as a Saiyan whose power level was the weakest of all, who was thought he should had been sent to another planet instead filled with weaklings and be in good terms with them instead of being alongside with two companions who came from royalty with fighting powers way above the scale that even some of Frieza's men feared the two. Raditz was occasionally the center of the gossip about how pathetic he was that he could not or barely handle a Saiyan elite's dangerous missions to other planets filled with inhabitants possessing remarkable fighting powers, yet Raditz, for many years, tolerated all of that nonsense and continued to serve Frieza with great allegiance, obeying his every command as he underwent missions with Vegeta and Nappa. It did no matter if these missions were as easy as squishing a petite fly buzzing in the kitchen or as hard as, as if your life was at stake and all the pressure was on you to save the world or else everything would shatter if one mistake was committed or surrender was bowed down to, Raditz undertook assignments that no low-class could had done or had never escaped from them alive.

The only two good parts that were taken out from this intolerable treatment and hazardous missions were that every harsh criticism was given to him, he was always motivated to make himself stronger, to become a new Saiyan no one should undervalue, and whenever he fought in battles, his passion for fighting always grew, which kept him quite satisfied with his gradual, growing power especially in times of solitude.

But now, after the lies that Frieza said about the Saiyans' home planet destruction that it was actually him, that mindless and greedy overlord who destroyed their abode holding great reputation, which the Saiyans held dear to them because their planet was fully-respected by many other alien races out there, after all the things Raditz had done for Nappa and Vegeta just to prove he was a worthy companion, he felt he was deeply betrayed for no rhyme or reason. It was the work of evil of Frieza that had influenced his heart to remain a killer Saiyan to a point when he killed even his own younger brother. It was when he served Nappa and Vegeta many years that now forced the Z-warriors to do deadly battle with them the moment he decided to become good at heart. Raditz felt this was his entire fault. All this feeling of madness and guilt, it was driving him insane.

After the mere distraction from his thoughts, he did not realize that his punches were quickly turning out to be ineffective on Nappa. He found him smirking. Finally, Nappa grabbed one of his arms, forcing Raditz to immediately stop.

"You know, Raditz, one thing bad about you is that you truly disappoint me! HYAH!" Nappa returned the favor and gave him a painful and wrenching punch on Raditz's gut. It felt like all of the thousand punches that Raditz befell upon Nappa were given back to him with one, single punch that held a thousand times more pain.

Gohan felt his stomach twist. That was his uncle being injured there, yet the young boy still had not done anything to contribute to this life-and-death battle; however, all of his vision was primarily set on Raditz now. "Uncle Raditz! Hold on!" he ran to him to save him.

"Kid, watch out!" Piccolo warned his student.

Nappa heard the young voice. "Huh? Aah, your little nephew has finally decided to fight, too? I'm not sure if he's being matured or ignorant, but I guess I can decide on that."

"Hyah!" Gohan, in no time, did a straight punch, but Nappa only grabbed his little arm. Gohan's confidence instantly reduced down to zero. He found fear striking him again.

"Hey, why you're shaking? You're supposed to be enjoying all of this fighting since you're a Saiyan. HMPH!" Nappa greeted him with a knee strike to his stomach and, with his fists clasped together, did a heavy strike on Gohan's back.

"Augh!" Gohan never felt so much pain before in his life. Strangely enough, he did not cry rather he was feeling a little…

Chi-Chi was shaking Baba's crystal ball again. "AAH! My Gohan is hurt! This can't be happening to him!"

Ox-King was once again trying to make his daughter be fully composed. "Don't worry too much, Chi-Chi. He'll be fine, I'm sure!"

"Gohan, be careful!" Yamcha persisted to get up, but the sensation of pain trying to mess with the function of his arms and legs was not a good sign. "Darn it. Not good at all. What kind of enemies are we dealing with? I feel like they're invincible."

Raditz stood up once more, but his legs already giving out from over-fatigue and too much internal injuries. He held his right arm and because of his persistence to eliminate Nappa, he was prepared to resume battle with him again.

"Get away from him, Nappa!" Raditz shouted, trying to protect Gohan. He drew his fist back and moved it forward, sending an intimidating punch to Nappa's cheek, forcing blood to come out from his mouth. This result though especially after seeing the blood only added more to Nappa's temper.

"Why, you low-class fool! HYAH!" to return the favor again, he gave twice as much damage to Raditz's face, sending him down to the ground of defeat again. This time, Nappa teleported behind him and grabbed his tail.

"What?" Raditz turned his head in alertness.

"I'm well aware that you've been doing some training while I'm away, but did you even bother training this weakness of yours?" Nappa laughed as he suddenly squeezed his tail. In no time, he constricted it so hard that Raditz started to cry out in pain.

"Hah, hah! I knew it!" Nappa guffawed. "You're still nothing but a low-class warrior. You haven't even surpassed this weakness. That's too bad, isn't it?"

While Raditz continued to scream in pain, he struggled to open an eye to notice his father was still engaging with Vegeta in a one-on-one battle. Unfortunately, Bardock was rapidly tiring out. His face was clearly making every effort in hopes of causing more damage to the Saiyan Prince. Alas, his efforts were ill-fated as Vegeta still carried a huge amount of energy left for long periods of time as if he was a machine with unlimited power.

"Get back here, scum!" Vegeta mercilessly gave him a grueling punch, but Bardock barely escaped his attack. Vegeta though made him feel that his evasion skills were useless by surprising him with almost an invincible, strong kick to his neck, flinging him across their battle area. Bardock bit his lip and breathed hard. Vegeta walked behind him, his image as a regal, conceited Saiyan overlooked him, making Bardock seemed like he was nothing.

"Looks like you're getting tired," Vegeta examined his tired face.

Bardock tried to catch his breath still. When he strained to pull his arms up, they only twitched, making him lose balance.

"You're still a low-class Saiyan warrior indeed no matter how many times you try, you'll never be able to succeed," Vegeta told him with pride and dignity, thinking he was the best.

"I have to defeat him somehow," Bardock said to himself.

Suddenly, Vegeta grabbed his tail that was wrapped around his waist and he squeezed it real hard.

Bardock's eyes widened and shouted in agony; he felt he could faint. "Augh! Ugh!"

Vegeta chuckled. "Heh, heh, I was right; a low-class warrior indeed. Your powers are great, but you haven't come close to overcome this pathetic weakness. Hah, hah, hah!"

The Saiyan Prince squeezed his tail tighter, which resulted to Bardock having more pain. Raditz saw this and thought he was in danger…or perhaps both he and his father knew something that either Nappa or Vegeta did not. Bardock, while maintaining that upset expression, quickly glanced at his son. All of a sudden, he winked at him. Raditz grinned slightly and winked back.

Both father and son then put their heads half-way down. They suddenly fell silent. Nappa and Vegeta thought their rivals had passed out.

"Hah! Now you see, fellas?" Nappa stared at the Z-fighters who were still recovering slowly from their injuries. "Not even Raditz can save you now."

Everyone thought Raditz had finally lost to Nappa.

"Oh no, Raditz," Krillin worriedly said.

"Now, it's time to end this," Nappa said, lifting up his left arm, readying to obliterate his former comrade.

At the other hand, Bardock was about to meet his same fate.

The Z-warriors' friends at Kame House thought that this was the end for their friends out there, and the Z-fighters thought they had all completely lost, thinking their needed victory had left them.

Gohan's tears were coming back from his eyes. "Grandpa Bardock! Uncle Raditz! NO!" he cried and begged, hoping his voice might help them awaken.

But an abrupt disruption suddenly occurred that immediately wiped the smirks from Nappa's and Vegeta's face.

Bardock suddenly opened his eyes. "You think I fall for that?"

Vegeta had a perplexed face. "What?"

"Pathetic!" Bardock countered with a surprising punch to that prideful face of his, propelling him towards the skies. He reclaimed his stability and stayed in the air for a while and was angry for the moment. "You fool…!" Vegeta scowled.

Bardock fixed his bandanna for a brief while and then readied in his fighting stance. He had lost count of the number of rounds he and Vegeta had fought in, but one thing for sure, he needed to somehow triumph over the Saiyan elite with haste because even though his eyes had not been watching Raditz, Gohan, and the Z-warriors fighting Nappa, visions passing in his head were a reminder to him that his son, his grandson, and his fellow allies needed his help.

Nappa saw what just happened. "What the heck? How did that-huh?" he put his attention back to Raditz who, like his own father, suddenly woke up from his "pretend slumber." He blasted him with a ki blast directly at his face, making him fall on his back.

"What the?" Tien had no idea what happened.

Yamcha placed his hands on his hips and laughed a little. "Well, that was quite entertaining."

"Phew. He's okay," Krillin wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Uncle, Grandpa! They're both okay!" Gohan was very thankful.

Everyone at Kame House was relieved as well.

There was dust floating everywhere especially around Nappa's face as if he had been burying his head in sand. Nappa's hands were going into spasm, and he was coughing excessively. He finally situated himself while not having too much damage inflicted on him except for his mustache.

"You jerk! What was that?" Nappa questioned furiously.

"Just a small present from me," Raditz quickly fixed his battle gloves. "Your mustache's lookin' pretty good, by the way," he commented sarcastically.

"Huh?" Nappa briefly touched his upper lip and felt vacant marks. "Aah! My face! What have you done to my face, you crazy fool? It took me a while to grow this mustache!"

"Hey, you should be thanking me. Your face looks a lot better than before. I guess we just discovered a new way to shave your mustache faster without the need for a shaving blade and cream. Hah, hah!" Raditz gave out a humorous laugh.

"Rrrgh!" Nappa could feel his head boiling mad. "I won't be humiliated like this. Prepare yourself, Raditz."

"Heh," Raditz only awarded him with a grin.

What was in the past was all in the past now, Raditz suddenly thought. Like his father just told him, he was a reborn-Saiyan and that only meant he was free from the ill-treatment that he once lived through, released from the inner torment that he endured for so many years; it was time for him to shine powerfully.

"Stop smiling. It's time to get serious!" Nappa suddenly powered-up again. This time, the ground beneath him shook and crumbled as if there was a light quake. The pebbles and rocks were ascending into the air as if they can fly. A spark of aura ignited and engulfed Nappa.

Raditz's grin slowly faded. "He's powering up again, but I won't let you."

He bravely chose to do battle with him once more, give this next attempt a chance for it may be successful. He discontinued Nappa's power charge by giving him a surprising punch to his chest. The aura that engulfed Nappa disappeared without a trace. Raditz did not stop there as he continued by delivering a turning sidekick to his stomach, several more fists of fury in the company of deserved pain implanted on his abdomen, and finally, he ended his combo rush with a palm strike, its force field pushing him away.

"Yeah, you got him, Raditz!" Krillin cheered.

"He's strong," Piccolo was amazed. "No wonder I always have a hard time surpassing Goku. Saiyans are unpredictable," he said while gazing at the cerulean skies passing by inevitably above him.

The ache hurt at that time since Nappa was caught distracted, but the rage just burned more. He quickly had that notion that he was getting beaten by a low-class, which he will never accept to happen. Without the talk of cursed words but the growl that was seething through his teeth, Nappa lifted his right arm with his middle and index finger together.

Raditz backed off one step as he was being cautious about what he could possibly do. "What is he-"

"Rrrgh! You'll pay! Rrrgh!" Nappa's fingers sparked up. The ground below him and the Z-fighters began to illuminate. The battlegrounds started to shake more and more. These signs only spelled trouble.

"What's he doing?" Yamcha asked, feeling panicky.

"I have no idea," Tien said. "Is he getting desperate or-"

"This next move…all of you will die!" if Nappa had gathered enough power to ready this attack and activated it to wake an explosion of destructive energy beneath his opponents, the Z-warriors would had already been finished. Instead of this happening though, Nappa suddenly felt he could not move at all like a magic spell being casted on him.

"I-I can't move. What is this? Who's-," Nappa then became aware of a small and pale, yet strong-at-heart child in front of him. Chiaotzu was using his psychic abilities to freeze him from any action he planned to do, but due to Nappa's overpowering diligence that, no doubt, can break Chiaotzu's barrier of telekinesis in a frightful snap, the young child was speedily losing his ability to cease Nappa from his desires of attacking his friends.

"Guys, hit him as hard as you can! I can't hold him for much longer!" Chiaotzu quickly said, struggling with all his might.

"What are you doing, Chiaotzu? Be careful!" warned Raditz as he was worried about him.

"Hold him for as long as you can, Chiaotzu. You can do it! HYAH!" Tien went for the initiative and awarded Nappa with an astounding kick to his neck along with a high kick to his chin. Nappa was brought up to the skies. He was even more infuriated to know that Chiaotzu's psychic spell was not broken yet.

"Darn it! I still can't move!" Nappa angrily screamed.

"My turn!" Yamcha went ahead to make his move. He gave a hard-knuckled strike to his head, sending him down to the rocky grounds. As their enemy landed greatly on his two feet, his knee caps felt they were about to snap, Yamcha gave three consecutive punches on his stomach and then an outstanding elbow strike to his face, almost breaking his head.

Next fighter was Krillin. "This one's for Goku! KYAH!" putting a great amount of energy in his right foot, he presented a sturdy kick to his chest, almost breaking his ribs. He then went for an exploding uppercut to his chin and finally, a straight, driving punch to his chest once again, sliding him to Piccolo.

While Nappa was still being put under Chiaotzu's binding spell, Piccolo pulled his brawny arms back. With a loud yell, Piccolo gave a sidekick to his backside, followed up with a knee strike with his left foot and then ended his attack chain with a back-flip that sent him propelling towards Gohan.

"Gohan, now's your chance! Hit him!" Piccolo commanded.

It was the perfect time to inflict more damage on Nappa in hopes of finally weakening the Saiyan. It was the perfect opportunity for Gohan to finally show his friends and family that he was a warrior who can now battle without fear, without feelings of restraint because what mattered now was saving the entire world and bringing back peace.

Alas, this was the complete opposite of what Gohan had in mind. Instead, his heart was beating of terrified adrenaline in his veins, spreading the fear's virus as it controlled his young, fragile body.

"Gohan, what are you doing?" Piccolo shouted. "Attack him now!"

Chiaotzu endeavored to hold on, but when Nappa's eyes fully opened like he just woke up from a terrible nightmare, Chiaotzu quickly lost his ability to keep him under his spell.

"I-c-can't make it-AAH!" the friend of Tien felt a sharp prick in his head, forcing him to put an end to his psychic powers for the agonizing pain had painfully overtaken the child's body.

"Oh no, Chiaotzu!" yelled Tien.

Nappa, straight away, felt his body had been liberated. It was his chance now to take the boy's innocent life. Nappa gave a roaring yell, which frightened the young boy to his feet. Gohan could not do anything but cover his entire body, hoping Nappa would just disappear and leave him, his friends and family alone, but wish-making alone was not going to save him though.

"Gohan, get out of there!" Bulma and her friends cried as they were seeing all of this.

"Gohan!" Chi-Chi felt she could cry and faint at the same time.

"Gohan, no!" Raditz, after all the assault that he and the Z-fighters accomplished, they were still not successful in waning Nappa's brute defense. Raditz tried to make it in time to save his nephew from utter destruction, but someone came to the rescue first since he was the closest to his nephew.

"HYAH!" Tien used an incredible amount of energy to get to Gohan fast and shield him from the unbearable pain that no kid deserved to feel especially if he was the son of a father who was renowned as the strongest fighter on Earth and was great friends with the good fighters who were currently defending the Earth from Nappa and Vegeta. Nappa gave his giant fist a go and instead of striking Gohan, it hit Tien's right arm. Nappa's brief power-up a while ago increased his potential, making the pain twice as strong; the ache vibrated Tien's entire limb and made it lose its capacity to feel anything. As a result of this prevailing, consuming attack, it dreadfully sliced off Tien's victimized arm.

Gohan's eyes fully widened; his pupils were shaking. At that moment, he had to close them for this incident was just too much to witness.

"Tien!" Krillin exclaimed with great concern.

Piccolo and Yamcha could not say a word, but their eyes were struck with fear. This horrifying experience simply shocked everybody, particularly Raditz.

"Why is he-" Raditz stuttered between words. This was not the same Nappa he used to know. His powers right now were way beyond than he could have ever imagined!

For the Z-warriors, just witnessing the immense powers of the Saiyans instantly darkened the atmosphere and almost shut out the hope that were being carried inside their hearts. For their friends, they all were shutting their eyes from this horrifying experience. They were deeply worried about them, wondering what will happen to the Z-fighters. What will become of Earth now?

"Even Raditz and Bardock are not powerful enough to save their friends," Master Roshi was holding his walking stick tighter. "Goku…is our last hope."

Bardock and Vegeta were locked in a struggling battle, persisting to overcome each other, but a vision passed through Bardock's head again; a frightful apparition concerning about Tien and Chiaotzu. Bardock turned his head and tried to call to them, saying he will come there to help him. He spoke even louder after seeing Tien's cut right arm.

"Haven't I told you before?" Vegeta suddenly interrupted him. "You will not help them. You have to go through me first if you want to save your friends' pitiful, worthless lives! RARGH!" the Prince of all Saiyans gave a heavy, grueling head-butt on Bardock's head, forcing blood to spurt from his forehead.

"AUGH!" Bardock cried in pain.

"TIEN!" Chiaotzu yelled at the top of his lungs. His friendship and loyalty to Tien was so great, Chiaotzu decided to attack Nappa head-on without question.

Tien was gasping for air. He felt he could faint from all of this pain he was enduring, but despite of such an appalling occurrence in which he became a victim to, that he was the first to take great, suffering pains after the sacrifice he made just to protect Gohan, he continued to stay strong.

"Chiaotzu, please! Get away!" Tien yelled, holding his cut right arm.

Nappa heatedly locked his eyes on the small child. "You little imbecile! I won't be humiliated especially if it's coming from just a small twit like you!"

Chiaotzu ignored his threats and decided to go thoroughgoing against this merciless Saiyan. His speedy punches and kicks tried to hit his armored body, but none of his attacks were going through. Nappa was evading his attacks like nothing, but since he was too hot-headed, one of Chiaotzu's offensive jabs hit him on his cheek. Nappa snarled and instantly gave a head-butt on the boy's head, almost shattering his skull like breaking a window glass. Chiaotzu almost blacked out. His body suddenly lost all of its functions. Instead, he was falling from the sky, helplessly, vulnerable to any more attacks.

"Chiaotzu!" Tien used the remaining of his strength left to grab his friend close to him with his only left arm.

Chiaotzu opened an eye and tried to speak. "Ti-Tien?"

"It's all right, Chiaotzu," Tien felt deeply troubled about his friend's overall well-being.

Nappa scoffed. "Aww, what a touching moment, but make sure you say your last words to each other because you will both die right now!"

And so, the merciless, cruel Saiyan warrior was prepared to exterminate his first two victims with one of his most powerful techniques called "Kapa" or "Break Cannon." He opened his mouth and clearly, a beam started to form from the inside of his throat.

Chiaotzu was able to become conscious again.

"Chiaotzu, I want you to go now. You need to leave. It's too dangerous for you!" Tien insisted.

"No, I'm sticking with you, Tien," Chiaotzu refused. "I promise that I'll never leave your side. I don't want to leave simply because I need to run for my life. I want to save the people here on Earth. I want to protect our friends. I want to protect you. All of this is worth dying for."

Tien was being pressured as they were only seconds away from whether or not their fates will be decided, but his friend's moving speech almost mesmerized him; inspired him somehow. Chiaotzu and Tien had been through a lot ever since they started training together to become warriors of light and peace. In this long journey up until now, they learned a lot of aspects of life as well as the many ways of the world, righteous sacrifices, and friendships.

At that point, their sense of friendship grew stronger that no other pair of friends could possibly have. Tien and Chiaotzu decided to work together this time. If this will help their allies win this one fierce battle, then it was worth dying for.

"Chiaotzu, I promise that I'll never leave your side, too. We're in this together. Let's do it!" Tien looked at him with a proud smile.

"Right!" Chiaotzu looked at him with a smile, too.

"Now you're gonna get it!" Nappa was about to fire a bright blue beam of exploding energy that could disintegrate anything that was in its way.

It was that pinnacle moment that Tien and Chiaotzu used up everything their bodies could handle, increasing their fatigue to its highest and draining both of their life forces to almost none in order to boost their strengths of their powers to the maximum level possible. Piccolo, Krillin, and Yamcha sensed their depleting spirits, but the three were speechless at the moment. They could not possibly interfere with the noble decision that both Tien and Chiaotzu had made. Their decision was something of righteousness that could not be broken or shattered because it was the right course of action to take especially right now, the Z-fighters were desperate to win that they would do anything that they could do to achieve what they needed to achieve.

Gohan abruptly felt a tight, upsetting feeling in his stomach. Tien and Chiaotzu were about to risk their lives just to save the ones they cared, and the young boy was feeling worthless, almost accountable of his cowardly actions from running away from his first fight because he allowed only fear take over his heart.

Tien and Chiaotzu gathered an enormous quantity of vigor and power into their hands. Their bodies were surrounded with their own auras and those auras were slowly combining into one, resonating with each other in perfect harmony.

"Tien…Chiaotzu…," Krillin whispered.

Tien's and Chiaotzu's hands began to blink in white, luminous energy. Their readied attacks were all set to take down Nappa's ultimate finisher.

Raditz stepped closer and yelled at the two. "You need to get out of there! There's no way you can survive Nappa's blast!"

However, the Z-warriors will never know until they tried. Even if Piccolo, Krillin, or Yamcha were to step in, interfere or support, they might meet their ends sooner than they expected because of Nappa's power.

"This is for everyone!" Tien and Chiaotzu shouted to boost their morale.

"RARGH!" Nappa finally released his massive energy cannon from his mouth, packed with so much intensity and the capability to wreak damage to its surroundings in just a second. If this were to hit any being made of flesh and blood, it will certainly turn him or her into space dusts.

"HAAH!" Tien's one surviving hand and Chiaotzu's small hands were shining brilliantly of golden lights. This unknown, learned attack can be simply called an alliance's joint effort to defeat Nappa once and for all. The golden energy beams from their hands then merged into one and were released with great nobility and sacrifice.

The joint energy attacks from Tien and Chiaotzu's teamwork and the ultimate finisher of Nappa were intensifying in bright colors, the rays from them dispersing throughout the skies and grounds. They struggled to overcome each other.

"HYAAH!" Tien and Chiaotzu had nothing in their minds but the great endeavor that was needed to make. The promise that they both made that they will be with each other no matter was what kept their hearts strong. The decision to protect family and friends, it was for the greater good.