Goku and Piccolo flew towards Raditz's calmy, all while the rest of the z fighters watched them closely. They hadn't said many words to each other or the rest of the fighters since leaving the time chamber. Bulma and Chi-Chi had noticed something odd about Goku as well, he seemed more confident, a seriousness hiding under his goofy demeanour. Bulma could guess that it was because while for them it had been just under a day, for Goku it had been months thinking about the safety of Gohan and Trunks, she could only guess how that had affected him.
"We're here," Piccolo announced and Goku just replied with a smile "yea ... remember Piccolo, let's give him a chance, and if he doesn't come quietly, you can take care of him ... Kame told me all the people he took out while we were training ... he has to pay for that." Piccolo had reluctantly agreed to give the opportunity to Raditz to surrender, he had been adamant about killing the man and after months of arguing about it, the two had finally settled on fighting over what would be the result ... a fight that Piccolo hated to admit, that he lost.
"But remember our deal, I go first and you don't interfere," Goku reluctantly nodded at that, "just try not to kill him," at that Piccolo let out a laugh "Hahahahaha, that would be too kind for him."
They arrived at what looked like a crater and could already see him in the distance and by the way he was staring in their direction, he knew they were there too. Goku raised his hand in a fist as the other z fighters slowed to a halt. After thinking on it for a while, he had decided it was best everyone beside him and Piccolo stayed back, especially with how carelessly his supposed brother had been about life on his massacres. Bulma, Chi-Chi and the other z fighters settled on a mountain overlooking the crater but some distance away as Goku had instructed. Chi-Chi had been adamant about wanting to be there so they could get their sons and get out, but Bulma had simply pointed out that if something bad happened to her while the kids were watching, just how bad that would be, that had quickly settled her fight, but she still felt angry that she couldn't do more, they both couldn't do anything but watch.
Goku and Piccolo landed as Raditz looked over at them with a scowl on his face, "Kakarot ... you took a whole day to come face me after running away with your tail between your legs." "And you brought the green pet with you, hmmm, but from what I have been observing, you didn't complete your mission." "At one point I even considered killing off your little spawn" A ki blast flew at Raditz and he easily battered it away. "Careful brother, I almost thought you grew a spine for a moment."
Piccolo could see that this would get heated soon between the two and he wouldn't get the chance to seek his revenge. "Enough of your family drama, you ..." he said pointing at Raditz as he started to throw off his weighted clothing, "last time, you hit me in the back of the head like a coward," he threw his cape down last as he stretched his neck. "What I really want to see, is if you're nothing but talk, and then kill you afterwards," he maintained his glare at Raditz even as he could feel one coming from Goku at him.
"So you will let your little pet Namekian fight for you first" Raditz said with a scowl, "seems as if you don't take me seriously brother." His scouter watched the Namekian closely, Kakarot had gone off to do something after all, and he wasn't about to let his little brother get one over him.
"Don't blink" Piccolo said as he stretched getting into a fighting stance, "you just might miss it."
Within a moment Raditz felt the unmistakable pain of a knee in his gut and before he could recover a foot on the side of his head as he was sent flying some distance away, skipping on the ground like a pebble before creating a large ditch in the ground. He had been distracted and arrogant to let his guard down, but how could he have known the Namekian could move this fast, they weren't that strong and his power level was just a footnote. But as his scouter scanned around at the target again his jaw nearly dropped as he saw the massive rise in power.
That scouter had to be broken, as before him, the namekian now stood with a power level of 1200, the scouter hadn't read that the first time he had encountered him. His eyes searched the battlefield as they landed on Goku, making sure that his scouter could see them all but it only registered a meagre power level, and by the way his brother was standing back, he suspected that he was the same, somehow hiding their power level. 1200 to 1500 was too close for comfort in his eyes as he started immediately powering up, he had thought to taunt his brother for a while but with this, he couldn't risk himself, one of the last Saiyans falling here.
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME YOU FILTHY NAMEKIAN!" the burst of anger and power did manage to raise Goku's and everyone's brows as it rose, "careful Piccolo, he's still ahead of you." The Namekian ignored him, after the training he had been through this fool would be nothing. Raditz looked at him face a mask of rage before charging and Piccolo responded in kind as the two came clashing together causing an outburst of power. While Piccolo fought with Skill and control, Raditz fought with rage and experience. Whatever Piccolo seemed to come up with to counter his defences, Raditz always seemed to learn it quickly and adapt.
The fight that had started with the two somewhat level soon started to turn, as Piccolo who had been able to land a few blows against Raditz at the beginning was now being slowly pushed back, as Raditz started getting past his defences, not with Skill and graces as Goku would, but pure barbaric strength that burst through his defences slowly but surely till he felt a punch connect with his gut, punching the air out of his lungs. Before a quick ki blast was emitted from the same hand sending him crashing towards the ground.
Raditz hovered above breathing heavily as his body was painted with bruises and blood, but very much still intact, but Piccolo looked the worse for wear. After having cornered Raditz for some time, the man had simply adapted and powered through their battle, now he was debating whether it was time to use the move he had been practising to kill Goku. He was hoping to only have to use it when he was backed into a corner and Goku had already seen it during their training. He rubbed the blood and dirt from his face, his eyes never leaving Raditz. Even though he was losing right now, the frustration laced with a hint of fear on Raditz's face was more than enough to raise his spirits.
"EY PICCOLO, NEED ME TO STEP IN?" Goku shouted over worriedly having seen how the battled was slowly but surely starting to turn. "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!" he shouted back as he started focusing energy into his finger. Months of training with Goku had helped him hone the special beam canon so much so that he no longer needed as much prep time as before. He readied his stance and saw Raditz ready himself, especially with that bothersome tail that had gotten in his way more than once.
They charged at each other again, before clashing in a loud blow that was even heard by the z fighters in the distance. "Oh my god, is Piccolo Okay?" Krillin asked as he along with the others were watching the fight on some monitors from drones that Bulma had sent so that they could watch the fight closely. Even though they could sense it, watching it was just amazing, and Goku hadn't even shown what he was like right now as they saw him just watching the battle. The z fighters had been especially curious because he hadn't given them even a glimpse at his power, but with the confidence he stood with they knew it had to be something great.
Goku had relaxed slightly when he arrived as he had felt the ki of Gohan and Trunks, and they were okay, that was enough to soothe the anger that had been building up in him for months, well, for now at least. He wanted to go get the boys but he didn't want the chance of Raditz doing something to them before he had a chance to save them.
Trunks and Gohan had been awoken by the first rumble that had shaken the area during Piccolo and Raditz's first clash. The boys held each other trying their best to hold back their tears but failing as they could hear the thundering clashes outside.
Piccolo managed to dodge Raditz's blow and landed a kick to the side of his face sending him flying away, and before he recovered his senses, he saw it before he heard it "SPECIAL BEAM CANON!" "PICCOLO NOOO!" Goku shouted but Raditz responded in kind "I'LL CRUSH YOU!" he fired back his own beam as the two clashed. The area around the fight was tinted yellow and purple as the two kept pushing their powers higher and higher. Till an explosion came blasting everything away with so much power that Goku even had to steady himself to keep from being blown away and the z fighters could feel it from this distance.
The battleground was covered in a layer of dust and rumble, but the z fighters couldn't see anything ... till slowly emerging from the smoke stood Piccolo.
He was gasping for air, but what shocked the fighters more and made them take a step back in caution was that the right side of his arm and parts of his torso were now missing as purplish blood was oozing out. But he didn't seem bothered by it, as his focus remained in front of him till the dust started to move and from it emerged Raditz now marked with more bruises and some of his armour now missing. He was breathing heavily as he clutched his arm as he stood to his full height.
Raditz smiled at the look of disbelief on the Namekian's face, "SURPRISED YOU OVER GROWN PET ... TRY AS YOU MIGHT, YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT A SAIYAN!" And with that statement, he quickly readied another blast and Piccolo could only look in surprise as he knew he couldn't move out of the way fast enough.
Piccolo felt himself kicked out of the way as he barely got out of the way of the blast crashing some distance away before an explosion sounded in the distance. He looked up and before him stood Goku, his face serious as he stared down at his supposed brother. The other z fighters let out a sigh of relief after Goku had finally stepped in, they had been shocked when Piccolo emerged from the smoke worse for wear, as he was one of their strongest fighters, and losing him would have been leading them down a deadly path.
From inside the pod, the two boys could see their dad standing on one side and their uncle on the other side. Their uncle had that scary smile he wore when he had taken them from their dad. They had waited for their dad to come save them and when the night came and he still hadn't come, their supposed uncle had taunted them about it and when he picked on Gohan, Trunks had made a vail attempt to protect his brother which Raditz had quickly put to an end to.
But now as they looked out the pods in wonder and some fear, their dad facing their bad uncle after having seen him kick Mister Piccolo out of the way, their hearts eased slightly.
Because no one was stronger than their dad.
"COME ON RADITZ ... I'M YOUR OPPONENT NOW!"