Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, or any other recognized franchise shown in this story.

Preface: This story won't be taken as seriously as some of my other stories. Frankly, I'm tired of 'semi-realistic' characters. I'm a QQ writer, and I haven't yet written smut, a disgrace on my end, I'm aware.

From there, the Waifu Catalogue comes in; a simple way to write a somewhat compelling stomp-fic and get to write some smut because, well... It's a Waifu Catalogue story. This is a power-fantasy.

Build: Starting World: Dragonball [Start of Saiyan Saga]

Starting Budget: 1545

You as Raditz (Substitute) of T7 (-100) [1445]

Bindings

Company Stamp (Free) [1445]

Empty Hand (-20) [1465]

Lures

Sticky Fingers (-5) [1460]

Faerie Feast (-10) [1450]

Zenryoku Zenkai - (-20) [1430]

Talents

Body Tune-Up (-5) [1425]

Martial (-10) [1415]

Everlasting (-10) [1405]

Communication (-10) [1395]

Soul (-10) [1385]

Covert (-10) [1375)

Inexhaustible (-140) [1235]

Defences

Body x2 -10 [1225]

Stress x2 -10 [1215]

Mind x2 -50 [1165]

Possession x2 -20 [1145]

Drain x2 -50 [1105]

Wild x2 -10 [1095]

Environmental x2 -50 [1045]

Defences Discounted for Retinue Members: 4 [1049]

Miscellaneous Perks

Universal Calibration (-10) [1039]

"Are you sure this is all you want to select?" The woman seated in front of me questioned, a frown etched on her face. "I strongly advise you not to be so arrogant, sir. Many experienced contractors have died in the past due to such overconfidence. I would personally recommend getting a companion-" Her voice trailed off as I took in her appearance. She had frizzy, bushy brown hair, brown eyes, and a mature face. She was indeed Hermione Granger, or at least a clone of her.

"Have I chosen anything that goes against any guidelines?" I interrupted, my voice tinged with impatience. "If there's something more I need to buy, I'll do so from the company device." My tone left no room for argument.

The woman gave me a terse nod, her hair seeming to become even frizzier in her visible annoyance. She pursed her lips, clearly holding back further comments, but her disapproval radiated from every pore.

"The Company wishes you the best of luck in your time as a Contractor," she said tersely. I simply nodded in response. Then, as the ordinary office around me began to fade, I closed my eyes and fell unconscious.

'Planet Earth looks beautiful from here,' I thought as I gazed at the planet I now rapidly approached. [Stress Defense (II)] worked diligently to help me fend off any nervousness I felt about meeting my brother. I was certain I wouldn't end up like the original did.

The Attack Pod crashed, its door opening with a hiss. As I stepped out, I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the fresh air filled my lungs. I gripped the edge of the pod for support as I emerged, taking in my surroundings. Suddenly, I burst into belly-deep laughter; a part of me had still thought everything had been an elaborate dream, but this— this was all real!

I started to float upwards as I left the crater. I saw the infamous farmer standing there, holding his shotgun and looking scared as I floated toward him.

"S-Stay back!" he yelled desperately, brandishing his gun with trembling hands. His eyes were wide with fear, sweat beading on his forehead. I didn't stop my approach, and in a moment of panic, he pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed across the field, but for me, it felt like time stood still. Everything around me froze – the farmer's terrified expression, the birds mid-flight in the sky, even the dust that shot up hung in the air. With inhuman reflexes, I caught the bullet between my thumb and forefinger, not even a graze on my hand. I examined it briefly, feeling its residual heat, before flicking it back towards him with pinpoint accuracy. The bullet struck his knee with a sickening crunch, and he toppled in pain, his scream piercing the air.

I let out a derisive snort at the pitiful state of the man. He knew how to use a gun and to shoot at other people, but couldn't handle the pain himself. Ignoring the man now sobbing and writhing on the ground, clutching his shattered knee, I activated the scouter attached to my face. The device beeped and whirred, displaying power levels and coordinates. Without a second glance at the fallen farmer, I took to the sky, my aura flaring around me as I quickly flew away from both Piccolo's and Goku's detected locations. The wind rushed past me, carrying the fading echoes of the farmer's cries.

I descended at a location far enough that neither of them should be able to sense me. My plan was simple: I would inform Vegeta and Nappa of the Dragon Balls on the planet as I feigned my last breaths. I wanted both of them to arrive on Earth so that I could deal with them personally. More importantly, I needed Vegeta to escape, allowing Frieza to learn of the Dragon Balls and make his way to Namek to ensure my meta-knowledge stayed relatively the same. That isn't to say I wanted everything to be similar to the canonical timeline— not at all. I am going to ensure that I capture every target. Perhaps I'll even take a couple of missions from the company device later on to spice things up a bit.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for what was to come. With a grimace, I punched myself in the stomach as hard as I could, the pain searing through my body. Simultaneously, I activated the scouter attached to my face, its mechanical whir a stark contrast to the quiet surroundings. With practised ease, I opened a direct line to Vegeta and Nappa, knowing full well the disdain I was about to face.

"What is it, Raditz?" came Vegeta's dismissive voice, dripping with contempt. I suppressed my simmering anger at the prince, reminding myself of the bigger picture.

"Vegeta... I am dying-" I started, my voice weak and strained, only to be interrupted by uproarious laughter that grated on my every nerve.

"Hahaha, I told you the useless low-class fool wouldn't even be able to do this alone," came Nappa's booming voice, as I gritted my teeth, my jaw clenching so hard I thought it might shatter.

"Listen for once in your life, you damn idiot," I spat out, my frustration barely contained. "This," I promptly punched myself again, the force causing me to cough up some blood, adding authenticity to my performance, "might be our key to defeating him." I paused, letting the gravity of my words sink in. "There are seven balls here, called the Dragon Balls. They can grant any wish," I said, now breathing raggedly, selling the illusion of my impending doom. "I... heard Kakarot talk about it. They took me off guard, damn it!" I yelled, injecting a mix of anger and desperation into my voice.

Nappa continued his mocking laughter, the sound grating on my ears like nails on a chalkboard. Suddenly, he fell silent, and I smirked for a moment as I could imagine Vegeta glaring at Nappa.

"At least you ended up telling us something useful for once," Vegeta's voice crackled through the scouter, a hint of intrigue breaking through his usual disdain. "Perhaps your death won't be entirely in vain," he added, and I could vividly imagine the furious smirk twisting his features.

Gritting my teeth, I channelled my genuine anger into my act. With a burst of energy, I charged up a ball of ki in my palm, its energy crackling and pulsing. In one fluid motion, I ripped the scouter from my face, the sudden disconnect leaving an eerie silence. I hurled both the scouter and the ki ball away from me, watching as they collided in mid-air. The resulting explosion lit up the sky, a fitting end to this charade.

As the echoes of the blast faded away, I stood alone in the aftermath, a smirk playing on my lips. The first move had been made, the pieces set in motion. Now, it was time for the real game to begin.

I took in a deep breath as I settled into a meditative position, feeling the rhythmic pulse of Ki coursing through my body, syncing with my heartbeat. I focused intently on this sensation, reaching out with my senses to perceive the Ki of my surroundings. Gradually, over the span of a few minutes, the life-force of everything around me began to reveal itself - the quiet hum of plants, the sturdy presence of trees, the life energy of wildlife.

My range was limited at first, but I knew it would expand. [Soul Talent] wasn't just for show, after all. It granted me an accelerated learning curve for all things esoteric - Ki, Chakra, Magic - and as a Saiyan, I already possessed an instinctive grasp of my Ki. Over the next ten minutes, I simply breathed, deep and steady, as I rapidly adapted to this new sense. My perception widened, stretching further and further with each passing moment.

The experience was oddly serene. Feeling the life essence of everything around me brought a sense of connection, of being part of something greater. But then, like a bolt of lightning cutting through calm skies, I sensed two formidable Ki signatures - formidable by this planet's standards, at least.

A grin spread across my face, feral and hungry. My bloodlust, previously dormant, surged to life. My aura flared around me, a manifestation of my growing excitement. Without a moment's hesitation, I took to the sky, my body cutting through the air as I flew towards the Namekian's energy signature.

I hovered over the cliff where he stood, my eyes roving over the Namekian - Piccolo. Having seen, fought, and killed hundreds of alien species, I found the Namekians to be relatively unremarkable. Their green skin and antennae were hardly the strangest features I had encountered in my missions. I didn't need to close my eyes to sense his Ki; with [Soul Talent, it was a simple task for me to sense his energy. He was suppressing it, that much was clear, but by how much? Nevertheless, I knew with absolute certainty that he was still laughably weaker than me.

"W-Who the hell are you?" Piccolo's voice wavered, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and confusion. A flicker of anger crossed his features before he schooled his expression into forced neutrality.

I couldn't resist the urge to prod at his ego. "You're quite weak," I commented, my tone dripping with casual disdain.

As expected, Piccolo bristled at the taunt. His face contorted into a snarl, pride and anger warring in his eyes. "Do you know who you're even talking to!?" he bellowed, his composure shattering like glass.

In a burst of misplaced bravado, Piccolo charged up a Ki attack. The energy crackled and pulsed in his hands before he hurled it at me with all his might. I couldn't help but laugh openly in his face, the sound echoing across the battlefield. With a careless flick of my wrist, I batted the attack away as if it were nothing more than an annoying insect.

Piccolo's eyes widened in disbelief, his body instinctively taking a step back. His muscles tensed, coiling like springs as he dropped into a combat stance.

I felt my Saiyan blood singing in my veins, the thrill of impending combat sending shivers of excitement down my spine. This Namekian might be weak compared to me, but he would serve as an excellent warm-up. As I settled into my own stance, a predatory grin spread across my face. It was time to show this planet exactly what a true warrior could do.

— Piccolo —

Piccolo eyed the enemy warily, his muscles tense with anticipation. In a blink, the stranger vanished. Piccolo's eyes widened in shock as a fist materialised in his gut, forcing purple blood from his mouth. The impact sent him flying, rage flaring in his eyes as he crashed into the ground. With a snarl, he leapt back into the air, fist cocked back for a counterattack.

The two of them clashed in a furious exchange, their fists blurring with speed. Piccolo's face contorted with effort, sweat beading on his green skin as he pushed himself to the limit. He launched a barrage of punches, each aimed with precision at vital points - solar plexus, throat, temple. But the stranger effortlessly weaved through them, his movements fluid and unhurried.

Gritting his teeth, Piccolo switched tactics. He fainted with a left hook, then dropped low for a sweeping kick. The stranger merely hopped over it, countering with a devastating elbow strike to Piccolo's back. Pain exploded along Piccolo's spine, nearly driving him to his knees.

Snarling in frustration, Piccolo discarded his weighted cape, the fabric hitting the ground with a resounding thud. He powered up to his maximum, his aura flaring brightly. Yet, even at full strength, the difference between them remained stark.

Piccolo unleashed a flurry of rapid-fire jabs, hoping to overwhelm his opponent with sheer speed. The stranger met each blow with his own, their fists colliding in mid-air with thunderous impacts. Every blocked punch sent shockwaves of pain up Piccolo's arms, while his opponent seemed utterly unfazed.

In a desperate gambit, Piccolo leapt forward, aiming to use his enemy as a springboard. He planted both feet on the stranger's chest, intending to kick off and gain some distance. To his dismay, the stranger didn't even budge. It was like kicking a mountain. The stranger's smirk grew wider at Piccolo's futile effort.

With some space between them, Piccolo hurriedly raised both hands above his head. His palms faced his target, one hand in front of the other, fingers splayed in opposite directions. Energy crackled between his palms, growing in intensity as he prepared to unleash his attack.

"MASENKO-HA!" Piccolo roared, thrusting his hands forward. A beam of brilliant yellow energy erupted from his palms, hurtling towards the stranger.

To Piccolo's utter disbelief, the stranger merely powered up, a smirk playing on his lips. With casual ease, he formed a simple Ki ball and launched it towards the oncoming Masenko. The two techniques collided in mid-air, resulting in a blinding flash of light and a thunderous explosion. When the dust settled, a sizable crater marked the point of impact.

Piccolo's jaw clenched in frustration as he saw the stranger standing there, completely unscathed. Not even a scratch marred his armour. The gulf in their power was becoming painfully clear, and Piccolo couldn't help but wonder what kind of monster he was facing.

A kick to his stomach forced more blood from Piccolo's mouth. As he doubled over in pain, his eyes caught sight of something unexpected - a tail, just like that man. Frustration and despair washed over him. 'Will I die here, like this? I'm sorry Father, I wasn't able to avenge you,' he thought, tears stinging at the corners of his eyes.

"Oh, stop crying me a river," the stranger said dismissively. Piccolo gritted his teeth so hard he thought his jaw might shatter. Every fibre of his being screamed to stand up, to attack, but pain radiated from every part of his body. His healing factor lay dormant, his stamina completely depleted.

"I don't plan to kill you," the stranger announced. Piccolo's eyes widened in surprise. Slowly, painfully, he lifted his head to look at his tormentor. The stranger's face was a mask of disdain, his fists clenched at his sides. 'To end up at the mercy of another," Piccolo thought, making him question the worth of all his training.

"This was just a warm-up for my brother," the stranger revealed casually. Piccolo's mind reeled at the implications.

"G-Goku's brother?" he croaked out. It made a twisted sort of sense - one freak of nature related to another.

"Is that what he goes by now?" the stranger mused, almost to himself. Before Piccolo could process this new information, another kick slammed into his stomach. His vision blurred, the world spinning around him as he collapsed to the ground, consciousness slipping away.

— Raditz —

It didn't take long for me to reach Master Roshi's island - a tiny speck of land with a modest beach and a single house. As I descended from the sky, I spotted Kakarot - or "Goku" as he preferred to be called now - standing outside, his eyes locked on me. A smirk played on my lips as I touched down on the sand.

"Who are you?" Kakarot called out, instinctively pushing a small boy behind him. I noticed two others - a blue-haired woman and an old man - Bulma Master Roshi take a step back. Only the bald midget stood his ground beside my brother.

"I am Raditz, so, you don't remember me, huh Kakarot?" I asked, my voice cold as steel. "Why haven't you done what was needed?" I have a plan, and I need to act the part.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about," he shouted back. Gods, he sounded like a complete imbecile.

Annoyance flared within me. "Did you hit your head as a child? Stop shouting, you damn moron," I snapped… even though I know he did hit his head as a child… maybe that's the reason behind his character regressions.

The bald one - Krillin - decided to intervene. "Hey, I think we've heard enough from you buddy," he said, stepping towards me despite Kakarot's warning look. "Look bud, you get out of here, or else I'll-"

I didn't let him finish. With a casual flick, I unfurled my tail and bitch-slapped him across the face. He went flying, crashing through the wall of the house with a satisfying thud.

I couldn't help but snicker, imagining a "Krillin Owned" counter appearing before me.

"You... gah!" Goku gritted his teeth, but his anger quickly turned to shock as his eyes fell on my tail as his eyes widened. The blue-haired woman - Bulma - looked particularly pale. My gaze lingered on her, drinking in her form as I licked my lips. While I wasn't a fan of dyed blue-hair, hers was natural and it looked the part, with her matured face and her figure she was quite the beauty and stealing her from Vegeta would be even more satisfying.

"Ah, so you recognize me now, don't you Kakarot?" I grinned, savouring their growing unease.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of confusion and frustration.

The old man - Roshi - chose that moment to pipe up, telling the tale about Kakarot hitting his head as a child. You'd think that as his friends they'd have slowly broken him the fact that he killed his Grandpa rather than keep him in ignorance.

I fixed my gaze on Kakarot, my voice dropping to a solemn tone. "You are not from this planet," I said, watching shock ripple across his features. "You come from Planet Vegeta, a world of warriors known as the Saiyans. You and I... we're brothers."

"You were sent on Planet Earth to destroy it. To kill every single inhabitant on this planet and use your Attack Pod to report back to Planet Vegeta," I finished as everyone around Kakarot gasped.

"Though shortly after our planet was destroyed by a 'meteor'," I said, putting heavy emphasis on the word 'meteor', my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, that's what is said, at least. The official story, you might say." I paused, letting the implication sink in. "Our race was not always killers, you know. We were combatants, yes, born and bred for battle - it's in our blood. But killers? No, not originally."

I paced back and forth, my tail swishing behind me in agitation. "See, soon after we were forcibly drafted into the Cold Empire, things... changed. We were forced to adapt, to become what they wanted us to be. Those that were kind-hearted, those who clung to our old ways? They were mocked, beaten, killed for not complying. It was adapt or die." I clenched my fists in 'anger'. "So we did what was asked. We revelled in it, because what other choice did we have? It was kill or be killed, destroy or be destroyed."

I turned back to face Kakarot, my eyes boring into his. "Counting you and me, there are only four Saiyans left in the entire universe," I stated flatly. It was a lie, of course— I knew of others. Tarble, Broly, Paragus... but there was no reason for me to know of them or acknowledge them and no reason to complicate things further. "Four survivors of a once-proud race, forced to scrounge at the bottom of the Frieza Force, to work under the very person that destroyed our planet, just as we always had."

— Goku —

Goku's mind was reeling, struggling to process the barrage of information. His entire world view was being turned upside down with each passing moment. First off, he learned that he had a brother - a concept so foreign it made his head spin. Then, the bombshell: he wasn't human. He, Son Goku, the boy who'd grown up in the mountains, who'd made friends and rivals across the world... wasn't even from this world.

He hadn't ever thought that he was different, not really. Sure, there was the tail, but he'd never dwelt on why no one else had one. He hadn't ever wondered about family beyond Grandpa Gohan. Gohan had been all the family he'd ever needed. But now... now he was learning that all of the connections he'd made, all the bonds he'd forged on this planet, weren't meant to be. He was sent here to destroy them all.

The very thought made Goku's stomach churn. He gritted his teeth, looking at his so-called 'brother' with a mixture of confusion and defiance. "I would never do that," he said, his voice low but firm. He stepped forward, every muscle in his body tensing, ready for a fight.

But then, something unexpected happened. His brother smiled. Not a smirk, not a sneer, but a genuine smile tinged with... was that sadness?

"You remind me of our mother," he said, his voice taking on a wistful tone that made Goku flinch. Mother. Another concept he'd never truly considered. "She was a cook, y'know. Constantly looked down on by the elites." His brother's eyes seemed to gaze into the past. "It wasn't that she couldn't fight, it was that she didn't want to harm anyone. A laughable thing back on Planet Vegeta."

Goku found himself hanging on every word, his stance relaxing despite himself. "I remember this one time," his brother continued, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice, "I was out playing when another kid sent me flying away because I didn't catch his ball. Little brat tried to beat me, but mother?" He snickered. "She spanked him right in front of everyone. Never seen a kid run so fast in my life."

Goku felt his muscles loosen. For a moment, just a moment, he allowed himself to hope. Maybe they wouldn't have to fight. Maybe...

But then, as quickly as it had come, the moment passed. His brother's face hardened, his eyes turning steely as he powered up. The sudden surge of energy made the air around them crackle. Goku instinctively dropped into his Turtle style stance, a confusing mix of excitement and worry filling him. The strength radiating from his brother was unlike anything he'd felt before.

"Unfortunately, this planet has to go, Kakarot," his brother said, his voice now cold and matter-of-fact. "If we don't report back to the empire, then they will come here. They will kill me, you, and every single one of your friends." He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "Even the weakest of them are five times stronger than me."

Goku felt his jaw slacken. Five times stronger than Raditz!? The very idea seemed impossible. But as he looked into his brother's eyes, he saw no deception there. Only cold, hard truth.

But Goku had never been one to back down from a challenge. He steeled himself, drawing on every ounce of determination he possessed. "It doesn't matter!" He yelled, his voice echoing across the island. "I'll die protecting this planet if I have to! I'll get strong enough!"

As the words left his mouth, Goku knew them to be true. This was his home, these were his people. And he would protect them, no matter the cost.

His brother's eyes hardened, boring into Goku's with an intensity that made him shiver. "Show me then," he said, his voice low and challenging. Goku was startled at his words, not expecting this response. "Show me that this planet hasn't broken your Saiyan Spirit," he continued as he began to float upwards, his aura flickering around him. "Show me that you stand a chance against them!" He yelled, powering up further, the very air seeming to vibrate with his energy.

Goku felt his own power rising to meet the challenge. He began to float as well, his muscles tensing as he prepared for battle. "Let's do it," he said with a clenched fist, determination etched into every line of his face.

"Kakarot…" his brother's voice suddenly cut through the tension, sounding strained. Goku noticed that he wasn't looking at him anymore. Following his gaze, Goku's eyes widened as he saw what had caught his brother's attention. Gohan was clutching Bulma's coat and pulling it, his young face filled with fear as he watched the confrontation unfold.

"You… have a child." His brother's voice was thick with disbelief, as if the very concept was foreign to him. Goku clenched his fists tighter, a fierce protectiveness surging through him. He would rather die than let anything happen to Gohan.

To Goku's surprise, his brother's demeanour shifted. "We won't fight here then," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Goku nodded, relieved that they wouldn't be endangering his friends and son.

Without another word, both of them took to the sky. They flew side-by-side, neither speaking as the landscape blurred beneath them. In barely a minute, they arrived at empty rocky plains, a fitting arena for their impending battle.

As they touched down, the air thick with tension, Goku couldn't help but wonder what this fight would mean - not just for him, but for the fate of the Earth and his friends, his family.

Goku and Raditz faced each other on the barren, rocky terrain. Goku's feet shifted, kicking up small pebbles as he settled into his fighting stance. His eyes never left Raditz, watching for any sign of movement.

Raditz made the first move. He darted forward, closing the distance in an instant. His right fist shot out, aimed straight for Goku's face. Goku leaned back, feeling the air brush past his nose as the punch missed by mere centimetres. He countered immediately, his left hand snapping up in an uppercut.

Raditz twisted his body, the uppercut glancing off his shoulder. He grabbed Goku's extended arm, pulling him off balance. Goku stumbled forward, but used the momentum to drive his knee towards Raditz's midsection. Raditz released his grip and jumped back, avoiding the strike.

They reset, circling each other. Goku's right fist lashed out in a quick jab. Raditz blocked it with his forearm. Goku followed with a left hook. Again, Raditz blocked. Goku didn't let up. Right cross. Left jab. Right hook. Each punch was met with a solid defence, but Goku noticed Raditz's blocks were stiff, almost mechanical.

Changing tactics, Goku dropped low, sweeping his leg out. Raditz's eyes widened in surprise. The kick connected with his ankles, and he toppled backwards. Goku pressed his advantage. He leapt forward, fist cocked back for a powerful blow.

But Raditz recovered quickly. He rolled to the side, Goku's fist smashing into the ground where his head had been a split second before. Small rocks flew up from the impact. Before Goku could pull back, Raditz's foot connected with his ribs. The kick sent Goku sliding across the rocky ground, his gi tearing on the rough surface.

Goku sprang to his feet, ignoring the stinging scrapes on his back. He charged at Raditz, unleashing a flurry of strikes. Right punch. Left punch. Right elbow. Left knee. Raditz defended, but Goku's speed was overwhelming. A right hook slipped through, catching Raditz on the jaw. His head snapped to the side, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Raditz stumbled back, shaking his head. When he looked up, his eyes had changed. The surprise was gone, replaced by a focused intensity. He wiped the blood from his lip and settled into a new stance.

This time, Raditz attacked. His movements were different now - smoother, more fluid. He fainted with his left, then struck with his right. Goku moved to block the feint, leaving himself open. Raditz's fist crashed into his stomach, driving the air from his lungs.

Goku gasped, trying to catch his breath. Raditz didn't let up. A left hook caught Goku on the cheek. A right uppercut snapped his head back. Goku raised his arms to block, but Raditz's attacks seemed to flow around his defences.

Desperate to create some distance, Goku jumped back. But Raditz flared his aura and was on him in an instant. As Goku landed, Raditz's foot swept his legs out from under him. Goku hit the ground hard, rocks digging into his back.

Raditz stood over him, hand raised for a finishing blow. Goku rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. With his hands, he pushed himself back on his feet, immediately having to lean back to avoid a punch aimed at his face.

The fight continued, neither warrior giving an inch. Sweat poured down their faces, their breathing heavy. Goku landed a solid kick to Raditz's ribs. Raditz retaliated with a punch to Goku's temple using his larger frame to his advantage. They traded blows, each impact echoing across the rocky plain.

Suddenly, Raditz shot into the air. Goku followed, only to be met with a barrage of energy blasts. He twisted and turned, dodging some, deflecting others. Each deflection sent shockwaves through his arms. The attacks were getting stronger, more precise.

Goku fired back with his own ki blasts, but Raditz swatted them away effortlessly. Their aerial battle continued, neither able to land a decisive blow. Goku's movements began to slow, his reactions dulled by fatigue.

Then, Raditz raised his right hand high. Pink energy crackled around his palm, condensing into a sphere. It grew larger, pulsing with power. Goku recognized the danger immediately.

He cupped his hands at his side, blue energy swirling between them. "Ka... me... ha... me..."

"SATURDAY CRUSH!" Raditz roared, hurling the massive pink sphere downward.

"HA!" Goku thrust his hands forward, releasing a brilliant beam of blue energy.

The attacks collided midair. The explosion was deafening, the shockwave kicking up a massive dust cloud. As the dust settled, Raditz descended from the sky. His armour was cracked and scorched, but he stood tall.

Goku struggled to stay on his feet. His gi was in tatters, his body covered in bruises and cuts. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, his energy all but spent.

As Raditz touched down, Goku realised the true gap in their power. The fight had never been equal.

Much to his surprise, his brother burst into laughter. It wasn't the mocking kind he'd heard from enemies past, but something... different. Genuine, almost.

Raditz looked at him, eyes gleaming with an emotion Goku couldn't quite place. "You've convinced me, Kakarot." Pride laced his voice as Goku swallowed hard, his throat dry from exertion. "If you could get this strong on this shithole of a planet, with this pathetic level of gravity, then..." Raditz paused, a grin spreading across his face. "I believe that with proper gravity and us training together, we might just be able to prepare for what's coming."

Goku felt a weak smile tug at his lips. Despite the pain wracking his body, he managed a chuckle, followed by a shaky thumbs-up. His vision began to blur, darkness creeping in at the edges.

"Shit," Raditz muttered, his form splitting into three as Goku's consciousness wavered. "Are there any healing-pods here?"

Goku's mind raced, trying to form words through the haze of exhaustion. "Senzu Beans," he croaked out, "back on island, Krill-" The rest of Krillin's name died on his lips as he slumped forward, darkness finally claiming him.

— Raditz —

I grinned, satisfaction coursing through me. Holding back during the battle had paid off more than I'd hoped. [Martial Talent] had been like a sponge, soaking up every single move Kakarot performed. It helped me improve at an exponential rate, analyzing and adapting to his fighting style in real-time.

While I wasn't a terrible fighter to begin with, I'd never truly mastered the finer points of combat. Feints, roundhouse kicks, identifying and exploiting weaknesses – these were all new to me. But the combination of my natural Saiyan fighting instinct and [Martial Talent] had helped me bridge the gap with startling speed.

I looked down at Kakarot's unconscious form, a mixture of pride and amusement washing over me. He'd impressed me far more than I'd anticipated. Carefully, I scooped up his limp body, cradling him against my chest. My aura flared to life around us as I prepared to take off.

Just as I was about to launch into the sky, my senses screamed danger. I powered up to my max in an instant, narrowly dodging a corkscrewing beam of energy that shot past where my head had been a split second before. The technique was blindingly fast – impressive, but not enough.

I descended, touching down to face the source of the attack. Piccolo stood there, his face a mask of fury and worry. His arm was still extended from the attack, wisps of smoke curling from his fingertips.

"Run off, Namekian," I said dismissively, shooing him away with my free hand. I needed him to be captured, which would take about three days if memory served. A part of me was still uncertain whether I should sell him to the Company outright or keep him around as a potential ally. Both options had their merits.

The Namekian's teeth ground audibly as he glared at me. "The enemies that you said would be coming," he growled, his words catching me slightly off guard. Either his hearing was far better than I'd given him credit for, or my ki sensing abilities still needed work. "How much stronger than you are they?"

I considered for a moment before answering. "The low-class? Approximately 5 to 10 times stronger. The middle-class would be 20 to 50, and the high class 50 to 100 times my current power." I watched as he tried to hide a gulp, his stoic facade cracking slightly.

"And the big boss himself?" Piccolo pressed, a bead of sweat forming on his green brow.

"Approximately a hundred thousand times stronger than me," I replied casually, as if discussing the weather. This time, Piccolo's neutral expression shattered completely. His eyes widened, jaw slack with shock.

After a moment, he regained his composure, but I could see the worry etched in the lines of his face. "And you think you can take them all on?" he snarled, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his fear.

"With time? I do. I will," I answered, confidence radiating from every word. "With enough training and the help of another, anything is possible." It wasn't just empty bravado – in this universe, that fact had been proven time and time again. Training under a master, or alongside someone near your own level, had always yielded the most significant jumps in power.

Piccolo didn't respond immediately. His eyes narrowed, scanning my face as if searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, he simply grunted and took to the air. As he flew away, I caught a glimpse of his expression – contemplative, with a hint of something that might have been hope.

I watched him disappear into the distance before turning my attention back to Kakarot. "Let's get you those beans, brother," I murmured, tightening my grip on his unconscious form. With a burst of energy, I shot into the sky, leaving the battlefield behind as I raced towards Kame House. Though, I didn't have to fully go there; all of them were flying over to our location in a car.

The midget likely wasn't good at sensing if it took this long for him to find me. As soon as they were close enough, the midget immediately came flying out of the car, an angered expression on his face.

"Don't blow your head off, midget. Kakarot convinced me that you were worth saving, even if he lost in the end," I said, rolling my eyes. "He mentioned something about a bean?" I added, as he hurriedly took out a pouch that was attached to his hip and extracted a small green bean.

The bald fighter glared at me, his fists clenching. "It's Krillin, not midget. And yeah, this'll fix him right up. No thanks to you," he spat.

I smirked, deciding to prod him a bit more. "Oh? And what exactly were you doing while your friend was getting his ass handed to him? Practicing your baldness routine?"

Krillin's face reddened with anger, but before he could retort, I continued, feigning ignorance. "And that's going to heal Kakarot?" I said, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

"His name is Goku, and hand him over," Krillin growled. I handed Kakarot over to him with a smirk. He helped Goku swallow down the bean, and within mere moments, all of his injuries reversed. Flesh knitted itself back together, bruises faded, cuts closed themselves, and Kakarot's ki roared - an impressive increase of two hundred, around 600, if I had to put a value to it.

Kakarot's eyes shot open as he grinned. "That was an awesome fight!" he exclaimed. "Let's do it again!" Then his expression faltered. "You're... not going to destroy the planet, right?" he questioned, his expression serious.

I crossed my arms, letting out a dramatic sigh. "No, I won't. But we've got a bigger problem on our hands. I'll need to find a way to not have my death reported to the higher-ups. If it is known, then they will invade, and let me tell you, we are not ready for it, nor will we be in a year," I explained, the same way I did to Piccolo. "I'll need to lure both Vegeta Nappa here. I'm going to need something alluring enough that they'd want for themselves," I said, purposely sounding hesitant.

Goku piped up, "What about the Dragon B-" He was promptly elbowed by Krillin. Unfortunately for them, Kakarot's brain damage came to my advantage as he continued, "Oww, the Dragon Balls."

I tilted my head, feigning confusion. "The Dragon's Balls? I don't think they're into that, Kakarot-" I was interrupted by the blue-haired girl, Bulma.

"They're seven magical balls that when gathered together can grant any wish," she explained, her voice a mix of excitement and apprehension.

I pretended to mull this over, stroking my chin thoughtfully. "That... could work. Vegeta would never let anyone know if he could get the wish himself."

"It would take a year for them to arrive here, perhaps a bit more, or a bit less," I continued, gauging their reactions.

Krillin frowned, crossing his arms. "Hold on a second. Why should we trust you with this information? For all we know, you could be planning to use the Dragon Balls yourself."

I snorted, "If I wanted the Dragon Balls, shorty, I'd have taken them already. You couldn't stop me if you tried."

"Yeah? Well, maybe Goku-" Krillin started, but Goku cut him off.

"He's right, Krillin. We're not strong enough yet. But we can be!" Goku turned to me, his eyes shining with that excitement. "You mentioned something about training earlier, right?"

I nodded, a smirk playing on my lips. "Indeed. The gravity on this planet is pathetic compared to what we're used to. With proper training, we could increase our power exponentially."

Bulma, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "I might be able to help with that. My father and I could potentially design a gravity chamber for training."

"So, what's the plan then?" Goku asked, looking between all of us, practically bouncing with excitement.

I uncrossed my arms, adopting a more serious pose. "We train. We prepare. And when Vegeta and Nappa arrive, we'll be ready for them. But remember, they're just the beginning. There are far worse threats out there."

The group fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Finally, Goku broke the silence with a determined grin. "Well, then we better get started!"

I let out a weary sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I need to go back to my pod," I said, my voice heavy with feigned reluctance. "I have to send a final message to Vegeta and Nappa, make them believe I'm dying. It's the only way to lure them here without arousing suspicion."

Krillin narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "How do we know you're not just going to call for backup?"

I rolled my eyes. "Because, baldy, if I wanted to destroy this planet, I wouldn't need backup. I'm trying to save your skin here. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"I need to do this alone," I added, seeing Krillin open his mouth to object again. "The pod has a built-in safety measure. It won't function if it detects multiple ki signatures nearby. Can't have enemies eavesdropping on sensitive communications, you know." Without waiting for further response, I took off towards where I had arrived.

I arrived at the farm where I'd landed earlier. The place was deserted now, the farmer who'd foolishly tried to threaten me with his pitiful weapon long gone. Probably limping his way to the nearest hospital, I mused. The crater my pod had created upon landing was still there, the sleek spherical ship sitting untouched at the center.

After landing, I made sure to focus completely on my Ki Sense this time. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone nearby. After a few moments of fighting, I flew up and raised my hands. As I charged up a Kamehameha, which I had learned from watching Kakarot, I shouted, "Ka...me...ha...me...ha!" and sent it forth. The blast was immense, and when the dust cleared, nothing remained of the ship but a deeper smouldering crater.

With a satisfied smirk, I started to fly towards the Kame House.

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