Inside the green forest, the Saiyans made camp. While Broly was intrigued by the lake and spent most of the time there, Raditz searched for food. It didn't take long for a blood-thirst animal to attack the long-haired warrior. A flying boar-like beast went after the Saiyan, who quickly took it down. He seized the animal by the wings and carried it through the thick forest. The scent of blood and the emitting heat summoned a ferocious serpent. Raditz jumped in the air to void the nasty fangs. He aimed at the bluish viper and hurled himself at the beast. With a strong kick to the top of the head, the Saiyan secured another meal for tonight.
However, as he dragged both animals to the camp, Raditz looked somewhat troubled. He thought now that he was stronger and not rotting on Vampa, he would feel better and more at ease. But that wasn't the case. Ever since Cui got to planet Vampa, it made him realize Freeza and the rest were looking for him. And now that Cui had been killed and the pod was missing, they would not stop searching for him.
Cold sweat trailed down the Saiyan's face because an image of the dreadful Emperor appeared in his head. He halted and placed a hand against the tree, supporting himself while panic took hold of his entire body. Memories of the red-eyed tyrant's evil deeds surfaced. A particular one froze the warrior completely. It was one where Freeza blew up a whole planet with a finger flick. He was there, a child watching the world turn to fireworks and ash while the creature he served laughed like a madman.
The Saiyan bit his lower lip, which began to bleed slightly. He shut his eyes and shook his head. The man tried to forget the memory and shake off the paralyzing fear. He punched the tree and muttered some words while desperately trying to get a hold of himself.
"I am not the same as I was... I am far stronger than I ever was... And I am growing stronger each day! Besides, Freeza will never find me once we leave with a new ship tomorrow!"
His thoughts cleared up as he said that out loud. He backed away from the tree and let out a sigh. The Saiyan picked up the animals from the ground and returned to the camp, tricking his troubled thoughts with the idea of leaving Shamo in a brand new, untraceable ship.
Upon returning to the camp, Raditz saw Broly sitting on the ground, nibbling on a large fish's tail. The long-haired warrior dropped his catch next to a log on which he sat. He placed dozens of rocks in a circle and threw some wood in the middle. He raised his hand and fired a tiny beam at the sticks, enough to set them ablaze. While the flames grew stronger, Raditz gazed at Broly, who didn't seem to like the tail, and shifted the focus onto the body. However, before the gentle Saiyan took a bite, Raditz thwarted him.
"Stop, don't eat raw. It will taste even better if you fry it. Let me show you..."
Reluctantly, Broly handed over the fish to Raditz. He observed what the long-haired man was doing with interest and hunger. His stomach growled while he watched Raditz poke the fish with a larger stick and place it over the flames. At first, he was confused and hungry, but after only a few minutes, the fragrance of the slowly fried fish smelled wonderful to Broly. It reminded him of the meal the old man had prepared for them, and he couldn't wait to taste it.
"Hm, that should be done. You can take it and..."
Raditz didn't need to finish the sentence because Broly had already snatched the fish and drooled over it. The wild-haired Saiyan took a bite and chewed on it, looking like the happiest child in the universe. While Broly devoured the meal, Raditz scoffed and took hold of the serpent. He chopped off the head and removed the skin before putting it over the fire. While the snake was slowly roasting, he did a similar process with the flying boar.
The two ate in silence, even after Broly had finished his meal. The Saiyan remained quiet while staring at the sky. Images of the boys and the grandfather who had given them food flashed before his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if they were okay, considering the situation with the crime organization and the royal family. The Saiyan lowered his head and glanced at Raditz, who violently tore the flesh off the boar. Broly hesitated but eventually spoke.
"Do you think the good people that gave us food will be alright?"
Raditz lifted an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "The old man and the brats are of no concern to us. You should focus on us getting out of here and about yourself." He tossed the bone away and wiped his mouth before continuing.
"See, that's your problem; you're too nice and caring. But since you refuse to change that, there's a way you can help those you care about. And that's total annihilation of the royal family and those scumbags that abuse and scam the poor weaklings cast aside by the elite!"
While Broly was astonished and unsure how to respond, Raditz continued to speak. "I told you that those who are weak get trampled by the strong. That's just how life works." The long-haired Saiyan stared at the flames while a breeze blew through the forest.
Raditz's words visibly rattled Broly. The caring Saiyan squeezed his fists and clenched his teeth. "W-Why should someone good but weak have to suffer? Everyone should have the right to live how they want, and the strong shouldn't bully the weak but help." He gazed at Raditz with firm resolution after making such a strong statement.
A scoff came from Raditz, who slightly shook his head while looking away. "That's nothing more than a naive look at life, a fairytale." The long-haired warrior rested his head against the arms while he stared into the distance, and Broly just sat there quietly while the sun sank over the lake.
Night fell, and the bright stars consumed the dark sky. The other Saiyan was gone while Broly lay asleep on the ground, covered by the leaves. Raditz sat on a large rock halfway submerged in the water. It was serene, and the breeze made the conditions perfect. His black pupils remained glued on the reflection of the young moon upon the lake's surface while his tail swayed behind the back. Broly's words lingered in his head, which was one of the reasons he couldn't sleep. The difference between Broly and Vegeta was night and day. It shouldn't surprise him any longer, but each day, he learned something new about Broly, who, despite being so powerful, didn't act entitled or ruthless.
"Even after being raised by a bitter madman like Paragus, Broly still views life in a vastly different way than all of us..."
Raditz spoke softly while his long hair danced on the faint wind. Unlike all of them, who fought for the glory of the kill and dominance, Broly acted for different reasons. The man was a caring, gentle Saiyan with emotions who could be the most powerful warrior in their history. A mere thought of that sounded ludicrous, but then again, Broly's existence was proof.
"Hah! Even if Broly turned out to be the fabled Super Saiyan, someone like Vegeta would never acknowledge him just because Broly cares for those unable to fight back..."
The Saiyan didn't express anything anymore but thought of many things. While he sat there, the warrior couldn't help but think of the kids and the bearded old man who offered them food despite not knowing them. Just reminiscing about the boy's smile and oath to get strong like them caused that bizarre phenomenon to get a hold of him. Frustrated, the Saiyan let out a growl while staring at the glowing fireflies flying over the waterlilies floating across the lake.
A new day was on the horizon. The Saiyans were already on their feet while the sun slowly rose over the sky and graced the land with its warm rays. They stood in a small, open area facing each other with some distance between them. Neither moved or said a thing until a faint wind blew across the region. The first to make a move was Broly. The gentle Saiyan dashed forward with a solid fist, ready to deal severe damage. Broly's left hook missed the target because Raditz moved to the side. A counter to the ribcage stunned the man, but only briefly. Broly turned toward his sparring partner and once again swung his massive fist. Raditz responded by jumping away, but Broly had already closed the distance when the long-haired Saiyan touched the ground. The son of Bardock reacted just in the nick of time and dropped to the ground, thus dodging the kick. While Broly's swing took down the trees and busted the rocks, Raditz quickly got up and took hold of the gentle Saiyan from behind.
"Too sloppy! You're wasting your strength and stamina fighting like this! If you want to hit your enemy, you've got to utilize your strength better, make more precise strikes, and focus!"
Broly responded with a growl as Raditz's muscular arm squeezed against his throat, preventing the air from flowing in or out. The wild-haired Saiyan slammed his elbow into Raditz's gut, forcing the warrior to loosen the hold. Broly faced his sparring partner with a glint of determination and focus in his eyes. He charged again at Raditz, but this time with some composure. The moment he got scolded, Broly's movement became better. His strikes were sharper, precise, and deadly. Despite holding back, the attacks were still so vicious Raditz took heavy damage. However, Raditz didn't cave in.
Blood flew out of the open cut located on Raditz's right cheek. Bruises surfaced over his torso, abdomen, and arms, but the Saiyan warrior stood despite the powerful pressure and urge to collapse. The reason he pushed himself was because of yesterday's little panic attack and the always so-present mysterious sensation. He wanted to eliminate the lingering fear, and to some extent, he did. But there was still something at the back of his mind bothering the warrior. Upon seeing Broly take a swing at him, Raditz did the same with a strong shout. Their fists collided and created a shockwave so potent it shattered the ground underneath them and even split the clouds in the sky. However, the impact was too much for Raditz's body to endure and resulted in the bones in his hands shattering and the skin rupturing. Upon realizing the Saiyan had been seriously injured, Broly halted with a worried expression, but Raditz wouldn't have it.
"D-Don't stop! C-Come and fight me!"
While Raditz's arm hung limp on the side and blood dripped on the grass, Broly worriedly observed the heavy-breathing Saiyan. "You can't fight anymore. We can continue when your hand heals." The gentle Broly spoke softly as he tried to approach Raditz, but the warrior suddenly snapped.
Broly's attitude annoyed Raditz, who lunged at the man. "Just because an enemy is wounded doesn't mean they're done! You can't show pity or any weakness to your enemies!" He assaulted the other Saiyan with everything at his disposal.
Sweat and blood flew off Raditz's battered body while he tried to land a single strike. Broly avoided all the attacks which infuriated the warrior. "D-Don't be a coward! N-No matter what, fight back!" His scream rang loud over the place as he gave one last push.
Raditz's fist slammed against Broly's naked chest and did absolutely nothing to the gentle Saiyan. Pain and exhaustion took a significant toll on the long-haired warrior, who was about to fall to the ground, but Broly caught him. The Saiyan carefully placed Raditz on the ground and observed the unconscious warrior with a worried look in his eyes. His black pupils drifted onto the damaged hand, which looked terrible. Broly wondered what to do when he remembered the emergency kit in the pod that Raditz had told him about, which was located nearby.
"I'll return with the medicine box and make the pain disappear."
Broly gazed at Raditz with a reassuring smile before he flew away. However, the gentle Saiyan wasn't aware that Raditz was awake. He allowed the fear and the emotions to control him and ruin the routine morning spar. His issues caused him to show an embarrassing side, and he was too ashamed to face Broly. He placed a left arm over his eyes and muttered something to himself while lying on the ground.
.
Once Broly returned to the camp with the medicine box, Raditz assured the fellow Saiyan that he could tend to his wounds without help. The wild-haired male nodded and said nothing. He left the camp, glad that Raditz was awake. The Saiyan flew high into the sky, breaching the clouds. He stopped once he deemed that was enough and gazed forward. His dark orbs could see the sheer size of the green forest and the white mountain chain far in the distance. He enjoyed the view until he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, the man let go and began to descend. He continued to fall until he dropped into the massive lake and sank. Once his back touched the bottom, he opened his eyes and saw the bubbles soar to the surface while the algae waved. He turned around and swam, amazed by the underwater life.
As he moved forward, his curious eyes stirred left and right. The Saiyan couldn't stop smiling while he observed the colorful fish, the crabs with or without shells, the reefs filled with life, and numerous other water creatures just thriving. The man was floating above a kaleidoscopic reef when he noticed a school of orange turtles. They only numbered four, but their color and shape captivated the Saiyan, who decided to follow them. He swam carefully and slowly, not wanting to spook them as they made their way through the algae and the reefs. For whatever reason, the three small ones and the big turtle reminded him of a family. His thoughts instantly shifted to the boys, the older man, and even his late father. The Saiyan seemed lost in thought when he saw a large, snake-like creature emerge from a hole in the rock and go after the little family. Broly swiftly propelled himself forward and grabbed the serpent. The snake squirmed around and radiated a robust electrical current, but that didn't faze the Saiyan. He broke the creature's neck and immediately looked for the orange turtles. Upon seeing them make their way to the other reef, the man smiled and swam to the surface.
He emerged from the lake and levitated above it while holding the snake in his right hand. His gaze shifted to the west, where the city was located. Raditz's words from yesterday stayed in his head, making him wonder if he should do something and help those in need. The dilemma frustrated the gentle Saiyan, who tightened the hold around the snake. His expression twisted and changed between apprehension and irritation. He wanted to ask Raditz for advice, but he already knew what the long-haired Saiyan would say. He only wanted to help those in need, but it wasn't easy.
While Raditz was tending his wounds and Broly had a concern to solve, five pods approached planet Shamo's orbit. The objects penetrated the world's atmosphere and swirled towards the ground on the other side of the planet. Upon crashing, the engines instantly died out, and the hatches opened. A person emerged from each vessel and flew out of the crater. The men regrouped at the cliff, gazing down upon the large city.
"So, this is the place where Cui's pod crashed... Doesn't look bad; it could fetch quite a price on the market."
The deep voice belonged to a man with horns donning black and brown armor with a green scouter. He crossed his muscular arms while his long hair swayed in the wind. Next to the horned soldier stood a man with the same color pallet armor and a tight black skinsuit protecting his skin. Red spots spread across his green skin, covering his face and large cranium.
"Indeed, Cranbo. Lord Freeza will reward us greatly if we clear out a planet for him and bring in the Saiyans."
The soldiers laughed, but it lasted only a moment. A teal-skinned man stepped forward and fired a large ki blast toward the city. The explosion caused a strong wind, and dark smoke soared into the sky. While the others glared at him, the skinny man laughed while caressing his spiky wrist.
"Gorman, just what the hell are you doing!? You just might alarm the targets of our presence or maybe even kill them if they were hiding in that city!"
While Cranbo screamed at him, the soldier, Gorman, couldn't care less. "Whatever. Our orders were to hunt down the Saiyans and bring them in no matter what. In battles, things get destroyed!" A sinister smirk and look in the azure eyes unnerved the other soldiers.
"Enough! Stop arguing over nothing. Focus on the task at hand!"
Everyone gazed at the large, pink-skinned man with protruding spikes on his wrists and head. "Hm. Power levels are below average; what a dump. For all we know, the new Saiyans could be dead." The man caressed his chin while the men remained quiet.
He lifted his massive hand and pressed the small button on the scouter. "Let's see... The signal from Cui's pod is located in the eastern sector. I guess we'll head there first." Without wasting too much time, the man blasted across the sky, followed by others.
"Dodoria, can I be excused from the search? I'd rather have fun destroying cities and torturing weaklings than hunting for pesky Saiyans."
Dodoria, one of Freeza's elite soldiers, glanced at Gorman, who flew next to him. "I know you have no interest in Saiyans after killing a bunch of them during the purge, but this is Lord Freeza's important order! You can go and have fun once we locate them; after all, I don't want you to accidentally kill them if, by chance, they're hiding in the cities." He shifted his head forward as they continued to fly at top speed.
Meanwhile, back in the forest, the Saiyans minded their business and were only four hours away from heading back to the criminal's hideout when they sensed the intense energies. Raditz immediately dropped the piece of meat and stood up. His tail instantly curled safely around the waist as he stared at the sky.
"There are five of them, and they are strong... They must be Freeza's soldiers! Could it be that he's here as well!?"
He shut his eyes and tried to focus. His brows twitched while he desperately tried to sense outside the planet, but he wasn't yet at that level. Sweat rolled down his temple, thinking the ruthless Emperor might be orbiting the planet in his spaceship.
"The one you call Freeza is not here. There are only five of them, and they're not that strong. I can take care of them since you're injured."
Raditz gazed at the gentle Saiyan, sitting on the ground and playing with a blue bird. The long-haired warrior frowned but knew Broly didn't mean any disrespect. He glanced at his bandaged hand and cursed himself for acting stupid in the morning. It was a perfect opportunity to show those bastards from the Freeza Force how strong he had gotten. However, his thoughts shifted elsewhere.
"Those bastards must've tracked Cui's pod, and that's why they're here already... Broly! We must get rid of them quickly and get the ship! Freeza might also be coming to Shamo if these guys are here!"
Broly nodded and let the bird fly away to safety. As he stood up, Raditz shouted at him. "Be on your guard at all times! You might be stronger than them, but these guys don't fight fair. Be careful not to fall for cheap tricks and focus!" He took in the advice and responded with a nod.
Shortly after, the five figures appeared just above Broly's and Raditz's heads. While the long-haired Saiyan sweated nervously, Broly just stood there with a stoic expression. The gentle Saiyan didn't like that these people were here because it put the animals and the people of this world in danger. Just imagining that something might happen to the little boys and their grandfather caused turmoil within the scarred Saiyan.
Meanwhile, Freeza's soldiers couldn't contain their laughter. "After all this time, it turns out that one of these new Saiyans was Raditz, the weakling!" The mocking tone came from Cranbo as he pointed at the long-haired warrior.
"Well, this is certainly a disappointment, but over there's a Saiyan I haven't seen before... That must be the one we heard so much about."
The raspy voice belonged to a soldier donning a purple skinsuit and sky-blue armor. "That power level we picked up on the way here must've been his... Nothing impressive if you ask me." He adjusted the white helmet with a crimson vizor concealing his appearance while floating in the air.
"Since we located the monkeys, can I be excused and have some fun?"
Upon hearing Gorman's voice, Dodoria glanced at a skinnier version of himself with a smirk. "Sure. Just be done quickly; this won't take more than five minutes." The pink soldier looked at the Saiyans while chuckling.
Broly couldn't help but wonder why one of them abruptly flew away. "Why did that one leave? Did he get scared?" He looked at Raditz, confused and seeking an explanation.
"No. The bastard left because he finds us boring and a waste of time... He most likely left to blow up populated places instead of dealing with us! They're underestimating us!"
The moment Broly heard that, his eyes widened out of terror. An image of poor, innocent people getting killed by these men flashed before his eyes. "I-I can't let him get away with that!" Broly's outburst shocked the soldiers in the air as the wild energy swirled around the Saiyan.
"W-Wait, don't..."
Broly ignored Raditz and flew after Gorman, leaving the long-haired Saiyan alone to deal with Dodoria and his team. "Tch! That idiot just does whatever he wants... I guess taking these bastards down will be up to me!" A weak chuckle escaped Raditz's mouth while cold sweat slid down his face.
Meanwhile, the second in command of Dodoria's team flew closer to the leader. "Boss, the scouter measured the battle power of the new Saiyan to be over 15,000... Should we go after him? I mean, the only one left here is the coward Raditz. We can leave Ramon or Angol to deal with him." Cranbo looked at the Saiyan with disgust.
Dodoria stared at Raditz with an arrogant smirk. "I'm curious to see the new monkey in combat, and Raditz is just... Raditz. Ramon! You're unlucky, but you must supervise the weak little monkey over there." The Freeza's elite soldier turned around and looked at Ramon, who didn't seem thrilled by the decision, while Angol celebrated.
"I'll allow you to do with him as you please. After all, Lord Freeza's only interested in the new Saiyan. He couldn't care less about someone he doesn't even remember existing."
As Dodoria, Cranbo, and Angol went after Broly, Ramon descended to the ground with hands on their hips, mocking the Saiyan. "Well, how about you be a good monkey and stay still? I promise to kill you swiftly... I want to see the other monkey in action before others break him." The man raised his hand and aimed at Raditz, who silently stared at the ground.
The long-haired Saiyan ignored the words coming from Ramon because he was in deep thought. All this time, neither Freeza nor his men searched for him but rather Broly. For whatever reason, that discovery annoyed and pissed him off. He was tired of constantly being underestimated and called different names. Anger and a strong desire for revenge consumed the fear that bothered him.
He stepped forward, surprising Ramon, who had an energy ball ready to fire. "You and everyone else is mistaken... I'm not the same cowardly and miserable Saiyan from before. I'll show you that even someone of low class can surpass the higher ranks through hard work!" As he ventured into battle despite his broken hand, intense, burning fire shined in Raditz's eyes.