Chapter 17: Goku Really Care About Krilin
'Boom!!!'
Just when the scene was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard, an explosion of sound ripped through the sky, catching everyone's attention and turning their gazes toward the source.
They were just worrying about how to break the oppressive atmosphere, and the arrival of outsiders provided a temporary diversion.
From the distant sky, a fast-moving beige jet broke through the clouds, speeding towards them. This jet bore a distinctive symbol that was well-known on Earth – the unique emblem of the Capsule Corporation.
"Ugh, the bothersome Earthlings have arrived; we can't stay here much longer."
"Tarlos, my spaceship is destroyed. Is yours still operational?"
Raditz, naturally unaware of who was coming, felt frustrated and sought a quiet place to think about his life. Moreover, he wanted to ascertain one thing: whether the Dragon Balls, which supposedly grant any wish, were real or not. If they were, he truly wished to claim them, as who doesn't have desires?
"Regrettably, the spaceship I used, although not destroyed, has also been damaged during this space journey. If you're thinking of using my ship to escape Earth, you might want to abandon that idea," Lin Chuan answered precisely, his gaze fixed on the approaching jet.
"It's Bulma, Krillin, and Master Roshi," Goku quickly identified the arrivals through their ki and voiced out.
Naturally, Lin Chuan could also discern that the three ki signatures in the jet were indeed Bulma, Master Roshi, and Krillin.
According to the original story, they became worried about the situation here, leading Bulma to bring Master Roshi and Krillin to help.
In the original trajectory, by the time they arrived, Goku would have been on the verge of death, and Raditz would already be dead.
Now, the situation was entirely different.
Knowing that the arrivals were acquaintances of his younger brother and seeing that Lin Chuan made no move, Raditz quieted down to plan anew.
On Earth, a place unfamiliar to him, he only knew a few people: Kakarot, Kakarot's son, Lin Chuan, and Piccolo.
He naturally ignored Piccolo since he was not a Saiyan.
If he was to live on Earth in the future, he must stick close to Lin Chuan and Kakarot.
After all, he didn't know how to strengthen himself.
The only one who could help him improve was Lin Chuan.
'Boom~!!!'
As the jet landed, it kicked up a cloud of dust.
Krillin and Master Roshi were the first to disembark from the jet, both with serious expressions.
Bulma followed last, visibly frightened, assessing the situation carefully.
The three newcomers immediately noticed Lin Chuan because he was an unfamiliar face and was wearing battle armor similar to Raditz's, automatically assuming he was another Saiyan associated with Raditz.
"This Saiyan's aura seems calm and ordinary, yet it reveals a kind of profound terror! More terrifying than that, Raditz... What exactly is the situation now? Has the battle ended, or...?" Master Roshi, with his keen insight, continued to speculate.
Unsure of the actual situation, he couldn't make a definitive judgment and couldn't completely relax.
"Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo, it's so good to see you're alright... Did the enemy number increase from one to two? I and Master are here to lend you a hand," Krillin assumed the battle was still ongoing and decisively stood next to Goku, ready to fight to the death if necessary.
Seeing this, Raditz scoffed dismissively, confident that the three arrivals were the Earthlings he had encountered before, and hearing Krillin's bold statement, he couldn't help but mock: "Ignorant Earthlings! That tail whip didn't disassemble you last time, and you dare speak boldly in front of me now?"
"Let's see... Hmph! A power level of 206! You dare to make noise with such an insignificant power level?"
Such contemptuous words enraged Krillin, who clenched his teeth in anger.
Though angry, Krillin dared not act, as Raditz was right—his power level was too low; if Goku and Piccolo couldn't manage, how could he possibly stand a chance?
To Raditz, this kind of futile anger was delightful, his expression growing even more malicious, causing Krillin to sweat profusely under the intense oppression.
"Alright, big brother, let's not scare Krillin anymore! Although Krillin's strength indeed doesn't match yours, he's not as feeble as you claim," Goku stepped forward to defend Krillin.
Krillin was not only his longtime companion but also one of his most cherished friends from before the era of universal conflict.
As the saying goes: "Krillin offering himself up to the sky, his magic knows no bounds!" If Raditz did harm Krillin, Goku might truly lose it and possibly
Finish Raditz off in a rage.
In the classic scenario where Frieza kills Krillin, Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan!
"Cut it out!" Raditz spits disdainfully, turning away to end the conversation.
He had no desire to entangle further with the Earthly insects.
At this moment, Krillin was baffled. Not just him but also Master Roshi and Bulma were stunned.
The conversation and the current circumstances were incredibly perplexing.
Wasn't it supposed to be a desperate battle for Earth?
Why were they suddenly calling each other "big brother"? Raditz even seemed to listen!
And what was that look in Piccolo's eyes?
Krillin, full of questions, looked towards Goku for answers, as did Master Roshi and Bulma.
...
"Here's what happened..."
Minutes later.
With Goku and Piccolo's combined explanation, the three newcomers finally understood the situation.
To summarize:
First, Raditz was no longer their enemy; he had turned over a new leaf. The other Saiyan, known as Lin Chuan (Tarlos), was currently on their side.
Second, in a year, two Saiyans even more powerful than Raditz—ten to twenty times stronger—would arrive on Earth.
"So Goku... you mean to say, in a year, those two Saiyans are coming for the Dragon Balls? And they're definitely enemies?" Krillin, already terrified by the 18,000 power level, stuttered his question.
If Raditz's power level of 1,500 was frightening enough, wasn't Earth doomed?
"Don't worry, Krillin. We still have a year to train, right?"
"By then, I'll be much stronger than now. And even if I can't beat them by then, Lin Chuan's strength alone can definitely defeat that Vegeta," Goku assured, as everyone's gaze once again landed on Lin Chuan.
They all looked at Lin Chuan eagerly, hoping to receive his affirmative response.
Only Bulma's gaze was different from the others, hinting at another layer of meaning.