I Am Raditz

"Witness my true power!" Angila struck the ground furiously with both hands.

He possessed the ability to move freely underground. After plunging his hands into the earth, he extended his arms beneath the surface, emerging suddenly at Raditz's feet to grab his ankles.

"Hah! Now you're trapped!" Angila believed he had successfully captured Raditz. He gathered energy in his mouth and fired an energy wave.

The yellow beam engulfed Raditz, who made no attempt to dodge or block, allowing it to strike him directly.

The blast created a violent shockwave, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. The thick gray smoke obscured Angila's vision, leading him to believe he'd succeeded. As the smoke slowly began to dissipate, Angila couldn't help but laugh triumphantly—until his expression suddenly froze.

A figure gradually emerged from the cloud of dust, walking calmly toward him.

"Let me teach you a basic lesson—never celebrate until you see the body," Raditz said, completely unharmed. A faint white aura had isolated him from even the surrounding dust.

"You..."

A gentle breeze swept across the battlefield, causing the sparse grass to sway slightly to one side while Raditz and Angila's hair fluttered in the wind.

They faced each other, each releasing their battle aura, like two sharp needles pointing at one another in a clash of energy. But Angila's confidence quickly crumbled. Cold sweat formed on his brow as the overwhelming pressure from Raditz made it difficult to breathe.

If he'd had a scouter at that moment, he would have seen that Raditz's power level had surpassed anything he could have imagined.

The wind blew softly, then fell silent.

As the breeze died down, Raditz's eyes narrowed slightly, and his figure vanished. In the next instant, he appeared behind Angila, his hand positioned like a blade as he struck at the horned warrior's neck.

With just one blow, Angila felt as if he'd been hit by thousands of powerful strikes simultaneously. He was sent flying, skidding across the ground and carving a deep furrow through layers of soil before finally crashing into solid rock.

Raditz had used barely a third of his strength. Had Angila's physical condition been any weaker, he might have lost consciousness immediately.

This time, Angila could no longer muster any boastful words. His face had turned pale, blood flowing from his mouth and down his body. He couldn't even comprehend how Raditz had moved—everything had happened too quickly to follow.

Before he could recover, Raditz appeared before him and planted a foot firmly on his chest, cutting off his breathing.

The crushing pressure was beyond anything Angila had expected.

"Stop playing dead. Answer me—why did Lord Slug send you here?" Raditz demanded.

"For... the Dragon Balls..." Angila gasped.

"How did he learn about the Dragon Balls?!" Raditz pressed further.

Even if Slug was originally from Namek, he had been sent away as an infant during a major climate catastrophe on the planet. It should have been impossible for him to retain any memory of the Dragon Balls.

"Because... because someone named Turles told us about them. He said there's a type of magical sphere that can grant any wish. They were created on Earth, but one is now buried on this barren planet. He showed us its location on a universal map he provided." Angila clutched at Raditz's foot with both hands, trying futilely to move it. Finding his efforts useless, he continued his honest explanation.

"He also gave some seeds to Lord Slug, claiming the fruit they produce could enhance strength and restore youth. Lord Slug tried the fruit and found it genuinely effective, so he trusted Turles."

Seeds? Fruit? It had to be the Tree of Might. Why is Turles keep making thing complicated.

"One more question—what's your relationship with Frieza's forces?"

"None! We had no idea Frieza's group would show up here. Otherwise, Lord Slug would have sent more warriors! I've told you everything—please let me go..."

"Do you honestly think you'd survive returning to Slug? You know better than I do what kind of person he is, right?"

Raditz's question gave Angila pause. He trembled involuntarily.

As a rare Super Namekian, Slug possessed fighting talent that might even surpass Piccolo's—a phenomenon that occurred perhaps once every century. This exceptional power was precisely why he had been exiled from Namek as a last resort.

Unlike other peace-loving Namekians, Slug possessed not only terrifying combat ability but also an absolutely evil heart.

In his youth, he had conquered a planet with his overwhelming strength, proclaimed himself king, recruited numerous followers, and established his own power base in the universe. He led his subordinates on a rampage throughout the cosmos, committing countless atrocities—conquering planets large and small, selling some and transforming others, constantly expanding his influence until establishing himself as an overlord.

But Slug was exceptionally cruel, killing people as casually as trampling grass, showing no mercy even to his own subordinates. The slightest disagreement could result in execution. Over hundreds of years, Slug had grown old, but his tyrannical personality had only intensified.

Recently, due to accelerated aging, his mood had deteriorated further, making his killing sprees even more manic. When Turles revealed news of the Dragon Balls, Slug saw the possibility of regaining his youth—a prospect he valued above all else.

If Lord Slug discovered that Angila had failed to secure the Dragon Ball, death would be inevitable. Angila's expression turned mournful as his spirits sank to new depths.

"I can spare your life, but you must become my subordinate and serve me instead," Raditz offered.

Raditz lifted his foot, instantly relieving the pressure on Angila's chest. The horned warrior felt as if he'd been granted a new lease on life. His mind raced through thousands of thoughts, all converging on a single conclusion.

Defying Raditz now would mean certain death. He had always found it difficult to serve a master like Slug who erupted in rage at the slightest provocation—perhaps switching allegiance would be the wiser choice...

With this realization, Angila made his decision.

"I understand, my lord!"

"My name is Raditz. From this day forward, you answer to me!"

"Yes! Lord Raditz." Angila stood with difficulty, fighting through his pain, and knelt on one knee before Raditz.

His expression conveyed genuine respect and submission.

No wonder everyone sought to become emperor of the universe—it felt remarkably satisfying to be addressed with such deference! Raditz was delighted. He truly needed forces of his own in the cosmos; otherwise, he'd be forced to handle everything personally, which would prove too cumbersome in the future.

"And I am Master Tumat!" Suddenly, Tumat flew out from behind Raditz, announcing himself proudly. The mechanical bird had been hiding behind Raditz, too timid to reveal himself until now. Seeing the situation had turned in their favor, he immediately seized the opportunity to establish his own authority.

Angila was dumbfounded. What on earth was this thing?

"Don't be alarmed—he's my friend and also a formidable weapon. If you ever consider betraying me as you've betrayed Slug, he can destroy you!" Raditz warned coldly, his tone so convincing that Angila was genuinely startled.

Then, Raditz's expression softened into a smile as he patted Angila's shoulder. "Of course, serve me well and I'll reward you generously. Your treatment will certainly be better than what you received under Slug."

He understood the fundamental principle of balancing kindness with authority.

Sure enough, Angila bowed once more. "Yes, Lord Raditz!"

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