I Am Raditz

Piccolo saw his own kind for the first time—fellow beings who looked like him lying on the ground, howling in pain. The tragic scene filled him with rage, causing him to clench his fists tightly.

Glaring at the contemptuous Slug, Piccolo removed his weighted turban and cape, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.

The prelude to battle had begun.

"What, you want to fight me? You can't help yourself, can you?" Slug sneered disdainfully.

Despite his age, his power remained formidable. He believed dealing with a Namekian would pose no challenge.

"We'll see!" Piccolo's expression hardened as a burst of energy erupted from him. He charged directly at Slug.

"Piccolo, be careful!" Raditz called out, but was half a second too late.

Slug raised his leg and, facing Piccolo's charge, delivered a ferocious kick. His speed surpassed Piccolo's—so swift it was barely visible. The elderly Namekian's body unleashed astonishing power, sending Piccolo flying skyward with a single blow.

Caught under the force of Slug's kick, Piccolo cried out in pain. He barely managed to stabilize himself in mid-air, his face contorted in agony as he felt his entire body might split apart.

Such incredible strength!

"Heh heh, I'm a Namekian too, but my power far exceeds yours!" Slug let out a cold, cruel laugh.

He swept his gaze over the three remaining Saiyans, radiating contempt. He was somewhat familiar with the composition of Frieza's forces. The Saiyans were merely a mediocre segment—not even among the top fighters, their strength inferior to many elite troops.

Though Turles had greatly exaggerated these Saiyans' abilities, Slug dismissed it as mere bluffing. He hadn't even bothered to seriously analyze their reported feat of killing Zarbon.

In his eyes, there was no meaningful distinction between power levels in the thousands or tens of thousands—they were all insects!

Vegeta, infuriated by Slug's dismissive gaze, shouted as he charged forward, cutting through the air like a meteor and kicking up layers of dirt! "Old man, die!"

"Old man...?" Slug seethed with anger as he rushed to meet Vegeta's attack.

In the moment their energy fields were about to collide, Slug's figure suddenly vanished, passing beyond Vegeta's field of vision to reappear behind him. Vegeta glanced back vigilantly while instinctively dropping lower. He felt a blade-like cold energy slice just above his head, sending chills down his spine. Had he not evaded in time, he would have been gravely wounded, if not killed outright.

Slug's palm had sliced through the air where Vegeta's head had been just moments earlier. He had expected to easily tear through the Saiyan's body but was surprised by the evasion. He became more cautious, mentally revising his assessment of the Saiyans upward.

At that moment, Raditz unleashed an energy wave from behind, which Slug dodged with apparent ease. Immediately afterward, Goku followed with a barrage of strikes, rushing toward the Namekian warlord.

On the ground, the surviving Namekians shouted encouragement. Their brave warriors, inspired by the newcomers, rose up to resist Slug's troops. With minimal assistance from Raditz, most of Slug's army was quickly dispatched, with the remainder presenting little challenge for the Namekian fighters.

Goku's full power exceeded 18,000, and with the Kaio-ken technique, he proved a formidable opponent for Slug. As Goku's fist connected, Slug crossed his arms to block the frontal assault, the impact forcing him backward.

How could Saiyans possess such power? Slug was shocked. Gritting his teeth, he halted his retreat and charged again, using his head as a battering ram to knock Goku back. At that same moment, Vegeta swept in from behind with a powerful kick aimed directly at Slug's abdomen.

Slug suddenly dropped lower, roaring in anger. He caught Vegeta's leg, pulled him forward, then threw him violently to the ground. Goku, having just stabilized himself, was about to rush toward Slug when he collided with the falling Vegeta.

"Kakarot, don't get in my way!"

"You're the one who hit me!"

As they exchanged heated words, they spotted a sphere of energy hurtling toward them!

"Damn it!" Both exclaimed simultaneously. They hastily unleashed counter energy waves, the blasts colliding violently with Slug's attack.

The energy spheres met with extraordinary force, their powers nearly equal. They detonated in midair, creating an enormous cloud of smoke.

Slug grew increasingly alarmed, startled by the Saiyans' strength. What he had anticipated would be a simple skirmish had evolved into an evenly matched battle. And there was still one more opponent who hadn't even joined the fight!

He had little time to contemplate the situation, as Goku approached rapidly once again. His fierce barrage of punches was wrapped in a red aura, blazing like the scorching sun with overwhelming power. Slug deflected with his left hand, opening his palm to strike Goku's face with his right—but in that instant, a sharp pain erupted in his waist as Goku's leg connected in a whip-like kick. Both fighters absorbed heavy blows, neither willing to concede defeat. They each intensified their auras and continued their fierce exchange.

Gradually, Slug began to falter. His advanced age was becoming apparent; his physical stamina couldn't match that of younger warriors. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as fatigue set in. His energy reserves were depleting faster than Goku's Kaio-ken technique was draining its user.

Vegeta's power was also significant. Though not equal to Goku in his Kaio-ken state, his energy waves blocked Slug's retreat, pushing the Namekian warlord into an increasingly desperate situation.

"Huff... huff..." Slug felt the cruel reality of aging. In his youth, such a battle would have posed no challenge, but now his physical strength had seriously declined, leaving him partially exhausted.

Raditz remained observant, watching the battle develop without directly intervening. For one thing, he didn't want to push too hard, fearing Slug might transform into his giant form. They could handle Slug in his normal state, but a transformed Slug would be beyond their current capabilities. Secondly, even if they could defeat Slug, Raditz wasn't sure they should. With Frieza's threat looming, using Slug as a buffer against Frieza might be their best strategy.

In truth, Raditz was more concerned about Turles lurking in the background than about Slug himself. That villain excelled at underhanded tactics, making him potentially more dangerous than Slug.

While the fierce battle continued near the village, far away on the other side of the mountain, in a quiet dwelling...

The Grand Elder's bloated body slumped in an enormous stone chair. His hands rested weakly on the armrests, his eyes drooping, his face covered with dense age spots as he labored to breathe. He no longer possessed the strength to move, each breath a struggle, as if he were merely an empty shell.

Nail stood respectfully before the Grand Elder, speaking solemnly: "Grand Elder, evil forces continue to descend upon planet Namek. Three villages have already suffered catastrophic damage. They will reach us sooner or later."

"Hmm... I can no longer move. Nail, you are Namek's most powerful warrior. Join the battle—don't remain by my side."

"But what if they discover this place...?"

"It's alright. These invaders seek only the Dragon Balls. Should I perish, the Dragon Balls will lose their power. Don't worry."

"Grand Elder!" Nail gazed anxiously at the dying elder before him, his expression filled with sadness.

Had Namek truly reached its end?

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