I Am Raditz

After drifting in and out of sleep for an unknown amount of time, Raditz yawned and slowly awakened.

The new single-person spaceship was spacious and comfortable, allowing him to rest fully in its sleeping compartment. As he opened his eyes, he noticed the cabin lights had stabilized and the console's display screen was glowing with a soft green light.

"We've arrived," Raditz yawned again and activated the hatch release.

With a mechanical "squeak," the hatch opened slowly. The spherical spaceship had created a deep impact crater upon landing, larger than usual due to the ship's increased size.

Raditz stepped out of the spacecraft and froze.

There were so many people around!

Hundreds of individuals—men, women, children, and elderly—stood at the edge of the crater, staring at him. Their eyes were fixed on Raditz, horror etched across their faces. They recognized this type of spacecraft. Many planets throughout the universe had been invaded by beings who arrived in these spherical vessels.

"This person looks so strange!"

"Look at his ship—it's the same kind used by those who destroyed Planet Biers."

"Shhh..."

"He's moving! Someone call the defense force!"

It wasn't by coincidence that the spaceship had landed in a bustling commercial district. The impact had caused several buildings to collapse, creating even more panic. As some people saw Raditz begin to move, they immediately fled, causing a commotion in the crowd.

At that moment, fighters from Planet Yardrat suddenly appeared out of thin air!

Instant Transmission—the very technique Raditz had come to learn! Seeing teleportation with his own eyes, Raditz couldn't help but want to approach them immediately to ask about it.

Unexpectedly, the Yardrats raised their energy weapons in unison and began shouting at Raditz: "Alien intruder, hands up! Please cooperate and raise your hands!"

Their voices were deadly serious. Raditz glanced at the crowd surrounding him, noticed their frightened expressions, and immediately understood the situation.

Great, they think I'm an invader.

Raditz raised his hands and attempted to put on a friendly smile. "Hello there. I'm a traveler from Earth, and I have no hostile intentions."

The chief guard gestured toward Raditz and said, "I don't know who you are, but we'll leave that for our leader to determine. Please come with us now."

The guard captain approached cautiously and signaled to his men. Several Yardrats extended their arms and chanted softly, creating an energy field that immobilized Raditz's body!

This incredible ability actually made Raditz feel a slight pressure. Though he could easily break through the restraint with his strength, his movements became somewhat sluggish. He realized that if someone more powerful performed this technique, they could potentially restrain even stronger opponents!

To demonstrate his sincerity, Raditz offered no resistance and quietly waited for the guard captain to approach.

A hand was placed on Raditz's shoulder, and with a "whoosh," he felt himself entering overlapping layers of space. In an instant, he was pulled through an energy current and emerged in a bright, spacious room.

Three of the walls were made of transparent glass, revealing blue skies and white clouds outside. Birds flew freely in the distance.

As far as Raditz could see, numerous floating islands hung suspended in the air, with flying vehicles passing between them. Tall buildings and advanced electronic equipment seemed to cover the entire planet. Their technology appeared far more sophisticated than Earth's.

"Lord Soba, I've brought the outsider as requested," the Security Chief said solemnly, his hand still on Raditz's shoulder.

"Good work. I'll handle things from here. You may return to your duties."

A hovering swivel chair rotated 180 degrees, revealing an elderly Yardrat who rested his chin on his hand. He scanned Raditz up and down with penetrating eyes, his expression unreadable.

The security chief saluted and departed.

Only two people remained in the vast space.

While the Yardrat leader studied Raditz, Raditz was also evaluating him. Their eyes met briefly before both looked away. The leader wore a traditional uniform of his people. His skin was green with numerous spots covering his bald head. He had pronounced bags under his eyes, but his gaze remained sharp and alert.

"Arriving in a ship like that—are you one of Frieza's soldiers?" he finally asked.

"Not everyone who uses that type of spacecraft works for Frieza," Raditz replied. "If I were Frieza's subordinate, would I be foolish enough to barge into your territory alone? Wouldn't that be suicidal?"

"Fair point. But if you're not one of them, how did you acquire such a vessel?"

"Because Frieza has been defeated."

"What?!" Soba straightened in his chair, his expression changing dramatically.

The terrifyingly powerful Frieza had given them an ultimatum just months ago, demanding they voluntarily become part of his empire and serve him, or face annihilation.

In just a few months, Frieza had been defeated?

Was there truly someone in the universe capable of defeating Frieza? Soba couldn't help but feel skeptical.

He had extensive experience with galactic threats. He had witnessed the power of Frieza's Ginyu Force—already a formidable presence that even the strongest Yardrat fighters together could not hope to challenge. And Frieza himself was said to reign far above even them!

Seeing Soba's shock, Raditz spoke firmly: "I participated in that battle myself. Frieza was defeated and has retreated to lick his wounds. That's how I was able to take over some of his resources, including this spacecraft. If you look carefully, you'll notice a new emblem on my ship, completely different from Frieza's. If you don't believe me, you can ask people on nearby planets—they're all aware of the news."

Soba nodded slightly. He couldn't gauge the depths of Raditz's power, but the Saiyan's explanation seemed plausible.

If Frieza had truly been defeated, it would be welcome news for them.

He studied Raditz carefully. "You didn't come all this way just to visit, did you?"

"I can't hide anything from you! I want to learn some of your special abilities, such as the teleportation technique. Would that be possible?"

"I'm afraid it's not simple for outsiders to learn our techniques. First, we must confirm you have no malicious intent. Second, you need unanimous approval from myself and the other elders. Finally, you must demonstrate that you possess the necessary talent."

"That's reasonable. I believe you can test the first condition now, and I'll find a way to address the other two by tonight. How does that sound?" Raditz had a plan in mind and gave Soba a knowing look.

Soba suddenly felt that, despite his advanced age, he couldn't quite read the person standing before him. After pondering for a moment, he finally nodded. He was curious to see how this foreigner planned to proceed.

He extended his hand toward Raditz, closed his eyes in concentration, and after a moment said: "I sense no evil in your heart. I will grant you an opportunity to make your case tonight."