As he looked at the arrogant and overbearing Raditz before him, distant memories surged through Goku's mind.
More than twenty years ago, when he had first been reborn into this world, he had been nothing more than an infant, unable to do anything for himself.
Back then, Bardock was constantly away fighting on distant battlefields. Gine stayed home alone, taking care of him in the incubation pod while also dealing with Raditz's rebellious phase.
He remembered one incident vividly.
Raditz had kicked over a supply crate at home, spilling nutrient fluid across the floor. Gine had crouched down wearily to clean it up, scolding him at the same time.
"Raditz, that's Kakarot's nutrient solution! Be careful!"
Raditz had crossed his arms, utterly unconcerned.
"Hmph. Only weaklings rely on incubation pods to survive! Even if that low-class warrior brother of mine trains his whole life, he'll never enter the elite squad I belong to. His existence is embarrassing."
Gine had grown angry.
"He's still your brother! As his older brother, you should protect him. Don't forget—your father was born a low-class warrior too, yet he climbed to his current position through sheer effort."
Raditz had scoffed.
"If effort mattered that much, what would be the point of geniuses?"
Then he had turned to leave.
Gine grabbed him, her voice trembling.
"Raditz, you must understand that there are always stronger people out there. At the very least, don't challenge upper-class warriors yet. You're still too young…"
But Raditz shook her off.
"Mom, you worry too much. That's not how it works. Once I kill them, I'll prove I'm right."
He had stormed out of the house.
That night, he really did defeat—and kill—an upper-class warrior. He returned home proudly to boast.
Gine praised him outwardly. She seemed to agree with what he'd said that morning.
But later that night, Goku had seen her standing in front of his incubation pod, quietly wiping away tears.
Back then, he had felt like an outsider—observing the Saiyan family dynamic, glimpsing the entire race's twisted values through the lens of that small household.
Even without Frieza destroying Planet Vegeta, the Saiyan race would have eventually perished. Their arrogance and blind pride would have led them there.
"Why so quiet, Kakarot?" Raditz laughed. "Don't recognize me? Having fun pretending to be human on this weak little planet?"
Goku looked at him calmly. "Raditz, I'm just the low-class warrior you despise. Why come all this way to find me?"
Raditz circled him, evaluating.
"Of course I came for your help. You may be weak, but if you transform into a Great Ape, you'll still be useful."
Suddenly, he noticed something.
"Hey. Where's your tail?"
"That's none of your business," Goku replied coldly.
Raditz snorted. "Tch. Whatever. It'll grow back. But Kakarot, I traveled this far and this is how you treat your own brother? And what about your mission? You were supposed to wipe out the humans here. My scouter shows the planet's still crawling with life. What have you been doing all these years?"
Raditz shared the same flaw as most Saiyans who had perished.
Arrogant. Self-righteous. Obsessed with crushing the weak. And always barking orders at anyone beneath him to showcase his superiority.
Listening to his endless condescension, Goku's mood darkened.
"I told you, Raditz. You have no right to control me."
Raditz's lips curled into a smug grin.
"Heh… my foolish little brother. I come all this way and you speak to me like that? So rude. I suppose I'll have to teach you how to address your elder properly."
He cracked his knuckles as he approached.
"Time is precious. I'll beat some sense into you quickly. We've got work to do afterward."
At that moment, information flashed through Goku's mind.
[In your previous life, Raditz followed Vegeta in conquering planets. Though not particularly strong, he survived for over twenty years by riding their coattails.
You, meanwhile, were an exiled low-class warrior—insignificant.
Still, because you were his brother and because your Great Ape form had some value, he came to Earth intending to bring you along—to conquer, to feast, to live well.
He expected you to be weaker than him, yet he didn't despise you upon meeting you. He still intended to take you with him.
But in your previous life, driven by your hatred of evil, you rejected him and even allied with Piccolo to kill him.
If your deceased parents had seen brothers kill each other, they would have been heartbroken.
Your life has restarted.
Now, you are a father of three. Through raising children, you understand how parents long for their children to get along.
You don't want your parents to grieve, even in death.
Though Saiyans are steeped in sin, he is still your brother.
You decide to help him.
You will shatter his arrogance in a way he understands.
You will break his distorted belief in the so-called Saiyan mission.
Mission: Make Raditz sincerely submit to you in your own way.
Reward: Spirit Bomb.]
Goku blinked in surprise.
Strange task. Strange description.
But after a moment's thought…
In another perspective, Raditz was like an older brother who had gone out into the world, found stable work, and returned to take his younger sibling with him. The younger brother, ignorant and stubborn, refused—and even killed him alongside an enemy.
Seen that way… Raditz didn't seem entirely irredeemable.
Then I'll complete the mission.
Though countless thoughts flashed through his mind, only an instant passed.
Suddenly, Raditz exploded forward, a lightning-fast punch shooting toward Goku's face.
Goku raised a hand casually and caught the incoming fist with ease.
Raditz's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that speed.
He tried to pull back—but his younger brother's grip was like iron.
Goku tightened slightly.
Crack. Crack.
Raditz's hand bones groaned.
"Ah—! Let go!"
At that instant, his scouter numbers skyrocketed.
In one second, they surpassed 5,000.
"Impossible!"
Raditz's scalp tingled in shock.
"How can your power level exceed 5,000—and still be rising?!"
Goku released him. Raditz staggered backward, staring in horror.
"This is a low-gravity planet! How could you possibly reach this level?!"
He tore off his scouter.
"Is this thing broken?"
"Stop looking at it," Goku said coldly. "The scouter isn't broken. You are."
Raditz froze. "What do you mean?"
Goku smiled faintly.
"Drop the superior act. I'm sick of it. The scouter's fine. I've truly grown stronger. You, on the other hand… more than thirty years have passed, and you've barely improved. The low-class warrior you despised has surpassed you."
He grabbed Raditz by the collar.
"You call yourself an elite? You're over thirty with a power level of 1,500. In the Frieza Force, you're nothing but a foot soldier. I'm ashamed to have you as my brother."
Raditz's mind exploded with a buzzing roar.
He remembered the words he used to say as a child.
"I'm ashamed to have a low-class warrior for a brother…"
Thirty years later, those same words had returned as a crushing slap to his own face.
He felt unreal. Even now, the scouter readings in his hand were fluctuating wildly.
Goku saw the doubt in his eyes.
Without hesitation, he punched Raditz square in the face.
Raditz stumbled back, fury igniting.
"Bastard! Kakarot—what are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?" Goku's voice hardened. "I'm sick of your weakness. Sick of your laziness. I just don't like you."
"Who are you calling weak?!"
Raditz roared and charged again.
Goku shifted lightly, evading with ease. A simple side kick sent Raditz crashing into a cliff face. Rocks cascaded, burying him.
As Raditz staggered out of the rubble, Goku appeared before him in an instant.
"That kick was for Mom. She cared about you so much. And you hurt her again and again."
Raditz coughed, wiping blood from his mouth. "She was too nagging!"
Smack!
Another slap.
"You idiot. I'm giving you a chance. Don't force me to kill my own brother."
Yet Raditz felt no fear—only deeper confusion. If someone like Vegeta had struck him, he would've been turned into paste.
He stomped the ground and lunged again.
Goku understood now.
Raditz simply couldn't accept it. Others could be strong—but not his low-class brother.
Goku caught his fist once more.
This time, he drove a heavy punch into Raditz's abdomen.
Raditz's eyes bulged. Spittle sprayed as his body bent forward like a shrimp.
Grabbing his long hair, Goku slammed him into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth shattered beneath him. Bones cracked audibly as Raditz groaned in agony.
Goku looked down at him.
"You fool. Do I really have to kill you before you admit I'm far stronger than you? Look at your scouter. Am I still the embarrassing low-class brother you remember?"
His Ki surged again.
"2,000!"
"3,000!"
"5,000!"
He didn't push it further, but the pressure alone whipped the surrounding air into violent gusts.
Raditz's pupils shrank.
"How… how is this possible? You're just a low-class warrior! Even Father didn't believe in you!"
Goku raised his hand. A brilliant sphere of energy formed in his palm, blazing light reflecting off Raditz's pale face.
"This blast can erase you completely. Want to test it?"
Raditz's breathing faltered.
The threat of death was real.
For the first time, his Saiyan instinct—the instinct to revere strength—overpowered his pride.
He coughed, voice trembling.
"W-Wait, Kakarot! Stop! I'm your brother! I… I admit defeat!"
Goku narrowed his eyes, energy still glowing.
"Defeat? And?"
Raditz clenched his teeth.
"You… you're stronger than me! I admit it! A low-class warrior… can surpass an elite!"
The energy sphere dispersed.
[Mission Complete: Make Raditz sincerely submit.
Reward: Spirit Bomb acquired.]
Instantly, knowledge of the Spirit Bomb flowed into Goku's mind.
It wasn't tied to personal power—it depended on gathered energy.
Useful enough.
Raditz lay there, breathing heavily, staring at Goku with complex emotions—resentment, confusion… and a twisted reverence.
In a low voice, he asked:
"Kakarot… what have you experienced all these years… to become this strong?"
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