Raditz's face darkened instantly.
The veins on his forehead bulged as if they might burst.
These two idiots!
One rejected him outright.
The other used some ridiculous excuse.
They were trampling on both him and the honor of the Saiyan race.
His patience was rapidly running out.
"Heh… heh… heh…"
Raditz let out a cold laugh filled with suppressed rage. His aura became unstable, heavy with pressure.
"I already told you. You two are coming with me whether you like it or not!"
"Saiyans are already a rare race in the universe."
"Many years ago, our home planet—Planet Vegeta—was struck by a massive meteor!"
"The collision caused a catastrophic explosion!"
"The entire planet was reduced to cosmic dust!"
"Almost every Saiyan died in that disaster…"
"…including my parents. And Kakarot's parents as well."
Goku fell silent.
He had never met his parents.
He had no memories of Planet Vegeta.
Yet something stirred deep in his blood.
A strange emotion he couldn't quite explain.
Behind him, Krillin looked at him with sympathy.
The near-extinction of an entire race was a terrible tragedy.
"Right now," Raditz continued,
"including the two of you, only five Saiyans remain alive."
He held up five fingers.
"Me and another warrior survived because we were conquering another planet."
"And there's another child like you—sent to a different world as a baby."
Goku and Broly said nothing.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
"Wake up, Kakarot! Broly!" Raditz shouted.
"Stop indulging in this fake peace on a weak planet!"
"You should feel excited!"
"The blood of the Saiyan warrior race must be boiling in your veins!"
"It should be screaming for battle and conquest!"
"Keep dreaming," Goku replied firmly.
His eyes were clear and determined.
"I will never help you conquer other planets."
"Earth is my home."
"The people here are my friends."
Broly didn't even bother responding.
His lazy expression made his position obvious.
For over twenty years, Broly had lived peacefully on Master Roshi's Island.
Sea breeze.
Sunlight.
Launch's cooking.
Endless food from the Infinite Gourmet Bowl.
That peaceful life had slowly worn down whatever violent instincts might have existed in his Saiyan blood.
Instead of a fierce warrior…
He had become a laid-back family man.
Or more accurately—
On Earth there had never been anyone strong enough to make him fight seriously.
It was like a max-level character living in a beginner village.
"I noticed something earlier," Raditz suddenly said.
His cold gaze shifted toward the two children nearby.
Branch and Gohan.
"They're your sons, aren't they?"
"The resemblance is obvious."
"Especially those tails."
"N-No!" Goku immediately denied it.
But Branch proudly puffed out his chest.
"Yeah, Uncle!"
"I told you already!"
"That's my dad, Broly!"
Gohan shrank behind Branch, terrified by Raditz's cold stare.
He clutched Branch's shirt tightly.
Raditz smirked.
"No need to deny it."
"Their tails say everything."
"What do you want?!" Goku shouted.
His aura surged as he stepped forward, blocking the children.
Raditz slowly walked toward them.
Sand crunched beneath his boots.
"Since their fathers refuse to cooperate…"
"I'll borrow their sons instead."
"With them as hostages…"
"I'm sure you'll behave."
"Huh?" Branch blinked.
"Uncle, are you taking me with you?"
Raditz paused.
The boy didn't seem afraid.
In fact, he looked excited.
"Yes," Raditz said slowly.
"Come with me."
"Okay!" Branch said cheerfully.
Then he turned to Gohan.
"Gohan, let's go!"
"Maybe this uncle has something fun!"
Gohan stared at him in disbelief.
Brother… your courage is unbelievable.
He was trembling with fear.
"It's okay!" Branch said confidently.
"Don't worry! I'll protect you!"
He grabbed Gohan's hand.
Nearby, Bulma covered her face.
Krillin's mouth twitched.
Neither of them knew how to react.
"Well then," Raditz laughed.
"This makes things easy."
Goku suddenly stepped forward.
"You can't take them!"
But Raditz moved faster.
BAM!
His knee slammed violently into Goku's stomach.
"Ugh—!"
Goku was launched into the air.
He crashed into the sand several meters away.
His body curled in pain.
He couldn't even breathe properly.
"Dad!"
Gohan screamed and tried to run to him.
But Raditz grabbed him instantly.
Like an eagle catching prey.
At the same time he grabbed Branch's arm.
"Waaaah—! Dad! Dad!" Gohan cried loudly.
Branch frowned.
"Hey Uncle."
"You don't need to grab me like that."
"I'll go with you."
Raditz looked surprised.
"Good. Stay obedient."
"No problem!" Branch grinned.
He even patted Raditz's arm.
"BROLY!" Bulma finally shouted.
"This is your son!"
"He's being kidnapped!"
"You're just standing there?!"
Launch gently tugged Bulma's sleeve.
"Don't worry so much."
"Branch wants to go out and play."
"Let him play for a while."
Broly nodded.
"Yeah."
"He hasn't traveled much."
"Good chance to stretch his legs."
Bulma: "..."
She almost fainted.
Play?!
He's being taken hostage!
Raditz laughed triumphantly.
"Broly! Kakarot!"
"I'll keep your children safe."
"If you want them alive…"
"Then obey my orders."
"I'll give you one day."
"Tomorrow at this time…"
"I want proof of your obedience."
"What proof?" Broly asked curiously.
"Simple."
"Each of you kill 100 humans."
"Bring their bodies here."
"Two hundred corpses total."
"If you do that…"
"You can join us."
"But if you fail…"
"I'll kill your sons."
"Despicable!" Krillin growled.
"Using children as hostages!"
Raditz smirked.
"Oh, one more thing."
"This planet will be destroyed soon anyway."
"After we conquer our current target…"
"Earth will be next."
"We'll wipe out everyone here in a month."
"So what difference does it make?"
"Why sacrifice your sons for people who will die anyway?"
"You… give me back my son…" Goku groaned weakly from the ground.
Raditz ignored him.
He turned to leave with the two children.
But then he noticed something beside the house.
The strange table.
And the metal sphere supporting it.
Raditz froze.
"…That's a Saiyan space pod!"
"You idiots!"
"You're using a Saiyan spacecraft as a table leg?!"
"What a disgrace!"
Bulma smiled proudly.
"See? I knew it was a spaceship!"
Then she immediately remembered the hostage situation and nearly cried again.
Raditz snorted.
"Fine."
"That pod still works."
"You two can use it to travel with me."
Then he launched into the air.
"Stop struggling."
"Your power levels are pathetic."
"You don't even qualify to resist me!"
"Dad! Save me!" Gohan cried as they flew away.
But Branch floated easily beside Raditz.
Like flying came naturally to him.
"Don't cry, Gohan!" Branch said.
"Flying is fun!"
"Look at the island!"
"Waaah… I want my dad…" Gohan sobbed.
Raditz sighed impatiently.
Then he accelerated toward the horizon.
"Branch!" Launch suddenly shouted.
"Have fun!"
"And don't hit too hard!" Broly added lazily.
"Most importantly—"
Launch shouted again.
"Don't sneeze!"
Raditz almost stopped mid-air.
What kind of weird warning is that?
He dismissed it.
Two weak hybrid kids couldn't possibly be dangerous.
Back on the island, Bulma looked confused.
"Launch… what did you mean by that?"
Launch sighed.
"Branch inherited my condition."
"When he sneezes…"
"He transforms."
"Not just his appearance."
"His personality changes completely."
"And when that happens…"
"He becomes extremely wild."
"Almost impossible to control."
Krillin suddenly began shaking.
He remembered something.
Something terrifying.
And slowly turned his pale face toward the sky.
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